Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Odds and Ends

I've got a few things I thought I'd "show" you, my bloggy friend Clark's Valentines for his friends at Sunday School and for his German Kindergarten friends!
I found these on Etsy and couldn't be happier!
Remember Little Leighton that way born 6 weeks early last May? Well here she is now in her new TuTu and Flower headband at almost 8 mos old. I called her Momma up about 2 weeks ago to find out if she already had a TuTu and thankfully Anna said NO...Of course I had to get her one right away. It was her Valentine's Day prize from our family! She's such a priss and since boys are my future she will be spoiled. I can NOT wait to get back to Alabama and give her a big squeeze! Breezy, Clark and I all miss her tons!

My Strongtower...
That's what our family is relying on. Wesley's momma visited with the Surgeon on Monday and we are praising God that the biopsy's ALL came back clean. The Surgeon did find more cancer during the surgery but he is sure that he was able to "Clean Her Up" really well. She also met with the Oncologist on Tuesday and was given a good report. The Oncologist has suggested as previously mentioned 6 weeks of radiation and a continuation of hormone therapy which will be discussed at length after the radiation has been completed. The Oncologist alsosuggested that my mother in law "consider yourself healed". I am praying and believing in the name of Jesus that he is right! We are thankful that she is healing well from the surgery and that the remainder of her treatment will be quick and highly successful!
Thank you for your prayers they have been felt and greatly appreciated.

In other news, the Drs here at our health clinic, after 5 long, itchy weeks, think that they have FINALLY pinpointed what this mess is all over my body...Pityriasis Rosea. Our Physicians Assitant pulled out his book on Tuesday when I took Clark in for a strep test (that was DEFINATELY positive) and said he's almost positive that it came because of me having Strep/Upper Respiratory/Ear Infections and the Flu all at once prior to Christmas. He said this is a viral infection that my body is just having a very difficult time fighting off....Imagine That!
My body has been through enough in 24 weeks to last the rest of my lifetime. It's been doing a lot of fighting so I can just imagine that my immunity is rather low. On Friday I go for my Glucose screening and will also have my liver enzymes checked as well. Drs. want to be sure there is nothing going on.

Its only 9:30 p.m. Breezy is on nights so I'm going to get a head start on some sleep. This little fella in my tummy likes to give me a run for my money starting about 10:00 p.m. every night. I sure hope he's not as wild outside of the womb as he is on the inside. He's given his momma a run for her money already. If he is wild he'll be just like his brother and we'll be just as happy!

Goodnight Yall!









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Monday, January 25, 2010

Breast Cancer.....Cornering our Family

Hi Friends!
As you can tell from the title of this post our family has been struck by a very deadly disease. My precious, precious MIL was diagnosed at the beginning of this year with a rare form of Breast Cancer. I am not exactly sure of the type/name but I do know that only 2% to 3% of women, ages 48-62 are normally diagnosed with this specific type of breast cancer. The survival rate is good if detected early.

She was having her annual mammogram on 16 December when a lump was discovered in ONE of her breast. Shortly after on 22 December the lump was removed with difficulty during an outpatient biopsy and came back from pathology a few days later with the results that the tumor was indeed cancerous. She celebrated the holidays and met with the surgeons at the beginning of January to discuss her options.

1 week ago today Mrs. Mary underwent a partial masectomy and also had several lymphnods removed to be sent to pathology to determine if the cancer has continued to spread. We should get the results today as she meets with the Surgeons for her follow up. She will also meet with the Oncologist for the first time tomorrow. We do know that as soon as she heals completely from the masectomy that she will begin a long 5 days a week/6 week regiement of radiation therapy followed by hormone therapy. Chemotherapy may still be necessary if the lymphnods come back as cancerous as well. We'll know more after she gets the pathology report today.

Let me tell you my friends, my MIL loves the Lord with all of her being. She declared herself a Child of the King at a very early age and knows that if the Lord chooses not to heal her of this devestating disease that it is ENTIRELY in His Will. She's not mad, she's not sad, she may be afraid, but she is allowing the Lord to speak sweet peace and protection over her life during this time. She's one woman that I can say "Talks the Talk and Walks the Walk" all of the time. She is so real in her relationship with the Lord and you can see it lived out in her life. She is OUR Proverbs 31 woman, no doubt. Some people may assume that she is just putting on her game face and is playing off her emotions real well but I truly believe that she KNOWS that Healing OR Heaven are both in her favor. She's claiming Joshua 1:9 and Jeremiah 29:11 and has complete confidence that she's in the right hands! I stand in awe of her faith and am encouraged by her determined spirit.

Please join us in praying for her and for our family as we journey through this TOGETHER. Breezy and I are very thankful that his 3 other siblings are close by to walk with her side by side, and as we walk with her via the telephone, internet and most importantly prayer.
We won't be able to be home with her until after the baby is born due to the complications I have had/am having, but we know that there is a reason for everything. She was planning to be here for Breezy Baby's birth but unfortunately it will be utterly impossible for her to come.

Please pray that we can make all the arrangements with our Dr. and purchase the neccessary equipment so that we can use our laptop during the deliver if possible so that she can join us via web-cam. The hospital here is not internet friendly so we must purchase a "media stick/anywhere internet stick" for the laptop and pray that it works. ALL things will work together for the good....because we've got God on our side!

Your prayers are greatly appreciated. As soon as we are updated on Wed. about her appointments from today and on Tuesday I will give an update here.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Here's Where We're Standing


Whoa...what a whirlwind the last few weeks have been, once again. Things have been at a pace that I've tolerated well, but there has still been so much going on that sometimes I feel like I need to remember to come up for air.

Before I start running my mouth thought I'd show you all a photo of the bedding that we've picked out and ordered for our newest family member. He will be sharing a room with us since we'll be moving soon after he is born, so this is in the same color scheme as our bedding.

In the last 3 weeks I have been to the Drs. office 5 times;

2 with my OB. One visit for this mystery rash and the second for my regular appointment. Baby Breezy is growing and if everything goes as planned I will be induced around the 37th week. I've decided to try for a VBAC at this time, but if we do not deliver by 39 weeks I will have a c-section. I had a hard delivery via c-section with Clark, but never have regretted it once. I want to give natural deliver a chance since I will have a 3 year old and the recovery time will be much easier. We will see what is in store for us as the day's draw closer.

1 appointment at the health clinic for this mystery rash. Supposedly it's an allergy to "something". Your guess is as good as mine.

2 appointments with an Allergy Specalist. I was in and out of the exam room in less than 10 minutes, leaving very frustrated both times and still searching for answers. He seems to "think" I have a special type of eczema...but he's not sure. I wish I could explain to you the intensity of the itching this rash has brought about. He gave me some white lotion to apply twice a day. Friends, this rash covers my body literally from the top of my head to the top of my feet and is progressively getting worse. One bottle of this lotion lasted me 4 days and you can't just "dot" it on it's like a sponge bath in Calamine. Thankfully I have a husband who does not mind "body painting" or a 3 year old who thinks helping daddy paint is lots of fun! So..this Specialist says, there is nothing more he can do for me.

We're at a stand still AGAIN!

Speaking of body painting.....
On Wednesday Clark and I were finger painting our Valentines for the Grands. We'll my bladder decided that it needed a break so off the bathroom I rushed. In the mere 5 minutes I was in the bathroom, the next room over, Clark proceeded to undress down to his undies and "body paint" himself. I'm thankful it wasn't on the walls or floors but I died laughing. I desperately wanted to take photos but I decided that if I did that he might think that it was OK to try it out again later so off to the bathtub we went. He keeps me laughing everyday!

Until we meet again...Lots of Love and Laughter from Germany!






Friday, January 01, 2010

Looking Ahead!

Well friends,
It's finally 2010. It seems to me like 2009 just flew right on by. I'm ready to see what this New Year will bring. I'm hoping for peace of mind/clear thinking (we will only hope my pregnant brain will cooperate), good health and lots of memories made with my family!

We have so much to look forward to and be thankful for in this coming year!
A new year of fellowship with our Heavenly Father!
A trip to Ireland in February, just me and Breezy
OR a Trip to ALABAMA for 4 weeks!
Our newest miracle will arrive in May (hopefully no sooner)
Wes will have lots of training and schools to attend February thru June
Breezy's parents and My parents coming for their first visits in June and July
Most importantly to us our last FULL year spent in Germany. We've got high hopes that we will go home in the fall of 2010 but it could be the winter of 2011.We're crossing our fingers :-).
What are you looking forward to? I'm curious to know.
From our family in Germany!
Blessings in Abundance in 2010.
P.S. Mrs. T I can't comment on your blog for some reason. :-( thats why you haven't heard from me