Susan's Mom - Update

Please keep this family in your prayers:

Dear Family and Friends:

           This is an e-mail I had hoped we would never have to write.

Throughout this entire ordeal, we have been honest and open with

ourselves, our family and our friends.  We have always dealt with things

as they are not how we wanted them to be and today is no exception.

           Since my last e-mail which was encouraging, Eileen developed

symptoms of an infection.  After several tests it was determined that a

tumor is growing in the lower area of her abdomen.  The fact that she

has appendix cancer and the type she has is very rare and fast growing,

there is probably little we can do except to make her as comfortable as

possible.  We did discuss more chemo and more surgery, but with both

theses options the risks far outweigh the possible limited benefits.  We

will make all the final decisions next Friday when meeting with Eileen's

oncologist but we believe we have run out of reasonable options.

           At this point we are just looking for her to have some

quality of life and to make her as comfortable as possible as the days

progress.  We have talked and have decided to be thankful for the good

life we have had, the family we have raised and all the friends that

really care so very much.  We will take each day we have and look at it

as a blessing.  As horrific as this disease is, it does buy us some time

to say what may not have been said and to do some things we should have

done.  

           As always, thank you for your love, support and concern; we

are going to need it more than ever now.  

Love, Dave & Family 

Snail-ella

This is my friends daughter Payton (4 years old).  While out looking at their soon to be new place to live here in FL.  Payton found this snail.  She has never seen a snail before and quickly picked this one up to show to her mommy.  The snail was not shy at all and came out to play on Payton's hand.  She seriously carried the snail around for about 30 minutes and put him out on her balcony to be it's new home and her new pet.  

So here is a picture I took (again) with the camera phone of Payton and her pet Snail-ella!!!!

Blink:

Tonight I read from one of my favorite bloggers "Angie - Audrey Caroline".  I have been following her blog since Morgan was born because her daughter was due the same day as Morgan, but was born a week earlier and lived only 2 hours.  

Tonight she wrote a blog (check it out) about things that you just want to close your eyes (blink them) as to capture life in your photographic memory forever.  I loved how she wrote it and I thought, that's what I want to share tonight.  Posting that picture of Hunter when he was six months old, I closed my eyes just remembering him at that age, his smell, his sounds and touch.  

Blink: 

I love the pictures I have captured of Morgan, one with her tongue out and one I didn't post where she was blowing huge bubbles.  Loving her voice when we lay next to each other in bed just talking to one another.  Smelling her up when I smother her with kisses.  Watching her little eyes exploring the world around her.  Watching her hair turn to blonde from brown.  Squeezing her chunky thighs and loving how squishy they are.  Looking at her hands just reaching out and wrapping around my fingers.

Blink:

My friend Val just moved back here from WI (my old roommate) with her 4 year old daughter (my god-daughter).  We were looking through her photo albums of all the things she and I have experienced together, now seeing we have children of our own and just how time fly's by when you are moving too fast to enjoy it.

Blink:

Two years ago this month I met my husband, 1 year ago this month we conceived our little girl. Now this week, this month (July), we will hand over our relationship to God, and ask for guidance and insight on how to grow and mature our marriage (a new marriage) into a loving and respectful marriage. Reconcile with counseling, with baby-steps and with hope!!! 

Blink:

My friend Susan, she has been given her fair share amount of hard times, but right now and for the last year she has watched her mom slowly shrink in size and struggle with her fight of cancer.  Just a year ago her mom was here with us healthy as could be taking us to see the circus.  

Blink:

Just 13 weeks ago I was in the hospital bringing new life into the world for the 2nd time.

Blink:

Just a couple of months ago, my son was a first grader with no braces.  Now he has braces, looks years older to me and is a second grader.....I have a 2nd grader?  

Blink:

21 years ago (age 9), I was sitting in a red wagon in my backyard alone (Dallas TX).  I remember feeling the breeze on my skin and listening to the silence around me as I prayed to God, and I was born again.

Blink:

This week I have yelled at God instead of Praying, for I have been so angry, but still when I lay down at night, although I have probably disappointed HIM and hurt his feelings..... he still loves me more than anyone that walks this earth.  

  

Blink:

When I first moved here I knew no one but my sons father.  Today (11 years later).... I have one huge group of friends and support system any girl could ever want.  I am so blessed with the beautiful friends God has put in my life.  Girls that I will walk with until the end of time.

Blink:

Just 12 years ago I was a young teenage girl, living life single and free.  I took home two cute little orange kitties ..... and still today those beautiful, loving gentle lions are with me today.  I love them so much and I see angles behind their eyes.  

Blink:

There is a song by Kenny Chesney "Don't Blink"..... it talks about how life will pass you by so fast, don't blink or you just might miss something.  I love that song. However sometimes I think we need to 'BLINK' so we can capture those moments forever....

Blink:

I remember one time laying in bed, it was in the middle of the night and Hunter is next to me.  He had to be about 2 or 3 years old at the time.  When all of the sudden he sat up in the dark, felt around for me with his hands, found my face with his hands and half asleep just leaned over and kissed me on my forehead.  

Blink:

From time to time when I would take back roads, I would let Hunter sneak up and sit in the front seat. The rule though that we had to call it 'mommy and son date' and we had to hold hands.  He loved it!!!  I can still still my little man sitting next to me with the world to face ahead of him, simply enjoy a simple moment as riding in the front seat holding my hand.  (TEARS ARE FLOWING NOW)

Blink:

One time I was going through another season in life.  It was around Christmas time and I was crying to a friend. I went to the bathroom to get myself some tissue.  Hunter came into the bathroom with me and out of no where he started to sing to me "Santa Clause is coming to town"  (you better not watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, for Santa Clause is coming to town)  My friend Amy just loved that story and so for Christmas that year she gave me a picture of me and Hunter sitting in Santa's lap, with the lyrics to that song in a frame.  

Blink:

I have heard this phrase a few times and forgive me if I say it wrong or mess it up.... but it goes something like "life isn't about how many breaths you take, but the things in life that take your breath away". Did I get it right?

Yea....thus my new blog name THEY TAKE MY BREATH AWAY!!!!!  My kids truly are 'the wind beneath my wings' and they simply 'take my breath away' every day.

BLINK: BLINK: BLINK: BLINK:

OMG Look What I Found.....

Makes me want to cry!!  I see a lot of Morgan in him too!!!

Basil Skin Cancer -

It's true.  I went and had a growing lump on my forehead looked at and when they did a biopsy on it, it came back as Basil Cell Carcinoma. It is the most common form of skin cancer.  I was supposed to go back and have it surgically removed, but soon found out I was pregnant and just ended up waiting and it ended up growing back really fast. So finally 3 months after having Morgan, I went back in today to have it looked at.  While there they happen to have a patient in the office with the same thing so they could show me the before and after photos and scar on her face from the Mohs Surgery. It was awful looking. It really scared me and I almost wanted to cry.  The good thing is that they say my cancer spot is much-much smaller than hers so my section and scar will me much smaller.  I know that is superficial to worry about it, but for what I do for work, it is important, and who wouldn't worry about any type of surgical procedure being done on their face. 

Anyways, while at my appointment my friend Val took this picture of me and my baby girl.  Everyone just thought HE was the cutest thing ever.  I guess the brown colors and her little hat threw them off.  Come on people girls wear brown too..... look at mommy!!!! LOL  She is just darling though isn't she?