Time for school!

Wow summer went FAST! Yes I had my moments with the kids when I thought school would never be near but now that they go back next week I can't believe how fast the summer went by. Lee will be in the third grade, Charlotte the second, and Alex is starting pre-K. He will ride the school bus and go for a half day - sort of what kindergarten was like when I was a kid.

Alex's birthday is this weekend and he is turning 4. He LOVES star wars and is super excited to have his own party so he can uninvite his sister when she gets on his nerves. Some days they all get along so well and then others it is WWIII in my house.

I have my big cancer check and next MRI this September. Thinking only positive thoughts that these scans will be easy and free and clear of anything.

Unfortunately this summer my mom was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). A lot of you might remember that she had breast cancer about 13 years ago so this was a big shock. IBC is not an easy diagnosis and she has a long tough road ahead of her to beat this disease. However she went to MD Anderson in TX for consultation with some of the best IBC doctors in the world and we are very positive that she will prevail. She has a great treatment plan and is able to do all the chemo near her house.

Keep my mom in your prayers!

Here are some pictures of the kids.

Summer

School is out and the kids and I are home for the summer.

Summer consists of .......

pool

bike riding

cheer

football

cabin

video games
arts/crafts

annoying mom

Spring

Long time since my last post and we have been busy. I completed my latest round of therapy up in Baltimore and am doing my home program. It is pretty intense and takes up to 3 hours a day to complete.

I accomplished a big goal for me and our family - we flew to CA for spring break with the kids. One of the only perks of Dave's crazy travel schedule is free hotel rooms and plane tickets.....so we cashed in and took the kids to Disneyland, Palm Desert, and San Diego for spring break. We hooked up with my dad and stepmom at Disney and in the desert. Flying was a lot easier than I thought and now Dave and I feel confident that we can travel anywhere again.

I just had my neuro follow up this week and the damage/inflammation to my spinal cord looks better. My doctor doesn't want to get too optimistic since I guess MRI's are very subjective but she can say without a doubt it is no longer getting worse. Thank God. That news in itself has taken so long to get that I was losing hope there for a little while. She also said my spinal cord looks good and she can see the fibers. So there is still a lot of hope that my therapy can retrain my spinal cord to move my legs again one day.

I am happy spring has sprung, the kids are healthy, Miss Maple is still kicking, and Dave is gainfully employed.

Snow Days

Along with the rest of the mid-Atlantic we got more snow than we know what to do with. The kids we home all last week and finally got back on the bus this Monday. Three kids + 3 ft. of snow + a wheelchair = a crazy Heather. Dave managed to find his way to work and I would have too if it was an option but of course someone had to take care of the children.

Pneumonia

I have been dealing with pneumonia a lot lately. I was in the hospital sick with pneumonia in Nov., diagnosed again in Dec., and yet again this Jan. Being sick and some snow days has totally messed with therapy - hopefully I can get into the swing of things again soon.

Since my lungs are having such a hard time getting well I made an appointment with the lung doc to hopefully clear them up once and for all.

I was reading the pregnant with cancer site and found this awesome free cleaning service for women undergoing chemo... pass it along

cleaningforareason.com

Long overdue again

Things have been busy since my post yet another month ago - time flys. I short order I got pneumonia again and was hospitalized, my sister got married, I turned 35, and finally got the Internet going in the new house.

Medically speaking I have several doctor appointments coming up to deal with my worsening paralysis and get a handle on a new problem - uncontrollable shakes/chills. Hopefully the later is nothing serious and not related to the radiation side effects or cancer crap.

I have dusted off my camera again and have some pictures of the little z's to share. The kids are doing great. Alex is still working on potty training and getting into everything that isn't his. Lee has begun basketball and Dave is helping coach his team. Charlotte finished cheerleading and her squad won 1st place in a competition at the University of MD.

My little z's are not so little anymore.

I apologize for the delay in updating. We moved into the new house and I still don't have Internet. I hijacked Dave's computer to do this quick update.

I had my check up for the cancer and good news is I am still cancer free and in the clear until next year.

My radiation myelitis check wasn't as positive and the disease has progressed. I am now a T2 instead of a T3. I want to be going the opposite direction. I will be starting therapy again soon paying out of pocket until insurance kicks in this January. Just trying to make sure this crap doesn't spread too far and affect my upper extremities.

Dave, the little z's and Maple are all happy and healthy. Once I get the Internet up an running again I will update more frequently.