Our Family

  • Robert and I were married in 2001 and have been blessed with 4 beautiful children: Leah, Mae, Isaac & Aaron. They are the joy of our lives. For the last 5 years this blog has been the story of our journey through life. Last November Leah was diagnosed with Leukemia and our blog became not only the story of our lives, but the story of our everyday struggle with childhood cancer. Read along as we live, we love and we fight Leukemia.

Sarah's Reads 2009

  • C.S. Lewis: The Great Divorce
Blog powered by TypePad
Member since 10/2004

The Last Few Days

With Debbie in town I have had a nice break the last several days.  I've slept late, had naps and in general felt much better.  Aaron has started cruising....that kid is so anxious to go.  Leah's other loose tooth came out so she now is missing both her two front teeth.  We jokingly said that Aaron and Leah are both going to be singing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth".


Tonight I attempted - again - to make Grannie Annie's oatmeal fudgies.  They are the best ever and it seems that no one can make her recipe and have them set up.  Well tonight I did it!  I'm so pumped.  It'll probably never happen again.

Kids are in bed, I need to iron clothes and put sheets on my bed, and then maybe a hot bath and an oatmeal fudgie :-)  

Goodnight.

Apology

So I must begin with an apology to my readers for having been so negligent in my posts as of late.  So many have been diligent in reading to see how Leah is doing and I should continue to keep you informed.  I will strive to do better.


We had a rough week the week of our move to the new house.  She was on her steroid pulse which made for a tough time all around.  We are through that though so I won't dwell on the details.  She is feeling much better and overall seems to be herself.  Although her weight seems to be a little high in my opinion, the doctors are not concerned.  She wants to eat as if she is on steroids the entire month.  I'm having to do portion control as well as managing what types of foods she intakes.  That is not easy when all she wants is carbs and salt.  

I was listening in the car today to an older country song that simply says it's a great day to be alive....I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes....there's some hard times in the neighborhood but why can't everyday be just this good.  And immediately my mind went to all the what if's of our life.  Sure at that moment life was good.  Leah felt well, Debbie is in to visit, it was a beautiful day, we have a lovely new home but what if she gets sick?  What if she goes back in the hospital?  What if, what if, what if?  And the fear and depression crept back in.  And then I reminded myself of something.  We're not guaranteed another moment.  Every single breath is a gift from God.  Every single moment I have with my husband and my children is a gift from God.  All that I should be concerned with is this very moment because the next may not be so good but we'll deal with that when it happens.  Fear and worry accomplish nothing.  And in that very moment life was good regardless of what was to come in the day.  

So as an update on Leah I say this.....we have many more good moments than bad.  For that I am thankful.  Do I wish she'd never had Leukemia?  Yes.  Do I dislike everything about this?  Sure.  Do I hate cancer?  Absolutely.  But every smile, every twinkle in her eye, every laugh....that I treasure in my heart.  The good times far outweigh the bad right now and as Leah says "I am beating the snot out of cancer".  Yes baby you are - by God's grace you are.

On a lighter note - the other kids....
Aaron has 4 teeth now and is trying table food.  Mae wore her hair in braids today and has the cutest waves in her hair tonight.  Leah looks funny with one missing tooth up front.  She has decided she wants to go to Disney at Christmas time.  Isaac has mastered potty training (yippee!).  Of course I say that and he'll be peeing all over himself tomorrow.  

Ok, off to watch the end of the movie with my kids (Isaac's pick - Lion King....again).

I'm Back

So I'm back online now.  The move is over - at least the moving part is.  We are pretty well unpacked but need to do the decorating (pictures, etc.) to finish it off.  I love the house though.  


In other news:

Aaron is cutting 3 teeth....boy is a joy to be around.  
Isaac is a typical (at leat I hope this is typical) 2 year old boy.  He's wearing me out.
Leah lost a tooth tonight and looks pretty funny.  She's in good spirits.
Mae is just Mae.  Nothing ever changes with her.  She's so cute.

Ok, kids keep getting out of bed.....

Not Feeling Well

Ok, so no beach pictures yet.  I'll get to that - I promise.  We are moving.  Still here in Lexington, but we've bought a house that is a little bigger.  We should be settled by the weekend (that's the plan anyway).  


Leah had clinic on Tuesday and her ANC count was a little low (763) but all other counts looked fine.  So, after 4 different chemo's on Tuesday she's feeling a little crappy.  Actually she feels really crappy but she's really trying to have a good attitude and put on a smile.  She's such a good girl.  We're back on steroids and in day 3 of a 5 day pulse.  I hate those things - such a tiny pill that makes her feel so horrible.  Pray that God would strenghten her little body and give her the grace to deal with this time.  Hopefully she'll feel better 2-3 days after we get off the steroids.

In house news:
I got the kitchen and laundry completely set up last night so that's done.  There is much packing left to do thaough.  Off to get started!

Short and Sweet

Vacation was great....pictures coming.


Home safe and sound.

Moving this week.  Lots to do.  I'll get on here when I can to post and put up pics.

Later.

Beach Bound!

Prayer for our safe travel.....


See you in a week!

Let the Party Begin

Tomorrow we head out in the first leg of our journey to Hilton Head Island for vacation.  This year I was going to attemp to pack very light.  Well that didn't happen.  I guess packing light with 4 kids our kid's ages isn't possible.  Between the pack-n-play, the diapers, the bottles, the baby food, the toy bag for the van, all of Leah's meds and supplies, and so on....we look like we are moving there!  So tomorrow I begin the task of getting all this stuff in our mini van.  Should be interesting.  I probably won't be blogging again until we return so catch you then!

Make-A-Wish Foundation

The MOMS Club Lexington-East (of which I'm a member) is participating with other groups in a Walk for Wishes this month to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana region.  


This organization is something that is important to me as a mother of a child fighting cancer.  I will not be able to participate in the actual walk but am showing my support as a virtual walker and raising funds that way.  The link to my donation page is Make-A-Wish Fundraiser .  People have been very generous already and helped me far exceed my donation goal but the more we raise the more wishes that will come true.

Please take a moment to look at the page and consider making a donation.

Thank you.
Sarah

A Blessed Day

Indeed....we made it to church today.  The kids were remarkably well behaved during Liturgy allowing us to actually participate in and enjoy Pentecost Sunday.  Leah even participated with singing, prayers and making the sign of the Cross.  I was amazed at how much she remembered.  I treasure being there and I think one of my favorite parts is when we first open the door and are immediately hit with the smell of the incense.  What a sweet aroma.


In other news:  Aaron got his foot stuck under the dishwasher today (which was running at the time).  He has several nice gashes in the achilles tendon area.  It took alot of pressure and quite a bit of time for the bleeding to stop but I think we are on the mend now.  I'll remove the bandaid in the morning to reevaluate.  Scared the beans out of me.

What A Day

Summing up our psychotic day:


**Made a trip to the chocolate factory.  Kids were really well behaved and had a good time.  It was the highlight of the day by far.

**Aaron threw up all over the carpet, himself and his bottle this afternoon.  He seems to be running a very low low low grade fever.  This all makes me very nervous following the 'bird pooping on his face' experience 2 days ago.  A call to a medical professional may be in order here.

**Leah fell today and said "ouch, I fell into the wall".  Then she ran off.  No tears.  She has a mild bruise on the side of her head (which you can see because she barely has any hair).  

**I left Mae & Isaac in the tub to run and grab something real quick.  In the 30 seconds I was gone Aaron made his way into the bathroom and when I returned was standing beside the tub.  PANIC.  This kid is going to give me a heart attack.  Why does he have to be so eager to go?  I think he might be walking in a month.