April 14, 2010

God is good! This has been a tough week for us all. We started with a new babysitter and transition is rough when you have a very routine baby. We feel very blessed to have such an adaptable daughter but even the best struggle at just 7 months old. Please keep our family in prayer as I will be in California next week. Thankfully GiGi will only be a phone call away but I know daddy will do great.
Last night was especially fun to go to mom's. Ken was suppose to be at pottery and Todd was suppose to be training at the gym so mom and I planned a girls night. It mainly consisted of spoiling Haidyn but what are they for if you can't spoil them, right? Haidyn got to ride in her pink princess ride. Then GiGi fed her. She was absolutely amazed at how much food she can put away and how upset you get if you don't keep the pace. Haha. For almost 13 pounds she can eat a pretty big meal. After dinner mom had to make me prove that Haidyn can actually crawl. She just started about a week and a half ago. Mom crawled around acting silly trying to get her going. She sat there on her bottom polietly watching and giggling behind her passy. Then I got down there, took the passy, showed her my braclet, then tossed it across the rug. She took one look across the rug and spotted it's landing spot. She looked back at me as if to say, "why would you toss it all the way over there when I could grab it from here when it was on your arm?" She put those hands down in front of her, the bottom went straight up in the air, GiGi started cheering for her to crawl, so she dropped back down to her knees and off she went. I don't know who was laughing harder out of the 3 of us. Mom absolutely loved it. After that haidyn did plenty of showing off. She even pulled up on the chair and stood there posing in her new swimsuit for pictures. It was so fun. We really missed Todd and Ken.
For those of you who knew Faye Chamblis, Ken's children's grandmother on their mother's side, she passed late last night. Ken was at the MED with Patrick, his son, Tom, his brother, and Lisa, Tom's wife. It was a sad night but I know that being together was a blessing. Mom told me that Ken had a tough day today going through Faye's things with Patrick. She shared the pictures of Haidyn last night with him and told him he needed a dose of Haidyn to lift his spirits. We will have to make it by in the next day or so. Please keep the family in prayer, especially Patrick, as they prepare for the memorial and sort through all of her affairs. Patrick was very close to his grandmother so this has been extremely difficult for him.
We are still waiting on results from Ken's testing that was done about 10 days ago. I believe he is feeling better but still not well. Mom is feeling good too. We believe she may have gotten a bug but she's now over it. The Erbitux treatment seemed to take more out of her this last time around. They have doubled the dosage now that she is off chemo and on maintenance. She's going to ask at her next visit if that is typical to feel a little more under the weather after the higher dosage. You would not know she has been as tired as she tells us she has been. The woman is working every day!
I have always been amazed at my mom's mental and emotional strength but the past 6 months have proven not only her physical strength but also her endurance as well. She is an amazing wife, mother and GiGi. What a role model of a fighter no matter what the circumstance she has presented to us all in the last 6 months especially. We don't know where we would be without all the continued prayers and the healing power of God. He has richly blessed us. We're still praying for a full cure so please continue those prayers with us.
Mom said she was completely taken back when Janet, one of her co-workers and a friend of more than 15 years, brought in a brochure yesterday to work. She got it at HeartSong where her son attends the day care. The brochure was advertising for a walk downtown for lung cancer in May. Janet wants to get together a team from their office to walk in the fundraiser. I told mom if they decide to get a team together that Haidyn and I want to walk in it as well in honor of my mom. I will let you all know details as I learn more. What a fun way to celebrate the success of those fighting this disease, remember those who have suffered and continue to support research to find a cure. How sweet is it that mom is blessed to work with such a caring and supportive group of friends who continue to amaze us with their love and compassion. Without their daily support this could and would have been a much more difficult journey.
Thank you for all the prayers. Cards continue to come along with emails, messages and phone calls. God is answering and mom is getting stronger, feeling better and living her life to its absolute fullest every day. God is always good!