Last Chemo and a Hair Cut

Yesterday was mom's last chemo! She will still have to have regular check-ups, but no scheduled scans or other treatments (besides removing her chemo port). Praise Jesus!!

Jonathan stopped by on his lunch break and we had a nice visit. 

Mom and I watching tv together and sharing headphones. And having some good laughs. We laugh a lot while we are there. 

Mom is all done (doesn't she look amazing?!) and holding her graduation scepter she got. 

The kids were super happy to see me when I met the Scott family to pick them up

(the Scotts were awesome and watched both my kids all day with less than 24 hours notice!)

We went in and played on my bed. The kids smothered me!! 

When Matt got home it was time for him to get a haircut. 

He had fun trimming it up before I came in to check on him. 

His hair finally thinned out enough that was time to buzz (thanks, Grampa Martin!) 

I had a little fun before we got started ;)

Look, we're twinsies, LOL!

Chemo Round Two

Last Wednesday was my mom's second round of chemo. My sis-in-law was able to watch my kiddos so I headed over to Medford with mom and dad. 

Waiting to get started.

I can't believe how healthy mom looks still! Praise Jesus!!

We end up sitting there for several hours so we get pretty antsy. I took a picture of the snack that mom packed for me and sent it to Matt. 

Then dad wanted to send a picture to Matt of his snack too.  

Here's mom, about half-way through. We were watching Let's Make a Deal on tv together. 

Mom got done (after being there for 6 hours!) and we headed home. I hurried over to rescue Jessie from my two crazy cats!!

In the car on the way home Gabriella was yelling (cheerfully, not fit throwing), "I want to stay at Auntie Jessie's and play with Haylie!"

Xander on the other hand was laughing his head off cuz he was so happy to see me!

(He is quite the momma's boy)

After dinner the kids got their piggy banks down to put their quarters in that they found in their Easter eggs at Gramma and Grampa's house. 

(Gabriella likes to run around the house in as little clothing as possible. I realized after putting this picture in here that she looks quite naked. She is wearing underwear.)

I was really surprised how well Xander was able  to put his quarters in. It was his first time putting money in his bank (Matt and I had always put it in for him) and he put every single one in by himself. He didn't need any help at all. I never ceased to be amazed at how coordinated he is. 

Shave and a Hair Cut

I decided to shave my head when my mom found out she had to do chemo. I don't care to list all the reasons on here of why I made my decision to do so, if you want to know them you can ask. I'll just say that I love my mom like crazy and I would do anything in the world to be supportive of her and help her out.

On Tuesday morning I sent my enlisted partner in crime (Jill) and we set to work!

Getting ready.....

My "butch" cut! 

We saved my hair and cut it as close to the scalp as possible so that I would be able to donate it all to Wigs For Kids. 

When we laid the first chunk down Gabriella grabbed it, started shaking it around (which made it fly everywhere), and started yelling, "Ooooooh! Brown hair mommy!!"

Time for the buzzers! 

Then we lathered up my head and got the razor out!

All done! Bald and proud!

Jill was awesome! If you ever need your head shaved and lots of laughs, give her a call!!

Choices

My views on choices have changed drastically over the years. I remember as a kid wanting so badly for something to go a certain way, or wishing that I could just choose to do what I wanted to. Then I got older and had to start taking responsibility for my choices. At that point I wished that someone else could just make them again for me! Now I am seeing that there are always two main choices we have to make in any given situation: do we see the good things that are happening/will happen (God's perspective) or do we focus on the negative/"what could have been" (the world's perspective)?

After months of being told that everything was fine, my mom found out she had breast cancer, four days before Christmas. My Grampa is getting old (he turns 86 in March) and isn't getting along very well. Matt finished up school in a few months and will be looking for a job anywhere he can get one. Knowing the fact that this Christmas could be the last one where we were all together presented itself with a choice to be made. I opted to enjoy every moment of Christmas and not to think that it might be the last one like this.

   

I made it a point to enjoy every moment with each member of my family. We laughed and joked together, we hugged and held each other. I watched as true character came out in people. 

Mom found out her surgery would be scheduled on my birthday.

Here is what actually happened: 

On my birthday morning I woke up at 7:30. I spent half an hour chopping veggies and chicken and getting a meal in the crock-pot  Next I had to wake my kids up early and hurry them through breakfast and a bath. We headed out the door by 9 and were at the babysitter's house. At the hospital by 9:45 I sat in a waiting room filled with people. Dad came out of the pre-op room at 10 and we headed outside. By 11 we were back in the waiting room and there we sat until 12:40 when a nurse called us back to talk to the dr. We couldn't see mom for an hour so we headed out to the cat to process everything we had been told. 

Dad got called back into the recovery room at 1:30 and I sat in the waiting room by myself for half an hour. I got to back at 2 and we sat with mom until 2:30 when she was able  to go to her room. 

At 4:30 I headed home to see Matt and the kids. Gabriella hadn't gotten a nap so she was going back and forth between throwing fits and talking back. Matt wanted to take me out to dinner but Gabriella was too upset so we ordered out and took it home to eat. 

At 6:00 we were back at the hospital to check in on mom. By 7:30 we were home and Gabriella couldn't stop crying. There were no presents, no cake, no ice cream. Just two fussy kids who needed a bath and to go to bed. We put on a movie and got Gabriella calmed down. After a snack and a bath, both kids entertained each other while Matt and I sat on the couch and talked about our relationship. 

By 10:30 we were all in bed. 

Not exactly the birthday I had dreamed of...

Here is how I am CHOOSING to see the day:

I got to spend the day knowing that my kiddos were being loved on at their baby-sitter's house. Dad and I got to have a special breakfast together by ourselves. I also got to spend several hours chatting with my dad about anything and everything from gun laws to soap operas to houses to family. I got to have a birthday picnic at home with my special kids and handsome hubby. I was blessed to be able to spend the day being there for my parents and taking care of them, something they have spent their whole lives doing for me. 

I got to witness the love that my parents have for each other, the love that my siblings have for them, and the love that my parents continue to show to everyone. 

I am CHOOSING to feel blessed!