Updates...updated ;)

What a crazy week! The time in the hospital was trying but went super fast too. We are so fortunate that we have such a great support system and all of your prayers. My sickness had gotten really bad that I went to urgent care Thursday night (mom’s nurse urged me to go). I have a sinus and respiratory infection. I also had to have an EKG to make sure everything was ok with my heart. Luckily it was and I got out of there with just antibiotics and Mucinex. I still feel sick but am finally getting my voice back. When I spoke to the boys on the phone, they would ask who I was because they couldn’t recognize me with my voice. Today I have a horrendous migraine on top of it all. This Missouri weather is really hard to adjust to.

The most fantastic news we got was on Thursday afternoon. My mom’s pathology report came back and she is CANCER FREE!!!! God has a plan for everything and either way this could have gone, my trust is in Him fully. These results could not have gone any better. They removed the entire tumor and it was stage 3 cancer. Her lymph nodes came back completely clean! Praise God for such wonderful blessings. We are very fortunate and blessed. Mom’s blood pressure has been scary high (190/106) but it is coming down at times. Please continue to pray for stability with that. They discharged her yesterday from the hospital (days early). I’m not comfortable with how early she was released but what makes her happy is important. She is recovering extremely well. She is not feeling well today after her drive home yesterday and not resting enough. And she tore one of her incisions. So she has to be reminded to still rest even though she is in the comfort of her own home.

The nice thing is that because she was released early, I was able to see the rest of my family this weekend. Not to mention that I got to spend some time with Stephanie and Jason (Scott's youngest sister) a few nights while in Springfield. I spent last night at my sisters house and got to spend time with her, her husband, my brother and all my nephews. It wasn’t expected to see them and I haven’t seen them in over 15 months. My nephews are changing so fast and growing up. Two of them already have their driving permits. I remember the day they were born. So crazy how time flies by. And just so happened that Becky (one of my best friends from high school) also drove down to see her family this weekend so I got to visit with her tonight. I did miss seeing my great friend Martha while in Missouri. Our paths came so close in both springfield and West Plains but it never worked out. So the trip home was bittersweet because of the circumstances but it was nice to see some family and friends since that part was not planned.

William and Harrison were sad today because Gramma and Grandpa Archer left today. I know they had a lot of fun with them and it was nice so they had that distraction because I have never been away from them for more than 3-4 days. They even took them back to Disneyland yesterday. They are so spoiled. I fly home tomorrow and am extremely excited to see them.

I ask that you continue to pray for my mom and a full speedy recovery. Thank you so much for all of your support. I cannot tell you how important and how much I appreciate it.

My Mom

So I know a lot of you are wondering about my mom. A couple weeks ago they found cancer in her colon and scheduled a colon resection surgery to remove the tumor for Feb. 14th. I flew in late on the 12th and woke up to snow on the 13th. I haven't seen snow in years so it was really fun and pretty to experience that again. Little did I think, I would have to drive in the snow and ice in the early morning to get to the hospital (over 100 miles).

We left at 4:45am for the surgery and made it in time by 7am. Mom got checked in and they took her back. We didn't get updates along the way (besides a board stating she was in surgery) At about 2pm, the doctor finally came out and said they were finishing her up. They got the entire tumor out!!!!! The colon resection went "excellent" and they were able to do it Laparoscopically and not open her up all of the way. So everything went fantastic! It couldn't have gone any better. Praise God! He truely has answered many prayers and all of our trust is in Him. Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Today is day 2 in the hospital. She is starting a liquid diet today (1 day ahead of schedule). She is recovering very well. I am impressed by her determination and good spirit. We will find out by Friday if the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes. IF it has spread, she will need chemotherapy BUT her doctor said that with colon cancer, it is very responsive to chemo and she may not even lose her hair. She should be in the hospital for at-least 5 days before being discharged.

So I ask that you please all pray for my mom's recovery and that her results come back negative for the cancer spreading.

Yesterday was a very long day to say the least. I went out to eat with my sister for dinner and leave it to the girl that travels half way across the country to find a stray dog in the parking lot of the restaurant. My heart is too big to just leave so I tried so hard to catch her. It was a yellow lab/shepherd mix. She was probably only 8 months old. It was obviously that she had been beaten by her previous owner because she was incredibly timid and scared. It was so cold outside that I couldn't stand the thought of leaving her. So after a while of trying to catch her, I called in reinforcements. I haven't seen Stephanie (Scott's sister) in a few months but yet I called her to help me catch a pup :) We tried everything and failed. Unfortunately we had to leave. I tried for nearly two hours but I don't think the pup would come for anything she was so scared. For the life of me, I don't understand how people can be so cruel to do this to animals. So this post isn't supposed to be about that but you can see how stressful the day continued to go.

Luckily I finally got more than 2 hours of sleep last night which is good seeing that Missouri weather does not treat me well. I am losing my voice and coughing up green stuff (yes TMI). I don't know how to adjust to this weather. I am a wimp if it is less than 60 degrees out. Getting sick on top of all of this is no good.

Mom is doing much better today and I ask that you please pray for her. I thank you for all your continued support and am very grateful for the warm wishes we are receiving.

Welcome to Missouri!

Just got in last night and woke up to this this morning!

Disneyland Part 2

Jan. 30th, we headed back to Disneyland.  Scott was out of town for Harrison’s birthday and wanted to spend the day celebrating his birthday.  The boys seriously had like two weeks of celebrating their birthdays.  Hopefully they don’t expect this every year :).  Again, we had a blast.  Rode all new rides and bought an autograph book for the boys since they are excited now to meet their favorite characters. 

Harry, “she kissed me!” 

 

We ate at Rain Forest Cafe before heading home but both boys were so tired that they didn’t want to be there.  It was yet again a great time.  Disneyland definitely isn’t just for kids.  It is so much fun for all.  I’m a walking advertisement for them :) 

Disneyland part 1

When Mom and Dad A were in town last, we spent two days at California Adventure and Disneyland.  The boys consider vacation being able to spend the night away from home in a big bed.  Whenever we go somewhere they are more interested in jumping on the bed.  So they were so excited to check into a hotel.  But they were soon in surprise when they found out we were going to Disneyland!  They were so excited.  And this is the first time they actually posed with characters. 

Disneyland has been so much fun (not that it wasn’t in the past).  These are my favorite memories.  Every time we go, it is a whole new experience.  There have been no lines lately so every time we go, we are riding all new attractions. 

After two days of fun, this is the boys on the drive home!

Harry’s 4th Birthday

So I am a bit behind on blogging.  Harry turned 4 on January 27th.  Isn’t he the cutest?!!!

Gramma and Grandpa Archer were in town for his birthday and besides taking us to Disneyland earlier in the week (post to follow), they asked Harry what he wanted to do for his birthday.  If you ever ask Harry what he wants to do, it is always, “chunk in cheeze its!” (ChuckECheese) 

  Harry’s favorite game (air hockey)

Harry requested a Mickey Mouse themed birthday party and hot dogs for dinner.  Yum! 

This was my first attempt at a Mickey cake and it turned out better than I thought I could do-lol.  He was super excited and happy.  A miniature air hockey table!

Harrison is so incredibly cuddly. I can’t believe my little baby is already 4 years old.  He is so sweet and loves to take care of Will and Miss Belle.  He is often thinking about others.  He love Mickey, toy guns, board games and puzzles.  We are blessed!