Goodness Gracious

Again, it has been ages since I wrote on these pages.  I think about it daily...I really do, but it just seems much easier to post a quick update on FB than to actually have to pull words from the depths of my brain that is quite mushy these days.  I will regret that one day.  Actually, I regret it today.  I have missed chronically so much because of my laziness.

I have made a pact with myself and promised to carve out time every Monday evening to write.  Until next Monday, consider these pictures an update.:)

We are all doing so extremely well.  The big girls keep growing up and maturing despite our best efforts at telling them it's not allowed.  And the "littles", as they are so lovingly referred to, are doing the same.  Growing, walking, talking, counting, singing, emptying potties into my kitchen sink, putting all recyclables in my washing machine, trying on every pair of shoes in this house, "assisting" each other down the slide (you know what I mean), eating crayons, opening every ziploc bag in our entire home that is meant to hold small toys....you get my drift.:)

Kate.  I know you are all interested in Kate's health.  Truly, she is great!!!  She feels good, she looks fantastic and she is gaining strength and endurance by the day.  Just yesterday she walked with assistance along our parallel bars here at home.  GO CAKIE GIRL!!  Her last round of chemo is still pending.  We are waiting for her counts to come back to see where she stands.  I will write a separate post on our girl and cancer.  I don't have my emotions under control right now.

Once again, few words with lots of pictures.  Just know that we LOVE BIG and are taking time away from the other "stuff" to do just that.

In Him,

E

A bit of news

I was thinking, and it's probably not quite fair to each of you that I made the announcement "Hey, my kid has cancer!" then left....just like that.  Lots was going on- treatment, family, getting our 2nd home ready to rent.  I just couldn't find an extra moment to come back here and post updates.  

And then we heard the news last Friday that I thought all of you may just be interested in.  We were ecstatic!!  Completely overwhelmed!!  Grateful!!  Dancing in the halls of the cancer unit!!  Praising!!  Praising!!  Praising!!  Yes, it was that kind of news.  The news we heard was.....

KATE IS IN REMISSION!!!!

Kind of a big deal and worth sharing, don't you think?:)  

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING OUR GIRL TO HEALING!!!!!

AMAZED BY HIS GLORY AND GRACE,

E

Many have asked how to help financially.  A You Caring page has been set up for Kate.  THANK YOU for keeping our girl and our family in your prayers!!

In Him,

E

Too Long

When you have a child who is fighting cancer, time moves at a snails pace while it is flashing by.  If you have lived in this world (and I PRAY you have not), you know what I mean by this. 

It would be so easy to let cancer take charge of our lives and in a sense it has, BUT it is our goal to continue living on and making memories with all of our children.  Cancer has moved in and some days it seems like it is a new family member.  We have to be very intentional about not letting it take the place of any family member, though.

Since my last post, Kate has completed 2 of her 6 rounds of chemotherapy.  She has been in the hospital more nights than I care to count (I type this by her bedside in her hospital room now).  She was admitted for round 1 then developed a fever a couple of weeks later and was readmitted.  During that stay, she had a seizure and what we think was the beginning of an anaphylactic reaction to her meds.  She has been inpatient twice since that visit for treatment.  We have been here now for 19 days waiting for her counts to rebound.  We have celebrated Mother's Day, Father's Day and my birthday in the hospital.  

I REALLY need to be blogging more about life in general around these crazy parts.  I will update here about Kate but also want to make sure that this remains our family blog.  If you would like to follow Kate's journey more closely, please visit her page at www.facebook.com/babycakie.  I post almost daily about Kate's progress and treatment there and often have prayer requests listed as well.  

This post is going to be full of pictures from our past couple of months.  There are several posts I wish to write about specific happenings, and I hope to get to that this week.  Stay tuned.:)

Kate's counts did have a hard time recovering after her first round so we were afforded several extra weeks at home while waiting to be readmitted for round 2.  As much as we were ready to move forward with the next treatment, we were so grateful to just be a family.

Sorry about the lack of words tonight, but this is all my brain has energy for.:)

In Him,

E

Now on the to picture parade~

My big girls.  I hope they don't mind me calling them that.:)

First time bowling for Bubba.  He got the hang of it pretty quickly.

This picture says it all!

Two of my big girls with 2 friends.

Our annual trip to the strawberry patch nestled in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains.  This is one of my favorite days of the entire year.

My youngest love.  She and I have become quite fond of each other these past couple of months spending so much time alone together in the hospital.  She has become an extra appendage.:)

Headlock?  He thought she was squealing with delight!!  Not sure that was the case.

Strike!!!

First time bowling for Celia, too.

My big girls on the night daddy took them all out alone.  I will write a separate post about their necklaces.

This was one of the blessings of Kate's counts not recovering as quickly as we hoped.  We were able to have our family and friends over for an impromptu pot luck dinner, kickball game and outdoor fire complete with s'mores.  What could be better?!?!

Oldest and the boy watching kickball

Our middle trying to get her cousin out.

Mimi with just a few of her 10 grandchildren.

Cousin love!!

Marshmallows!!!!  If you could just hear him say it, you would understand!

Daddy and the boy.

Two of my big girls.:)

Aunt JJ and Kate.  They kind of like each other.

More cousins.

These two are buddies.

This picture pretty much sums up Celia.  Explosive wrapped up in a teeny tiny body!

My youngest love fighting the fight of her life.  This photo was taken while waiting for frozen sorbet.  Yummy!!

Kate was squealing with delight and Charlie was eating it up.

My tiny one.  

No words needed.

Charlie working very hard on matching.

Blessings poured out over our family during Kate's illness. This is just one of the many boxes delivered to our home.  These are for Kate....were for Kate.  She devours them!!

First taste of water balloons.  Trouble brewing.

More blessings poured out on us.  Hot dinner prepared and delivered.  THANK YOU!!!

My two littles- the lightest and darkest.  Notice the bandaid on Kate's finger from labs that morning.  They adore each other.

To throw a little more excitement in the mix, our dogs have decided to wander.  Sarah paid a visit to our neighbor's horses one night and came back with a detached eyeball!!!!!!  Sarah now only has one eye!!

Oh Celia.

For the most part, this is Kate when we are in the hospital.  LOVE this little one!!

Two buddies.  Celia doesn't know what she would do without her.

Okay.  Celia is almost 2 1/2 and still only around 18 pounds BUT  that does not stop her.  She is our  firecracker and gets into plenty of mischief. 

See.

Awesome play area at the hospital!!

Kate cheering Daddy and big sister on from the sidelines!!

I love receiving the pictures from home while I am in the hospital with Kate.  They make my heart swell!!

My mom holding down the fort back at home.  Thank you, Mimi!!