Coming back to life after chemo

It's been a long, sometimes ugly road of cancer treatment over these past eight months, but I feel that life is finally moving beyond treatment and more and more back into the realm of normalcy... which is what, really??

Well, for me, part of my 'normal' world is reading to my boys at night before bed. I LOVE to do this!! I've always LOVED to do this. It has always been our routine to cuddle up with great books, whether picture books when they are very small or chapter books as they get older. They snuggle into their beds and get very quiet and it has always been the most peaceful time of the day for us. And I get a captive audience! I also get to send them off to sleep while fun and whimsical characters dance through their heads. We all reap the joy of togetherness as we explore different countries and times through stories they'll remember forever. I am so deeply grateful to have the energy once again to have bedtime stories!

Normal is being able to fix a complete meal, serve it AND be able to clean up afterwards! That takes soooo much energy! I never even realized how much work one meal can seem when you are wiped out, but I hope to appreciate how much energy God supplies us with from now on, because it really is awesome.

Normal is choosing to have a lazy day off with the boys and relax in the sun! Imagine the panic that sets in after not actively doing homeschool lessons every day for almost an entire school year! Yikes! I knew the boys were fine & progressing even without my involvement daily, but it wasn't what I had planned for them! (And I have such terrific plans, don't you know???) That made for a mom becoming very stressed about getting good habits back in place and feeling confident that the boys would once again listen to mom- not just as mom, but also as their instructor. I feel the worries melting away and God is replacing it with a glorious peace. No more panic, lots less stress! More play time in the sun!

I'm not completely myself yet- but I am getting there! (And it feels good!) I'm also not (completely) done with treatment, since I have to take a drug for the next 5 years and have checkups every 3 months, oh, and another surgery this summer... but with what I have finished and gone through already- the road ahead seems straight and ***hopefully*** rutless!!!! I'm just going to enjoy being normal for now....

Earth Day fun!

We got our act together and planted some flowers around the house on Earth Day! Seemed like a great way to celebrate our terrific planet and the boys will do anything to play in the dirt! My little loves to water the flowers for me... even after a rain... ;) !

Some mating actions...

During a visit to the FW Zoo this week we had a great encounter at the Flamingo habitat! The males were very vocal and aggressive- clicking their beaks and snapping at one another for mating rights. It was very interesting to watch. My 6 yo son points to this group of loud & crazy acting birds and declares them to be the "Boys" and points to another group that was peacefully resting and says "and those are the GIRLS!" It really is that simple, isn't it? LOL! He always thinks it is so amusing that the boys have to try to impress the girls- who are trying their hardest to ignore them... and so life goes....

What's This???!!! I didn't plan for this!

Oh, how life takes such interesting twists and turns! Of course, if we could chose they would all be pleasant and fun- but life rarely works that way! God knows, we won't grow if we are secluded from pain, embarrassment, humility, and many other negative traits we'd rather not have to deal with in life.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer last month, it was literally like stepping out on a street and being runover by a semi truck that you never saw or heard. And we've been through every possible emotion since then! From fear, terror, and anxiety all the way to joy, gladness and yes! praise!

The huge shock came from not expecting it at all! I had no idea! How could that be? How could I be young (34), healthy, energetic (well, somewhat!), feel great and have CANCER??? The reality of it all just knocked us over. And then we had to get up... or let me say- we were helped up, because even amongst the worst of the news, there was joy or reason to celebrate- God just keeps showing Himself to us again and again and we are truly thankful.

Two of the hardest things to do in all of this: 1) Tell my little beautiful boys....2) Answer those questions that little boys will ask! OK- it's also been extremely hard to see my husband in so much agony over something he can't do anything about! Mr. Fix-it can't fix this and it about killed him! But he is growing in his faith- and that is no small thing! Again I say- I am Thankful!

God is good to us, even in this. I want my children to know and understand that and carry that with them in their life experiences.

I have felt so surrounded by prayer since being diagnosed and it is a wonderous feeling- and undeserving feeling even. My wish is to tell others that may not be aware that breast cancer can strike even young women and we need to be more diligent in our health care. I've always been busy enough just trying to keep the boys healthy and then nursing them to health with their bouts of colds, flu and bronchitis. The time for myself always seemed to be the last thing on my mind. We can be busy moms- whether schooling from home or working or whatever the situation- but we have to realize our importance and start taking care of ourselves!

Please take time to get your check ups! Please encourage those busy moms around you- offer to take their children, make them accountable to you for setting an appointment, or make it a mom's out day! Whatever you have to do, do it!

NOT a friend!!

This is the Black Widow we found last night while watering our plants on the porch. My son was pouring the water in and as it hit the web- the BW went crazy!!! She was in a frenzie! The boys watched her running all over her web trying to attack whatever had caused the disturbance and it was really something to see! I'd never seen one trying to attack yet. (And we've seen many, many Black Widows since being in Texas!) I went and grabbed my camera, took about two shots of her and she went nuts again after seeing my shadow. That was enough observation for us!

Eeeewwww!!!

OK!! This was fascinating- but kind of gross at the same time!!!
This is a mass of web worms we found on our neighbor's Pecan tree.
We hadn't even noticed them- we were actually looking at the webs high in the branches of
the tree and checking the destruction of the leaves- when one my littles
said he had a discovery! This group of worms was near the bottom of the
tree and the caterpillars were then climbing and making their way
all over the tree!!!

Our Butterfly!!

Our Swallowtail emerged after 2 weeks in the chrysalis. The boys were so happy to it and it was truly a very beautiful butterfly. We took a few minutes to sketch it in our Nature Notebooks and then it was time to let it go. They are so good about wanting to "free" any creatures we have.