Three rounds down- it is working!

 Huge, HUGE, amazing praise to start off this blog post. My CT scan revealed marked improvement to the size of the tumors. This means praise God & it all has been working!

The last month has been full of work, Quickball, Mother's Day celebrations, finishing cancer care bags with Emma, Wil running, and dedicating Parker at church. 

Dario Dinner and treats

Emma and I have worked on these chemo care kits for the last several months. I was able to drop off the "old people" kits a few weeks ago and Emma brought the kids' bags to Brenners this past week. My nurse navigator- Robin- was able to pass them out and the chemo room held on to a few to continue handing out. Emma also made us matching shirts which are just amaing! 

The "old people" bags delivery!

Parker got the stomach but during my Week 2 of this last cycle. Poor thing was pitiful. Thankfully, the rest of the house didn't get it. Parker did have to get COVID tested again but it was negative. We were still having to push fluids to prevent her from getting dehyrdated, so Wil stayed at home with her for my Week 3 infusion. I had my wonderful friend, Ann Batista, who was able to join me! I was able to debut the pillow that we made when we didn't think Wil would be able to come to chemo with me. The nurses got a huge kick out of it! Ann was the one who introduced me to these embroidery kits. I've finshed a few of them already. 

I am so very proud of Wil and his running. We both started running during quarantine last year and he has kept up with it! Wil and his sister, Holly, both ran a 1/2 marathon a few weekends ago at Lake Norman. What you can't see in the picture is that my sister-in-law ran with an old school Walkman... Bless her heart

Mother's day was amazing. The kids (with Wil's help) gave me a wonderful book that features them and their Superhero Mommy. Wil's inscription in it made me cry talking about how I am a true super hero fighting cancer, working, being a mom and wife. 

Grandma opening her Mother's Day present

Ooma opening her presents

My parents were able to come to our house to watch Wilson's Quickball practice and Parker's dedication at church on Sunday. Parker was so excited to see her Pop Pop that she started running as soon as she saw him. Wilson was invited to a special practice for Quickball. 

Parker's dedication was orginally scheduled November 2019 but had to be postponed because I was still recovering from my last cancer operation. We rescheduled it for Mother's Day 2020 and that was cancelled because of COVID. So third time was a charm! We scheduled it during my Week 4 which is the week I don't have chemo so I would be feeling my best. I actually felt up to doing a walk/job interval twice that week. I haven't done that or felt up to that since I started chemo. 

 I put the link here if you want to see it. It is after Ms. Marie does the kids' lesson and at the start of the service. Both kids did a great job!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7JzbAquHbA&t=167s

Parking playing with Pop Pop at Wilson's Quickball practice

Sweet prayers for our family

Everyone laughing when Parker clapped at the end of "Jesus loves me" song

We met with Dr. Skinner on 5/17/21 for the results of the CT scan, labs, and treatment. Praise the Lord that it showed that this chemo regimen is working! Tumors are shrinking! The plan is to keep on the same regimen for another 3 months/3 cycles and do another CT scan. Then we will reassess to see if more chemo will be needed. My hemoglobin is continuing to drop and is at 9.6 now (should be between 12-14 optimally). This can explain some of my shortness of breath and fatigue. Even with that, I was able to go on a walk the afternoon after chemo and a job/walk on Tuesday!

Celebratory shaved iced at Cindy's

Prayer Requests:

1. For our friends the Hemphills during their treatment process for Emma's cancer. 

2. Prayers that the chemo care kits are used to show God's love and ours to those battling cancer. 

3. HUGE praise that my chemo is working. 

4. Pray for side effects to continue to be manageable. Mainly fatigue, nose bleeds, and low hemoglobin.