It's Just Hair..... It's Just Hair..... Hair Shaving Party

 First.... no worries... I have permission from Mom to do this post :)!!  We both see doing these as not only therapy, but a good source to come back to look at how far she has come and the steps she has over come.

A lot of you are probably like we were.... completely oblivious to how this whole "cancer process" really works.... and how the hair really falls out.  

Her hair started coming out Friday April 4th. 

 .... and by coming out I mean like you run your fingers through it and it just comes out by chunks. 

By Friday April 11th, she was only able to do a side braid.  By doing a braid she could hide the thin spots.  Now to the average person you can't tell, but to us.... we can tell big time.  Her hair has always been so thick.... especially her braids. 

 Karter had a game Friday night and after the game we went to eat Mexican with Babee and MeMe.  When we got finished eating we all came to our house and Mom showed us how bad it had gotten.  We just kind of made it a family affair.  (Sadly Tyler was at work :(...... but we were sure to not shave it until Saturday so he could be there). 

 I'll be honest, I fought back the tears.  It just really made the cancer "real" when her hair started coming out.... and she has had some tearful moments too.  It's just emotional....

 Karter wasn't wanting any part of it, but the girls were really having a good time.

Just one of the bundles that they gathered.

Pretty thin huh?

 Once they did all they wanted to for the night, Mama just hugged me and we both stood there embraced and crying.  I think it was more of reality tears than anything else.  I couldn't talk for a few seconds and Mom just kept saying, "IT'S ONLY HAIR.... RIGHT?? IT'S ONLY HAIR!!"

So Saturday morning we went to her house, My Uncle Sonny, Aunt Mandy, and Hank.... and had us a head shaving party.  Uncle Sonny and Aunt Mandy brought some yummy gourmet donuts and I brought Hardees.  It was a fun breakfast gathering. 

Her thin hair as we sat there eating.....

 
 Once we got finished eating, we all went outside and Uncle Sonny did some magic :)!! 

 .... You know you have to have a good time while doing it... so he experimented with a few different hair styles :)!!  Mama was a great sport!!

Watching.....

Hair sweepers :)

I love this picture.... she was waving to one of the kiddos.... she was AWESOME!

Does she not look stunning?

 We realized that when you have no hair, your true beauty shines through.  Her smile... her eyes.... Moms hair was always "her thing".  Growing up we were never allowed to touch it or play with it.  SHE. LOVED. HER. HAIR!!!!  So it really is funny that over the past week we were able to touch it and "pull it out"....  and she was A-Okay with it.....(Side note: When they got finished with Moms hair Friday night, Sophie came up to me and grabbed a big hunk and tried to pull it out.... ouchie!!!  I had to explain I didn't have the medicine that Babee had to make it come out).

 ... When your hair is coming out, you begin to think about how your head looks.  Mama was so worried that she might have a bumpy head, or big freckles she didn't know about.... or an ugly head in general.  Something you don't generally have to consider.  Her head really is beautiful and perfect. 

I am in love with this picture! (After we took it we laughed at the OMS pride showing through as well).

 Mom absolutely loves working at the school.  She is so thankful for everyone she works with.  Her boss, friend, and prayer warrior sent this.....

was that not absolutely amazing?  Took so much bravery for him to do that.

 We had been on Tyler for a while about getting a hair cut..... well after Mom's was shaved, he didn't think twice about letting her buzz his all off.  It looks so good.

Love this!

You have to make it fun! 

 Karter was begging to have his cut all off too.... but thankfully we had a birthday party to get to, so I was able to get out of cutting his.

After the party, we went to Dad & Yana's and he was still talking about it there.  All you  have to mention to Papa is wanting a hair cut and he'll take care of it :)!  They got my permission of course... and I didn't think twice that time.  If he was still asking to be like Babee and KyKy, how could I say no? 

It really looks so good on him.  Makes him look too growny for me though, but he absolutely LOVES it!

 ..... and then they wanted to do Papa's too!! 

 So it really was a big family hair cutting, hair shaving day!

Mom and Tyler took off to the wig shop.  She had been several times before she lost her hair and it was a little overwhelming, emotional, and hard to decide when you "have hair" she said.  Plus hard to fit.  But she found one and it is perfect! It looks so natural and fits so well. 

They are so crazy!!

 Is it not beautiful????

We laugh thinking about the day that we are out in public and Sophie yanks it off.  We know it's coming...... she just has to think about it a little bit.... but it's coming.

** As you can see, it is what you make of it.  Mom could have curled up in her bed and refused to get up and refuse to let us be a part of it, but instead she embraced it.  She saw it as an opportunity for us all to be involved and it is something the kids will never forget.  The pictures, the videos, are all keepsakes we will forever cherish.

She is so very brave!  And courageous!  And beautiful!  I am so thankful she found a wig so she wouldn't have to wear Sophie's blue lalaloopsy one haha!  She also has some beautiful hair wraps she'll wear sometimes.