My Moms Journey..... Ovarian Cancer

My mom was officially diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer yesterday. 

Everything has happened so fast.  Our whole lives changed in a matter of minutes.  As we were on the way to the doctor yesterday, she said that it is amazing how in about a 30 minute meeting your entire life will be altered and never be the same. 

 My mom had all of these symptoms.....

so she had been going back and forth to doctors for a little while.  When they did the pelvic ultrasound, they saw what looked like her uterus... the thing was... she didn't have a uterus.  She had a partial hysterectomy June '12.  So a year and a half ago.  She had a mass at that time but it came back benign.  It was the size of a softball.  She has been hurting on and off pretty much since then.  But her doctors appointments always checked up okay. 

About 2 weeks ago is when she really started hurting bad.  My mom handles pain very well.... so I knew something wasn't right.  She went to the dr and he gave her some medicine and ordered some more tests to be done.  Long story short, she found out Monday, February 3rd at about 5:00 P.M. that she would have surgery the next day, Tuesday.  It caught us both off guard.  The two doctors re-arranged their schedules to operate on her asap.  Kyle wasn't home, but thankfully Dad was.... so I knew he would love to watch the kids for me to take her.  We got to the hospital about 8:45 A.M.  Ready to get things started.  The doctor did meet us in the hall of the hospital and talked to us and then came to her room and talked to us.... that was kinda scary because he was very serious and very concerned.  He told us originally that the new tumor was roughly 11 cm... size of a grapefruit and they could not remove it laparoscopicly.  When he came to her room (they had us in an outpatient room while we waited) he told us that they were going to do it laparoscopic because her blood levels were abnormally high and if they saw cancer, then they would not do surgery and would send us to the cancer center.  So we were praying for surgery. 

Here's my pretty Mama as we waited....

My Uncle Bruce kept us laughing.....

The surgery lasted 2 hours.  That's good right?  Well..... when the doctor came in and told us that what they were dealing with was Ovarian Cancer, it literally felt like he rared back and sucker punched me in the stomach.  I still feel that way today. 

I sat there and shook for about 15 minutes straight.  Pure shock.  I then got my self together and went to the hospital bathroom and just hit my knees.  I didn't care how dirty or germy it was.  That was the least of my concern.  

We thought with surgery that all would be good.  He explained yesterday that they didn't think it was cancer which is why they opened her up. 

So then the next journey began.  Your whole life forever changed.  She had lots of visitors after surgery Tuesday.... but she was out of it until the next day.  We made sure not to discuss anything with her about the results because the doctor was going to explain it the next morning when she was more aware.  Thankfully the kids have wonderful grandparents.  They were taken care of so I could stay at the hospital all day for the next 2 days.  I would stay until about 830 or so at night and leave.

They removed her ovaries, the mass (turned out to be 12 cm), her appendix because it was laying on the mass, and some lymph nodes attached to her aorta.  They also took several biopsies of all they could get to so they could make sure it hadn't spread.  

Her appointment to find out the pathology report results was yesterday at 1:15.  That seemed like an eternity away last week when they told her the appointment.

The hospital stay......

Mother & Son napping LOL....

 Mom seriously has the best coworkers ever.  A pile of them came to visit her in the hospital and her office assistants all made cards for her.  They were SOOOO sweet......

Yana sent me this verse.... and I had my Bible with my at the hospital.  There is NOTHING too hard for God.

Yana sent me this picture of them having a living room picnic while eating pizza and watching a movie :)!

 MeMe kept the kiddos Wednesday... and then brought them to visit us later that day.

Thursday was "go home" day.  We just weren't sure what time.  I got Karter early from preschool so we could go to the hospital.  I could not get there fast enough. 

My energetic Sophie girl was all over the place.  She was loving Babee's hospital bed....

 YAY!!! She was released shortly after lunch.... babies liked the wheelchair.

She had 25 staples... unless I missed some when counting.  And it was a vertical 6" incision.

Kyle got home Thursday afternoon.  Thankfully.  I just really needed a hug from him. 

Sunday morning I had to help with the nursery at church, but Sunday night I could hardly wait to get to the alter.  I just asked God to prepare my heart for yesterday.  I asked Him to give me the strength that I needed to accept whatever was in store.  He did just that.

Mom has been doing great.  She is still a little sore, but each day is an improvement.  Yesterday when we went for her results, it was a room full.  She is so loved.  She got her staples out and that was really the neatest thing.  The incision was kind of bumped together.  Looked like a "log" almost... but with each staple they took out, it flattened.  Was very neat. 

He did explain to us about the results and answered any and all questions.  We will meet with the Oncologist today and discuss chemo treatments. 

I had no clue that when I quit work 1 1/2 years ago that this was in store.  It is amazing how God has everything lined up way before we even know it.  I was able to be there with the surgery, hospital stay, home stay, yesterdays doctor appointment, todays, and the appointments to come.  God really is so good & I am so thankful that I am able to do this with Mom. 

We are going to stay strong and we are going to fight this demon.  Mom is strong and strong willed.  She will beat this.  We all have to be strong for her.   

Parties, Baptism, Silly Pics & More...

 I have had a lot going on, so did not blog my random pictures last week.  So buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the random ride.....

Kman's cute hair during bath time one night at Papa & Nana's.

 Saturday was a week ago Heidi & Kman had parties that the time overlapped, so mom took Heidi to hers and I took the babies to Karter's.  He got to wear his "favorite character" to this party.... so he went as Sully :)!!

 My sweet kiddos on the way to church Sunday before last.... (& Yes.... real 4 year old boys can sit in pink seats and feel masculine :) )....

 That afternoon we were witnesses to Kyle's grandmother getting baptized.  When she got married she converted from Methodist to Baptist.  It was beautiful.  Because she can't get around real good, we did it at the Wellness Center and used the handicap contraption.  Very neat.

Pretty girls as we watched BeBe....

KyKy's silly snap chat of Soph after church haha...

They love their Uncle KyKy

This was cute to me.... because we all know when we get "old" we have to always go to the beauty shop :)

 Kman and I being silly one night.....

 ..... and if y'all have not tried these salads, they are really amazing.  This one had a little kick to it... but there was seriously not a bite left in my bowl.  It was that good.

Karter told me to smile LOL!

 Okay.... I am "that" mom that completely miss read the note that was sent home with us about the letter of the week after not being in preschool for several days because of the ice storm.  SO we went be-bopping in with an "s" object... Sit and Spin..... he wasn't too happy when I picked him up.  He said, "Mama..... the Sit N Spin doesn't start with an M".....

 So the rest of the week we got it right.....

Marshmellow gun & Marshmellows....

Mirror

One of Sophie's many drawings....

Beautiful Heidi

She loves helping Grandmama check her blood sugar.....

 Here is a video of her helping her:

 This past Tuesday my Grandmother turned a young 77 :)!!  We celebrated Monday night at the Mexican Restaurant.  The kiddos and I were in the car playing while we we were waiting to go in...

 This woman is sooooo amazingly beautiful inside and out.  I love her to pieces!

 

Love this picture of her

We got home late several nights last week and one of the nights I checked the mail and found that Brayden had drew each one a picture and mailed them to them.  They were so excited to each have their own mail.  So we sent him back this thank you video :)....

Kyle got in late Thursday afternoon....

 Saturday the kids played outside most all day.  Mom and I sat outside and watched them... and had some company to join :).... then the kiddos went across the fence to Trey's house and played with he and Madelyn.  They had so much fun.

 When they got home, they got baths and then we headed to The Messers for supper.....

Loved how Hank & Sophie were hanging on to each other

My little man yesterday morning before church.... growny self with his legs crossed :)

The girls before church

Afternoon fun of tball :)!!

And leaving you with a couple Sophie videos.  I'm not real sure how she even knows the name "Miley Cyrus"... but she has picked it up from somewhere.... and yes.... I still watch the "Toyia" video and laugh every time.

When A Man Loves A Woman

 Last week with the ice storm, I had all three kiddos home so I didn't take time away from them to blog.  Yesterday a week ago, we continue with our Danny Akin study on Sunday night.  It was awesome....  this kind of jabs all the men folk.... but don't worry ladies, he jabbed us pretty good last night.  So that one is coming.

I love to hear Michael Bolton sing by the way.

Alright.... so buckle your seat belts....
* Gentlemen you should love your wives even when they aren't loveable.

5 Characteristics of a Man's Love (Ephesians 5:25-33)
(1) Love is sacrificial
(2) Love is sanctified
  - Men ask yourselves..... do I help my wife or hender her to grow more like Jesus? 
   (Wow that'll hit ya in the gut)
(3) Love is sensitive
  - You can tell what mood your wife is in just by her walking in the room. 
(4) Love is satisfying
- Does your wife feel she has a place in your life and heart that NO ONE else has?  Not only no one else... but nothing else... don't put other things ahead of your wife.
(5) Love is specific
- Love your wife in such a way that she knows, your kids know, EVERYONE knows.  Your are a 1 woman man.... YOU HEAR THAT??? 1 WOMAN MAN!!!  You honor ONLY her.  

*When you said "I do", you knew the commitment you were getting in to.

Wrong Person + Wrong Place + Wrong Time = WRONG THING HAPPENING!

Amen!!!  NEVER put yourself in a place that puts you in a situation where infidelity is an option.  

*** Husbands KNOW & UNDERSTAND your wife.

7 Ways to Bless your wife:
(1) Be a Spiritual Leader
- There's very few good men unless they know Jesus Christ.  I want to put a BIG AMEN there!
(2) Give her affirmation
- Openly commend her in the presence of others.
- Do the things you do or say make your wife FEEL appreciated?
(3) Show personal affection
- Most men do not know romance from a woman's perspective.
- Women CRAVE romance.
- Men just do NOT get romance.
- Romance is a game of hiding go seek.  She hides it... you seek it.
  EX:  He gave a great example of how he tried to be romantic all evening... everything he tried failed.  That evening his wife had a towel laying in the bed because she always "bathes" down in Skin so Soft... and then lays on the towel until it all soaks in.  So he picked up the towel while she was in the bathroom and smelled it... and said, "this towel smells like you"... he said she turned her head and said... "Now that was romantic....".  That's what he means by women hide it and men have to find it... he didn't even realize the towel was "it". 

Now I have to admit I laughed... A LOT... during this session.  Everything he said was so funny and TRUE!

 - Women's romance changes everyday.  Some days women don't even know where it is.  The towel thing might have been romantic tonight, but not tomorrow.
   ***Taking out the trash can be romantic in a woman's eyes.
- Men suffer from pantry and refrigeration blinders.
   ***AMEN AMEN AMEN!!  Men can go open the fridge or the pantry and immediately ask you where whatever is.... or they may not even be at the fridge or the pantry yet and ask where it is.  Women can tell them exactly what shelf and where on the shelf it is... and tell them from across the house.

       FOR REAL!!!!

(4&5 combined) Initiate intimate communication.  Always be open & honest.

 - Words mean NOTHING to a woman.

 - FEELINGS MEAN EVERYTHING!!!

 EX: How was your day? FINE!!!

         Anything bothering you??? NO!!!

...... and after some minutes have passed the man goes back and asks the woman again, and this time he gets the.... "YOU DIDN'T CARE EARLIER, I KNOW YOU DON'T CARE NOW"!!

HAHAHAHAHA Women.... come on... how true is that???  

  - Goes back to... you know when she is having a bad day.... from the moment you walk in the door from work or she walks in the room.  You. Just. Know.  Show her you care by giving her 15 minutes of undivided attention.  

(6&7 combined) Provide home support & stability.

   #1 Priority....... LORD JESUS

   #2 Priority....... WIFE

   #3 Priority....... CHILDREN

 * Make sure your wife knows your love for Jesus Christ.  It will bless her blesser so to speak.

~~~ Men ask your wives.... what are some ways I can bless you?  

   * Women.... we can't give them the 100 things that we immediately think of (haha).  They'll have brain over load and shut down.  BUT give them a list of 4 or 5 and they can manage that.

**A lot of men do their own thing and leave their wife out.  I am thankful to say that when it comes to Kyle doing his own thing... hunting is about it.  Other than that we are together.  But that's because I don't like hunting.  Y'all have read my rant about that before.  He invites me to go... often... but I get bored STIFF hunting.  I can't talk.  I can't move.  I am not a napper... so I can't nap.  I think of a million other things I could be doing.  

**I hope y'all enjoyed this as much as I did.  Gave me lots and lots of laughter for sure.