STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

I started the New Year off - by taking off work!  YAY Me!  I am so thankful I was able to take the first week of 2012 off from work!

The new year brings a new journey.... one that I've not been down before with my daddy.  So nice to know God is with us on ALL of our journeys. 

After a routine colonoscopy, 5 cat scans and surgery, 3 tumors were removed and my sweet, seemingly "healthy as a horse" daddy was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in late 2011.  Chemo-"therapy" was prescribed. 

Step One:  Port Surgery - Insertion of a port which will accept the chemo cocktail - was installed by Dr. Portera (oncology surgeon) on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.  The surgery itself was about a 40 minute procedure. 




STEP TWO:  Wed, January 4th - He looks so Good!  You wouldn't know he's the patient! 
Just had surgery yesterday and sitting, waiting patiently on the medical oncologist, Dr. Stipinov, to tell us the next steps.

 

"Support Personnel"
aka Sweet Momma



Step TWO: Round One of Chemo



Riding thru Chemo like it's Nothin'

This is the "Treatment Room" - a room that holds about 40 "recliners", many supportive nurses 
and on this day - a pretty lady :0)

We left the treatment center with a pump inserted into the port.  This pump can be worn around the waist or over the shoulder and pumped chemo into the port for another 48 hours. 

Friday, we went back to the treatment center - where they removed the pump.

While I realize this was Round One - of thirteen- God was certainly with us and gave dad strength for the journey!  Praise the Lord - dad experienced very little nausea and overall, did remarkably well.

Now, only twelve more to go!  You can Do it Daddy! 
God gives Strength for the Journey!!!



YOU Matter!

End of the Year 2011 - GrandDaughter Day! Dec 30th & 31st

Grand Daughters Day 2011 consisted of my granddaughters, Catelynn & Chelsea and my grand Daughter, Chloe!  We missed you Crystal!

Got our Aprons On and Ready to Cook!



To make Chuck-E-Cheese Pizza, you first knead the dough...

It's Sticky Nana!

Spread the Sauce on the Baked Dough

Now it's time to Bake Cookies!  First, you add the butter, sugar and eggs....

We didn't use the KitchenAid Mixer - We have the Grand Daughter Mixer!

Time to add the chocolate chips!

Can we Please Lick the Batter?

Time to Reap the Rewards!

All that Grand Daughter Sweetness made these the sweetest Ever :0)

Time for a movie & popcorn - with a little drawing in between



Sweet Girls at the GreenWay



Chloe riding her bike she got for Christmas - on the GreenWay

Perfect Stop for the End of the Year -
Memaw & Popaw's House!







And the rest of 2011...

How quickly time has passed.  I have visions of keeping this blog up to date, and then I end up living life more than writing about it.  Maybe 2012 will bring more writing?  Come what may, I intend to keep up this simple blog with a few readers for one main purpose - the hope that one day my children, grandchildren, friends and family can look back over my blog and see "Wow!  She REALLY loved me!"

Here are a few pics from my blessed life in November and December 2011.  As you can see, the smiles on these faces are just a few of my favorite things in life.  Thank you God!


I turned 46 on Nov 14th & my kids/grandkids had supper with me and even brought the cake (Italian Creme, of course)!



Chelsea

Curtis

Crystal

Collin

Colby

Catelynn

Crockett's

Chloe

Curtis

Dad - aka - GREAT Popaw

Durham family

Crockett Family



Engaged!  Jonah McCallister & Lydia Brannen




Jaycox Family Represented!  This plate is SO VERY SPECIAL!  My sweet sister, Tabitha gave this to me about 15 years ago.  I took it (loaded with cookies) to Mom & Dad's last year for Christmas as Tabitha and family was in New York.  My other sweet sister, Frankie took it home with her last year and brought it back this year (loaded with spicy/yummy crackers)!

 

Mom - aka - Memaw 'busted' as she let Julian sneak more food





Julian & Chloe eating a fudgesicle - well, more like playng with it at this point LOL