Pictures from the Cancer Battlefield, Part 10: The End is in Sight!

The end is in sight, my friends!  Mom starts her LAST "round A" chemo on Monday!  After that, she has "round B", then.....................................TRANSPLANT!!!!!! 

It's hard to imagine how far we've come since November.  At times, I feel as though I've lived an alternate lifetime here.  There have been moments I felt the wind knocked out of me - I couldn't breath/think, times I thought my heart was stopping from grief and worry...seconds I was sure my whole world was whirling about me while I stood mute and frozen, totally unable to move or scream or cry or do anything positive about my circumstances...only to realize so blatantly that God alone has the power to do that and that He does and that He wants to - He wants to help and heal and save.  A lesson so powerful, it's worth a few months in a cancer center to fully and truthfully comprehend.

There have been days I felt so alone and scared, and then my good Abba father would send in comrades and so much love and support from the most unlikely of places at times that my spirit has been beyond humbled.  I am so blessed.  My life is forever changed by this experience - for the BETTER. 

Sometimes you have to walk through fire to burn the unnecessary bits of life's excess off of your soul - I have, I AM, doing that here.  I know what's important.  I know WHO'S important.  God has helped me to trust Him in ways I NEVER thought possible - what sweet release!  I have witnessed out-right miracles.  I have been privy to things that look like nothing, seem so insignificant; but to those who know, who really understand, it is understood that they are the flipped switches that turn dark to light...death to life.

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks...only a few more to go - hooray!

One day when mom was out-patient, we took her to Gurnee Mills to shop for scrapbooking supplies at Archiver's.

I just love the juxtaposition of the bag of blood lying on top of the Apples to Apples.

Dad and mom at Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

Sean and I at Five Guys.

Our friend, Neil, and mom sporting their matching Angry Birds hats made by Karen Blakely.

SO TRUE!

Mom resting in out-patient clinic while getting a blood transfusion.

Karen Blakely made this for our friend Vince - it looks awesome on him!

This is what happens when you have a super low blood platelet level and you pull your shower shield off too quickly. *sad face*

Sean and I at the Waukegan public beach.

Mom couldn't get out of the van to walk on the beach with us (too cold and dirty), but she waved at us from nearby.

View of the Lake Michigan from the Waukegan Harbor.

Mom and I at Emily's Pancake House.  This place has the BEST breakfasts ever, and I LOVE when mom feels up to going there to eat!

Mom and her fellow stem cell patient, Andy.  He got to leave for home today weeks EARLY post-transplant!  We're so happy for him!

I wish you and yours lots of love and peace,
*mandie*

Pictures from the Cancer Battlefield, Part 9: Birthday Blessings

The Birthday Girl in her princess hat I embellished for her!

Yesterday (February 25th) was mom's 52nd birthday!  I know so many people who worry about getting older, but we all feel incredibly blessed to get to celebrate another birthday with mom.  Who cares how old you are when you are healthy and alive?  We should all be so lucky!

Even though we had to go to clinic (as we do every day), mom still had a pretty good day; and she found out she was no longer neutropenic (woo hoo!), meaning she can eat fresh/raw fruits and veggies again - that's a pretty good birthday present when you've been craving everything from the CTCA salad/fruit/veggie bar!

Vanilla on vanilla "lucky Irish lassy" b'day cake for Quigg (our nickname for mom).

Peanut butter passion cake for all the nurses, doctors, stem cell patients and their caregivers, and whoever else waltzed into the stem cell clinic that day.

Dad cutting the cake with a plastic knife - ah well, it worked!  And, one of the stem cell patients said it was the only thing she's been able to keep down without throwing up for a week - proof that cake is probably the world's best food! ;-)

Mom and her friend, Neil.  He is about a month past his transplant and just found out he is 100% grafted in - WOO HOO!  Can't wait to hear the same news for mom! *oh happy day*

Mom and nurse Veronica getting her blood pressure taken.

Mom and nurse Lisa getting her daily labs drawn (notice both the nurses turned their heads once they saw me with the camera!).

Mom and I in the clinic waiting for her daily blood test results.

Dad and mom in the stem cell out-patient clinic.

Sean with his EMPTY cake plate!

"The Boys", talking shop.

Detail of Quiggs' "birthday girl" princess hat.

Mom reading one of her MANY birthday cards in her "Ang*y B*rd" hat that Karen Blakely made her.  She's had LOTS of compliments on that hat, by the way!

Sean in our apartment in Waukegan watching mom open her cards and presents.

Mom with some goodies from her "part in a bag" from our awesome Hickenbottom Inc. employees.

Angel pin from bowling buddy, Melva Dahl.

Cute and comfy outfit from Mark & Cindy Rinaberger and family.

Ang*y B*rd outfit from Jill Westercamp and her adorable boys!

Whitney drew mom a picture and sent it to her iPad - it's pretty awesome.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who sent mom cards and prezzies for her special day; it really means so much to know that you are thinking of her and praying for her.  She (as well as all of us) appreciate it more than you will ever know!

Here are some pix from the past few weeks:

Mom's childhood friend, Sharon (Holcomb) Strait came to visit her at the apartment.

We had a pizza party in the out-patient clinic one night when mom's infusion lasted until 7:30 p.m.  We pretty much took over and made ourselves at home - of course, the nurses didn't care, because we shared our dinner with them! :-)

Sean and I took two loaves of bread and fed the ducks and geese that live on the pond in the protected wildlife area next to the CTCA.

We were VERY popular that day - ha!

Well, that's about it for today.  Again, thank you to all who have continued to remember mom by mailing her; it really means so very much to hear from those in the "outside world", even those who don't know her very well, she has really enjoyed the letters and cards, so, - THANK YOU!

Life is precious, and I feel blessed beyond measure that my mother has lived to see another precious birthday.  God continues to be good to us; we are grateful and humbled every day by His blessings and mercy.

Love and Hugs to You and Yours,
*mandie*

Daydreaming About Desmond

I know, I know...we shouldn't do it; but we are.  Ever since we were told it was pretty much a 99% chance that the baby would be a boy, we've been calling *him* Desmond and shopping for boy's clothes.  I know it's not smart...what *if* we're in that 1% that gets a girl????  But, we can't help ourselves; we're too excited!

Lately, I have been particularly bad...out-right scouring the web for cute toddler boy's clothes and goodies.  This little guy already has some pretty cool duds to don, and if it's a girl...well, paired with a frilly tutu skirt, I think most of it could be just as cute on a little lady. ;-)

So, what's been catching my eye lately?  Have a look for yourself:

Build-A-Bear Workshop came out with this ADORABLE "Year of the Dragon" plush that Dez just HAS to have!  Since our paperwork went through in January, Dez will be born no earlier than the end of that month; so, he will be our Year of the Dragon, baby; and mom's "re-birthday" from her stem cell transplant will be in this lucky year too.  What a year of blessings!  We want to send one of these to Dez in a care package with our voices recorded telling him how much we love him.

I have recently fallen IN LOVE with the designs of Cath Kidston.  She has so many beautiful things; but her children's clothing and goods are just magical, marrying a feeling of English country with New York hipster - I ADORE it all!  Here are some of the pieces that I'm just dying to buy up for little Dezzy!

Cath Kidston cowboy jumper, $46.

Cath Kidston guards shirt, $34.

Cath Kidston teepee tent (I'm not sure they're making these anymore - BUMMER!).

Another line that is screaming adorable all over the place is Gwen Stefani's "Harajuku Mini" line for T*rget.  I am already guilty of buying a couple of pieces for the *little man*, but I've found more from the spring line that he might also "need".

Harajuku Mini Orange Sea Monster Shirt, $14.

Harajuku Mini blue boy's Pirate Pants, $18.

Harajuku Mini blue Sailor Jacket, $20.

Lately, every time I end up running errands for mom at T*rget or W*al-M*rt or anywhere really, I find myself having to go look at the children's book section.  When I was little, I adored books (still do!).  They were pretty much my most-prized possessions; so, I really look forward to reading with Dez and sharing my most favorite childhood books with him.

"Bee-Bim Bop!" by Linda Sue Park.  This is supposed to be a really good book about Korea cooking and family time.

Korean Children's Favorite Stories

Anything by Dr. Suess

"Under the Same Moon" recordable storybook at Hallmark.  We want to send this in one of Dez's care packages, but every time I try to read it my voice catches in my throat and I have to fight back sobs.

There are sooooo many, MANY more books that I want to read with Dez...too many to name really.  He's going to have quite the bookshelf to work through when he comes home.

We make and eat a LOT of different kinds of Asian food, from Thai to Japanese to Korean; and we use our own, personal chopsticks when eating them of course!  So, it only seems fitting that Dez have his own (*cute*) set of child's chopsticks to use (these have the character, "Crong" the frog, on them - he is on a show called "Pororo" who is a penguin who teaches Korean children colors, shapes, words, etc.).

AND...

Mr. C and I already tried to buy these Ikea Kritter chairs and Kritter table; but they were sadly sold out the day we were there - NEXT TIME!

I'm fairly vocal about my love and admiration for Melissa and Doug toys, but this sushi bento box set is one of my all-time faves!

One of the bigger things we need to finish in the nursery is the rug - a MUST since we have concrete floors (heated though they are).  Our plan at the moment is to create one of our own using these:

Flor tiles in "dashed off", $11.99/tile.

I'm sure I seem like a crazy lady, planning and buying for a baby that we haven't seen yet; but I'm so excited I don't care.  It seems like every day I'm reminded of how much we struggled to get here, but I try to focus on the fact that our baby IS out there.  He IS going to be matched with us.  He IS going to make it home to us, by the grace of God above who set this all in motion and is bringing us all together.  I cannot wait to see my little guy's face; but in the meantime, I'll keep daydreaming...

All the Love in the World,
*mandie*