The words spill out of my mouth so easily because it's what I do every day.
Well, yes...Talk. But also assist others with their coping skills and help them link their behavior with natural consequences.....as well as recognizing how adoption can be connected to their thoughts, feelings and behavior.
One client deals with sadness and depression, another with anxiety. One is lying, stealing and hoarding food. Another is contemplating searching for his birthmother so that he can finally find some of the missing puzzle pieces to his identity. And yet another struggles with controlling her anger and impulses.
And it's so easy to sit behind my desk and suggest ways that they can cope with their feelings. Give them practical tools such as breathing exercises, journaling, drawing, time-ins, bonding activities with family members, sit in their room for a nice cool down or punch their pillow to release that squashed anger.
What's not easy is figuring out how to deal with my own broken heart that is hurting for my little boy.
Most who know our family would say that Reese is not only the spitting image of me but also my mini-me personality :-).
However, my sweet little sensitive boy definitely has the same love language of his mama. He needs affirmation, needs to be cuddled, needs to process his feelings verbally and needs you to listen to him. He FEELS things deeply.
I was not prepared to have some of the conversations I have had with my 5 year old just yet.
When I think of my clients and some of the adjustments/changes they have had to endure it always amazes me how well most of them are doing. I mean, think about how stressed out we get if we have to change jobs or find a new church. It sets us into mild depression. Or really, even on a different note...how many of us experience depression just with the season change? So, we're adults and you would think that by now we have better coping skills than we did when we were 13 but honestly, do we really?
And with that said, do I really expect my developing 5 year old to have it all together when he:
1) Moved into a new house and town a few months ago
2) Has all new neighbors and friends
3) Will go to a new school where he knows maybe 1 other child
4) Is starting KinderCare 2 days a week until school starts and will then do the after school program
5) Not only is going to a new school but is going ALL day when he used to go 3 half days.
6) Feels scared and alone and is worried that he won't make new friends.
7) Will be promoted at church to the new age group where only some of his friends will be going
8) Will no longer see his Grandma 3 times a week
9) Started wearing glasses a month ago and needs to wear them all the time indoors
I tell ya, my little boy is going through tons of adjustments right now. And YES I do realize that most kids go through all of this as well and YES I do realize that we will get through it and YES I do realize that it will only get harder as time goes by.
But this is our reality right now. I am having a really difficult time figuring out how to balance Ethan's need to process his feelings while at the same time trying not to talk about it too much so that he causes himself so much anxiety.
He really is like me. He asks to talk about things. He wants to discuss his feelings and sometimes when we have those talks we see some progress because we hit on something that he can relate to or I give him a good analogy that he understands.
I'm still trying to find some good coping skills for him and his anxiety. He has bonded with one of the teachers at KinderCare and is making slow progress there.
I'm also trying to figure out how I can deal with my broken heart. It's tough seeing your kids hurting.
Ethan is not one of my clients and I'm not his therapist. I'm his mom and he's my boy. So while I would like to think that I have the answers since I help others in similar situations .....I don't.
Prayer has been the answer so far. Ethan has even tried it several times.
"Dear Jesus: Please make today be a short day at KinderCare and make me never go back there again".
:-)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
I faked It
I faked it for one day.
I acted like I do it all the time.
I let people think that it was common place for me.
Only my friends knew.
I didn't even tell the kids until we got there. Surprise!
I was completely exhausted, but it was worth every single minute.
Shhhhhh.....
I had a "mental health day": took a day off from work and acted like I was a stay at home mommy. I piled the kids in the car, the sit and stand stroller, two coolers filled with lunch, snacks and drinks and we took off for the zoo.
We met our friends there. 7 kids and 4 adults. 4 kids under 3. :-) Two wagons and three strollers did not stop these crazy women (oh and Danny....my friends husband). Susan was pushing a stroller and pulling a wagon at the same time. Then Andrea was pulling two wagons with five kids at one point because my daughter was NOT about to be excluded! Those are some strong women!
We saw animals. Played. Ate lunch. Enjoyed the fabulously wonderful weather! The kids got along. The parents laughed at the kids having fun. We snapped a few pictures. Ending with the obligatory carousel ride.
Reese fell asleep on the way home, veggie straws still in hand. Ethan consulted his map (from the zoo) and directed me home. We almost ran into the giraffes a few times :-). We grabbed some Culver's and ate out in our driveway as Reese continued her snooze-fest.
Then Mommy got to take Ethan to his first gymnastics class. I looked on proudly through the windows as he tumbled, jumped and hung upside down.
AHHHHHHHH ........Perfect day for my pseudo "SAHM mental health day".
I think I might just have to make this a habit......until my PTO days run out. :-)
I acted like I do it all the time.
I let people think that it was common place for me.
Only my friends knew.
I didn't even tell the kids until we got there. Surprise!
I was completely exhausted, but it was worth every single minute.
Shhhhhh.....
I had a "mental health day": took a day off from work and acted like I was a stay at home mommy. I piled the kids in the car, the sit and stand stroller, two coolers filled with lunch, snacks and drinks and we took off for the zoo.
We met our friends there. 7 kids and 4 adults. 4 kids under 3. :-) Two wagons and three strollers did not stop these crazy women (oh and Danny....my friends husband). Susan was pushing a stroller and pulling a wagon at the same time. Then Andrea was pulling two wagons with five kids at one point because my daughter was NOT about to be excluded! Those are some strong women!
We saw animals. Played. Ate lunch. Enjoyed the fabulously wonderful weather! The kids got along. The parents laughed at the kids having fun. We snapped a few pictures. Ending with the obligatory carousel ride.
Reese fell asleep on the way home, veggie straws still in hand. Ethan consulted his map (from the zoo) and directed me home. We almost ran into the giraffes a few times :-). We grabbed some Culver's and ate out in our driveway as Reese continued her snooze-fest.
Then Mommy got to take Ethan to his first gymnastics class. I looked on proudly through the windows as he tumbled, jumped and hung upside down.
AHHHHHHHH ........Perfect day for my pseudo "SAHM mental health day".
I think I might just have to make this a habit......until my PTO days run out. :-)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
True Ramblings of a Working Mom.....
First before I start in on my ramblings, I want to get something out of the way.
I love my job. I love being able to help people as a social worker and after 16 years I know for sure that this is what God wants me to be doing.
With that said, as a mother of two I sure wish that I could have a different schedule. I long for the day when I can work part-time and spend more quality time with my kids instead of trying to cram that time with them into the late evenings, early mornings and weekends amongst the mundane chores of running the household, cooking meals, doing laundry and grocery shopping.
But that's just not an option right now. Jimm and I knew when we got married that I would have to work full time until his business started to grow. He has finally found the right combination of business partners and business industry that has enabled his company to become what is it today. But he's still not making enough for me to quit my job or to work part-time. All in due time.
We also made the choice to upgrade into a new home instead of staying where we were at. There are several different reasons for this, which I don't necessarily feel obligated to mention, but I'm sure some people wonder why I'm complaining about my work schedule and lack of money to allow me to work part-time: we CHOSE to put a house first. We wanted to give our kids a yard, their own rooms and a good school system. And we are so glad we did.
We make our hectic schedules work. Jimm leaves the house at 6:30am and doesn't return until 5pm. I leave the house either at 8am or 10/11am depending on appointments that I have scheduled at work and then I don't return to the house until 6pm or sometimes as late as 9/9:30pm. I have the morning routine with the kids and am MOST of the time home with them for bedtimes as well.
Why am I writing about all of this?
Because summers are VERY hard for me. I have several friends that are teachers and although I usually relate to them as full time-working mama's they DO get their summers off.
And so many times I feel very alone in the summer time. I see invitations to parks, picnics, pool parties, the beach, playdates, the zoo.....all during the week when I sit behind my desk looking out at the sun but never getting to enjoy it.
I am SO grateful that I have the job I do and that Jimm and I are employed. Please don't get me wrong. I am just venting about my feelings. How I feel *jealous* when so many other moms get to play with their kiddos outside, doing the fun things that I long to do with my kids.
And then I also feel guilty. Guilty because my kids don't always get to play with their friends or go places with their friends because mommy is stuck at work. I can't ask my mom and our sitter to trek my kids all over creation..... and so we wait until the weekend to do fun stuff.
Last summer my group of friends tried very hard to include me in whatever plans they were making even if they knew that I might not be able to make it or get the day off. And I definitely appreciated that. I realize that plans are sometime last minute and not something that is scheduled way ahead of time.
With that said....a shout out to all of my SAHM friends.....one of the nicest things you can do for us working moms is to just extend an invitation so that we feel included. Even if we know it's impossible for us to attend a playdate or event...it's just nice to get that invite. It makes us feel like you remember that we too have kids the same age as your kids and that you are thinking about us.
One of the things I told my friends last summer is that I get 4 weeks of vacation plus sick time. I am in a supervisory role....so sometimes I CAN take a day off during the week to go to the zoo or the splash park with the kids. If I know ahead of time. Or if it's on a Friday and I only have to take a 1/2 day off since we now have summer hours again! WOOHOO!!!!
I love my job. I wish I worked part-time. I love and adore my kids & wish I could spend more time with them.
Ramblings.... of a working mom.
I love my job. I love being able to help people as a social worker and after 16 years I know for sure that this is what God wants me to be doing.
With that said, as a mother of two I sure wish that I could have a different schedule. I long for the day when I can work part-time and spend more quality time with my kids instead of trying to cram that time with them into the late evenings, early mornings and weekends amongst the mundane chores of running the household, cooking meals, doing laundry and grocery shopping.
But that's just not an option right now. Jimm and I knew when we got married that I would have to work full time until his business started to grow. He has finally found the right combination of business partners and business industry that has enabled his company to become what is it today. But he's still not making enough for me to quit my job or to work part-time. All in due time.
We also made the choice to upgrade into a new home instead of staying where we were at. There are several different reasons for this, which I don't necessarily feel obligated to mention, but I'm sure some people wonder why I'm complaining about my work schedule and lack of money to allow me to work part-time: we CHOSE to put a house first. We wanted to give our kids a yard, their own rooms and a good school system. And we are so glad we did.
We make our hectic schedules work. Jimm leaves the house at 6:30am and doesn't return until 5pm. I leave the house either at 8am or 10/11am depending on appointments that I have scheduled at work and then I don't return to the house until 6pm or sometimes as late as 9/9:30pm. I have the morning routine with the kids and am MOST of the time home with them for bedtimes as well.
Why am I writing about all of this?
Because summers are VERY hard for me. I have several friends that are teachers and although I usually relate to them as full time-working mama's they DO get their summers off.
And so many times I feel very alone in the summer time. I see invitations to parks, picnics, pool parties, the beach, playdates, the zoo.....all during the week when I sit behind my desk looking out at the sun but never getting to enjoy it.
I am SO grateful that I have the job I do and that Jimm and I are employed. Please don't get me wrong. I am just venting about my feelings. How I feel *jealous* when so many other moms get to play with their kiddos outside, doing the fun things that I long to do with my kids.
And then I also feel guilty. Guilty because my kids don't always get to play with their friends or go places with their friends because mommy is stuck at work. I can't ask my mom and our sitter to trek my kids all over creation..... and so we wait until the weekend to do fun stuff.
Last summer my group of friends tried very hard to include me in whatever plans they were making even if they knew that I might not be able to make it or get the day off. And I definitely appreciated that. I realize that plans are sometime last minute and not something that is scheduled way ahead of time.
With that said....a shout out to all of my SAHM friends.....one of the nicest things you can do for us working moms is to just extend an invitation so that we feel included. Even if we know it's impossible for us to attend a playdate or event...it's just nice to get that invite. It makes us feel like you remember that we too have kids the same age as your kids and that you are thinking about us.
One of the things I told my friends last summer is that I get 4 weeks of vacation plus sick time. I am in a supervisory role....so sometimes I CAN take a day off during the week to go to the zoo or the splash park with the kids. If I know ahead of time. Or if it's on a Friday and I only have to take a 1/2 day off since we now have summer hours again! WOOHOO!!!!
I love my job. I wish I worked part-time. I love and adore my kids & wish I could spend more time with them.
Ramblings.... of a working mom.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Mommy Wars
You feed your kid McDonald's? Shame on you.
You didn't breastfeed? Oh, wow. Don't you realize how many nutrients are in breast milk and how good it is for the attachment process?
Gogurts? Oh, my gosh...so much dye & sugar, it's hardly worth it.
You work? Oh, wow that must be so hard to leave your kids every day. I could never do that.
Stay at home mommy? Oh, you're so lucky. I just could never do it.
You nursed until he was 4? Aren't you afraid you're going to damage his self-confidence?
Oh, the mommy wars seem to be extremely heated these days. Is it the fact that so many mommies are blogging? Facebooking? Tweeting? And if the answer is yes, maybe they should refer back to my blog post about trying to be a "hands free" mama anyway.
But some mommies are blogging to make money as a way to supplement their family's income. And so part of the way that they make money is how many "clicks" they get on their page. It would only be natural for them to want to spark some controversy with their posts to get more people clicking on their pages. Once things go viral everyone has an opinion.
But why are mommies declaring war on each other? I read a facebook post today about Gogurt. Yes, the cute little tubes of yogurt that we hand our kids because they can eat it on the go and fairly independently. One mom posted that it "makes lazy parents feel like they are giving their kids something healthy".
Wait, what?
You just called all of us who have Gogurts in our refrigerators "lazy".
And that comment sparked a whole thread with about 100 comments. Craziness.
Why are mommies breaking each other down instead of building each other up?
It seems like we're in competition. My kid started walking at 10 months. Billy started talking at 3 months.... *cough* *!)#* crap *.
When I was at Ethan's kindergarten screening I was listening to the conversations around me. These parents were watching their kids like a hawk during the screenings to see what they could or couldn't do.
"Oh, did you see her?" "She missed catching the ball twice. Poor thing she must be having some gross motor delays". WHAT?
She missed the freaking ball while 100 parents are sitting watching and she's being evaluated by strangers? Maybe she was just nervous. Maybe she looked the other way when the ball was coming.
SIGH.
I have to admit, I worried about certain things with Ethan. He was my preemie. I still worry more about him than I do Reese. He's my sensitive guy. Reese cries for a second and she's fine. But I was concerned about him not walking right away. I still feel he was a late walker at about 15 months but then I was talking to a mom today and all three of her girls were 14-18 months.
It reminded me once again that I need to stick to my line of thinking that each kid is different and grows at their own pace. Ethan will be on the younger side of his classmates. He literally just turned 5, where some of them have been 5 since last September.
And I also don't want to take part in mommy wars. I can be passionate about certain things. I can voice my opinion but I sure hope I do it respectfully and tastefully. If I don't do that, please call me out on it.
And a side not to all of those mommies who were able to breast feed your kids: Just because someone didn't, doesn't mean that it was a CHOICE for them. I had no choice in the matter. I had surgery 2 weeks after Ethan was born and started chemotherapy 2 weeks after that. So, while I am 100% an advocate for breast feeding your child if you can, just keep in mind those unique circumstances in which some mom's had no choice in the matter.
I was planning on nursing Reese. Had every intention, even with just one breast. However, I let my post partum craziness/feelings get the better of me. I didn't want to fail. I also felt that it wouldn't be fair to Ethan if I was able to breastfeed Reese. I know, I know. He would have never known. They were my own fears that I had to deal with and instead of sucking it up and just moving forward, I chose to take the "easier" route.
Mommies: Let's stop judging and cutting one another down. Let's build each other up, encourage those in times of need and give each other a break.
You didn't breastfeed? Oh, wow. Don't you realize how many nutrients are in breast milk and how good it is for the attachment process?
Gogurts? Oh, my gosh...so much dye & sugar, it's hardly worth it.
You work? Oh, wow that must be so hard to leave your kids every day. I could never do that.
Stay at home mommy? Oh, you're so lucky. I just could never do it.
You nursed until he was 4? Aren't you afraid you're going to damage his self-confidence?
Oh, the mommy wars seem to be extremely heated these days. Is it the fact that so many mommies are blogging? Facebooking? Tweeting? And if the answer is yes, maybe they should refer back to my blog post about trying to be a "hands free" mama anyway.
But some mommies are blogging to make money as a way to supplement their family's income. And so part of the way that they make money is how many "clicks" they get on their page. It would only be natural for them to want to spark some controversy with their posts to get more people clicking on their pages. Once things go viral everyone has an opinion.
But why are mommies declaring war on each other? I read a facebook post today about Gogurt. Yes, the cute little tubes of yogurt that we hand our kids because they can eat it on the go and fairly independently. One mom posted that it "makes lazy parents feel like they are giving their kids something healthy".
Wait, what?
You just called all of us who have Gogurts in our refrigerators "lazy".
And that comment sparked a whole thread with about 100 comments. Craziness.
Why are mommies breaking each other down instead of building each other up?
It seems like we're in competition. My kid started walking at 10 months. Billy started talking at 3 months.... *cough* *!)#* crap *.
When I was at Ethan's kindergarten screening I was listening to the conversations around me. These parents were watching their kids like a hawk during the screenings to see what they could or couldn't do.
"Oh, did you see her?" "She missed catching the ball twice. Poor thing she must be having some gross motor delays". WHAT?
She missed the freaking ball while 100 parents are sitting watching and she's being evaluated by strangers? Maybe she was just nervous. Maybe she looked the other way when the ball was coming.
SIGH.
I have to admit, I worried about certain things with Ethan. He was my preemie. I still worry more about him than I do Reese. He's my sensitive guy. Reese cries for a second and she's fine. But I was concerned about him not walking right away. I still feel he was a late walker at about 15 months but then I was talking to a mom today and all three of her girls were 14-18 months.
It reminded me once again that I need to stick to my line of thinking that each kid is different and grows at their own pace. Ethan will be on the younger side of his classmates. He literally just turned 5, where some of them have been 5 since last September.
And I also don't want to take part in mommy wars. I can be passionate about certain things. I can voice my opinion but I sure hope I do it respectfully and tastefully. If I don't do that, please call me out on it.
And a side not to all of those mommies who were able to breast feed your kids: Just because someone didn't, doesn't mean that it was a CHOICE for them. I had no choice in the matter. I had surgery 2 weeks after Ethan was born and started chemotherapy 2 weeks after that. So, while I am 100% an advocate for breast feeding your child if you can, just keep in mind those unique circumstances in which some mom's had no choice in the matter.
I was planning on nursing Reese. Had every intention, even with just one breast. However, I let my post partum craziness/feelings get the better of me. I didn't want to fail. I also felt that it wouldn't be fair to Ethan if I was able to breastfeed Reese. I know, I know. He would have never known. They were my own fears that I had to deal with and instead of sucking it up and just moving forward, I chose to take the "easier" route.
Mommies: Let's stop judging and cutting one another down. Let's build each other up, encourage those in times of need and give each other a break.
Monday, May 14, 2012
5 years ago
I wrote this last week and saved it. I am posting it before Ethan's birthday and the "anniversary" of my cancer diagnosis. Why? Because at the end of this week my little boy will be graduating pre-school, going on his field trip for school, having his 5th birthday party and celebrating. I want to be there for him fully (physically and emotionally); so I am thinking about all of this ahead of time.
Keep my in your prayers if you will. I realized yesterday at church (when the message was on "Moments") that 5 years ago everything happened on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday combo....it is the same this year. Exact same dates. It might be too easy to fall into remembering that.....so your prayers are appreciated! Thank you for all of your support!
Dear Ethan,
After you were born I was encouraged by many to write you a letter describing the various events that took place a few days before you were born as well as several months after you were born.
I am now just getting around to writing you that letter. Not because it wasn't important to me. But just the opposite. It is extremely important to me. So important that I haven't been able to find the words to write this letter until now.
Every attempt to write this letter before now has left me sitting at the keyboard sobbing. Getting choked up. In fact, just typing those words has once again left a nice little lump in my throat.
You see, even though it has been five years it is still as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. The sounds, the feelings, where I was standing, sitting and pacing back and forth. I can still picture your dad standing by the big window of our tiny house calling our close friends and family to tell them that you were arriving a whopping 5 weeks earlier than we had anticipated.
We were overjoyed to know that we were going to meet you sooner but we were scared to death of why.
My sweet, generous, curious little boy: Your mama was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer just a few weeks before your due date. I was, before this diagnosis, the "epitomy" of health. I had never broken a bone, never been hospitalized & had only had small bouts of illnesses that I easily recovered from. One night laying in bed I felt something abnormal in my breast and mentioned it to your dad. I then called your grandma who assured me that things change with pregnancy but that I definitely should mention it to the doctor the next time I went in.
The doctor didn't like how the lump felt and sent me for a breast ultrasound. That's when things started getting scary. At not quite 34 years old I was sent for my first mammogram. You'll understand what this is when you get older but it's a test to check for cancer or other abnormalities. Usually doctors recommend that you start getting them when you turn 40. So I was pretty nervous that they wanted me to get one when I was 33 and 8 months pregnant with you!
At my next pre-natal visit to check on you, the doctor discussed the results with me and told me that the lump was "suspicious" and that we needed to immediately make an appointment with a surgeon.
Your dad and I were completely shocked at this point. We weren't prepared for the word "suspicious". We really thought that everything was going to be fine.
So, we apprehensively called the surgeon and made an appointment. After an exam on the morning of May 18, 2007 the surgeon decided to do a core biopsy of the lump right at his office. It was a Friday morning and he wanted to get the biopsy over to the hospital to be looked at right away. I remember him getting on the phone with the hospital and yelling at them that they needed to get this biopsy looked at asap because he had a young, pregnant lady waiting for her results! After the biopsy your dad and I left the doctor's office in a daze. We stopped and fed our fear with Culver's (can you tell I remember every single detail?).
We walked into the house and just a few minutes later got a call from the surgeon. He asked us why we left the office and we told him that the nurse told us to because she didn't think we would hear anything until after the weekend. He then said that he hated to tell us what he had to tell us over the phone.
My heart dropped. His words became mush in my ears. My eyes are stinging right now remembering. Time slowed yet it didn't. It was as if it was happening to someone else.
And then that word............................ Cancer.
I think I might have blacked out for a brief period (not really, but that's what it felt like). And then my OB/GYN was getting on the phone. I snapped back into reality.
Now, they weren't just talking about me but they were talking about you. My baby.
They wanted to induce labor so that they could figure out the next steps for my treatment and surgery.
So many questions were circling through my head but I couldn't find the words. Your daddy took the reins on that one. Will the baby be ok? Is it too early? What will the risks be?
We were assured that you would be fine. We were told to go to the hospital that evening to start the induction process. To take our time....but not really. They wanted us there that night and it was already 4pm or so.
We hung up. And I sobbed. Those heart-wrenching, breath caught in your throat sobs. Your dad wrapped me in his arms but he had his own emotions he was dealing with as well.
Your Grandpa and Grandma, Grammy and Papa all rushed to be with us. They stayed for awhile but went home because we knew you weren't ready to come just yet. They came back the next day as did so many of our friends and family to support us. God lifted us up through that crazy time and He assured us that you would be ok!
You made your appearance into this world at 2:22am on Sunday, May 20th. It was a long labor but when it was time to push you made it pretty easy on your mama :-). Three pushes and you were out! We all held our breath as we waited to hear your cry and to make sure you were ok. And you were. Even at 5 weeks early you were 6lbs. 0oz. and 19 inches long. You were perfect.
Mommy and Daddy got to love on you and settle in with you before the doctors started working on me. I had surgery to remove the cancer on June 1st, 2007. During the surgery the doctors checked to see if the cancer spread into the lymph nodes or anywhere else. They described it as a miracle that it had not. Did you hear that, Ethan? It was a miracle! I want you to remember that. You are mama's miracle.
And I also want you to realize that you saved my life. Yep. That's how I see it.
The cancer was already there but when I became pregnant the hormones from the pregnancy made the lump grow and I was able to detect it and feel it on my own. If I hadn't become pregnant, I could still be walking around today not knowing that the cancer was growing inside of me.
You helped me find it and then I was able to get treated in time.
I won't lie or "sugar coat" things for you. If the cancer had spread I might not be here writing this to you today. It might have been too late to do anything.
But a MIRACLE occurred.
It wasn't easy having to go through chemotherapy or radiation treatments, but I would gladly go through all of that again if it meant that I could have decades more as your mama. I have now been "cancer free" for 5 years. It's a significant milestone. Is it a guarantee that I will never have to battle that war again? No. It could come back any time. But cancer is MOST likely to reoccur within the first five years.
You and your sister mean more to me than anything else in this world (besides your dad)! I love you both with all of my heart. I will never take being your mama for granted. It's not always easy, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
So, why this letter? Because I want you to know your history and how you came into the world. Because it's your story too, not just mine. I also want you to know that you and your sister are mommy's miracles. Don't ever let anyone tell you that miracles don't happen anymore. They do. And now with this letter you have proof.
Ethan James Shepard, Happy 5th Birthday! You are loved!!!!
Keep my in your prayers if you will. I realized yesterday at church (when the message was on "Moments") that 5 years ago everything happened on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday combo....it is the same this year. Exact same dates. It might be too easy to fall into remembering that.....so your prayers are appreciated! Thank you for all of your support!
Dear Ethan,
After you were born I was encouraged by many to write you a letter describing the various events that took place a few days before you were born as well as several months after you were born.
I am now just getting around to writing you that letter. Not because it wasn't important to me. But just the opposite. It is extremely important to me. So important that I haven't been able to find the words to write this letter until now.
Every attempt to write this letter before now has left me sitting at the keyboard sobbing. Getting choked up. In fact, just typing those words has once again left a nice little lump in my throat.
You see, even though it has been five years it is still as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. The sounds, the feelings, where I was standing, sitting and pacing back and forth. I can still picture your dad standing by the big window of our tiny house calling our close friends and family to tell them that you were arriving a whopping 5 weeks earlier than we had anticipated.
We were overjoyed to know that we were going to meet you sooner but we were scared to death of why.
My sweet, generous, curious little boy: Your mama was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer just a few weeks before your due date. I was, before this diagnosis, the "epitomy" of health. I had never broken a bone, never been hospitalized & had only had small bouts of illnesses that I easily recovered from. One night laying in bed I felt something abnormal in my breast and mentioned it to your dad. I then called your grandma who assured me that things change with pregnancy but that I definitely should mention it to the doctor the next time I went in.
The doctor didn't like how the lump felt and sent me for a breast ultrasound. That's when things started getting scary. At not quite 34 years old I was sent for my first mammogram. You'll understand what this is when you get older but it's a test to check for cancer or other abnormalities. Usually doctors recommend that you start getting them when you turn 40. So I was pretty nervous that they wanted me to get one when I was 33 and 8 months pregnant with you!
At my next pre-natal visit to check on you, the doctor discussed the results with me and told me that the lump was "suspicious" and that we needed to immediately make an appointment with a surgeon.
Your dad and I were completely shocked at this point. We weren't prepared for the word "suspicious". We really thought that everything was going to be fine.
So, we apprehensively called the surgeon and made an appointment. After an exam on the morning of May 18, 2007 the surgeon decided to do a core biopsy of the lump right at his office. It was a Friday morning and he wanted to get the biopsy over to the hospital to be looked at right away. I remember him getting on the phone with the hospital and yelling at them that they needed to get this biopsy looked at asap because he had a young, pregnant lady waiting for her results! After the biopsy your dad and I left the doctor's office in a daze. We stopped and fed our fear with Culver's (can you tell I remember every single detail?).
We walked into the house and just a few minutes later got a call from the surgeon. He asked us why we left the office and we told him that the nurse told us to because she didn't think we would hear anything until after the weekend. He then said that he hated to tell us what he had to tell us over the phone.
My heart dropped. His words became mush in my ears. My eyes are stinging right now remembering. Time slowed yet it didn't. It was as if it was happening to someone else.
And then that word............................ Cancer.
I think I might have blacked out for a brief period (not really, but that's what it felt like). And then my OB/GYN was getting on the phone. I snapped back into reality.
Now, they weren't just talking about me but they were talking about you. My baby.
They wanted to induce labor so that they could figure out the next steps for my treatment and surgery.
So many questions were circling through my head but I couldn't find the words. Your daddy took the reins on that one. Will the baby be ok? Is it too early? What will the risks be?
We were assured that you would be fine. We were told to go to the hospital that evening to start the induction process. To take our time....but not really. They wanted us there that night and it was already 4pm or so.
We hung up. And I sobbed. Those heart-wrenching, breath caught in your throat sobs. Your dad wrapped me in his arms but he had his own emotions he was dealing with as well.
Your Grandpa and Grandma, Grammy and Papa all rushed to be with us. They stayed for awhile but went home because we knew you weren't ready to come just yet. They came back the next day as did so many of our friends and family to support us. God lifted us up through that crazy time and He assured us that you would be ok!
You made your appearance into this world at 2:22am on Sunday, May 20th. It was a long labor but when it was time to push you made it pretty easy on your mama :-). Three pushes and you were out! We all held our breath as we waited to hear your cry and to make sure you were ok. And you were. Even at 5 weeks early you were 6lbs. 0oz. and 19 inches long. You were perfect.
Mommy and Daddy got to love on you and settle in with you before the doctors started working on me. I had surgery to remove the cancer on June 1st, 2007. During the surgery the doctors checked to see if the cancer spread into the lymph nodes or anywhere else. They described it as a miracle that it had not. Did you hear that, Ethan? It was a miracle! I want you to remember that. You are mama's miracle.
And I also want you to realize that you saved my life. Yep. That's how I see it.
The cancer was already there but when I became pregnant the hormones from the pregnancy made the lump grow and I was able to detect it and feel it on my own. If I hadn't become pregnant, I could still be walking around today not knowing that the cancer was growing inside of me.
You helped me find it and then I was able to get treated in time.
I won't lie or "sugar coat" things for you. If the cancer had spread I might not be here writing this to you today. It might have been too late to do anything.
But a MIRACLE occurred.
It wasn't easy having to go through chemotherapy or radiation treatments, but I would gladly go through all of that again if it meant that I could have decades more as your mama. I have now been "cancer free" for 5 years. It's a significant milestone. Is it a guarantee that I will never have to battle that war again? No. It could come back any time. But cancer is MOST likely to reoccur within the first five years.
You and your sister mean more to me than anything else in this world (besides your dad)! I love you both with all of my heart. I will never take being your mama for granted. It's not always easy, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
So, why this letter? Because I want you to know your history and how you came into the world. Because it's your story too, not just mine. I also want you to know that you and your sister are mommy's miracles. Don't ever let anyone tell you that miracles don't happen anymore. They do. And now with this letter you have proof.
Ethan James Shepard, Happy 5th Birthday! You are loved!!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Missing the Moments
I have been convicted of something huge as of late. It seems to be finding me everywhere.
Blog posts. Articles. Facebook links. Stories from strangers.
It's about missing the moments with your children. Taking your time with them for granted. Becoming "unplugged" and "hands free" if you will.
Our generation is so "connected" all the time now. We have our smart phones in our pockets, on the dinner table and in our hands even when we should be talking to our kids, playing with them or telling our spouse about our day.
I am guilty of it. Not all of the time, but there have been plenty of times when the "I'm going to take a picture of that cute thing Ethan just did" turns into a half hour long checking in with Facebook and reading my emails.
When in reality I should be fully present with my children. All of the time.
And so in the past few days I have committed to leaving my cell phone inside when I am outside playing with kids.
Wait, what? What if something happens? How will you call for help? Then you can't snap that quick picture of Reese running after the bunnies in the yard. OH. WELL.
My parents didn't have cell phones back when they were raising my brother and I. We turned out ok, I think. :-)
I have also been made painfully aware that I should not take my time for granted with my children. And it has hit me full force after reading several blogs of mothers who have lost their children WAY too early in life.
Last night I left my phone in the house and worked with Ethan on riding his bike without the training wheels. We both got hurt, we both laughed, we both cried and guess what? I don't have a single picture of that time together.
But I have the memories of spending quality, uninterrupted, hands-free, mommying time with my boy.
These are the blogs and articles that have inspired me lately. I admit, a couple of them are hard to read. But we should to remind us of just how precious our babies are......
http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/
http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/
http://aninchofgray.blogspot.com/
http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/
Go hug and kiss on your kiddos and stop reading my blog! :-)
Blog posts. Articles. Facebook links. Stories from strangers.
It's about missing the moments with your children. Taking your time with them for granted. Becoming "unplugged" and "hands free" if you will.
Our generation is so "connected" all the time now. We have our smart phones in our pockets, on the dinner table and in our hands even when we should be talking to our kids, playing with them or telling our spouse about our day.
I am guilty of it. Not all of the time, but there have been plenty of times when the "I'm going to take a picture of that cute thing Ethan just did" turns into a half hour long checking in with Facebook and reading my emails.
When in reality I should be fully present with my children. All of the time.
And so in the past few days I have committed to leaving my cell phone inside when I am outside playing with kids.
Wait, what? What if something happens? How will you call for help? Then you can't snap that quick picture of Reese running after the bunnies in the yard. OH. WELL.
My parents didn't have cell phones back when they were raising my brother and I. We turned out ok, I think. :-)
I have also been made painfully aware that I should not take my time for granted with my children. And it has hit me full force after reading several blogs of mothers who have lost their children WAY too early in life.
Last night I left my phone in the house and worked with Ethan on riding his bike without the training wheels. We both got hurt, we both laughed, we both cried and guess what? I don't have a single picture of that time together.
But I have the memories of spending quality, uninterrupted, hands-free, mommying time with my boy.
These are the blogs and articles that have inspired me lately. I admit, a couple of them are hard to read. But we should to remind us of just how precious our babies are......
http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/
http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/
http://aninchofgray.blogspot.com/
http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/
Go hug and kiss on your kiddos and stop reading my blog! :-)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
So, What's New?
It's been almost an entire month since I last wrote.
Just a few things have changed in the Shepard family.
We are now homeowners, which is anxiety and excitement all wrapped together in one big ball!
We have new neighbors who are quickly making friends with the kids and we are quickly figuring out who we mesh well with.
Ethan's 5th birthday party preparations are well on their way. And the thought of 15 kids around age 5 being in our house all at once has launched us into a frenzy. But a bouncy house might be the way to go.... I have already started praying for sunshine that day. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that!
Our best friends could possibly have a daughter soon. In May. But we're not quite sure yet. The situation looks very promising but anything could change. I am also praying fervently for this as well. And the young mom who is thinking about placing her baby for adoption. With our friends :-)
Reese will turn 21 months in a week. That means that I only have 3 more months to enjoy having a child under the age of 2. How the heck did that happen?
We had to replace one toilet already and it looks like other repairs will happen soon. After we pay an arm and a leg in state, federal and property taxes. Sigh.
A few birds have decided that our grill is a great place for a nest. We don't have the heart to move/burn their nest right now, so grilling out is not an option for awhile.
Management has decided to move our cheese once again at work in more ways than one. It's a good thing that I adjust easily. :-)
Jimm seems to think that he needs to go to a training for his job and it just so happens to be in California in June. I contemplated making a family trip out of it with the kids but quickly nixed the idea when I looked at the cost of airfare. And did I mention that we owe a LOT of money for taxes? No family trip for awhile.....
The kids appear to have adjusted pretty quickly to the new house and neighborhood. They love the next door neighbors and I'm sure that having a bouncy house in their yard our first weekend there probably helped the bonding :-) Our new neighbor Mackenize just turned 5, so her and Ethan will be going to kindergarten together! And then he went down to play at another neighbor's house for a little while with Easton, age 4, and Addison, age 6!
I love the sound of my dishwasher. :-) I haven't had one since I lived with my parents. It's awesome.
I love my laundry room.
I love my garage.
I love my deck and backyard.
I don't like my mortgage payment, property taxes, repairs, cleaning a big house or constantly telling my rambunctious kids to stop touching things/stop turning off the lights/don't touch that cord.
But.... in the end it was all worth it.
Anyone want to buy a hot tub? It came with our house and we need to sell it to make some money. Plus we'll probably never use it anyway. :-)
Wow, that was definitely rambling.
Just a few things have changed in the Shepard family.
We are now homeowners, which is anxiety and excitement all wrapped together in one big ball!
We have new neighbors who are quickly making friends with the kids and we are quickly figuring out who we mesh well with.
Ethan's 5th birthday party preparations are well on their way. And the thought of 15 kids around age 5 being in our house all at once has launched us into a frenzy. But a bouncy house might be the way to go.... I have already started praying for sunshine that day. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that!
Our best friends could possibly have a daughter soon. In May. But we're not quite sure yet. The situation looks very promising but anything could change. I am also praying fervently for this as well. And the young mom who is thinking about placing her baby for adoption. With our friends :-)
Reese will turn 21 months in a week. That means that I only have 3 more months to enjoy having a child under the age of 2. How the heck did that happen?
We had to replace one toilet already and it looks like other repairs will happen soon. After we pay an arm and a leg in state, federal and property taxes. Sigh.
A few birds have decided that our grill is a great place for a nest. We don't have the heart to move/burn their nest right now, so grilling out is not an option for awhile.
Management has decided to move our cheese once again at work in more ways than one. It's a good thing that I adjust easily. :-)
Jimm seems to think that he needs to go to a training for his job and it just so happens to be in California in June. I contemplated making a family trip out of it with the kids but quickly nixed the idea when I looked at the cost of airfare. And did I mention that we owe a LOT of money for taxes? No family trip for awhile.....
The kids appear to have adjusted pretty quickly to the new house and neighborhood. They love the next door neighbors and I'm sure that having a bouncy house in their yard our first weekend there probably helped the bonding :-) Our new neighbor Mackenize just turned 5, so her and Ethan will be going to kindergarten together! And then he went down to play at another neighbor's house for a little while with Easton, age 4, and Addison, age 6!
I love the sound of my dishwasher. :-) I haven't had one since I lived with my parents. It's awesome.
I love my laundry room.
I love my garage.
I love my deck and backyard.
I don't like my mortgage payment, property taxes, repairs, cleaning a big house or constantly telling my rambunctious kids to stop touching things/stop turning off the lights/don't touch that cord.
But.... in the end it was all worth it.
Anyone want to buy a hot tub? It came with our house and we need to sell it to make some money. Plus we'll probably never use it anyway. :-)
Wow, that was definitely rambling.
Monday, March 19, 2012
You remember when.......?
This past weekend Jimm and I started packing. Like, for real packing. We went through closets, took down pictures, cleaned behind/under/around things.
Part of my job was to go through the kids clothes. Jimm.....bless his heart (I'm not from the south, but I heard that you can make anything sound nice by adding "bless his heart") has no clue what size the kids are in, let alone what will fit them in a few months.
I sat on the floor sorting through the piles of clothes and I found myself experiencing little pangs of difficulty separating.
From clothing?
It's just an outfit. Material possession.
Right?
Yes, but it's the "You remember when......." that goes along with the article of clothing.
You might not associate a specific memory with one specific cute little outfit or shirt, but you remember their cute little chubby feet around the time that they would've worn that outfit.
You remember when they would still sit on your lap for more than one short minute cuddling with you.
You remember their smell.
You remember their first words, first steps, first time they reach out their arms to you......
I also realized that as I was letting the outfits go & as we were boxing things up to be passed down to friends, I was also letting go of having a newborn again.
Don't get me wrong. I am 100% sure that 2 kids is it. We're done.
But it's the realization that from now on, it's moving forward. Each new "first" will mean that they are one step closer to independence. To not needing me. Well, at least they think they won't need me :-)
Sigh.
I am also struggling a little bit with moving.
I have been living in our little place for 14 years. That's a long time. And although we are cramped and constantly on top of one another.....
It has been our home together as a family for almost 7 years. Jimm and I started out together as a couple and we became a family of four in our small tiny townhouse.
I won't miss the tight, cramped space. But I will miss the memories.
Just as it's not really the outfits that I will miss as they get packed away and passed on.
But I will miss what they represent; the "remember when......".
Part of my job was to go through the kids clothes. Jimm.....bless his heart (I'm not from the south, but I heard that you can make anything sound nice by adding "bless his heart") has no clue what size the kids are in, let alone what will fit them in a few months.
I sat on the floor sorting through the piles of clothes and I found myself experiencing little pangs of difficulty separating.
From clothing?
It's just an outfit. Material possession.
Right?
Yes, but it's the "You remember when......." that goes along with the article of clothing.
You might not associate a specific memory with one specific cute little outfit or shirt, but you remember their cute little chubby feet around the time that they would've worn that outfit.
You remember when they would still sit on your lap for more than one short minute cuddling with you.
You remember their smell.
You remember their first words, first steps, first time they reach out their arms to you......
I also realized that as I was letting the outfits go & as we were boxing things up to be passed down to friends, I was also letting go of having a newborn again.
Don't get me wrong. I am 100% sure that 2 kids is it. We're done.
But it's the realization that from now on, it's moving forward. Each new "first" will mean that they are one step closer to independence. To not needing me. Well, at least they think they won't need me :-)
Sigh.
I am also struggling a little bit with moving.
I have been living in our little place for 14 years. That's a long time. And although we are cramped and constantly on top of one another.....
It has been our home together as a family for almost 7 years. Jimm and I started out together as a couple and we became a family of four in our small tiny townhouse.
I won't miss the tight, cramped space. But I will miss the memories.
Just as it's not really the outfits that I will miss as they get packed away and passed on.
But I will miss what they represent; the "remember when......".
Thursday, March 1, 2012
19 months, going on 3 years.
My little girl is a piece of work I tell you.
It's so difficult adjusting to a child who is racing through the developmental stages at the speed of light versus my preemie who took his own sweet time.
Ethan still wants me to help him get dressed at times (not because he can't do it himself, but because he is just plain lazy). And Reese literally throws a tantrum now if we just try to help her get her clothes on. Yep. She can get her pants on all by herself; just don't mention to her that they might be on backwards. She can get her top on but can't quite figure out how to get her arms in the holes without some assistance. And she tries so very hard to get her socks on by herself.
She throws a tantrum because she can't do it all by herself but when you try to help her she also throws a tantrum. Sigh.
Don't even try to help her brush her teeth.
Don't you dare stray from our bedtime or morning routines.
She is now saying 3 or 4 word sentences. Me. Brush. Teeth./ Me. Chocho (chocolate) dodo (donut).
Me. Baby. Go. Bye-Bye. Car.
She will let you know whether you asked or not exactly what you need when you are getting ready to depart from the Shepard household. Shoes. Hat. Coat. Gloves. Bag. Caucau (coffee). Keys.
She calls Ethan "E-E". Short and to the point. Grammy has recently become "Me-Me". I am definitely "Mommy" but our babysitter and my mom, Grandma, are both "Mama".
She calls herself "Rees-E" or "Piecy"...our fault because we call her Reesey Piecy. But she also now knows Shepard and says it almost perfectly.
She is starting to recognize her colors. Jimm was pulling out jammies the other night and she told him No. Pink. Daddy was evidently not choosing correctly.
We are on the verge of potty training. Yes, already. Can't believe it. Ethan was not ready until age 3 and if I would have started him before that it would have just been futile.
She is now not only telling us when she has pooped in her diaper but also when she has done #1. She woke up dry this morning and has also asked to go up and sit on the potty several times.
My goal, though, is to wait until we move into our new house *hopefully* soon. I figure if we start now and then move there might possibly be some regression not worth going through.........what do you mommies out there think?
She has a very bubbly and outgoing personality. She is almost never in a bad mood. When she gets hurt she cries and stops crying within a few seconds. She love music and dancing. She gets a kick out of gymnastics. She loves baby dolls but also loves to tackle her brother on the run. She wants to brush her hair and get ponytails in but the next thing you know she's pulling out the hair bands and knocking her brother upside his head. Such a tomboy.
She kind of reminds me of someone.................
It's so difficult adjusting to a child who is racing through the developmental stages at the speed of light versus my preemie who took his own sweet time.
Ethan still wants me to help him get dressed at times (not because he can't do it himself, but because he is just plain lazy). And Reese literally throws a tantrum now if we just try to help her get her clothes on. Yep. She can get her pants on all by herself; just don't mention to her that they might be on backwards. She can get her top on but can't quite figure out how to get her arms in the holes without some assistance. And she tries so very hard to get her socks on by herself.
She throws a tantrum because she can't do it all by herself but when you try to help her she also throws a tantrum. Sigh.
Don't even try to help her brush her teeth.
Don't you dare stray from our bedtime or morning routines.
She is now saying 3 or 4 word sentences. Me. Brush. Teeth./ Me. Chocho (chocolate) dodo (donut).
Me. Baby. Go. Bye-Bye. Car.
She will let you know whether you asked or not exactly what you need when you are getting ready to depart from the Shepard household. Shoes. Hat. Coat. Gloves. Bag. Caucau (coffee). Keys.
She calls Ethan "E-E". Short and to the point. Grammy has recently become "Me-Me". I am definitely "Mommy" but our babysitter and my mom, Grandma, are both "Mama".
She calls herself "Rees-E" or "Piecy"...our fault because we call her Reesey Piecy. But she also now knows Shepard and says it almost perfectly.
She is starting to recognize her colors. Jimm was pulling out jammies the other night and she told him No. Pink. Daddy was evidently not choosing correctly.
We are on the verge of potty training. Yes, already. Can't believe it. Ethan was not ready until age 3 and if I would have started him before that it would have just been futile.
She is now not only telling us when she has pooped in her diaper but also when she has done #1. She woke up dry this morning and has also asked to go up and sit on the potty several times.
My goal, though, is to wait until we move into our new house *hopefully* soon. I figure if we start now and then move there might possibly be some regression not worth going through.........what do you mommies out there think?
She has a very bubbly and outgoing personality. She is almost never in a bad mood. When she gets hurt she cries and stops crying within a few seconds. She love music and dancing. She gets a kick out of gymnastics. She loves baby dolls but also loves to tackle her brother on the run. She wants to brush her hair and get ponytails in but the next thing you know she's pulling out the hair bands and knocking her brother upside his head. Such a tomboy.
She kind of reminds me of someone.................
Friday, February 24, 2012
House Update
Too long to post on FaceBook as a status update and people have been inquiring as to what's going on with our house buying status.
So, in short we are still pursuing the house that we have a contract with. The original lender we went through had an appraisal completed that wound up being a lot less than what the contract was for. Therefore, we approached the seller about lowering the price on the house/contract but they said that they were standing firm. So, we said we would have to break the contract. 1) We're not going to buy the house for more than what it's worth. 2) No bank/lender is going to loan us the money for more than what the house is worth. Duh.
But when we said that we were going to walk, the seller had a change of heart within a day and said that they would pay for another appraisal if we would attempt to go through another lender.
Which is basically where we are currently at. Going through the process with another lender.
Here's where I know that God is always part of the plan. We started looking at other houses online again and found some that we were semi-interested in but there seemed to always be a "catch": taxes were higher, too far from our children's caregivers & family, not a great school system, no backyard, smaller square footage, etc.
And then I feel God placed this new mortgage broker into our lives. She is wonderful. Within 10 minutes of speaking with her I felt completely comfortable and she was giving us more options that would wind up working to our benefit by far. She was not just doing paperwork, she was working with us to help us figure out what our options were and how we could get the best deal. Within 45 minutes we had figured out a way to get a lower interest rate than before, and if all goes well we could possibly close by March 15th....all depending on this new appraisal and if the seller is willing to go down (if it's another low appraisal).
Oh, and we are officially, completely debt free. We paid off our car today!
And our plan is to pay off our new mortgage within 7-10 years. Think we're crazy? Look up Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University. It. Can. Be. Done!
Live like no one else so you can live like no one else. Live like no one else so you can GIVE like no one else! Can I get an AMEN!?!?!??!
So, in short we are still pursuing the house that we have a contract with. The original lender we went through had an appraisal completed that wound up being a lot less than what the contract was for. Therefore, we approached the seller about lowering the price on the house/contract but they said that they were standing firm. So, we said we would have to break the contract. 1) We're not going to buy the house for more than what it's worth. 2) No bank/lender is going to loan us the money for more than what the house is worth. Duh.
But when we said that we were going to walk, the seller had a change of heart within a day and said that they would pay for another appraisal if we would attempt to go through another lender.
Which is basically where we are currently at. Going through the process with another lender.
Here's where I know that God is always part of the plan. We started looking at other houses online again and found some that we were semi-interested in but there seemed to always be a "catch": taxes were higher, too far from our children's caregivers & family, not a great school system, no backyard, smaller square footage, etc.
And then I feel God placed this new mortgage broker into our lives. She is wonderful. Within 10 minutes of speaking with her I felt completely comfortable and she was giving us more options that would wind up working to our benefit by far. She was not just doing paperwork, she was working with us to help us figure out what our options were and how we could get the best deal. Within 45 minutes we had figured out a way to get a lower interest rate than before, and if all goes well we could possibly close by March 15th....all depending on this new appraisal and if the seller is willing to go down (if it's another low appraisal).
Oh, and we are officially, completely debt free. We paid off our car today!
And our plan is to pay off our new mortgage within 7-10 years. Think we're crazy? Look up Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University. It. Can. Be. Done!
Live like no one else so you can live like no one else. Live like no one else so you can GIVE like no one else! Can I get an AMEN!?!?!??!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Guilt of a Different Kind
I've posted before about struggling with mommy guilt when I think about fitting in exercise or going out with friends. That kick in the gut you feel when you're walking out the door and the not so faint cries of "mommy, mommy" are trailing behind you.......
But a new kind of guilt found it's way into my gut and my heart.... and took hold something fierce a little over a week ago and has continued just kind of sitting there festering......
I found myself in my mommy bubble when Reese was in the hospital. You know the bubble that exists when for you time stands still and you only think, eat, breathe, & pray for your little baby and you can't possibly wrap your head around the fact that for everyone else time is actually still moving forward? Yeah, that one.
I was existing and functioning on about 2-3 hours of sleep over 2 nights, coordinating schedules with friends & family to make sure that not only was someone with my baby every minute but that my older "baby" was also being taken care of, fed, dressed, loved on & maintaining some sort of schedule...as well as trying to remember to eat, have some small inkling or clue as to where my husband said he parked the car at the hospital and to politely yell at the hospital staff when my baby's fever kept going back up again and again.
And it was all done in a haze. A bubble. Time stood still. There was nothing else going on in the world except for what was happening in that hospital room.
And then Reese started getting better and the fog slowly started to clear. With the exception of a few minor complications, all was well.
But as the week wore on the burden that was lifted off of me came back forcefully onto my shoulders again. This time in the form of guilt.
Guilt that I have been blessed to actually be a mommy. Guilt that God blessed me with two amazing and beautiful children.
Because my friend Stacy was given the blessing of a child......only to lose her child a short 3 days later. That another friend has never been able to get pregnant, let alone experience being a mommy. That several other friends have experienced numerous miscarriages.......the pain that no one really talks about. That 3 blog friends have recently experienced the horrible, heart wrenching pain of losing an older child through medical conditions or tragedies.
I know that it is unreasonable of me to feel guilty about situations in which I had no control over.
But it also made me change perspective and view things differently.
Yes, we had a horrible scare with Reese but she is here. Alive and well. Maddeningly stubborn and full of mischief but she is doing fine. I have my baby in my arms to comfort and love on...to kiss her boo-boos and tell her how much she means to me.
But those other mommy's and should be mommy's......................oh how my heart breaks for them.
I just can't imagine the pain. Well, I can imagine some of it. I have suffered a miscarriage and it is a horrible unaddressed loss that makes you feel like an awful, unequipped woman & mother.
But those other losses? That pain must also be so horrible. To only be able to hold your baby for a few hours or days. To experience a tragic loss of an older child who has succumbed to illness or an unforeseen accident....it's unbearable to think about.
But I am going to think about it. I want to carry around that burden, that guilt. Because if it takes off even an ounce from their shoulders I will gladly do it. If it reminds me of what type of parent I should strive to be every day, I will carry that weight forever. I never want to take for granted that God has doubly blessed me with my children. It's my prayer that even in the midst of potty training & temper tantrums I can feel God applying the pressure of guilt down on my shoulders.........so that I may remember.
But a new kind of guilt found it's way into my gut and my heart.... and took hold something fierce a little over a week ago and has continued just kind of sitting there festering......
I found myself in my mommy bubble when Reese was in the hospital. You know the bubble that exists when for you time stands still and you only think, eat, breathe, & pray for your little baby and you can't possibly wrap your head around the fact that for everyone else time is actually still moving forward? Yeah, that one.
I was existing and functioning on about 2-3 hours of sleep over 2 nights, coordinating schedules with friends & family to make sure that not only was someone with my baby every minute but that my older "baby" was also being taken care of, fed, dressed, loved on & maintaining some sort of schedule...as well as trying to remember to eat, have some small inkling or clue as to where my husband said he parked the car at the hospital and to politely yell at the hospital staff when my baby's fever kept going back up again and again.
And it was all done in a haze. A bubble. Time stood still. There was nothing else going on in the world except for what was happening in that hospital room.
And then Reese started getting better and the fog slowly started to clear. With the exception of a few minor complications, all was well.
But as the week wore on the burden that was lifted off of me came back forcefully onto my shoulders again. This time in the form of guilt.
Guilt that I have been blessed to actually be a mommy. Guilt that God blessed me with two amazing and beautiful children.
Because my friend Stacy was given the blessing of a child......only to lose her child a short 3 days later. That another friend has never been able to get pregnant, let alone experience being a mommy. That several other friends have experienced numerous miscarriages.......the pain that no one really talks about. That 3 blog friends have recently experienced the horrible, heart wrenching pain of losing an older child through medical conditions or tragedies.
I know that it is unreasonable of me to feel guilty about situations in which I had no control over.
But it also made me change perspective and view things differently.
Yes, we had a horrible scare with Reese but she is here. Alive and well. Maddeningly stubborn and full of mischief but she is doing fine. I have my baby in my arms to comfort and love on...to kiss her boo-boos and tell her how much she means to me.
But those other mommy's and should be mommy's......................oh how my heart breaks for them.
I just can't imagine the pain. Well, I can imagine some of it. I have suffered a miscarriage and it is a horrible unaddressed loss that makes you feel like an awful, unequipped woman & mother.
But those other losses? That pain must also be so horrible. To only be able to hold your baby for a few hours or days. To experience a tragic loss of an older child who has succumbed to illness or an unforeseen accident....it's unbearable to think about.
But I am going to think about it. I want to carry around that burden, that guilt. Because if it takes off even an ounce from their shoulders I will gladly do it. If it reminds me of what type of parent I should strive to be every day, I will carry that weight forever. I never want to take for granted that God has doubly blessed me with my children. It's my prayer that even in the midst of potty training & temper tantrums I can feel God applying the pressure of guilt down on my shoulders.........so that I may remember.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Financially Speaking
Almost seven years ago a young, independent woman met a younger independent man and they fell in love. After these two combined their hearts and their homes they sat down one evening and realized that they were also combining a very large amount of credit card and student loan debt. So much so, that most consolidation companies that they called to consult with advised that they file bankruptcy. This wasn't an option that they really wanted to consider. And so this couple embarked on a 4 year journey of paying an enormous monthly payment so that they could get free from this debt.
In March of 2011 Jimm and I paid off an astonomical amount of credit card and student loan debt. We did not do it alone. We had to borrow money from both sets of our parents at times and were given financial assistance from my aunt as well, especially when medical bills started flooding in after my cancer diagnosis. It. was. not. easy. We fought. We cried. We went every month wondering if we would be able to pay our bills or be able to go get the groceries we needed. We had a huge jar of change downstairs that had started to accumulate over the months and in one act of desperation we took that change into the grocery store and got bills in order to get $40 worth of groceries. We stole from our kids' piggy banks on more than one occasion (sorry God. You know that I've already confessed for this) and went without new underwear or socks for many years. We packed on some (ok a lot) of extra pounds because face it, eating healthy is more expensive. We didn't get out very much and I could probably name the movies we've seen in the theatre on one hand since we started paying off our debt.
But it was worth every painful, wanna scratch your eyes out moment.
Because now, except for a monthly carrying charge for our co-op and 1 car payment we are debt free. It is freeing, exhilerating, peaceful & exciting. We have been able to buy new underwear without worrying about paying a $25 fee for insufficient funds. We have been able to take our parents out to dinner as a thank you for all they have done for us and not have to worry about our ability to pay the electric bill. We have been able to go on an actual date downtown for our anniversary and not have to worry about it breaking us.
And now we are starting to look for our first real house as a family. Yes, we technically own our co-op (or townhouse for those that aren't familiar with a co-op), but it's so dang small. 2 bedrooms (the kids share the master bedroom and we took the smaller one), 1 bathroom (which is ridiculous when you've got a kid that waits too long to pee!), no garage, no driveway, 1 parking space for 2 cars, the tiniest little kitchen you could imagine with no cabinet or counter space as well as patches of grass that they call a yard.
The market is great right now as well as interest rates.
But we want to do this right. We don't want to buy a house and gain a mortgage only to go into debt again. We do not own credit cards. I had one left after our fiasco of financial horrors....Kohl's. I was determined to let Jimm allow me to keep it because "I get such GREAT deals there, honey!". After sitting down with me and reasonably reminding me that they weren't great deals on a 19% interest rate credit card if we couldn't pay it off right away....as well as ahem the fact that we actually already had the money in the bank, he asked why not just pay cash/debit?
So, I responsibly cut up my very last credit card I owned. And the Kohl's angels sent me another one in the mail the VERY next day....they must have known what happened and corrected my silly mistake!!!! :-)
No, it was just time for a new one. SIGH. It, too, was cut up and thrown away.
Again, we want to go into this house buying business with the best possible scenario. So, we've signed up for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes. Granted, he would probably tell us NOT to buy a house right now if we can't pay cash for it or put at least 20% down and try to pay it off within 7 years....but hey. We're READY to learn, ready to open our eyes, minds and hearts to being financially secure and continue down our debt free path.
Did you know that 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck? We did. But no longer.....
Not only will we be budgeting on a monthly basis, we will also be talking about insurance, emergency funds, saving for our kids/retirement and investments (among other things....it's a 13 week series!).
If I could go back and talk to 22 year old me, fresh out of college- I would adamantly tell her to NOT apply for any credit cards. It's NOT free money and you lose count on how many times you hand it over to the Target checkout guy to be swiped. I would tell her that having that first apartment is great, but you don't need it. You should stick it out and hang out with mom and dad a little while longer while you save some money. I would remind her that the trip to the Bahamas, Europe & the Caribbean sound awesome and are life changing experiences.....but they can wait another 5-10 years. I would tell her that those new clothes look really cute, but the old ones really haven't gone out of style...just yet.
A weight has been lifted off of our shoulders by being debt-free. Are we rich? Heck no. My husband is self-employed and I'm a social worker. Puh-lease. Our combined salary doesn't hold even a spark compared to some people. But we're comfortable.
Finally. And it feels wonderful.
In March of 2011 Jimm and I paid off an astonomical amount of credit card and student loan debt. We did not do it alone. We had to borrow money from both sets of our parents at times and were given financial assistance from my aunt as well, especially when medical bills started flooding in after my cancer diagnosis. It. was. not. easy. We fought. We cried. We went every month wondering if we would be able to pay our bills or be able to go get the groceries we needed. We had a huge jar of change downstairs that had started to accumulate over the months and in one act of desperation we took that change into the grocery store and got bills in order to get $40 worth of groceries. We stole from our kids' piggy banks on more than one occasion (sorry God. You know that I've already confessed for this) and went without new underwear or socks for many years. We packed on some (ok a lot) of extra pounds because face it, eating healthy is more expensive. We didn't get out very much and I could probably name the movies we've seen in the theatre on one hand since we started paying off our debt.
But it was worth every painful, wanna scratch your eyes out moment.
Because now, except for a monthly carrying charge for our co-op and 1 car payment we are debt free. It is freeing, exhilerating, peaceful & exciting. We have been able to buy new underwear without worrying about paying a $25 fee for insufficient funds. We have been able to take our parents out to dinner as a thank you for all they have done for us and not have to worry about our ability to pay the electric bill. We have been able to go on an actual date downtown for our anniversary and not have to worry about it breaking us.
And now we are starting to look for our first real house as a family. Yes, we technically own our co-op (or townhouse for those that aren't familiar with a co-op), but it's so dang small. 2 bedrooms (the kids share the master bedroom and we took the smaller one), 1 bathroom (which is ridiculous when you've got a kid that waits too long to pee!), no garage, no driveway, 1 parking space for 2 cars, the tiniest little kitchen you could imagine with no cabinet or counter space as well as patches of grass that they call a yard.
The market is great right now as well as interest rates.
But we want to do this right. We don't want to buy a house and gain a mortgage only to go into debt again. We do not own credit cards. I had one left after our fiasco of financial horrors....Kohl's. I was determined to let Jimm allow me to keep it because "I get such GREAT deals there, honey!". After sitting down with me and reasonably reminding me that they weren't great deals on a 19% interest rate credit card if we couldn't pay it off right away....as well as ahem the fact that we actually already had the money in the bank, he asked why not just pay cash/debit?
So, I responsibly cut up my very last credit card I owned. And the Kohl's angels sent me another one in the mail the VERY next day....they must have known what happened and corrected my silly mistake!!!! :-)
No, it was just time for a new one. SIGH. It, too, was cut up and thrown away.
Again, we want to go into this house buying business with the best possible scenario. So, we've signed up for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes. Granted, he would probably tell us NOT to buy a house right now if we can't pay cash for it or put at least 20% down and try to pay it off within 7 years....but hey. We're READY to learn, ready to open our eyes, minds and hearts to being financially secure and continue down our debt free path.
Did you know that 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck? We did. But no longer.....
Not only will we be budgeting on a monthly basis, we will also be talking about insurance, emergency funds, saving for our kids/retirement and investments (among other things....it's a 13 week series!).
If I could go back and talk to 22 year old me, fresh out of college- I would adamantly tell her to NOT apply for any credit cards. It's NOT free money and you lose count on how many times you hand it over to the Target checkout guy to be swiped. I would tell her that having that first apartment is great, but you don't need it. You should stick it out and hang out with mom and dad a little while longer while you save some money. I would remind her that the trip to the Bahamas, Europe & the Caribbean sound awesome and are life changing experiences.....but they can wait another 5-10 years. I would tell her that those new clothes look really cute, but the old ones really haven't gone out of style...just yet.
A weight has been lifted off of our shoulders by being debt-free. Are we rich? Heck no. My husband is self-employed and I'm a social worker. Puh-lease. Our combined salary doesn't hold even a spark compared to some people. But we're comfortable.
Finally. And it feels wonderful.
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Fine Line
As I sit here about to blog about the subject that I have decided to blog about today I realize that these blog posts about parenting will only get more difficult as my children get older and as I become more challenged to be the best mother that I can be.
Now that was a mouthful.
I imagine that every other parent out there has struggled with the fine line of how much to meddle, control or be involved in our children's lives. Our job as a parent is to model, teach, support and encourage our children but as they cross those imaginary lines through each developmental stage they become more independent, form their own opinions and start to develop their own amazing personalities.
So, I am already struggling with enrolling my children into classes, sports, activities and other interests.
Don't get me wrong I will NOT be one of those freakish mothers that catapults my child into the hellish nightmare of pageants such as the awful Toddlers and Tiaras! I think I just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about it. Yack.
But I do want to provide my children with opportunities and experiences so that they will be able to decide for themselves what they would like to pursue.
So, how do you balance that fine line between pushing your own agenda, dreams or ideas versus providing them with opportunities to explore, experience and connect?
Ethan participated in soccer this past fall. Er- ran around the field with the other 4-6 year olds after a ball, lazily attempting goals, but mainly staring off into space or picking grass while attempting to impress one another with who could make the goofiest faces.
Oh, and then he went to one Little Ninja's class with his friend Graham (who was enrolled and could bring a friend to his last class). Jimm took him and he told me that Ethan sat and cried the whole time, wouldn't participate and later told me that "the class was for mean and angry people who liked to punch and kick".
So, I'm already leaning toward a less aggressive sport for my little boy. Whatcha think, on the right track for him? :-)
I just signed Reese up for "Tot-Nastics" which is gymnastics for 18-36 month olds. So cute.
But here's where the questions start coming in. My parents started me with piano lessons when I was in first grade. I liked playing the piano but HATED to practice. But, they would have me sit and practice for at least 20-30 minutes per day. As time went on, they weren't as strict with making me practice and it would show when I went to my next lesson. The teacher eventually asked me if I wanted to continue or not. I realized that it was something that I wanted to do, so I started practicing again.
That went on for years and I even have a minor in music from undergrad. I appreciate that my parents gave me the opportunity and gently pushed me toward my goals. But I am also grateful that they didn't mandate that I play the piano or make it into something that I dreaded.
How do I do that for my kids? Because it seems like you have to find the right fit. My parents also provided me with tennis lessons. I was good, but not great. I wound up playing on intramural teams just like I did volleyball but I never played on any organized teams in school. I have always been good, not great at many different things. I can hold my own throwing a football, playing pool, darts, basketball, softball, volleyball and tennis. I can harmonize on a song fairly well and can still probably dink out a few arias on the piano.
But overall, I never really found my niche or God-given talent until I became a social worker. I was born to do this job. But it took me 22 years to get there.
So I guess I have answered my own question regarding fine lines.
Provide the opportunities.
Be supportive.
Encourage.
Laugh and Cry.
Celebrate victories and empathize with challenges.
Don't push, instead gently nudge.
Explore.
Assist, don't do for them.
Just be their mom.
Now that was a mouthful.
I imagine that every other parent out there has struggled with the fine line of how much to meddle, control or be involved in our children's lives. Our job as a parent is to model, teach, support and encourage our children but as they cross those imaginary lines through each developmental stage they become more independent, form their own opinions and start to develop their own amazing personalities.
So, I am already struggling with enrolling my children into classes, sports, activities and other interests.
Don't get me wrong I will NOT be one of those freakish mothers that catapults my child into the hellish nightmare of pageants such as the awful Toddlers and Tiaras! I think I just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about it. Yack.
But I do want to provide my children with opportunities and experiences so that they will be able to decide for themselves what they would like to pursue.
So, how do you balance that fine line between pushing your own agenda, dreams or ideas versus providing them with opportunities to explore, experience and connect?
Ethan participated in soccer this past fall. Er- ran around the field with the other 4-6 year olds after a ball, lazily attempting goals, but mainly staring off into space or picking grass while attempting to impress one another with who could make the goofiest faces.
Oh, and then he went to one Little Ninja's class with his friend Graham (who was enrolled and could bring a friend to his last class). Jimm took him and he told me that Ethan sat and cried the whole time, wouldn't participate and later told me that "the class was for mean and angry people who liked to punch and kick".
So, I'm already leaning toward a less aggressive sport for my little boy. Whatcha think, on the right track for him? :-)
I just signed Reese up for "Tot-Nastics" which is gymnastics for 18-36 month olds. So cute.
But here's where the questions start coming in. My parents started me with piano lessons when I was in first grade. I liked playing the piano but HATED to practice. But, they would have me sit and practice for at least 20-30 minutes per day. As time went on, they weren't as strict with making me practice and it would show when I went to my next lesson. The teacher eventually asked me if I wanted to continue or not. I realized that it was something that I wanted to do, so I started practicing again.
That went on for years and I even have a minor in music from undergrad. I appreciate that my parents gave me the opportunity and gently pushed me toward my goals. But I am also grateful that they didn't mandate that I play the piano or make it into something that I dreaded.
How do I do that for my kids? Because it seems like you have to find the right fit. My parents also provided me with tennis lessons. I was good, but not great. I wound up playing on intramural teams just like I did volleyball but I never played on any organized teams in school. I have always been good, not great at many different things. I can hold my own throwing a football, playing pool, darts, basketball, softball, volleyball and tennis. I can harmonize on a song fairly well and can still probably dink out a few arias on the piano.
But overall, I never really found my niche or God-given talent until I became a social worker. I was born to do this job. But it took me 22 years to get there.
So I guess I have answered my own question regarding fine lines.
Provide the opportunities.
Be supportive.
Encourage.
Laugh and Cry.
Celebrate victories and empathize with challenges.
Don't push, instead gently nudge.
Explore.
Assist, don't do for them.
Just be their mom.
Monday, January 2, 2012
2011 Year in Review
2011 was a pretty darn good year for the Shepard family.
In January I started my current job that I am grateful to still be able to call my "dream job" exactly one year later. God was at work when I took the phone call from my supervisor describing the position that they were creating at Sunny Ridge and how they were hoping I would feel led to come on board. I have loved every minute of creating and developing new programs for adoptive families that will support them throughout the years and not just when their new family is initially formed.
At the beginning of the year we also started attending a small group affiliated with our church that has led us to be able to form some great friendships that continue to grow. We feel fortunate to have such great friends in our lives who are not only fun to hang around but also lift us up in prayer when we need it (and even when we think we don't!).
Jimm's company grew; physically and monetarily (thanks goodness!). Their new company is Fidei Group, Inc. where Jimm is partners with our good friends Tom and Steve. They have even hired a full time employee and are now looking for an office manager as well :-) It's awesome to see my husband be so proud of the work that they have accomplished together.
WE GOT OUT OF DEBT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited about that? When Jimm and I got married we sat down and looked at how much debt both of us had accrued while we were single. And I cried. We consulted several companies and were pretty much told that we should file bankruptcy. That wasn't an option for us. And I am glad that we now have the peace and pride of paying off our credit card debt & student loans. We couldn't have done it without the help of our parents who were there for us when sometimes the monthly bills were just too much (especially when dealing with medical payments for cancer treatments, baby hospital bills....and when I lost my job).
Ethan turned 4 and Reese turned 1. I am SO incredibly blessed to be a mommy to these two amazing kids.
Jimm and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on September 9th. We went downtown for dinner and saw a Second City comedy show. It was awesome to stay out late without having to worry about getting home to the kids and what time we would need to get up in the morning (our parents watched the kiddos). We have been through quite a bit in our 6 short years as a married couple, but God has given us the strength, courage, love and support that we so desperately needed and now I can say we are in a really good place.
We started looking into the possibility of moving into a new home and we are pre-certified for a mortgage (which I can tell you is a huge accomplishment considering where we were 5 years ago!). We are in a good place to be able to do this now and the housing market is still great in regards to buying! We are planning to look west of where we are now...better school systems, shortened commute for me, closer to friends of ours and big, older houses for cheap! :-)
I continue to get monitored every 4 months by my oncologist. I went in at the beginning of December and everything looks good. I have a mammogram scheduled for early January and will have to continue with typical check-ups. In May of 2012 I will have the 5 year anniversary of my diagnosis. It's a pretty big milestone/anniversary in the world of cancer. Most recurrences occur in the first 5 years after diagnosis/treatment. Not holding my breath or anything.
We spent a wonderful time with our family and friends this Christmas. We truly are blessed and we continue to pray for those friends and family members in our lives that received bad news about their health or circumstances this past year. We also celebrate with friends who will be (or hope to be) expanding their families this year through birth and adoption!
Here's to a wonderful 2012!
In January I started my current job that I am grateful to still be able to call my "dream job" exactly one year later. God was at work when I took the phone call from my supervisor describing the position that they were creating at Sunny Ridge and how they were hoping I would feel led to come on board. I have loved every minute of creating and developing new programs for adoptive families that will support them throughout the years and not just when their new family is initially formed.
At the beginning of the year we also started attending a small group affiliated with our church that has led us to be able to form some great friendships that continue to grow. We feel fortunate to have such great friends in our lives who are not only fun to hang around but also lift us up in prayer when we need it (and even when we think we don't!).
Jimm's company grew; physically and monetarily (thanks goodness!). Their new company is Fidei Group, Inc. where Jimm is partners with our good friends Tom and Steve. They have even hired a full time employee and are now looking for an office manager as well :-) It's awesome to see my husband be so proud of the work that they have accomplished together.
WE GOT OUT OF DEBT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited about that? When Jimm and I got married we sat down and looked at how much debt both of us had accrued while we were single. And I cried. We consulted several companies and were pretty much told that we should file bankruptcy. That wasn't an option for us. And I am glad that we now have the peace and pride of paying off our credit card debt & student loans. We couldn't have done it without the help of our parents who were there for us when sometimes the monthly bills were just too much (especially when dealing with medical payments for cancer treatments, baby hospital bills....and when I lost my job).
Ethan turned 4 and Reese turned 1. I am SO incredibly blessed to be a mommy to these two amazing kids.
Jimm and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on September 9th. We went downtown for dinner and saw a Second City comedy show. It was awesome to stay out late without having to worry about getting home to the kids and what time we would need to get up in the morning (our parents watched the kiddos). We have been through quite a bit in our 6 short years as a married couple, but God has given us the strength, courage, love and support that we so desperately needed and now I can say we are in a really good place.
We started looking into the possibility of moving into a new home and we are pre-certified for a mortgage (which I can tell you is a huge accomplishment considering where we were 5 years ago!). We are in a good place to be able to do this now and the housing market is still great in regards to buying! We are planning to look west of where we are now...better school systems, shortened commute for me, closer to friends of ours and big, older houses for cheap! :-)
I continue to get monitored every 4 months by my oncologist. I went in at the beginning of December and everything looks good. I have a mammogram scheduled for early January and will have to continue with typical check-ups. In May of 2012 I will have the 5 year anniversary of my diagnosis. It's a pretty big milestone/anniversary in the world of cancer. Most recurrences occur in the first 5 years after diagnosis/treatment. Not holding my breath or anything.
We spent a wonderful time with our family and friends this Christmas. We truly are blessed and we continue to pray for those friends and family members in our lives that received bad news about their health or circumstances this past year. We also celebrate with friends who will be (or hope to be) expanding their families this year through birth and adoption!
Here's to a wonderful 2012!
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