Cousins

Cousin fun at the beach!!! Love the Oregon coast!

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Oregon Fun!

Fun at Red Robin!

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Blessings

I was planning to put AC in the new house. It gets so hot here in the summer. But the quote was three times what I thought it would be, soooo, no ac. I feel very blessed because we have had a nice break in the heat and the days have been so manageable! I also wanted to buy a rider mower for all this grass we now have! But my sweet neighbor comes over every week on his mower and does it for us! So many blessings! Life is so very sweet!

Great Neighbors

I wasn't sure what to do with my half acre yard. There are many trees and tons of bushes. Well tonight the young men in our new ward and all their leaders came over to take care of it! It looks fantastic! Already we feel so loved and accepted!

Mom Cooks

Celebrating the small victories...I cooked dinner tonight! Yes, you heard right! Chicken Tikka Masala. Mmmm, my house smells like jasmine rice. The kids loved it so much they won't mind cereal for dinner the rest of the week! Life is good!

Overcoming Sadness Together

Today I miss my father, and I miss my husband, but hardest of all is watching the tender hearts of my children break all over again as their loss is amplified on this day of fathers. I am constantly amazed by their resilience and strength. I am grateful that they let me in as they experience such heartache this day. I wish I could do more to ease their sadness.

Radiation-Almost done!!

My radiation burns are soooo sore tonight. Blisters and peeling and just painful!! But only three more sessions of radiation! I am so excited to be done with my daily 60 mile trips to Idaho Falls for radiation! And also excited for my poor skin to heal up. Who knew when I started that the 6 weeks would actually end? ;-)

Progress

Hallelujah, my closet at the old house is now empty! What a great feeling that is. Tomorrow the garage will be done and then I just have to line up carpet and window cleaners and we will be finished there!! Bittersweet since we love that area and our friends there so much, but it will be nice to focus on getting the new place livable!

I just did what?

So this happened today! It is finally sinking in, I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE!!! We love it so much. Thanks to my amazing mother, who packed much of my house, and all those who have helped or will be helping me in the next week or two. I am still lacking energy and am grateful for all my willing peeps! Feeling truly blessed tonight, and a little crazy! But in a good way!

Miracles Among The Chaos

Every day at radiation a miracle occurs. I am able to lay completely still, flat on my back for 15 minutes while a beam of radiation shoots into a very specific spot on my left breast. I consider it a miracle because I have had an infection in my lungs and have been coughing horribly for two weeks now. Every day I pray to be able to hold still and not cough, and every day I do exactly that. I still hate radiation, but I appreciate the daily miracle! Life is sweet!

Happy? Anniversary

Today is my 16th wedding anniversary to my sweetheart Richard Loomis. Lot's of mixed emotions this week as I remember my life with him and my love for him. I love this song. Most of all I love my husband and I will keep counting the years and celebrating our marriage. I miss him so much and oh how I wish he could be here with me to celebrate.

Pure Joy!

The view from here is pretty sweet!

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Radiation vs Chemo

Radiation happened today. It's my worst nightmare! I would rather do more chemo than have to go through six weeks of daily radiation. Fifteen moments of being exposed, of not moving, of being afraid to even breathe. I got tattoos today. Who chooses to do that? Ouch! I think I will turn all of them into semicolons after they have served their purpose. A sign of survival and a reminder that my story is still going strong!

Radiation

The start date of my radiation has been postponed once again(for the third time). Seems that my tumor was located in a tricky spot and will require some more advanced radiation techniques which my insurance company doesn't want to authorize. I am going to side with my radiologist here. Hoping it gets resolved as I don't want to miss tomorrow's appointment! Meanwhile I am frustrated by my lack of energy. I just want to be normal again and out of pain! Good news? Ice water tastes wonderful again! Yay!

Our Family Grows

I just have to say, I am so blessed! My family is so very precious to me. I was privileged this evening to get to snuggle my granddaughter and kiss her cute little feet, watch my other children be amazing aunt and uncles and see my daughter and son in law be amazing parents! Life is so sweet!

First time Grandma!!!

Now that my daughter has officially announced, I can too. I am now a grandma! It was such an honor to be there for the birth of my first grandchild, Melanie Lynne. Adrienne never ceases to amaze me with her strength and grace. And Jon was so loving and encouraging to her. I wondered if it would be hard to become a grandparent without my husband, but all I have felt today is peace. I am so grateful for my growing family and the close relationship I have with each of them. Melanie Lynne, born at 2:17, 8 lbs 1oz and 20 inches long.

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Joseph Is 11!

Happy birthday to my sweet not so little Joseph! 11 years old today! Love you so much!

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Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa

Happy birthday Dad! We got dinner from Cold Stone in remembrance of you! Miss you!

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Chemo Fog

My kids love my chemo brain. Every day we play a verbal charades of sorts. "Can you....ummmm...bring me that thing. ...unmmm, its red, its round, (pointing) no, behind that other thing that's, ummmm, blue, no.....green. " kids: hahahahaha, you want this ball? We laugh, but my brain feels like molasses!

The Blues

Just spent the morning hanging out at the cancer clinic cause I can't stay away. This round has really done a number on me, so I am getting rehydrated and hope that helps bring down my heart rate. My white blood cells are very low. I have to say, this is really hard. I am feeling at the end of my rope. But there always seems to be more, right?