Team Brady

I am fortunate to be surrounded by terrific fathers...my husband...my Dad...my father-in-law...my two brothers. I am so thankful that my Brady has all of you to look up to and learn by your example. Happy Father's Day!

Brady's Grandpa

Brady's Papaw

Brady's Uncle Nathan and Uncle Jeff Jeffand finally Brady's Daddy...and the love of my life :)I couldn't ask for a better "team" to teach my son how to become a real man.

Our Trip to Great Wolf Lodge

We took our first "family vacation" - where the fun revolved around Brady and not mom and dad - to Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. It was just an overnight with a group from our church, but we had a great time! Brady loves the water and shows no fear...which in turn triggers mommy's fear!

Brady's favorite spot was the baby water slide

Whee!!

Pooped! Time for some juice and a warm towel

He also loved the arcade...and its nice that he has NO idea that the games and rides require money!

Girlfriends

Is there anything better?
Missing my girls...wish they lived closer!
(a few missing from this picture, too!)

PET Scan Results

Today we met with the doctor and heard the results of the PET scan that I had on Monday. PET scans look for metabolic activity in the body, usually cancer activity. The good news is that my tongue, head, and neck are clear – NO cancer activity in the original site of the tumor or lymph nodes!

However, they did find a nodule on my thyroid. In June I will have a needle biopsy done to determine whether the nodule is cancerous. If it is cancerous, it would be thyroid cancer (so a second cancer), completely unrelated to my original tongue cancer. This is still good news as thyroid cancer is much less dangerous than the tongue cancer. The treatment would involve surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, NO radiation and NO chemotherapy. He said the treatment would be a “walk in the park” compared to what I’ve already been through. The doctor says he hopes that the biopsy reveals that the nodule is nothing; if so they will just watch it closely. But he did remind us that I am at a higher risk for thyroid cancer since my thyroid was heavily radiated during my tongue cancer treatment.

Either way, we are encouraged because for now my tongue cancer appears to be gone, and this cancer is the aggressive type and more worrisome. We feel we have received a good report. Please continue to pray that the nodule on my thyroid is nothing and even that it disappears completely. You might remember that at one time, my lymph nodes appeared to have contained cancer, but when they removed them, the lymph nodes were clear. We believe that was healing from the Lord, and we know He can do it again! If we do have to face cancer again, we KNOW that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. Such an amazing promise!!

Brady and I leave for Iowa tomorrow so I will be MIA for over two weeks. I'll miss you! I'll be better about the blog when I get back...I really promise!

Scenes from Dinnertime

Conversations with a Toddler

Me: Ducks say "quack quack"!
Brady: NO!
Me: Quack Quack!
Brady: NO!
Me: Quack Quack!
Brady: NOOOOOOOO!
Me: (sternly) Brady, don't say "no" to mommy!
Brady: (big smile) Quack Quack!

ARGH!

Just a quick update...my mouth has healed to the point that I have tried different foods and been able to taste them! Yay! I also received approval from my oncologist to have my feeding tube removed. I am still taking in most of my calories in liquid form, but this is a step in the right direction.

Get this...you might want to stop reading if you are squeamish...I asked how the tube is removed. The nurse said that the doctor has me take a deep breath...and then he just PULLS it out. Right out of the lining of my stomach. Um, GROSS! And OUCH! I think Brady could remove it just as effectively! (And believe me, he has tried!)

Also, I would appreciate prayer on May 10 and the days leading up to it. At 7:30 AM that day I will be having my first follow-up PET/CT scan to see if there is any cancer activity in my body. Of course we are praying for clear scans with zero activity! I am sure my nerves will start to get the best of me soon, even though I am confident in my treatment and the LORD who is my healer!

Thanks again, everyone!

A Different View

Sorry for the close-up view of Brady's diaper and our messy living room! But this is still a cute video :)

And YES, I did change his diaper after I put away the camera! :)

Easter Weekend

We started off the weekend by going to the zoo. I got one good picture before the camera died.

"Daddy please don't feed me to the turtle!!"

We went to Gary and Lola's for Easter dinner after church. Brady got his hair spiked and wore a pair of shorts from his Granny. The weather was beautiful! (And it is now Monday morning and his hair is STILL spiked. Mommy's hairspray is strong!)

He got the hang of it real quick. He would open every egg as soon as he picked it up and see what was inside.

My favorite picture of the day!

Brady was easily distracted by the dog, an airplane, the slide, a stick, or the wind.

Daddy didn't help much.The kids looking at their haul with Grandma Lola, Jamie, and Scott

Brady's friends Cole and Chloe

And the red-faced tired little boy finally stops to take a breather...

Chloe loves Brady!

I was determined to get a family picture that day...and I love it!

After a relaxing afternoon, Brady and mommy settle in to watch some baseball.
Happy Opening Day, everybody!

One Video showing a determined little boy!

Catch-All Catch-Up Post!

Life is almost back to normal for the Hubbies, with the exception of me being asleep on the couch every night by 8 PM and in bed by 10 PM. Nothing short of a miracle there. I might actually be turning into a morning person after a lifetime of dedicating myself to the night life. Wait - nope - scratch that, I think I'm getting ahead of myself!

Many of you have asked me how I am feeling...the answer...GREAT. Anything is an improvement from the past few weeks...but really, I feel pretty good. I am still dealing with pain in my throat and mouth so I am still on some heavy pain meds. But I have been able to gradually reduce my doses and frequency of doses which is great. The doctor says I shouldn't rush it, so we are just taking it day by day. I am still unable to eat and take everything by liquid in my feeding tube. I am still really tired and try to take a nap when Brady does. I am also back to work - part time and from home - so not a huge adjustment - but it feels good to be back in the saddle. I would say I'm not quite 100% but almost!

The redness in my face has gone down a lot, but you won't see it in these next pictures. They are from my last days of radiation and also a few pictures from our End of Radiation Celebration that we had at Haven of Rest on the Monday following my last treatment. We wanted to PARTY and also thank everyone who had been praying for us. I wish all of YOU could have come too! I'd be happy to celebrate again with any or all of you!

Jason and I on the last day of radiation, with five dozen chocolate chip cookies for the doctor, nurses, and radiation techs. We were popular that day! And there is my famous RED BEARD again!

Brady thought all the balloons were for HIM.

The cake for the celebration

The three of us...please Jason, open your eyes...

Hugs all around!This is what's known as a giddy, red-faced grin.

Me sitting with "Grandpa Gary" and "Grandma Lola" and "Aunt Gail" and Brady's buddy Cole, who all (even Cole) really helped us out with Brady during my treatment!

Sometimes he just gets shy :) Our friends Lee (behind Jason) and Jim (making ninja moves)

Trying to keep the boy corralled after the party :)

Somehow he always ends up on my lap...love him!

Special time with Grandma - sharing chips :)

More evidence of my super-organized boy and possible future diagnosis of OCD. He lines up his little people perfectly, and gets mad if you touch them! Look the the left Brady, those two are a little close together...better fix it!

Finally it is nice enough to play outside, or "help" Daddy build the new fire pit. Even in his styling pajama pants and boots.

Brady's first pair of muddy boots - a milestone!This picture is the only shot I managed to get of him when he found one of my feeding tubes and filled it up with his cheez-its. He also lifted up his shirt and put the tube up to his belly button, but I couldn't coax him to do that again!

This is what's known as his "you have got to be kidding me" face - I get it a lot lately!

See?

THANKS for checking in with us again! We appreciate your continued prayers for healing.