Sickness and Good Hearts

Wade did his first round of the new chemo. He went in on Monday and then had his shot on Tuesday. He's really doing great considering. He was feeling so good that he went to work on Thursday and Friday after being off for months. Unfortunately a little bug struck our family and Reagan had strep and Kaden had a fever with lots of congestion. I think Wade caught a hold of what they had and he ended up with fever too. I had to take off Thursday for Reagan and then I took off Friday for Kaden. That's usually how this works. One gets sick and then they all get sick. Knock on wood, I've been fine...just extremely exhausted from not getting sleep because I was checking on all three kids every 2 hours. But today is a good day. Praise the Lord.

For the last few weeks, my good friend Carla and my friends at my school have been working hard to collect money through our school district for our family. They offered a Jeans Week to each school. If anybody from the schools wished to participate it would cost them a minimum of $10.00. As of last week, 13 schools participated and they raised a total of $3200. Wow! I am just speechless!!! It couldn't have come a better time. My family feels EXTREMELY blessed that so many people were moved by our story and helped us out more than they could ever imagine! It literally brought tears to my eyes.

And with this news, I learned that our Sunshine Committee decided to give our family Christmas!!!!! Talk about CRYING!!! I honestly didn't even know what to say. I was told to make a list of the things the kids wanted, what Wade and I wanted AND other things that needed repairing, such as our cars. I'm not even sure how to put into words what I was feeling the moment I was told this good news. It's hard for me to think that Christmas was going to be nearly impossible for us this year. I think I stayed in denial that it was going to be fine...or maybe I just prayed REALLY hard that it would all work out somehow. Boy did it!

Though it's been a super crazy week, we're all starting to feel better. And to think we have so many wonderful people in our lives...it couldn't get any better than that. We are EXTREMELY blessed!

Though we are starting to feel better, my brother J.R. is having more problems with his eyes (see http://mylifeaskatiebaker.blogspot.com/2009/09/good-news-and-bad-news.html and http://mylifeaskatiebaker.blogspot.com/2009/10/updates.html for just a little background on the things he's been through). This past week, on his birthday, he was in the hospital for a staph infection on his face. He went home but has had an upper respiratory infection. He's been coughing quite a bit, which is believed to be the reason why he is now unable to see out of his only good eye. They believe his eye has hemmorged. The blood is covering the lens of his eye. The good news is retina is still attached but he will have to get his blood pressure and blood sugar under control. His blood pressure was 172/90 and they said if it got 175/95 he would have to go to the emergency room immediately. They are hoping the blood on the lens will clear up on its own. He goes to the doctor on Tuesday and hopefully if they blood hasn't cleared, they will be able to put a syringe in his eye and draw the blood out like they've done before. Please, please, please pray for good news!!!

Disappointing

Wade went to the doctor today for the results from his scans. Unfortunately, all of the tumors have grown. The biggest one grew 1 cm and the other four tumors grew just a bit. Enough to be annoying and cause the doctors to look to other options. They feel that possibly Wade has become immune in a way to the Ifosfamide. They will now start him on Adriamycin (AKA "The Red Devil"). This was the first chemo he had ever received back in 2003. When he did it then, he would do at least 3 or 4 days back and forth from the hospital to home. He would also have a little backpack that continuously pumped non-stop all those days. For now though, they are choosing to only do one day of it and then home he goes. He will come back the next day for a a Neulasta shot (see www.neulasta.com/patient/howcanhelp/how_canhelp.html for more info on this). Of course he will continue to do blood work 3 times a week, but other than that, he wouldn't do anymore treatment for 21 days. So the good news is that he does not have to be admitted into the hospital. The bad news is that the last time Wade did this chemo, he had a really hard time (hence the nickname "red devil"). However, we're hoping because it's only one day, it will be a little different. So this is definitely not news we hoped for, but we are continuing to pray, pray, pray!!! He will begin this new round of chemo on Monday.

For a little background on Wade and his cancer go to www.mylifeaskatiebaker.blogspot.com/2009/09/heres-approximate-timeline-of-events.html. And if anybody knows how to insert a one word link, feel free to let me know!! I haven't quite figured that out! :) Lots of love to you all!

Reagan's Dance Recital

I am super excited about Reagan's upcoming dance recital in December. She's been practicing during dance class for the last month or so. She loves dance! They're dancing to, "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" and one other teddy bear song. Here's a picture of what her costume looks like...

(from curtaincallcostumes.com)

Cute, huh?

My Baby is FIVE!

Yes it is true! Kaden is officially 5 years old today. On this day, five years ago, at exactly 7:07 p.m., Kaden made me a mommy. It was the most magical moment and everything I had ever dreamed of (even if he came out peeing on daddy!). I'll never forget the feelings that I felt the first time I held him. He had a head full of blonde hair and personality like no other. He still has that blonde, blonde hair and the most loving, hilarious personality. He is such a smart boy. A boy at best. The kid loves dirt. He might as well be called "Pig-Pen." He tends to turn a nice dirt color once he's been outside for only seconds. He loves Power Rangers right now and pretty much everything red. He uses all of his mee-maw's rags as capes and pretends he's an actual power ranger. He's pretty good at the drums and he drives us crazy as he bangs on them and sings the many different theme songs of Power Rangers". He gives the best hugs and says "I love you" at least 5 times a day (to just me alone). He loves his sister and his daddy and I couldn't ask for anything more. He calls them both his best friends. He is by far a mommy's boy and I'm okay with that. He's my buddy! I love that boy with all I have. I can't imagine life without him. When I tell him I'm so sad that he's growing up too fast, he never fails to tell me, "I'll always be your baby boy mommy!" Happy Birthday my sweet baby boy!!

November 3, 2005 - Mommy and Kaden


First Birthday - First Haircut


Two Years Old


Three Years Old


Four Years Old


Five Years Old

Bragging a Bit

I'm not usually one to brag, but there's a picture of me with my limo bus friends on the Humble ISD website! Pretty cool!!!! I'm not sure how long it will stay up, but go ahead and check it out.

http://www.humble.k12.tx.us/humbleisd/site/default.asp

Great Day

Today was a wonderful day. I was picked up from school today at 10:00 in a limo bus. We drove around picking up about 7 other teachers and headed to the civic center for a lunch given by the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce for Teachers of the Year. We all laughed about how it felt like we were being pampered. My principal joined me at lunch to support me. She rocks! We had our pictures made, were given a little award with our names on them along with a few roses and a certificate. Then we were on our way back to our schools (after lunch of course!). I was the first one on and the last one off!! My kids and all of kindergarten came out to see me off. When I returned, they had all gone home for the day. They were so sweet.

Reagan had dance tonight and it was her first night for tap. She loved the tap sound her shoes made. After about 10 minutes of it I started to feel sorry for her dance teacher who had to listen to about 20 tap shoes all at once! Yikes!!!! She did great though. After tap, they practiced for their winter dance recital. It is ADORABLE!!

And the best news of all...Wade gets to come home TOMORROW! He originally thought it would be Thursday so coming home one day earlier lifted his spirits and our spirits. We can't wait to see him!!! Perfect ending to a great day!

Not So Warm and Fuzzy Post

So it's just been one of those days. It really started with yesterday. I had a terrible stomach ache (due to some horrible Chinese-which by the way I just started really liking!!!). I went to the hospital and just saw horribly sad things. You know, things like people crying in the hallways and I suspect saying their last goodbyes. I cried all the way up the elevator, but once I got to Wade's hall I sucked it up and put on a happy face. I don't talk much about what we're, well mostly what I'm going through. I know Wade is miserable and he hates every second that he's doing chemo. For me, I don't tell him much about what I feel because I don't want him to feel worse than he already feels. It kills me when he apologizes for making me deal with the things I deal with. It's not his fault. It's what it is and I learn to adjust to it. But I'm allowed to have bad days right???? I first wanted to do this blog so that I could vent and get things off my chest. So this is what I'm doing. I'm just releasing some emotions and thoughts.

Yes I think it sucks that we have to deal with this crappy situation. Yes we had a great summer and yes we enjoyed our holidays last year. But who wants to live their life month by month saying, "Oh this month was a good month?" It just sucks. It sucks that Wade has to be away from the kids and that the kids miss their dad more than words can explain. I hate pulling into the driveway seeing Wade's car and hearing the kids yell, "Daddy's home!" I hate sleeping by myself and I hate not being with my best friend everyday. I have conversations with him in my head all day because I know it's not easy for him to be on the phone. I hate that while Wade is going through all of these treatments, we don't get paid. We rely completely on my salary which feels like nothing when you have tons of bills piling up. I hate that Wade feels like a burden and like he's not a good husband because he's unable to provide for his family. I just hate when I have days like these.

So, now's the time when I take a deep breath, look at my babies, suck it up and move on. Time doesn't stand still. All I can do is pray with all I have. I do know the devil is working overtime on me on days like today. So now I pray, pray, pray and let that devil know who's boss! I realize more than anything how blessed we are to have such amazing friends and family who would do absolutely anything for us. And yes, more than anything, I've gotten pretty good at taking advantage of the good days we have in between treatments, whether that be during the summer or during the holidays. That's one thing I know we're good at. We're awesome at loving one another and our family and more than anything we rock at enjoying the good days! And I know there are people out there who have it way worse than I could ever imagine. Things could be worse. So, now I pray and get over this little pity party I throw for myself. I'm already starting to feel better. It feels good to get things off my chest. I'm getting good at doing that lately too! I'm allowed to have a bad day every once in a while, right?!?!