Half Way Done!

I am so happy to declare that Wednesday was my last round of the first chemo drugs. Now, I have 4 more sessions of this last drug, followed by surgery, then done! Woo-hoo!
When I got home, we celebrated by eating mini-ice cream cones we got from Trader Joe's...well, Bellen tried to eat most of mine:). The girl loves vanilla ice cream! Before you judge...she only probably ingested a tablespoon all together. By baby #4 you loosen up alot...for the better!
I am feeling relieved by the progress made and the steps behind me taken on this adventure. God has been so faithful. Not that I should be surprised. He always is, in His perfect timing. I have stated these things before, but feel the need to recap things I am faithful for: Still having brows & lashes, not being physically ill (thanks to Zofran), my mom coming to stay for every treatment, the encouraging words of friends & family.
In the busyness of everything I almost feel the Christmas passed us by...but, we did have great times with both our families celebrating Jesus' birth.

Hello From San Diego!

We made it! Although, after having to rent a second Uhaul to fit ALL our possessions (a bit shameful:), I had doubts that it would happen! We arrived on Monday and have had a whirlwind week, with little sleep, but lots of smiles. Jason's parents, Dustin, Eric, Christina & girls, along with some support staff from The Rock, helped get us settled here.(A shout out of HUGE THANKS to all those who helped load up our stuff in Visalia)
Since arriving, we have already reconnected with several old friends. God is SO good! He IS faithful. One of the many things I love about our God...He is so personal.
I have been asked to post pictures of the house, and I will...as soon as I have time to take them. We have been staying up til the wee hours of the morning trying to get things unpacked. It is much more challenging moving and unpacking a half a dozen people, as opposed to the last time we moved, with just 4 (and Jameson was a new baby so he hadn't accumulated much stuff yet).
Here are a few pictures from the other night when we went to see Christmas lights with some of the Neese cousins, while they were here visiting and helping us. Back to unpacking...more to come:)
 P.S. I feeling great this week! Last weeks chemo was a bit easier to bounce back from-my new secret weapon is eating yogurt and taking pro-biotics.

Boxes+ UCSD + Kids=Busy

Life is good, only because God is good!
The past 2 weeks have been very busy. Ask anyone you meet and they will say the same. It's the time of year. Christmas/December is always a flurry of (fun) busyness.
Our busyness has little to do with such. We are up to our eye balls in boxes, bubble wrap and tape(a huge THANKS for those of you that have handed down or donated moving necessities). How did we acquire so much "stuff"!? Embarrassing really. I will place some of the blame on my 4 children, since they don't read the blog...please don't tell them.
Last week, we took a break from packing (when I say "we" I am mostly referring to my mother and mother-in-law, since I only feel good enough to do anything 5-6 days after treatment). Jason and I had a weekend away! Ok, Ok...we were headed to UCSD Cancer Center to meet my new Oncologist. But, we stayed in a hotel, had no children with us and ate at PF Chang's, so I consider it a "weekend away":).
I LOVE my new Oncologist, Dr. Helsten. She is confident, smart, a mother herself, and has a sense of humor. Super thankful for all these things!
Last Sunday, day 20, as predicted, I began losing my hair. I was very glad I had cut it short, which seemed to make it less creepy when it began to fall out. I shampooed it very gently and did not even comb it, trying to preserve "my original look" for a few days. I was SO thankful that it just thinned out, but still looked like me, for the Pastoral Christmas Dinner that I attended with Jason last Monday night. It was the first time to meet all the Pastors & their wives at The Rock, so I was thankful that the Lord kept the hair in thru the night!
Tuesday, when I got back to Visalia, I drove straight to Amy and had her shave my head. It felt better to just get it over with and stop "fretting" about how much hair and when the hair was coming out. I felt so confident afterwards! I didn't think twice about walking into Chili's to order food-to-go with with my new do.(is Sinead O'Connor coming to any one's mind?)
Now its time to Bic my head, cus the little buzzed pieces are falling out. But, I am fine with that too. My mom was right, I have the same round-shaped head that Bellen has-although, my 10 month old has more hair than I do(he-he)! Another thing to be thankful for...a round head! Oh, and I still have eyebrows and lashes (for now).
Gearing up for treatment #3 Tuesday, and packing like a mad woman the next 2 days, while I am up to it.

sorry, can't get it turned right way :)

1/4 done

2nd treatment down. Zofran works! Thank you Lord for helping someone come up with this medicine! Just normal chemo side effects this time around. Wiped out and thankful mom is here to help things keep running.