Clear

I got the phone call last week. Dr Simpson called herself. Matt happened to be sitting here when she said they couldn't find any cancer at all on the post surgery pathology report! They saw no lymph node involvement and no cancer cells in the breast tissue ever. It was a complete pathological response. What an answer to prayer! God had told My friend Lisa that he removed them back in February and this completely confirms his miracle! There is a much better chance of survival and less recurrence rate with a complete pathological response. I'm just trusting Him! Praise the Lord!!!

Surgery

I was pretty nervous to have surgery. I've never had any type of large surgery in my life. Our small group did a conference call that Thursday night to pray over me. It was so encouraging to have them pray over us.

Taking a pre-surgery photo during our conference call. 

Matt's parents flew in town on two separate flights the day before surgery because all the flights were full. His dad didn't get in until really late that night. 

Matt and I woke up at 4am and headed down to the hospital. It was such a strange feeling knowing I was about to go under. We had to be there at 5:30 am and wait until 7:30am. It was the strangest thing. I calmly fell asleep while I was waiting. That could have only been possible due to prayers. God covered me the entire time!

The surgeon came out and told Matt that she removed 3 lymph nodes. As of now they looked non-cancerous, but we won't get the final results until the full pathology report is done next week. 

Matt's mom stayed with me Friday and Saturday night in the hospital. It worked best for Matt to be home with the kids if they woke in the middle of the night. She was an awesome caretaker. I threw up a couple of times Friday afternoon due to anesthesia. The nurses took care of my pain pretty well. They were all great. My mom kept Hudson at her house the whole weekend. It helped us so much. Matt and Bill even managed to take Roman and Carmen to his soccer game on Saturday and then church on Sunday. Everything worked out as smooth as possible. God covered us so much. 

The chemo volunteer nurse, Sandy, came and visited me. It brought me to tears to see her face. She has been an angel to me this entire process. 

I was up walking the halls by Saturday. Matt helped me so much. 

We have Matt and Pam trained to drain my two drains. Hopefully I will get them taken out this Thursday. 

Overall, having the double masectomy wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. I feel blessed to have so many prayers. I truly felt them the entire time!

33

My birthday was on Mother's day this year.  We celebrated by going to church that morning and then Matt watched the kids while my mom and I went shopping for the afternoon.  Matt grilled that night and we had cake.  It was a great day.  I feel so blessed to be alive and enjoy another birthday.  Cancer puts a lot of things in perspective.  Praise the Lord for his new mercies every day.

Hudson is one!!!

Wow!  What a year!  I can't believe our baby boy turned one already!  We woke him up by singing happy birthday.  He had no clue what to think!

The kids couldn't wait to wake up Hudson!

 We had Meema over and celebrated with hamburgers for dinner and cake.  Hudson screamed the whole time we sang to him.  Typical.  He's been crying a lot lately with teething and for attention.  He had no clue what to do with the cake. 

Our attempt at a family photo!  Hudson crying, Roman eating his cake, and Carmen off in lala land!
 

Here are his stats:

weight: 25lb 4oz (81%)

height: 31-1/4" (88%)

head circ: 19-1/2" (99%)

 

Hudson is a big growing healthy boy!

 

He loves watching his big brother and sister.  He screams a lot when they're around for attention, but he loves to watch them and play with them.

 

Hudson wears size 18 month clothes mostly and size 5 shoe.  He's in a size 5 diaper.

 

Hudson is off the bottle!!  I transitioned him to whole milk this past week and then offered a NUK sippy cup that he loves.  I decided to not stop and just packed up all the bottles.  What a stress relief and praise from God.  I was a little worried about him transitioning with me having surgery this week.  Now we don't have to worry.  He's drinking 16-24 oz of whole milk and/or almond milk a day.

 

Hudson has taken a few steps, but won't completely walk on his own.  I think it's coming really soon!

 

We love you Hudson so much!  You are such a blessing and have so much personality already.  Rarely are you still or quiet.  I just know God has such big plans for your life. This first year of your life has been an adventure and you have been a trooper.

love,

mommy and daddy



lungs

I had my normal check up at my oncologist and she mentioned that my original pet scan back in December had shown two spots on my lung.  They didn't light up on the pet as cancer, but were visible on the cat scan.  I was pretty worried.  I wasn't aware of this originally because everything had been so crazy.  The lung is one of the places that breast cancer can travel, so obviously I was so nervous.  I had another pet scan schedule the following Monday.  I had to wait two days to get the results.  It was nerve racking, but I had to remember that God had said he removed them.  I had to have faith! The doctor called on Wednesday morning to confirm that NOTHING lit up on the scan at all!  The two spots are still there, but still don't show as cancerous.  They could just be scar tissue.  Praise the Lord.  I am currently cancer free!  It feels great!  God is so good!

Easter

 We had a fun Easter egg hunt with the neighborhood kids the Saturday evening before Easter.  It was a little cold, but they had a blast.  We had over 400 eggs!

So many kids!

Hudson's first Easter hunt

The gang

Ford and Hudson

 Sunday morning we went to church and then had a little egg hunt in the back yard.  This kids had a blast.  It was so great to have Meema here to celebrate with us too.

11 months

Hudson turned 11 months this April. He's getting so big!

 

 

He took a couple of steps on his own, but still hasn't grasped the entire concept of walking. It will be very soon!

 

Hudson finally got two teeth at once! A third just popped in now. He has one bottom and two top teeth. 

 

Hudson is getting  harder with food lately. He's getting a little picky. He loves Cheerios, cheese, and bread. We still feed him the baby food pouches. I try to always offer him what we're eating. He also loves mommy's smoothies. 

 

Hudson knows what shoes and socks are. We ask him where are his socks and he points to his feet. It's so cute!

 

He says 'boo' for book at nap time and before bed. He loves to read books!

 

Hudson also knows the word bath. I asked him if he wanted to take a bath and he hurriedly crawled to the bathtub. 

 

Hudson says momma and dadda all the time, but I'm not sure he knows that's our names yet. 

 

Hudson loves Meema. She has spent so much time with him that he loves to be around her. 

 

He says 'more' and does the sign language for 'all done' when we're eating. 

Hudson wears mostly size 18 month clothes and a size 5 diaper. He wears a size 5 shoe. 

 

Hudson still takes a morning nap from 10-11 and then an afternoon nap from 2-4.  He sleeps usually between 8pm - 7:45am. 

 

He loves to play with balls and even makes the little cars say 'vroom'. 

 

We love you so much sweet boy! You are all boy and wonderfully made. It is such a joy to watch you grow.