Our New Normal

It's been such a long time since I've written on this blog. Too long. However, life in the last year has been anything but normal. Up to this point, this blog was primarily focused on chronicling our lives and the addition of our two littles, John Parker and Claire. Most of my entries were light-hearted and full of joy. I have always been one that has valued authenticity, so I did my best to share the ups and downs of motherhood. This last year, our lives took a turn that I never expected. One that I find myself still wrestling with on certain days. In July 2012, I had my thyroid removed due to it being grossly enlarged. It wasn't cancerous, but there was enough of a health risk to necessitate having it removed. It was there that the surgeon found cancer lying underneath my thyroid in my lymph nodes. I was diagnosed with Nodular Schlerosing Hodgkins Lymphoma on July 23, 2012. Our world was shaken, we grappled to make sense of this. I struggled to to be a wife and mother to my two little ones amidst 4 months of rigorous, intense chemotherapy. I learned more about what faith looks like in the last year through this intensely refining period. I've asked alot of questions, I've wrestled with more recently the question of "why cancer, why me, Lord?". I've seen the provision of the Lord through the love and caring of so many family and friends during my cancer journey. On our darkest days, others were the hands and feet of Jesus to us in ways that so beautifully depicted His love. Here we are today. I'm 9 months out from my chemotherapy (insert happy dance here). I'm finally at the place where I call myself a survivor. I'm celebrating that I've had 9 more months with my family and others. I'm beginning to feel like myself again and am sporting a crazy, curly hairdo post treatment. I've learned to not sweat the small stuff as much, to cherish moments that I have, to recognize that every day is a gift. I don't know how many days I have, but I know that the Lord has my days numbered. At 34, I feel like I've learned many life lessons earlier than I planned. However, I'm grateful that I can now put them into practice while I'm young. It feels good to be back blogging. Needless to say, this blog will likely become intensely more real and authentic, it will document our littles as they grow, but it will also be a place where I can share my thoughts as I move forward as a cancer survivor. Thanks for listening and for reading!

Guess what we're doing?

Yes, I will keep this post very "G" for our viewing audience. I know John Parker is going to kill me for posting these in a couple of years, but I will fondly remember June as our "Potty Training" month. A day before John Parker's 3rd birthday, he decided he wanted to "Go on the Potty" since his buddy James did. We took his lead. No more diapers, just big boy undies or his birthday suit as you can see from these pics. It's been an adventure. The first few weeks were pretty fantastic, I wish I could say that same of the last few weeks. I guess the newness has worn off... These pictures pretty much captured those days at home learning to use the "loo".:)

It's Gymbo Time

For J.P.'s birthday, we invited a few family and friends to Gymboree to party with Gymbo (the Gymboree clown/mascot), if you aren't familiar. A big thanks to Grandma, Grandpa, the Branscombs, Clarks, Hunters, and Weber families for coming to the party. John Parker loved having all of his buddies there to celebrate. I loved that we wore the kids out by playing hard for an hour and then loaded them up with sugar and sent them home. Sorry, parents!!! Laura, the instructor, came up with great games to engage all the kids and she had a way with making the kids smile. I loved watching the kids play "Monkeys Jumping on the bed" and watching the babies and toddlers chase after the bubbles. There is a sweet innocence about these younger years that I just love. I was one happy mommy being able to have fun and then walk away with no mess or clean-up. Now, that's how a party should be--fun for the kids and adults! :)

The Wild Threes

Our little man is 3! He's been telling friends and family that he's 3 for months now. Perhaps, to prepare his momma for his big day! :) I'm not sure what to make of three. I've heard it's a mixed bag full of sweetness and personality along with challenges due to attitude and preferences. I thought it quite fitting to head to the zoo to kick off what will likely be a wild year. We loved having Grandma and Grandma along for the adventure. It was mid 70 and sunny that day, so the zoo was packed. John Parker picked out his Kermit shirt and shoes. Man, does that boy like to choose his clothes. Claire was quite happy pushing the stroller or sipping on some apple juice.

Here we go. Bring on three!

Ducks, Ducks, and more Ducks

A new favorite past time for the kids and I is to go to Laurel Park and feed the ducks. It reminds me of feeding the birds in Northern Michigan with my grandma. There's just something about feeding the birds that makes me feel like a little girl all over again. I love being resourceful and using my old bread to feed and nourish something rather than just tossing it in the trash. I caught some of the cutest pictures of the kids that day. John Parker loved to toss the bread to all of his feathered friends. He even felt sorry for the one lone squirrel that was roaming for handouts among the geese. That's my little guy! Claire didn't know quite what to make of the quacking feathered friends coming straight for her, especially the territorial hissing type.

May Favorites

Here is a great recap of May in pictures...we had a lot of big changes take place this month. John Parker moved into his "Big Boy" bed. The kids love having pow-wows in his bed after naps. Claire started sitting at our the picnic table all by herself. Claire started facing forward in the car. We've decided that the row ties by the side of our home make a pretty cool jungle gym. I discovered that my kids wish they were monkeys. We love corn on the cob. We started playing in our swimsuits because it's summertime!

Let Summer Begin

What better way to kick off the summer than with a cookout with friends. We love our neighborhood and feel so blessed to live close to some really cool families. The Jacobs had a few families over for a cookout and pool time--two of my favorite summer happenings. Cheers for our favorite season!

Her First Steps

It was a perfect day in May. We'd just finished having a picnic lunch on the Square with our friends, the Clarks. The kids had loaded up on pretzels and grapes. With the weather being so wonderful, I couldn't bear to just go home for naps right after lunch. Instead, we played on the train and then decided to play in an open patch of grass on the Square. That's where it happened, folks. Claire really took off!!! It was so cute watching her wobbly legs push off the ground. She was moving towards the flowers with such determination. She loves "flawas", as she calls them. She took her first shaky steps on April 21st, but on May 17th she took off. I loved her smile and how she kept trying to find her balance everytime she would fall. She even started to push off her hands to stand. It was one special day when my baby started to really feel like a toddler. Of course, I didn't have my video camera that day, but I think these pictures captured it pretty well.