Week #22 @ The Dahlhouse

Week #22 started off with a holiday.  I enjoyed some down time after my big birthday bash.  We recently purchased some new patio furniture and I must say I really LOVE it.  I've also served as mediator for about a bazillion badminton games.  I hate sitting out, but my arm isn't in badminton shape right now (darn scar from my skin cancer). 

I had this FABOULOUS idea to take the kids shopping at the mall.  We hadn't been to the mall in awhile, and Luke needed new shoes, and my kids generally love going to the mall.  I should have known.  I should have remembered...shoe shopping for Luke is not for the faint of heart.  Everything has to fit precisely or NO GO!  It took two hours, six shoes stores, one container of baby puffs, package of crackers, and a few bad words muttered under my breath before he located the "perfect" shoe.  Sensory disorders are a real thing! 

After Mark came and took the baby home (and I purchased him a new outfit because he peed through his clothes and little prepared me didn't pack him an extra outfit) I took the olders out to sushi.  Oh my word!!!! They loved it!!! 

 This beauty!  Twelve years going on twenty!

 The aftermath of the sushi feast!

This is a book I am thinking about ordering.  My therapist (yes I have one) recommends it.  I am always looking to shape my parenting into ways that meet my children where they are. 

We purchased a gizmogadget watch/phone for the kids.  Luke loses things all.the.time. and we wanted him to be able to be more independent.  This is amazing device.  It even had a GPS locator in it.  Safety is big with us!

We enjoyed the kids' student led conferences.  They each had the opportunity to present some of their best work from the school year.  It was very meaningful, and we are incredibly proud of our three children.  PS... I don't have a picture of Grace's conference because I had to take Bella to the bathroom and held Matthew the entire time.  I try...I try.  We celebrated with lunch at Red Robin which I have no picture of because I spent most of the time praying that we would survive the lunch with Matthew.  He is at that age where everything is difficult.

Friday evening we celebrated the end of the school year with the annual Lion Palooza.  We had never been before, but enjoyed an evening of face paint, bouncy houses, dunk tanks and silly string.  We were able to hear from the school's superintendent that they just purchased land and will be building a new campus soon. 

Saturday we had 4h and enjoyed the time with our bunnies.  In the next couple of weeks we will be adding another bun-bun to our crew. 

Week #21 @ The Dahlhouse

Week #21 @ the Dahlhouse started with me discovering there were 30 pictures of Bella's foot on my iPhone!  LOL!  I love this girl.  Just when I start to worry about my pathology results, she comes through for me! 

Buddy had been very sick.  I ended up taking him back to the doctor, and his ear infection was NOT better, so he ended up on a stronger antibiotic. This is a rare photo where he seeks me out and lays his head down.  Man Cub is a mover and never stops moving.  I loved the snuggles. 

Despite feeling cruddy, he did enjoy some backyard patio eating.  This boy LOVES the outdoors and chips ahoy cookies!

My pathology report FINALLY came back and the news is that there is NO MORE CANCER.  Mark and I both cried over this news.  While we expected good news, there is something peaceful about hearing it from the doctor.  I had my bandage and stitches removed and got to see my scar for the very first time.  It is shocking the aftermath of one mole.  My scar is a good six inches.  It is sore in a few spots and my arm hurts if I raise it too high.  Even though it will fade over time, there will always be a reminder of this journey. 

I enjoyed getting to hear the girls perform in their Spring concert.  I was amazed at the singing and effort put into the performance!  They also had some of their artwork on display. 

We ended the week celebrating my 38th birthday.  Seriously 38 just sounds sooo old.  I can't even believe it! Normally I am not a party person.  Sure, I love to give a good party, but never for myself.  But given the news we received about my skin cancer, I decided to celebrate with a party and all my friends.  YOLO (you only live once) is my new motto!

I ended the night feeling so very loved by some of my favorite people!  It was a really good week!

Week #20 @ The Dahlhouse

HANGING out with this little one.  She missed three days of school due to a horrible cough.  When Miss B gets sick, she gets asthmatic.  It requires 2 inhalers, honey, cough meds, Advil and a pulse ox monitor for me to be able to treat her. 

LOOKING at buying a new laptop.  I have some funds to find a laptop for my VIPKID business.  It would really be a blessing to not have to haul the computer up and down the stairs. 

PAINTING with this fun group of ladies from church.  It was so good for my soul to go and just be.  There is something very therapeutic about art. 

CHAPERONING a kindergarten field trip for B.  Matthew tagged along of course.  It was a long day. I am feeling impatient at this point not having heard any results on my pathology test.  I admit to checking my phone several times this day for a missed call or email.

 LUNCHING with my mom at McMenamins Edgefield for an early celebration of my birthday.  After we went shopping, just the two of us.  I love our yearly tradition. 

CHECKING into the doctor's office...again.  This time with Man Cub.  He had been super grumpy and digging in his ear.  Sure enough...ear infection. POOR guy.  Antibiotics all around. 

 ENJOYING his amazon delivery from Mimi!  He LOVES it!  Anything with wheels. 

No post is complete with a seven year using a golf club as a boom mic!  LOL.  I think they have watched too much reality TV. 

At the end of Week #20, I am still waiting for the pathology results and I may or may not have said a few swear words when talking with Mark about my frustrations.  Limbo is not a good place for me.  Knowledge is power.

The Dahlhouse: Week #19~The Call No One Ever Wants to Get

Waiting for biopsy results,  is a nerve wracking experience.  So when the doctor's phone number flashed on my cell phone screen, I immediately knew this was not good news.  I got the call I had been terrified of getting for years.  The call that I have cancer.   He informed me that the mole I had removed off my arm was benign and one mole off my shoulder was Melanoma in situ.  In situ is classified as stage 0, meaning the cancer is sitting on the top of the skin.  It has not spread, and it is all in one place.  The treatment is surgery to remove more skin surrounding the melanoma and test for clear margins.  Once the margins are clear, the follow up treatment is more frequent skin checks.  In one five minute phone call, I found out I had cancer and was scheduled for surgery the following week.  My head was spinning.

I had a few days of a pretty good pity party.  I vacillated between being extremely thankful it was caught so early, and feeling angry and scared (mom to four kiddos). 

Tuesday, May 9, Mark and I went in for my surgery.  The doctor removed a lot more skin than I was expecting.  Here I am all marked up so the surgeon knows what is being removed.  They used a special light in marking up my skin.  My poor eyes, I had only had one break down in front of the doctor by this point. 

*NOTE: We choose not to tell our kids about my skin cancer at this point.  They know I have moles removed, as this has been happening since I was a teenager.  They knew I had have some additional skin removed but for the time being...they don't need to know.  Especially since I have two kiddos with anxiety disorders.  If you know our family personally, please do not mention this to them as they won't have any idea.  Thank you so much!

Here was my shoulder the night after the surgery.  Out of all the difficulties of this process, not being able to hold Matthew with my right arm has proved the most difficult challenge.  After the skin was removed...I found myself waiting again.  For pathology results.  Waiting to heal.  It has been a lot of waiting. 

I think that one of the most interesting lessons I have learned with all this is that life continues and moves on.  It didn't stop because I found out I have skin cancer.  I continued to teach classes, carry Matthew with one arm, go on a field trip, take the kids to a rabbit show, laugh, go out with friends. 

We even sold our Honda Odyssey during this time period as well. 

I celebrated Mother's day with this sweet girl and her class a few days after surgery.

The three olders and I went to a rabbit show at Clark County Fair Grounds. 

I even sported my 4H shirt and had a pretty good day being with my kids. 

At the end of week #19, I was still waiting on the edge of my chair to hear if things were "all clear" or if I was going to have to undergo another surgery.