Ella's Big Day

We successfully celebrated Ella's first birthday last Saturday. She was a little apprehensive about the birthday cake but as you can see she got the hang of it. She of course had to go straight to the tub! While we were all eating our taco's, Ella decided it was time to open her presents and took it upon herself to start without us. We looked over and she was pulling a gift out of a bag. She didn't want to wait! She has had so much fun playing with her new toys and books. Thank you to all of you who celebrated with us. Check out our flickr site for more pictures of the FIESTA!

I made it through one more treatment on Wednesday. Two more treatments to go!!! I'm so ready to be done. Some good news is my hair stopped falling out and is actually growing back. I guess that chemo couldn't get the best of me!!!

All else is well. Ella is still not trying to walk. She is content to crawl where she needs to go and that's fine with me. We have her 1 year check-up on Thursday and I can't wait to see how much she's grown. Joel's job is continuing to go well. He has actually gotten a chance to work in the garage on some projects. Both my grandparents have had to be in the hospital in the past two weeks. They are both doing better and home now. We are heading down to Augusta on Saturday to celebrate my Papa's 90th birthday. It will be great to see some family we haven't seen in a while.

We got word this past week that the insurance company has some issues paying for some of my treatment. Please help us pray this all works out. I'm not worried but it doesn't hurt rally the troops. Also, please continue to pray that God will give me strength to finish these treatments with a good attitude. I'm ready to feel like myself again! Thanks for the prayers!!!

A New Year

Happy New Year to you all!!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. We had a wonderful Christmas, Birthday, and New Year! Ella had a very exciting first Christmas! My extremely talented friend Candice took this picture of Ella on Christmas Eve. I know I'm a little partial but she really is a beautiful little girl! She had fun at all the parties and family activities. She was a trooper through all the craziness of Christmas. We had a wonderful time in Augusta with my family. We were able to see many of our friends and family and Ella had a great time with Nanna and Grandaddy! Ella had so many gifts to open Christmas morning that she got tired and had to take a nap. I think we had more fun then she did.

We are officially halfway done with my big chemo. This last chemo was a little easier because I just rested. I didn't try to keep going like I've done in the past. I also found that sitting in my parents jet-tub helped tremendously with the joint pain. I will be returning to Augusta for a few days after my next treatment not just for the tub but help with Ella too.

This last round of chemo will probably release the last little bit of hair I have. My eyelashes and eyebrows are hanging on (thank goodness)! I've gotten used to wearing hats although sometimes I just get to hot and have to take them off. I get some strange looks but oh well. I meet with my oncologist next Wednesday to discuss how all my treatment is going. It feels good to be halfway through all this. My last big treatment will be February 27th if all continues to go so well. My plan then is to hopefully have my second reconstructive surgery and then return to work. I will continue to receive Herceptin until November and then we will really be done!!!

We are preparing for Ella's big first birthday next Saturday. We are having a FIESTA!! We've invited some of her friends from church and family. We can't believe it's already been a year. What a blessing Ella is to our lives.

As Joel and I prepare for the year ahead, we don't make resolutions. We look at the past year and give ourselves a life/spiritual/relationship check-up. There is always room for improvement so we decide what goals we set for ourselves in the upcoming year. As we say good-bye to the Year 2007, what a life changing year it has been. We've become parents, lost a lot of sleep, changed jobs, and fought cancer. We are stronger for it and forever our lives will be changed. We are excited to see the adventure God takes us on in 2008!