Videos to come... as soon as I can get a chance to compress and post them...
Friday, December 28, 2012
Nothing Like... Christmas Karaoke!
Our friends know that we Arnolds (and Gore's, Sturdivant's, Warf's, Gregson's, etc) can't get together without a little karaoke... Moppy style!
Pop's Pool
Avery and Eleanor couldn't stand it any longer and really wanted to get into Pop's pool. And yes, the frog is texting on a cell phone.
Meanwhile, Silas kept a safe distance. My little cautious buddy:
Frogs. Just because they're fun.
And somebody still looking on from behind the door.
Sweet little man.
Naughty or Nice?
Not sure... you tell me! Santa made time to stop by the Warf house Christmas Eve....
And two little people were very, very excited. Avery didn't even have words for her excitement... only she never stopped jabbering all day and Silas never stopped smiling. Avery would run around the room and let out a squeal every now and then to discharge.
Miss bossy.
Sometimes, you just need to hug your brother.
Only one head injury was sustained this year. That dern car door vs. Bruce. Door: 1, Bruce: 0.
Christmas Day 2012
After a fun, exciting morning with the presents from Santa... we packed up and headed north. We were able to get on the road by 11:15am (I think) so we made it to Mop and Pop's house by 3:45 that afternoon. As much as I thought these two would konk out in the car, the energy carried over to the trip there... only now we were all locked in seatbelts... thank goodness Mimi and Papaw gave us the portable DVD players for the car! (I was one of those moms that said we don't need the DVD players... but now I believe they are golden.) We sang, read books, drew pictures, had a few fights, a few tears, all while watching Shrek. Until Memphis.
(scene: Donkey singing "I'm a Believer" on the screen. )
Boy did we ever have a fun afternoon. As usual, the Arnold house decibel level was not audiologist approved, and the way we approach this: just talk louder. A merry time was had by all. Silas and Avery barrelled through the door and did not miss the big tricycles meant just for them! (Although the "S" on the seat could have easily been a monogram for Silas... right, Grace;) Cutest Schwinn bikes I've ever seen! Silas and Avery absolutely loved them. In fact, Silas wouldn't even dismount to open his other gifts.
Then Miss Avery said Mommy needed a turn...
Cousin Kaelyn even let Avery play on her scooter!
Fierce.
Avery and Silas also received some sleeping bags - Minnie Mouse for Avery and Football for Silas. They were a hit!
"Um... just KIDDING! Silly people, you know Miss Avery does not nap!"
Two of a kind. See previous post for Rocky bandage story.
Sweet moments. We might have two sleepers here.
There's nothing better than playing with Poppy!
My little snow angel. Oh, and did I mention that it SNOWED Christmas day and the 26th!
My little paper boy. He plays the part well.
Avery loves her ponytail like her mom. Cutie patootie.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The End of an Era
Injection #144: DONE. We have now competed the 4 weeks of daily infusions and 48 weeks of three injections of Interferon. After it's all over, I feel like I've run a marathon every week for 52 weeks... but am so thankful I have been able to carry on semi-usual routines and work and such. And I thank God for allowing my blood count production to walk that tight rope of chemo and function consistently the whole year - so that I could complete the entire year. Many people who take the drug are required to stop a few months early due to blood count depression and susceptibility to infections/pneumonia. What now? Nothing! We go back to Houston for follow-up CT scans January 23-24 and then every 90 days until the 3 year mark (November 2014...). Then I will most likely get PET scans here in Jackson every 4-6 months until we are at the 5-year mark.
I can't go without mentioning my wonderful family who has stepped in this year to help with Silas and Avery (and my dirty house at times). I dearly love you and simply could not have done it without you.
And the inspiring friends, co-workers, family, and people we don't even know who have prayed ceaselessly and fervently - there are no words. I can tell you that I felt them. Back when this whole thing started last September, I remember praying and resting through James chapter 5: "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." What a relief to see that it is not the sick person who is praying the healing prayers here.... it is the elders/friends/family who are praying.
Unbeknownst to me, Bruce put together a little box of notes from special friends and family for my culmination of the chemo... As I walked back into the bathroom to change into my pajamas, he had a box sitting by the sink. While I read those heartfelt and self-less notes I sat there and cried in thankfulness - there are so many emotions - and as my brother-in-law put it: the beginning of a new chapter.
In a weird, crazy, sick kind of way, I am anxious about next year. The 3 x week injections have become a part of my routine on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights and also serve as a comfort in knowing I am doing something to keep any cancer cells from living in my body. Now I won't be doing anything except posing for pictures every 90 days ... and praying for not only wellness but also no fear. Every morning my daily battle is choosing not to fear .. maybe my thorn in my side, who knows. But it is also a reminder of how blessed we are to be here on this earth with these two awesome children and the power of God's grace through it all. Maybe if I didn't have to battle fear I would become a little complacent or begin to take for granted the grace. God forbid.
In light of the recent 'happenings' in our country (i.e. the EVIL that visited CT schools), we must refocus daily and continue to guard our hearts and minds, lest we become paralyzed by fear and sadness. Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
I am going to borrow from our transitional pastor's words last Sunday: Evil visited Connecticut that day. And 2,000 years ago, evil visited Bethlehem when a king ordered every baby boy killed. And out of that horrid and unthinkable tragedy, in the midst of sadness and wailing mothers, God brought good into the situation....okay, more than "good". The BEST. He delivered his only Son into the world who was born in a manger and who would someday give His life so that we could live eternally with Him.
Well, I guess we know now that the silly Mayans were wrong. But we have HOPE because of Christ and can claim the words of the hymnist as ours: "Living, He loved me; dying He saved me; buried He carried my sins far away; rising He justified, freely forever; one day He's coming -- O Glorious Day!" (Wilbur Chapman, 1908)
I can't go without mentioning my wonderful family who has stepped in this year to help with Silas and Avery (and my dirty house at times). I dearly love you and simply could not have done it without you.
And the inspiring friends, co-workers, family, and people we don't even know who have prayed ceaselessly and fervently - there are no words. I can tell you that I felt them. Back when this whole thing started last September, I remember praying and resting through James chapter 5: "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." What a relief to see that it is not the sick person who is praying the healing prayers here.... it is the elders/friends/family who are praying.
Unbeknownst to me, Bruce put together a little box of notes from special friends and family for my culmination of the chemo... As I walked back into the bathroom to change into my pajamas, he had a box sitting by the sink. While I read those heartfelt and self-less notes I sat there and cried in thankfulness - there are so many emotions - and as my brother-in-law put it: the beginning of a new chapter.
In a weird, crazy, sick kind of way, I am anxious about next year. The 3 x week injections have become a part of my routine on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights and also serve as a comfort in knowing I am doing something to keep any cancer cells from living in my body. Now I won't be doing anything except posing for pictures every 90 days ... and praying for not only wellness but also no fear. Every morning my daily battle is choosing not to fear .. maybe my thorn in my side, who knows. But it is also a reminder of how blessed we are to be here on this earth with these two awesome children and the power of God's grace through it all. Maybe if I didn't have to battle fear I would become a little complacent or begin to take for granted the grace. God forbid.
In light of the recent 'happenings' in our country (i.e. the EVIL that visited CT schools), we must refocus daily and continue to guard our hearts and minds, lest we become paralyzed by fear and sadness. Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
I am going to borrow from our transitional pastor's words last Sunday: Evil visited Connecticut that day. And 2,000 years ago, evil visited Bethlehem when a king ordered every baby boy killed. And out of that horrid and unthinkable tragedy, in the midst of sadness and wailing mothers, God brought good into the situation....okay, more than "good". The BEST. He delivered his only Son into the world who was born in a manger and who would someday give His life so that we could live eternally with Him.
Well, I guess we know now that the silly Mayans were wrong. But we have HOPE because of Christ and can claim the words of the hymnist as ours: "Living, He loved me; dying He saved me; buried He carried my sins far away; rising He justified, freely forever; one day He's coming -- O Glorious Day!" (Wilbur Chapman, 1908)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Twas the week before Christmas...
Silas and Avery are so excited about Christmas... or, maybe they sense the mounting excitement and aren't sure why, but love joining in the spirit of the season. I've always wanted to make a gingerbread house but haven't mustered the guts to try one from beginning to end. This Mickey and Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Kit sounded like just what we needed. A little silly girl found it "hiding" in the pantry and was beyond excited.
We attempted the "no-fail" gingerbread house and followed instructions included (well, sort of)... and carefully placed all the candies on the cake while Mimi held the walls up (so the icing 'glue' could harden). Then about 5 minutes after the event:
Oh well. We will call in the professionals next year.
Last week at FBCJ, we were busy in the preparations for Keyboards at Christmas, a fabulous concert with six grand pianos, the big Quimby organ, and about 60 musicians. Silas and Avery came to a rehearsal with me one night and lucked up on our first piano lesson! Thank you Mrs Eva! (Note: Silas and Avery don't do anything without snacks ready and waiting:-)
Silas came home and practiced a little bit.
Grace and Micajah hosted their first annual Christmas party at their house - what a fun night! Ralphael and his crew (our fellow Grenada native:-) entertained us with Christmas jazz. The Gore gals even did a number with the singing butcher Marvin (if you haven't shopped at the Kroger meat counter, you've been missing out on Marvin's songs!). Jingle Bells!
All in a day's work at MSMOC. DEUCE!
Last week at FBCJ, we were busy in the preparations for Keyboards at Christmas, a fabulous concert with six grand pianos, the big Quimby organ, and about 60 musicians. Silas and Avery came to a rehearsal with me one night and lucked up on our first piano lesson! Thank you Mrs Eva! (Note: Silas and Avery don't do anything without snacks ready and waiting:-)
Silas came home and practiced a little bit.
Impromptu photo session:
Grace and Micajah hosted their first annual Christmas party at their house - what a fun night! Ralphael and his crew (our fellow Grenada native:-) entertained us with Christmas jazz. The Gore gals even did a number with the singing butcher Marvin (if you haven't shopped at the Kroger meat counter, you've been missing out on Marvin's songs!). Jingle Bells!
All in a day's work at MSMOC. DEUCE!
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