How the days fly...

I am becoming so spoiled these days... staying in my pajamas 'til 10am... hanging out with these cutie pies all day:

Sweet boy

Many people have commented that they've never seen a picture of Miss Avery where she's not smiling...  ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to Miss Drama Queen.

My favorite part of each morning:

We would have been lost without Mimi these past 2 and 1/2 months.  Silas and Avery are most excited when she is here! 

November 30 Update

We arrived home from Houston last night after meeting with my medical oncologist Monday and my surgeon Tuesday.   My drains were removed Tuesday which feels much better. All the doctors were pleased with how I'm healing (thankfully no infection this time!) and the oncologist didn't surprise us with treatment options Monday. Basically, I must decide one of two interferon options. I'm hoping to start treatments in a week or two:  (which look to be) daily IV infusions for a month followed by 3 x wk injections for a year. I'm told the initial high-dose bolus is the toughest and the injections are a little better. The most common side effects are fatigue and flu-like symptoms, but I should be able to work full-time after the month dose is over.  I return to Houston every 3 months for imaging and exams... and of course, pray it's already gone. forever.

Today marks one-month after the big surgery and I'm feeling so much better. I'm going to start my gait-training today and begin restoring a little normalcy to getting around :-)  

My surgeon told me I could begin gradual activity as tolerated as long as swelling is kept minimal. Now that the drains are out I am wearing a turbo compression stocking (stylin!) while I'm up and about to minimize lymphatic swelling while my body figures out a new way to return lymphatic fluid to the thoracic duct without the left groin superficial nodes. How amazing is it that our bodies can do this.

The plan now is to try to work half-days in late December (week 2, 3, 4 of high-dose) and return full-time after that. Can't wait to get back to "normal"! (whatever that is!)

First Popscooter Rides

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we made a short afternoon trip to Grenada to see Mimi and Papaw. Silas and Avery loved their first "popscooter" rides!!  You should have seen Silas SO EXCITED to get on the 4-wheeler... it's like he said, "Finally. What I've been waiting for!"

Just wait a little longer until they're big enough to ride the tractor!!  

Thanksgiving with the Warfs

The week of Thanksgiving, Bruce's parents came for a visit and to celebrate the holiday with us in Mississippi. Silas and Avery had so much fun playing (and playing and playing and playing) with the Warfs. They can't wait to see them again soon!  Here a few pics from the week:

What a fun week!

Post-Thanksgiving Post

Of course, thanksgiving this year was altogether gratifying as well as filled with gratitude. For my previous 28 thanksgiving holidays, I have indulged in delicious turkey and dressing and the cake(s) of the day, savored blessed time with family, prayed for continued blessings upon my family and friends, and tried to be more mindful of everyday grace given to us by our heavenly Father.... but my 29th thanksgiving was different.  Yes, we continued the usual things and attitudes mentioned in the previous sentence, but how much more appreciative we have become for each moment of every day... each step we take... each breath we take. 


Malcom Gladwell says in his book Outliers that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. Or, in other terms, 5 years of 2,000 work hours of a particular trade. I've always been a person who has operated on the mentality that the harder I work, the faster I can see results... even sometimes looking at an obstacle and committing to "work harder" than the 'average' expected performance, thus being the best.  Obviously, my results aren't what I try for, but why would I try for any less? 


In this journey since mid-September, one of my hardest realizations:   Some things simply just.    take.    time. And we can't hurry time.  We can't slow it down either. 


I've read many "I'd pick more daisies" and "seize the day" and "live like you were dying" poems, but I think this Thanksgiving holiday brought on an epiphany of some sorts.  Gratitude. The Bible tells us to "be content in all circumstances (I Thes 5:18)", "whatever you do... give thanks to God the Father (Col. 3:17), "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly... with gratefulness to God (Col. 3:15-20),  to treasure Christ (Matt 6:21).  Yes, we tend to think this way during the month of November and Thanksgiving Day, but what about the other 364 days of the year?  If Malcom Gladwell is halfway right... we should spend at least 2,000 hours a year in a state of gratitude to become an "good" at it.  Hmm.  Hello, Meredith. 


Gratitude does so many things for us... an attitude of gratitude, that is.  Gratitude keeps us humble (even at things we're "good" at)... Gratitude also protects us from temptation (i.e. temptation to allow fear to invade my mind regarding recurrences, unknowns, anything really).  If we are in a state of gratitude, we simply cannot live in fear.  I know some of the times when I've felt most grateful for grace and my blessings are while singing praise to God in worship, maybe in church and maybe by myself at the top of a mountain in the Rockies.  It's as if praise brings about a response of gratitude.   I pray to praise God for and with everything in life... 
Gratitude also brings a feeling of peace. This verse has come to have a little different meaning to me over the last 2 months: 

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will GUARD your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6–7).

Throughout these three surgeries in six weeks, pain, soreness, everything... the hardest thing for me has been guarding my heart and mind. Fear presents a bondage that overshadows blessings.  I simply cannot be fearful and truly thankful at the same time.  Period. 

Along the same lines, Satan attacks with feelings of loneliness... he knows where our vulnerabilities during hard times lie and won't let them go. Thankfully, we never should be lonely, no matter how it easy it is to feel alone... in fact, John Milton said it so well:  "Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named not good."

Now, more than ever, I'm grateful for dear friends who truly stand in the gap for us and pray for us and share this burden with us.  These wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ have truly been His hands and feet, showing us Jesus when it is hard to stay positive (and thankful)... truly exemplifying John 13:35:

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

I pray that we can continue to learn what it means to be thankful and even more that I can put that into practice... so that others will know Who we serve. Thank You, Jesus. 

"Only after all the noise has spent itself do we begin to hear in the silence of our hearts,the voice of God." (AW Tozer)            

 And truly be thankful.

Rambo and Band-Aids

The best part about this whole shebang is being home with two cuties all the time!  The precious extra moments cuddling with Silas and Avery are like medicine to the soul. Silas is beginning to hold his own chasing Avery around... and is getting faster every day since he started walking the first of November!  As a matter of fact, the two munchkins are only blurs on the camera lens these days... 

Watch out here he comes...

Life with these two is hilarious.  They are two little comedians... I must share one of the funnies:  of course, with two toddlers (moving in separate directions), the 'bo-bos' are just waiting to happen. We had our first big goose egg on the forehead when Avery fell down some stairs at Watercolor a few months ago... and since then, I think she's had a new one for each old one that fades. Which is probably a reason why Silas waited a few months longer to start walking - he saw Avery busting her tail (or face) multiple times per hour and thought, "why in the world would I subject myself to that!"   But I digress.

So Mimi was still staying with us and was cleaning the kitchen after breakfast, I was sitting in the brown chair (where I've been parked for the better part of two months), and Silas and Avery were playing in the mixing bowls drawer. All of a sudden, there came an awful racket followed by terrified screams from Silas... one of the bowls that I swore couldn't possibly break broke all over the floor. Avery screams (because Silas is screaming)... and I grab Silas while mom grabs Avery. The kids and I go into the nursery while Mom cleans all the pieces up.  We then notice Silas is bleeding from the bottom of his foot! It is everywhere. I run get the first aid supplies and bandage his poor little foot and he is finally calming down. Poor guy. 

I look up and Avery is pointing at her foot and basically won't give it up until I bandage her foot too!  She wanted a bandage just like her brother's. I wonder if her foot hurt too?  They say twins are funny about that kind of thing.... 

All better now.

Quick Update

Got the first good news today since all this stuff started... all the remaining lymph nodes that were removed in surgery were clear! Praise God! This means we are still Stage 3A. We'll meet with the oncologist two weeks from today to learn about the treatment I'll have and hope to start as soon as possible. I'll see my surgeon the next day (29th) for removal of stitches and drains, etc., and every 3 months after that for scans to make sure nothing comes back. What a great relief and time of thanksgiving... finally, good news. Thank you, Lord.

Days at Home with Avery

Got my milk, Mickey's on, life is good.

Snuggling with Momma!  

Miss Elizabeth, Miss Avery, and Baby

Halloween 2011 and Spiderman (played by Silas)

Since Halloween was the night before we left for Houston, and since our neighborhood has so many kids that would be out and about, we decided to stay home, dress up the kids and let them answer the door for the trick-or-treaters!  I ordered cute little costumes online and Silas and Avery had a ball.  I couldn't believe it, but Silas actually let us put the whole costume on him... and liked it!  

Spiderman!

And Avery met her idol...

I can only imagine what their real introduction will be like...  oh the magic!

She's so excited, she can't even sit down!

Surprisingly, Silas LOVED being Spiderman. It was like he transformed into a totally different character - hilarious! He and Avery got the hang of answering the door and were so excited to run over as the doorbell rang. 

Of course, we had to take a break to bulk up:

(Oh, and he wouldn't let us take the mask off to eat)

As the evening came to a close... bath time was NOT happening without the Spiderman mask. Oh the things we do.

Thankfully, Silas loves his bed so much that he didn't even notice the quick swipe to sneak the mask off his head before he went to bed.  What a fun night.

Surgery's Over

What a relief. The big surgery is over and we can now move on to the next step in this process... Here's a little update of the past week:

Bruce and I arrived in Houston early Tuesday morning and saw Dr. Ross who was very pleased (and almost surprised) at how my wound had healed since the I&D two weeks ago.  Surgery for the complete lymph node dissection was "all a go" for Wednesday morning. We stopped for a quick anesthesia clearing appointment and bloodwork then tried to get out and enjoy Houston for a few hours. Walking around Hermann Park on that beautiful afternoon brought back several deja vu moments of 2004-2005 when we did the same thing with Mom (who had a much worse prognosis). I tried to keep my mind from going back there, but then it dawned on me - what an awesome demonstration of God's healing power and faithfulness... how dare I "forget" any of that!!

You know, it seems like it should be easier to trust God and His power and promises after having seen it firsthand - but that's how Satan works...his most powerful weapon is our mind. One of my prayers has been that I would dwell on the incredible undeniable outpouring of His grace and healing that we've seen and believe He will 'show out' again.

As Bruce and I walked (slowly, I've been called Chester from Gunsmoke) the outskirts of the Park, I pointed out Mom's old apartment, the fountains we enjoyed, the trails we walked,  then he spotted the entrance to the Houston Zoo and suggested we walk through. We only had an hour before meeting Mom and Dad for supper and I sort of laughed and said, "sure." Turns out, that afternoon was 'free admission'... score!  Ummm, the Houston Zoo is only slightly  different from the Jackson Zoo.  Ok, I lied. The Houston Zoo is probably the fanciest, most diverse, fun animal habitat I've ever seen... and houses the happiest animals I've ever seen behind bars.  Zoos always make me sad, but either the zoo keepers train the animals to entertain guests or the medical center next door shares some 'happy juice'... these animals are healthy and happy.  What a fun afternoon.  We met Mom and Dad and enjoyed supper before going to bed early.

We all reported to the hospital at 6:15a.m. I was so glad to be the first case.  It's amazing to be one of 30 "first cases" in one of 37 operating rooms at the main building of MD Anderson! Wow. What an operation. (Pun intended) And amazingly, all the MDs on my case (attending, fellow, resident, student) stop by the pre-op room and are extremely personable. After the three hour surgery, I'm told everything went perfectly and that "I did great." I almost asked what I thought: I didn't do anything! How'd you do? All the superficial nodes were removed in a 'chunk' and Cloquet's node (the median node) was negative on a frozen section. Praise God! They also removed and biopsied five 'moles' from my trunk that were 'bothering me'. I've become rather paranoid since this process began. ha.  Just for my medical friends who want to know more details: The sartorius muscle was then resected and tacked to my inguinal ligaments to protect the femoral artery, vein, and nerves where so much tissue had been removed. 


Honestly, the surgery was more involved that I imagined, but thank goodness for opiates!  The doctors let me get out of bed Friday and hobble around. Unfortunately, we had to start IV antibiotics Friday for the inflammation creeping in around the incision, but I was actually thankful that we would 'prevent' another nasty infection. Yesterday, Sunday, they agreed to switch me from vancomycin to an oral antibiotic and leave the hospital. We are now in a hotel room and plan on making the drive home first thing tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

I cannot WAIT to see Silas and Avery... I miss them so much it hurts!  "Thank you" is not enough for my grandparents and aunt and uncle who've stayed at our house with Elizabeth to keep the twins - and for the wonderful friends providing meals... and most of all for the many people praying...

We must wait two weeks to hear the results of the tests on the lymph nodes that were removed in surgery. Please pray every single one is free of any and all cancer cells. Even though they have been removed, my prognosis would greatly change if any additional lymph nodes tested positive.  I am scheduled to return to Houston Monday, November 28th to see the medical oncologist and formulate the plan of treatment as well as see my surgeon the 29th for removal of stitches and drains.

We thank everyone for your continued prayers.. love you much!

D.O.D.

If you know our family (the Gores), you know each of us are very outspoken and opinionated individuals. Growing up, of course this led to many family "discussions", often turning into lectures or warnings or "advice" from Daddy.   We may not have cared for the information as teenagers, but some days I feel like I'd pay for that advice and often ask Dad for clarification on hot news headlines. Grace and Dad have started a BLOG where they'll "discuss" controversial topics from the perspective of a conservative Dear Old Dad and his daughter. Check it out - I think you'll love it!  

http://doldd.wordpress.com/

One thing Dad has always told us is actually from Luke 12:48: To whom much is given, much is expected.  November is a month we generally focus on being grateful for the many, many things we are blessed with. And yes, how important it is to count our blessings - so undeserved, yet freely given for us to enjoy... At the same time, we simply can't just be thankful. We must remember that "to whom much is given, much is expected". What are we doing to show our gratitude? Maybe it is feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for orphans (James 1)... maybe it is demonstrating complete trust and thankfulness for lessons learned in how to believe Christ (Romans 4)... 

One thing is for sure: 

From the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another. 

John 1:17

System Restore

As we prepare to leave for Houston tomorrow bright and early (6am flight!), it's hard not to think about what things were like a few (loooong) weeks ago before the interruption, hiccup, or snafu.  Normal. Whatever that is.  But all is different now... why?  After two weeks at home healing from the infection and surgery, the second surgery in Houston is finally a few days away.  Please join me in praying that every cancer cell is already gone (and never comes back!), the surgery is a success, and for a complication-free recovery. We are humbled at the outpouring of love and encouragement shown to us... thank you friends for truly being love to us and fighting for us.

I was thinking this morning about a day at work not too long ago. We do all our work on computers where all the patient charts are located... so when a computer messes up, everything stops. This particular day, my laptop went haywire and after performing the only technical move I know (ctrl+alt+delete) with no success, I made the SOS call to our system guys upstairs. Undoubtedly, there was some kind of worm on my computer that kept it from turning on.  Thanks to Sean, I learned another technical move that morning:  system restore.  This means you can tell your computer to go back a few days and basically "forget" everything that has happened in-between (i.e. infection with system worm) and go on like nothing has happened. Wow. Cool.

Often these last few weeks, I've thought what it would be like to do just that. To be able to "go back" to life like nothing has happened... just forget, and wake up from this bad dream. Of course we have done this before too, anytime something happens that isn't according to what I want or what I think should have happened. Wishing for a 'do-over', so to speak.

Back when Bruce and I lived in Lexington, KY and Mom was battling cancer, I heard a song with a message I'll never forget. Written by Sara Groves, the title is "Painting Pictures of Egypt" and it describes the Israelites wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt... and their possible tendency to want to go back instead of waiting on God's promises.  The line that hit home to me is:

"The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned"

How true. It is so easy to romanticize the past and do more than reminisce... to covet what things were like before and not wait on the promises of the future:  HOPE.  

Wouldn't it be nice to go back to the morning of 9/15/11 before the call from my dermatologist? Oh, but how much more would we lose? Even in this short six weeks, God has already taught us so much. The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned...  

Teach us, Lord, to number our days and never waver in unbelief, being fully persuaded You are faithful and have the power to do what You have promised (Romans 4:20-21).

Monkey Who?

Saturday, the Warf clan made our first visit to the good ole Jackson Zoo. Silas and Avery love to point and say "woof" to every animal that passes by on our wagon rides down our street... so Bruce and I thought it was about time to introduce them to the lions, tigers, and bears!  It was a big hit. And what a beautiful day it was with the clear skies and brisk breeze - finally, welcome fall!  

The orangutans weren't too excited to see us...

We were in awe ourselves!

 The leopards were playing and entertaining, and Silas and Avery couldn't get enough!

 Miss Avery is usually all smiles, but we have now found something that makes Mr. Silas grin from ear to ear. Although Avery liked the animals, she grew a little tired of going from exhibit to exhibit... Silas, on the other hand, "got it" and pointed and oohed and ahhed at every different kind. In fact, we were watching the big turtles through the glass and Silas laughed and pointed at the one doing flips in the water... Meanwhile, Avery was more concerned with her reflection in the glass! haha.

Here is the little animal lover!

We waved to the otters....

And had a staring contest with the bear...

 The bear won.

What a fun way to spend a beautiful day!

Bedtime with Avery

Answer: A party.  On Jeopardy, one might say "What is life for Avery."

Since she was only a few weeks old, Avery has hated going to sleep. Thirteen months later, things are no different. I posted a video of Silas going to sleep a few months ago, so I thought I'd share a little of what goes on in the Warf house between 8:00pm and 9:00pm (sometimes 10pm or 11pm) every night.

6:30:  Suppertime. Silas and Avery both love to eat.
7:00:  Milk in cup and playtime
7:15 or 7:30:  Bathtub. Silas and Avery love bath time even more.
7:45: Pajamas and wind down
8:00: Put Silas in his bed (that he is reaching for) and tell him good night. He lies down and goes to sleep himself.
8:01: Hold Avery tightly so she cannot move. Imagine trying to hold a fish after it's just been caught. Oh, and one that can moan and scream while wriggling.  I usually break a sweat.
8:10:  Avery has now broken a sweat too. She begins to give it up and gets still, sweetly staring into my eyes.
8:11:  Avery starts to giggle through her paci as she forces her pointer finger into my mouth or pinches my nose. I try with all my might not to laugh or let my shoulders shake while suppressing laughter.
8:15:  She's still again. Even begins to have droopy eyelids.
8:20:  Giggles again. Then wiggles again. I can just hear her little brain talking:  oooooh. squeals. My feet just want to dance. My hands just want to wave. My lips just want to sing!!!!  ooooo.  Sorry Momma, I just can't help it.
Now we're both laughing. Darn. Must start over.
8:30:  Avery is singing. But her eyes begin to close. I hold my breath.
8:45:  I think we're asleep!
8:50:  Sllllooooowwwwwllllyyyy get up to put Avery down.
9:00:  Close door and perform victorious fist pump in air.

If we're lucky, she starts singing and jumping again about 6:30 or 7:00am.

Enduring Hope

Finally made it home Tuesday. The doctors have me on oral antibiotics for 10 days and wound care 2 x day. MD Anderson has now rescheduled my lymph node surgery until November 2nd to give the infection and wound enough time to heal from the surgery last Friday. I'll go out November 1st to see Dr. Ross, have an anesthesia consult and blood work and surgery the next morning. I understand the typical thing after this surgery is to stay in the hospital about 3 days and probably another night or two in Houston before coming home. I've been told that I'll be off work 4 weeks afterwards, and I'll start the interferon treatments three weeks after the surgery when I meet with the medical oncologist.

Please pray with me that the cancer is already gone... that this surgery is only a formality on the protocol for stage III melanoma. Pray that every cancer cell is gone and never comes back. A wonderful friend reminded me yesterday: Just as quickly as the cells appear, they can disappear. What seems like a miracle to us is something as simple as breathing to our Heavenly Father, Great Physician.

As the days get long here at home waiting on the next step, it is easy to let my mind wander and become overwhelmed with the weight of the situation. I was reading in Romans this morning: "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." (verse 6). How true - we MUST guard our minds and keep focused on the Holy Spirit in order to keep fear at bay and remember peace. There seems to be a theme in Romans chapters 5 and 8. Finding hope through hard times.

"our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
"...boast in hope of the glory of God...and also know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

Both passages point out that hope is found through suffering and trials... that we can only truly find hope when we experience trials or hard times. Now how we "rejoice" during the hard times, that's a different story, right?  In those passages, we are told not only to rejoice but to "triumph". Right. This really sounds sick or bizarre to the world - it doesn't make sense at all. As believers in Christ, we can rejoice ONLY because we know the outcome is HOPE.

After all, isn't hope itself the essence of Christianity? The Greek word used throughout the New Testament for hope literally translates a "strong and confident expectation". A certainty. Isn't it easier to believe that?  Once we truly understand and find hope, we can truly believe.

I guess in a way, going through "something hard" makes us tougher Christians. I am in the "movement" profession - physical therapy... we're in the business of helping make people stronger, better able to endure through life's activities.  In a nutshell, we know the only way to make bones stronger is to stress them. The only way to make muscles and tissues stronger is to stress them. The only way to have better balance is to stress the current system. hmm. What a parallel.

As an athlete (an aging one at that!), the Bible verses about perseverance and running the race and finishing strong have always spoken to me. And it has recently occurred to me why God used running as his sport of analogy rather than something like, oh, football, baseball, basketball, or even tennis. Running is about finishing, not necessarily winning (although the feeling of passing someone down the stretch does give a little rush!). In all other sports, we can play, even finish, but still not win... in a race (more like the marathon kind), to finish IS to win.

Abraham knew this, or learned this. Back when mom was going through her treatment over 7 years ago (stop: praise God!!!), Romans chapter 4 was a passage I read every single day. The whole chapter. I read that chapter on the plane to Houston last Thursday and repeated this verse over and over lying in the MRI and CT machines:
"...yet he did not waver in unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He has promised." Romans 4:20-21

Hope. The way we endure.

Time with Papaw

While I was in the hospital, my parents graciously stayed at my house to keep the twins... who obviously had a blast playing with Mimi and Papaw. Bruce went to work Sunday and Mom came to stay with me, so Papaw and cousin Caleb were under the twin mob rule. 

From what I hear, they did an outstanding job with suppertime (after Avery reminded them about the necessary bibs) and played, played, played. I received this picture from Dad afterwards.

Ahhhh!

"Papaw, Silas needed his clothes (and the drawer liner) cleaned out.  I took care of that for you."

I must note that the house (and babies) was in pristine condition when we got home!  

Hop on Pop

Poppy and Moppy came to stay and help with the kids while I was in the hospital... I had to share this cute picture: 

By the way, they're reading Hop on Pop. 

More cute pictures from Watercolor, 10/1/11:

Avery thinks Eleanor is a real baby doll. Too cute.

And she still thinks Mimi is a big play toy... absolutely adores her... as does Silas!!

Breakfast with royalty (waffles and a banana): 

Silas with his peas and carrots... and his own spoon

"Don't look! I couldn't make the spoon work well enough..."

Avery excited. About everything. 

"Oh nooooo, you can't take my picture before I get dressed! And somebody put this ridiculous thing in my hair!"

Or... maybe Avery has been watching some Ole Miss Rebel football. One picture in the first half and the latter in the second half.....  Go Bears, right?

Would you hold, please?

Don't you hate it when someone says that?

Thursday's appointments in Houston went really well. Dr. Ross was very pleased with my scar and how 'well I'd healed' and didn't even take the stitches out since surgery was scheduled for the 21st. He took some fluid off which made my leg feel better and I went on with the day: MRI brain and CTs of chest, abdomen, and pelvis. We flew home Thursday night and crashed.

I got up Friday morning early to get ready for work, got dressed, and felt like I might faint. Told the clinic I'd be a little late and decided to lie down and try to feel better. I called Houston at 8am (Houston, we have a problem...) and explained what was going on and they told me to go straight to the ER, that I might be getting an infection. In other news, the MRI brain and CTs were all good! (i.e. no cancer seen there)

Turns out, yes, a nasty infection had popped up in less than 12 hours. The doctors decided there was no choice Friday afternoon but to have surgery to clean everything out. So darn, looks like everything else will be put on hold for a little while.

As of now, I'm still in the hospital on IV antibiotics, praying the infection begins to subside. I'm also praying MD Anderson will go ahead with the lymph node surgery as soon as possible even though there is a big open hole in my leg. We know the surgery won't be the 21st as originally planned, but really no idea when it will/can be done. I'm being optimistic and praying hard it'll be done in a week.

I keep looking at Bruce and asking, "is this really happening?" How could life a month ago be so different? Why in the world do mr. melanoma and mrs. infection think they have some right to come in and totally disrupt our life?! Over the past 3 whirlwind weeks, I've been reminded many times of the passage in John 9. Jesus and his disciples passed a blind man on the road. The disciples asked Jesus why that man was blind... was it because the man or his parents had sinned? Jesus was quick to answer no, of course not. This man is blind so that "the works of God can be displayed in him".

No, cancer is not from God. Neither are holding penalties from infections (we're watching football right now). As tempting as it is to dwell on the 'why' all is happening, we mustn't. We know the answer: So that God can be glorified. That's all.

Watercolor

What a fun weekend we had in Watercolor, FL for Caleb and Abbie's wedding!  Mom rented an awesome house and we all enjoyed a great long weekend with absolutely beautiful weather!  Silas and Avery were not shy about ruling the new roost. Let's just say that Avery fell down 4-5 stairs within the first 15 minutes we were there. (yes, we were watching her...just must have blinked. She's quick as lightening) So now you know the origin on any bruises on foreheads you might notice in the pictures below.

Peepeye, Papaw! Good morning

What glee. Notice that she has Silas' cup and he has her pink cup.

Wish I had sound with these pictures. Notice Silas got his cup back;)

Happy boy!

Now the next series begins Avery's photo shoot with Aunt GG. Notice the beginning pose. Then she just gets goofy. Silly girl.

Our best try at a family picture

Congratulations Caleb and Abbie!!!