Some Happy Thoughts

LIFE GOES ON!!!
Thank Heavens for that!

My kiddo's are sure growing up fast. Here are some pics from the past few months, since I haven't posted any in forever. :)

Kylee LOVES to play and do whatever anyone else is. She picks up on everything and is SO smart. I honestly get shocked and proud of something she has figured out every day.

Cannon is still as sweet as ever as you can see him here giving Gabriel kisses through the glass door. He is NOT a baby anymore which makes me sad, but it's fun to watch him grow. He is still such a sweetheart.

There have only been a handful of nice enough days to go outside, and when there is, we take advantage of it. Kylee loves to swing and play on the playground.

Cannon finds it more relaxing then exciting. Plus he was ready for a nap.

Cannon is WALKING everywhere. One day he took a few steps between me and Curtis and the next day he was walking everywhere. It is so stinking cute. He seems too little to be walking.

Kylee and Cannon LOVE to play together. Sometimes Kylee will even go wake up Cannon from his nap because she misses him. This makes mommy very upset, but it is sweet that they are such good friends.

Kylee still makes me laugh every day. I don't know what I'd do without her.

Kylee LOVES jumping on the trampoline. She has no fear and just goes crazy. She loves anything outside. WE WANT WARMER WEATHER!!!

Check out that hair. :)

Tell me honestly, can you resist that face?


How about this one?

TOO CUTE!

I sure do love my kids and am so thankful for them.

They are quite literally life savers right now.

Health Update

So as you all know the cancer mass was removed on the 13th and the follow-up screen showed no signs of any other cancer cells. HOORAY!!! So we have been lucky to only had to have half the thyroid (the left) removed. I will be screened again on the 27th of April and they will also be testing my thyroid levels at that time. They say that the right side will be able to make up for the left being gone and I may not need any medicine at all. Right now I'm doubting that will happen as I feel like I am have no control whatsoever over my body. They said it would take a while for the right side to realize it had to pick up the slack of the left being gone, but I'm thinking it isn't getting the picture. I will know on the 27th for sure if any other treatment is needed and I will be getting screened every 6 months for the first 2 years and then just once a year after that. I know you all have been praying for me and I can't tell you how much I love an appreciate you all. I know it was not my strength or faith that got me through this and I am so thankful for you.

What I've Learned

I've been through a lot lately. More then I'm going to share publicly (even privately now) because I know we all have our own trials and I'm not quite ready to share all the details, but believe me...I'm at that point in life where you can't help but say..SERIOUSLY? Not to say I'm picked on or feel cheated by any means. Even through it all, I feel really blessed. My recent struggles have helped me realize a lot of things, some of which I want to remember:

• My kids are gorgeous. I could just look at them all day. They have so much energy and are so full of life and I'm so lucky to be their mom. Some days I don't think I'd even get out of bed if it weren't for them.
• It is REALLY hard to not be able to play with my kids and to just watch them enjoy life without me. I don't ever want to not be in their life.
• Those who really love you show it...not just sometimes, but ALL the time.
• It sucks to feel all alone.
• Swallowing isn't always an easy thing to do. It sucks when you can't swallow without it hurting. We swallow a lot during a day.
• Thyroids are not easy to live without.
• I'm not an attractive person.
• Modern medicine is amazing.
• Pain killers are live savers, but make me USELESS!
• I don't like feeling useless.
• Words really can cause more hurt than a punch in the face...and the damage they cause is much harder to heal then a black eye. So just punch me in the face instead. ;-)
• It's hard to ask for help.
• Satan is sneaky.
• I'm not as tough or cool as I think I am.
• I have a lot of wonderful people in my life.
• I love my mom more then I show her.
• It is hard when you feel like you can't control your emotions.
• Things always work out...but not always the way you want and almost always require lots of effort on your part. Nothing is easy, but life is worth it.
• I don't want to give up, even though that seems so easy right now.
• I am nothing without my Savior Jesus Christ.
• As long as you stay hydrated, you can cry forever.

I know there was a lot of negatives on that list, and don't worry...I'm doing great. I have lots of help from wonderful friends and family and I am truly blessed. I'm just very anxious for things to get better...and know that they will. They have to. :)

Successful Surgery

Just a quick update. Amanda is home and doing very well. She is pretty much having to re-learn how to swallow since one of the masses they removed was the size of a baseball and hindering her muscles. She's doing a little better every minute. The doctor was very confident they got it all out and now we are waiting for the results of the in depth biopsy to determine treatment. She's a fighter but also knows that it is all your prayers and thoughts and love getting her through this, so thank you all so very much.

Cleared for Surgery

Just wanted to give a quick update to everyone. I finally got the green light for surgery today at my appointment. I will be going in this Friday the 13th. The nurse gasped a little when she said that date and asked me if I was sure I wanted to have it done on a Friday the 13th. 13 has always been a lucky number for me (since my birthday is on the 13th) and I am not worried about it at all...just anxious to get it all over with. :)