Updates

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. It's been a crazy few months.

I had stomach surgery on November 25th. The surgery seemed to go well then I had some internal bleeding and had to have several blood transfusions. What was supposed to be 2 days in the hospital endedup being 5. Boy was I glad to get home. Home for 10 days after surgery was my folks house. It was nice to have someone there incase I had complications but I was ready to come home. I still really weak and my stomach still hurts alittle. The dizziness I think is the biggest issue. Hopefully as I regain my strength, that will go away. Only time will tell though.

Makenna is doing well. She sure enjoyed being with Nana and Pop for 2 1/2 weeks but is back at home with me. She is excited about Christmas this year and is looking forward to a visit from Santa. I'm excited too. Which I was feeling a little better to enjoy it more. I barely got the tree up let alone any other decorations. ;-)

Think that's about it for now. More posts in a few days.

Trick or Treat

What a beautiful Halloween we had. We haven't seen snow yet which is unusal for Colorado and I think Halloween was the warmest on record. It was in the high 70's all day. We went trick or treating in just light weight jackets. The bad thing is the kids never went to bed. My door bell was ringing at 11:30. YIKES!

Anyway, Makenna and I went to mom and dad's for dinner then we went trick or treating up and down their block. Makenna thought it was great! Then we headed home and Mom and Dad headed to Castle Rock to go Trick or Treating with Kyra and Matthew. We would have gone but Makenna has been fighting a cold all week and I didn't want Kyra to catch anything. Getting her sick woouldn't be good.

Here are a few pictures of my little witchlit.

Same 'ol Same 'ol

Life seems to be standing still right now. This is such a busy time of the year yet there doesn't seem to be a lot going on. As a family, our focus is Kyra and doing what needs to be done to get her well. Personally, I spend most of my free time doing research - free/discount air fare for Kids with Cancer, 2nd opinions, The ronald mcdonald house etc. It seems to be never ending yet the internet is often times, less than helpful. Or, as the case may be in this case, very misleading. It's been 3 weeks and we still don't have a definative diagnosis on the stage/level or type of cancer. The doctors are still consulting on treatment as well although we are hopeful we will hear something soon.

As far as Makenna and I, the routines seem to be about the same. For all you that are working mom, you know what I'm going through. Get up, get ready for work, leave the house by 6:45, go to work, work until 4:30, pick up Makenna at 5:30, come home make dinner, bath time, laundry, maybe a little cleaning, and off to bed to do it all over again. By Friday's, I'm exchausted!!

Anyway, more updates soon!

Family Tragedy

As some of you are aware, on Wednesday, October 1, my precious five-year old niece, Kyra Elizabeth, was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor. The position of the tumor, which surrounds the optic nerve, makes it too dangerous to attempt removal. Even if removal of the tumor was possible the only guarantee is that she would become blind, along with a strong probability that very little of the cancer that surrounds the tumor could be removed. Since Kyra was born deaf, sign language is her primary method of communication. She has a cochlear implant in her right ear to aid in her ability to hear, but that would most likely have to be permanently removed if surgery was performed. That option would take away much of Kyra's quality of life as she knows it today. A very tough situation indeed!!

The question now is can the cancerous tumor be treated with radiation or chemo-therapy? We won't know the answer to that question for another 2-3 days, maybe more, when the biopsy results are returned from the lab. If the cancer is low grade (soft tissue in and around the tumor), then yes the tumor can most likely be treated. However, if the cancer is high grade (hard tissue embedded in and around the tumor), then treatment is probably not an option. It's now wait and pray.

Needless to say, our family is all emptionally drained, especially my brother Eric and my sister-in-law, Candi. All of us are struggling with this, but Eric and Candi are taking the brunt of the news. Nearby family and friends are helping in whatever way possible.

My family believes in the power of prayer. If you do, the next time you pray, please say one for our precious little angel.

Gosh - I'm getting Old!

I turned 36 yesterday and boy do I feel old. At least older than I did when I was 26 ;-) !

I very rarely do something for me so I took Friday off work and I went shopping. I bought 3 pairs of shoes ~ and not from payless. I had to shred the receipt and throw the boxes away before I felt guilty and returned them. I also got my hair cut. I will have to find someone to take a picture, but I had 6 inches cut off. It's now up above my shoulders. I swore I'd never cut my hair short again, but it's just hair, it will grow back if I don't like it.

Makenna was so cute ~ She bought me a book (with my mom's help of course) and she wrote in it. When I asked her what she got me, she told me EXACTLY what it was before I had a chance to open it. Too funny!

We didn't do much. Makenna and I went to breakfast in the morning, then ran some errands. Our friends, Holly & Jim, stopped by and then we did laundry. Sounds fun, eh?

Until next year!

Makenna's 3rd Birthday

Finally!... I think my computer is up and working.

For Makenna's birthday this year, I kept it really simple. We had just family and a few really good friends over for BBQ and cake. It was a beautiful day so the kids played outside in the pool and enjoyed the sand and water table.

The Birthday Girl the morning of her Big Day!

Makenna riding her new Princess bike from her
Great-Mimi & Great-Pop

Makenna's Arial Birthday Cake

Enjoying the pool with best Friend Anna

Candi, Kyra and Matthew

Blowing out the candles

Makenna showing off her loot

Matthew -- Isn't he the cutest?

Makenna in her new PJs and talking on her new phone

New Updates Coming Soon

Just wanted to let everyone know that I HAVEN'T stopped posting. My laptop is infected with a virus and killed all my files and folders. I'm working to get it fixed and right now, I'm hoping it will be another week or so. Stay tuned.....

K