Heading to The Big D...

Yep, we are moving to Dallas! A job opportunity kind of fell in Kyle's lap, and it was one he felt had so much potential and he couldn't pass up. In the beginning we decided that since I had a job here, we would put our house on the market, and if it didn't sell by July then we would stay here in FW another year and Kyle would commute. Well, our house sold after just six weeks on the market! We found a wonderful house in Lake Highlands that is a great fit for our family. It's in an established neighborhood with big trees, sidewalks, and it is two blocks away from the elementary school! Since we sold our house, I resigned my position in Everman. I am hoping to teach in Richardson ISD, since that is the district Lake Highlands is in, but I currently don't have a job...scary! However I know that with teaching, it could be a week before school starts and all of a sudden a job becomes available. I just have to be patient...not one of my strong points! We close on our FW house July 13th, the Dallas house July 16th, and we have the FW house leased back until July 23rd because we have some work to do on the house before we move in. Unfortunately we won't be able to get everything done before we move in that we had hoped, but the most important stuff will be completed. I am very sad to leave all my friends here in FW, but I am excited about this next chapter in our lives!

Swimming!

Yesterday we were invited to go swimming at Ridglea Country Club with April and her twins, William and Charlotte. I was a little nervous because they have not had any swim lessons, and I was going by myself. Well I had nothing to worry about because it was a blast! They listened/minded very well and had so much fun playing in the water. The baby pool is huge and has an incline on one side that has little fountains that shoot out water. I think the deepest part is maybe two feet. They thought it was great, and we stayed for 2.5 hours! There is a big tree over part of the pool so we didn't get sunburned at all. Thanks for inviting us April!!!







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Feeling MUCH better!

Little Miss is 100% rash free! It started going away Saturday and now there is zero trace of it. She still has a slight cough but other than that she is back to normal!






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Sickies

We have had a serious case of sickness at our house. Last week Marshall had a runny nose all week, and Presley threw up twice at the sitter but it was just mucus. She never had a runny nose. Friday Kyle went to New Orleans for a bachelor party for the weekend. Saturday the kids and I played outside, and even though Marshall's nose was running nonstop, it was clear and he felt fine. Presley was fine until Saturday nap time. She went to sleep for five minutes and started crying. I went in there and she had thrown up in her crib. The rest of the day she was fine. Sunday she woke up not feeling not good. She was not herself all day. She only had a 99.4 temp but then Sunday night she threw up again at bath time. Kyle got home Sunday night and he noticed she didn't feel good. All she wanted to do was snuggle and watch Little Einsteins.
Monday she still had a slight temp but still felt awful. Marshall was not feeling well either. She threw up again Monday morning.

Tuesday morning they were both pitiful. I took them to the sitter and was going to call the doctor when they opened at 8. I took them to the doctor at 10 and Presley had slept all morning at the sitter's house. Both kids were diagnosed with upper respiratory infections and P has a bad ear infection. Both were put on amoxicillin, and home we went. They slept for 3.5 hours Tuesday afternoon. Presley had a fever of 101 that morning ad afternoon, so I knew I had to keep her home Wednesday too.


Wednesday I took Marshall to the sitter because he was back to normal and didn't have a runny nose anymore. Later on that morning I noticed Presley had two red spots on her arms and her fingers and feet were pink and swollen. I called the nurse and they said to give her some Benedryl, and we changed her antibiotics. The spots went away and she started feeling better. However around 5:00 I noticed the spots were back, and worse. However she was acting fine so I gave her more allergy medicine and put her to bed. I called the doctor and they said it was either a reaction to the antibiotic or her virus coming out, that she was probably fine. Well yesterday (Thursday) I came back to work and sent her to the sitter. The rash was still there but pink instead of red. My sitter texted me before lunch and told me the rash was back and red and spread all over. When I went to pick her up yesterday afternoon she looked awful! It was all over her face, her bottom, everywhere! She was itching and miserable. So I decided to follow my guy and called the pediatrician again. I wanted her seen by SOMEONE. So I took her at 6:30 to the doctor on call at my pediatricians office. She started coughing again while we were there. The doctor was really concerned about her ear infection because it still looked bad, and her cough too. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing right now if her rash is the virus coming out or a reaction from the antibiotic. She has to continue on the antibiotic, so right now the rash will be around until the virus goes away. She is getting children's Claritin once a day, and Benedryl as needed for itchiness during the day. This morning it was still there but thankfully not on her cheeks.

Here are some pictures of the progression of the rash. :(

Wednesday:








Thursday:









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I Wuv Wou

Kyle and I always say "I love you" to the kids, even when they are in their little cars and say "bye bye!", we say "bye, love you!" They have started saying it if we tell them to, but never without us prompting them. Well yesterday I was in the backyard with the kids, and Presley and I were sitting down on a chair. Marshall came up beside us in his car and said, "Bye! Wuv wou Dede!" He calls her Dede (like day-day), since he can't quite say Presley yet.

It was the sweetest thing!!! Then today he said it two more times! Melt my heart! He really is the sweetest little boy. :)

Oh and I need to update what he knows: apparently he knows the months of the year too! He randomly busted out saying them the other day. I also forgot to put that he sings the ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, and Wheels on the Bus. I think he knows a lot more than he lets on, but unlike his sister who LOVES to talk, he doesn't feel the need. Typical girl and boy!


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Two Year Stats

Marshall: 32 lbs 2 oz, 37 in.

Presley: 29 lbs 4 oz, 35 1/8 in.


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Another nephew is on the way!

I just realized that I never posted this! Kyle's older sister, Nikki, and her husband David are expecting a boy on September 19th! We are so thrilled for them and know they will be such good parents. They love the twins so much and are so great with them. Congrats Nikki and David!


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TWO!!!

Can you believe it?!? I can't. They are growing up so incredibly fast. Here is more about the munchkins at two...

PRESLEY
-loves to sing! Anything and everything but mainly Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old McDonald, ABC's, and Wheels on the Bus.
-she not only knows the ABC's
song, but she can recognize letters when we read books.
-she counts to 20 and can point out numbers
-she knows the months of the year
-she loves her baby dolls and treating her stuffed animals like babies. She is a very good mommy to them! She pats their back and rocks them and says, "it's okay baby"
-she loves milk, but doesn't have as much of an appetite as she used to
-loves to snuggle and give hugs and kisses
-she definitely inherited her dad's creative side. She can sit at a table for hours and color, draw, and do crafts.
-I don't know where she inherited her flair for the dramatic ;)
-Presley still loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but is now also stuck on Little Einsteins
-is very independent and strong willed. "I do it!" is a common phrase out of her mouth.

MARSHALL
-can count to ten
-knows the ABC's song
-recognizes all different types of trucks
-loves anything transportation related
-#1 is still tractors
-knows Twinkle Twinkle and Old McDonald
-does not have a very long attention span, except if he is watching trucks and tractors in action
-says "dirt out, dirt out!" when he sees a tractor
-knows his colors majority of the time
-is perfectly content laying on his side on the floor playing with his trucks
-has the sweetest disposition and is very happy-go-lucky
-likes to tickle people

Kyle and I are amazed at how well both of them speak, and they are starting to have even more real conversations with each other. In general they play pretty well together, however both of them are also happy to play by themselves too. They really are wonderful children and are so fun to be around (most of the time!).

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Life lately...

Has been super crazy! My wonderful, sweet, amazing Grandma passed away two weeks ago. She had developed dementia over the last five years and had become a "prisoner" to her brain. Even though it was some what expected, we definitely didn't think it would happen this soon. To be honest, I could never put into words just how important she was to me and what a truly amazing person she was. She selflessly gave to others without thinking twice. As my Aunt said during the service, remembering all the things she did for others makes me stop and ask myself...am I doing enough? I hope I can keep her legacy alive. My grandfather died 9 months before I was born, but even though I never actually met him, I felt like I knew him. Every single time I was with my Grandma at least one story about my Grandfather was told. He was just always a natural part of the conversation. Even though M and P only met her when they were five months old, I know that they will feel like they "know" her from the stories we will tell.



This was taken 10 yrs ago at my sister's rehearsal dinner.

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"Lost" Pictures

While looking through "old" pictures (a whole other blog post) I stumbled upon these pics from my surgery... Dinner with my besties night before surgery

With my BFF Amanda two days after surgery...no shower, haven't left the house. Ready to get OUT!

Ten days post surgery at my wedding shower with my sister, mom, mother in law and sister in law, Nikki

Going out after bridal shower with Melissa and Andrea...trying to "feel pretty"

Mohawk courtesy of Kyle!

FIVE YEARS!!!

April 4th, marks my five year anniversary of being diagnosed with breast cancer. My how time flies! It feels like ages ago that I was sitting in the infusion room getting treatments, waiting for blood counts, etc. Five years is a huge milestone when it comes to breast cancer!!! Heck, every year down is a milestone, but after five years your risk reduces significantly. I don't think I've ever put my whole story down on paper anywhere, so I figure I might as well do it now! And yes, I know this is long, and really it's for my kids, so that when I'm older and don't have as good a memory, it's all right here. :)

It all started December 31, 2006. Kyle and I had just gotten engaged the week before, and we were in Austin for a friend's wedding. While in the shower I felt a lump...a big lump about the size of a quarter...in my left breast. I told Kyle about it, but kind of blew it off. After all, it was New Year's Eve. Fast forward 3.5 months and it is still there. I went to see my gynecologist about something unrelated and at the end of the appointment, mentioned the lump to her. She said she wanted a mammogram and sonogram done.

So the next week on March 27th, I went in for my appointment. Funny side note...I made the appointment for during my conference period, thinking I would be in and out. Well not only were they running behind that day, but they needed more pictures. So I called the school secretary and told her I would be late. After more time passed and more pictures were taken, the doctor told me she wanted to perform a biopsy...the next day! Because I had aspirin in my system, we made the appointment for the following Monday, April 2nd. Before leaving I asked her what she thought it was and she said, "Well, it's either a fibrocystic change in tissue or breast cancer." Um, I'm sorry...WHAT?!? All I heard was breast cancer. I started crying, and called the school to tell them that I was in fact not coming back to work that day. So I left the office, dumbfounded, scared, hoping it wasn't true...but having an odd sense of peace and knowing that it was true. That I wasn't making something out of nothing.

You see, growing up I always felt like something bad was going to happen to me. Whether it be dying young, being in a horrible plane crash, or whatever...I just always knew someTHING was going to happen. Some people might think that is pessimistic, or crazy, or whatever, but it wasn't that way. I didn't live my life in fear, I just always knew that something would happen. So I guess that is why I had a sense of peace about things. Now don't get me wrong, I was worried, nervous, and scared, but deep down I knew everything would be okay, and this was the "bad thing" that I had known would happen some day.

On Monday my mom and Kyle went with me to have the biopsy done. I even remember what I was wearing and my appointment time! I had two different types of biopsies done, and one on each breast. There was not a mass in my right breast, just some calcifications that concerned them. They would have the results in 48 hours, and all we could do was wait for Wednesday. When we got home and checked the messages, there was a message from my gynecologists's office saying that I needed to make an appointment with a surgeon because my lump was "highly suggestive of malignancy". Gee, thanks. Awesome. Way to leave that on my voicemail! Pretty sure that nurse was fired not long after. So we made an appointment with a surgeon for Thursday, April 5th. Even if it turned out the tumor was benign, I would still want it removed. Tuesday my mom and I went to look at veils (I was getting married November 3rd) to keep my mind off things.


Wednesday came and I had my phone in my pocket all day. I kept telling myself it was silly to have my phone in my pocket because it was going to be nothing. But in my heart I knew it wasn't "nothing". As I was walking my students back to class from lunch, my phone rang. I told my coworker my doctor was on the phone, and ran down to my assistant principals office to take the call. The patient care coordinator started with, "Well the calcifications in your right breast were benign..." In that instant I knew. Why would she start with the right breast? That wan't the main area of concern! Then she said, "unfortunately the mass in your left breast is malignant. You have invasive ductal carcinoma..." Crying. Tears. Sobbing. I grab a sheet of paper from my A.P. and try to write down everything she was saying. I called my mom and Kyle. My mom came to pick me up.

The next day I had my surgeon's appointment and it was decided that the best thing was for me to get a lumpectomy. I scheduled my surgery for Thursday April 12th, exactly one week later, so that I could recover in time to get back to work and give my kids the TAKS test. Talk about dedicated! :)

The next week was a blur, trying to balance everything. I had an appointment with my oncologist two days before my surgery, just to check in beforehand. As I wrote about in another post, while in pre-op for my lumpectomy I randomly saw my gynecologist, who mentioned freezing my eggs. She got me an appointment with the BEST fertility doctor, and a week after my surgery Kyle and I were in his office (with my bandages still on!) talking about IVF and freezing embryos. I started my IVF stuff the first weekend in May, had my eggs retrieved on Monday, May 17th, my port surgically put in on Thursday May 20th, and started my first round of chemo on Monday, May 30th. Oh and let's not forget the punctured lung that happened when they tried to put in my port and the ER visit, collapsed lung and chest tube that followed that weekend. Yeah that was fun.

So 18 weeks of chemo plus one month off after I finished, Kyle and I were married on November 3, 2007. I started my 6.5 weeks of radiation on Monday, November 5 (yes two days after my wedding) and finished on December 21, 2007.

There you have it...my story. Sorry it's so long and probably had TMI, but I don't want to ever forget anything about that time in my life. April 4th, 2007 my life changed forever. I honestly can't say that it changed for the worse, because so many good things have happened to me because I had cancer. My mom was not fearful when she received her own breast cancer diagnosis, because she had been through it with me two years prior. I have met some of the most courageous and amazing women; unfortunately some of them lost their battle with breast cancer, but will have a lasting affect on so many's lives. I know without a doubt that I have the BEST friends any one could ask for. They were so incredibly supportive when I was going through treatment, and have been every day since. I also have an incredible husband. A man who went through so much with me before we were even married! At one point right after my diagnosis I told him he could leave me if he wanted to, we could call off the wedding, and no one would think any less of him for not wanting to stick around and deal with a diseased fiance. He told me his vows to me "won't start on our wedding day. They already started when I put that diamond ring on your finger. I'm not going anywhere." Yep, told you he was amazing!

And the most important two reasons...Marshall and Presley. Without breast cancer, I would not have these exact children. And I might not ever have witnessed first hand a friend who was so unselfish and thought so highly of her friendship with me, that she would offer to carry my children and end up having her own life turned upside down because of it.

Y'all I didn't have any of the risk factors: I"m not overweight, I eat healthy, exercise, have no genetic factors...but I still got cancer at the age of 27. Please, don't be naive and think, "It won't happen to me". Don't live your life in fear, just be AWARE.

Hello Issac!

I just wanted to show off my handsome little nephew. I can't wait to see him again, he is growing up too fast!



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22 months

Well I started this post when they were actually 22 months, and now they are almost 23 months! Here is what is going on with the twins...talking, talking, and more talking!

Marshall: still LOVES all things boy...trucks, tractors, and dirt! Every time we drive by a mound of dirt (which is quite frequently due to construction by our house) he waves and says, "Hi dirt! Bye dirt!" He points out every truck around us while driving, "Big truck!" "School bus!". He still eats just about anything, especially if it is on your plate. "Bite!" is frequently heard in the mornings when Kyle and I are eating our breakfast. He is very good at saying "Thank you", "Please", and "Your welcome" and both of them use the phrases at the appropriate times. His latest thing is to say, "What's that Mama?" whenever we pass by the water and radio towers on the way to school. He asks me just about daily! Marshall is still a happy-go-lucky kid who LOVES his Dada, runs everywhere, does a weird little dance when he gets excited, and is pretty much one awesome little dude!

Presley: talks, talks, then talks some more! She is to the point where you can pretty much carry on a conversation with her. She loves to sing and knows her ABC's and can count from 1-20. She has started recognizing and pointing out actual numbers and letters, and is working on her colors (but that is hit or miss). She still loves to read and is a huge snuggler. She will randomly come up to you and give you a bear hug and sit in your lap. She loves her brother very much! While at my parents house they were both sitting on my lap when she reached out and put her arm around him, put her head on his shoulder, and grabbed his hand...melted my heart! Like her brother, she is very good about using her manners

I am amazed every day at how smart, hilarious, and loving my little munchkins are. Now don't get me wrong, they have their terrible two moments (and lately a whole lot of whining), but I am so proud of the little people they are becoming!

Presley's "Purse"

We went out to eat the last night at my parents' house and we put their stuff (plates, bibs, etc.) in a tote bag. When we got up to leave, Presley decided she HAD to hold it. This is how she walked around while we walked around the little town square afterwards. We figured her arm was getting tired so we put it on like a back pack. :)










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Mrs. Potato Head

Here is P yesterday with her Mrs. Potato Head at day care. Yes, that is an arm sticking out of her head, and an ear where the lips should be. :)



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More spring break pics

My phone won't let me put more than 3 pictures in the last post so here are some more.

Nana ad Papi's House

The kids and I came down to stay with my parents this week for "spring break". It was my first solo road trip with them and it went pretty well. The only thing I was worried about was the one stop we would make, and even though it wasn't uneventful it still was pretty pain free...minus Presley running out of the bathroom while her brother was getting his diaper changed (two times in a row)!

They had been playing in the dirt, riding the 4 wheeler with Papi, driving the Mule, and just having F-U-N!!!









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Play Time with Aunt Nikki and Uncle David

This morning we went over to Aunt Nikki and Uncle David's house to visit. Mammaw was in town and even though it was cold and rainy we had so much fun! The twins played piano, threw the toy for Schultz and Lola, and watched old Looney Toon cartoons with Uncle David. As always we had a wonderful time with our family. :)









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My Little Diva

It's a rarity that she "allows" things on her face, but with or without the sunglasses...she is definitely a Diva!



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Yeah, it's vintage

We have not gone Spring shopping yet for Marshall and he literally only has one shirt sleeve shirt that fits. We had two really warm days this week, so after he wore his only t shirt, I dug around in the closet. I found Kyle's Star Wars t shirt (Return of the Jedi to be exact) from when he was a toddler. Perfect fit and pretty cool that "buddy" can wear his Dada's clothes. :)

Fingers in mouth as always


Close up


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Happy Hearts Day!

Not the best quality pics, sorry! Marshall looked so handsome in his button down shirt, corduroys, and Sperrys but unfortunately was not in the mood for a picture. We had a great day and Dada even got Miss P her own flowers! We were very happy he came home from Austin today so we could spend Valentine's Day together. I am a very lucky girl to be married to such a wonderful man!

Sorry about the lack of blogging just been worn out lately...gee I can't imagine why!?! :) Please pardon the messy house, I live with two Tasmanian Devils!
















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My future's so bright...I gotta wear shades!

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New Addition!

Apparently I am having issues with blogger on my phone, because I have written this post twice, both times it has said that it was posted, then both times does not show up on here. So I am entering grades tonight and actually using my computer, so hopefully the third time's the charm!

Marshall and Presley have a new cousin!!! Kyle's little sister, Allison had her little girl on Friday. Analisa Louise Zachry is such a beautiful baby, and we can't wait to meet her hopefully soon! Congrats Aunt Allison, Uncle Casey, and big brother Grayson!!! Sorry, no pic to put on here, but I promise...she is adorable!!! :)

LOVE

Playing dr at the sitters


Eating yogurt like a big boy


Up to no good


Syrup is fun!!!


Here Mom, want some pancakes?


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Girlfriend is seriously flexible

Little Gym is in our future...



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Marshall's Big Day!

Marshall went on the potty yesterday at the sitter's!!! Apparently she positioned him but then some how he moved, and let's just say not all the tee tee went in the potty. He was very proud if himself. :)




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It's Official...

Presley is potty training. She went again once yesterday at the sitter's and today she went on the potty SIX times! She never had a wet diaper all day (except a dirty one)! Marshall is starting to seem somewhat interested, so she is going to start putting him on the potty as well. At her house, everyone goes potty at the same time every day and when someone training actually GOES, they all cheer real loud and clap and get excited. We think Marshall is starting to feel left out of the celebration. :) I'm happy that she doesn't do candy and what not, because I myself was hoping to avoid that (not that it's bad to do the M&M thing or anything). I'm just glad that cheering is working!!! Just yesterday I asked if P needed pull ups, and we decided not yet so we could see if it was just random success on the potty. Well today solidified it...it's the real deal! So we are going to buy some pull ups this weekend. She isn't telling you when she needs to potty, just going when you put her on it. OF COURSE I just got a new shipment of diapers from Amazon yesterday...

It's hard to believe that in four months they will be TWO!!!

Sweet P loves her books

Today I got this picture from the sitter with this text:

Presley asked me to "in please Mamaw" (tuck her in) at nap time and so I did, and then went around and tucked in the other children. When I turned back around this is what I saw...



Little Miss had snuck a book into her cot and pulled it out after she got tucked in! And yes, I got tears in my eyes when I read her text and saw the pic. :)

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Miss P's Big Day!

Miss Thing had two BIG milestones today! (not counting the fact that she also turned 20 months old)

First...she went tee tee on the potty at the sitter's house!!! I wasn't sure if she was still putting her on the potty or not, because at home she has stopped telling us when she went poop so we don't ever put her on the potty. Apparently today after nap time she put her on the potty when she took the older kids, and she went! Crazy!

Second big thing was this evening when I told them to get in their chairs because it was time for dinner, she climbed up and sat down (which she already does) and then clipped herself in all by herself! And it was the right way AND she didn't pinch her fingers! I couldn't believe it! She doesn't quite know how to get herself out, but I'm sure that is next! Here she is doing it again later on. :)



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What is helping to fuel the obsession

These are Marshall's trucks/moving objects. He is missing about 4 more little trucks/tractors, one big truck, and a little train. Seriously. And he plays with ALL of them!



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