The new Grandson has arrived!!

I would like to introduce my new grandson, Kollin Laverne. He arrived on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 9:16 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and measured 19 1/2 inches tall. His mom and dad are Kelly and Kevin. He is their firstborn. Kelly is my younger daughter.

I think he is quite a handsome fellow.

He is for sure a gift from God. Kevin and Kelly have been married for 14 years and have been trying to have a baby for the past 11 years with no luck. Then, in December, just one week after I was hospitalized and found out I had a spot on my lung, she took a pregnancy test with a positive result. She didn't want to tell anyone until she had confirmed the results with a doctor, so she kept it quiet until the day before I started chemotherapy, then she told me. I think it really helped me to withstand the treatment knowing what I had to look forward to in August. Then just less than two weeks before he was born, I found out my cancer had gone into remission. What perfect timing. God is good.

Take care everyone.

It's a celebration!!!

It is hard to believe that little Olivia turned one year old on July 8th. It seems like just yesterday we were at the hospital watching that nurse weigh and measure her for the very first time.

And Josh, who is becoming quite a little man, turned 5 years old on July 20th. He is pretty excited to be starting Kindergarten in just a few short weeks. He and his mom went shopping for school supplies on Saturday. I remember shopping for school supplies for his mom. Golly, I swear that was just a year or so ago. Where does time go?

As much as my daughter Kim wanted their birthdays to be separate occasions, it just wasn't going to happen. There were so many things going on in July, she was lucky to find one Sunday afternoon to have their joint birthday party.

Olivia loves to tear paper, but for some reason she decided she didn't want to tear the paper on her presents. And she loved her cake. She actually had two cakes, one to share with guests and one that was her own personal cake.

Of course Josh had no trouble opening his gifts. As a matter of fact, he helped Olivia open hers too. His cake was a chocolate Scooby Do cake.

It was a great party.

We have more to celebrate. My younger daughter Kelly is expecting a baby. It's a boy and he is due tomorrow!! Although, I just talked to her and she said she is feeling just fine. But you never know. Those babies will come when they are ready no matter how you feel.

On another happy note, I finally finished the last round of chemo the doctor ordered in May and I had a PET scan on July 24th. My doctor informed me at my appointment last Tuesday that the cancer is in remission at this time. I am so thankful. I finally get a break from chemotherapy. I have been getting chemotherapy every 3 weeks since December 29th. Now I pray the cancer will stay away for good!!!

I met with a radiation doctor Thursday who explained the benefit of having my brain radiated. This type of cancer is notorious for going to the brain. With this treatment, it will decrease the chance of the cancer recurring in my brain from 60% to 5%. I think it is worth it. I have to go in for an MRI on Wednesday to make sure there is no cancer lurking there already, then I will start radiation treatment next Monday. I will have 10 treatments. One every day for 5 days, two weeks in a row.

Hopefully, now I can start building up my strength again. I am pretty weak. This last chemo drug really took me down. I don't know what I would have done if the doctor had told me I needed more treatments. Thank God, I don't have to wonder about that now.

So, I have all kinds of things to celebrate. As soon as I feel good enough, I am going to celebrate by going on a shopping trip. I think I am going to need a new comb!

Take care.