Thankfulness

Since November is the month of "thanks", I've been thinking a lot about how much I have to be thankful for. Sometimes don't feel very thankful that I got friggin' breast cancer in the first place, but then I focus on all the blessings that God's given me over the last ninemonths...

The biggest two being that I have a healthy daughter and I BEAT cancer. 

Survivors!

So so so many of my prayer requests have been answered. My faith has been so strengthened during this time both in seeing my prayers answered and knowing that God takes care of us no matter what happens.

Before church one Sunday

My friends and family have been there for me every step of the way. And my parents have been so incredibly helpful with taking care of Elise and me whenever we needed it.

These are just a few of the awesome people who've supported me. Pic taken before the Race for the Cure.

I had 18 amazing milk donors give milk to Elise so that I could have her on 100% donor breast milk for the first 5 months of her life. And some are still donating!

Elise loves donor milk!

So many wonderful people have unexpectedly stepped up to help us. They've donated money to our paypal account for medical bills, helped babysit Elise, sent grocery gift cards for meals, and gave us tons of useful gifts for Elise. My amazing neighbors even donated the proceeds from the annual pub crawl they do to help pay for some of crazy expenses we've incurred this year. 

Right after they gave us the check. We were so touched!

The Bible says "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The last nine months have truly taught me to do this.

A "Normal" Week

Since it's been over a week since I posted I thought I'd do a quick update to let you know we are doing well. All-and-all it's been a pretty "normal" week in my crazy "new normal" world.

Headed to a friend's baby "sprinkle" on Sunday

 I spent most of the week working from home, which is actually a wonderful and welcome distraction. Unfortunately my upper back is in a lot of pain (is it from pregnancy? Chemo? Neulasta? Cancer? All of the above? I'll never know.), so I spend most of my work day reclining on the couch with my laptop on my lap. But other than that it's been easy to get some work done.

I also squeezed in a couple of Dr. appts...

I met with a perinatologist (read: a high-risk OBGYN) this week for a consultation and he did a quick "bonus" ultrasound of the baby. She still looks good in there! I'll have another growth ultrasound next Friday (4/26), so pray that she's not growth-restricted and they don't find any other issues there. Basically the perinatologist was very upbeat about the baby (really all the doctors have been) and thinks she'll be just fine.

I also met with an oncology psychologist (read: a therapist who specializes in cancer patients) and spent the hour telling my story and crying my eyes out. I think I'll meet with her on a semi-regular basis to help me deal with my fear of metastasis and get strategies for living beyond cancer.

This weekend we got our deep freezer! Since I'm collecting donor milk for our little girl, we needed a big space to store it. I think this will do...

Will also come in handy if we ever need to hide a dead body. KIDDING!

I actually recently got in my first batch of donor milk from a seriously amazing woman. I won't share her story publicly here (you can ask me about it if we talk), but I'll just say she is living proof that God is good and He works to make the best out of even the worst situations.

Liquid gold, my friends

This week I've also had a few fun visits with friends that have helped me deal with the loneliness of being home all the time. Michelle brought me lunch from Tender Greens. Kay came over to continue to teach me to crochet (I am making progress!). And I went over to my sweet neighbor's house for lunch and tea. Of course I always have this sweet beast to hang out with...

He really looks thrilled to be hanging out with me, doesn't he?

Obviously the bombings in Boston have been close to my heart and mind this week as well -- for so many reasons. Because my parents lived in Boston so close to blast sites for the last six years, because my Dad is a marathoner and I've watched him run and finish many marathons over the years, and because it's just another reminder of fragility of life. One minute you're watching a marathon, the next minute you're fighting to survive. One day you're happily healthy and pregnant, the next you're told you have a deadly cancer. Sadly, the only assurance we have in this life is that it will end in death. I have to remind myself in times of despair that there is hope, hope that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Finally, some blog updates...
I've added a link to my treatment plan on the blog header (whoa daunting). And I've updated the prayer requests page.