Well, the weather outside is frightful…but we were supposed to go see Santa tomorrow!  I guess we won’t be doing that if it’s going to be icy.  Gracie had a great day because she had the snack bucket at school, which also means she got to bring a show-and-tell…she was all too excited to report that everyone liked her snack (fruit in gel cups) and everyone wanted to pass around Sammy, her toy dog that makes real doggie noises. That’s how you know you’re the cool kid in preschool–you bring a great snack AND a cool show-and-tell.  Haha.  I wish my life was that easy.

Look who’s a big girl drinking her apple juice! 

Gracie’s My Little Pony Christmas Tree. I had to take this one from the waist up, because she never wears any pants. LOL She’s very much into My Little Ponyand not into wearing clothes really at all…you’ve gotta have your priorities straight.

Gracie’s letter to Santa:

Dear Santa,

I’m kind to my friends and I’m healthy.  What day can we play?  And me and my friends like Christmas and Easter.  This year I want: to play a lot, Princess DVD’s, the My Little Pony that walks in the walker, a big girl bed and Princess stuff for my room, and an Ariel doll that lights up, a new necklace with a heart on it, a Princess talking kitchen, a stuffed animal ladybug, a REAL duck, some books, Hello Kitty things and Strawberry Shortcake things.  Oh–and a real horse.  And maybe a giraffe.  I like my school and I like to play a lot.  I have been very very good. 

Love, Gracie

EDIT–Gracie’s a natural snow angel maker! She just laid down and started in…

Well…yesterday was my last chemo, and I was really dreading it. I had a feeling that something was going to go wrong. Daddy took me, and the girls were in good hands with Jan and Mindy.  I tried to just relax, but sure enough, it was a hard day.  First, there were so many people getting chemo, I had to sit in the overflow room with the elderly patients who are dying. That’s kind of hard because nobody smiles and they talk about dying more than I care to right now.  I’m living through this disease so I tried to stay optimistic, but I just decided not to talk.  I read a magazine and talked to Daddy. 

Then the nurse told me that she didn’t think they had any more Emend (my “miracle pill” that keeps me from getting violently ill following treatment) Immediately I started to cry.  Understand, I haven’t cried a lot about chemo, or treatment at all–I don’t feel sorry for myself, and I don’t cry about it because I feel like I don’t want to be a victim.  Part of it is not feeling sorry for myself, and part of it is not letting myself get into the depression rut that I’ve been warned about. Plus, I’m a mom, I don’t have time to cry!  LOL) But I cried as I explained that without that pill, I would be soooo sick.  She ended up finding one, and I took it.  I’m supposed to have three, but they gave me a RX for something else I took this morning before my shot and I think I’m going to be fine.  That was scary thinking I would be so sick.  So far, so good though! 

A huge part of healing is the support of family and friends, my optimism, and my faith in God. I keep all my emails and cards and I treasure each one.  I ran into an old friend the other day that told me that my name is on the prayer wall in Israel, and that her missionary friends all over the world are praying for us too!  So there’s people on every continent lifting me and my family up in prayer.  Do you know how powerful that is???  God is so good! How can I not be full of hope?

Oh–and a huge “I love you” to Chris, my wonderful husband, who sticks with me and loves me and holds me every night.  I can’t say thank you enough for being so faithful and good to me.  We really have something special… 

Gosh, three paragraphs about me, one for Chris, and none about the girls.  I’m sorry.  My Neulasta shot is kicking in and I’m starting to ache a bit.  I think I’m going to lie down and nap while they’re at Mindy’s today.  I will update with pictures and funny stories soon.  Well, as soon as I see them.  It’s hard when they’re gone all day, because I love them so much and I miss them.  But I need my rest, so off they go!  I do plan on taking cute pictures of them within the week, so you’ll all get your Gracie/Trinity fix by Saturday.  Hope everyone is having a great day!

Gracie and Trinity get matching Christmas dresses and going-to-see-Santa outfits this year! I can’t wait till we get their portraits done! I always hated it when my mom made me and Brooke wear the same outfits and hair bows. LOL  I’m sooo my mom sometimes.

My sweet baby!

Gracie helping with Trinity’s bath! Doesn’t Trinity look scared? hahaha

We’ve been doing a lot of baking around here–this is our family as gingerbread people!

Yesterday we were all sitting in the living room and Gracie started to fake cry.  When we asked her what’s wrong, she said, “I don’t…have a dad!” LOL I said “well, good news, I found him, he’s right next to you” and she rolled her eyes and said, “I was acting!”

Chemo is on Monday.  Ugh.  I don’t want to think about it.  It’s my last one before surgery, so I should be happy.  But I just kind of dread it when I think about it.  When I see people, they say “oh you look so good!” and I can’t tell if they mean it or if they’re just being nice.  I think I look kinda puffy and bald.  Haha.  Oh well, it’s temporary.

That’s it for now. Happy weekend everybody! 

Today was the Thanksgiving program and feast at Gracie’s preschool.  I–and a million other moms, dads and grandmas–were there with cameras and video cameras in hand.  I didn’t get a lot of good video–you just don’t when you’re shooting preschoolers, ever.  They were all over the place! In the small clip of video that I had a clear shot of her, I was laughing so hard I couldn’t keep the camera still.  Haha. And I had Trinity in the other arm while steadying the video camera. After the feast I got some cute pics of Gracie and her friends. 

the Turkey mask:

Trindon and Gracie are “just friends” but they are very close.  I have a feeling that they always will be…

I don’t know why the color on this one is so strange…anyway, this is Gracie’s boyfriend, Carson.  Gracie made him a picture today.  It’s love.

Sweet Holland and Gracie.  Holland is one of Gracie’s very best friends. They go to church and school together. Holland is a girly girl and is very interested in pink, dressing up, playing house, and princess things.  A match made in heaven!

And here’s a few more.  My friend watched the girls the other day and snapped some of these cute pics of her boys, Grady and Judson, with the girls. They go to Northview with us.  I love how the girls have so many friends at church and school! 

I probably won’t update till after the holiday, because I don’t know that I’ll have anything to say except for the list of things I’m thankful for… Chris and the kids and our families, our church and friends, our house and all the wonderful gifts God has given us.  I’m so thankful that I’m able to get treatment for my cancer and I’m thankful to be alive! 

Count your blessings, hug your loved ones, and eat some turkey. Happy Thankgiving, everyone!  

Okay, this is getting a little ridiculous.  There was a book fair at preschool today.  Gracie got two books, one of which was Disney Princesses “My perfect wedding.”  What am I going to do with her?  Carson is still the lucky guy…haha.  I don’t think he knows it though. Then she and Trinity spent a couple hours with Miss Meagan (my friend who is engaged and planning a REAL wedding with a groom that knows about it and everything!)  Apparently they looked through catalogs and wedding magazines while we were gone.  She found a flower girl dress and a bridesmaid dress for me to wear!  LOL    (I guess this is a good time to thank you, Meagan, for not agreeing with her that I should wear that burnt orange dress she picked out for me in either of your weddings.) 

The other book she just had to have is Barbie’s 12 Dancing Princesses.  This one was the reason she only got two books–it came with a beaded bracelet and it cost three times more than the other books.  But she just had to have that bracelet…Oh, she is such a girl!  Obsessed with ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading, boys, hairbows, pink fluffy things, shiny diamonds, dress up, pretty flowers, and ponies. I love it.  Even if it comes with a little more drama than I expected. 

Such a princess!

Yesterday I went to REST, my mom’s group at the church.  I have to say it was the highlight of my week.  I have so many friends there and they are all so encouraging and refreshing, I’ve missed them like crazy!  We always have delicious breakfast and wonderful conversation.  That church and the people in it have been a blessing beyond my wildest imagination.  There’s no other place I’d rather be than Northview.  That’s not an insult to any church I’ve been a part of, but as things change and as I change, and as our family grows, I see where God had to uproot us to place us in just the right church. I wish every church in America was as genuine and loving and cool as Northview. 

Trinity had a visit from Miss Mindy today.  We do OPAT with Miss Mindy and Trinity loooooves her to death.  When we were reading a book about clocks, Mindy did a tick- tock sound and Trinity nodded her head side to side with the rhythm.  It was so funny and cute!  She’s also playing this game where she will look at us and smile, then shake her head side to side to see if we will do it too. When we do, she does it again and again and then laughs hysterically.  She’s at that age where I can actually see her learning, her eyes light up with each new little discovery.  It’s cool.  I love being a mom. 

I’m feeling a little snotty the past few days.  I don’t know if it’s because I caught Gracie’s cold, or if it’s just Oklahoma allergies.  It may be a combination of the two.  I’ll take that over chemo symptoms any day though.  Only one more!!!  Then I can celebrate and say “I DID IT!!!”