overdrive

It is like I have been running in overdrive for months (okay a year or more) now. Constantly on the move, and the moment I stop is when the wheels start spinning in my head and I can't shut down to even sleep. It could be the stress of being a mother or the anxiety of childhood cancer. Add on top of that the millions of ideas I have when my mind is buzzing as I lie in bed unable to sleep, but then the let down of not even having the energy to start them. This past week the realization of being in overdrive has hit me. I haven't realized how bad I needed to do something for me. I went and got a massage. I focused on just breathing in and out. I could feel the stress melting off me. I also made an appointment to see a doctor for my anxiety. There are a million reasons I delayed doing this. Too many to list. I have been running on adrenaline for too long. This week I have taken a huge step back to realize what is the most important. Once again simplifying life. I'm thankful for a husband who has balanced out some of the overdrive and taken the kids so I could just focus on some stress relief for a few hours. The unwinding is just want I needed. I like reminders in life that get us back on course.

monthly check up-- April

Today was our monthly check up and chemo appointment. We made it another month with no complications in between. No calls to the on-call doc, home health nurses, port accesses and no fevers! We are starting to breathe a little more around here and dig out of our holes. Presley's ANC is still high this month so the doc increased her chemo slightly. Hoping to not bottom out those numbers with too much chemo. Her blood work looks good and its always a nice relief to see her counts and reasure that the leukemia is still in remission. The chances of relapse while in treatment is not high but always a lingering fear.

WBC: 4.7
HGB: 11.8
HCT 35.1
PLTS: 219
ANC 3,700

Those are the numbers that mean so much to us. White blood, red blood, platelets and her neutrophil count.

We played with the nurses while Presley got her IV chemo and an hour infusion of antibiotics. We also played with Ashyton, one of Presley's cancer buddies. That always makes coming to clinic a little easier.Presley cried hard today while getting her port de-accessed. Its been too long and I'm sure she wonders in her little mind when she will be done with this.

We are down to 13 more months. Who's counting? The end of May 2015 Presley will be done with treatment and get her port removed. We hope and pray no complications arise and it changes these plans.

It was my turn for the needle today. We are part of a study and they needed my blood today. Huntsman Cancer Institute is doing DNA sequencing to help find a cure. We feel strong about helping and letting them use our info for future generations. Presley was not too interested in watching me get the stick today. But asked a lot of questions when it was all done.

Easter

I have so much catching up to do on the blog. We went South for Easter this year. The weather was perfect. As always we enjoyed the outdoors and letting the kids have some freedom. Presley went with Grandma a few days earlier and loved being with grandma alone. I worried about all her medications and issues but she did great. We enjoyed another holiday drama free. Here are the pictures of our weekend.

You can tell by the outfits and the activities that this weekend was full of fun and relaxing! Thanks Grandma for all you do for our little family. 

8 years!

Here is what Paul wrote on Facebook. Today I will share his word. 

Statistics will say that the seventh year is the hardest on a marriage. Well here we are celebrating 8 years of marriage. In our seventh year we were tried with a life threatening disease, an unplanned move to a new city, the loss of of job, fighting to get into a new career, finishing a bachelors degree and pilot ratings and trying to hold everything together. We've had ups and we've had downs, but though it all we still hold and kiss each other every day. Thanks Alysa for the great eight we've had so far, I can't wait to see the years to come together with you. Today we spent the day doing what we love to do, be with one another and the children; playing, laughing, and doing what matters most.----Paul

We took this cute little buddy with us on our anniversery date. We celebrated a few night earlier because our actual aniversary was on Monday and we would be traveling home from New Harmony that day. Presley went to Grandmas a few days before we did and we loved getting to have some time with our little Crew. He despretlly needs some one on one time. We intented to potty train him but instead of making it a power struggle we loved on this little boy. 

Happy 8 years to my amazing husband! Thankful to call him mine!

birthday celebration

I celebrated my 35th birthday with:

Spending the morning skiing with Presley

Having a surprise dance party when we got home

a few gifts were given 

 and a night out to the Temple and dinner with the husband

I call that a perfect birthday celebration day! I think the kids thought it was the perfect day too! Presley was so excited for "a party" and daddy made her dreams come true too!