Brooklyn's Gift to Me and our Family Portrait

I came home from the gym last night and found this before I went to bed.  She said something to me earlier in the day about leaving something for me, but my chemo brain didn't register it until she was asleep.  She is such a sweetheart--I love dandilions!

Our Family Portrait through Brooklyn's Eyes:  You will notice that Mat only has three hairs on his head and a few age spots.  Isaac is a cyclops and he is the only one growling.  The baby only has three hairs too!  I'm not sure what she has against Isaac right now, maybe some therapy is needed?

I have some serious taste distortion right now.  Dang.  I love to eat and I hate it when it all tastes awful!  I also have what I hear people refer to as "bone aches", although I don't feel it in my bones.  The pain seems to be right under the surface of my skin, up my neck and head, my jaw, shoulders, arms and back.  Tylenol and Ibuprofen don't seem to help much, so I'll just deal with it the next couple of days and it will go away.  It makes sleeping really difficult!  Other than that, I'm having consistent hot flashes and other hormonal issues that I will not go into here.  Trust me.  : )  I actually feel quite optimistic because Taxol is WAY better than A/C!  When you see me, I'll be smiling.

I have had some great helpers the last few days.  Mat's parents came on Monday and spent the whole day taking care of business.  Yesterday, Kari and Diana came.  I was able to take a nap and we laughed a lot.  What more could I ask?  Today, Laura, McKenna, Natasha and Annaleigh came and played with the kids and helped around the house.  Morning naps seem to be my biggest need, and I got another one today.  Thanks to everyone!  I am so grateful for the people we've had come in and help us over the last few months.  I will honestly be so sad when I am through chemo (only for this reason!) and life gets back to normal.  I have so enjoyed each of you that has spent time here talking to me and playing with the kids.  YOU have made this doable for me!  In the beginning, I was so worried about how I would manage the kids and the carpools and the meals and the cleaning and the laundry and so many other things.  You are our angels and I don't know how to thank you adequately.  Perhaps we'll have another party?  Absolutely.  I'll get on it.  : )

I was able to get to the gym tonight to do my thing.  I sat in the parking lot for 15 minutes before I got up the gumption to actually go in.  I'm tired and my body aches and I really didn't want to do it, but I did.  I need to do 8 miles on Saturday in order to be ready for the half marathon on May 15th, so I had to stay on schedule.  As I was doing weights, a sweet older lady came up and asked me if I have cancer.  She said that, between 9-08 and 9-09, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, thyroid cancer and melanoma on her face and has had 5 surgeries.  She said she wasn't afraid of cancer anymore (I am still working on that), that she has learned to turn it all over to God and His will.  What an inspiration!  I was so grateful she stopped and shared her story with me.  It helps people in my hairless shoes to know that others have been there and understand what I am going through.  I don't know who you are, but thank you for reaching outside yourself to encourage me and lift me up!  Let's all resolve to be just like this lady, finding ways to lift and inspire strangers around us.