Brylan met our oncologist

June 11th, 2007
Just wanted to let everyone know that my appt went well. They did find a spot in my ultrasound but they are thinking that it maybe a fluid pouch under my prosthesis. They got another Dr's opinion just in case and they are pretty sure thats what it is...thank goodness!!! I am going to return in 6 months and if the spot changes any then they will do a MRI to see if it has returned. Also I learned that the average return normally comes back around 18-24 months so more then likely if it was re occurrence then it wouldn't have been as big as the spot was so thats another reassurance.

It was great to see everyone again too. They got to see Brylan and all of the Dr's were just great and amazed how healthy and fat she was! It made us so proud and thankful for what they did for our family. My Dr just immediately picked up Brylan and it really showed us how much she cared : ) I wish that I took my camera so I could have taken a pic of them.

Our Mircale Baby made it!

So here's the story...For those of you that are weak or cant handle baby stories then don't read because I am detailed! Also on the music player change to song to How Great is our God...It really sets the tone for this post.

Bryan and I decided to get a hotel room the night before my scheduled c-section (I was told that I could not go into labor because of my tumor surgery) since we had to be there by 5:45 a.m. He took me to dinner then we went to the hotel room to get some rest.
Bryan was rubbing my legs since I was swollen and at about 10:30 I noticed that something felt kinda different down there. I went to the bathroom and I passed my plug. Well I didn't think too much of it since some pl lose them weeks before they deliver. We went to bed and at almost exactly midnight I felt alot of pressure, stood up, and my water broke! Keep in mind I dozed off just minutes before that. I ran to the toilet and woke Bryan up. He too had just fallen asleep and I kept on telling him my water broke. He thought I was teasing. I reassured him that it was my water and he soon realized that it was all happening. To be honest we were in laughter the whole way to the hospital because we could not believe she decided to come just hours before our scheduled c-section. I started getting good contractions just minutes after my water broke so we knew that it was time!
We were admitted in the hospital at about 12:45 or so and I dilated from a 0 to a 2 within 1 hour. My contractions were 1-3 minutes apart and they were peaking to about a 6 or 7 every time. Needless to say if we were in FF there's a chance little miss Brylan may have been born in the car! God works in mysterious ways and in our situation it was best that we stayed in a a hotel that night!
At 2:42 she was born via c-section weighing 7lb 8oz. She reminds me so much of when Emory was a baby yet shes so different. It's really like having Emory all over again. Words cannot express how happy we are. We started with many failed attempts to get pregnant, finally did, then went through all of the tumor mess, surgery, etc, was told that they may have to take her, then was told about complications with the meds I took during my cancer treatment, and after all of that....SHES A MIRACLE...and shes here...in my arms! God gave me his gift and guided us through everything. She is truly an angel in life form!
Amongst all of the joy please keep her in your prayers. We are unsure as to how the medicine I had to take for treatment effected her. It crossed the placenta and there could be short term or long term effects, however the chances are VERY slim.
Thankfully right now she is perfect, everything is normal, and we are all so blessed. How could someone not have faith in God after seeing her and knowing what all we have been through these last few months?
Also I wanted to add how we named our lil baby girl. We loved the name Easton for a lil boy and just could not get over it. Day one she had no name, then on day two we realized we really needed to get moving on it. We did name her Easton Rayne for about 2 hours. Bryan decided he really loved Brylan (a feminine version of his name) and I really loved Haven (Halo+heaven combined) therefore we went with that!
Again thanks for everyone prayers. Guess what...they worked!

Getting ready for baby

February 18th, 2007
I am having our baby girl on Thursday the 22nd at the Med. I have to be there at 5:45 and he will start the surgery at 7:00. On my last visit he said that he will have my general surgeon on call in case he sees something kinda funny that he hasn't seen before. I think he was going to get in touch with my oncologist to make sure its ok he cuts through my prosthetic, etc. If he sees another tumor, which we did find another lump a while back, then he should call my local general surgeon and get his opinion. My oncologist said for no one to take it out because most surgeons do not get enough margins therefore if they find another one then I will have to get it taken out at MD Anderson again.
We are considering Easton Rayne, Brylan Haven, or just mixing up any of those names as first and middle. Once shes here I am sure we will know what to name her.
I finally packed my bag fully today and Bryan tethered the base in today for the carrier. Also we got a start on getting all of the bottles and breast pump sterilized. We should be pretty set for the most part. I am suppose to stay atleast 3 nights. He is going to monitor my incision and make sure I dont get dehydrated again. I am curious as to how big my cut will be this time around. I think its going to turn out great!

Prayer Quilt

January 18th, 2007
Word got out about our situation in my hometown and a special lady, Mancy Johnson, and her friends, & church decided to make me a prayer quilt for my family. She gave it to me a few days ago and this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Some of you may be asking "what is a prayer quilt?"...well if you look closely you can see the dark grey embroidery thread tied in knots. This quilt was passed around to different ladies around town, they sewed on it, and each lady said a prayer for me. After their prayer they tied a knot in the embroidery thread. Also one lady took it to her church and her church laid their hands upon it and each person tied a knot in it also. She left some spots untied for friends and family to tie too. The symbolism of the blanket is that everytime I look at it its suppose to remind me of the pl that prayed for me and my family during this time. She said that every time I use it that I am "wrapped in prayer." Anyways I wanted to share this with yall because many of you were there for me. I met Mancy through the Clerks office and she has been and election worker for years. I thank Mary White for surrounding me with such great people. Also to dear Mancy for thinking of us during this time. Many thinks to all of the local churches that put us on your prayer lists as well. We felt every single one of your prayers.

First Date all over again

October 17th, 2006
SINCE I HAVE BEEN CANCER FREE! Sometimes it seems as though it all happened within a blink of an eye! I cant believe that my pregnancy is already 1/2 way over with. Before I know it I will be holding another baby girl!

September 30th, 2006
First date after surgery. We ended up going to On the Border. We were going to eat some ice cream but I started feeling bad. When I stand or walk for too long my stomach and incision start to swell and it causes discomfort. So we came home and watched The Lakehouse which is kinda different but it wasn't too bad.

Good Margins

September 26th, 2006

They think that they got good margins when they took my tumor out!!! Basically they dissected the tumor and the healthy tissue around it that they removed. They checked for microscopic pieces and things like that. I am so happy right now. That just means there's a slimmer chance of it coming back in the future!!! She wasn't sure when she wants to do another ultrasound. She said she may wait until after the baby is born. I am assuming they can see the area better without a huge baby in the way haha!! They will keep my abdomen monitored and I will go to frequent (every 3-6 months) check-ups for the next 5 years and after that they will gradually decrease the amount of time between check ups.

Post Surgery Frustration

September 25th, 2006
I am starting to feel so cooped up in my house. I cant drive for another 2 weeks, my house is filthy, Bryan wants dinner and I cant lift a pot/pan and I cant bend over to reach my casserole dishes, I cant get out anywhere because I am so sick, and Bryan is gone 24/7! Em was here this weekend and she left again because I can still barely take care of myself. I get so lonely when shes not here but when she was here this weekend I was too sick to play alot with her. She accidentally rammed my incision and I lost my breath and had a shocked look on my face. Poor thing cried and cried because it made her feel bad. I just feel like I am sitting here all freaking day waisting away like a log. Bryan hasnt been home much but when hes home I think I get on his nerves because I cant do anything! This is nothing compared to a c-section. I had a c-section with Emory and I went into surgery thinking that this is what it was going to be like...boy was I wrong. I went to my cancer chat site and a few have had abdonminal surgery and they all say that its pretty bad. Another lady said she had a c-section and she too learned you cant compare them. GRRRR...I am just irritable and needed to vent before I go nuts over here.