CANCER FREE

Well it is 5:30 AM and I can't sleep, kind of uncomfortable, I have so many mixed emotions. First of all I'm thankful I'm alive. I have to admit I kept thinking I could die from this surgery. This was a pretty high risk surgery so close to my carotid artery, vocal cords, bleeding or infection,as I'm sure any surgery is.

I know that is a crazy thought, I kept thinking that maybe I was able to have my sweet Henry while I STILL had cancer because maybe he needed to be here and now it is my time to go....
As you can see I'm here, doing good and my surgery was a success.

The Lord has a greater plan for me, on this earth :).

Everyone in the hospital was great, I only broke down a quick cry when they were telling me about the procedure one more time.. lucky it was a quick.. oh crap this is really happening cry and then I was back to business trying to focus, as my dear friend Lauren said to me keep my eye on the prize, happy thoughts I'm going to be cancer free!

My sisters, mom, loved ones and many friends gave me lots of "love pep talks".

I really tried to focus and my sister in law Ashlea gave me this squeeze doll that says
" take it easy, don't stress" everyone was laughing and the nurse handed it to me whenever I felt like I was going to get upset. THANKS ASHLEA it was a hit!

I'm cancer free! YAHOO!

I was able to come home and not stay in the hospital. I do have a drain in my chest that I have to leave in for 3 days. I'm pretty sore but it is manageable, the more time goes by I do seem to be getting a little more sore and uncomfortable. I have some pain meds to help me thru the pain if I need it. I can feel a tug when I swallow.. that is a weird feeling. Poor Steve has to change out the drain, thought for sure he would hit the deck as soon as he saw my blood but he has done really good. :)

Oh and they were able to go in my old scare SOOOO I don't have a big huge cut like they thought I would have to do... YEAH! That was great, Huge, wonderful news!

I was able to walk by myself this morning so that is a good start. It is a week recovery without lifting anything more than 5 pounds.
I think I might just like this relaxing week of doing nothing. ;) ;)

I'm so humbled by all the love and support. Our family feels so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care for us. Thank you for cheering me on, I would not have been able to move forward with so much strength without you. I love you all!


Oh my sweet Steve! He is my rock, my love, my everything! Steve is such an amazing man, so loving, so supportive. I could not ask for any one better to be by my side. I love you babe!

This is my amazing, wonderful, Dr. Rodgers. He truly was so great making this time easy for me and comfortable. It was a good experience. It was so nice have a familiar face to see. He is a friend of our family and I'm grateful the lord used him as a tool in my life to remove my cancer.
Got my hospital socks and my "little pep talk doll"
Recovery- it takes me a long time to wake up from surgery.

4th of July FUN

Our family had the BEST time during the 4th of July weekend! Yummy food, fun friends, hanging out on the lake and chillin with family. We laughed so much on the boat, did sparklers with the kids and played, played ,played. Thanks Randy and Ashlea for hosting a fun filled weekend!!!!
Taylor, Granny and Tiffany... we had so much fun with the girls.
White Girls!!
Mommies sunshine!
Steve and Tiffany...
My Favorite sister! Ashlea we had a great time... love ya girl!
Granny and the kids!
AWWWW Such a cute couple!
Ashlea's little man!
Sparklers!!!!
O.k. So I do think this little guy looks like me... look at his adorable shape face. I could just eat him up, he is so dang cute. ha ha ha

Really! Does Steve ever stop looking at my BOOBS!
Alicia and her boys....
Splaaaaash!
Soooo much FUN!
My Hot stuff!

We ALL so BUSTED..... that was a hard fall.. we couldn't stop laughing.
O.k. So all tried to stand as the boat was moving.. hummmm yeah.. that didn't work we so busted look at the picture above. IT WAS SO MUCH FUNNNNN!
Henry loved watching the water in the boat...
The kids had such a fun time.

I loved my time with Taylor and Tiffany... Love those girls!


Cute stuff Gavin!
Love, love ,love little Hunter.... he had so much fun on the lake. Uncle Randy took him out on the wave runner also.. a little boy in heaven for sure.

Henry zonked out from all the FUN.

2 days and I'm Cancer Free

2 more days, 2 more days ,2 more days, 2 MORE DAYS... yahoo!!

Did I mention 2 MORE DAYS!!!!! I will have this stupid cancer taken out once and for all. Don't get me wrong i'm so nervous, so so so nervous but I haven't cried when I really think about it in a day AND my stomach is not as sick anymore, so that must be a GOOD sign.

This is HUGE.. I have had this cancer for 4 years.. it has just been chillin in my neck and it is time to MOVE OUT!

Thanks everyone for you LOVE and SUPPORT!

2 more days!!!!!!!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

"No arms, No legs, No worries!" -- Nick Vujicic

Just AMAZING!! This man is amazing to me. His powerful spirit, faith, determination, love and appreciation for the Lord. You have to watch this video. What do you feel after you watch it????
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High's and Low's

The older I'm getting I'm learning that life is full of highs and lows. Right now I'm on a HUGE HIGH!

I love being a mom!

I ENJOY my boys.

I find myself smiling more.

Enjoying the small and simple moments in life.

Lots of laughter in the house.

I don't know if it has been me that has changed, trying to be a better mom or Hunter maturing...whatever it is... things are going wonderful!

Hunter has blossomed in the past couple of weeks. No timeouts, no crying, no fits, oh wait I take that back, the fits,well he did have one... he he he.. but really one in a month, that is GREAT! Hunter truly is my little buddy. I just adore him and I love teaching him. He is like a sponge and he wants to learn. We work on his school work, I know, I know it is summer but he just enjoys school work and figuring out something new each day.
Hunter so got BUSTED wearing "Gator Geer"... daddy wasn't to happy about this picture. LOL
The other day I gave him a fig newton in the car and he said " oh no mom, I can't eat this it has dirt in it". I just laughed and laughed and explained to him that it was just the fig fruit that tasted like that... he is so funny sometimes.

My favorite game with him right now is we go around the house playing hide and seek and we have dart guns so we shoot each other once we find each other. Or the best if to play cowboy and Indian... I'm sooo a mom of BOYS!!!


I'm so blessed in my life with an amazing husband, he works so hard and I'm grateful for all that he provides. He is such a wonderful dad and his boys adore him. I'm so grateful for the way he makes me LAUGH... and smile.


I just ADORE my sweet baby boy Henry! He has a smile that melts your heart. He is walking now... prefers crawling still to get somewhere faster but he is very mobile for sure. He loves to be outside. If a door open he b-lines is to the door as fast as he can and gets sooo mad if someone shuts it. Henry's favorite thing right now is when I'm in the kitchen he will get into the cabinets.. he was so busted one day.... I just love seeing him explore.Henry is our water baby! He splashes and has fun every time he is in the pool, tub, anywhere there is water....

Today I'm High, high, high on life..... and count my blessings one by one.

Lots of Fun Times!

Heidi Happiness!
I loved spending my Thursday afternoon with my sweet friend Heidi. Heidi has walked beside me cheering me on, giving me comforting words and holding my hand when my daughter passed away. We got to work side by side on the enrichment team at church, that was LOTS of FUN. We shared pregnancy's together and she also gave me a shoulder to cry on when I got cancer. We have LAUGHED LOTS and had fun memories of girls nights and fun times watching our children grow up. Heidi is my earthly angel and my dear friend! So you can only imagine that since Me and Emily where in NC ... we were so close to where she lived in NC, we had to visit! We got to see where she lives, her beautiful home was amazing, decorated so cute. Her home had such a peaceful feeling, you could tell there was so much love. Heidi hosted a yummy lunch... any one that knows her, knows she is amazing at hosting, so she turned it up with a delicious sandwich, fruit and refreshing drink. I loved the afternoon lunch spent with her. I wish we could have stayed longer but I felt the kids where ready to be home. I'm grateful for the time spent with her and getting Heidi Hugs. Heidi is beautiful inside and out and she will always have a special place in my heart.
Hunter was so BUSTED in GATOR GEAR!!!! Daddy got a text picture of this. :)

Henry loving on Heidi!

Celebrating Birthdays

.... Happy 94th Granny and Happy 70th Aunt Bert.....

It is always fun to get together with Steve's Family in Tampa. We celebrated birthdays and had a yummy lunch.

The cousins played and "guys" watched soccer on t.v.!

They kept saying how much Henry looked like his "papa Robert" when he was a child. Whatcha think? The curls in the hair for sure... :) Hunter was showing Granny how he made her special stepping stone.. hand print, pictures and all. Leave it to Auntie Ashlea to be the life of the party... she brought POPSICLES!!! This kid is the happiest kid I have EVER met!!! Two peas in a pod! These two are never apart! Best friends for sure. What a calm room, the guys just chilling and watching the game...... AND THEN... here are the moms and all the KIDS! Party in the living room! Present time!

Crusin On Down The Road.... Cragen!!!

It's time to say "see ya later" to a sweet friend. Celeste Cragen was my visiting teaching partner and friend, she is beautiful and so trendy. She made me laugh so many times with here witty sense of humor and she amazed me by her talent of decorating and creativity. Celeste will be missed in Gainesville but I know that here new home and ward at church will just LOVE her, right away. I love ya girl! You will always have a friend on 135th street! Red, White and Blue

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