the news and the weather...

Well, first and foremost I want to let everyone know that I *greatly appreciate the thoughts and prayers. They really have helped lift my spirits!

As you can imagine, times are a bit tough.

The good news... all of Daddy's testing (more specifically his bone marrow testing) came back with positive results. The cancer seems to be in the blood (truly, I'm just relaying what I've been told, I have no clue the medical details or teminology of it all). We were told, that if you *had to get cancer, this would be the kind to get. Speaking of, I didn't think I've mentioned the name (do we need to que the intro music, hehe... humor people, it's one of the only things keepin' me going). Non-Hotchskins Lymphoma / Low Grade Folicular Lymphoma. I don't know which is which and what is what (in other words, I didn't google it for fear of diagnosing and terminating my father in my fearfilled thoughts). I do know that it is treatable, and said to even be curable.

The not-so-good news... I don't know if those statistics (treatable/curable) are for healthy elderly men. Daddy is 65 with Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabites, Low Digioxin, High Potassium, Anemia... thinking... yeah, I think that's it. Not your tri-athelon, but one rock of man, in spirit. Okay, deep breathe... here goes. Daddy will start chemotherapy. Next Thursday. One treatment every three weeks for six treatments. Deep, cleansing breathe. This is a pro-active response, and the type of chemo doesn't affect the heart or kidneys. But, we still have a whole list of precautions. So. That's where we're at.

I'm a boat-load of mixed emotions. There's half of me that I can feel growing stronger into a grown up (ick, hehe) but into an adult, where I can handle things of great magnitude, like a parent dying. Then there is the other half of me, that still feels like the little girl, crawling up in her Daddy's lap, the most loving and secure place ever felt. Ugh, great... bawling! That's all it takes.

Okay... new subject! haha. (I can't keep boring you with my tears and feelings and such. haha. No really, today I just cant share. But one day, maybe.)

So, new subject. Finally, after a cracked screen (growing wider by the day) and a 7 minute life-span on my battery, I got rid of my piece-of-poo cell phone and got the New Voyager from Verizon. It's my new little present to myself. hehe. In all honesty, I felt it necessary to answer calls from your kids teachers wanting to know if the kids are riding the bus home or not, except the cell phone is dead, and you don't get the message til later, making you feel like a total rotten parent. Yeah, worth the expense in my mind. hehe

*golden weekend...

So, this past Wednesday (9/10/2008) was Courtney's *Golden birthday, meaning she turned 10 on the 10th. It was a Big one for her because it was her *golden birthday, but also because she is now 'double-digits'... wow, ten years went by all too quickly. Hard to believe.

We spent the evening out to dinner at Denny's... it's too funny how all the kids, mine and my sisters, love to spend their birthdays at Denny's.

Saturday was the Big party. Courtney and 7 of her closest friends were chauffered off in a

big pink limosine to Sweet and Sassy for a 'Runway Party'. As soon as the limo door opened they walked the red carpet into the store where they had their hair and make-up glammed up, nails painted, dressed up, and walked down the runway, 'striking-a-pose' at the end. They danced, and sang, did cheers, ran around the girly store... a 10 year old's dream come true! (and maybe even a 28 year olds, hehehe).

Aside from the birthday excitement, Friday night, at the monthly scrapbooking crop that I host, we were visited by this little guy. Yep. That's a true Arizona Diamondback Rattlesnake. Quite the excitement, Paul and a neighbor came over to the community clubhouse (walking distance from my house) and caught this snake for a 'snake-proofing' trainer (a person who snake-proofs dogs) who just happen to be scrappin' that night.

All in all, a very productive and fun weekend. I worked on the new mini-book I got from Leigh-Ann, but pictures to come perhaps next post. :)

Take Care, and Enjoy Life!!!

I had to share this...

I was in tears. I still am.
Very touching.

just what i needed...

LeighAnn from Freckled Nest came to the rescue! :) Obviously, I've been on quite a roller-coaster of emotions (and the creativity is certainly nil). I purchased this mini-book kit, and it came in the mail just in time! I was just about ready to hang up my paper cutter and adhesives. So a HUGE 'Thanks' back to ya LeighAnn!

On the sidenote, I'm okay. The family is okay. We are taking things one day at a time. Learning new things every day. Life seems so much more fragile these days. When we have a definite prognosis, I will keep you informed. For now, prayers are needed. Believe me, they help tremendously!