5 Years

Five years ago this month Dan was diagnosed with Melanoma. As most of you know, he had gone in to have a dry patch of skin on his leg looked at. (because I kept telling him he had exema!) While there, the dr. removed a mole on his back that turned out to be Melanoma. Poor Dan was alone at the Dr. to get the news a few days later. It was such a rough time for him, and us. As some might remember I was 7 months pregnant and having complications of my own. Within a week Dan was in surgery, having the cancer removed as well as a few lymph nodes. We were told then, if he could stay Melanoma free for 5 years, then he would have a 95% chance of it never coming back! Can we all say Amen that it has not returned at we have hit 5 years last week!
The next terrible news we got was 5 years ago this week! Dan and I were sitting on the couch having take out from Rizzos for his bday since he was very sore from surgery. The phone rang and I got up to get it. Mind you, it was 8:00pm at night. It was Dans dr. He told me that the biopsy from the dry skin patch was actually a different form of cancer called T-cell lymphoma. AGain, 7 months pregnant, Dans bday, and trying to find words to say to my husband to tell him the new cancer he now has. The dr tried explaining what this cancer was on the phone, but he had lost me at the word cancer. I got off the phone and Dan could tell it was bad. I tried explaining it to him, but all we could do was sit and cry. All that went through our mind was if he would be here to meet Cole.
The next week we were back in with dr's We found out that it is a rare skin cancer, that most people who are diagnosed get when they are very old. Rare for someone his age to have. After research, it appears to be environmental. There is no cure, only treatments. It starts on the skin as these dry patches, then if it chooses to, would spread to typically the liver first. There is no time frame for when it will or wont travel into the blood stream. The doctors say he could die of a heart attack or old age first! Thats promising to us! We now go to Siteman Cancer center 3 times a year to have his blood work done to make sure it has not traveled into his blood stream, and he continues to take a topical chemotherapy.
As a wife, the words I heard, especially being pregnant, were the worst words I could have heard. Seeing my husbands eyes so scared is a picture in my mind I will never forget! When we go to the cancer floor for blood work it breaks my heart every time!
God has looked over Dan thus far and has brought us good news up to this point. I put my faith in God and pray that it will never change!
SO this month I celebrate Dan being "cured" of Melanoma and excited the T cell lymphoma has been nothing more than a nuisance!

Happy Valentines Day

Sorry, Im a little behind! I have not a single second during the week after working and getting the kids fed, bathed and to bed! Im lucky to remember to eat dinner, especially the nights Dans on duty.
For Valentines Day we decided to take the kids to Build A Bear. Cole had been asking to build a dog, so we decided that would be a great gift! He had so much fun. He picked out a brown and white dog for himself and named him Dalmation (oxy moron I think) and a brown bear for Emmy he named Twinkles. He had fun watching it get stuffed, sewn and then fluffing it up! He chose to put a talking thing in it that is his sweet voice that says, "Happy Valentines Day." Emmy slept right through it in her cute little denim dress, heart tights and heart shirt! Then we went to MiMis for dinner. We had a great time! COle thinks its funny that theres a restraunt named MiMi since thats what we call Emmy!

Ready to Jog

On Saturday we had such a gorgeous day! It was 51 degrees, which after a very cold Winter, it felt like Summer! Cole had gymnastics until noon, then off to shop for Dans 32 bday! I kept telling myself that when I got home I was going to put Emmy in the new jogging stroller and Cole in his bike and take off! I really wanted a nap when I got home, but I knew I would regret it! I bundled her up, got Cole ready and we took off! The fresh air felt fabulous and although I didnt burn one calorie because COle stopped every 2 feet to gather more sticks for our "stick collection", it was nice to be out!Emmy stayed awake for a bit then passed out for the remainder! What a great day!

Just Plain Sweet

Yesterday I put on a super cute outfit my friend Lindsay from Texas had sent. It looked so big when I brought her one, and sadly she is now big enough to wear it! She has pretty much outgrown all of her NB outfits, as they will no longer snap! Tear! Well, she looked so darn cute that I couldnt help but take lots of pictures. Since she was so smiley this mornning, I made Cole (morning hair) get in a few!

Hangin With My Peeps

Emmy got to see soo many people last week! Some she met for the first time and others we see all the time! She is getting so big already! SHe is becoming a LITTLE more content just laying around. Most of the time she likes to be held or sitting up right to see everything! Shes very nosy like me, or doesnt want to miss a party like Dan! Here are a few shots from last week.

Fun With Cousins

While the girls were here we got to have some fun! We all went to the city museum! We absolutely love this place! IT was nice since it was sooo cold outside to be able to burn some energy! The kids had fun climbing, sliding, watching and acting crazy! We also went to their hotel and let the kids swim. It was kinda cool because it was snowing outside and they were swimming in warm water!
At the coty museum we watched the childrens circus. It is a practicing circus with children who do acrobats. Cole was amazed! He is in gymnastics so it sparked a whole new interest! The next day he was making Mindy and my mom throw him around like they did at the cricus!

Meet Cousin Emmy

Finally on Friday, my sister and her husband were able to bring the girls form Wisconsin to meet their new cousin. Maddy had said a while back, "she wasnt sure she could love Emmy like she loved Cole." Well, as soon as she saw her she fell in love. When we reminded her of what she had said she said, "Well, that was before I saw her!" Maddy and Sofia loved her and took turns holding her, but did a great job of balancing their time with Colie.

Superhero Nest

When Cole turned 2 we bought him his "big boy" furniture and changed his room to his big boy room. His bed was actually a bunk bed loft, but we were too afraid at that age that he would fall out. Finally at almost 5, we decided he could do it. So last week Dan and I put it together. He calls it his superhero nest! He loves it and sits up there and reads and plays leapster. I still get scared at night, but he used the actual bed for the last 2 years on the ground, its just higher now so he is used to it! Excuse my appearance in the pics, but it was a no makeup day!

Girly Girl

I meant to post this last week and must have gotten side tracked! I came home from taking Cole to pre school last week and Dan had dressed Emmy.....IN HER FIRST DRESS AND TIGHTS!! Unfortunately it was for a wake we were attending, but she looked so darn cute! Yep, shes gonna be a girly girl whether she likes it or not. On Sunday my mother in law went shopping and took Emmy to show her the ropes and she was terrible! She cried in every store and I was nursing in every dressing room! I decided it was because I forgot to put a bow in her hair! That would make any girl and irritable shopper!

Surprise Cole!

Since we had Emmy, we have been trying to surprise Cole once a week with something fun for him to do! Its winter and we are bored inside and want to make sure he is really feeling included while I'm home. The first week we had her we took him to Monkey Joes, we took him to the Magic House and other things he likes. Last week Dans parents watched little E for us so we could surprise Cole with Laser Tag. OMG did he love it. The best was it was just the 3 of us in the WHOLE arena so we had the best time. Dan and I had so much fun and we were sweating so bad! We played 5 games of it! I had not run since I got pregnant so I was a little worn out by the end. Cole looked so cute! When I would be hiding, I would see his little self go running by on a mission to find us with his flashing vest! LOVE IT! He kept saying "this is awesome!" Just for the record, I won every game except 1!