The Secret Place

This weekend was pretty relaxed. On Friday I made a new recipe called "Pork & Collard Gumbo". I guess that is what you would call it anyway. I had tasted it at a restaurant Shane and I had eaten at a few weeks ago. It actually was really good. I was surprised it turned out so close to the real thing. Dustin and Yessie came over for dinner to and she made dessert, a "Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie". Yummy!!!


Saturday was pretty much a relaxing day. Just straightening things up around the house, laundry, Shane cleaned the gutters and fixed all 3 leaking showers and Mom planted yet again more flowers. She loves it. It does look pretty awesome out there though. Then we went to the pool for a few hours. Dustin and Yessie were there also and Isabella really seemed to like the water. So all the kids had a really good time.


Shortly after we got home Shane's parents came down for a quick overnight visit. We ate leftovers, cornbread, & corn on the cob. It was really good for being leftovers. Shane's parents both really enjoyed it. They are off for a two week motorcycle vacation. Ouch my rear hurts thinking about it. LOL But I am sure they will have fun and take lots of breaks. They were up and gone before we got up for church this morning. But we enjoyed having them even if it was for a night. Papa is in rehab so they are taking advantage of that. I hope they stay safe and have a wonderful time.

This morning we had a special speaker. He spoke about the "The Secret Place". His main text was from Psalm 91:1

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The message was about making time to spend with God. Many times we get so busy with living for God, working at the church, volunteering, or singing in the choir that we don't actually take the time to pray. That is where our strength comes from, that is our meat that we need to survive. Sometimes we all, me included, do a really good job of making a good show on the outside of what "great Christians" we are, but we need to remember that we need to spend time with God. It reminds me of an old song someone used to sing in church. It was called, "I miss my time with You". It was a psalm from God to us. It said: " I need to be with you each day and it hurts me when you say your too busy. Busy trying to serve me, but how can you serve me when your spirit's empty. Oh, that we could have the desire and long to spend time in God's presence to the point that we miss it if we don't. Like you miss your coffee in the morning, your morning run or whatever you do on a daily basis. He said, "Satan may not be able to make you "sin" per say, but he can make you too busy"

One of the comments he made really hit me personally. It was this:

The Hell that I walk thru may help another to Heaven!!

I have said this before and this comment just reiterated it for me. If by going thru this I could somehow help, uplift, or encourage someone else I will gladly do so. I might as well make the best of it. I am going thru it either way, so why not do some good along the way on this "journey" of mine. I don't know if you noticed on that verse in Psalm. But the location is 91:1 or 911. This is a spiritual 911 wake up call for all of us. Let's not let our lives become so busy that we can't make it too our "secret place". Whether that is your room, closet or somewhere else in your home, let's make it a priority, not an afterthought or "If I have time" type of thing. He challenged all of us to try for just a week to spend 20 minutes with God. Not asking for anything, because he does know all of our needs but to just praise and thank him for who HE is!!! So I would like to challenge each "reader" if you don't already or have gotten slack, myself included, let's try it and see what God will do for all of us and our families.

Good Night & Have an awesome week in your "Secret Place"!!

Rachael

PS. Little Lestat is having hip surgery on Tuesday. Please keep this little boy in your prayers for a safe and quick recovery in Jesus Name. Amen

Weak Week

This week has been really different for me. This is actually the first week in which I have felt tired and totally out of energy due to the chemo. I am glad it has not been like this the whole time I have been having chemo because it is driving me crazy. I am not one to just lie around and get winded just going up stairs. Just putting in a load of laundry, bending down and such is exhausting. They did say the last two wipe you out but I had been doing so well energy wise I guess I just wasn't expecting this. The boys want to go to the pool and I just don't have the energy to do so. My head is still "chemo/medicine head". I guess it kind of feels like after you have been sick with the flu for several days and just doing minor things like getting ready in the morning feels like a work out. I am so ready for this to pass. So needless to say that is why I haven't blogged in a few days. I just don't have the energy. I am feeling a little better today though.


I had my yearly eye exam today. My vision changed a little but she said that could also be due to the "stress" my body is going thru now. She said it could change back later. I didn't realize it had been almost 2 years since I had gone. Apparently I forgot last year. No wonder I was out of contacts. LOL So I ordered several boxes and hopefully that will last until next year. My doctor told me that she had a friend who had breast cancer that didn't make it and she hoped and prayed that I will beat this. "Yeah Me too!!"


I have been thinking lately though, What causes some women to beat it and others don't??? Is it the meds, your outlook, how advanced or what??? I hear of so many that do well and then still lose that "battle". God I really do not want to be one of those. It really scares me when I think of not being here for my kids and Shane. Yes I am fighting with everything that I know to do but is that enough? Caitlyn is so young, she would never remember me. And that makes me so so sad to think that she would never know what a joy that she is too me or what an answer to a like long prayer and dream that she was to me. Yes, I could record and tell her but it is not the same as having a lifetime to show her. Or for the boys how much I love them. For Chandler what a good boy he has been and how proud of him that I am. And Connor how funny he is and how much joy he brings to our family. Things like that.


I guess with my surgery coming up, one last chemo & the other day I watched a special on Oprah about breast cancer and it just makes you realize that some people really don't make it. One of the main topics was about early detection. But they also said that 87% of women who have breast cancer have no family history. That's me. I think they said that women who have it in one breast are 55% likely to get it in the other breast. That is why I am having both removed. I am not taking any chances. Who wants to go thru this again in 5 years. Not me. Another point was for insurance companies to cover more than just the minimum, they should cover for ultrasound, mammograms & MRI. All of them together give a better picture of your overall breast health. If there is one thing that I would encourage every woman is to do your self breast exam's. Get to know your breasts "intimately". That way you will know when something is not right or feels different. Most of the women that I have met and talked to have found their own lumps and spots. Just try to make a conscious effort to do them at least bi weekly. My changed from the end of October to January. It was fast and aggressive. It is not anything to take a chance with. It is literally your LIFE.


Anyway, I emailed Chandler's teacher to see if she had the results of his EOG's. And she told me she couldn't give me the results yet but she could tell me that any children who would have to retake it due to the fact that they didn't pass the first time the parents had been contacted already & seeing as how I didn't get a phone call.........Read between the lines. Yeah & Thank you Jesus!!! So he did it!!!! Thank you all the prayers. I am glad it is over with. So now it is party party at school until June 10th. They could save a lot of $$$$ if they just let the kids out of school now. Who said they had to go for 180 days? Who cares!! I don't. They could save right there on the budget. Work with the kids who have to retake and let the others out. But that is just my humble opinion. LOL

Gotta go and fix dinner now.
Love to all,
Rachael

Destination

Saturday we drove up to Creedmoor, where Shane's parents live and spent the day with them. Dustin, Yessie & Isabella joined us also. We had a lot of fun just relaxing and hanging out. The boys, all of them, went four wheeling thru the woods and to Falls Lake. Shane helped his Dad mow the lawn. We went fishing and the guys shot guns. Woo Hoo!!! Dustin was in "Hog Heaven". We grilled out steaks and hamburgers and later made homemade tropical ice cream. Yummy. It has crushed cherries, bananas, & pineapple in it. It was so good. Very hard to eat just one bowl.

When we left there we stopped off at the VA Hospital to see Papa Fred. It was about 8pm. So he was already pretty much ready for bed. The hospital was kind of eerie. It was empty and really quiet. So sad for the veterans who especially this weekend deserve so much better. Papa was in good spirits and glad to see us all. He of course wants to go home ASAP. But he has to wait till he can go to physical therapy which will take a few weeks. Not what he wanted to hear. It is really hard to see a man who so many years ago was so strong and that you look up to that is now captive by his own bed and can only move about with the aid of others. I know he hates it. But I guess it is selfish for us to want to keep him with us for a while longer. Apparently, it is God's will too because he is still with us & we are thankful for that. I just wish he could enjoy life a little more than he is able to. For his sake & for his quality of life.

We got home really late last night. (A little after 11pm) That is late for us. We had to get showers and check all the kids for ticks after our day in the country. No Ticks. Yeah!!! Once everyone got in bed it was after midnight. I was so ready for bed. This latest round of chemo is doing a number on my energy. But we are dealing with it. However, my headaches this time have not been anything like what I usually have after chemo. So that is awesome.

Today at church I saw a fellow breast cancer survivor, Diane and then again Jean at Kidz World. It does me good to see that if they can do it so Can I. It is not that I think that I can't it just helps to have a reminder once in a while. There are so many who don't make it and I just do not want to be one of those. I have so much to live for. No matter how good my prognosis is it is ultimately in God's hands. Sometimes that can be hard to accept and know he will do what is best. But so far I am OK with it all and I think he is handling it and me very well.

Today at church, Pastor Rick talked about how:

"An Attitude of Ingratitude stops us from receiving God's Wholeness"

He took his text from Luke Ch 10 about the Ten Lepers about how only the one leper came back and said, "Thank You". How is "cleansing" was deeper than that of the other 9. One of his points was named: Destination vs. Journey. I thought about that and this "journey" that I am on. I realized that some days I am in just a hurry to get to the destination of 'Being Well" that I am forgetting to look, listen & learn what God wants me to do on the actual "journey" itself. If I am going to have to go thru all of this I might as well get all God has for me out of it. Right??? I sure don't want to have to do it all over again. LOL Pastor Rick's point was sometimes we only look to our final destination: Heaven and forget about our journey & our purpose here on earth. While we are here we are to encourage, help, uplift & be there for as many people as we can along this journey of Life.

So I intend to make a conscious effort to really think about my journey. Not just what's in it for me but what can I learn, what do I have to offer & how can I help someone else? Pastor Rick mentioned somehow we can get a warped spirit of "Entitlement". That God owes us or others do, but really we don't deserve anything, but actually owe Him everything. He gave us life and gives us an awesome destination to look forward to at the End of Our Journey!!

Have a great & safe Holiday Weekend,

Rachael

Continuing On

Well, I didn't end up having to get my shot. Thank you Jesus. We were getting ready to get off the exit when Helen my nurse from the oncologist office called and said she had reviewed all of my blood results and felt that I wouldn't need it. So I didn't go after all. So mom and I went to Kohl's and got a few things. I needed a few things for the boys bathroom and bedrooms. Then I had a dentist appointment for my bridge that came loose at the airport while eating an awesome BLT sandwich. Anyway, I am going to have to have it replaced. More $$ but they are trying to work something out for me so it won't be so expensive under the circumstances. Every little bit helps that is for sure. After my dentist appointment we ate at a Mexican Restaurant next door and had street tacos. They were really good.


On the way home we stopped at Target and ended up being there for 2 hours or more and got home late around 9pm. Yikes. Shane had all the kids in bed already. So that was nice to come home to. Because I was really tired by that time.


This has been a pretty good week. I am a lot more tired this week than usual. I think it is just the overall business of the last week. The trip to Oregon, JetLag, Chemo and getting back into a routine. My neighbor Stacie had given me a gift certificate for a Pedicure so I went and used that today to pamper myself. That was awesome. Thank you so much Stacie and Han for doing it. You guys are the best.


I have been trying for the last three weeks to schedule my surgery but they haven't had the Surgeon's Schedule available until now. So my Mastectomy is officially set up for July 22, 2009. I think if the Dr. Turk says it is OK I am going to go ahead and have them both removed. But I don't know. Either way I think it is going to be hard but I can't decide if it will be harder to see myself with one breast or just have them both gone. So many decisions to make. Now that it is actually scheduled it makes it a lot more real. The reality of what I am going to have to do I think is going to be a lot harder than I thought. A "big" well maybe "medium" part of me is going to be gone and won't come back like my hair. Granted it won't be as visable as my hair, but I know when I am alone I think it will be very hard to deal with and to look at. I know I am going to worry how Shane will look at me or think. I know regardless he will still love me but you can't help but wonder what he really will think when he sees me that way. I don't know what I will think myself. So I guess we will have to wait, pray, & see what happens.


Chandler is finally done with his EOG's. Thank you for all the prayers. We still don't know the results yet but I will let everyone know when we get them. He is so relieved that it is over. He asked me tonight,"Mom seeing as how I worked so hard all week can I take the day off tomorrow?" LOL Funny guy!! I said no but maybe I will give in and pick them up early. The shop is closed tomorrow, but Shane is going in to do invoicing and then going to play golf with Dustin and a couple of guys. So I hope they have a good time.


Please keep Papa Fred, Shane's Grandpa who is 80 fell yesterday and broke his hip and had to have surgery today. He was in a lot of pain and will have to have rehabilitation and everything. So he could be in the hospital for a while. We love you Papa and are praying for your quick recovery.

Good Night to All,
Rachael

Coming Back Home

Me and the guys.

Kenneth & Colton

They are brother in laws

My cousins right to left. Kenneth, Colton, & Josh

They were having way too much fun with the wigs.

Caitlyn looks like a babydoll and Andrew looks like a little "Enders BabyGirl"

My cousin Josh

My cousin Charity & I

Above are a few pictures from my trip to Oregon/Idaho. My cousins had a blast trying on all my different wigs. Who knew it could be so fun. I was able to see a few of my family members there, but not all of them. I wasn't there long enough. But I am thankful for the time I had there and the ones I did get to see. To put it in perspective I have my dad, grandma, 10 aunts and uncles, 25 cousins not including spouses that would be and additional 3 & 7 second cousins. So as you can see we have a big family up there and not enough time. It is neat to see my kids with my cousins kids playing and hanging out like we all used to when we were little. My boys love to go up there every summer for at least 2 weeks. There is nothing like family & nothing like cancer to make you really appreciate what is important.





Nikki, my cousin that had the baby is doing much better. If she takes her medicine and not try to be superwoman with no drugs. LOL She is doing really good adjusting to having 2 boys. Andrew loves being a big brother but not so sure on the lack of attention. And sometimes forgets about Mommy's booboo. But overall I think all is well. I miss them already. I see the picture of little Ryker and already miss being there. He will change so much till I go back in July. We are so excited to be able to go when we thought it might not be a possiblity. It makes you even more thankful.





Our flight left Boise around 10:40. It was delayed a half hour so we arrived in San Fransisco a little shy of 2 hours. Caitlyn slept the whole way. She did really well. I sat beside a lady named Linda. She was so nice. I shared with her a little of my story and found out that her mom had passed away when she was only 13. How sad for her but she told me when that happened she found Jesus and knew she would always have a loving Father to turn too. How great is that!!! That goes to show you that you never know the purpose of things that happen in your life but God does and he has a plan.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

Anyway, we landed about 10pm last night. We got home my mom and the boys had been very busy planting flowers in the yard. My yard looks awesome. It is so pretty. I absolutely love it. Thank you so much Mom. I really do like everything. Next, I came in took a shower with Caitlyn, made her a bottle and Shane put her to sleep. Caitlyn definitely missed her Da Da. She kept calling for Da Da and brubers on the plane. So she didn't mind Daddy putting her to sleep. Needless to say it was almost 12am by the time we went to bed and poor Shane got up at 4am. I am tired so I know he is. Mine is probably more jet lag too. But overall I feel fine.

Caitlyn woke up this morning after we left not feeling good still with a low grade fever. I really think she has had an ear infection coming on. She has claw marks in her ear and kept pulling on them. So I had mom call her pediatrician to call in an antibiotic. Poor Baby. Mom said she is just laying around. I love how loving they are when they don't feel good and want you to hold them but I hate that she is hurting. So in Jesus Name I claim her healing.



I have chemotherapy today. We picked up my emend this morning and got here about 10am. We saw Dr. Limentani also. He doesn't even check my breast anymore. He said, "I can't check what I can't feel!!" I know that sounds weird but that is good news because he can't even find my tumors anymore. Thank you Jesus. My blood counts were too low only 1200. Apparently it should be closer to 15oo so I have to come back tomorrow and get a shot. YUCK YUCK OUCH!!!!! They said one of the side affects is sore joints like when you get the flu and are all achy. Wow, just what I wanted to feel like.



On a funny note, a gentleman sitting next to me is having his first round of chemo today. I told him probably by day 15 that he would lose his hair. I told him he would probably look better than I do bald. LOL He said, "Yeah I probably will!" Shane said he didn't totally understand what I said. But it was funny anyway. He is an elderly gentleman probably in his 60's or so. But a super nice guy. We both missed church yesterday. I was flying and he was recovering from having his port put in on Friday. So we listened to some Israel Houghton and Chris Tomlin and he had his bible out reading. The nurse came by and said, "Wow you got the big guns over here today." That is for sure.



Shane and I will probably go to a movie and dinner tonight. I am looking forward to that seeing as how I haven't seen him in a week. I really missed him. He is such an awesome husband. Everyone should have a man like mine. I am really thankful and blessed. I have great kids and parents too. I love my whole family.

Well I am going to go for now. My treatment is almost done. Thank you again to everyone for your thoughts & prayers. It means more to me than you will probably ever know.


Love,

Me

PS. Chandler has his EOG test tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers. He is very worried.

Also I will tell you about my meal tomorrow. It was really good. But I took my sleepy medicine and I am doing so go as to not fall out off this chair to finish this post and add the pictures. I will also put some on Facebook.

Surprises & Adjustments

Ryker Jay Enders

May 8, 2009

This is the newest member of our family, Little Ryker. He is a really good baby and so sweet. For one of my Mother's Day gifts, Shane got me a plane ticket to come and see my cousin Nikki and her new baby boy. I really wanted to come to help Nikki out on her first week home but didn't think it was possible with my treatments and everything. But he managed to get me a ticket to fly out Tuesday morning and come home Sunday night. I have chemo on Monday so I have to come home. But I am so thankful to have this time to be here. My hubby thinks of everything. He is the best. I know I am really blessed to have such an awesome husband.

Andrew is having a little of an adjustment period. He is not jealous but is not used to having not as much attention. So today we played 5 games just me & him while mommy & Ryker took a nap and then we took a nap when he started to get a little whinny. But overall he is doing pretty good in his new role as a big brother. He just comes and hugs & kisses on Ryker all the time. I am sure he will be fine but it is an adjustment for a little boy who will be 5 next month and the only child to have to share Mommy & Daddy's attention.

Caitlyn did really well on the flight over. I had to hold her the whole time but she did good on both flights. The landing on the second flight was really rough. If there is any way a plane can "fishtail" this plane was. I was in row 9 but I could feel the back fishtailing. It was really windy but I was looking for the "barf bag". It was miserable. Caitlyn even started to feel it too. She cried a little bit and then I sang "Jesus Loves Me" and she calmed down and we finally landed. I was so glad to see land.

Dad picked me up from the airport and then we went to my Grandma Shirley's because Nikki was not home yet. Grandma was out back and when Colton went to go get her, she came in and didn't even recognize me. She looked at me like , I know you but who are you. My hair was totally different than she has ever seen it and she just didn't recognize me with the wig on. I had the short and sassy one on.

When Nikki finally came by Grandma's to pick up her dinner that some of the church family had brought over, she came in and I walked into the kitchen and she just looked at me and stuttered, "Wh..Wh..What are you doing here" I gave her a hug and told her Happy Mother's Day. She was just in shock. She didn't really say a whole lot at first. She couldn't believe I was really there. I was so glad I got to surprise her. It was a lot of fun.

I am still feeling really good this week. This is usually the easy week anyway so that is good. Caitlyn is a little fussy. I thought maybe she had an ear infection but the doctor on Monday said she didn't so I don't know if she just has teeth coming in or what. But hopefully she will start feeling better soon. I hate that she can't tell me what is wrong so I can try and fix it. So for now Motrin, Tylenol & prayer will have to work.

I miss my husband & boys and you too Mom but I am so glad to be able to be here.

Thank you Shane and Mom for making it possible.

Good Night

Rachael

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mom's out there. I know today is a special day for all of us. This year is especially special to me for obvious reasons. I know that there are some that do not have their Mom's with them this year. My heart aches and goes out to each and everyone of you. I am so blessed to have my mom with me. She is such a blessing to our family and I am glad she is with us and lives with us to help me out whenever I need it. She keeps saying that I am going to kick her out because I am doing so well. I would never do that and I do appreciate all she does. It keeps me from feeling overwhelmed. Thank you Mom. I love you.

Caitlyn the last few weeks in church when the preaching starts she thinks that she can start talking in church. She refuses and cries the whole time if I put her in the nursery so she stays with us. Anyway usually a lit te ways into the preaching Shane usually has to take her out to the Wiggle Giggle room. Anyway today when Pastor Rick got up Caitlyn tells Shane, "Dada Go Go" LOL She thought the Pastors up there and it is time to go out. It was too funny & really cute. We will have to work on that one.

Today at church, Pastor Rick & Marvel Pope spoke about the faith of the woman with the issue of blood. (Found in Mark 5:21-34. One of the things that Marvel spoke on was "blessed interruptions" in our lives. Sometimes things happen in our lives that are not planned or expected. It could be the birth of an "unplanned" baby, just slowing down to enjoy our children, or sickness. For me, mine is my cancer. I never would have thought that I would consider this a "blessed interruption". But a lot of good has come from my cancer. I have slowed down to enjoy my children more, some things are just not as important as I once thought, I cherish every moment with my family that much more, I have discovered blogging, I have met new "survivor friends", I love my husband that much more for being by my side thru this, & I have a new appreciation for my hair that I never had before. She said that we need to slow down to notice our divine appointments. Mine are my Monday's. LOL As I have said before, Shane and I get a long while to talk and go out on dates that without cancer might not have happened. At least not as often. And we truly do cherish every moment together.

Another thought that came to me as he spoke about Jesus on the boat when he fell asleep. I admit when all of this first happened I felt like God had fallen asleep in my "boat of life". But Oh how wrong I was. He has been here right beside me the whole way. Yes I have had some bad days but the good ones Far Out Weigh the bad. I am so thankful for the many blessings that have come my way since all of this has happened. It seems like a lifetime ago but it was only 90 days ago. It is amazing what sometimes God will use to change us and those around us. I hope I have learned what he intended so that I don't have to do it again.

This morning Shane and the boys brought me breakfast in bed & then gave me all of my cards and gifts. After church, Shane & the kids took my mom and I out for lunch today at Fleming's Steakhouse downtown Charlotte. Tio Jesse & Tia Marta went with us also. They helped us so much over the weekend with the yard sale and we really appreciated it. Dinner was delicious as usual. Thank you Babe for an awesome meal and day.

Saturday was our neighborhood yard sale. We had an awesome turn out. We were putting things out at 6:30 or so and there were already people coming. It was crazy. Some of my neighbors also hosted a bake sale for breast cancer and donated all the proceeds for me. I am so thankful for them thinking of us in that way. They raised $250. I was going to use it to pay the hospital bills but they said to spend it on me for something for myself. Again I just want to say Thank you to all my neighbors for participating and buying. I love our neighborhood and I am so grateful to have such wonderful and thoughtful neighbors. So we shall see. I was so glad to get rid of our "junk". We sold just about everything and donated the rest to the boy scouts who are having a yard sale later this month.

So we have had an awesome weekend. I am so thankful to be a Mom and for my Mom. If you haven't already please call your mom. Cherish every moment and live like there is no tomorrow.

Have a great week!!!

Rachael

Still Busy & Feeling Great

This week the painters were here on Monday & Tuesday, so now I have been trying to get everything put back in it's place upstairs. We ended up having them repaint the walls going up the stairs and the hallways upstairs. They were in desperate need of touching up. It looks and smells new. I love it. The boys "wing" of the house turned out really well also. (Did I use well correctly?) Anyway, we are slowly getting the kids rooms decorated. They really like them. I have to be careful with the brotherly competition of who gets what in their rooms. If Chandler gets something Connor wants it. You know how it is. But they are really coming along. I still need pictures for the walls mainly. Connor's is space type things & Chandler's is Star Wars Clone Wars. I have no idea what type of theme for the bathroom or the playroom. I can't find anything that just really jumps out and screams Buy Me. Which I am sure Shane is totally fine with. That means I am not spending $$$$. Any ideas: Boys Playroom & the Bathroom????


I have felt great all week. Just that first weekend after chemo hits me like a ton of bricks on my head. But it is only lasting about 2 days instead of 10 like it was in the beginning. So that is totally awesome. I can handle that. I feel like I got a lot done this week upstairs and it feels so good to know that I got rid of so much stuff. Just hopefully someone will buy all this stuff. If not the Kidney Foundation is picking up all the extras after the yard sale. Plus a lot of the nicer toys & books of the boys we are going to take down to the local Children's Hospital to donate and pass out to the kids there. So I think it will be a good experience for the boys to give back to others in need. They also have a ton of ball caps that don't fit their big heads any more. So I asked them what they wanted to do with them. Sell them or what? They said maybe some kids who had cancer like me would want to wear them like I wear my hats at home all the time. I thought that was really sweet. Maybe we are doing something right raising those boys. Good Job Babe!!!


My mom thinks that I am really spoiled by Shane. She makes smart aleck comments all the time. She can't believe that he changes the light bulbs in the house, cleans up the kitchen after dinner, helps out a lot with the kids, sometimes tells me to go out by myself or with the girls and watch a movie or dinner & a lot of time I never have to pump my own gas. She would really freak out if she knew I literally have only had my oil changed once in over 13 years. Shane always takes care of that for me too. I guess she will know now. I just made a really good choice 14 years ago and am reaping the benefits of it. I don't know that I really tell Shane how much I do appreciate all that he does spoil me. But I really do appreciate you. You are the best husband a wife could ask for. I love you & hope you know how much!!!


Well right about now, my cousin Nikki is laying on an operating table getting ready to have a C-section to have little Ryker Jay Enders. I can't wait to hear all the stats on him. She had to be there at 4:30 am to get prepped. I know they are just ecstatic about this new baby. Good Luck Nikki. We are praying for a safe delivery & a healthy baby. Love ya.


Well Caitlyn is starting to wake up and I have to go start on working on yard sale stuff and go by the dry cleaners to drop of Shane's suit, laundry and just the usual daily stuff that needs to be done everyday in the life of a stay at home mom. Busy Busy Busy!!! I know all of you moms out there know what I am talking about. Especially the more you have. I am really looking forward to Mother's Day this weekend. I guess going thru all of this makes you really appreciate somethings a lot more than you did before.


Have a great weekend,
Rachael

Cakes

Here are pictures of two cakes that family and friends have sent over for our family.

Caitlyn loves Cake. Can you tell??

Thank you to the Serna Family for the delicious Tres Leches Cake and the Bumgarner Family for the chocolate cake. We throughly enjoyed both of them.

Thank you again,

The Higginbothams

One Long Busy Weekend

Long Time No Blogging!! Huh??!! Sorry. It has been a crazy weekend. On Thursday & Friday, I literally spent all day going thru the boys toys, books, clothes, rooms, & playroom. We switched their rooms and closets brought in a queen bed for Chandler's room and put their new bedspreads on. The painters are coming today to paint the playroom, boys bathroom, & bedrooms. So everything had to come out away from the walls.


On Friday after Shane got home from work, we went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord. The kids loved it. Caitlyn doesn't like for water to be splashed in her face but loves the water. It is pretty enclosed so the boys would go do their thing and then come back to us and check in and then take off again. Caitlyn liked the wave pool just running in and out of the water. Chandler was pretty obstinate when it came to going on something he thought he would get sick on or too scary. Connor was 1inch too short for some of the bigger rides. Otherwise he would have rode everything.


We finished the waterpark at around 7:00pm, took showers and then went to dinner at a buffet in the Lodge. They had a mini kids buffet that the kids thought was pretty cool. It was just their level. Other than having to wait about 20 minutes just to get a drink it was good. After dinner we hit the arcade. The boys obviously enjoyed it more than Caitlyn but it was still fun. Around 9:30pm I left to get Caitlyn in bed and the boys stayed with Shane for a while longer. I had just gotten Caitlyn to sleep and Chandler decided to knock on the door instead of letting Shane open it with his armband. So of course she woke up, was afraid we were going to leave her in this strange place, and wanted her Daddy. So everytime I tried to put her in the crib she would wake up saying, "DaDa". It was a queen bed with all 3 of us. We had to leave the armbands on which annoyed me trying to sleep. Needless to say it was a long night. I now remember why I don't have my kids sleep with me. I hate feet in my back. Oh Well.

We got up Saturday morning and ate at the buffet again. Then headed for the waterpark. Check out is at 11am but they let you use the waterpark till they close at 9pm. Connor had a birthday party at 2pm so we stayed until about 12:45pm and headed home. By the time we got home Caitlyn and myself were so ready for a nap. We took showers and went to bed. I was exhausted. Mom was planting veggies and plants in the yard. I felt bad for not helping but I was too tired. Shane dropped Connor off at his birthday party which was till 5pm. I sleep till about 3:45pm.

Travis had come down the night before so Audra & him came over to spend the day. Shane, Travis and Audra decided to go watch Wolverine. Not my cup of tea so I didn't go. I read a book instead. Caitlyn sleep till almost 6pm. She was wore out. By this time, my headaches had started in. Which is usual for the week after chemo, but I still despise getting them. Especially when they make me dizzy. I feel so out of sorts and the only thing to help is to sit still and not move around. Then I feel lazy with everyone waiting on me and having to take care of my kids. These hot flashes.....SUCK!!!!! It is miserable. I am having one as I sit here typing.

On Sunday, I woke up with a headache and feeling lightheaded. I still got dressed and ready for church. But I felt horrible. We got to the front of the subdivision and I asked Shane to take me back home. I knew I wouldn't feel any better once I got to church trying to stand up. So I came home, changed and layed down to finish my book. It was weird being the only one home. It was so quiet. But as long as I didn't get up I felt OK. Mom came home and fixed me a sandwich. Then Shane and the kids came home and I put Caitlyn down for a nap and the boys played with some long lost toys we had discovered in our cleaning spree. I still needed to finish going thru some of the boys stuff and put in their drawers. So I just sat on the floor and had them help me get it done.

Chandler went down to the neighbors, The Tillmans, to study for his EOG tests with Heath. He is so worried about this stupid test. It is on May 19th. He literally is in tears about once a week over them. If he doesn't pass this test he fails the 3rd grade. He has had all A's & B's this year and of course is well behaved. But apparently for the state of NC that does not matter. He keeps asking Mom and I to pray he does good. I hate it. I feel so bad for him. It is the first year they have to take bubble tests and you know if you mess up one line or number all your answers will be wrong. I know he has to learn eventually but I really don't like the EOG's. I really think it puts a lot of pressure on the teachers too. They have to teach what is on the EOG's and a lot of time that can restrict what they do and can't do. So keep Chandler in your prayers especially on the 19th.

Today Travis left to go home to Ohio to continue working thru the summer. The painters came about 9:30am. So they are upstairs now. Apparently my patching up the holes in all the walls wasn't very good. The putty was too thick or something. I was only trying to help but oh well hopefully they will be able to finish in a day or so. The boys are so excited to see their rooms. I am just ready for the upstairs to be clean and organized again. I have my herceptin treatment today. Mom is taking me and Shane is going to watch the kids. So it is a full day as usual in the Higginbotham Household.

The one thing I am really excited about this week is the birth of my newest cousin. Little Ryker Jay Enders. Nikki is having a C-section on the 8th. I hope and pray that everything goes well. I can't wait to see and hold my newest little man. I wish I could be there Nik. You know I would. Love you and you all will be in my prayers this week.

Love to all,

Rachael