Two Years Cancer Free

We had a very uneventful trip to Houston.  My scan and MRI were all clear!  This means I have now been officially in remission (or cured as I like to call it) for two years.  Josh and I really did enjoy our time together.  We were able to enjoy a nice dinner at Taste of Texas Monday night.  Steak makes everything better.  Catherine did great with my mom and has been doing great since.  God is so good to us.

From now until I'm not really sure when, I'll get a PET scan once a year and an MRI twice a year.  So we'll go to Houston again in August for an MRI and again next February for an MRI and PET scan.  I jokingly told Josh that if we try to plan more babies around PET scans (since they can't do them while you're pregnant), then we'll end up with all Christmas babies.  I'll take them whenever I can get them and not complain :)

Dr. Fowler had to record all the details of my labor and delivery, and after telling him Catherine was delivered naturally, I had no issues, was not anemic during pregnancy, Catherine was normal weight, not anemic (sometimes a baby born after mom has been through chemo will be anemic), easy recovery, he said, "Come on, give me something here!"  Josh said, "No, we're not giving you anything."  We really have been amazingly blessed...two years out, perfectly healthy, with a perfectly healthy baby girl.  Wow.  Our God is great. We are so humbled by what He has done for us.

Catherine will be 2 months old tomorrow!  Wow how time has flown.  She sees the pediatrician tomorrow for a checkup and shots :(  I am going back to work on March 19th, and I am not looking forward to it at all.  It should make it easier to get through the work days though knowing that I have this to come home to...

And for some comic relief...

"You'll shoot your eye out kid!"

Valentine's Day and A Little Update

Happy Valentine's Day!  

"See how great a LOVE the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God." 1 John 3:1

We will be leaving for MD Anderson Bright and early Monday morning.  Actually, it will be dark and early Monday morning because the sun won't even be up yet. Catherine will be staying with my mom while Josh and I are gone for 2 days and 1 night.  This will be the first time I have been away from her.  I am not looking forward to it AT ALL.  Fasting for a PET scan and having my claustrophobic self subjected to an MRI is bad enough.  Leaving my baby makes it that much worse.  As always, prayers would be much appreciated...

1) for good test results

2) for safe travel

3) for peace of mind as we are away from Catherine, even though I know she will be well taken care of

4) that Catherine won't have any issues.  This will be the first time she has had only bottles.  Makes me a little nervous.  She takes a bottle fairly well, but I hope she takes back to Mommy when we get home :)

5) for Josh and I to be able to enjoy a couple of days together, despite the circumstances

We hope you all had a blessed Valentine's Day!

"But God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Baby Shower #2

I had to wait until we had revealed the gender to everyone before I posted pics from my second baby shower.  This was with my wonderful home church family at Pine Grove.  We are so blessed to have two wonderful, awesome, generous church families who love us and have prayed as much as we have for our little miracle!

My mom and cousin Holly along with Mrs. Marianne, Katie, and Mrs. Jerrilynn decorated the family life center for the nursery rhyme themed shower.  Some of the inspiration for the nursery rhyme shower was found on Pinterest but originally came from here.

These were the adorable centerpieces.  They were diaper cakes topped with nursery rhyme stuffed animals and baby dresses on hangers -- all of which I got to keep!  My mom made the diaper cakes.  They were precious!

The dish and the spoon that Holly made for me!

Awesome cake made by Clark!  Also found on Pinterest.

Even the food was nursery rhyme themed.  And there was lots of it!  Thanks to all who brought food.  So many sweet friends and family members helped out.

Hilarious.  You can see my pregnant belly in the reflection of the bowl taking the picture.  Also funny if you read the nursery rhyme association here.  Piping hot, smoking hot...not so much!

Wow.  Might I remind you this was my second shower.  I think I will single handedly keep the USPS funded this year with all the thank you notes I will be sending.

Cutest idea ever!  Instead of a sign in book, Holly made a sign in tree for people to write down baby name suggestions.  We finally decided on her name the morning we were discharged from the hospital.

The fun part!

My grandmothers :)

Aunt Carolyn and Grandmama.

Holly, Aunt Bobbie, my Maw-maw, Madison, Mom, and Aunt Ginny.  Four generations!

She's Here!

Welcome to the world Miss Catherine Grace Phares!  We are so blessed by the arrival of our baby girl!

December 28, 2011 11:27 AM
6 lbs 2.5 oz
21 inches long

Three days past due.  So much for the Santa Suit, but Happy New Year!

Proud Daddy.  She has his eyes and long legs.

Footprints!

Our happy family

 My dad...

 and Mom.

Going home!  This one is for Emily Jane :)

Home and relaxing!

Baby Shower #1

I am so overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends and family and the wonderful ladies of our church.

The food was delicious…

The company was wonderful…

Oh and then there’s this…

I am overwhelmed by God’s goodness to us.

All is Well

My MRI was clear and blood work was all normal!  Wooo hooooo!

We got to Houston around 9 PM Wednesday night for my MRI.  I couldn't have IV contrast since I'm pregnant, so the MRI only took about 20 minutes - definitely the lowest stress I've ever had for an MRI.  Thursday morning we stuck to our typical routine of sleeping late, eating a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and killing time at Bass Pro getting plenty of good ideas for Josh's upcoming birthday.  As miserable at is to wait and worry about test results, Josh and I really enjoy the time we get to spend together.  Eating a leisurely breakfast is a rare treat for us.

We checked in at the doctor's office for blood work at 12:45 and saw the doctor at around 3 PM.  They were so excited that we had a baby on the way.  The nurse practitioner claimed she saw the doctor crying some happy tears.  I hope so.  I hope our story gets at their hearts.  She also told me how great her home-brith experience was for her second child and that she highly recommends it.  I don't think I'm brave enough for that this time around, but maybe next time...

We go back in February for the big checkup - the PET scan.  The doctor really wanted us to come back about two weeks after the baby is born, but the nurse practitioner talked him out of it so I'd have plenty of time to get the nursing routine established (have to skip a couple of days after the PET scan).

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers for us and for rejoicing with us.  Even as we rejoice in our good news and the blessings God has given us, we are always mindful of the struggles others are going through.  Everyone should go spend a few hours at MD Anderson, or St. Jude, or Mary Bird Perkins every so often.  It will drastically change your outlook on things.  Never take your health or the health of your family for granted!  Come quickly Lord Jesus.  We are ready for a world with no cancer!

Time For a Little Checkup

We will be heading to Houston tomorrow evening for an MRI at 9 PM (bleh!) and will see the doctor for the results on Thursday afternoon.  Pregnancy has been going very well.  I'm 21 1/2 weeks, and Baby P. is doing fine.  Being pregnant definitely adds a different level of stress to the whole check up process.  But at the same time, it also keeps us mindful of how far the Lord has brought us.  Prayers for good results and safe travel would be much appreciated!