Coffee!!!

Keith and I went out to breakfast this morning (we had a wonderful time together) and I was able to enjoy a cup of coffee for the first time since my chemo treatment last Thursday! I was so disappointed last Friday when I woke up and the taste of coffee made me nauseated. After not enjoying my morning cup of cofffee for almost my whole pregnancy with Sadie I wasn't ready to give it up again but I had no choice.....until this morning. It's funny - the little things you look forward to in life - for me it's my morning cup of joe. It's the reason I actually went to my senior year of high school (I got a mocha every morning on the way to school....to this day I don't know how I was able to afford it), it helped me get through those long days at work and it's the reason I would wake up in the morning after Bekah was born (the only reason I was actually able to stay awake those early hours). Needless to say I'm looking forward to my good days during this time in my life not only for a break from all the side effects of chemo. but also for my morning fix. Oh Coffee How I Love Thee!

Mighty to Save

So how are things going? Although this has proven a difficult question to answer, since things have been changing constantly, it is safe to say that the past few days have been rough.

Cara did okay after her chemo thursday, but then came the weekend. She spent most of the time either sleeping or trying to sleep. The Prednisone causes her to be wired and unable to sleep despite her bodies complete exhaustion, pretty much the definition of torture. On top of this, she was hit hard by nausea, brutal headaches, and even some fun mood swings. Finally, this afternoon she has had a reprieve, laughing and playing with the girls. We are hoping for two more good days until Cara goes in for treatment #2 on Thursday. We keep telling each other, just 7 more weeks!!

One of the high points for me was going with Bekah and Sadie (with Jan's help) to church Sunday. I just had this weird premonition that the worship team was going to play the song Mighty to Save, and sure enough, they did. I sensed God strengthening me as I croaked out "He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save"--my eyes welling up. The next song was Blessed Be Your Name, reminding me that God is still God as we stumble down this road marked with suffering. He deserves our everything when life is sunshine and when life feels like it's falling apart. It was amazing worshipping and being with so many people who care and are praying for our family. We definitely weren't meant to go through this alone!

Well, it's getting late and we need to get some rest. Cara wants to go out to our favorite meal-- breakfast--tomorrow morning. Mmmmm.

Pink PJs, Pink Dolly, and...Airplanes!!

Now that we live so close to the SLO airport, Bekah has discovered her new favorite word: AIRPLANE! Her absolute favorite activity currently is to go watch the planes land and takeoff, waving hello and goodbye, and going "oooohhhhh" (her eyes lighting up) for the big planes. We borrowed an airplane book from the library and now that's all she want to read, and tonight she enjoyed watching a Blue Angels dvd. I, for one, find this amazing and cool, illustrating the incredible unpredictability that comes with parenting. I'm cruising along, surrounded by pink everything, commenting on how cute dresses are, and WHAM...Bekah actually develops interest in something I never expected, yes something that has always been a love of mine. I swear I didn't plan this. Well, whether a quick phase or a long-term interest, I'll cherish the image of Bekah peering through the fence and waving at all the airplanes.

Sadie

What can I say about Sadie. She has don't-mess-with-me punk rock hair. She is finally warming up to her overly loving big sis. She loves her bouncer. And each day she captures my heart just a little more. Like yesterday when she looked up at me and flashed a huge and prolonged grin, even thrashing her chubby arms in her exuberance. Or this afternoon when she nuzzled into my shoulder and fell asleep, but still half-opened her eyes every so often to make sure I was still there. She's amazing. When she learns to say "Dadda," I'm in trouble.

The Hairdo

Smokin' hot after her new do on Tuesday! I love it!

Chemo: Day 1

And so it begins. Cara got her first chemo treatment this morning, lasting just over an hour and consisting of three drugs administered through her shiny new Picc Line, like a long term IV. The good news is that she only has to endure 8 weeks of treatment instead of 12. The bad news is she had to buy one of those pill organizers since she has so many meds to keep track of, seriously one to counteract every possible side-effect.

Overall, 8 hours in, she's doing spectacular. She hasn't had any nausea, and she just feels a little sickly and tired. She has been up and around, holding Sadie a little and watching a movie, even eating a tuna sandwich a while ago. I'm amazed that she's done so well, but really, I should have expected it considering how strong she is and how many people are praying!

Time for a date!

Monday night, Cara and I actually went on a date! We went to our favorite spot--Uppercrust--and shared our favorite dish--Pasta Milano! It's unbelievable how great conversation is when you don't have 2 kids around. We saw another Grace family, who made our special night even more so by secretly picking up our bill!! And as if that were not enough, Tammy (Uppercrust Manager) then brought us out a scrumptious slice of chocolate cheesecake on the house. I seriously almost cried--what a night! Here are some pictures taken just before the big date.