Updates...

First the bad... My mom has been to the hospital three times this week for tests. It is just all routine things which you must have before starting chemo and radiation. Just the same, most have been uncomfortable if not painful. It makes me so mad that she has to endure all of this. I do believe the Lord had this in His plans for her and she will be stronger in the end because of it. He will get us all through this, but it's part of the acceptance process to feel angry and I guess I'm there now. I do pray for strength as Monday I'll start going with Mom to her treatments each day at 3:00pm. She was told to bring someone with her in case she feels sick afterward. I don't mind being there for her as I told her to think back to ALL the times she sat in the doctors' offices with me growing up. It will be hard seeing my mom feel weak and maybe sick. We'll get through this and by Christmas, she'll be well on her way back to full health!!!
Now the good... We have a tooth! Well, it's just a small white line in Philip's bottom gum, but it's confirmation that there are teeth in that munchkin head. He's had a beautiful toothless grin for 8 months (or as long as he's been able to smile), but teeth mean being able to eat normal food one day with the rest of us. No more B.B.F.F.!

Girls' Night In

Last night, I kicked out my boys, Matthew and Philip, to have a sleepover for my 9th Grade Girls Sunday School class. It was a lot of fun as we watched movies, ate cookies and chips, and talked about things going on in their lives. A friend told me I was brave having teenage girls spend the night, but it was actually quite a relaxing evening for all of us. Teenagers are so busy these days with school, sports, jobs and friends. I wasn't sure if they would want to hang out with me and Stacie, my co-teacher, on a Friday night, but eight girls showed up! I was trying to gear myself up to stay up all night, but surprisingly, half of the girls were asleep by midnight. I stayed up talking with the others until just after 2 am. Around 9 am, they started waking up. People say teenagers need a lot of sleep and I was proof to that this morning. They are each such sweet girls and it was a privilege to get to know them a little better.

Philip's "Girlfriend"

Philip now has an unofficial girlfriend. Her name is Emma and she's just a few weeks younger than him. Actually Emma is just the baby of a friend of mine but I joke that they are betrothed already. Emma's mom, Jo Ellen, is a new friend of mine whom I met in Bible study last year. We actually met while both very pregnant. It's great having someone right there with you trying to figure out day-to-day mom stuff plus with Jo Ellen being a nurse, she has a little extra insight. Jo Ellen, thank you!! Philip's cousin Hannah (to see how super cute she is, click on Lori's blog link) is three months older so Lori is able to give me a forecast of what's to come. That can be good and bad as somedays I wonder if Philip will ever progress to what Hannah is doing these days. No need to rush him. He'll only be little once!!

A Day in the Park

Yesterday the sky was beautiful and blue so we thought it would make for a wonderful first day at the park for Philip. I thought it was starting to feel cooler being mid-September until we got out of the car. It was probably 90+ degrees but we had brought water bottles and only planned to stay for about an hour. First we headed to the swings. Philip had a ball and did not seem scared one bit. He just laughed as Daddy pushed him. He might just be our little daredevil. Next was a baby slide. Not too impressed with this but Philip was distracted by all the noises of the other kids running around. We decided to leave the playground area to walk around the pond. Philip loves to look around at everything going past him in the stroller. He's very observant for his age. I love to watch him looking at different things which he is seeing for the first time. There was a bubbling fountain in the middle of the pond that held his interest for several seconds. It made for a very sweet photo. Philip is not as fortunate as his cousin Hannah who's park is within walking distance of her house. However, we'll go back to our park plenty of times. Once Philip is a little older, we'll definitely have to ride the minature train!!

Our Control or God's

Since entering this battle of cancer with my mom, my refuge has been in knowing we are each held gently and lovingly in the hand of God. He had our days counted even before the creation of the world. Some may see this as weak, but what could be more comforting than knowing Jesus is walking along side me through every trial in life. I've recently started watching a show about women facing life issues who come to live in a house together and work through exercises with psychologists ("Life Coaches"). I think it appeals to me as a woman because women want to be there for each other and learn from each other along the way. There have been small nuggets of truth in it (we are all important and we all need love), however it makes me sad when the women are told that they can get through their issues all on their own if they just try hard enough and continue to work at it. The show ended today with one of the Life Coaches saying, "What are you willing to risk to gain complete control of your life?" That one sentence is where our world has gone considerably wrong and that show is a mini-version of the world and all the struggles people are going through. Everyone is striving to do what makes them happy. They have lost contact with the fact that God put us here to bring glory to Him and not simply please ourselves.
"I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands." Psalm 63:2-4

Thank You Lord!

My mom had an ultrasound today so the doctor could have a closer look at the cancerous tumor in her colon. Due to the prayers of many friends and family and definitely God's mercy, the cancer was not in her lymph nodes nor anywhere outside her colon. The doctor feels confident that with radiation, small doses of chemo and surgery, she will be on the road to recovery by Christmas! That will be the only present I need this year. Philip is thrilled about his Nana's good news too. Just look at that face. After telling my sister-in-law that Philip was not doing so well in the rolling over dept., I had to let him show off for himself. I would love to watch him crawl around the house, but he LOVES to be on his feet! His only problem will be learning to get on them by himself.

Newborn No More

Philip is only 7 1/2 months old which sounds young compared to most people. However, I am understanding firsthand what everyone means when they say kids grow so fast. I finally went through his dresser and closet to pack away his 0-3 month things. Hard to imagine those were even too big when he came home from the hospital! I was scared to death of him when the doctor placed him on my chest. Nowadays, you might find me trying to carry him, some clothes and a ferret or two all while looking for the phone! Here are a few photos of him trying on a baby hat. So cute.

Not Always Sunny

While we all love sunny days, we all also know the rain will come sooner or later. I didn't post anything over the weekend because the only thing going on was not something for someone to find out on a blog. Now all our family and friends have heard that my mom has colon cancer. It's something I actually can't really even grasp yet. I don't know what lies ahead. We are all believing and holding to the truth that Jesus can perform a miracle in her body. Whether or not it's immediate or through the life-giving surgeries and treatments now available, we'll see. Hopefully Philip will doing something extra silly tomorrow to make for a "sunnier" blog post next time. If you know the Lord, please lift her up in prayer for strength in whatever she has to go through.

B.B.F.F.

Our biggest milestone with Philip these last few weeks has been eating solid food. Kind of misleading as all his food is pudding-consistency! Anyway, I decided to try to make his food myself. Now that I'm staying at home, I try to save money anyway I can (Matthew might disagree!) so I bought a book called Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. It decribes how to turn almost any fruit, vegetable, grain or meat into baby food and at which age to introduce which foods to your baby. Making the baby food is a little bit time consuming, but we are saving some money and a lot of pantry space!! The best part is that Matthew and I try to make Philip's food together in the evenings once Munchkin is in bed. Matthew named our process B.B.F.F. (Brooks Baby Food Factory)! It's a great time which we spend together chatting about stuff and honestly just getting away from the television (which is a rarity in our house). Philip's latest dish is something I really wasn't sure if he would like... asparagus!! You can see in the photo that after peeling the stalks, steaming them, pureeing in the blender and straining, we spoon the yummy green pudding into ice cube trays. They freeze overnight and the next day, I pop them out and into freezer bags from which his meals come! Today's lunch menu: asparagus (a little yucky by itself) mixed with sweet potatoes. Philip ate it up!

Labor Day Weekend

This weekend was a really great one. Friday night, we decided to take Philip to his first high school football game. We weren't sure if he would get sleepy and fall asleep or get sleepy and start fussing. He chose option C: stay awake and enjoy the whole game! He was so funny. He loves to just scream out in joy which he did many times much to the enjoyment of those sitting around us. A friend who has a daughter Philip's age was saying just how much of a ministry babies can be. I love seeing strangers in the store just light up after looking at Philip. In only 7 months, I know God has used Philip many, many times to bring joy to those around him. Saturday, Matthew and I went on a wonderful date (movie, dinner, mall shopping, and dessert) while Philip and Grandma (Ruth Ann) had their own date. It was a great day!

My Very Own Blog!

At first, I only thought wild, artsy-type people created blogs because that's what I found while browsing through some random websites. However, my very creative sister-in-law Lori created her own blog and helped me to see just how fun a blog can be! Welcome to "Sunny Side Up". While in college, the school paper ran an ad for a guest columnist. I never sent a submission in and have regretted it since. How fun to publish my own thoughts for others to read... my chance finally arrived! Most of the news on tv and in the paper is down-right discouraging. My college column would have been entitled "Sunny Side Up" because that is how I try to see the world. Sounds cheesy I know, but one of my spiritual gifts is encouragement so it fits! Have fun reading.