Still going Strong!

Hello Everyone!

I have had a bunch of emails asking me how I am.  I have been quiet for a little while because I think I'm trying to digest all that life has to offer right now.  I don't know if you know that my Dad passed away on January 28.  That was crazy on its own.  He was living with us for several months and after my first round of chemo I told him to go home for the weekend and take a break.  The next day he passed away suddenly. 

This has been a hard year for us and yesterday was really hard (Father's Day) but I decided to spend the day enjoying my family and thanking God for my husband and sweet kids.  I didn't want to be depressed and lose the day I do have with people who I love and are here with. 

I'm tired a lot but it has become my new normal so I just keep going.  Some days are better then others.  I sort of feel ready to go back to work but know that I need to stay home and get some extra sleep so I can keep up with my kids during the day.  They certainly keep me busy!!

On a good note I have hair!  Not much but enough to get bed head!!!  Corey's health is good.  No more trips to the E.R. and thinking he is going to die!  His heart is good and we now know his small heart attack was stress induced so we are working on keeping the stress down.

I have 4 weeks left of chemo!! Yea!!  and my sweet friend's MIL gave us a few days stay at their BnB in the Hill Country. Corey and I will cram a few days with the kids and then have a night to ourselves for our anniversary.  We will be married 8 years on July 24.  I start radiation that week.  It will be daily and last 6 weeks.  From there I will have a hysterectomy.  Reconstruction will be some time next year. 

I have to say through all of this I have grown so much spiritually and mentally and have become even closer to several of my friends.  It's so nice to know that you have friends and family who will cook for you, watch your kids, clean, take you to Dr, sit with you for hours during chemo, cry with you, laugh with you, plan fundraisers, kids bday parties, bathe you, blow dry your hair, pray with you, take you to emergency surgery, and just be there for you in a drop of a hat.  Wow is all I can say.  I feel super blessed.  They have all earned an extra crown in heaven! 

God is Good!  I can say He hasn't left me alone through all of this and I don't know how I could get through all of this with out Him. 

I Ran 3 Miles!!

Some friends have asked me to post this since they aren't on facebook soo..... Here it is! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=DURErfUp-gE


Thanks for all the support!!!

Fear Not!!

So I started chemo last week and....

it was horrible!  I came home the first day and felt fine and all of a sudden my body got hot and I hurt!  I remember my mom taking me to drop off Cameron at church and I was just praying for God to give me strength to make it.  I will never forget as soon as I finished my prayer Cameron said "Mommy can we just go home so I can cuddle with you and watch a show."  I never had a prayer answered so quickly.  There was no way I could make it to drop him off. 

Day two was not much better but at least I could walk.  All I could remember was Psalm 23

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

To some that sounds scary but to me it was music.  When I first was diagnosed with cancer our Sunday school teacher (Maury Gill) taught a lesson on Psalm 23.  He pointed out that we do not run or walk fast in trials but we walk, and let me tell you these past few days have felt like a slow crawl, but I had peace in knowing Jesus was there holding my hand.  I just kept saying over and over do not fear Cecily Holm for God is with me.

During all this I receive a care package in the mail from a women that I just met.  Her name is Laura and she had breast cancer 10 years ago but she loves the Lord and had some great advice to give me the days before I started chemo.  Anyhow she sent me a bracelet that has Hebrews 13:5 inscribed in it "Never will I leave you or forsake you" 

Ok so to me it was like having front row tickets to Randy Travis or Kenny Rodgers!  I mean seriously!!!!!  Now not only was I chanting " Do not fear Cecily Holm for God is with me and He will NEVER leave me or forsake me!" and I had the bracelet to squeeze in my had. 

God is good all the time no matter what and I have to say the day I got hooked up to chemo will be forever etched in my mind but for those of you who didn't read my facebook post this is what I posted

 Jan. 18 11:03 AM Just got hooked up to my drip and opened my Beth Moore James study the opening verse is " consider it great joy my brother whenever you experience various trials knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance James 1: 2-3

It's true!  I have ran marathons which require some endurance and these past few days were harder then any marathon. I know I have many more hard days to come but today was Good!!

Keeping Busy!

A few years ago my husband and I went to Fredicksburg for our anniversary.  We found this fun sign and a few month later my husband came home with this super fun tricycle. 

This is when it all began.  We decided to redo our house.  I began painting everything and shopping at garage sales, thrift stores, Old Oak Cottage, Ellen's Timeless Treasures, and other local places.  We also had some fun things passed down to us that I wasn't displaying but loved.

Here are some photos of some fun things we found and some things I painted!  Beware there are a lot of pictures and I'm not a great photographer or designer. 

I got these fun things below from my Dad and Uncle for Christmas!!! 

I'm loving this rocker in our living room!

Below is the entry way!

The laundry room was fun!  I painted the walls and the cabinets.  My husband found this fun paper at the top and I pinned it on the wall.  I loved the idea of being able to switch out the paper easily if I wanted.

This is our office!  ignore the Ronald McDonald He was a White Elephant gift and I have friends sign it when they drop of food for me or visit me.  He didn't make it to the hospital... We forgot him...

I repainted our kitchen cabinets after surgery.  I was super board and sad I couldn't run so I painted.  My uncle helped me put on the wax.  That was the hard part for me.

That's all the pictures for now!!  Thanks for stopping by!