The latest in the shot saga...

In April I had no pain at all. But this past week I've had the worst pain yet, for the longest period of time...five days this time. After having no pain in April, though, I thought I'd wait to see if I had pain in May before I got the shot of Methotrexate. Thankfully I had someone tell me their experience with it and heard of a couple of others who have taken it and they had all been fine with no side effects or problems to speak of. That really calmed my mind, and I was able to be ready to get mentally ready for getting the shot if needed.

The timing of everything around this week was really interesting. I can't see it as anything other than God watching out for me and others, and divinely appointing all of the details...

So, this last week was "the week of pain." Also, Wade came down with a bad cough and fever and the Dr. thinks it's walking Pneumonia so we had a very sad, sick little boy on antibiotics to take care of this week. I was able to get through the first 2 days of pain with the kids but the pain intensified and by Wednesday afternoon I had to call Jim to see if he could come home early. I was in severe pain, in tears, desperate for help. He had a big presentation so thought he couldn't make it until after that, a couple of hours later. But it turned out that one of his coworkers overheard me on the phone and told Jim he'd better get home, and that he and the others would make the presentation for him. He got home after I had gotten the kids down for nap/quiet time and I went right to bed.

Earlier in the morning I had called my mom and she had offered to call the Dr. to see what blood tests, etc. needed to be done to get the ball rolling for the shot. A little while after Jim got home, my pain went away (!) and then right after that the nurse called and said they could get me in for the shot that afternoon in the next hour!

So we hustled everyone into the car, and drove down there. The infusion center had a really nice, caring staff, and had a great patio with a snack bar for Jim and the kids. The boys enjoyed running around and getting treats...it had been a hard week for them, with me sometimes not even able to get up to help them or even talk at times, and certainly not able to do anything extra or creative!

I was in the room for a while getting the shot, and as Jim was getting a second round of snacks for everyone, a lady came up to the snack bar at the same time and said, "I know you! You were fishing next to us last fall with your boys! In fact, we were just talking about you guys as we were fishing last week. We were remembering how your boys would yell, 'congratulations!!' every time someone caught a fish!"

Jim totally remembered them, too, and had had a great conversation with them. Her husband was there for chemo treatments, and this lady asked a few times if she could take Garrett and Wyatt over to see him...he loves chatting with them. So they did, and they had a good time talking to Bill, and at one point Garrett got going on explaining how an engine works (in vivid detail from his car books) and they just loved it. It turns out that Bill was a mechanic and so he loved hearing all the details. I saw them for just a minute as we left, and he told me, "I'll be praying for you. God bless you!" and I was able to say the same thing to him. What an encouragement.

This "chance" meeting really was amazing, and we just had this confirmation that we were supposed to be there that day with those people, and it gave me a lot of peace about the shot and everything I've been going through. I reminds me again that God is in control, and he knows exactly what is going on, and he CARES. I know that I won't always understand why things happen in this world, but I know I can always rest in His care and provision even in the midst of hard times. Hard times don't mean He doesn't care...in fact, He is so good to use those hard times to turn things around for good for those who love Him! I've seen it with Crohn's and the diet and helping others find health, through moving away and being pushed to grow even more in Him and finding joy in resting in Him even when I don't understand, in Post Partum Depression and coming out of it knowing that no matter what I face I can rest in His provision, and see it yet again in this circumstance.

I think it was amazing that the pain went away just in time for me to get down there to get the shot! I thought it was gone, but it turned out to return again really strong in the middle of the night and then I couldn't get out of bed all morning so Jim stayed home Thursday. Cousin David came that night to stay with us while he taught a class in Denver. It was so nice to have him! I was able to make it through Friday with almost no pain and then it returned in the afternoon so Jim came home a little early again and I stayed in bed all afternoon and evening. Saturday it was gone! :) So we had a nice time at the Butterfly Pavilion and getting pizza.

The Methotrexate should work within 2 weeks, and I'm really glad that I'll be able to go to the follow-up appointment with my mom when she and dad are visiting at the beginning of June. June 3rd we'll find out by ultrasound if the mass was dissolved by the shot, and if not we'll have to consider surgery. I'm thinking I can't deal with this pain much longer; it throws the whole family off to have me down like this. So, we'll talk about whether I'll need a hysterectomy if that's a safer surgery than trying to remove the mass in a dangerous location. It's a big deal, but we have to do something pretty soon because I dread the "week of pain" every month now, and it's hard to have it affect everyone. Praying for wisdom and peace while we wait...

Wade's Big Day - 2!!

Last Friday we celebrated Wade's 2nd Birthday! He definitely KNEW it was HIS special day...he was excited and bouncing around about every fun thing we did...it was so cute!

The day before his birthday we were at the store buying cake things and Wyatt said wistfully, "I'm going to miss the cuteness of Wade as a baby." Awww...

The night before, Garrett and Wyatt and I put streamers in front of his door.

 

We all came in to get him up and sang happy birthday!

 

He loved walking through the streamers and pulling them down.

 

Holding up 2 fingers...

 

He enjoyed perusing a train book, and got to choose a special video (he chose Mickey Mouse) while I got everything ready for his 2 year old pictures at Target.

 

As I came downstairs, I saw him pushing a trash truck toy importantly around the house with these sunglasses on upside down. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I a big man!"

 

At Target, with a little time to kill, Garrett gave Wade his seat so Wade could sit in the special big kid spot that Wade really wanted to sit in.

 

We got our pictures done and headed over to Chic fil A for a little in the car lunch.

 

Then by Wade's request, we got a dessert doughnut at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts....

 

Mmmmm...can't talk, must eat.

 

Garrett and Wyatt put streamers on the fan.

 

Wade was excited to hold 2 candles and helped me stir his cake, while Garrett and Wyatt also helped.

 

Doing some water coloring...Wade insisted that he do get to paint too!

 

And then Smashburger for dinner! Wade made some nice drawings while we waited for food. He is very specific about what he draws and even drew something that looked like butterfly wings that he called a butterfly. He likes to draw for a long time, with good concentration!

 

Cake time with an animal theme. Wade LOVES stuffed animals, and even "gives" them food and water, and always needs them to be with him in his crib and talks to them occasionally. For his picture at Target, we took them with his beloved Kitty.

 

And a Twilight Turtle for his gift. He was very happy to get one as G & W have Twilight Ladybugs.

 

Happy birthday, sweet Wade! We're so happy God gave you to our family!

 

Here is a video of cake and singing time. Wade is very interested in the candles, but is not sure about them...you'll hear him saying they're "not scary" several times. ;-)

 

Christmas - Ok, let's get 'er done...

Ok! The last installment of pictures...

Here was Cox Christmas for the last time at Grandma Cox's house in Redondo. As I look at this picture, I see Aunt Mary who is now home with Jesus after a courageous two-year battle with pancreatic cancer...she is greatly missed already!

 

 

Uncle Brian lifted Garrett up, noting how solid he is.

 

Sweet GG with Lars and Oliver...she has her hands full in more ways than one these days!

 

 It was nice to see the great-grands together...SO many boys!

It was really special to watch a few old movies of the 4 Cox boys growing up in that very house.

 



 

Lots of boys...and that's not all of them!

 

Playing with Great-Gran's mail slot is highly entertaining.

 

And......moving on.......Wyatt was sick so Grandpa stayed with him while the rest of us walked over to see Phil and Abby's house. They apparently had fun playing with Garrett's light kit, lighting candles, and what not...

 

Wyatt was so tired he crashed in the middle of the fun with Grandpa.

 

...Another fun beach day! It was a little chilly, but so nice to soak up some sun at Newport Beach. When we had been back home for a few weeks, Wade brought his Crocks to me and said, "Go to the beach." He has good taste in activities!

 

...Gretchen was really sick, so I took Ollie for a couple of hours and gave him a nice bath in the kitchen sink and just enjoyed being his Auntie and letting the boys play with her boys. It was really nice to have them right across the driveway!

 

We went to Disneyland and it was so fun to have mom come along! It turned out that they gave her a free ticket when we got there because there was some mix-up about her annual pass!

 

On the tram, excited and ready to enjoy!

 

I'll put this one in for comic relief...remind me not to take a picture out in front of Disneyland in the bright sun again...we did this last time too and it was miserable for everyone! ;-)

 

It was CROWDED. Also remind me not to go right after Christmas again. ;-) Lots of lines and some gridlock in the  middle of New Orleans Square. But fun memories too.

The boys love the movie Dumbo, so it was a highlight to get to go on the ride!

 

Wyatt flew our elephant expertly.

 

It was fun to treat them with a huge lollipop.

 

So nice to have mom with us.

 

What is a Disneyland trip without a good solid nap in the middle of the day in the stroller?

My 3 cuties.

We rode the train around a couple of times just to get out of the crowds and rest our feet.

 

As we got off of the train, we were just in time to get a great spot where we could enjoy the parade!

While waiting for Jim and the boys, Wade enjoyed working on the stroller straps.

 

Me and my love...at Disneyland again! Lots of dates and good memories here together.

 

When we realized we couldn't get out of the park until the fireworks were done because of the crowds and the castle being blocked off, we broke down and got the boys light necklaces and enjoyed the fireworks! A memorable day together.

 

The boys loved Gma & Gpa's mail slot too.

Mom and Dad had to leave a little early for a trip to the desert, so we went out to In n Out together and said goodbye there. Bitter sweet. We had such a great time together!

 



 

Back home, Anders was really sick so we had to relegate play to between the fence. It was still fun though. We just wished the boys could have played more together!

 

At a hotel in Grand Junction...we stayed there for the night so we'd be fresh for the icy trip over the mountain. The boys were WILD! They had a lot of pent up energy from being in the car that long!

 

Settling down for dinner.

 

Ready to go in the morning!