Quick update...

Hello all! I'm sorry that it has been so long since I posted but in the meantime we were desperately trying to live normal lives and despite my quarantine at home, I have managed to not have a moment's free time! What is up with that??

Today it is back under the needle for more drugs and more time stretched out in bed wondering if there is anything that I can eat that won't make me want to hurl. I took a gift card from my crazy brother & sister-in-law and stocked up on more magazines (yes, mainly food ones... I guess that I just enjoy the torture!) to get me through the long days of not feeling like doing... anything.

I know that my high school girlfriends and local family are getting together in Lancaster tonight to pray (as they do around each chemo session) and those prayers mean sooooo much to all of us. (each of your prayers do! I know that sometimes it feels simplistic or unrealistic to "just pray" but I'm here to tell you that your prayers make a vast difference in our lives each day.) Thank you, thank you, thank you girls!!! Right now, could you pray for a tap on my sink that dispenses hot and sour soup?? ha ha...

If you are at home and wondering, "how exactly can I be praying?"... let me help you out. Parker... oh Parker. More struggling with school (crying, not wanting to go, etc. etc.), more behavioral issues at home (crying & screaming about petty little things, falling to pieces because he got clothes from some of Grandma's travels, etc. etc.), and just struggling along a little in general. In many ways it is very endearing, not many hours go by between him pausing whatever he is doing to say, "I just love you, Mommy" and in many others it is infuriating. Please pray for him and for our handling of the situations that arise! And then there is Dryden... overall, Dryden is doing great. However, he is having some difficulty with reading. This is an issue that I never envisioned given his love of books and really, his love of school. However, it is keeping me awake at night and I am feeling like I am not available to help him as much as I think that he needs. Please just keep that whole issue before the Lord.

Oh yeah, our little Neely turned TWO last week! (hence the photo...) She is so full of life and WORDS. We had a little family party here at home. She loved every minute of it. It was very telling that her favorite gift was a big plastic teapot full of dishes (that was a hand-me-down... thanks Kelly for making me look like the best parent in the world!). It doesn't take much... but she did get some other wonderful housewares that will go very nicely with the kitchen that we have planned for her for Christmas.

Today is flu shot day for the boys (sorry Audrey... it just happened to fall that way and I didn't want to put it off for another week in fear that they would run out of vaccine again). Parker will scrunch up his face and not shed a tear. Dryden has been obsessing about it for the few days that he has known and even attempted to pinch his arm really hard in order to get it ready for the moment of impact. ugh!!!! Let's hope that they survive it...

Ok, Neely is making an absolute ruckus in her crib and I still need to shower before I extract her... Dryden & Parker are in love with their dot-to-dot books from Grammy and are completely engrossed so I need to run along and get myself ready for a day that I dread. Not sure when I'll have the gumption to get back at you all... probably Saturday or Sunday. Thank you for all of your care, concern and prayers.