I will ORGANIZE my family

Today on this super rainy day I decided if I was going in my safe place I might as well find a closet that needed organizing. I headed up to the middle boys room (not our safe place but I had the weather radio playing thanks to a very nervous Dillan). I've been way behind on removing outgrown clothing so I started pulling everything on Ethan's side he no longer can fit into...oh my word we are clothing gluttons! This is JUST Ethan's outgrown clothing!!!! I will be selling some and donating the rest but seriously who snuck into my house and hid all these clothes?!? I guess I better go get started on Dillan's side...Lord knows how much bigger the pile may become! If I haven't been heard from in a few days somebody please send in a search team!!

Our First St Jude's Check-up

A little over a week ago we traveled to St Jude Children's Hospital for our first of many check-ups. The first year after discovering Dillan's brain tumor and subsequent cancer diagnosis will consist of check-ups every three months. (in the second year it could be moved to every four months) This check-up went well. Dillan's MRI showed no growth of the "rind" left on his brain stem and nothing changed in the outer areas of concern (there are areas surrounding where the tumor was removed that may be left over tumor cells or scar tissue-not sure at this point). Dillan had an eye exam and everything was ok, however, his examiner did let me know afterwards we shouldn't bother going to 3D movies right now. I thought that was an interesting side effect. Our second night there Dillan really wanted to go to Hard Rock and eat so Gammy, Dillan and I made our way to the trolly and headed there. The city of Memphis is so kind to St Jude's patients. We rode the trolly for free for our little outing since we did not have a vehicle (we were blessed with kind friends who provided us with airplane tickets). The staff at Hard Rock is super nice! Dillan could pick any table he'd like and get on stage to take a picture plus our sweet server gave us hot fudge sundaes! (I had to ask for a manager to report their kindness) Overall we had a good check-up. I still am unnerved when I see the original scans showing his tumor. This time Dr Wright, who is an exceptional doctor, showed me a scan of the original tumor completely pushing his brain aside and compressing it to a sliver. The only way I can think of to describe the way it looked is an orange-the tumor is the meat of the orange and his brain was so compressed and pushed out of the way it looked like the orange peel or skin. It is amazing he was not having symptoms! God is amazing is all I can think or say.

Dillan did not enjoy getting his eyes dilated at all and thought I knew it was coming and didn't warn him...

Good times at the Hard Rock in Memphis

We will return in April for our next check-up.

Enjoying my Goals/Resolutions

I'm not perfect (I know this might come as a shock to some of you, LOL). I made my resolutions or list of goals and am excited to be working on them. So far I have started a new book (The Choice by Nicholas Sparks) and this morning I completed a P90X cardio workout with Tim (I seriously thought I was about to DIE). I found a a training guide to prepare for the marathon I want to run (six months of training, really?) and I plan to start it in the next week or so (Dillan and I head to St Jude's next week). I reorganized one of our cabinets in the kitchen (it's amazing how many plastic cups you can accumulate). Here's a Before

and After

I've been working harder to make sure I spend time with God every day. One day at a time is what keeps me going each day.

New Years Resolutions 2012

I made myself an extensive list and thought I'd be more likely to stick with these resolutions or goals if I posted them in a public way. I'll have cyber accountability. I think I like the concept of looking at each of these as a goal so I can rise to the occasion rather than beat myself up when I break my resolutions. We shall see.

1. Better relationship with God (He has blessed us with so much)
2. Exercise regularly and prepare for St Jude's marathon December 2012 (I will celebrate my 40th birthday this year and need to be in better shape)
3. Pay off debt (Shame on me for spending TOO much)
4. Be more organized (I'm thinking of making small goals to accomplish this)
5. No more naughty words (I am a flawed human)
6. Read at least one book a month
7. Have "Date Night" once a month at least (Tim and I rarely get to do something alone but we truly need to try)
8. Learn to hem (I don't have a clue but Tim does)
9. Yell less (I'm thinking of investing in a megaphone)
10. Take the kids to museums and musical events (I loved going to hear the symphony in the park)