Good grief! How about that weather this long, holiday weekend?! You're welcome ;) It was like God let me dial up the weather as I turned another year older and wiser - the big 3-5. Thank God! 34 needed to go. Get. Scram. Peace out. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. It was a near perfect day spent with the people that matter most to me, my family. I woke up Sunday morning to my Blake running into our room so excited to let me know "Daddy went to the store to buy sprinkles for your cake, mommy!! We are going to make your cake but it's a surprise!!" Ha! My husband and kids made me my birthday cake. Yellow cake out of a box, chocolate frosting and LOADS of sprinkles. You could say it was a "want some cake with those sprinkles?" kinda cake. That's my fave. Don't try to impress me with those overpriced bakery cakes. My day only got better from there. I couldn't stop thanking the good Lord up above for another year. I found myself quite emotional at times. My family and I were gathered around the bonfire as they sang to me and I made my wish as I blew out the candles. Glad it was dark out... my eyes welled up with tears... for I think it's pretty obvious what my wish was this year.
Which brings me to my disease update. Ewwww. Disease.
My levels remain low and are maintaining low. While he would like to see them come up a bit he says things are "looking good." The results from my gene study last month show the percentage of leukemia cells in my blood went up slightly (ultimate goal is for this to be 0%. NOT GOING UP!!!) This could be from being off treatment for a while after the levels bottomed out or my body just hating Gleevec (my chemo). If, when I go back next month, it goes up again, we will change to a whole new chemo treatment. The world of medicine. An emotional roller coaster. For as far as "they" have come with all this stuff sometimes I just want to scream, "FIGURE IT OUT!!!!!"
Our two darlings are a great distraction from the frustrating, emotional, scary, and unknown roller coaster I'm on. Like when Kendall Kay sticks her hands down her pull up to let me know she pooped. Like when Blake David makes me listen to the "Bucket Truck" song on YouTube 87 times before 8AM (search it. Its quite catchy). Like when Kendall comes walking out of her room in her high heels, cross body purse, and necklace on and invites me into her room for a tea party. Like when Blake asks me to play baseball and rips one back at me nailing me in the chest. Some days are long but I wouldn't trade being able to stay home with them for anything. For they give me the drive to fight on.
September is Blood Cancer Awareness month. While I don't feel its anything to celebrate or make a big deal out of, (why give the "C" word more attention that it already gets???) I do ask of one thing from all of you between the ages of 18 - 60. GET SWABBED. That's it. The most simple act of swabbing the inside of your cheek gets you entered into the bone marrow donor database. If you have done this within the past 10 years, thank you! Make sure your info is up to date so they can contact you if needed. Could you imagine getting the call that you are a match and have the potential to give someone a new life? A new birthday? Wow. I will even include the link for you! click here!!!!!! This is the least I can do. We need to wipe out blood cancer.
Actually, we need to wipe out ALL cancer.
With my birthday, always comes the unofficial end of summer. I don't know about you but I'm welcoming fall with open arms. I think I'll have a piece of leftover birthday cake before bed. And about that wish... What do you say, God? As always, thanks for praying and keeping tabs.
Love,
Rhonda Kay
XOXO
