Friday, June 20, 2008

An Amazing Woman

I hope Shelli doesn't mind me doing this but wanted to do a post for her to let her know how amazing she is. Make sure you click on the link to see the makeover.

This morning I was watching the Today Show. The segment Ambush Makeover came on and I recognized one of the ladies getting the makeover. It happened to be a good friend of mine who I think is the most deserving person in the whole world. Here is the story of how I know her and how we became friends.

At the beginning of this year an announcement was sent out at church for a family that needed a mother type figure to help with 4 young kids who's mother was undergoing chemo therapy for stage 4 colon cancer. When I got this email I quickly went on to the next one, but didn't delete it, because I was already tending 3 other kids 2 days a week. Later that night I was checking my email again and reread that email for help with the 4 kids. I don't know what made me reread that email but the 2nd time I read it it kind of tugged on my heart strings. For those of you that don't know, a year before my mom died she battled lymphoma which is a type of cancer found in her intestines. So, not only did I have a mother that had cancer and was there for most of her chemo treatments, I was a mother of a young child about the same age as this woman's youngest. As I sat there looking at the computer screen, I contemplated back and forth making the call. I asked myself if I could do it with my schedule and also take care of Elley. I had the feeling to call to see if it would work out for both of us.

That night I talked to this lady's husband John and we arranged for the next day to meet at their house. This was the first time I met the AMAZING woman named Shelli. To make a long story short she was diagnosed at the age of 30 with stage 4 colon cancer. She has had 2 operations and 12 rounds of chemo and starts radiation in a few weeks. They asked me if I would help at times with the kids while Shelli had her sick weeks. I fell in love with the kids and love every minute I had to spend with them. And Shelli has been such an example to me for the past 6 months of not letting "life" get the best of you. She always has a smile on her face and is just the sweetest woman you will ever meet. We have become great friends! She has survived cancer!!!! She has survived for herself, her husband, her kids, her family....she is a fighter!!

I thought I was just helping out a stranger but really I was making new friends. Thank you Shelli for your example, determination, and your strong faith in your Heavenly Father.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

20 weeks pregnant

Here I am 20 weeks pregnant. You know how you always hate looking at pictures of yourself? Well, I think its 10 times worse when you're pregnant...but just for fun I thought I would post a picture of 20 weeks.......yea, half way there!

Baby #2

Okay, so here is baby #2!!!! This is the 20 week scan and everything looks great...at least thats what the doctor says. I think after the ultrasound today it made things a little more real to me, something about seeing the baby and watching the baby move around puts thing into perspective. I'm just happy there is a healthy baby in there. We did not find out the sex of the baby though...what a surprise that will be!!! We found out the sex of the baby with Elley and thought it would be fun not to this time around. I will say though, that it was more Adam's idea than mine. Even this morning I asked if he had changed his mind and he said no. Well, no turning back now....I guess we'll just have to wait until Nov. 4th......or whenever he or she decides to make an entrance into the world.