Originally I was scheduled to see my doctor at Mayo on April 2nd, but the appointment has now been pushed back to the 8th. Tim, Arya, Mom and Dad, and I will go down the 7th for testing with consults with Dr. Banck and the oncology surgeon on the 8th. I will have just completed round 11. With any luck, the lesions will have continued to shrink, are either gone or operable.
Arya is growing up so fast. You would never know that she was 8 weeks early. She is so healthy and strong. Currently she is rolling around, standing with assistance, eating level 2 foods and loving her walker. She hasn't quite got the hang of it yet, but she's getting there. She is quite the jabber-jaws, making more and more sounds daily. She must be my kid, right? She has been teething, so crankier than usual, but overall she is such a happy girl. Her two bottom front teeth finally broke through, making her even more adorable. I know I need her as much as she needs me at this age. She's an angel.
Winter in ND has been bearable. The first part of the season was uncharacteristically frigid, but now we are enjoying a nice slow spring melt, which for anyone who knows the area, knows the high potential for spring flooding. Tim made it through his first winter with flying colors, largely in part to the snowmobiling.
Tim is doing great at his new job. He really likes the work and the people. It has been a big transition from the type of work at the radar center he was previously at, in comparison to the ground and approach control he is doing now.
The biggest event of the winter was the birth of our next little angel. My sister Alayna gave birth to our niece Leighton Eldora Brudevold on February 20th at 12:45pm. Weighing in at 8 lbs, 12 oz, and measuring in at 20 3/4 inches long, she is a healthy, beautiful little girl. Her brother Corbin is in love, and Mommy and Daddy are getting "some" sleep. I was able to be in the room when she arrived, as I was with her brother. It is life's biggest miracle, and I was blessed to be a part of it. For anyone wondering, Eldora was my maternal grandmother's name. Arya "Joyce" is named after my paternal grandmother. So... we have a new generation of Eldora and Joyce.
Everyday, I hear new stories of individuals I love or who my loved ones love that have been diagnosed with cancer. My heart goes out to you and your families. I will keep you in my prayers, but please always have hope.
I'll write again after our Mayo appointment.
