It has been a year since I blogged...

And Oh what a year!  At first I thought that I would abandon blogging all together, instead I decided that I would lower my expectations by blogging when I could.  Scott and I learned so much in our first year of marriage.  We have now made it to a new place in the journey and feel so grateful for the experiences which have forced us to communicate, relate and compromise.  I think some couples don't learn lessons as this for years down the road.

I am glad to say that all four of our parents have made it to a stable place in their illness.  Nikki's mom and dad are both in remission and feeling great.  Scott's mom is still in treatment, but her cancer markers have remained low and stable.  Scott's dad has made it through triple bypass and several infections.  He has days of pain, but has a great attitude and is becoming more and more independent.  We are thankful for God's work in this area.

The "C" word, Cancer, has evoked many emotions for us, from anger to fight, we have felt it all.  In July 2010 I started have extreme abdominal pain, which they thought was my appendix.  In August they finally decided to remove the appendix, and found no infection, but did find a cancerous mass attached to both the appendix and the colon.  Two weeks later, I was still uncomfortable, but it was quickly diagnosed as 7 weeks pregnant!!

Failing to make sense of it all, we moved forward with how to treat the cancer and have a healthy baby.  The Lord put people in our path with compassion, including my job and our church, family and friends.  We made the decision to wait on chemo, allowing the baby to grow without such a risk to her.  I go to the doctor weekly (sometimes twice) to monitor the cancer, gestational diabetes and low immune system.

The baby is now a 2.5 lb girl, Rylee Nicole, who is growing without any problems!  She loves to kick and turn but is losing room as we head into the third trimester.  Scott and I could not be more excited!  It is the most amazing and difficult thing I've ever dealt with because it is so hard listening to the doctors about my health, knowing that God is growing in me a unexpected miracle.

We are planning on having Rylee as naturally as possible, hoping she will comes when she is ready.  We do know that the risk exists that we may have to induce early but I already have my hospital bag packed and birth plan ready (I know, I am thorough/anal/etc.)  Depending on where my cancer count stands postpartum, we will decide on chemo or as I am praying--the cancer will be gone!

Scott has been a miracle.  He supports me and even cleans when I don't feel good.  I am blessed beyond reason to have him...