Porch Swing News

Long Time A'Comin'

2012-01-17T11:19:00.001-06:00

Well, hello! Did you think I had fallen off the face of the earth? I have discovered it is much easier for me to write creatively when I am in TX, without a household and family to look after! We have been so busy that I have neglected to share my updates with you.My last visit to MDAnderson was in November,just before Thanksgiving. My scans showed no new growth of the treated tumors, which is wonderful. Furthermore, no cancer cells were found in my spinal fluid, which was also fantastic news! My physicians decreased my intrathecal injections to once a week, instead of twice weekly. I still take oral chemotherapy (2 tablets per day), and have an IV treatment once every three weeks, all of which I can do within 15 minutes from home.Jeff started a new job that keeps him busier than any of us really like, but he loves what he does, and he is so good at it. The boys are busy with school. Owen is enjoying the 6th grade, while Levi and Isaac are busy learning in the third and second grade. Owen and Levi are having a great time playing rec league basketball, while Isaac and I are enjoying cheering them on without spilling any popcorn! Jeff coaches the 6th graders with his good friend John, and then assists John in coaching the third grade boys. Between two practices and two games per week, plus school, work, and chemotherapy treatments, I haven't found the time or energy to blog. So there you have it. I haven't given up on writing. I just haven't sat down to do it.I hope you are doing well. Thank you for all your continued prayers. They are felt, and their answers are noticed by my doctors, my nurses, and my fellow patients. You are a blessing to my whole family, as well.Take care, and I'll update again soon.Blessings,Leslie

Update

2011-08-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a busy and fast summer break we've had. I haven't taken time to write for a long while. To bring you up to speed, I have been taking three different types of chemotherapy. One by IV, one in the form of tablets, and one through the new fangled port in my skull. This began in April, and will continue until it is no longer effective. My doctors and I have finally gotten everything (dosages) synchronized, and for the most part I'm feeling great.

Jeff and I are heading back to Houston this weekend for more rescans next week. Mom and Dad, and Matt and Anita, are keeping the boys for us. School has started, so they're staying here instead of vacationing with us in Houston.

If you have a second, and want to pray for us, here are our needs:

*safe travels
*blessings for those who are watching our boys
*Jeff's work...he'll be taking lots of it to TX
*my tests and scans. I know that one day next week, I'll be in the MRI scanner for a continuous two hours. Pray that my nose doesn't itch and that I don't sneeze during the scan. I will have another MRI that should last about 45 minutes. (my nose always itches during this one...the MRI of the brain. You are to be motionless during the scan, and I always seem to need to sneeze)
*Peace as we get our test and scan results. We are accustomed to good results as well as bad, but your prayers would be so appreciated.

Thank you for checking in on me, or us, whatever the case may be. We know we are blessed to have so many friends who lift us in prayer.

Blessings to you all,

Leslie

1000 words...Our Summer

2011-08-09T21:19:00.000-05:00

These folks have kept me busy this summer. Here are a couple of our family pictures taken by our new friend, Karen, at Lasting Memories Photography in Republic.

I'll write more soon!

Love,

Leslie

Technical Difficulties

2011-04-18T22:31:00.000-05:00

My apologies for not updating recently. Our internet has been out. Jeff just got us a new modem, and we have yet to get it hooked up. I'm posting via wi-fi from somewhere.

Praise the Lord, we finally got treatments coordinated here. It has been an unnecessarily stressful ordeal trying to get our local oncologist to give the medicine MDA wanted. There were multiple snafus, but it was finally all worked out. Jeff handled the whole thing beautifully. I told him he's my shield. I just hid behind him and let him do all the fighting for me.

Anyway, all's well that ends well! I've had three treatments here already, and the remaing 11 are scheduled. I am pleased with the medical staff and facility where we are administering the injections. The biggest side effect that I've noticed is that I'm tired for a day or two after treatment.

Thanks so much to everyone who has brought us meals, given us money to help with gas, food or bills, helped with childcare, provided tranportation, and sent us words of encouragement. We consider ourselves abundantly blessed to have such fantastic friends.

Have a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Leslie

Wednesday's Update

2011-03-30T11:15:00.000-05:00

Just getting ready to head over to my surgeon's office and see if I can have these stitches taken out of my head. That would be sooooo nice. Tomorrow I have my 2nd treatment, and then, I hope, we are free to leave and head home! We are ready to be back in Missouri, although Jeff reminds me daily, we will miss the Final Four if we head back before Friday. Oh well, such is life.

My first treatment went very well. It's not an IV, but rather the doctor stands over you and v...e...r...y...slowly injects medicine into my head. It was a little creepy to have someone standing over me for 5 minutes squirting something into my head. I just shut my eyes. Even though I was laying down, I still felt a little faint. It's because I was thinking about it. Maybe next time I'll take my iPod and put in my earphones so I can think about something else.

For those inquisitive minds out there, they always draw off as much spinal fluid as the medicine they are putting in so the pressure inside my skull remains the same. Glad someone was thinking about that!

Better make hay while the sun shines. Have a wonderful day. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Blessings,
Leslie

Abrupt ending

2011-03-23T23:35:00.000-05:00

The post below has a very generic ending, and you need to know why. The medical transport folks showed up to roll me doen to nuclear medicine, and I couldnt get my iPad to save it as a draft, so I tied it up with a very sloppy bow before sliding over to another rolling bed and scooted down the hallways of the hospital. And now, I can't get back to it to correct it.

Oh well. Now you know.

In the Still of the Night

2011-03-23T13:19:00.002-05:00

Since my diagnosis in September of 2007, I dread nighttime. Not so much when all is well, but especially when I have a new diagnosis or a new treatment. When night falls, and everyone else is snug in their beds, you will often find me puttering around the house or watching TV. I just stay up until I am drop dead tired, jittery with fatigue, because i know I can go to sleep quickly.

When I stayed in Houston with my cousin, Jenny, some of our best visits were after 10pm. I probably drove her nuts, but she didn't complain. She'd fix me a cup of hot tea, and we'd discuss medical issues (she's a doctor), scripture, kiddos. It was one of my favorite times.

Now, though, it is habit to stay up way too late. I mean, I shut down the neighborhood. Not a creature stirring when my light goes out.

Quiet night time promotes vast amounts of activity in my brain. Worry and fear decide to have a footrace through my thoughts. Pictures of the day's events roll through my mind like index cards in a Rolodex.

So,when this began last night, in the quiet of my hospital room (Jeff went to our room to sleep) I decided to fight the rolodex and the footrace. I pulled out my handy dandy iPad, (thank you D & M, and J & J) on the songs I had downloaded, and let the Martin's, Phillips, Craig, and Dean, Laura Story, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Sidewalk Prophets, Chris Rice, and the Gaither Vocal Band sing my tired self to sleep. Worry and fear stopped their racing. Pictures of the day slowly stopped rolling. Scripture in song filled the room. And when I shut off the music I felt like
I wasn't alone. And I rested.

Hope you are having a great week. Looks like there's pretty weather at home.

Blessings,

Leslie

Good morning!

2011-03-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

Well, nothing says good morning quite likke a needle in the bend of your arm! Hello! I was in the lab at 6 a.m. this morning. Bloodwork done, and off to have my brain scanned at 7. Good news! I have one (a brain). Then Jeff and I grabbed some breakfast, and we are now back at the room. Going to rest for a bit before my next appointment at noon.
In case you are just catching up, when I was here last week for my regular check up, they found even more, new cancer. This time on the surface of the brain. The most effective treatment is to deliver chemotherapy directly to the brain through what is known as an Ommaya Reservoir. Google that phrase if you'd like to know more.

So that is why Jeff and I are back down here this week...to have that placed, and for the physicians here to make sure it's working right before we head home. My local hospital can administer the infusions for me. Surgery tomorrow, then stay for about a week to make sure things are going well, then homeward bound.

Thanks for your prayers and all the ways you are helping our family. We are truly blessed.

I'll write more when I know something new. Have a fantastic week.

Love,

Leslie

My apologies for the typos. Using my iPad, and cannot go back and correct for some reason.

Blessings

2011-03-03T10:09:00.000-06:00

Jesus Cares for Me

2011-02-15T09:54:00.001-06:00

"Jesus cares for me.
Seems too good to be.
All my worries and doubts released,
Jesus cares for me."

I am thoroughly enjoying our new CD of all the hymns I grew up singing. (Bart Millard of MercyMe---Hymned (1st cd) and Hymned again (2nd cd)).

Hope you are enjoying this warmer weather. Here's a short clip of Bart and Vince Gill recording this song.

Have a great week!

Blessings,
Leslie

One of my All Time Favorites

2011-02-02T16:37:00.002-06:00

The latest Update

2011-01-19T11:20:00.000-06:00

I've been home from TX since the evening of the 12th, and am just getting around to posting about my visit. We've been so busy with life, that typing a paragraph on the computer seemed to get lower and lower on my list of things to do.

As of January 10, 2011, everything remains stable or continues to shrink. I met with the neurosurgeon who does the gamma knife surgeries on the brain, and he said that I "100% do not need gamma knife surgery at this point." But, he said, if I ever do need it, now he knows me and if my oncologist calls, he'll work me right in. He also said that because of the results of the MRI, they can tell that my chemotherapy (11 pills/day) is "100% doing what it's supposed to". So much easier to swallow 11 pills when you know it's working!

And...drum roll please...I have gained another 8 pounds since December. Almost back to my starting weight. 10 lbs to go.

I had a wonderful trip down and back with my cousin Jeannie and my momma (Bootsie). On our return trip, we stayed overnight with another cousin, Cari, and got to hug her neck and love on her sweet, sweet children. It was a very enjoyable pit stop, and a very entertaining trip.

So...that's that. My oncologist also suggested that since nothing is growing, that monthly MRI's are no longer necessary, and that I can stay put until March when I'll return for a rescan. Ever been to Houston, TX in March? It's BEAUTIFUL! Everything is green and flowers are blooming. It's warm enough to sit outside and soak up the sun. Lovely, lovely. So, that will be a fantastic time for another visit.

This week, however, I am home, taking care of my 2nd child to come down with strep this month. So glad to be here. Preparing for a freeze-out, where I'll air out the house, and then disinfect everything.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. We consider ourselves abundantly blessed to have friends and family who care for us so much.

Have a great week! Blessings to you all,

Leslie

My New Favorite Christmas Song

2010-12-23T17:51:00.000-06:00

This is the song that was playing in my mind while I was having my MRI at the first of the month. Love, love, love it. Hope you enjoy it, too.

Backtracking

2010-12-09T09:51:00.000-06:00

Here are some photos of what we've been up to these past two months:

In November, my sweet baboo, Levi, turned 8. He is so much fun, and so inquisitive. He is very cautious about believing anything, and isn't easily led astray. He always wants to know the "why" to every answer, and although that's so bothersome and often untimely, I remember a little girl who was a lot like that. She turned out pretty good, so I think he's going to be alright! Sometimes he wears me out with all the questions, but he is a sweet boy. He loves to play with his brothers, and his best friend, Scott. For his birthday, he had Scott sleep over. They "camped" in the living room, and then we went out for doughnuts the next morning. Afterwards, we went to Firehouse Pottery and painted puppy dogs. What fun!

Then, later on in November, Owen killed his 2nd deer, this one bigger than last years. It is a beautiful 8 point, and we are so proud of him. I am enjoying this 11th year with him. He's still a little boy, but he's got all the makings of a fine young man. He's an impressive kid! Both he and Levi are getting ready to start rec league basketball. They love playing, and I'm glad since that is my most favorite sport!

Isaac is busy enjoying all the holiday preparations. His big interest is cutting out paper snowflakes. He's a whiz at it, and I hope my house will be covered with his creations soon. He is quite the creative engineer, as well. Check out his newest train track he constructed. He makes these all the time all by himself. What a sharp little mind. He is a huge problem solver, and is quite encouraging to anyone trying to figure something out for themselves. His newest love is the game "Traffic Jam" where you have to rearrange a parking lot to get one car out. Very challenging, and he loves it (so do his brothers).

Hope you are enjoying your holiday festivities, as well as the preparations. I am loving it!

Blessings to you and yours!

Leslie

Good Tidings of Great Joy

2010-12-06T21:32:00.000-06:00

Great report today. The spot of something new that showed up last month remains unchanged. This is a good sign and most likely means that it is scar tissue and not new cancer growth. Yeah! No gamma knife surgery for now. My doctor said he'll see me next month for another rescan. Yeah! And, weight gain is going well. I've put on 6 pounds in a month. 19 to go to get back to my fighting weight.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. God heard and answered. God is good. And so is life!

Blessings and Merry Christmas!

Leslie

Keeping you Current

2010-12-05T20:52:00.000-06:00

On our way to MDAnderson. Follow-up MRI Monday at 1:30. See the doctor at 4:30. Results will determine if I need gamma knife surgery. Traveling with Jeff, and that is always fun. Seriously! He's my favorite...no offense to my other traveling companions! Hoping for great results and a quick return trip home. I'd much rather be "Christmas-ing" it up at home. So ready for baking, wrapping, and reading Christmas stories to the kids.

Our current favorite..."the Yuletide Ice Cube Fair", a Veggie Tales story of the real meaning of Christmas. Perfect for preschoolers and elementary age. My boys love the rhyming.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. I will try to keep you updated as soon as I know more.

Love and Blessings,

Leslie

The Decision

2010-11-13T15:06:00.000-06:00

Well, the verdict of my oncologist, as of 11:00 last night, is that we will wait a month, and rescan to see if this is growing or if it is scar tissue. Don't know yet if I'll have the lumbar thing-a-ma-jig (rather not say that other painful word!) this month or when I go back for the rescan. Let's just not think about that today. How's that sound? Sounds good to me!

Jeff and Owen are out in the woods trying to bring down the big buck. I don't think you could pay me enough to go sit in the shady woods in these temps. Not now anyway. I don't have any insulation, and I'd freeze to death! Going to make a run to town in a bit. Thank heavens for my seat warmers in my van. 1st time I've ever had those. What a GREAT invention!

Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy life! Every day is a blessing.

Love,
Leslie

Still Waiting

2010-11-12T21:06:00.001-06:00

The Doctors agreed that it seems reasonable to wait a month and see if what was spotted on the MRI stays the same size or grows. I'm a bit concerned with that tactic. What if it mushrooms?! They still haven't decided completely. A large group of them agreed that I should have the gamma knife surgery and a lovely little procedure called a "lumbar puncture" to check for cancer cells in my spinal fluid. Lord have mercy! All I want to be thinking about is pumpkin pies, and turkey and dressing. Must I really have to hear the words "lumbar puncture"? Great day in the mornin'!

I'm all for a "lumbar puncture" (when it means an epidural) when I'm delivering a baby, but this sounds painful. *Deep Breath* I'll try not to worry about it until the time is here. Then I'm going to try to convince Ted Lennard to go down there and do the procedure. Hahahaha! Just kidding...but he is the doctor to have if a needle is to be stuck into your spine! Speaking from experience! (Ted is our good friend of many years, and an elder in our church, as well as an excellent physician.)

So, to set my mind on other things, I have posted one of my all time favorite songs and my all time favorite comedian. Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for the continued prayers. They are felt.

Blessings,

Leslie

Need to be Reassured?

2010-11-12T20:38:00.001-06:00

Need a Good Laugh?

2010-11-12T20:34:00.002-06:00

What's One More Day?

2010-11-11T22:10:00.000-06:00

My Dr. emailed me this evening to say he was mistaken, and that the neurosurgeons convene tomorrow to review my scans. He will email me when he hears their decision on where to go from here.

Patience. I need an infusion!

Thanks for praying!

Leslie

The Results are in...

2010-11-10T23:51:00.000-06:00

...and they are inconclusive. My MRI yesterday came back showing a new lesion on my brain. HOWEVER, the original lesions continue to decrease in size, and my blood work shows the cancer antigens continue to decline. They are still way in the normal range.

Dr. Booser said he finds it hard to believe that a new lesion would grow if the others were shrinking, and he is wondering if it is simply an MRI glitch. SO...tomorrow a panel of neurosurgeons will review my scan, and give their opinions as to whether or not it's new cancer. If so, we'll be back discussing the stereo tactic (gamma knife) surgery.

Suddenly, I feel very weary! We are on our way home, and will have to email the good Doctor tomorrow en route to find out the decision of the neurosurgeons.

I would appreciate your prayers for myself, Drs. Rhines, Chang, and Booser as well as the rest of the panel for wisdom to make the right decision.

Pray, also, that I gain some weight back. One of the many side effects of the medication I'm taking is that is causes a "loss of appetite". Translation...I have lost a bunch of weight, and need to pack it on before I freeze!

I love you all. Thanks for the kind comments...even if they are backhanded like my brother Jim's! Love you Jim!

Rest well,

Leslie

I Trust

2010-11-10T09:49:00.003-06:00

Just getting ready to call it a night. I have just returned to the hotel room after my MRI today. I am reflecting on words I have recently read in Beth Moore's book So Long Insecurity. She challenged readers to trust God. Not the "I trust you God to heal me", or "I trust you God to do what I think is best in this situation.", but simply "I trust YOU, God. Period. I trust you."

And so, tonight, as I rest my tired head on my hotel pillow, I will say those words. "I trust you, God. Regardless of the results, regardless of the way I feel, I will trust you." It's a bit harder than it seems. Saying it and meaning it versus feeling it are two very different things. See, I'd rather pray, "God, I trust you for the complete and total healing that You are already performing in my body," and I do. But do I trust Him whatever may come?

I'd like to say yes. That is the work He is perfecting in me through this round of cancer. An unwavering trust that He is taking the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the trash, and the treasure that comes my way and He is weaving it all together for my good to complete the purpose he has for my life.

David Jeremiah explained in one of his teachings that we aren't meant to understand everything that comes our way in life. We are not guaranteed a clear view of the "whole picture" while we linger here on earth. Sometimes we don't FEEL like God has our best interest at heart, and that He has somehow caused or allowed hard times to come our way. Dr. Jeremiah reminded us, though, that "we KNOW God works ALL things together for our good to those who are called according to His purpose." That is a solid promise. He then encouraged us to quit relying on our feelings. His statement, which I've quoted on Facebook already is this: "Until you feel what you should feel, know what you know."

And what do I know? That God is working, right now, everything together for my good. So whether I feel like He has my health under control is irrelevant. I can sleep-peacefully-because I know he is weaving all of this "stuff" in my life together into something beautiful that will bring glory to Him. I can face tomorrow, and all the days after that, saying "God, I trust you. Period."

One of my favorite songs right now is "Let the Waters Rise" by a group called "Mikeschair". I have no idea why they chose such a name, but that is neither here nor there. As with many issues I encounter, no one asked my opinion! Here are the words, as best as I can remember them:

Don't know where to begin

'feel like my world's caving in

And I try but I can't control my fears.

Lord, where do I go from here?

Sometimes it's so hard to pray

When You feel so far away

But I am willing to go where You want me to.
God I trust you.

There's a raging sea right in front of me

Wants to pull me in,

Drag me to my knees,

So let the waters rise, if You want them to,

I will follow you.

Lord, I'll swim in the deep

'cause You'll be next to me.

You're in the eye of the storm and the calm of the sea.

You're never out of reach.

God, You know where I've been

You were there with me then

You were faithful before,

You'll be faithful again,

I'm holding Your hand.

There's a raging sea right in front of me

Wants to pull me in,

Drag me to my knees,

So let the waters rise, if You want them to,

I will follow you.

I hope you have a wonderful week. Thank you for your continued prayers. They are heard.

Blessings to you and yours,

Leslie

Plan B

2010-11-04T08:01:00.000-05:00

My MRI and Dr. appointment have been rescheduled for the 9th and 10th in Houston. So...after a weekend of burning up I-44, I'll head south and burn up I-45! Good thing I like to travel!

Thank you for your continued prayers. Really hoping for some good scans.

Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings,
Leslie

Change of Plans

2010-11-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

Jeff's granny passed away yesterday in the early evening. I have postponed my trip to TX until later. Waiting to hear from the Dr. as to when he's got an opening. I'll write when I know more.

Funeral arrangements:

Visitation 6-8 Thursday, Nov.4.
Funeral 2pm Friday, Nov. 5
Null and Sons Funeral Home
Rolla

2010-10-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

Well, it's about time that I brought you up to speed with our family and my medical progress. This summer simply flew by, and the boys are enjoying the 2nd quarter of the school year. So far, everyone is healthy and happy, and enjoying a beautiful autumn.

On the medical front, I return to MDACC next week (11/2-11/4) for lab work and another MRI. Still checking me regularly to make sure the cancer continues to shrink. Jeff will be staying home with the boys. They are so excited to have their daddy all to themselves.

I will be traveling to Houston with my parents. We are hoping for pleasant weather and lite traffic!

Prayer Requests:

*) Safe travels to and from Houston, and no bed bugs in any hotels we stay at. That just grosses me out!

*) Peace and harmony at home while I'm away. Certain little people are getting very brave at "pushing the buttons" of other family members. You get the picture.

*) Great results on the MRI. Would love to hear, "What were we looking for? There's nothing there but healthy tissue." That would make me smile!

*) Jeff's Granny. She turned 90 this week, and is spending some time in the hospital. Mostly just to give her caregivers a much needed rest. Her health has been failing for months, and we have been told that the end is near. Pray for her comfort. Pray for Jeff. I am hoping she stays with us awhile longer. At least until I return. I don't want Jeff to have to handle kids, emotions, and all the goings on that come with a funeral without me around. I think that'd be quite stressful. Not to flatter myself as to my own importance, but I'd like to be around.

Thank you for your continued support. We so appreciate all your prayers and letters of encouragement.

Blessings,

Leslie

Silo Hill Corn Maze

2010-10-11T22:55:00.000-05:00

Enjoyed our Sunday afternoon at the corn maze. I just love this picture that our friend, Sam, took. We are really enjoying this cooler weather. I'll find time to write something of substance soon...surely!

Blessings to you and yours, and thanks for your continued prayers.

Leslie and the boys

Summary of Summer

2010-09-18T16:00:00.001-05:00

We have really enjoyed ourselves this summer...so much so that I have neglected this blog! Not that I mind...I've just had a lot of folks wondering what's up with me. So, here is a short and sweet update to bring you up to speed.

At the end of August I saw my many, many doctors at MD Anderson. Long story short, my tumors continue to shrink, my tumor markers/cancer antigens in my blood are back in the normal range, and my echocardiogram showed that my heart hasn't been damaged by continuous chemotherapy. I am to return in November for another MRI to continue monitoring the tumors, but everything looks good and we came home smiling.

We are finally getting back into the school routine. I am loving having all the boys in one building for at least one year. They are doing very well, and have adjusted well to riding the school bus this year. I've always taken them before, just because I could, but this year "pick you up at the curb" was very appealing. It may come to an end, though, as it seems like every day some youngster is puking on the ride home, and that just grosses me out!

We have enjoyed going out to Grandpa Coach and Grandma Bootsie's for a few weekends to paint fence and repair the barn. Jeff, Grandpa, and my brother Kevin even did some concrete repair work to the foundation to keep the skunks out from under the house this winter. They're sneaky little varmints! (The skunks, not the men!)

We also enjoyed a trip or two to Rolla to see Jeff's Granny and all the relatives. We even got to visit with the folks from Indiana, and that's always a treat. Carrie and Marcus have two little boys that our boys love to play with. And Jeff's cousin, Dawn, has 3 children that our boys love to play with too. Always lots of fun at Aunt Faye's house!

In closing, for an end of the summer treat, we took the boys to the Dixie Stampede. They loved it!

That about sums up what we've been doing. Throw in some allergies, a few rounds of antibiotics, and the neverending campaign the boys have launched to get a dog, and you've got yourself one busy summer break.

Hope you are all doing well. I'll try to update more frequently!

Blessings!

Leslie

My Favorite Song This Week

2010-08-31T13:36:00.000-05:00

Back to School

2010-08-18T13:05:00.000-05:00

Today marked the end of summer vacation and the beginning of another school year. The boys are really looking forward to getting back to school and their friends. I hope that enthusiasm holds out. We discussed this morning over breakfast how it's really not the end of summer. That comes in September ("21st!" Levi blurted out. Smarty pants!) Somehow that makes it okay. We can still do "summer stuff" after school and on the weekends. YEAH!

Here is a picture from this morning. They look torn up, don't they?

Have a fantastic week!

Leslie

Summertime

2010-07-30T17:25:00.002-05:00

Anybody Out There?

2010-07-30T16:38:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since I've written anything, I don't know if I'll remember how! Thank you for all the cards, emails, and facebook notes. I've gotten every one. They really make my day!

We are having such a busy summer, that I just haven't felt like sitting down to write anything of substance. You can rest assured I am doing well. My mom is here daily, and makes sure I don't go hungry! It's really tough eating her good cooking day and night! (Haha!) She does laundry, too! You'd enjoy having her at your house, but you can't! She's mine!

Instead of writing a lot trying to catch you up on our summer, I'm working on another slide show. Going for the whole "...picture's worth a thousand words" concept!

Hope you are enjoying your summer! Life is good!

Blessings,

Leslie

Today's Appointments

2010-05-27T18:20:00.000-05:00

Here's the latest:

MRI results show that all lesions are "significantly smaller". The neurosurgeon said the largest lesion is only 25% the size it was last month. That's great news! Most of the swelling is gone, and the doctor's don't see any reason for surgery at this point. Scheduled another MRI in 3 months. If anything is growing, or causing any problems, they will consider surgery then. As for now, headed home to continue oral chemotherapy. Thank you all for your continued prayers. If you need specifics, you can pray that my nausea subsides. It's not severe, just a nuisance. They gave me some new nausea meds today, so I'm hoping they help. It's crummy to feel queasy!

Thank you for everything! Blessings to you all!

Jeff and Leslie

Saturday

2010-05-15T13:14:00.001-05:00

Enjoying a non-eventful Saturday! Ahhhh...

Here are some pics of Isaac's kindergarten musical...The Three Piggy Opera. It was outstanding! In addition to my good lookin' little boy being in the choir, I also loved the set, the Big Bad Wolf carrying a knife and fork, and the songs! It was just too cute. (BTW...Isaac's class was in the 3rd program of the night. In addition to his 8 pm show, there were 2 other identical programs, one at 6, one at 7 with just as many kiddos! What I didn't show was the 2nd set of risers on the other side of the gym. Six classes for Isaac's program I believe! There are 17 or 18 kindergarten classes in our district. Ummhmmm....it's a biggun!)

Hope you all have a great weekend. Thanks for checking in!

Blessings,

Leslie

2010-05-12T12:39:00.003-05:00

Wednesday's Words of Insight

2010-05-12T12:08:00.002-05:00

I have so many people wanting to know how I'm doing, and I'm a little weary of saying I'm doing fine, but that's the truth. I'm doing well. I feel good. My mouth is feeling way better. My appetite is still good. I'm still nearly bald as an onion. Everything is basically the same as last week.

I'm just waiting and resting until I go back to Houston on the 27th for a rescan. Then we will know if further action is needed.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our camping trip. Levi was beyond annoyed that I wouldn't reveal our destination. Actually cried! Give me a break! And that pretty much set his mood for the trip. We paused for several attitude adjustments, after which we had a much more enjoyable time.

Jeff's parent's have been so generous as to give us SDC passes again this year! We put them to good use this weekend, and met our friends Kevin and Renee there on Saturday. Perhaps a monumentally poor choice of days, as there were more school buses than you could count.

The man that scanned our card at the gate was the neat kid we saw on Undercover Boss! He was so nice! Told us they were expecting at least 15,000 that day! Yah! We can pick 'em!

Driving by on Sunday, none of the lower lots had cars in them. Perhaps we should've chosen that day! The boys had a blast riding roller coasters with Jeff and Kevin, and Renee, Calvin and Cassie and Isaac and I enjoyed riding and watching the butterflies and the teacups (with Daddy, not me!). I enjoyed some banana split Dippin Dots! That's about as adventurous as I got!

Anyway, good food, good friends, good time had by all! And now...we are all TIRED!!!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our family and for me. We appreciate them more than you know!

Blessings,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

Thank You So Much

2010-05-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

"Playin' in the Rain" June 2007

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you that planned and participated in the benefit that was held for our family. I cannot believe the generosity you showed to us. Well, knowing all of you like we do, actually we can! I just feel so overwhelmed I don't even know how to begin thanking everyone. I am working on putting together a slide show of the benefit. May have to snag Debbie Ray's memory card to do justice to the photos, as the ones I tried to copy from her website only copied as tiny pictures, and won't work just yet.

Hoping to get it fixed by next week so you can all see what a fantastic job Erica and Krisi did. I'm tellin' you what! You show up to eat food at the Christian Church of Republic, and those people just take you in! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

If you haven't heard, the benefit raised over $4000 to help with our medical expenses! What a huge blessing! Thank you to everyone. From Kristen and her bracelets, to the large donations from businesses, and everything in between!

And thanks to Amanda for the wooden cowboy hat! Just brings tears to my eyes! I put it right where I can see it every morning when I wake up! Makes me smile. :o)

Have a wonderful weekend, and may God bless you all above and beyond your wildest imagination!

Love,

Jeff, Leslie, Owen, Levi, and Isaac

Friday, FRIDAY, FRIDAY!!!

2010-05-07T15:20:00.000-05:00

I am so glad it's the weekend, aren't you? This week I have gone from feeling crummy to feeling very good. My doctor in Houston had me stop taking one of my medications because it made my tongue raw. Now I am feeling much better! I'm sure they'll have me start up again as soon as everything heals, but for now it is so nice to feel good again!

I went to Hulston today to have them look at my mouth...per Dr. Booser's recommendation (Houston). They confirmed my opinion (nice of them, eh?) that there was no infection, just a raw mouth. Prescribed some mouth rinse for me. I'm sure it'll be yummy! However, it will probably help.

Then I met my brother, Jim, who is loaning us his camper for the weekend (it's a nice one...much to my liking for roughing it!). We went to the campground and he set everything up, then showed me how everything works. We are surprising the boys. I have everything packed, and as soon as Jeff and the boys get home, we are heading out for the weekend. They are going to love it! It's our first camping trip as a family, and promises to be WAY better than the surprise 3rd anniversary camping trip I planned for Jeff and I! Landed us right in the middle of a May thunderstorm...in a tent, no less! Yah---that's the last time this lady graced a campsite with her presence! Not a fan of thunderstorms at HOME! Little sheet of fabric over my head ain't gonna cut it, my friend!

Just wanted you to know how we are doing. Feeling fine. Nearly bald as an onion, but feeling fine. Glad I've got a good lookin' head! FYI-Levi and Isaac prefer my bandana look. Owen thinks my wig looks better on me. So I'm alternating. Nice to have fashion consultants when you need them. Oh...and it's definitely bandanas this weekend. Maybe a UT ballcap!

Thank you all for your continued prayers. We appreciate them so much!

Leave me a comment when you can! I love to hear from you!

Blessings,

Leslie

Just checking in

2010-05-02T16:29:00.000-05:00

I arrived home Wednesday night. What a long trip. I told mom I thought the longest part was from Joplin to here! We are slowly but surely settling into our new routine. I'm supposed to limit my driving, so Jeff is still taking the boys to and from school. They love their daddy and the extra time they are getting to spend with him.

My new chemotherapy arrived via UPS on Friday. To say that I am less that excited about taking it may be the understatement of the year. My routine prior to this required me to receive one IV infusion of Herceptin, which had absolutely no side effects. Could've been water, for all I noticed.

These new prescriptions require me to take 11 pills a day...11! That's about 11 more than I've ever taken in my life! I couldn't even remember to take prenatal vitamins, so now I have a little old lady pill organizer! Yah! It's lovely! Yesterday they made me pretty nauseaus. Hoping that a phone call to TX tomorrow lands me some nausea meds that won't zonk me out!

Today I feel pretty good, and I'm glad for that. We went to church, then came home for some much needed R and R. The boys are busy trying to put together an aquarium we purchased for some tiny turtles that made their way home from Pearland to Missouri. Speedy and Flash! They're awful cute!

Hope you are having a good weekend. Enjoy your family! Thank you for your continued prayers. They are much appreciated.

Blessings,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

My trip to Central Market...for Krisi Parker

2010-04-23T20:06:00.000-05:00

Just a little more information:

2010-04-23T19:28:00.003-05:00

Clarification: When I arrived here at MDACC, they ran some scans to make sure there were no new cancer lesions elsewhere throughout my body. We all agreed brain lesions alone would be enough! The bone scan showed nothing new, and the CT scan of my abdomen/chest also shows nothing new. The scan did not say my brain is clear...that we know its present. After these radiation treatments, they will wait 4 weeks or so, then do another MRI to see how the lesions responded to the treatment, and then do follow up treatment if needed. I am starting on new oral chemotherapy next week...I'll know more when I see my oncologist Tuesday. But...it's still all good news as far as I'm concerned. We just have such a peace going through this, and I don't know what the plans are, but I am confident that God does! Love you all! Leslie

Sunday Night

2010-04-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update. The boys made it down yesterday afternoon, after a two-day trip with Grandma and Grandpa Keltner. Two days instead of one, because Isaac became very sick en route. Arrived with a high fever, sick stomach, runny nose...the works. I hope for Mrs. M that this is one bug not going around her kindergarten classroom!

I didn't take any pictures yet...been too busy hugging boys and rocking a little one. It's nice to be together, regardless of the circumstances. We were blessed today to have Dr. Keir-Garza call in some much needed meds for our little patient, and he has already had one dose of antibiotics, so hopefully tomorrow will be markedly better.

For the week ahead...Mom and Dad are staying at Kirk and Nanette's...I sure hope they don't starve! (HA!) The boys are here, and we will venture out there during the days. Hoping to visit some museums, maybe the zoo, maybe the aquarium, and maybe the gulf, although Isaac is very sure that he doesn't like the beach...so he and I may just sit in the shade of an umbrella if we go! He said, "The water is disgusting, Mom!" Well...hard to argue with that.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Would you please remember Isaac when you pray? I just hate for anyone to feel bad, especially when they are away from home.

Have a great week! Blessings to you all!

The Davis Family--together again

A little more news

2010-04-16T18:37:00.000-05:00

Found out today that my bone scan shows nothing new! Well, that's good news. Had a CT scan today...find out later about the rest of me. :o)

We are doing fine, and looking forward to my boys getting here this weekend. They LOVE Texas, and we have family nearby (Aunt Teresa, Uncle Howard, Nanette, Kirk, Brenda and Jim...and their kids, too!) promising to do some serious spoiling! Don't you know they're just going to be rotten by the time we're all through with them? I'm kidding...they'll be fine! Looking forward to letting them climb some huge live oak trees! They're perfect for boys! Wish we had one in our front yard.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Blessings,

Jeff and Leslie

Just so You Know

2010-04-15T10:56:00.000-05:00

If you are just checking my blog for the first time, and you are in the mood for browsing, go to the bottom of the page and click on older posts, OR just go to the side and pick a month and year from the past. I'm telling you, I've got some good looking pictures of some good looking little boys on here! There aren't a whole lot of pictures of ME, but you can see what I like seeing! Thanks for checking in. I am enjoying all the comments.

My schedule for today consists of more scans. Nothing painful, just time consuming.

Jeff is asleep in a chair beside me. Red shirt, Wranglers, boots! Love it! He just makes me happy to look at him!

Thank you for your continued prayers! Hope you have a great day.

Blessings!

All the News that is the News

2010-04-14T10:53:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let you know what's going on here in sunny Houston, TX. They have begun "whole brain radiation" on me to treat several lesions recently found on my glorius brain! Lovely! So far, the only side effects are that every thing tastes sweet (yuck! even water ). I've been tired, but I think the events of the past few days would account for that, don't you?

Anyway, thanks to my good friend Sherry Marshall and her connections, we now have a rented an apartment here in the Medical Center through South Main Baptist Church of Houston . It is really nice, and it's relaxing to have a place to come "home" to. It was necessary because they want me close to the MDACC Emergency Room. That'll make you feel good! Brother!

We have not been able to speak with our boys about the new medical diagnosis. Jeff and I both think that would be best handled in person...so we are working on the details of getting them here, or him there. That being said, they know I came down here for my headaches, and that I have doctors appointments daily, and they want to know when we'll be back. We're hoping to fill in the blanks by the end of the week.

Thank you all for your prayers. Right now, our main prayers include:

*) For the radiation to be effective. I'd really like to WOW the doctors with the response of the lesions to the radiation. Some people respond favorably...some don't. I've never taken kindly to performing poorly on a test of any kind, and this is no exception!

*) For smoothness of schedule with the new routine at home for the boys. Grandma Bootsie and Grandpa Coach have got them handled, but I sure don't want anyone tuckering out or losing patience. I think its safe to say that request is for all parties involved!

*) For Jeff...I get a little "opinionated" when I don't feel well. Nuff said!

*)Pray that we continue to allow God to guard our hearts and minds. It'd be easy to get overwhelmed with all of this, but we are focusing on focusing on Him, and not the problem. Today. We'll work on tomorrow then.

Blessings to you all!

Love,
Leslie and Jeff

The Next Paragraph

2010-04-11T22:06:00.002-05:00

Who knew when I typed my last post how fitting that excerpt from "So Long Insecurity", by Beth Moore would be. I thought I'd share a bit of the next paragraph in the book with you. It's almost as if it was written with my situation in mind. I've always said I liked that lady! It's because we think alike!

"...You knew what You were doing when You formed me in my mother's womb. Nothng is without purpose. Nothing has thrown off the plan. Every gift, challenge, and obstacle is meant to shape the specific destiny You ordained for me before time began. Your intent is to make a wonder out of me and show what You can do through me. You mean to increase the praise that comes to You because of my life. You want to defy the odds in order to make Yourself conspicuous in me. Please deliver me from self-pity and a life of excuses and rationalizations...Of all things, please don't let it be said that I loved myself too much to fully love anybody else. Please don't let me gain the world but lose my soul."

How's that? Completely fits my situation, don't you think?
In closing, please pray for our appointments tomorrow. For clarity, direction, and peace. And pray that I don't throw up! It's my go-to "fight or flight" response, and I just hate it!

Also, pray for Jeff. He is just such a rock! He is serious but always able to make me laugh. He is confident and compassionate. He's handling all the correspondence, since I've lost my voice. He never makes me feel like the patient...but always takes such care of me. As always, he is the perfect gentleman. I have yet to open a car door for myself in nearly 18 years of marriage, and even before that when we were dating. It's the first thing I loved about him. Well, that and his Wrangler's and boots! Pray that he is able to rest. He slept a lot last night, and he was nearly too rested to tolerate today. He calls it comedic genius, but I could think of a few other terms for it! And me without a voice to redirect! He loved every minute of our 7 hour "comedic genius" trip today!

And, please keep our family in your prayers. The boys know that I've come down to see what my doctor's here want me to do for my headaches. I told them my scan of Friday showed something was putting pressure on my head/neck, and we needed to do something about it. They were fine with that definition of our current situation.

Then I apologized for telling them they were making my head hurt last week in the car. They were fussing and whining, and it was tiresome. (At one point, I told the two oldest if they didn't apologize in the car, I would make them hug and kiss in the crosswalk in front of the school. I meant it, too!) I told them I was so sorry for blaming them, because it turns out it wasn't their fault all. Wouldn't it be awful if they thought they had caused any of this?!

Anyway, they were very forgiving, "Okay, Mom. It's alright." "Yah. It's alright." Then 3 big smiles. It was a very low key discussion held on the steps of the backyard playset. Then, I told them because of my headaches, I couldn't do the garden this year, and I was giving both garden spots to them. Seemed fair, since they cleaned them off. They were so pumped! One sunflower fort in the planning stages, and one vegetable/flower garden. Should provide hours of activity, and lots of fun for their summer.

Pray for my parents, and my siblings who have all helped out, and are still helping with the boys.

This is a draining experience, even though it's not our first rodeo. I am both dreading and looking forward to tomorrow. It is so nice to be with the doctor's who know me best. There is comfort in familiarity. There is comfort in trust.

Blessings to you and yours.

Jeff and Leslie

"Bluebonnets in Corsicana" by Leslie Davis 4/11/10

Good Read...

2010-04-08T10:43:00.001-05:00

I am currently reading Beth Moore's new book, So Long Insecurity. This is a passage of what I read last night, and I just loved it. If you get a chance, check out this book. She writes what I would write if I could write like she writes!

...Lord, help me to learn how to hang on tight to You when my life is rocked by dramatic change. Empower me to trust You and not to panic or fight for control. Help me to stop confusing a change in my circumstances with a change in my security status. You are my security, O God. You are the one sure thing. When everything around me shakes, You are unshakable. Nothing has the propensity to reveal false gods to me like a sudden change in my circumstances. Help me to see them and surrender them instantaneously. Use change to provoke what needs changing in me, Lord, and to increase my appreciation of the only One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever...

Blessings,

Leslie

Making up for Lost Time

2010-03-14T21:41:00.000-05:00

So we set our clocks ahead one hour, went to the late worship service, and all took naps this afternoon. Now it's 9:30 pm, and no one is tired. Monday is going to be a doosey!

Many a Truth is said in Jest...

2010-03-11T11:14:00.000-06:00

2010-03-08T11:22:00.001-06:00

2010-03-05T18:31:00.002-06:00

A Visit with Phyllis

2010-03-05T18:02:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I had the sweet opportunity to spend a day with my friend, Sherry, and her mother, Phyllis. Although I've known Sherry for a long while, I only met Phyllis as I was battling breast cancer. She is a precious, precious soul who, along with her circle of friends, prayed diligently for me as I was going through my cancer treatments and surgeries.

A year to the day after my diagnosis, Phyllis was diagnosed with a very similar type of breast cancer. I was able to refer her to my physician in Houston who took excellent care of her, and within a year, she was cancer free as well.

Elation turned to disappointment within a few months, though, as we learned that she was now being held hostage by a totally different cancer...this time, pancreatic. Phyllis fought that battle as courageously as she could, but last month, MD Anderson explained that they had done all they could do, and they dismissed her to return home, enjoying her days with friends and relatives close at hand.

Our visit yesterday was so, so sweet. As daughter turned into caregiver, I watched Sherry adjust pillows, tenderly hold a cup and straw for her mother, and relax on the bed next to her, gently rubbing her arm and hand. Phyllis wanted us near, and she wanted to hear us laugh and talk. So we spent the afternoon telling stories, and laughing and crying, sitting on or around Phyllis' bed.

When it was time for lunch, she asked us to eat in her room, so we could keep visiting. She dozed in and out, and that was fine with us. We've never been known to shy away from conversation! So when Phyllis nodded off, Sherry, her sister Kathy, and I would continue visiting, and laughing, and gasping in amazement at each others stories. Phyllis would awaken, and smile, and contribute her two cents, and then doze off again. If we talked too softly, she would demand, "Talk!", and we knew that we should raise our voices.

She shared poetry that she had written, and sweet words about her son, who had just left to return to Kansas City for a bit. It was just really, really a precious time.

Outside Phyllis' house, signs of Spring were everywhere. I had to be careful of where I stepped, as bulbs were bursting through the ground on every side of the house. I thought there was surely a sermon in this photo. The promise of life continuing was evident all around.

When we were leaving, we hugged, and I told her how much I loved her, and how good it was to see her. When she kissed Sherry goodbye, Sherry said, "Mom-I'm staying." This had been the plan all along, but between cat naps, Phyllis had missed that little tidbit. The relief that was on her face was priceless, so she hugged Sherry anyway! I think mostly because she was so pleased with the arrangement.

Kathy brought me back to my car in Missouri, and I enjoyed a breezy, quiet ride home, thanking God for His provision, for His tender love, and for families...what a wonderful idea.

My own momma was waiting at my house, where she had snuggled my littlest, and put him to bed long before his brothers returned from their ball game with their daddy and Grandpa. Like I said, familes are a wonderful idea!

Enjoy your weekend. Enjoy the sunshine. Be thankful. We are together here for just a short while. Hug a neck. Kiss a cheek. Laugh. Life is good.

Blessings to you and yours,

Leslie

Long Time A Comin'

2010-03-03T14:27:00.001-06:00

I never thought I'd see the day when they actually got along...voluntarily! These two are very competitive. Frankly, Levi has been a little leary of Isaac ever since he was born. He just didn't ever have much to do with him. Just look at the difference a few years makes! All you mommas out there wondering if it will EVER get better, evidently the answer is "Yes!".

Hope you have a peaceful, brotherly-love kind of week!

Leslie

p.s. That's chocolate pudding on Isaac's chin. Imagine that! A love for chocolate-yet another way he is just like me-according to Jeff!

Heading to Kansas

2010-03-03T14:20:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow morning I leave for Kansas to visit with my sweet friend, Phyllis. Please remember Sherry and me as we travel. I'll post more when I get home.

Blessings,

Leslie

No School!

2010-02-16T10:23:00.001-06:00

Monday was a day off of school for my boys, and it didn't take long for the lack of schedule to lead to rough-housing and fighting. To combat it, I set up a science lab for them in the kitchen. They requested food coloring, water, baking soda, and vinegar. The experiments that followed allowed for 30 minutes of peace in the house.

Secondly, I gave them a geography assignment. They were to pick a state off of the map and research it on the computer! Woohoo! They had to report on the state capitol, a famous invention/person/or event from that state, and then share "If we could go on vacation in this state, here is where I'd like to go..." This intrigued them for the rest of the day, and they couldn't wait to show their daddy when he got home. Well, some were a little less enthused than others, but all in all it was a good use of time.

Our funny for the day was when Isaac was giving his presentation on Kansas. "Oh, Isaac. You forgot to tell what is the capitol of Kansas," to which he quickly replied, "It's K". Hahahahaha! We got a kick out of kindergarten geography!

Hope you have a great week!

Blessings,

Leslie

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T13:15:00.000-06:00

I am trying to figure out how to make Sunday Valentine-y when I have two suffering from the stomach flu. Nothin' says "I love you" like a cup of Gatorade and a handful of Saltine crackers. I am really hoping that Jeff and Isaac manage to get over this quickly, and that no one else catches it.

I've turned off the heat Saturday, and thoroughly aired out the house until I was certain I would freeze. I have done mountains of laundry, although you can't tell it by my hampers. I have become a short order cook, and a pharmacist, and a consumer of anything chocolate that is laying around. This cannot be good for a person.

Through it all, though, I am still thinking, "Thank God I am here to be involved in this at all!" I wonder if that thought will ever leave my mind. I'm glad I'm here to rock my baby boy, glad I'm here do go on a Gatorade run, glad I'm here to exclaim, "This house is a WRECK!!!". (Not so sure anyone else is glad of that hollerin' part right now, but I'm tryin' my best to be organized!)

Hoping to get a full night's sleep, and start with a fresh attitude tomorrow. Ahhhhhh....that'd be nice!

Blessings to you all,

Leslie

Update on Prayer Request

2010-02-13T21:10:00.000-06:00

Phyllis is home in Kansas finally. They have arranged for Hospice to come in. Please remember Sherry and her whole family during this time.

Prayer Request

2010-02-08T13:55:00.003-06:00

When you think of it, please pray for my friend Sherry and her mother Phyllis. Phyllis is an amazing, strong, and beautiful lady who is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed one year to the day after I was with breast cancer. My doctor in Houston saw her right away, and his treatment was very successful. We celebrated her diagnosis of being cancer free this past fall.

Now, though, she is struggling with pancreatic cancer, and it is not a pleasant thing for anyone involved. Her treatments for this new tumor have not been as successful as they had hoped. Please pray for comfort for Phyllis and for clarity of thought for the family as take care of her. They are just such a sweet family, and I hate to see anyone hurting!

This picture is of Phyllis and Sherry, taken during Christmas break. Sherry and her siblings got a beach house in Galveston, and joined Phyllis and Bill (Sherry's dad) who were already in Houston . They look like they enjoyed themselves, don't they!?

Thank you for your prayers. I know they will appreciate it.

Blessings,

Leslie

Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whisper, "Peace, be still!"

He can settle any sea,

But it doesn't mean He will.

Sometimes He holds us close,

And lets the wind and waves go wild.

Sometimes He calms the storm,

And other times He calms His child.

Busy Weekend

2010-02-08T10:31:00.002-06:00

I took absolutely no pictures this weekend! We were busy for sure, but I have no documentation of that.

Levi had a basketball game at 8:00am Saturday morning. Then we ran errands and visited some shops on Main Street. Next we loaded up and headed out to Cal and Cassie's 2nd birthday party at the OC. Everyone had a great time, and were very disappointed to leave. When we got home, the boys got in their jammies and snuggled down for an evening of popcorn and Santa Buddies. Just as Jeff and I were about to join them, our friends called and said they were on their way over for a visit.

They showed up with TV in the back of their truck...just an extra for them, but a blessing for us! (Ours hasn't worked since before Christmas.) The tv they brought us is enormous, though, and we'll have to find a stout piece of furniture on which to perch it! Two pans of brownie bites and a pot of coffee later, we said good bye to Anthony and Stephanie, and carried our already asleep kiddos back to their rooms. 12:07---off to rest up for Sunday!

We made it to church EARLY (enjoy reading that...it may never happen again!). We enjoyed seeing my sister Anita and her little people as well as our friend Melissa and her "little" boy Dalton...now nearly 16! Haven't seen him forever. After some quick visiting, it was back home to take Levi in for practice, while Isaac and I stayed home and made Superbowl snacks.

When Jeff, Owen, and Levi came home, we all loaded up again and headed in to our good friends Johnny and Krisi's house for an evening of fun, food, and watching the Superbowl. We are paying for our weekend this morning, though! The boys were very, very sluggish getting ready for school They were so hoping for a snow day, but it was not to be.

Anyway...there you go! Are you as tired as I am?

Hope you enjoy a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Leslie

Frozen Fog

2010-02-03T18:25:00.001-06:00

Visibility was less than 1/4 mile this morning. This is what remained of the fog! How beautiful!

Bedtime Storytime

2010-02-03T10:45:00.000-06:00

A Sleddin' we will Go!

2010-02-01T09:42:00.000-06:00

Jeff and I took the boys to a nearby school to sled yesterday after church. One should note, it is not nearly as fun to watch the sledding from a mother's vantage point as it was to be the kid sledding. More than once I found myself uttering under my breath or even aloud to my husband, "Bail! Bail! He should bail NOW!"

Now, granted, this is one of the best hills around. However, at the bottom of the hill is a stand of trees. The solid type! Not my idea of the perfect, child-friendly sledding hill. "They'll figure it out," assured my husband. See...if not for my husband, my little ones would probably not be allowed out of the backyard. I'm joking...sort of.

Every van that I don't recoginze in the neighborhood is most certainly being driven by the pedophile they highlighted in last night's newscast. Every stray dog is certainly rabid and viscious. Every stray baseball is sure to hit someone's eye socket! It's enough to wear a person out! That's why God gave us husbands, ladies. The perfect balance to our God-given gut feelings that somehow run wild at times! But...I digress...

Sledding....back to sledding. They did figure it out...some after a stern warning from their Dad, some without. They had a blast, and we did too. And although I really do know a child who suffered a head injury from sledding, I guess it's alright if mine sled without their bicycle helmets. For now...

Hope you were able to enjoy the snow with your kiddos, or with your friends...you crazy grown ups!

Have a wonderful week!

Blessings,

Leslie

From a Dave Ramsey Fan to You

2010-01-29T14:09:00.004-06:00

Five Cheap Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day

from daveramsey.com on 26 Jan 2010

Valentine’s Day is almost here.

Across the nation, men everywhere are scrambling for ideas. Will it be flowers and chocolate or dinner and a movie?

Let’s face it, fellas. If you’ve been in a relationship for any amount of time, creative and cheap date ideas can be hard to come by. And with January now in the rearview mirror, it may seem easy to forget about that New Year’s resolution to tighten up the budget.

But this Valentine’s Day, you don’t have to break the bank to create memories and have a good time. Here are five ideas to get your wheels turning:

Dinner and a Movie … The Remix

Okay, we know, dinner and a movie is so cliché. But what about a candlelit home-cooked meal and a romantic rental movie? You don’t have to buy filet mignon and lobster. You can get great deals on chicken, pork and certain types of fish. Pair it up with a little pasta, and you’re ready to treat your significant other to an unforgettable evening!

The Open Road

Just get in the car with your special lady friend and drive! You might spend a little on gas, but you’ll create some lasting memories as you travel to a town you have never visited or a famous landmark. You could also revisit the special places around town where you’ve created fun memories and take pictures together.

Game Night

Who doesn’t love a good board game? Find a few classic board games, invite some friends over, and make a night of it. Or, if you have a Wii, then you have even more options—bowling, Rock Band and Mario Kart to name a few. Having some Valentine’s-themed food on hand will add to the fun—red-velvet cupcakes and heart-shaped candy are always crowd pleasers.

Night at the Museum

Two tickets to a local museum usually aren’t too expensive. Learn a little about art or history—and each other! Combine this idea with your home-cooked dinner and a movie or game night, and you’ll have a full day of fun.

Take A Hike

Pack a lunch, grab a few water bottles, and hit the trail. You’ll be amazed at the quality of conversation you can have with someone while you are hiking up a mountain or through a trail in the woods. After all, it is Valentine’s Day, so why not get your heart in shape?

You can come up with plenty of cheap date ideas on your own. Just follow your passions (don’t do something just because it’s cheap), and think outside the box (of chocolates).

And, remember, the memories will last a lot longer than the gourmet chocolate and expensive roses. Keep that in mind as you are planning your Valentine’s Day date and other dates throughout the year!

Organizational Ideas Needed

2010-01-29T13:53:00.002-06:00

Okay all you creative people! I am needing some easy organizational ideas for the paper clutter in my home. As you can imagine, I have a lot of paper coming into my house. With three little students plus all my medical correspondence, I am surrounded by papers! What do you do in your home/office to keep these things organized? They are in piles here...mostly in my bedroom b/c I can close the door on it when we have company! Please share your fantastic ideas!

Me and KTTS

2010-01-27T09:51:00.003-06:00

As a mother, it becomes necessary at times to voice my opinion. (I know...big shocker!) Anyway, if you listen to KTTS, you are certainly aware of their commercial spots running promoting laser hair removal and the benefits thereof. I rolled my eyes at first, thinking certainly this would be a short lived campaign. I was wrong. Below is my email that I sent them this morning...thought you might like to read it! Have a great day.

Blessings,

Leslie

Okay people...seriously...is NOTHING sacred? I emailed Andy when Curly tried to convince the world to proudly proclaim her name upon entering the world of laser hair removal. "Absurd", I thought. "Nobody in their right mind would say, 'Curly sent me' when requesting the removal of unwanted body hair."

NOW..as the mother of 3 young, impressionable boys, I am bombarded with Farmer sharing the numerous benefits of laser hair removal as we try to eat our breakfast before school each morning. REALLY? REALLY? THIS will help me be more organized in the new year? This will "shave" minutes off of my morning routine? REALLY!?

I am begging you...PLEADING with your sense of all that is proper and decent...PLEASE stop these excessively ridiculous commercials. I can assure you, as a mom, as a lady, even as a cancer survivor...there is not a soul in the Ozarks thinking, "You know, that Farmer chick is right on! I COULD save seconds off my morning routine if that pesky, unwanted hair wasn't taunting me each day! I am sooo glad I heard this as I try to consume my morning cup of coffee. AND...so glad that my children, ages 10, 7, and 5 now know what to do if their bikini area is giving them fits later in life!"

SERIOUSLY!!!! Love you...love your show...kept me laughin' during cancer treatment...but this has to come to an end (excuse the pun). FOR THE LOVE!!!!!!!

Consider becoming the spokeswoman for Dove chocolate...now that'd speak to me. Or perhaps McAlister's tea...there ya go! Or even pay at the pump fuel....now THAT can help a mother out. But PLEASE quit talking about body hair...it truly is repulsive. Really...it is!

Snow Days and Deep Thoughts

2010-01-07T21:39:00.002-06:00

Well, I was awakened at 5:30 a.m. by a text message informing me that our local schools were cancelled due to the weather. We didn't get a lot of snow, but the little we did get piled on top of what we already had, and then...the wind blew! Evidently, in places other than my yard, the snow really drifted. And then...the temperature dropped (or maybe that was what happened first, or during...it's all a blur). We had below zero temperatures today...much too cold for our school buses in the drifting snow. Anyhoo...that's how I came about being home today with my 3 boys and our favorite 11 year old neighbor, Ross.

The boys had a blast. After eating pancakes, sausage, and eggs, they finished their "chores" (as best I can come up with in town), and began a long day of fun, fighting, and experiments. They played video games, Tech Deck skateboards, Legos, Nerf gun wars (the "fighting"), and Nerf sword fighting. Then, they challenged their creative side by making individual pizzas for lunch followed by a serious streak of paper airplane development and testing. They continued their creative/scientific explorations by making a clay volcano, and then causing it to erupt with baking soda and vinegar! Big stuff! Finally, they made a large platter of green slime from cornstarch and water, and enjoyed grossing one another out with that for awhile.

Isaac continued his home education in the fine art of tying shoes. He has it down, he is just working on perfecting the maneuver, and getting a tight knot.

Meanwhile, I attacked a huge medical bill that has been in limbo between a provider, an insurance company, a collection agency, and myself. These things bother me, but not like they used to. In the whole scheme of things, it's way down on my list of things to panic about. (I realize that sentence is a grammar teacher's worst nightmare...and I apologize to my sister Suzan, and all others that groan at grammatical errors!) At any rate...I finally talked to all parties...on the same day...and got the thing hammered out. No big deal! It's only money...right?!

I also fixed a delicious pot of Mexican Chicken Soup, and by the time Jeff arrived home at 7ish, the boys were in their jammies, soup was on, and the BCS championship game had begun!

We are thankful tonight for a warm house to live in, tummies that are full, and healthy little heads that are resting in warm beds.

My friend, Sherry, and I discussed peace over the phone today. She shared with me a sermon she heard on the radio the other day. The pastor concluded with the teaching that "peace" is something that is given to us. It is not something we can get ourselves, or a place we can determine to be. It is a gift, given to us by the Holy Spirit, and ours for the asking, through prayer. She and I both agreed that this wasn't something we had ever before considered, and ended our conversation agreeing that this was a subject we were going to study further. That simplifies things, though, doesn't it? God gives it...and that settles it. I can quit striving for it on my own...it isn't attainable...alone. Now that's something to chew on for awhile...

If you'll excuse me, I will now go steal my Snuggie blanket from my oldest son, and retire to my own bed. Tomorrow...yet another snow day...and four active boys await!

Blessings,

Leslie

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T23:17:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas season, and are now enjoying the slower pace that temporarily follows the holidays. I, my friend, am a bit overwhelmed with the upcoming months.

Just tonight, as I filled in our already scheduled evenings on our January calendar, I said to Jeff, "Would you look at this? We only have Monday and Wednesday nights without anything! This is nuts!" And it is totally brought on by ourselves. We have two young boys that are playing rec league basketball, and my husband is coaching one of their teams. This translates into 4 days of busy-ness that should be enjoyable...after all...we chose to participate. Every fiber of my being wants to be home, though. I'm not kidding! I love basketball, and I love watching our boys play, but seriously...I think I'll have my plate full of this when they are 13 and older, so why are we subjecting our family to this craziness now? I can't tell ya, friend.

Winter beckons me inside my home. I love baking/cooking and drinking coffee/tea in front of the fire. I love having friends over, and being with my family. Playing games, watching movies, reading books...all the things you'd feel guilty about were the weather nice and inviting outside. Everything about winter makes me want to slooooooow down. Yet I don't. This, sister, puzzles me. I guess I'll cherish the small, late night moments of tranquility...such as now. It is 11:30 p.m. The house is quiet (with the exception of the white noise I hear whirring in the boys hallway). My hubby just moved his nap on the couch into the bedroom. I was typing in there, but I traded him spaces, and am now sitting...alone and quiet...in the living room.

The boys are home from school for only a few more days. I need to enjoy some downtime with them. We've been on the run with them from one holiday event to another for 2 weeks. They've asked to go bowling, to go back to Bass Pro, to go to a basketball game, to take in a movie, and to go hunting. We'll see what happens. For now, we are enjoying no scheduled events. We even managed 2 games of "WAR" and 2 games of "chicken track dominoes" tonight. It was lovely. Ahhhhhhh....

I hope your weeks ahead are enjoyable. I think of you all often, and just have the hardest time finding time to put my thoughts into words. Maybe 11:30 at night, alone in the living room, is the time for me to post! Who knows?!

Blessings,

Leslie

2009-12-15T22:26:00.001-06:00

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Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-23T10:39:00.003-06:00

Just checking in to say Happy Thanksgiving! We are just meeting ourselves coming and going recently. Between side jobs for Jeff, basketball and deer season for Owen, school events for all 3, doctor's appointments and physical therapy appointments and trips to TX for me, a girls weekend (that included all 3 boys!), Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas preparations, Levi's 7th birthday, one teeny case of headlice that was shared with the household (we have to suppose...everyone got treated anyway!), all the laundry that that entails, vehicle maintenance, and so on and so on...I haven't had time enough to gather my thoughts for a new entry.

We are really looking forward to seeing family and friends over the holidays. I have so much to write, and so many pictures to post, but we'll get to that another day.

Hoping that my trip to TX next week is my last for awhile. I LOVE Texas, and MDACC, but I love being at home with my family even more. If you get a chance, pray for me as I travel next week, and I look forward to posting something of substance very soon.

Blessings to you all. Please leave a comment, even if it's just "Hi". I'd love to hear from you again!

Love,

Leslie

p.s. This photo is of our kiddos and our friends, Darren and Jill's, boys. It was taken during a night time visit to the corn maze. 7 boys+acres of corn=lots and lots of fun!

2009-10-16T22:47:00.000-05:00

Quotes of the Day

2009-10-16T22:02:00.006-05:00

Jeff and Owen are hunting this weekend, and the little boys are rather down about being left behind. Bedtime was a fiasco, with one stall tactic followed by another. Two quotes that simply must be remembered for all eternity were uttered by the mouths of my two youngest. Totally cracked me up!

Levi, stalling as best he could, just keeps talking and talking about nothing in particular. Finally, after I don't take the bait, he states in despair,

"But Momma! It's just that sometimes, every direction looks like North!"

Ummmm...okay?

Then, when that doesn't trigger a bedtime postponing discussion, he says (quite dramatically),

"Momma? Sometimes, when I think about when you had cancer, it just makes me so sad..."

at which Isaac sits up abruptly from his cozy bed and says, "WHAT! You had cancer?!!!!"

(He must've missed it!)

Totally cracked me up!

Copied...

2009-10-16T21:45:00.004-05:00

"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Name of the Lord shall be praised!"

I just read this on my cousin Cari's blog and I think it says exactly what I'm needing to write right now. These are her thoughts and her words, but somehow they are mine as well! Don'tcha just love family?!

I think I may have forgotten how to blog. It's been so long. Several times a day, I think of some freshly illumined truth, or surprising connection and I say to myself, "Self, you should blog that!" And then the day continues. My thoughts continue. But I never find the time to sit and write it out. When I do sit down to "pen some words", I can't quite remember how the truth or the illumination occurred, and in a late-day fog, I can't quite piece together the sequence of surprise, much less, the connections. I forget. I blog to remember, but at some point I must remember to blog:)

But this is what I know for sure. God is good all the time. He is Truth and Light and Love and Purpose. Unpredictable, yet Reliable. Uncomfortable, but Comforting. Simply Complex.

2009-10-05T10:32:00.003-05:00

“Not everything that can be counted counts,and not everything that counts can be counted.”
Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

What a Life!

2009-09-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

This month we celebrated Jeff's 40th birthday. Here is a photo of him and the boys after they presented him with their gifts...a coin organizer for his truck, a new watch, and his hunting and fishing license for the year. All of the gifts painstakingly sought out in a Wal-Mart shopping trip, then proudly presented to their daddy the night before his birthday (they couldn't wait!).

Had you been a fly on the wall, you would've heard, "Open it Daddy! It is NOT a coin holder...it is definitely NOT a coin holder! What do you think it could be Daddy? Open it! Open it!"

I LOVED every minute of the presentation. Do I have a wonderful life or what?!

2009-09-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

Newsflash!

2009-08-29T17:02:00.004-05:00

It has occurred to me...slowly but surely...that I don't need to write a book with each entry. Just a little blip about how I'm doing would suffice. I avoid updating, though, b/c I don't seem to have time to gather my thoughts.

So...here are my un-gathered thoughts in a nutshell...

The boys started school, I started physical therapy for my post-surgeries right arm, Jeff is working and enjoying his job, and the weather is getting cooler every day. We are almost tired of cherry tomatoes from our garden, but we are lovin' the sunflowers the boys planted. My trips to TX are spread out enough that we hardly notice them anymore, and I've discovered Farmville on Facebook. Definitely a waste of time...but still fun.

I have lots of summer pics to post...when I get around to it.

Hope you are enjoying this last bit of summer. We are trying to drain every last drop out of it...and are eagerly awaiting autumn!

Thanks for checking in!

Blessings,

Leslie

Our Summer is Flying By!

2009-07-14T12:08:00.004-05:00

Well...if anyone is even still checking at this point, I wanted you to know that we are all alive and well! My recovery is going very well, and I continue to make trips to Houston every 2-3 weeks for checkups. I am looking forward to the day when I can journal without mentioning anything medical!

Our boys have been very busy, and have all enjoyed learning how to swim this summer. Levi has been busy securing visits from the tooth fairy, and is working on losing yet another tooth in hopes that she'll visit before school begins again.

Isaac celebrated his 5th birthday in May, and Owen just celebrated his 10th birthday this past weekend. I LOVE HAVING BOYS! For Isaac's birthday, we celebrated by visiting the zoo with his cousins Sloan and Brody. It was raining, but...NEWSFLASH...boys love puddles, and everyone was equipped with an umbrella, so a good time was had by all (with perhaps the exception of baby Brody!).

For Owen's birthday we took a few of his friends and both of his little brothers to a local rock climbing gym. HUGE fun! Absolutely will go back...hopefully soon. Those little guys were scaling walls that went to the ceiling of the warehouse, then repelling back down again. There was also a huge rope swing in the middle, and with harnesses secured, they could swing from one end of the gym to another. EXTREMELY fun...especially for the littlest ones. And...it was challenging enough that the 10/11 year olds never got bored, and were still going strong at the end of our allotted 2 hour visit! Massive success on my part as I usually fall short of planning the perfect party. Then the guys returned home for a swim and nachos for supper, and finally a little Tim Hawkins comedy video before heading home. Way big fun for 6 boys!

Since the party season is over, I have rearranged my kitchen...don't know what I've been doing for the past year! It was a mess, and now we are enjoying easily accessible snacks and less back breaking lifting of the crock pot from the cabinet. Big deal for me! I also tackled 2 years worth of accumulation of papers that have been hibernating in my bedroom since October 2007. I have successfully whittled it down to a manageable pile of envelopes, which I plan on going through today...perhaps!

Next on the agenda is moving my desk out of our bedroom so the aforementioned papers never again accumulate around my bed and dresser! Major project, but I will get it done. I am determined...and armed with a can of Pledge...which may be empty before the day is done!

Add to that a season of Little League baseball, cousins' birthday parties, parents birthdays, a trip or two to TX, tending a garden, keeping the grass alive (without an in ground sprinkler system), and watching my mom do all of my housework for the past month, and I'd say we've been pretty busy! Oh! And we raised some chicks that we promptly gave to Grandpa Coach.

I apologize for the awful pictures of Owen's party. Jeff has the memory card with him, so I'll get some pics off of that when he gets home...if I can still get to the computer!

Hope your summer is going well. Blessings to you all.

Jeff, Leslie, and 'da boys

Brief Update

2009-06-11T16:28:00.002-05:00

Just checking in. I had surgery on Tuesday at 7 am. The procedure lasted about six hours (or so I'm told). This was the first procedure in a series that will reconstruct what was removed last May. My surgeon is excellent, and assured us that everything went perfectly in the OR. I am still in the hospital, but should be discharged tomorrow if everything looks good. Thank you for your prayers. I hope to be feeling somewhat normal again by Father's day, but we'll see!

Again, if you need to get ahold of Jeff or me, our email is davis-clan@hotmail.com.

Thanks for checking in. Love you all,

Leslie

Good Advice

2009-06-02T09:41:00.002-05:00

Good advice. Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends andparents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck..

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journeyis all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is upto you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no foran answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don'tsave it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, willthis matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did ordidn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'dgrab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

A Favorite Summer Poem

2009-06-01T13:32:00.007-05:00

Bed In Summer

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
the birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

Robert Louis Stevenson

Anybody there?

2009-05-26T09:55:00.002-05:00

Hello...just checking in so that you know I'm still alive and kickin'. We've been so busy lately, that I don't even know where to begin. I need to get a lot done today, so real quickly I'll just leave a few prayer requests, and then hopefully later type an update on the family along with a few pictures.

Prayer requests:

1) For my newest new insurance to be agreeable to my continuing treatment at MD Anderson. They are contracted on paper, but their front line customer service associates haven't found that yet, and we are back to square one in that area...with a surgery pending in June! Umhmmm...sounds crazy, but really...whatever happens, it's no big deal. I don't mind putting a surgery off for awhile! HOWEVER...it would be nice to get it out of the way, and get back to whatever normal is.

2)For our past insurance to figure out what in the world is going on. They pay some claims as in-network(08), then forget what they were doing and reject the next batch (pay out-of-network) (09). It's a quagmire, as Jeff would say! Gonna take a lot of phone time, and that is something I'm rather low on! Especially with the boys out of school! It will work out...it's just highly frustrating.

Basically...those are the 2 main worries right now. Kinda nice for a change, eh? In light of the past year and a half...it's laughable. Just got to keep things in perspective.

Blessings to you all!

Leslie

Rules of the Universe

2009-05-05T16:56:00.001-05:00

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
6. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)
7. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
8. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
9. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques.
10. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
11. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
12. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it. Embrace your differences. Love each other.
13. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
14. A balanced diet is a chocolate in each hand.
15. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed.
17. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
18. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
19. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
20. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
21. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
22. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
23. It isn't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
24. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'
25. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
26. You should not confuse your career with your life.
27. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
28. Never lick a steak knife.
29. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
30. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
31. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
32. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
33. Your friends love you anyway.
34. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
35. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are.

Happy Easter!!!

2009-04-12T22:01:00.001-05:00

Prayer Request

2009-04-02T09:21:00.003-05:00

Hello again! Hope everything is well with you and your family, and that you are enjoying the beginning of a beautiful spring! We are all doing great, and enjoying our life that amazingly seems much richer this year!

I never dreamed when I was involuntarily plunged into membership in the cancer club how my life would be changed. It seems like daily I am learning of friends, family members, and acquaintances who are newly diagnosed...young, old, in between. People just like me, who have no history or risk factors, "don't smoke, don't chew, don't hang around with those who do..." type people who are just blindsided by the news. It's alarming, really.

Case in point...our teaching pastor from Fellowship Bible Church. Phillip was just recently informed that he "might" have cancer. Still awaiting the results of a biopsy. He was told that it might be lung cancer, lymphoma, or...an infection! I told him Sunday that I had never before prayed for my pastor to have an infection, but that was exactly what I've been doing. Although we are members of Calvary Baptist, we just recently began attending Fellowship again. Fellowship was our home church for many years, and when we introduced our friends to it last fall, we felt the urge to go back. So...we've been "visiting" for awhile now.

Anyhoo...all that to say that maybe this is why. I had a wonderful visit with Phillip in the hallway last Sunday, and we understand one another on an entirely different plane now. I hope his diagnosis comes back to say that our camaraderie is short lived, and that it is truly an infection. Either way...God is good.

When you think of it, would you please pray for Phillip and his family? What a blow...even if temporary. I can say from experience that it takes awhile to recover from the initial news...and he and I both agreed that if someone were to say, "Well...looks like we made a mistake! It's just an infection!", we'd kiss 'em on the jaw and run out of the room!

You can read about his updates on the church website here. Just click on "Phillip's Health" on the left hand side.

Thank you for your continued prayers for me and my family. I had a great doctor's visit on Tuesday here in town, and had another Herceptin treatment. Life is good!

Blessings to you all!

Leslie

20 Answers from Levi

2009-03-20T09:30:00.004-05:00

1. What is something mom always says to you? Do this.
2. What makes mom happy? When we're good to her.
3. What makes mom sad? Being disrespectful to her.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Being funny.
5. What was your mom like as a child? I don't know.
6. How old is your mom? Are you 34?
7. How tall is your mom? 38 feet or 60 inches
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Play with me.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Cry!
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Being a movie star!
11. What is your mom really good at? Cooking.
12. What is your mom not very good at? Riding bikes.
13. What does your mom do for her job? Take care of children.
14. What is your mom's favorite food? Shrimp?
15. What makes you proud of your mom? When you play with me.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Fat Albert!
17. What do you and your mom do together? Go to Silver Dollar City
18. How are you and your mom the same? We have the same skin color.
19. How are you and your mom different? We don't have the same color hair.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? You hug me.

Picture of the Day

2009-03-18T16:39:00.001-05:00

Last May...at the beach with one of our favorite cousins!

Top of the Morning to You!

2009-03-17T09:59:00.003-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Not that we do anything to celebrate, but happy day anyway! Did you know that my children didn't even know about the whole pinching thing? I tried to make them wear green today so they wouldn't get pinched, only to be informed that pinching was against school policy, and no one would pinch or be pinched today or they would get in serious trouble.

"How about I just draw a shamrock on your knuckle just for good measure...in case someone didn't get the 'no pinching' memo?"

"No thanks...Mrs. S. won't allow anyone to pinch."

"Neither will Mrs. M! We're good!"

Well...alrighty then! Guess some things are just outdated!

Hope you are having a great week so far. I am loving this weather. Isaac and I are headed to the park to look for leprechauns!

Blessings (Irish and otherwise...),

Leslie

Photos from Radiation treatment Last Summer

2009-03-12T14:44:00.003-05:00

Product Recommendation

2009-03-12T14:11:00.003-05:00

From one mom to another:

I am a generic girl. Especially on dishwasher detergent. However, I just tried this for the first time, and I LOVE it! Our dishwasher wasn't working so great...lots of residue on the dishes. Jeff picked this up while browsing at Lowe's, and we love it. Caked on casserole dishes come out sparkling clean. No more grit in the glasses! It does a wonderful job, and I thought you'd like to give it a try!

Leslie

Checking in...

2009-03-10T10:13:00.002-05:00

Good morning! I have a thousand and one things I need to be doing, but I thought I'd check in and let you know how things are going in our neck of the woods.

We have been so busy with livin' lately that very little else has gotten done. We all fought off colds or endured springtime allergies these past two weeks, and I'm glad to report that everyone is breathing much better now.

We finished off basketball season, and are going full steam ahead into baseball season. Owen will play this year. Levi wants to, but we'll see about that. I hesitate to get them involved on a team until they BEG for at least a week. Then I know they're serious. There'll be YEARS of organized sports in my future, and I don't see any reason to rush into it until I have to!

Jeff's work is keeping him busy, which is a good thing given the number of people we know who have recently lost their jobs. We are so thankful for God's provision for our family.

Our van is pushing 200,000 miles, and we have enjoyed getting it back from the repair shop SEVERAL times this past month! She keeps running, so we'll keep driving her! Can't seem to find another one I like any better anyway!

I completed another round of "chemo" yesterday...just the regular Herceptin treatment I get every 3 weeks. The Outpatient Oncology staff at Cox are wonderful, and I have felt very comfortable getting my treatments there. They are CLEAN...which is all I want! AND...even better...I don't have to travel 12 hours to get a treatment. I went in yesterday, and still had dinner on the table for my family last night! Woohoo! It's nice to be back to normal, or a resonable facsimile thereof!

I hope you and your family are enjoying some warmer weather. Here at our home we have a severe case of Spring fever, and are anxiously awaiting Spring Break in a couple of weeks.

Blessings to you and yours! Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. We so appreciate it!

Love,
Leslie

Win A Wii!!!

2009-02-24T10:40:00.002-06:00

Ever consider buying a Wii? Here is a way you can win one for as little as $10 AND help our friends Bryan, Kim, and Jenna bring their new family members home from Ethiopia!

We are selling raffle tickets to win a Wii...and the proceeds go toward the purchase of plane tickets to bring everyone home from Africa. It's a wonderful cause, and a great way to win a Wii for a small contribution. Visit their blog at A Blissful Heart to purchase tickets. You can even help them sell tickets! The person who sells the most can win $50! You can't beat that! (by the way...I'm not in the competition to sell the most tickets, in case you were curious!)

I hope you'll stop by their website, and if you are able, make a contribution toward the purchase of a plane ticket. Wii would be very grateful!

Blessings,

Leslie

How's it going?

2009-02-19T08:04:00.004-06:00

Well...I'm slacking again on keeping my blog updated. We seem to get progressively busier as the year goes on. I had a herceptin treatment here locally this week. I was pleasantly surprised at the wonderful care I was given. Big shout out to the Outpatient Chemotherapy dept. at Cox. They were top notch. Why wasn't I offered that as an option last year? It was very clean, which was a wonderful thing.

Yesterday, Isaac was battling a stomach bug. He finally won the battle this morning around 2am when he woke me up and announced he was "Verwy verwy thursty." Ice chips only, buddy...momma's not into middle of the night surprises! Before I got to the kitchen this morning at 6:30, Owen had already fixed Isaac a bowl of Life, and he was munching like there was no tomorrow. Will it stay down...time will tell!

Last night was our tax appointment. Ordinarily, I do our taxes at home. However, with all our medical and travel expenses this year, I opted to pass the baton to a professional. Found out what I can and cannot deduct. Evidently you can't deduct meals/food while traveling for medical care. Hmmmmm....didn't know that. Thinking about getting a 2nd opinion on that one. Anyway...glad that Jeff took everything in and let me stay home with Isaac. I wasn't looking too super by 5pm last night. Come to think of it...I'm still not!

Owen has his last ball game this Friday night. Those little guys are un-undefeated! They haven't won one yet...so hopefully this one will be THE ONE! They don't lack for enthusiasm, though. Oh, to have the energy of a 9 year old boy!

Jeff is super busy at work. He didn't get home before 7 or 8 any night last week, and probably won't the rest of this week either. I am always reminded of a comment made by a sweet lady at Fellowship Bible Church. As she listened quietly to a room full of young mother's complain about how their husbands can't put the dishes in the dishwasher, or their clothes in the hamper, or how they always work soooo late, she just smiled. When everyone had vented their frustrations, she spoke up.

"For years, after my husband left me and my children, I got up every morning before dawn, made breakfast, rushed children off to school, worked all day, and came home just in time to feed the kids and put them back in bed. Now that I've remarried, I thank the Lord every morning that my husband is willing to leave the house to go to work to provide for us. I get to sleep in until 6, I know my bills will be paid, and I am glad to be able to cook and clean for him. I don't care where he puts his dishes...he takes care of me, and that is such a relief! You should always remember what a blessing it is to have a husband that works to provide for your family. Many aren't so blessed." The attitude of the class was never the same. And...I am very thankful for Jeff working for our family. He's able to do that and remain pleasant...WOW! Am I loved or what?!

I hope you are having a good week. And I hope you are able to find a blessing amidst all the chaos that's going on in your life today.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!"

Blessings,

Leslie

Wouldn't you like to be here...?

2009-02-11T21:35:00.001-06:00

Picture of the Day

2009-02-11T10:44:00.001-06:00

Isaac at Aunt Anita's enjoying hot chocolate! Ummmm Ummmm Good!

Honestly....

2009-02-09T22:51:00.003-06:00

I haven't been posting about Can We Talk Bible study because, frankly, I haven't done it for a week or two. I've just been so hit and miss with it that I hate to post anything about it. I've been slacking! I want to...really, I do. I just get busy and then I get tired and then I put it off...again! I'll catch up soon...now that the boys are well, the van is repaired, and my taxes are...oh, dear...my taxes! Gotta go...I knew I was forgetting something!

Leslie

The Latest Good News!

2009-02-05T20:48:00.002-06:00

Hello again! We made it home from TX...3 days later than planned, but home none the less. There was a terrible winter storm the day after we left, and although we were fine and dandy in Houston, the weather and roads at home wouldn't allow us to return. So...we roughed it in 60-70 degree weather for a couple of extra days! We even ran down to Galveston to have a look at things post hurricane Ike.

Thank you for all your prayers and phone calls while we were on the road. I received excellent reports, and have put off any upcoming surgeries until the boys get out of school. I think we've all had enough disruption for awhile! I was also given the all clear to once again pursue treatment locally, so I'll be going to the oncology department 10 minutes from my home instead of traveling to Tulsa! Yeah!

I questioned the physician on this, and his response was that although he once thought I was too complex for the promised nurse practician here in Missouri, he now thinks I am just fine to continue my treatments here. His words were..."You remember when you began this treatment and I told you that technically you were incurable? Well...I think we may have cured you anyway!" WOOHOO! Sounds good to me! The first day home I called the local office, and already have an appointment for my next treatment this month!

I'm still a little uneasy about not going to TX, but my nurse assured me that this is a normal feeling for cancer patients who are through with treatments...you feel a bit uncertain about going back to your regular doctor. "Leslie," she said, "let's not make this any more complicated than we need to. This cancer has already taken up enough of our time. Let's get on with livin'." Well...alrighty, then! Sign me up for livin'!!!

Since my return, I've been dealing with rescheduling appointments, preparing for our tax appointment (or not), taking our van back and forth from the repair shop (seems as if someone has worn out the brakes this past year...as well as a few other things), shuffling kiddos to and from school, ball games, and practice, cheering for the Cardinals...and just plain getting back to life.

I hope your past weeks have gone well. Leave me a note when you can. I love hearing from you all.

Blessings,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

On the Road Again!

2009-01-24T16:43:00.004-06:00

Just an update...I am leaving in the morning to head back to TX. I'm traveling with Mom, Dad, and Isaac. I have appointments on Monday, and we'll head back sometime after that. It's going to be hard to head home to this cold weather and possibly snow next week...it's going to be in the seventies in Texas! My appointments are just follow-up appointments, and I'll get a treatment while I'm down there as well. If you think about it, pray for our traveling safety, and for good results on the check-ups. Also keep Jeff in mind as he'll be holding down the fort at home. Thanks to Krisi and Larry and Roberta for helping with the boys after school. You are such a huge help!

Hope you and yours have a great weekend.

Blessings,

Leslie

Snow Business

2009-01-21T11:06:00.002-06:00

Jeff and I were looking in wonder at these photos of snowflakes. They are amazing, and you can see more of them at www.snowcrystals.com. Anyway, we were scrolling through some of them, and then we came upon a microscopic photo of man-made snow. You know, the stuff they spray when there's not enough snow on the slopes (nah...I don't know either, but I've read about it! Never been skiing myself!) Anyway, Jeff just laughed a bit and said, "Yah...look at the man made stuff! It's a mess!"

And isn't that the truth? Any time we try to mimic His perfection, we can't even come close! Just a reminder...when we try to do it on our own, the results may look acceptable to the world, but upon closer inspection, we are no where near what God can do! Now...that'll preach!

Excerpt from snowcrystals.com website on Artificial Snow:

Artificial Snow

Snow machines shoot a mixture of water and compressed air out of nozzles. The water comes out as fine droplets, and the air cools as it decompresses, causing the droplets to freeze. A fan blows the ice particles onto the slopes.
You can see from the picture at right (above in my blog) that artificial snow is made of frozen water droplets, with none of the elaborate structure found in real snow crystals.

Can We Talk...Week 1

2009-01-19T14:54:00.005-06:00

Well...what did you think? I am telling you, of all the weeks for me to try to get control of my mouth! Did you find you were given ample opportunity to completely blow it? Did you? Well, sister, let me tell you I DID! I blew it WAY on yonder out of the water. I told my friend Krisi that I saw this week's study fly right by my head and out the garage door! "The difference," I console myself by saying, "is that NOW I'm at least conscious of it!" Yah...that'll fly on judgement day. Good grief!

Let me tell you a little story about me. I have always had some type of "in"...somewhere. It might not have been a big "in", but it was an "in". An exception to a rule in some arena. For example, when I was little, my mom played the piano and organ at church (not at the same time, mind you). Therefore, at times when she was practicing, I was (occasionally) at the church when to all others the doors were closed...(as far as church hours...don't get righteous on me...just hang in there!)

As I was growing up, my daddy was the HS coach (of several sports) as well as the Athletic Director, so I was afforded entry to the school when other children my age were not allowed. I "practiced" with the varsity squad when I was 5! (So what if I was on the stage while they were on the court...it counted!) I also came into the ballgames with dad, so...no admission charge! He also took me into the hospitality room during tournaments (did you know they had those for each team's coaches and school administrators!? Well, they do, and while everyone else is munching on popcorn...which is yummy in it's own right, I was in the home-ec room of some tournament-hosting school eating chili and crackers and homemade cookies and drinking free pop!) It's true!

During High School, my daddy was the principal, which wasn't always a blessing to me. However, I did get into the bldg. before and after hours, and was able to get to my locker before the rush began. Not really a biggee in a 1A school, but it's an "in" anyway. Also, if I forgot something in my locker, I (usually) could get back in the building to get it...if it was ABSOLUTELY necessary.

(I hope these things aren't just totally surprising all of you non-teacher's kids! It's just how it works.)

Then, I had a job at SMSU, both pre-graduation and post-graduation. I had an "in"! Discounted room and board, discounted admission to events, discounted graduate tuition (which, sadly, I never took advantage of!), discounted...ummmm...well, I can't remember much more, but it was an "in".

Married Jeff...his family is well known and liked and they sing all over creation, so...back door entrance to churches, dinner with pastors and professional singers (just once, but it counts!). Stop to fuel up in some town somewhere, and the people recognize and know you. AND...Jeff's daddy worked for the Highway Patrol, so...hypothetically speaking, of course...say someone was perhaps speeding just a little...the trooper recognizes my husband...issues a warning rather than a ticket...totally hypothetically, of course! You get the idea? IN...IN...IN!

I have always had an "exception to the rule" card I could play for my own benefit. So...(hang in there...I'm getting to the point)...when studying scripture, I have the (surprising) knack of applying my imaginary "E.T.T.R." card when I am to apply something that is inconvenient to my human nature.

"Control my tongue? (quick mental elbow to Gabriel's ribs) You KNOW that is NOT my style! Too bad for those other sorry souls, hmmm?" (As if I'm tight with the angel Gabriel...leanin' back against the walls of heaven, scopin' out all those sinnin' people!)

And then, one day at Titus 2 Bible Study at a church in another town, my friend lovingly said, "But the Bible doesn't say, 'Except for you, Leslie. You sweet thing! I made you sarcastic, so you just keep on keepin' on!'" OUCH! Was that necessary? Okay...maybe it was. I am not the exception to God's rules. There...I said it...please don't tell my husband! heehee

So, I have tried to apply that to this week...the fact that I am in no way the exception to God's expectations. I don't get a 'get out of minding-what-you-say jail' card to whip out when it's convenient. I am called to be accountable for what I say. Something at which I obviously need lots of practice!

Overall, I'd give my performance this week a strong D! My conviction, however, gets a strong B (couldn't be an A, or I'd have whipped that D up into a C!) I am working on it, and I must say the "exfoliation" left me rather raw and angry (at myself), but hopeful that although I cannot do what is required on my own, my heavenly father, who loves me more that I love my own kids, can give me the strength and wisdom to bite my tongue, and to be sweeter and gentler in my speech.

Amen!

Blessings,
Leslie

What a Difference!

2009-01-19T14:32:00.004-06:00

May I just share these photos? This is a photo of me taken January 24 of last year in Houston. That's me with my Aunt Teresa, and my cousin Jenny's children (Alex, Miguel, and Gabrielle). I haven't shown any photos of me shiny bald, but...here you go! My hair was actually starting to come back in on the 2nd round of chemo drugs! The other photo was taken this morning (by my in-house photographer, Owen) in our living room. Eight months without chemotherapy does wonders for your hair! WOWZER! It needed documentation, and I think I'm tough enough to just put it out there! Can you believe that?! What a crazy year 2008 was! And...for all my friends still going through those nasty treatments...look at me now! If I'm not living proof of God's power to heal and transform, I don't know who is! Have a great week!

Leslie