Wrapping up January

 January was really long this year, but there were some good spots.

Stephen went on a boys' trip with his dad and brothers to the Phoenix Open and loved it.

Aunt Terri came to stay with me to help during a chemo infusion.  She was not totally vigilant coming down our stairs and had a bad fall.  Since Stephen was out of town, I had to step in and stitch up her cut.  

With the kids back in school, I spent time at the library, working on sort of a master's class in writing.  

It's nice to wrap up this month, looking back on much of the good.  

Last Pack Meeting

Our church group decided to officially leave The Boys Scouts of America in 2020.  Therefore, Ryan and Evan had their last pack meeting for Cub Scouts.  They both racked up the awards, though.  Way to go out with a bang!

I'm so proud of these boys and their goals and hard work to reach them!
(I look pretty zoned out because I had chemo earlier that day!)

Evan-Golf Tryout

Evan finished his swim lessons and decided to move on to golf.  

He had a tryout day to come and let the coaches discover his starting level.  

It seems like Meow has chosen wisely for his 2020 sport (and hopefully beyond.)

Half Birthday

This birthday stuff is weird in middle school.

I can't eat lunch with him.  

There's a few carts by the office that you label a lunch in sharpie with the student's name

and leave it for them to pick it up.  

No nothing other than that.  

And, he's officially taller than I am.  

12 1/2.  

After Chemo #2

No hair, but fashioned up a topknot of a kind.  After the second of 6 treatments, things are going pretty well.  I had a weird, new symptom of sharp, shooting, random pains from my ankles up to both knees.  No rhyme or reason or pattern.  I also had a very down couple of days of how tired and broken I felt about this cancer experience, as in this is harder than it's been before and I'm more worried about what's going on during the process.  Stephen reminded me that I've been fighting this crap for seven years and that I'm not in my thirties anymore, so of course it's going to be more difficult!  

T he week after that difficult night, I met up at a 504 meeting for my 2nd grader's dyslexia program and accommodations.  I had a powerful mom moment over that, too, because I followed my mother's intuitions and advocated for that child, a 2nd grader who has struggled with reading and writing and arithmetic with reading of any kind and I am the one who got the ball rolling on testing identifying.  I started to think about how this is a good thing for this child, and it might not have gotten going without my influence. If the ONLY reason I am still around was to help my son with a school disability, I have a great reason to still be here. 

Later that day, I had a dentist appointment.  From the very beginning of my cancer battle, I was told by all my dentists to be vigilant with brushing gnat flossing, especially while on chemotherapy, as that can decay your teeth.  As those reminders weighed heavy on my mind over the last seven years, I was also shown what a blessing it is that I have not have any cavities or other needed dental work during the time I've been fighting cancer.  What a blessing that is, that I Don't have more financial or painful procedures, even when practically promised that I would.  It's a small blessing with wide reaches that shows me a specific way that God is watching over me, and helps me to see His blessings in my life. I also know that, even when this journey is quite difficult, I am watched over, prayed over, and never alone.     

Ryan Gymnastics Meet

Ryan was off to a good start after his first meet, and had another one in January.

Here's a few snippets of his skills.

The team took first overall!

Ryan didn't do too poorly individually, too.  

We had a nice Weinerschnitzel lunch afterwards!

Snow Day

It snowed!!!!  Not a lot, but there was some frozen precipitation on the ground.  

Temple

We were able to attend the Dallas temple as part of the Cooper Extravaganza.

Kyle joined us for some family baptisms.

He also got to be part of a fabulous dinner at Princi Italia.   

Medieval Times

As our Cooper Christmas Extravaganza continued, we became friends of the Realm at Medieval Times.  It was fun and the kids loved it.

I was just feeling so sick and barely making it.

At least no Coopers died.

Cooper Extravaganza!!!!! (Gaylord Snow & Ice, Epic Waterpark)

 Here's more of the fun we had together after Christmas.

The Gaylord was a new experience for our family and so fun and FREEZING!!!  The kids could've spent so much time there.  Even I loved the ice slide.  (not so much, the carrying up of the tubes.) Evan was so helpful to carry my tube for me.  Ryan was so kind, sharing his tube and offering an older woman to go in front of him.  We warmed up decorating gingerbread cookies and enjoying time together.  

I was not able to go to the water park, as I was starting a new chemo regimen the same day.   I'm glad I was able to rest well, knowing the boys and Stephen were having a great time!