Haircut

I've been worrying about this for months and finally did it today...

I have gone back and forth by growing my hair out and cutting it off for years now. I guess I had heard of people donating their hair, but never thought of doing it myself. I don't know why I never considered doing it, I guess I had to have cancer hit home before I became aware of these things. I had been talking about it and letting my hair grow since this past Summer. I finally got it long enough to qualify (8 inches) and today was the day!

Before

After

Please know that my only intention in posting about this is to bring awareness to this wonderful program. I wish I had been more aware and willing the last times I cut my hair. The Pantene Beautiful Lengths program has partnered with the American Cancer Society to provide wigs for cancer patients at no cost to the patient. We met a teenage cancer patient at Hannah's hospital and her wig looked so much like real hair that I caught myself staring at it (probably a little rudely). How important for these girls/ladies to be able to feel a little more normal while going through chemo treatments! And did you know that it takes several people's hair donations to make just one wig? Next time you are considering a haircut, please look into this great charity!

By the way... I have the best hairdresser in the world - thank you, Brittani!! 

Feeling Good

Hannah has had some really good weeks lately. We are so thankful! Last weekend, some good friends of ours asked us to go to the beach with them. I don't think I've ever been to the beach in January, but I loved it! On Sunday, the weather warmed up and was perfect. There was hardly anyone there and nothing was crowded. The kids had a wonderful time together.

From these pictures, you can see that her hair is growing back! It is definitely coming in darker than it was before. 

On one of the nights we went to Pier Park where they have rides and fun things for kids to do. The kids had a great time and didn't want to leave.

Do you see that smile on my face? That's because in my old age I had forgotten what The Scrambler was! I (WRONGLY) assumed that if Hannah was tall enough to be allowed to ride with an adult, then it must be a kid's ride. Never again!! 

Hannah is fearless. She loved every minute of it and begged to ride it again. 

Make-A-Wish

A few months after Hannah was diagnosed we were going through the mountains of paperwork with our social worker. One of the forms she handed us was from the Make-A-Wish foundation. We looked up at her, shocked and a little afraid. She smiled, obviously accustomed to this response, and said that your child doesn't have to be dying to be eligible for a wish from the foundation. A life-threatening disease like cancer qualifies them. We never knew this, but were thrilled. We were able to meet with the two volunteers assigned to us this week while we were at the hospital for Hannah's appointment.

You can see from this picture how my kids instantly fell in love with these two amazing women. Did you catch the word volunteers? These ladies have careers and families (at least one of them has small children - I didn't get a chance to ask the other) and they have given countless hours to volunteering for organizations like Make-A-Wish. They both had taken off of work to meet with us. This experience of meeting them was very convicting to me! I have used the excuse that I have small children and I am therefore too busy to volunteer for things right now - maybe later in my life. What a great example this is to me to live my life differently and more meaningfully!

We were able to spend more time chatting with Holly, the volunteer on the right. I asked her why she volunteers for the THREE different organizations to which she donates her time. I half expected her to say that she had a sibling who battled cancer or something like that. Her answer was that she grew up in Memphis and her parents were always good about taking her to visit the patients at St. Jude Children's Hospital. It made an impression on her and now she continues to give back with her time. Wow! What influence there is when we teach our children through our actions and not just our words! Her parents included her in their volunteering/giving and now she is carrying it on in her life and the next generation with her own children. Because of her parent's actions, she is continuing to make a difference in many children's lives - including my kids! This was definitely a lesson in parenting for me.   I want to be intentional to involve my children in service to others and giving of our time.

Thank you Meredith and Holly (and Holly's parents)!

January

Hannah had her January appointment on Thursday. Since we had to be at the hospital rather early, we went up the night before. Evan and Lauren came with us on this trip. Isn't it wonderful how a stay in a hotel is the best thing ever for kids? Their favorite thing is to jump from bed to bed. (Sorry everyone else who is trying to sleep!)

This time Evan volunteered to sleep in the chair instead of in the bed with both his sisters. Surprisingly, the next morning he said he slept well.

Hannah's appointment was long but routine. She got her monthly IV chemo and blood work done. Earlier in the week when I told her we had to go back, this was the conversation we had:

Me: We have to go back for another appointment.

Hannah: Spend the night in the hospital?

Me: No.

Hannah: Finger prick?

Me: Yes.

Hannah: Port? (She was asking if they would have to access her port)

Me: Yes.

Hannah: Sleepy medicine? (She was asking if she would have to be sedated, which she doesn't like)

Me: No.

Hannah: OK

The understanding she has about all these procedures is amazing. In just a few short questions she had the whole doctor visit understood in her mind. 

I remember a couple of years ago thinking that I wanted to expose my children to other children who may have disabilities or were different in some ways. I wanted them to learn that children who may look or move differently were still just kids who wanted to be treated the same. I wasn't sure where or how to do that. As we walked into the very full waiting room this week, it hit me that this has been taken care of. A quick scan of the room showed children of every race and background, many with no hair, many who looked very sick, one with large scars all over his bald head, and a couple in wheelchairs. All three of my children didn't stare or ask questions about what was wrong with these kids. This is normal to us now. I looked over at one point and my kids were talking and playing with a little boy (a little older than Hannah) who obviously had cancer and had a prosthetic leg. He was showing them how he could take it off and how he could balance on his other leg. He and Hannah were showing each other how long they could stand on one foot. I love this! It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. What a blessing for my children (and me!) 

Hannah will continue on her oral chemo this month and return next month for the same type of visit. It is nice to have things be the same every month. She is on steroids again this week. I explained this to Evan and Lauren and gave them the talk about how this means that we all have to be extra patient, etc. They both asked if they could have a vacation from Hannah. :)