Saturday 9/27/08

Okay, I admit to being a "picture-holic"! I just cannot help myself when I see these two adorable faces! Thankfuly, they are getting a little better at being photographed. Espically Carys, she is a real "ham" in front of the camera~

Carys and Sawyer in their Auburn Atire! We may not have much on an Offence, but we have the cutest fans!!!

Sawyer is a very photogenic child. Look at those BIG eyes. I love the B&W but you should see how blue they are in color!

I was playing around with the B&W feature on the camera. I guess this is "hear no evil!"

Speaking of Blue Eyes! Look at that hair. Compare to the pics from last week! You cannot see the scalp now!

She looked away at the last second. Still a good shot if you ask me.

What a sweet smile! Enough Said! Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!

Saturday Hair Pics (a little late!)

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I feel kinda silly for posting these on Friday. They were taken last Sat on Carys' birthday. The "God of hope" has filled us with joy and peace so many times since Carys' 3rd birthday. I cannot believe she is FOUR!

I love my husband and kids SO much. I cannot wait to show you pics from this Sat. Her hair is already so much thicker you will not believe it! You cannot even see her scalp now!

Birthday Girl! September 20, 2008

Carys and Sawyer

See that Hair!!



Carys playing on the slide.

September

This month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This month is set aside to spread information about Childhoos Cancer. Most of you know about some parts of it beacuse of Carys' experience. Somethings you might not know...

Childhood Cancer Facts:
Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.

Some of you may think..."Wow, that's bad." and it is! Carys is NOT the only child fighting this battle. Just in the last TWO days, we have LOST TWO Wilms Warriors who have been fighting! I am forever greatful that Carys has done so well in her fight... but that is NOT the case for every child.

Hopefully, when you read this you will NOT just feel bad and click on to another blog. I pray you will take action. You know that we are collecting itemsto donate to the hosptial. This will help ease the course of treatment for many kids. But there is more to be done. RESEARCH!!! I am going to provide some links for you to look at. Please at least look at them to become more informed. Also, consider donating to these reputable groups that help in many areas fo the childhood cancer fight including Research!

To do the most good in my opinoin in the area of research, click here to donate to CARYS' team for CureSearch. They are connected with the Children's Oncology Group (COG) which studies and sets up the protocols for treating/curing Childhood Cancer. http://host.curesearch.org/goto/cure4carys

www.candlelighters.org

www.campsam.org Alabama's camp for Kids with Cancer.

Please stand with us in Honor of Carys' fight! Consider writing a blog about Childhood Cancer (feel free to include information about Carys) and ask others to do the same. This way, we can get the word OUT!!

Saturday 9/13/08

Here are our pictures from LAST Saturday. For those of you keeping up, we take "hair pictures" every Saturday to keep track of Carys hair growth journey

Saturday Morning

Carys in her Flower Girl Dress Sat Morning
So much hair you can almost brush it!

Sawyer at Steven and Des' Wedding. Yes, he wore his boots with his tux!

The Cottingham Boys. Sawyer looks a little out of place with his blonde hair!

Daddy and The Kids...All Dressed UP

Mommy and Carys. She spiked a fever 1 hr before walking down the isle!

Sawyer Getting his Flower on!

Are they cute or WHAT!?!

Waves of Doubt...

From the Book of James:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Today I lack wisdom...want to be fearless. I want to be faithful. And I want to be wise. I want my children to know that they do not have to live in fear because God is on the throne.

I want to believe...Today has been kinda hard. All I can think about is Carys. What is she doing? How does she feel? Is there cancer growing inside her un-chemo body? I know this sounds bad and unfaithful, but it is my heart today.

I felt like I would burst if I did not read God's Word and get these thoughts out.

How sad Christ must be that I made the decision to not think about what He did on Calvary to set me free. Free from fear and doubt. He allowed me to completely comprehend James 1:6. When I allowed fear and doubt to enter my heart, I felt over taken. Even like I was drowning in my pitty. I now know how Peter felt when he walked on water!

I have been so elated for the past few days after hearing the good news about Carys on Friday. The reports were there to confirm what I already knew God had done. As I allowed doubt to enter my heart, I was like Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus! And just the same, I cried out for God to save me from this fear and doubt!

So for now, I vow to tell satan to get out of my head because he will never make it to my heart. That belongs to Jesus!! I vow to claim the power, give to me through Grace, to overcome the heartaches of this world and live for HIM.

That does not mean I will never worry or be sad. But, I will NOT allow those feeling to overcome me and take my focus off of what God has put me here to do! Love Justin, love my kids, and teach them of God's unspeakable love for them!

Carys is NED!!!

Friday was the big day. We stayed in B'ham Thursday night to be at the hosptial @ 7am. When we got there she had her port accessed, labs drawn and we went upstairs for the scan. She had to drink some drink (with the contrast in it) before the scan. She did great all day! When we made it back to clinic Dr. Haines informed us that radiology was backed up and it would be a while before we knew the results. We went to Mrs. Kimberly's activity room and played with a new friend. Finally, we got the news! NED...no evidence of disease! ALL of the nurses in clinic gathered round and sang to Carys (a no more chemo song)! Then Carys found out that she had to have a breathing treatment before we could go home. That killed Carys' happy spirits but 10 mins later (when the treatment was over) she was right back ready to go to the Cracker Barrell! Thanks so much for all the prayers. PLEASE take time out of your schedule to PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

This is Carys before her CT scan. Can you see the hair?!?

Many of you have asked about the CT and what is it like for Carys. She just lies still and the machine takes the pictures. She does not have to be sedated since she is such a big girl!

Carys and Mom before the scan. You can see that we have to wear lead jackets to protect our selves from the radiation.

Carys during the CT. She has to lie very still and she does a GREAT job!

Carys and Dr. Haines after the NED...no evidence of disease... was delivered!

Justin and Carys at Cracker Barrell for our Celabration Lunch

Great Fun

Here are some fun pics of Sawyer. I am sure he has not gotten enough attention over the past months. He is such a fun child. He loves to make everyone around him laugh! I am truly blessed to be his mom!!!

Sawyer has discovered the "Money-bars"

Not sure what this face is...but it is CUTE!

Sawyer is addicted to watching The Wizard of Oz. This is his "lions and tigers and bears! Oh My" face!

Sawyer's Idea of Fun on a Rainy Day!

Just Hangin' Out

Bare-Foot Cowboys

Cancer has a way of making you appreciate everyday and everything about your life. I hope that through telling our story two things will happen (1) people will realize they need the Lord everyday and that life without Him is not worth living! (2) don't wait until cancer or some other tragedy comes along before you stop and smell the roses!