Our Family Miracle

So, I realize it's been over a YEAR since I posted on here, and honestly probably very few people will ever find this, but if I have an avenue to proclaim God's praises I'm gonna use it...

On this past Thursday, I had a mammogram scheduled to have them check on a lump I'd found.  Life had been so busy that I hadn't even thought much about it until I was in the car on the way to the clinic and began feeling really nervous.  I checked in, got my cape on and got the mammogram done.  Not fun, but part of being a girl, I suppose.  After that, the doctor needed to do an ultrasound of the lump just to be thorough.  When he was doing the ultrasound I could see it.  A black speckled lump that the doctor stared at and began taking measurements of.  I was still not totally aware of what was going on.  He finishes and says to me, "I'm not going to lie.  I'm very concerned about this lump in your breast and would like to perform a needle biopsy right now to confirm my suspicion."

Wait, what??  Breathe, Jessica...just breathe.

I called Todd and told him the reader's digest version of things and asked him to pick up Owen from school for me since I'd be late.  He was shocked and really concerned that I was at the appointment by myself. 

I waited for what seemed like an eternity to start the biopsy and just started praying.  I called my mom to let her know also and then just waited.  Suddenly everyone in the office started treating me very gingerly and looking at me with a twinge of sadness in their eyes.  I mean, I'm 33!?!  This can't be happening. 

They finally started the biopsy (not fun at all, by the way) and I asked the doctor to be straight with me.  What were the chances that this was indeed the "C" word??  He said, "I think I made myself clear.  I believe you have breast cancer.  It's the size of a large raisin.  It doesn't appear from the ultrasound to have travelled to your lymph nodes, so hopefully you'll just need a lumpectomy and radiation to take care of it.  A speed bump in your life."

A speed bump.  What, like JV cancer?

He finishes the biopsy and leaves me to get dressed and said he'd be in to chat with me one last time before I left.  I look at the counter and there is a paper with instructions on how to care for my biopsy site and a long stemmed pink rose.  I didn't want it, but know they were just trying to be nice.

The doctor came in one last time to reassure me that he believed we'd caught it early and would call me within the next 24 - 48 hours with my biopsy results.  I asked him not to call me until Saturday since I had a big day on Friday that I didn't want clouded by being glued to my phone.  I asked him one last time.  "Is there any way this isn't cancer?"  His reply was, "I know what I saw.  I mean, I guess I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.  I'm really sorry."

The next 24-48 hours could have been horrible, but by God's providence my good friend Sarah was getting married and it would be the perfect thing to make the time pass by without dwelling on my circumstances.  And it was perfect.  I nearly completely forgot about everything while at the rehearsal dinner, getting ready the next day, and enjoying their amazing wedding.  But then the wedding was over.  And I got scared.  Todd was such a rock for me.  He let me cry and talk it out, all the while being so confident that our God is good...whether it's cancer or not.  But also He is powerful and sovereign and is in control over what this turns out to be. 

The next morning we got ready to spend the whole day together and I saw a voicemail on my phone.  It was from the doctor and it said that he had "good news...no, great news for you".

When I called him back the first thing he said to me was that he was in shock.  He said that he spent the better part of Friday after getting the results looking over my scans and pictures and that he would have said the same thing again.  That's what it looked like, but the biopsy came back benign.  He said that in his entire career he'd done over 10,000 biopsies and has been wrong twice.  My case was the second time.  I told him that I believe God changed the results.

Praise the Lord.  God is good.  But that would have been the case even if He had decided to allow this for me.  He's always good and always in control.  My life doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Him and had He asked me to go through this for His glory I would have.  But it's not His plan for me today and for that I am grateful..

We're all alive! I promise... :)

This is a post for all of the people (maybe my Dad and our Granny Yost?) who randomly check in on our blog.  We are alive and well and so excited to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas soon. 

 

Here are some pictures that our wonderful friends at Studio 517 took...thanks Andy and Laura!  We are so pleased. :)

 

Life is full...which is why our blog is so neglected. ;)

Family Update

Oh, hi there.  Remember us??  I know, I know...we haven't been keeping things updated here on the 'ole blog, but we've been too busy living our LIFE!  I know, crazy...huh?  ;)

Here is an update of what's been going on in the past 2 months...bullet style...

*Our house was on the market for several months, and after 3 agressive price drops and no interest, God has provided a way for us to STAY here while we build the other homes!?  We are so grateful.  It's off the market for now...but as we've learned the hard way, we'll hold this home with an open hand and let the Lord have His way...

*The first of our 3 additional homes to be built on our newly subdivided property is currently being worked on!  It's taking shape quickly and the roof is going on as we speak!  I love the floor plan of the new house.  Now let's pray for a buyer for it soon!! :)

*Hailey and Owen have spent several weeks of the summer in swimming lessons!  Hailey has passed level 3 and is now working on her crawl stroke!  It looks more like a doggie paddle right now, but she's working hard on it! ;)  And Owen...he started the lessons so terrified of the water that the teachers had to rip our screaming son out of my arms.  Just 2 days ago he got in trouble for jumping into the kiddie pool by himself when it wasn't his turn. We'll take the progress!

*Our family got the amazing priviledge of serving up at a Freshman camp at Rockridge Canyon, a YL Canada camp in Princeton, BC.  It was amazing!  Lots of work and very little sleep for me, but it was such a treat for our kids...and such fun watching Todd be "Mr. Mom" for the week.  He was a trooper!!

*We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new niece OR nephew...Christy is due any minute day now and we are dying to find out what the baby is!?! I also just booked tickets for Hailey and I to visit next month...and she promises that she'll do diapers. ;)

*My children are such fun right now...they play together so well (most of the time ;) and are getting so independent! Love those kids... :)

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment, but I promise I'll try to be better about updating the blog...and I'll do my best to put some pictures up soon too.

Mother's Tea

My sweet Hailey invites me to a tea at her school this week. It was such a fun morning! The kids sang to us, the teachers read letters written to us by our kids, and served us treats and punch. Hailey was so excited that she came bursting into my room at 6:30 in the morning wearing her Easter dress! And she made, er, um...asked me to wear a dress too. ;)

All in all, such a special morning. The highlight was when the kids got up to sing I'm a Little Teapot and her teacher informed all of us that they'd also be singing the second verse that Hailry taught the class!! She remembered it from her old preschool... ;)

Before & After

We purchased these 6 chairs on Craig's List for $70 and then bought this fun fabric for $20 and some scotch guard for $7. For under $100 we replaced the chairs at our kitchen table. Not bad! :)

The process of re-upholstering these babies was far easier than when I did my two in the dining room...I just in-screwed the seats, stapled the new fabric on, and Todd re-attached them. Easy-peasie!!

Shhh...

You didn't hear it from me, but Sweet Pea had a little work done... ;)

Let me back up a bit...nearly 2 years ago Hailey made Sweet Pea at Build a Beat. She's been loved on and played with daily since then and let's just say she was getting a bit...ragged. We asked the kind folks that work at Build a Bear and they unofficially said that should she find herself "un-stuffed" and run through the wash in a lingerie bag they could re-stuff her and see her back together free of charge! So nice.

She spent one night in the "ICU" (Hailey's baby crib) in a flattened state and now today she's good as new!

We are so happy to have her good as new and smelling fresh as a daisy. ;)

The Lord Giveth...

...and the Lord taketh away.

Nearly 6 months to the day after moving into our new house we're putting it on the market.

Things in our business have been very challenging (to say the least) since moving in here and we can no longer afford to stay in this house. There is definitely some sadness in leaving this home that we poured so much of ourselves into. What a blessing this home has been as we've already hosted many family dinners, birthday parties, and playdates here...but at the end of the day it's just a house. Our family will be in tact wherever we live. That's what matters.

When we finally reached this conclusion (after much prayer and tears) I found myself with a twinge of sadness and a huge sense of peace and relief. God is going to care for us. No matter what.

What's next for us? Well, to be honest your guess is as good as ours. We have many different options. We could buy something cheap and renovate, we could rent somewhere for a while and look for a less expensive lot and build smaller, or maybe even cozying up with our folks at one of their houses?? Wherever we end up, we'll be just fine.

When in the midst of deciding what to do, I was very worried about what moving again would do to our kids. I mean, they anticipated and helped in the building process too and have loved it here. I asked Hailey, "So, are you going to be sad if we end up having to move out of this house?"

Her reply was, "Nope. Can I bring my chandelier??" Sure Hails...or maybe we'll even spring for another one. It was $40 at Ikea afterall. ;)

Then came discussion of whether or not she could handle sharing a room with her brother...

"Sure! It'll be like camping!"

Love that girl.

The best thing that's come out of all of this? I've never clung on to my Jesus so hard for every drop of energy, hope, and peace.

I'll be honest...the thought of moving again (maybe even twice) for the 3rd time in just over a year is exhausting to me. I'm literally tired just thinking about it, but I know that when my energy runs out His takes over and that's just a good place to be...