Catching up!

Sorry for my silence. Time is flying and I can't believe that I haven't blogged since June. I apologize for not sharing my recent "journey" with you. I really have no excuse, especially since I bought a new laptop a few days ago. All I can say is I've just been busy.

I'm trying to make the most of my summer between my chemo and doctors' appointments. I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant and will have my fourth round of chemo next Monday. I feel great and am resting when I need to, despite what P.J. says. We have enjoyed special houseguests (Maureen, Angie and Sam), visits to the area farmers' markets, trips to Lake Forest beach, cooking out in our new backyard, dinners out with friends and preparing for baby.

On the subject of the baby, we are overjoyed and are still in shock that this is actually happening! In our wildest dreams, we could not imagine this scenerio, nor could my doctors. I was diagnosed with cancer on February 20 and found out I was pregnant on March 6. I was literally a week away from beginning chemo. As P.J. described in an earlier email, chemo would kill the fetus if taken during the first trimester. Since ending my pregnancy wasn't an option for me, we had to come up with an alternate plan. For quite a while, I didn't believe that this could all work out; however, it is and we will have a baby boy in October and I will be cancer-free next spring! The Lord works in mysterious ways!

My doctors recommended that I not travel this summer because of my "depressed" immune system and an increased risk to catching H1N1 (swine flu) or something else nasty. They said the only way I could fly was if I wore a face mask and a compression sleeve on my right arm (to avoid developing lymphadema resulting from having my lymph nodes removed). Well - I decided that I would attract too much attention to myself between those precautionary measures coupled with my pregnant belly and my scarfed head. I could just imagine what people would be thinking about me - wondering what my deal is. Anyway, I have the luxury of staying home and knowing that everyone will come to see me when they can.

Georgia is down south right now for a 16-day visit with my family. She is having a ball with her younger cousins and our friends. The biggest occasion that I have had to miss was the birth of my niece Julia on June 23 in Griffin, Georgia. Julia is my sister Rebecca's second child and little sister to Logan who is almost three-years-old. Georgia is getting lots of practice with Julia on how to care for a newborn and to be a helpful big sister. Georgia has been busy seeing my great aunt Margaret and Uncle Jack and visited the World of Coke Museum in Atlanta; hanging out with Wendy and kids visiting from Switzerland; spent two nights with Maureen and daughters; is currently spending a week in Blue Ridge at "Nana Camp" that includes a horseback riding day camp and had last weekend with all the cousin and lots of time on the lake; will go to Alabama this weekend to visit even more cousins. Georgia barely has time to talk with us and we are thrilled she's having such a good time. After this great experience away from home, Georgia is ready to go to Keystone Camp for two weeks next summer.

I have to go to bed now ... P.J. is nagging me. I promise I'll write again soon as I have some funny and interesting observations to share about my experiences. Thank you for keeping me and my family in your prayers.

xxoo

Jana