Bottom of the 9th!

The last stretch, The final quarter, however you word it one simple fact remains... ALMOST FINISHED.  I have not kept count when it has come to radiation, because there were so many.  I just knew that every Monday-Friday I had to be there bright and early and 33 was the magic number.  September 19 would be the final day, we have talked about doubling up one day next week so that I can finish on Sept 16.  The fatigue has been what they said it would be, difficult and progressively worse with each treatment.  Which has made my daily lifestyle challenging and work equally so.  I just remain ever so thankful that since January my support system has been so solid that everything has been tended to at home.  My mother has been able to come and stay with us to help with meals and housework which has made everyone very happy.  There is just something about having Mimi's cooking that make's everything OK!  When Mimi's here we also get to see more of my sister and my Aunt and Uncle which is nice for all of us!  Family, enough said.

Radiation effects on my skin have not been as difficult as I had read or heard they were with others, yea!.  I have experienced some swelling, tightness and darkening in the area that is being treated, but not the red, burning, type irritation that they warned about occurring.  Applying the creams we purchased, wearing loose clothing as instructed, and having to make adjustments such as not to not hang my bags over my right shoulder, I do believe have all helped contribute to making this go a little easier than expected.  Thank goodness!  Enough about me.

The kids have all gotten adjusted to going back to school and back to our daily routines.  Bianca is in High School at Midland High this year and just loves being a Bulldog!  She even made the front page of the Midland Reporter Telegram on August 31st with the picture below.  We were so proud!!

Bianca Rendon and Alexis Carrillo fold shirts Tuesday in the Dawg House spirit shop at Midland High. Students in the special needs classes at MHS man and run the shop before and during lunch at school. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Read more: MHS Dawg House - Mywesttexas.com: Home http://www.mywesttexas.com/image_62cfbeb3-e3eb-5d61-b657-71913408c865.html#ixzz1XfobxGcb 
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Brooke is in 7th grade at Goddard Junior High and adjusting.  The first week was a little difficult for all of us as we learned our way around such a large system.  She did not make the volleyball team, even at 5'7"!
We were under the impression that if you signed up for athletics you were on the volleyball team and were not aware until the week prior to school beginning that tryouts would be held for the team.  (this is where I get upset at being sick and blame myself for not being able to be more informed during the summer or last spring)  Little did we know that she would be trying out against 120 other girls for 24 spots and the majority of the girls had attended volleyball camps, etc.  I think we have a few numbers to coaches/players that would have been willing to work with her over the summer, but we didn't know.  Lesson learned.  She wants to try out for the basketball team, we might know a few coaches there also.  She is in band and all Pre-AP courses, loving every minute of it, although, Bianca and Lincoln didn't love the first time she had to practice her clarinet, that was funny!

Blayr is just dominating second grade.  I was not able to drop her off that day but it didnt' really matter.  Brian said she didn't even turn around and say goodbye to him, she was so excited to see her teacher, Ms Xiong!  Lincoln is loving his pre-k class with Ms. Marcia as his teacher at Grace Lutheran ECP.  He is so excited that he knows 2 "Marsha's" his teacher and the one ''I work with that takes him for ice cream'' he told me! He divides his time between Grace Lutheran and Little Red Wagon and gets the best of both worlds!

I was able to get my first "trim" two weeks ago!! Mac Tobar with Maximus Hair Salon always makes be feel great when I leave, Thank you Mac!  It was so nice to feel normal and like a lady if just for a little while.  Lincoln did ask me the other day "mommy when are you getting your girly hair back?"  I just laughed and said it will be awhile and thought to myself, I guess he is tired of my boy look!  I was also asked by the Allison Cancer Center to be one of the Breast Cancer Survivor Models during the 5th Annual Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon on October 11th. What a fun honor.

We continue to be blessed on a daily basis.  Still from people we know and from those we do not.  So grateful for His gracefulness during unsettling times.  Always humbling that we are not left alone yet we are assured that I have always had peace and guidance in knowing that I have my friends, family, and those I don't even know saying... yes you can.

I leave you with this song by Martina McBride that I dedicate to my husband who has "loved me through it".  While this journey is not one we ever thought we would be going through in the end our love will see us through the good and the bad.  So many obstacles have gotten in the way and it has been a bumpy ride.  There are still no guarantees that anything we have done has worked but there is one, our family.  It is as if Martina McBride wrote this song with me in mind, well almost... as you read the lyrics.. I am 39.....have 4 kids...they took more than they planned.... listen and you will be amazed.  Thank you Dani for sharing and being the friend you have been, you made us cry.  I wish they had different lyrics in part of this song that would say "THEY loved me through it" because so many of you have that are reading this, it will never be forgotten and will forever leave a lasting impression in our lives and hearts.  We are loved.

Martina McBride "I'm Gonna Love You Through It"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxIt70j_SPk