Prayers...

In April, 2010, when Andrew was 2 1/2, a tumor was discovered behind his eye. The tumor was removed, but it was found to be an aggressive cancer. He endured seven months of chemo and six weeks radiation. In December of 2010, the day after his last treatment, he was rushed to the ER with an almost fatal bacterial infection. He survived.

He is now seven-years-old!! I don't visit here much, because during the ordeal, this is where I dumped everything--my rage, my fear, my sadness, my ugly, my hope, my everything. But I want all of you who supported and prayed for us to hear his updates. You helped me survive, and I am deeply thankful. Every once in awhile, I will check in to let you know how he's doing. Please continue to pray that cancer will never return to his body. Thank you.



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A New Year, A New Day, A New Cup

I really could use a cup of coffee (with lots of Bailey's).  So I am joining in today.

If we were truly having coffee today, I would tell you that in my rollercoaster life, the last few weeks have been wonderful.  Christmas shopping (love it) spending time with family and playing games (fun!), singing (well kinda) the Hallelujah Chorus at the mall (everybody's doing it), sleeping in (delightful), three little boys and a husband at home with me (sweet).

In addition to celebrating a New Year, I am also celebrating many other NEW things.  Hooray!

A NEW back.  Well, at least, it feels like one.  I have started running again.  My back stopped hurting, and I am finally getting back into a routine after eight months of craziness. Which is good, because I have eaten lots of chocolate and stollen over the last few weeks.

A NEW blog header.  Thanks very much to Heather at

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because I have no idea how to do this stuff myself.

A NEW computer, on which my fingers are now typing-- my Christmas present from John this year.  It was so needed!  My old laptop's "screensaver" was a bright red triangle with an exclamation mark in the middle of it.  I was sure it was going to explode at any moment.  It was clogged with so many pictures that it took several seconds to recognize each key stroke.  It was SO slow.  The best part of the gift was that John took all of my pics off the old computer and put them on the new one and organized them!!  He spent his sleeping hours of Christmas Eve sitting at the computer transferring data!!  Amazing!


I also finally made my way to http://www.picnik.com/.  What was I waiting for?  That place is so fun!!  I don't really know what I am doing, but I edited a few pics, and I love them.  So I have a NEW photo editing hang out. 







Perfect for this coffee drinking occasion, I got "John" a new Keurig coffee maker.  While easy to work, it has a few downsides.  Like, it doesn't get very hot.  It doesn't make a full cup of coffee, and the coffee that it does make, is diluted (compared to how we usually make it).  So, while new, probably not better.  But it is nice for a quick cup in the morning.  If we were really having coffee, I might show you the bright shiny new one, and then make us a pot in the old one we bought at Target for $29.99.

We got lots and lots of NEW hats.  So many in fact that I am still working on getting all of the pictures together for a humongous hat posting.   Wow!  You guys were so sweet to us.

But, best of all, as of 20 minutes ago, I am now cautiously able to say that I have a NEW schedule!  One that does not include almost daily trips to the clinic and poisonous chemicals in my son's body.  The scans were negative!!!!  I am also experiencing a NEW breathing rhythm.  One that includes exhaling.

Thank you for your prayers, your kind comments, and your sweet thoughts.  I am relieved, but still oh so cautious!!  I need to go hide in a room with wall-to-wall wood paneling and knock around in there for a while. :)

Go have a few more cups of coffee with Amy and friends at: 

join me for coffee!

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24 comments:

  1. Oh! This post just made my crummy day SO.MUCH.BETTER!
    Much love to you and all those boys:-)

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  2. Yahoo!! Great news!! I have been following your blog for a while. I am so glad the scans are clean. On a side note...I also have a Keurig and didn't know until fiddling a friend's that you can actually turn up the heat temp. Go make a hot cup of coffee and enjoy your amazing news!!!

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  3. exhaling is always good! congrats on the wonderful news. what a gift to transfer all your data to a new computer, that would have been a huge gift by itself.

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  4. Oh, I'm so glad I found you on Virtual Coffee! I love picnik, and I use it for *everything*. And I will definitely keep your son in my prayers, though it's good to know that his scan was negative. I hope 2011 continues to be a good year for you!

    Much love,
    Joelle

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  5. Negative! Wow! Negative!! I'm exhaling with you, Julie, and crying tears of joy. Such amazing news. Amazing!

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  6. I'm so so glad to hear, Julie. Yay! Good news at last! You guys got through it, a testament to your family's perseverance and stamina. I'm so happy I could sing!!!! Which is not a good thing -- just ask my boy! ;)

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  7. Oh my goodness, I had to pop over for the news, and it is WONDERFUL NEWS!!! XOXOXOXOXOXO!!!! So happy for your precious boy and your family!

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  8. I'm drinking a blue martini in Andrew's honor right now. Cheers to you, I'm so, so happy to hear the AWESOME news!

    Picnik... I usually use picasa, but I love the effects on the pictures you posted. Maybe I'll check it out.

    Have a GREAT night!

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  9. This is THE NEWS I have been waiting for all those past weeks - XOXOXOOXOXO

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  10. Julie- Breathing is good, so is exhaling. Wow...What great news and how happy and excited you all must feel. I truly wish you for a wonderful year, you deserve a boring, uneventful year and I hope you get it! Congrats on the new computer, isn't it so nice to start fresh? And picnik = love. Thanks for joining in for coffee!

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  11. Negative -- PTL!!! I might start singing Hallelujah Chorus in the mall too!!!

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  12. YAY For the negative scans!!!
    Enjoy the new year you deffinatly deserve it!!

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  13. Woohoo!!! Yay! Yay! Yay! (I admit I skimmed the post looking for that news and then went back to read the rest.)

    And now I'm exhaling right along with you. I'm so happy for you and your family. So, so happy.

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  14. I am literally celebrating this post, right along with you - with my tall caramel frappacino - my drink of choice. So unbelievably happy for you and for Andrew and for the whole family.

    P.S. Love the new header!
    xoxo

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  15. I am so happy for your results for Andrew. I just found your blog yesterday by way of Winn's Window. Love your photos. I just discovered the picnik site recently and did post about two days ago. I also did a post today on coffee so I am delighted to find another blogger that loves coffee.

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  16. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Negative!! I'm so happy you can finally breath. I love your picniking skills too. What did you do to those? They look great! And, running...hmm...does it really help your back feel better? I'm not a runner, but I've been entertaining the thought. If it would make my back feel better, I'm in. :)

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  17. There are miracles happening all over the place!! That is wonderful, wonderful, just EXCELLENT news about Andrew. I have a huge smile on my face just thinking about it ~ Happy New Year to all of you!! 2011 will totally rock at the Taylor household! xo

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  18. this is AWESOME news!! you have to be relieved and giddy! enjoy your kiddos! hugs, Cathy *the power of prayer*

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  19. i definitely need to check out piknic if editing turns out such cute pics!

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  20. What news what news!!!!!!! Blessed be!!! A lovely way to start off the new year (well, that and Picnik- I know, isn't it an awesome site?!!!)

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  21. Oh Julie! My heart jumped with excitement over the negative scan!! Fantastic news! May this year continue to be routine for you and your family. XXOO

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  22. Dearest Julie, I have finally caught up with your last few weeks of blogging and now I sit in a puddle of "happy tears" for Andrew's wonderful news! What a joyous beginning for a new year! A celebration above all others is in order!! Bless you all~ Sharon
    P.S. My wonderful family has all gone home this week. I will begin to work on your "surprise" (smile) this week.
    Blessings and Hugs~Love and Joy,
    Sharon

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  23. So glad that you are able to exhale! I have a feeling that this is going to be a good year! sending warm wishes your way X

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  24. 2011 will be a great year!! I am so happy to hear negative and glad you can breathe again!!!

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