Both Leia and Ivy slept in Monday morning. It was the latest these two had slept the whole summer. Mommy and Daddy were up to work but we were glad the girlies got some sweet rest. We worked most the day. Chris had a MRI on his back, finally. We are hoping to get some answers for his back pain that has rendered him more sedentary than his girls would like him to be. That evening we had the Talley’s over for Thai takeout. Our girlies entertained Max since Alex was at gymnastics while the adults enjoyed catching up. Eight o’clock rolled around quickly so Holly headed to pick Alex up while Chris and Wes enjoyed some more male bonding time that evening. There was not a single picture was taken throughout the day but it was a sweet day.
Tuesday morning was an early one since Chris had to be gone by 6:40 and Lisa got in with the ENT at 8. Thankfully, aunt Stacy was good with our girls coming to hang out while both mom and dad was away since Ivy said she did not want to stay home alone. After Lisa’s appointment she ran by to get the girls but ended up at Pizitz to get Leia, Katie, and Sara’s school supplies. Thankfully, Chris picked up Lisa’s prescriptions on his way home so then Leia and Lisa could prep things to go to lunch with Eliza and Pizitz Pirate Day. Before we met them though we dropped sweet Ivy off at her friends Olivia’s for some playtime too. It was nice getting a little one on one time with Leia as she prepared to enter the next phase of her life, middle school. How we are praying it be a sweet season for her. It was nice getting to have lunch with a friends before the craziness began. The line was nuts! Took 30 minutes to get in the door. We got her locker set up, found her class rooms and before we new it, it was time for her to go to the assembly. Aunt Stacy and Lisa hung out a little bit then went back to get the girls. Leia, Maddie, Ivy, and Olivia all got to go have ice cream as we talked about the upcoming school year and what their assembly was like today. Olivia came back over to play more that afternoon with Ivy and Leia while Lisa and Chris had some quiet time to talk and catch up.
Walking into Pizitz for the first time
Cannot believe we have a middle schooler … praying she has the best year yet
Sweet Katie was the ambassador in Leia’s hall so she helped us find our locker then we set it up
Treats with friends after Pizitz’s Pirate Day
More fun at home for the littles too
Another full work day for both mom and dad Wednesday so the girls started off entertaining themselves. Mimi called close to lunch and came by to get them for lunch at Carrabba’s with her and the Rhoads ladies. After lunch she offered to take them to get their nails done but Leia said she did not want her’s polished so she came home while the others headed to get pampered at a nail salon. Once Lisa finished work we started to head to Mimi’s to go horse back riding. Leia rode with Mimi and Ivy with Lisa since we were going to drop off Mimi’s car at the shop. On the way Chris called with news that changed our course. Lisa called Stacy and asked her to meet them to take the girls and Mimi to Gardendale as she headed home to be with Chris.
Mimi and the girls went to have some fun. Lisa turned back to have some one on one time with Chris as our little word was shaken with the news there was an abnormality in Chris’s L4 and L5 with possible metastatic disease. We gathered our thoughts and leaned on each other the way partners do, started praying to God and crying out for healing. We headed to talk with the girls to tell them daddy has cancer, something we never wanted to have to do. They took the news better than we expected. They were excited to tell us about their evening too. We loved hearing about their riding adventure and thankful for how well they took the news! They said the horse back ride was the best ride ever. It was sweet to give them a few snuggles then we headed home to rest and let the girlies have a little more time with Mimi.
Ladies lunch at Carrabba’s
Thursday was a little blurry day but we had an objective following the MRI to get a CT scan. Chris and Lisa went to the hospital for him to get him another scan while the girls hung out at Mimi’s house again. The girls enjoyed a yummy breakfast, swimming, golf cart, riding in Papa’s truck, and more with Mimi. Chris and Lisa arrived at the the hospital a little before 11 and finally got to head to grab a quick lunch on the way home close to 2:30. Praying these scans give us answers we desperately desire right now. Everyone told us the scans would take about 72 hours to be read so we were prepared to wait. However, that evening they emailed the scan results to Chris. This scan showed that it is likely lymphoma; praying it is just lymphoma and not in the bone now. This was much better news than the MRI results! We called some prayer warriors that we knew would be faithful to pray so they could start crying out to God on our behalf.
Yummy breakfast at Mimi’s for he kids
FaceTimed our girls after the scan to see the fun they had been having
Friday, Chris and Lisa stayed home all day. Lisa’s energy level was plummeting. We did not do much the whole day as we laid around and simply tried to to get our feet back under us and rest up for whatever maybe coming ahead. Mimi brought the girls back for dinner. She and aunt Stacy brought food and cooked here at our house as Chris rested his back in his chair and Lisa rested on the couch. The food was yummy and company was great. We sat on the back porch to visit a few minutes then headed back inside to chill a little more before heading to bed.
Daddy and Ivy had to open the can for Mimi and aunt Stacy. Loved the belly laugh
Saturday, was another low key day in our house. Leia was back to Mimi’s house. Ivy opted to stay home as she was not feeling 100% either. Lisa felt overwhelmed. Chris was still in pain. Ivy progressively started coughing more and running a fever. We thought it best to take Ivy to the doctor to make sure she was not contagious. We were relieved when Ivy’s Covid test came back negative and they told us she just had a virus. We talked and decided Leia should stay at Mimi’s house while we doctored Ivy at home and focused on our household getting to feel better since Leia seemed to be the only one well.
Leia played cards with Chris; the only interaction she had with anyone in our household. After Leia left Ivy showed Chris her magic treat
Sunday, we were still feeling rough in our house. Lisa had not felt 100% most the week but had attributed it to the stress of the week. However, by mid morning fear had grasped ahold of of her that she may have gotten Covid. She headed to get a test and opted for both the more accurate PCR test and rapid for quick peace of mind. Unfortunately, the rapid came back positive. Talking with the nurse and telling her timeline she asked if Leia could stay where she was instead of coming home and that she would not need to quarantine if she could stay there. Lisa headed home to quarantine and share the news with Chris. Our room became the “sick room” so Lisa had access to the bathroom as well. Chris and Ivy made appointments for PCR tests despite the fact Ivy had a negative test the day before. We all settled in to our new setup and started praying. Leia enjoyed her day at Mimi’s like it was a normal ole one-on-one time with Mimi.
Having fun with Mimi
Face-timing and pool with family
Sweet dreams my little princess
Monday, Mimi spent the day with Leia. She prepped her for school similar to what we had planned to do for her big day. They went clothes shopping, came by the house to grab her stuff for the week of school (we all stayed in our rooms and they were fully masked), and even went to get her hair done. Ivy was suppose to meet her teacher but since we were in quarantine the only sight of her in the school was on the wall where students entered. We saw lots of posts on FB with Ivy in the background. We found out Ivy will be in Mrs Henry for homeroom and Bradshaw for swap. We also were excited that she will be in class with several of her sweet friends.
We were thankful Chris and Ivy’s Covid test both came back negative. Lisa worked on getting in contact with the covid doctor and came up with the vitamin, antibiotics, detox baths, and regiment to follow. We also put Lisa on sever prayer chains too. Chris still had his back hurting and was taking care of Ivy while worrying over Lisa. This is not how we planned to end our summer! However, we will say our plans fall by the waste side; God has better plans that we do and we trust Him to guide our paths and our days as He sees fit. Thank you Lord for your mercy. We continued praying over Lisa and Chris health while also praying to find an oncologist quickly that could help us have a more definitive testing so we know how to fight.
Only sight of Ivy in the school for meet the teacher
Hair ready for middle school
