The Skinny

We are leaving for Houston tomorrow morning to ensure that we beat Artic Front #2! Sarah's consultation at MD Anderson is scheduled for Thursday morning. We still don't have a surgery date, and we will not have one until that consultation.

There's quite a bit going on around here. Otherwise, I would elaborate a little more. The reality is that we do not know what to expect (in terms of timing) until we are down there.

My apologies for the matter-of-fact-ness of this update.

I'll do better next time.

Quick Update

They discharged Sarah from Washington Regional on Wednesday after all the CT scans came back negative. That was good news! Discharge instructions were for Sarah to rest and take life easy until MD Anderson gave us a call to come to Houston.

A MD Anderson scheduler called today. They are just waiting on MRI & CT scan images from Washington Regional, then they will schedule us. We had hoped that these images were already there... but they're not. Bummer.

Those images should arrive at MD Anderson on Monday, and they think that we will know our surgery date Monday night. The surgery date can't come soon enough!

We appreciate everyone's prayers and well wishes.

Sarah is still doing very well. We got out and celebrated a couple of birthdays with friends tonight, and had a great time.

Keep the prayers coming!

Pat & Sarah

The Uncommon

Common: Headaches, migraines, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, moodiness (I might get in trouble for this one), aggressive behavior (and this one), physician appointments, MRI, CT scans, emergency room visits, diagnosis, prognosis, and even tumors.

The Uncommon:

A Divine Appointment. We've been praying for an answer to migraines that Sarah has battled for the last couple of months. After a visit to a neurologist and a little vision trouble, Sarah decided to schedule an appointment with our optometrist. Not an optometrist who we bat our eyes at every six months, snag a box of contacts from, and never see again. An optometrist who God put in our life years ago, even before we ever visited her for an eye exam. Who knew that Dr. R. would be the first to discover abnormal pressure on Sarah's optic nerve. That was Friday.

Answered Prayer. With Dr. R.'s help, we scheduled a MRI on Monday morning at 11:15 to figure out exactly what was going on. We were operating under the old adage that "no news is good news", so we felt pretty good when 5:00 rolled around without any communication back from the neurologist. Five minutes later I learned that Sarah had a "mass" on her right frontal lobe. After weeks of prayer, though, we had an answer.

Crazy Peace. Sarah is a champ. My sister-in-law, Ang, describes Sarah's current state much better than I can. Please read. Granted, we have had our moments (and will have more), Sarah has been incredible. I called her at 5:15 on Monday to let her know about her mass. When I arrived at Lynlee's gymnastics practice at 5:45, I found Sarah giggling with another mom (who we love very much). Truth be told, I heard her before I saw her! Those who know Sarah know how that works. We followed doctors' orders, and headed to the ER.

Amazing Friends. We were greeted at the ER by three great friends (and pastors of Crosschurch Fayetteville). They were there before us... waiting on our arrival... ready to give us hugs, laughs, and smiles... ready to love us. More friends and family arrived. Before we were admitted, we had an entourage.

Diagnosis. After a couple of hours in the E.R. waiting room we got to hear Sarah's (tentative) diagnosis. Chances are, Sarah has a low grade astrocytoma. These are, typically, benign. This could all change, but that's what we know now. Very soon, we will take a trip to MD Anderson to have the "racquetball-size" tumor removed.

Here is what we know the future holds: an ordained day, followed by an ordained day, followed by an ordained day. In the backs of our minds, we definitely have expectations. Like many of you reading this, we have prayers that we lift up throughout the day. It's easy to get wrapped up in all the medical stuff. All the facts. We believe the power of prayer, faith, and trust are just as real.

Lift up the prayers of your heart. We definitely pray for the wisdom of medical staff, peace, comfort, healing... you name it.

If you can't think of anything else to pray, pray that we have MANY more opportunities to experience the uncommon as I have described above. That's when we feel the presence of God. Our prayer is that many of you experience it too.

Pat & Sarah

4 years ago today!

This cute little button decided to show up while I was shopping at Dillards! No, I didn't have her at Dillard's but my water broke there...alone! This is one of the rare pictures of my little baby not crying.

Then this is her at her 1 year birthday party! Her sweet "razorback" birthmark has nearly faded to nothing now.

Now she's two! I love those cubby cheeks. They have left us for now :(

These were from her 2nd birthday party. She's such a dare-devil!!

This was her at her 3rd year bday party. She's about to make some serious tie-dye!

This is her not too long ago. We will have pictures of her posted from today soon!

Funk

Let's see if I can remember how to do this! Sorry for my absence, I've been boycotting blogging for quite some time now! Just for 2 main reasons: 1. Takes too much time out of my day and time has become very precious in our household lately and 2. I feel like you need a talent or something interesting to really be a good blog and I feel I lack in both categories. I guess if absent-mindedness is a talent than I'm really good at that! Oh and let me add 3. My writing abilities are let's say below average and eventually lowers my self-esteem.

Just wanted to apologize to the 3 people that used to read my blog and hope you eventually come back to read again! I thought I would get that all off my chest before I had to blog for Lynlee's birthday which is tomorrow!

I will end with a picture of what our summer has looked like so far! Sorry back-door neighbors!

World's Best and Worst

This could turn out terrible.

I used to get nervous before middle school basketball games. The first stall in the men's restroom was MY locker. Unfortunately, my efforts in that stall never untied the knots in my stomach. My first missed shot always did.

That same feeling resides as I attempt to write about my bride, the mother of my children, and my #1 fan. If I could admit a shortcoming before continuing, I think that I could proceed with a little more freedom.

I am the world's worst giver of gifts. I put Scrooge to shame. I'm pretty sure that Lynlee quickly unwraps her gifts and throws them into her closet, fearing that I would take them back to the store if given the chance. I've definitely missed it.

Somehow, (maybe divine appointment) this world's worst giver of gifts fell upon the world's best.

I love that Sarah is such an impressive giver. I often wish the world could see the depth of her generosity. Specifically, her generosity with TIME.

I'm reminded, almost daily, of the sacrifices that she makes for Lynlee and Owen. More than that, though, I stand impressed by the generosity she shows in spite of raising two kids. What a model our kids will have! They will have no doubt that mom loves them. They will also know that the love and generosity that we show each other is not reserved for each other.

Sarah, you are amazing! I love you! Happy Mother's Day.

Pat

I'm still not so sure that you are going to get a great gift. I may have to work with Matt on that. He seems to have the market cornered.

Look who's 1!!!!

So I know I've been a real slacker lately, but I just can't seem to catch up with life so some things have to be put on the back-burner. But a statement about this occasion had to happen!

My baby (and as of now, last baby as far as 'our' plans go!) has turned 1. Man where did life go?

He is such an amazing child and I can't wait to see the man he grows into. I have not found a person that doesn't fall in love with him immediately!

He's pretty much a walker now. Within the last few weeks he's been taking 10-14 steps everywhere. He's about to show his sister who's boss also, since she still attempts to carry him around the house.

Owie, happy 1st birthday! We love you so much!

Oh and if you are wondering about a party...well I'm sort of slacking on that too. I did order a cake today! I haven't really called anybody yet to invite them, so lets hope some people besides his parents show up to watch him eat his cake! Sorry for all those moms who find that disappointing. We do make him feel special in other ways....I think :)!