Hi all. Hope everyone is doing well.
It's been a while since I posted an update on here. I've kind of abandoned the blog, but am remembering that not everyone is on Facebook or in our immediate circle of frequent connections, so it still seems to be the best way of keeping some up to date. Have gotten messages asking for an update, so here is a quick one.
Where to even start. Last post, we were still in Florida, about to head to Disney World. So much has gone on since.
Our trip was 8 weeks, 40 something states, 10,000 miles long, and a lifetime worth of experiences and memories made in that time. We came back to Nevada in October. A while back, several months prior to our trip, I had been diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia--a pretty debilitating at times, form of nerve damage to cranial nerves. Thankfully, with my case, the meds I was put on to help control the nerve shocks worked almost immediately, and most the time, I was able to forget about it. While in Minnesota, I either got an ear infection that triggered it back, or the meds quit working, but the rest of the trip was trying to manage the pain most days. While in Florida, the pain was nearly unmanageable at times, and totally unresponsive to the meds at that point, so we decided to finish our trip pretty abruptly. The trip overall was a wonderful experience, though, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to take it. Was kind of sad to be done, but super happy to be home.
Once we got home, finding a home suitable for our family was still a challenge. We stayed a couple weeks with friends, then stayed a few weeks in a condo, and eventually found our house...a beautiful home that is a great fit for our family. The kids are super happy, and have so many friends in the neighborhood, which is a nice change after living in ranch houses on busy roads for so long, with very few neighborhood kids.
Ken is back at Kirkwood, and for the most part is happy to be back. It's been mostly a mild winter, so he's made it home everyday. I am back at the church, and doing photo sessions and a few doula clients here and there. Kai'Lani turned 13 in January, Zion turned 9 in February and Arianna would have turned 10 the same day, and Makenley turns 4 on Saturday. Sierra now has her permit and is quickly adding up her driving hours, and should have her drivers license in a no time.
Sierra had her latest MRI a few weeks back, which came back stable still. We are due to ultrasound her kindeys, and praying those lesions are unchanged--or gone-- as well. This week will be 3 years from her surgery and cancer diagnosis. Another year closer to the 5 year goal. We are beyond thankful for the stable results.
Makenley, as y'all probably remember, had surgery last March to remove the mass that was in her chest wall. Well, it grew back, and they had to remove it again. Her surgery was a couple weeks ago, and she tolerated it very well. Biopsy came back as benign again, so we just wait and watch again to make sure it doesn't come back.
Other than that, we are just trudging along, keeping busy as usual. There have been birthday parties and births, deaths, and funerals, a trip or 2 to Vegas and a couple to Oakland, lots of company in town, holidays and a New Year since my last post. I'm sure there's a ton that I'm leaving out of this, but it's not coming to me at the moment. Just a quick update to get me started again--I will try and be better about posting.
Take care, everyone! Attaching some pics from the past few months. The first half are from the last part of our trip, the rest are from then till now. Hope you enjoy.
Disney World, 2017
Kai'Lani's 13th Birthday party
