Throwback Thursday: "Baby's 2nd Ultrasound"...IT'S A BOY!! :)

Hey everyone! Well since I am so behind on my blogging I thought I would go down memory lane today. This is a copy of an email that I sent out almost 8 years ago (before the Facebook age) when we had Aiden's 2nd ultrasound and we found out we were having a boy. It is fun to read this after so many years and relive the excitement. I hope you enjoy it. :)

 

 

I know you have all been DYING to find out and I'm sorry for not
writing so soon but of course i have been so BUSY lately!!

Well...we had the 2nd ultrasound on Friday, May 20th and we found out
we are having a BOY!!! :D

It was very exciting! He was very active too! The technician we got was
a much nicer lady too, she took her time and everything! She was this
cute older lady and very nice! She was amazed at how well developed he
was too! She said everything looks PERFECTLY healthy! She kept saying,
"This is a wonderful baby". She was looking at the different parts of
the brain and said, "This is going to be a smart, gentle boy". Kind of
amazing that she could tell that just from looking at the brain, LOL.
She said the size of the 3 parts of the brain were all in perfect size.
At first, we didn't find out what it was right away, she had to do all
the diagnostic stuff first of course. (The reason i had to go back for
another ultrasound was that the first ultrasound didn't show everything
quite clearly.) I made sure and told her though that we really wanted
to find out what it is! She couldn't believe that we didn't know yet!
She said the other lady must not have known what she was doing, LOL!
Anyways, after she examined everything she said, Ok here's the "private
parts", we're going to find out right now! I was getting nervous! She
zoomed in on it for a second and then she said, "It's a boy!"  I just
smiled and said, "Wow!" I didn't know what else to say! I was kind of
hoping for a girl (me being the girly-girl that i am, lol) but i knew i
would be happy either way! I looked over at Anthony and he had this
huge grin on his face! He said he was relieved 'cause they're easier to
dress! LOL! It was a very exciting moment. The lady even printed us up
a BUNCH of pictures! She was awesome! She gave us 7 pictures, including
one that clearly shows it's DEFINITELY a boy! Anthony was PROUD of
that...LMAO! She also got this one of him sucking his thumb! Awww!
Anthony goes, "Is he really sucking his thumb?" She goes, yes he sure
is! It was too cute! :D

I feel much better now that i know what it is! I can concentrate on
preparing for my little boy now! I told my family and they are all just
ecstatic! Especially my Dad, he is so happy. This will be his first
grandson. We are still deciding on names but we really like the name
"Aiden James". The middle name is after my dad, that is his first name.
I thought that would be a neat thing to do with this being his first
grandson. :)

I am just so grateful that my baby is healthy and everything..that is
the MOST important part! She says, he is going to be smart! Probably
will outsmart me, no doubt! :-P

Oh that's another thing! I have been feeling him kick me now too! It is
such an awesome feeling, although sometimes i get annoyed by it like
when he wakes me up! LOL! He kicks me in my bladder ALOT and most of
the time i noticed he is active at night! Uh oh, i guess he will be a
night owl like his mommy! :)

 

Baby Ervin-Wing expected to arrive 10-01-05!! :)
*~LISH~*

My road with Bladder Cancer

Hello everyone! As most of my close friends and family are aware, I have been fighting bladder cancer since October 2008. I recently had a new recurrence after being cancer-free for 1 year and 7 months. I posted this information about my experience with bladder cancer on a website that I am a member of which provides support for those who are fighting or surviving bladder cancer (http://www.bcan.org/) and I thought I would share it with you.

In addition, I started my own walk for bladder cancer on May 5, 2012 in Rocklin, CA. You can still donate in support of this at my fundraising website: www.alishawing.stayclassy.org. Thank you for your generous support! :)

ABOUT ME


I was first diagnosed with non-invasive bladder cancer in October 2008.

Around December 2007, I began my road with bladder cancer by having symptoms such as lower abdominal pain and blood in my urine. I went to my OB/GYN because I thought it was related to my endometriosis and I had also had a C-section when I had my son in 2005, so that had caused some lower abdominal pain as well. My OB/GYN thought I had a bladder infection or a urinary tract infection so he gave me some antibiotics. After a week or two, the bleeding went away from what I could see, so I figured that's all it was. Well, a couple weeks later, the bleeding recurred. So, I went back into my OB/GYN and they tried to give me a different type of antibiotic, thinking that maybe the first type of antibiotic wasn't working. So, I went home and took those for about 1 week. The same thing happened as before, the bleeding had stopped temporarily, but started back up again. This time, I knew that something wasn't right, so I called my primary care physician and went in for a full physical and he ordered a CT scan and a MRI. I am thankful now that I have such a thorough doctor! After the test results came back, it showed that I had a "mass" on my bladder, so that is when he referred me to my urologist.

Around July or August 2008, my urologist performed a cystoscopy on me and sure enough, it was found that I had a bladder tumor. I asked him if it was cancerous and he said, "Most likely." I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was 33 years old and engaged to be married to my 3 year old son's father and had been planning our wedding. My whole world just seemed to stop right there. I didn't quite know what to do at that point but cry. I was so scared and I know now a lot of those feelings were feelings of the unknown and not being aware of what exactly I was facing. However, I finally had an answer to all of the symptoms I was having approximately 6-8 months later.

I had my first surgery (TURBT) in October 2008. My urologist told me then that it was non-invasive and superficial; however, the tumor was pretty large. I was in a lot of pain after the surgery and it took me a good 2-3 weeks to completely recover from it.

I had my second recurrence of the bladder tumors and had my second TURBT in April 2009, just one month after my husband and I had gotten married and went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. I had gotten a clean cysto report when I went for my 3 month check-up in January, so that gave me peace of mind for our wedding and honeymoon. I was really disappointed that the tumors came back.



I had my third recurrence of the bladder tumors in January 2010. My third TURBT was in February 2010. This was just a couple weeks before my husband, who was only 40 years old, had a massive heart attack and had to receive a 6-way bypass. It was such a stressful time for both of us and I was just recovering from my last surgery when he had his heart attack. Needless to say, I started bleeding again, which I believe was due to the stress of what had just happened to my husband.

My 4th recurrence came in August 2010 and I had my 4th TURBT in September 2010. I had been noticing that the longest I had gone between recurrences was approximately 7 months. I knew that if I could get past that, I would be doing much better and maybe have hopes of beating this thing.

I just had my 5th recurrence in April 2012. I am scheduled to have my 5th TURBT on May 10, 2012. It had been 1 year and 7 months since my last recurrence so I was disappointed more than anything because I had gotten so far. I had just been moved to the 6-month cystos instead of every 3 months, so it is disappointing that I will have to go through this whole process again.

MY INSPIRATION

My Great Grandmother is my hero and role-model. She faced and fought this disease when she was around my age, which is most likely the reason I am dealing with it. She was such a sweet lady and was a great example of a fighter and lover. She was married to my Grandpa for most of her life and was very loyal to him. I admire her and both of them for the lives they lived and everything that they went through. I have been told that I have the same determination, sweetness and spirit that she does and I just feel honored that she was my Great Grandmother.

Aside from my Great Grandmother, God, my husband and my son are all the inspiration that I will ever need. I know that God has a plan for my life and I am trusting him for that. My husband has been such a great support system for me and he has always been there to take care of me and pamper me when I have had my surgeries. And last but definitely not least, is my SON, my miracle baby who will always be my baby boy and he will always be my reason for living and fighting this until the day I die. Words cannot express how much he means to me and I want to always be the best mom that I can be to him. I am thankful that God blessed me with such a beautiful child and I will always be thankful, even if he is the only one that God allows me to have.

His Plans Are Better

I got this devotion in my email today and it speaks to my current situation SOO much. I wanted to share it. It really encouraged me. :)

His Plans Are Better
Daily Devotional by Raul Ries
Calvary Chapel Golden Springs

“And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.”Deuteronomy 7:13

God is in full control of my life, the lives of my children and the lives of my grandbabies. I am not in control. I can make plans, but my plans are maybe not God’s plans. I have to submit to the will of God. Why? He loves me and He blesses me. God knows what I need. What my family needs.

Many times, when things do not go according to our plans, we become angry with God. That is when people become disillusioned; they become oppressed; they become depressed; they lose heart, and they get bitter.

But look at the verse. God loves us; He blesses us; He provides for us, and he fulfills His promises. Why should we get bitter or disillusioned? Does God wish us harm? Does He want to destroy us? No! His plans for us are better than we could ever imagine.

Remember, if God really has called me, if God really is my Lord and my Savior, and He is in full control of my life, then what do I have to fear? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). Seriously, who can be against me?

I know not the way He leads me, but well do I know my Guide. What have I to fear?—Martin Luther—

One of God’s Great "Don’ts"

Anthony sent this to me and this is really good, especially with all the financial insecurity we are facing right now!

One of God’s Great "Don’ts"

Do not fret— it only causes harm —Psalm 37:8

Fretting means getting ourselves “out of joint” mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say, “Do not fret,” but something very different to have such a nature that you find yourself unable to fret. It’s easy to say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” ( Psalm 37:7 ) until our own little world is turned upside down and we are forced to live in confusion and agony like so many other people. Is it possible to “rest in the Lord” then? If this “Do not” doesn’t work there, then it will not work anywhere. This “Do not” must work during our days of difficulty and uncertainty, as well as our peaceful days, or it will never work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work for anyone else. Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself.

Worrying always results in sin. We tend to think that a little anxiety and worry are simply an indication of how wise we really are, yet it is actually a much better indication of just how wicked we are. Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way. Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.

Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” ( Psalm 91:1 ). Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.

"Forget the New 'Year'!"

This is from "The Berean Call" newsletter that Anthony & I receive. This really spoke to me & I wanted to share. Happy New Year! :)

There's something that gets into our heads about beginning a new year with an activity or discipline that will improve our present condition. I don't know what it is, because the same thinking can be applied to a new month, or a new week, day, hour, or minute. I can certainly start exercising tomorrow, or in the next hour or so, rather than wait to start a personal program January 1. Perhaps there's more significance in at least thinking that I'm going to do something worthwhile for an entire year. My own New Year's resolutions rarely make it through the winter thaw, yet I persevere in these attempts because a few have actually become wonderful disciplines in my life. 

After years of hopeful attempts, which soon dissipated or got displaced by "more pressing activities," prayer (especially for family members) and reading God's Word are now a very consistent part of my life. What was the "secret to my success"? Very simply, by God's grace & encouragement, I kept after it, often times like a beaten-down boxer who keeps getting up off the canvas to have another go at his opponent (in my case, my undisciplined self). When the year's goal failed, I shifted to the month's goal, then to the week's goal, and from time-to-time I applied myself one day at a time. One of my favorite things about being a Christian is that I can repent in a moment and instantly start afresh with the Lord. While my somewhat sporadic efforts may spoil my year's end achievement record, I'll settle for the grace to persevere after missing the mark of my own making. 

~T.A. McMahon~
Executive Director
The Berean Call

Santa's Visit.

So, i was browsing the website for Parker Whitney School, where Aiden attends speech classes to help prepare him for kindergarten this coming year, (yikes!) & i found these pictures on their website! I was so excited. :)


Santa came to Aiden's class! How fun that must've been for Aiden. I remember he told me that he saw Santa when he got home that day & he came home with all kinds of surprises! <3 :)

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

I got this poem in one of my daily emails and i wanted to share. It's such a good reminder. :)

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV).

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.