Easter

This year we were so excited to celebrate at our home church and to serve at our West Campus.

And afterward, we headed to Nana and Papa's house for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

This year the Sparkles completed scavenger hunts with clues to find their eggs
Each Sparkle searched and successfully found 40 eggs.

It was fun to hear their giggles and to watch their joyful search

Then it was time for Easter Baskets and a Yummy dinner

Christ is Risen... Guaranteed.

Lego Wookie

Favorite Pajamas
Favorite Toy (Legos)
Favorite Interest (Star Wars)

Life doesn't get much better then this

Spring Break

Its certainly not been a typical Spring here in Indiana with temperatures varying by 20 degrees and the weather alternating between sunshine and snow but it didn't stop us from having a great two weeks off from school.

Snuggled up reading and playing their favorite games

 Hiding in our favorite spots

 Shopping for spring clothes and Easter outfits (I love watching them express their individual styles)

 Snowed in one Saturday.... I love the irony of the blue pool and the foot of snow

 Robotics competitions

 And crazy playdates with friends

I love the days with my Sparkles and am thankful to have the time to to build memories with them :)

Unexpected Road Block

At my recent check up  I heard the words that are always just under the surface.... I think we need another scan. 

Based on my labs, exam and current examination of my symptoms there were too many red flags to ignore. 

I left the appointment walking in a daze. 
And as I drove home reality started to sink in and and 
Fear came first. 

In the words of my favorite movie (Italian Job) 
I was FINE... Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional
And that was the answer I gave when I got home. 
I was fine. 
That was the answer that I gave when asked about the appointment 
It was fine 
and so on went my response in the coming days. 

And though I meant my words to be assuring 
panic started to ripple around me.
I am sorry that what I was not saying was fueling your fears. 

Fine was the simplest answer to give with so much unknown. 
Fine was Truthful without details
Fine was the best I could do and still function

But the real enemy was fear.... 

Fear of the known or the possible 
Fear of answers or lack there of
Fear of defeat 

And so we wait for the scan, the results and the necessary steps to continue on this journey . 

This is only a roadblock, its not a destination. 

8 month check up

Can you believe it... 8 months post remission :)

Surprise surprise, I have coffee 

Armed and Ready

Here I come 

Just a Winter Weekend

Madison helping with the Robot for Robotics at their first competiton of the season at Penn High School.

 The littles learning to play Momma's nintendo

 McDonalds snuggles while we wait for lunch

A great weekend spent together.
This Momma's heart is full

This Is Me

It has been a while since I’ve posted an update on the blog.  

My silence has been a reaction to my struggle to continue to walk this journey. 

I am weary and tired of carrying the load of this disease. 

Along the chemo journey I often said- Its a good day for a good day 

and once was asked if that meant it was a good day or if I was trying to gain perspective.

And the answer is BOTH and its still true a year later.

My mantra through my diagnosis and treatments was Choose Joy and in those moments where I was trying to gain perspective it was towards Gratitude and Joy that I looked. 

But at this stage of my journey I am struggling to find perspective and JOY

I am angry that this disease continues to wreak havoc in my life. 

I am resentful of the things that were stolen from me

I am fearful that I will always be plagued by destruction of the disease and treatment

I am sad that JOY is not as easily chosen

Last year I was fighting for my life and now I am fighting to regain my life. 

Last year I was completely bald and too sick to do anything more then rest and prepare for the next infusion. I looked sick. 

This year, my hair is growing back, I have spurts of energy, and my focus is shifted to regaining strength and quality of life. And the sickness hues that plagued by complexion have receded. 

To the outside observer it seems that these visible differences give the illusion of greater strides in recovery then is my reality. 

My battle is no longer against cancer but for life. 
There are moments that I feel that I am fighting for EVERYTHING
The ability to follow a conversation, complete a simple task, do more then one task in a day or set time, to love my Sparkles well, to care for them and our home, and the list goes on. 

Because it seems that with remission comes the dump of expectations. 
That with strength comes the burden to do more 
That if I can do one thing surely I can do another 
And that a smile means everything is fine 

Cancer is a journey and remission is not a destination. 
Remission is like a station where I got off the cancer train and got on the remission bus. 

Some of the baggage that I  had on the train got put on the bus.  Baggage such as sudden exhaustion, fatigue, and emotional fragility.  Then there are asthma and other breathing issues and possible damage from the chemotherapy drugs.  

And, of course, neuropathy.  

My carry-on is what I fondly call “Dory Brain.”  🐟

If you have ever seen the movie Finding Nemo, then you have a pretty good idea what that can be like.  

It’s been 16 plus months since my diagnosis, 14 months since I began treatment, 9 months since chemotherapy was competed, and 8 months since I received the long anticipated news of remission.

and there is a long way to go. 

While cancer doesn’t dominate our lives like it used to, for me its still the silent beast that controls my life. 

And in the those moments when the beast rears it ugliness and discouragement is high I am reminded... 

I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
                            -This is Me, Greatest Showman

and Me is going ride the remission bus 
Choosing Joy 
Living Brave 
and Reaching Out 

Lillian in the News

Lillian's class has been working on a project with her classmates that has resulted in recognition on the local news and in the local paper.

Here is the article where Lillian was featured.

http://www.flyergroup.com/news/school/one-letter-at-a-time/article_cd48b9ac-d9b0-508b-9bcd-4e8d0caebfe6.html

So proud of you Birdy :)

Evening Fun

Just a bit of reading and lego building

Rainy Reading Days

Just a reading kind of night. 

So excited to share my love of books with the Sparkles.

Happy Valentines Day

Sick Sharkie

This little guy can't seem to catch a break.

Another high fever and a few days home from school with Momma.

 He wanted to play but then couldn't muster the energy to do more then dump the army men out. Poor little dude.

Sparkle Acrobatics

Daddy's Home

After another several weeks of travel but Daddy is home again.

Everyone is happy to reunited

And there is more then enough extra cuddles

Especially with Daddy (Jet lag is tough)

Sunday Surprises

One Sleepy Wookie

Tuesday Evening Fun

While Lillian went to the school skating night with Papa

Cooper enjoyed playing with his new Army guys
Just are careful where you step... a battle is always just under foot

The perfect Sparkle evening with many smiles and memories

I'm Here

I realize that my blog post are more sporadic then during my treatment last year.

In re-entering the world and assuming the roles of my life I find it challenging to sit and write.

I am struggling to not be overwhelmed.
This super Momma used to balance the many hats and responsibilities with ease, relying on her organizational skills and ability to multi task to help her accomplish the never ending demands and To Do's.
But I am not that super Momma any more.

Yet in the last few weeks I have tried to be just that.
As you will read on the blog, there have been many escapades for the Sparkman family and few not highlighted and I have found that I have been more in survival mode then thriving.

I realize my plight is not that unique... A often single momma, part time employee, full time caretaker of Casa de Sparkman,  provider of meals and supplies, nurse, snow shoveler, and the list goes on.

But I am unique. I am cancer survivor, 6 month detox patient, hair re-growing, not always brave warrior

And things that are hard and overwhelming to the average household are exponentially hard for me.
I am constantly reminded of my limitations both physical and mental.
I am often discouraged by the "brick walls" that fill my path
I am weary to face another challenge
and I am frustrated to not be more

So I do what I can, when I can.
I try again and sometimes again
and when in doubt,

Tomorrow is soon enough

My little entrepreneur

She went out with her shovel and came back a rich little girl.

Lillian and her neighbor friend went around the neighborhood offering to shovel driveways. She shoveled for over 4 hours and was very excited by her earnings.

Well Done Birdy.

Birdy the Chef

Look who made dinner for the family tonight....

An attempt at tie-fighter and yummy fries

It was all delicious and she even helped with clean-up

Sunday Crew

Blessed to serve with this crew every Sunday

Its a great day for a great day 

Snow Day

Friday school was canceled and the Sparkles were home with Momma for the day. 

Our district adopted E-learning to be utilized when inclement weather occurs- think one room school house home schooling with a mandated curriculum.

Not necessarily this Momma's cup of tea but we managed. 

Of course we slept in and had some morning snuggles before starting our learning

 There was reading and math
Writing and Drawing
and even PE (loved watching the littles complete their workouts)

 But it can't be all work and no play...
so with the learning complete it was time for some lego building

And more snuggles

Glad to have my Sparkles home on this wintery day. 

Sick Cooper

Look who got sent home from school today with a fever... Cooper

Getting a few snuggles from sissie when she got home

Not a happy camper.... his fever rose to 104F and stayed there for 3 days

 Lots of napping and Momma snuggles to get Cooper on the mend

 And on the 4th day, the fever broke, the smiles returned.... just in time for a winter storm to cancel school for Friday

Movie Night

The Sparkles were very excited to take Momma to the movies with some of their Christmas gift cards.

We had an absolute blast watching The Greatest Showman together.

Can't wait to buy it on DVD and watch it over and over again.

Just in case...

you miss our smiling faces.

Sharing selfies with Daddy while he is away.

Cutest Little Wookie

Happy New Year

May 2018 be filled with joy, health, strength, and frequent reminders of our blessings