Another month and no promotion

OK well you remember last Fall when I told you that Mike made the promotion list. He was so excited and boy did we need some good news with all the bad news. Here we are in June and the Army has not promoted one E-8 in his MOS. Not one!! Poor thing looks every month. Oh well it is gonna happen that is all I care about. I wish I had a camera with me last week when he was here. He had his new rank in his car displayed on the dash. HA how is that for motivation.

I have been blog hopping lately and enjoying reading. Some of you are such great writers. Which has brought me to two thoughts. The first thing is I am getting excited to meet some of you that will be attending the She Speaks Conference in Charlotte. I am not going to be attending but am looking forward to getting together with some of you so that I can thank you for praying for me face to face. It has meant the world to me. So if you have not let me know that you are coming please do:) The second thing that has been weighing on my heart is where do I go from here. God has my attention. What direction am I suppose to go? Am I suppose to put my journey into some sort of book to help other woman going through cancer? I am not a writer but I keep getting this nudge.

I have received several emails about the bracelets. Alexa will be home on Wed. So give her a few weeks. I know there are lots more states so don't be shy to ask.

Heading to PT tomorrow I cant wait.

Happy Summer
Love
Cindy
fighting like a girl

Bracelets- Do ya need one:)

Someone told me that their bracelet broke the other day. How sad:( Alexa said no problem. If you would like to wear one of my bracelets that my daughter started or yours needs to be replaced just let me know. If you do not know the story when I told my daughter I had cancer she starting making these bracelets to remind people to pray for my complete healing. WE are trying to get one person from ever state to wear them. Send my an email: micialsa@aol.com


Thanks for praying

Cindy
fighting like a girl

5 months-post surgery

First of all Happy Fathers Day to all of you out there:)

Today is 5 months since I had my surgery. It has flown by but at the same time it feels like yesterday. It has been fight but I have been up for it. I was just sitting here wondering how long will the pain last?? How long will I have to fight my arm from tighting up. It is a daily struggle to keep my arm stretched. How long will I have to fight lymphedema? All of these questions are driving crazy today. I know radiation continues to accumulate. My dr said that I should start feeling better in by Nov. at least from the side effects. So I guess we will see. I don't like to complain a lot I do have my life:)

I did not take any pictures today of the girls and Daddy because Madison has been sick with a bug all day. Poor baby threw up for 12 hrs. She is so tired and sore. She was so pitiful all day. She kept telling me that she felt like flat Stanley. I sure many of you with kids know who he is but if you don't she is referring to how skinny she is now not having anything in her body.

Mike is getting on the road first thing in the morning. Miss you already.

Well off to take care of my baby

Cindy
fighting like a girl

Daddy's on the way

I am soooooooooooooo happy Mike is heading this way. The girls are waiting and they are so excited. Savannah has had a hard time the last 2 nights. She starts freaking out about dark time. She keeps telling me that she is afraid to die and how does it feel to die. She has gotten sick over this. She keeps thinking someone is going to break in our home and kill her. She told me that she wanted daddy home and that I could not fight someone off. I told her you would be surprise what a mama can do when someone messes with her babies. Anyway I talked to her for a long time last night to find out where all this coming from. I think with all that has gone on with me and now Mike having his issue that she is just scared. We have done everything to hide a lot of this from them but kids just know. So tonight I am looking forward to her jumping in his arms and feeling that secure feeling that sometimes a daddy can only give. Please say a little prayer for Savannah. Looking forward to a great weekend:)


Cindy
fighting like girl

Mike here

Im speechless!! I feel guilty for having a wife and friend as great as you. YOUR THE BEST!!! I remember all the moves, houses,neighbors,challanges,and great times and experiences we have had in the past...theres not one person that Id rather of spent that time with than you.. I look forward to the rest of our lives together as much if not more than the past I cherrish so much! I said I was speechless but you know thats impossible. Cant wait to see you Friday night when I get HOME. DR Brin would be so mad! HAHA Love ya!

Its almost 1 in the morning and Im to excited to sleep! Wonder where alexa gets those genes from? I have a busy day Friday and need the sleep but NOT going to look at the ceiling. I will get out as soon as I can and get on the road. As always trying to avoid the rush hour traffic.

15 years as a Soldier's Wife

Happy Anniversary Baby! OK so being that I am between two places waiting to sell my house I do not have any wedding pictures but I will put some on later. Not sure where to start. It has been a journey of its own. I met Mike not too long after he came back from Germany. So here we go... Mike and I married when I was 24. It was goodbye family and hello Army. The only thing is that a few weeks after we were married Mike was in one location and I was in another. It was weird and NO the separation pay was not worth it! After about a year I thought I was going to be moving to Ft. Gordon, GA but we ended up at Ft. McClellan, AL. Goodness all by myself did not know anyone. This tiny town and living off post with little pay. Crazy...hey you can't even get a ticket by the MP's w/o your soldier knowing HAHA! I kept forgetting how slow you are suppose to drive when you get on post:) I was just happy to be with my soldier.I did not care where we lived. So from there when we received our first orders to move of course Mike had to leave while I had my first experience with transportation and moving our stuff. I think he went to Paratrooper School or what I call Jump School. I wish I had all my stuff so I can remember for sure. Anyway I was a baby and it was time to learn that to be a wife of the military you want it done you got be independent and strong. So I lived through it and off to Ft. Bragg, NC. It was sooooo much bigger than MeClellan. Goodness we were not there very long and I am talking weeks before I found out that our first Army Brat was on the way. I was so excited. Another crazy experience though. Alexa was born at Womack. Yes the Army hospital. I will save you from the details. I just know that I had to take care of myself most of the time. I am sure it is a lot different now. Remember when you are in your late 30's you are considered old in the Army. So I am going to fly through this now because I know I am not the only blog you read. This was the start of a fun journey. We moved so many times I have lost count. After Alexa was born Savannah came 2 years later in Florida at a civilian hospital and then 2 years later Madison. I think by this time we had moved 3 or 4 times. So here I am Mike leaves for 4 months and I have a 4 yr, 2 yr and 3 month old. I think this is where I became super mom. I could go anywhere and do anything. I was very proud of myself. I was fine with moving around and meeting new people. I have made some great friends along the way. Fast forward...It has been hard, fun, adventurous, sad and wonderful all at once. I am just extremely proud of the dedication my soldier has for his country. He told me from the beginning he wanted to serve 20 and he's almost there. The only thing we did not plan for in our a future was at 17 years that I would be diagnosis with breast cancer. It has been a tuff 9 months but my soldier and I switched roles. I became the soldier fighting for my life while he had to sit back and take care of the house, kids and everything else that comes along with taking care of the family. I know it must have been hard watching your wife battle this terrible disease and tell his three little girls Mommy is going to be OK and not really knowing. It breaks my heart but he was there 100% and I could not have done it w/o him. I love you Mike! Just when I think things couldn't get any worse Mike has a heart attack. This is just not fair. We are both too young to be dealing with all of this. 18 years active duty and 3 daughters and 2 major issues. There is still so much we want to do. The Army was been good to us and thank goodness for our health insurance because chemo is no joke! Well this was a quick look at the last 15 years of my life as the wife of a soldier. So far it has been great and I look forward to being around for the next 15. To all of you wives out there I know it is hard and you feel like you are married to the military sometimes but be strong you can do it. You never know what is going to be thrown your way. Everything happens for a reason and I can say life is a little sweeter now.

Have Faith! Through Him anything is possible!! Thanks for all of your prayers and support.

Happy Anniversary Mike - I LOVE YOU

Cindy
fighting like a girl

Results

I am so happy! My results are negative. So my girls do not have to worry about this gene in our family.

As for the reason I am fighting this battle...the doctor said that I just need to watch everything. So today I am going to take time to figure out what I need to do to put myself first:)

Thanks for being there
Cindy

Genetic testing results

It has been the longest day today. I left Charlotte this morning for Greenville. It was sad to leave Mike but I needed to get Savannah to camp today. She is going to a Christian camp. I already miss her. I think it is going to be great for her to express her feelings with other girls her age. It has been a rough year for the girls. So pray for her this week to feel a personal relationship with the Lord. She is a great kid. I cant wait to see her on Friday and hear all about it.

Mike is going back to work tomorrow. Pray for him to keep getting stronger. He is feeling better though.

I get my results Monday morning. I am nervous. I remember waiting for my results to see if my biopsy was malignant or not. Then when I went to get my results after chemo and surgery to see if all the cancer was gone. Both times I was so crashed. So here we go. I keep telling myself each thing that I go through is going to make me stronger.

Cindy
fighting like a girl

Heading home for a while

I am so tired. I am heading to Greenville for a few weeks to check on the house. Lots to catch up on. Thanks for all you calls and emails about Mike. He is doing better. He is just taking things slow. He is going to go back to work on Monday. So I will be checking in with him to make sure that he is keeping up with what the doctor said.


I am still going to give Praise for all we have:) Pray for safe travels for the girls and myself.


Thanks Stephanie and Jon for opening your house! See you soon.

I hope everyone enjoys the summer with their families.

Love
Cindy
fighting like a girl

Miss you Mike:(

Update

Mike had his procedure this morning and is doing fine. I am happy to say that the doctor said that this was caught early enough that the medicines they have been giving him reduced the blockage by 30%. So now with diet, exercise and medicine he should be able to turn this around. Praise God! Mike is going to have to follow up with a Cardiologist in a few weeks. Having a heart attack this young is not good. So he is going to have to stay away from stress. Well as you all know our life has been all stress for a while now. So pray for our family to be able to continue to fight.

The girls are doing fine. The poor things have been through so much. They are in Charlotte and being taken care of by family and friends. Thank you so much for being there.

Your praying worked and I am so thankful. When he is up and about I can wait for him to read the comments.

Now for you Satan I guess you must have not been happy with my results Friday so you thought you could mess with my man! Well I hate to break it to ya. We are fine:)

Cindy

fighting like a girl and thankful for my husband

Pastor Reggie, pat, Ken,Sue thanks for coming

Quick Prayer for My Husband

The girls do not know yet!



Mike had a heart attack last night and we are in the hospital in Greenville. I will update after his procedure tomorrow. Thanks in advance for you prayers.

Cindy

Apt Today with Oncologist

Ok the Dr says I look good and my counts are good! I ask tons of questions. It seems that I just need to get through the next 6 months. I see her again in Sept. It is time to start adding vitamins, calcium and vit D to my diet. It seems that the medicine that I am on makes the bones weak. So I will have a bone density test next time. Still waiting on my test results from the genetic testing. Another apt out of the way. Lord I am claiming this! Looking forward to seeing that 3 year mark!!!

Send up a Praise for me tonight thanking God for getting me to this point! Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for everything.

Sending blessing to all of you

Love Cindy
fighting like a girl

My teacher, mentor and friend

I have been so excited to blog about this but it was not the right time until now. When I was a little girl about Alexa's age I had a Math teacher who I loved. She was a young, energetic, positive young lady. She was always smiling and working the classroom. She knew how to keep us focused and keep us in line. A few years after I had her as my teacher she helped me during my parents divorce. She was very good to me. I remember her telling me when it was time for her to get married she was going to have me in her wedding. I guess about 5 years later I was asked to be in her wedding. It was a blast. She has kept up with me all these years. I have called on her when I needed advice. I have called on her when I needed help with teaching the girls Math. She has been a great friend. Why she picked me to take under her wing? Over the years she has worked hard and now has her doctrine. I am so proud of her. She has a gorgeous voice and gives all the Glory to God. She has written her own songs and has her own CD. She has a passion for loving the Lord. During the last 9 months she has been there for me. Sometimes I would just call her and ask her to pray for me. She did not allow me to feel sorry for myself. She knew when I needed a push. So back in April she can to stay with me for a week. She shared my life, went to my church (which I love so much) and prayed with me. It was an amazing time. I want to thank God for bringing her into my life.

Dr. Mary J. Woolridge-you are an angel from God and I am blessed to know you. I pray for God to protect you. I pray that God continues to use you.

I love you-Friends Forever

If you want to hear her sing look at my sidebar

Dont have the energy to hang

It is the end of the year for school and boy is there a lot going on. Friday I did field day with Savannah, Sat the carnival with the girls school and today field day with Madison. I can not hang like I use to. The sun and the heat...I just can not do a long day. It is really hard for me not to be able to do everything that I use to. My prayer tonight is please allow me to become stronger and healthier.

Thanks for you comments last week. I am starting to get uptight about my dr apt on Friday. I know this is probably normal.

Tomorrow I am going to share my visit with a friend. I have been wanting to blog about her for about a month. Just so much going on. Miss the blog world and plan to catch up over the weekend.

Looking forward to school getting out and Summer fun with the girls!

Praising God for continuing to heal me. Thanks for praying for me:)
Cindy
fighting like a girl