all this and more

sad news

My Dear Friends and Family,

 

As many of you know my follow up CT Scan and MRI were this past Monday. We meet with the doctors on Tuesday and sadly things do not look good. My lungs are covered in several tiny spots (the one they saw on the January scan has grown). The Medical Oncologist said at this point he could not say 100% that it was the synovial sarcoma, but that he was pretty sure that it was. We opted not to have a biopsy since they were so small and he wasn't sure he could get a good sample, plus the larger one is very close to my heart and we all agreed not to attempt to biopsy that mass.  We then decided that the best option was to wait until June and do a follow-up CT Scan of my chest, the doctor said at that time he could be sure.... because the tiny spots would have grown and there will be additional new spots, but he would still do a biopsy to be 100%.

 

So here comes the scary part... if the cancer has metastasized to my lungs, the long-term (5+ years) survival rate is very low. The Oncologist said that with the chemo and then surgery to remove the masses as they appeared might buy me 3 years give or take (being very sick for the remainder of my life)... or I could choose to feel good and stay healthy as long as I could (maybe 2 years) until the cancer took over. The kind of cancer I have just does not respond well to chemo - the doctor flat out said that the chemo will not save my life.... only buy me time.  As you can imagine I am sick - completely devastated, but having to hold it together for the sake of my girls. We will not be discussing any of this with them until it is absolutely necessary.  I am clinging to my faith and my family. I really don't know what to think right now, there are so many emotions and they change from moment to moment. I still have that fight inside and I plan to do everything in my power to battle this horrible disease.

 

Luckily, I am going to see Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez on May 5th & 6th. He has cured many stage IV cancers and I am hoping and praying that he will help me save my life. 

http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/case_reports.htm

 

Please, please, please pray for my complete healing and the peace of the Lord to wash over me and my family. Also, I ask that you pray for all those battling cancer - that they too may have good health and the strength needed to fight this war we are all up against.

 

I have so much more to say, but to be honest I am sick to my stomach just writing this email... so with that - I will keep you all updated.

 

With Love,

Montye

 

This will be my last post for a while - I have decided that I will only update when I have new information to share. If you would like to get those updates via email please click on the subscribe link (right side of the blog). Thank you for joining me over the last couple of months, but I will now be soaking up every minute with my girls and my family.

clean sweep - all around the house

Creating a less toxic environment for your family

 
Post # 4: ALL AROUND THE HOUSE

 

Was your home built before 1978? If so, it probably contains lead paint. When repainting, use a wet sanding technique to reduce dust, choose low VOC paints and always paint with the windows open for good ventilation. Keep kids away from rehab dust and loose chips.

 

Got foam furniture? Foam products (like stuffed furniture and mattresses) are often treated with toxic fire retardants, so keep them well-covered. Ask whether a product is treated before you buy and choose naturally fire-resistant materials, like cotton and wool, when possible. Don't "protect" your fabrics and carpets with sprayed-on chemical coatings -- simply clean spills quickly.

 

Do you use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)? They contain mercury and should be handled and disposed of with care. Use them where there's no danger of breaking near children; clean up broken bulbs quickly and safely.

 

Do you use pesticides or insecticides? Try non-toxic alternatives first; pesticides are a last resort. If you choose to use them, store them out of reach of children. Organic gardening is healthier for kids and pets, since they live closer to the ground.

 

Do you have a wood deck, picnic table or playground set? Those made before 2005 likely contain arsenic. Test to confirm and either replace with safer wood or reduce your exposure by sealing it, replacing high-use areas and washing hands after touching, especially before eating.

 

What materials are your kids' toys made from? Top contaminants to avoid are: lead paint, play make-up, cadmium and lead in play jewelry, and phthalates in soft plastics (like teethers and rubber duckies). Choosing non-toxic toys for young kids is especially important because so many end up in their mouths.

 

{Learn more at www.ewg.org; picture from Southern Living}

clean sweep - laundry & cleaning closet

Creating a less toxic environment for your family

 
Post # 3: LAUNDRY & CLEANING CLOSET

Are your cleaners green? It's hard to know without a full ingredient list, which most products don't have. Find out the ingredients by calling the manufacturer, avoid the toxic ones and choose green-certified products whenever possible.

 

Do your product labels list all ingredients? Most don't, but they should. Support companies that disclose all ingredients by buying their products -- you have a right to know.

 

Do you need all those products? Most homes can be safely cleaned with a few non-toxic ingredients: vinegar (it's anti-bacterial), baking soda, water, a HEPA vacuum, microfiber mops and cloths -- and some elbow grease! Skip laundry products you don't need, like dryer sheets, fabric softener, and chlorine bleach.

 

{Learn more at www.ewg.org; picture from Cottage Living}

little milestones

Celebrating – I have been cancer free for 6 months as of yesterday, April 12th! Little milestones mean a lot. We leave this Sunday for Mayo… my follow-up scans are Monday morning. Feeling great and expecting all good news. I’ll keep you posted.

 

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all.  ~Emily Dickinson

 

Romans 5:2

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

 

clean sweep - kitchen

We had a wonderful time on our trip to Birmingham, Atlanta and the North Georgia Mountains. The girls had so much fun, but are completely exhausted (as is their mother). I will be posting more about our roadtrip later in the week. For now...

Create a less toxic environment for your family

 

Post # 1: KITCHEN (Monday)

Post # 2: BATHROOM (Tuesday)

Post # 3: LAUNDRY & CLEANING CLOSET (Wednesday)

Post # 4: ALL AROUND THE HOUSE (Thursday)

 

Post # 1: KITCHEN

 

Do you cook with non-stick cookware? Replace with cast-iron, stainless steel, or glass when possible. Stuck with it? Take care not to overheat it, which releases toxic fumes.

 

Do you use plastic food containers? We recommend glass over plastic. Never microwave food in plastic containers. For baby, use glass or BPA-free plastic bottles.

 

Do you filter your tap water? Check EWG's online tap water quality database for local contaminants and a filter that removes them, if needed.

 

Do you drink bottled water? Kick the habit. For water on-the-go, get a reusable water bottle, like stainless steel (not plastic or aluminum lined with plastic).

 

Any canned food in the pantry? Cook with fresh or frozen whenever possible; most food cans (including liquid infant formula) are lined with bisphenol-A (BPA), a toxic chemical that leaches into the food.

 

Do you eat conventionally grown produce? Be sure you buy organic when pesticide residues are highest.

 

Do you use iodized salt? You should. Iodine is necessary to maintain healthy thyroid function.

 

Do you eat high-mercury fish? Ask before eating and head for the lower-mercury types (especially for pregnant women and young children).

 

{To learn more go to www.ewg.org (Environmental Working Group located in Washington, DC) All information listed above can be found on their website.}

 

Also, I look up many of the ingredients on the food labels in this book

 

 
  

Scary what they are putting in our food.

 

clean sweep - bathroom

Creating a less toxic environment for your family

 
Post # 2: BATHROOM

 

Do you use air fresheners? Don't! Most contain a number of toxic chemicals that contaminate the air you breathe.

 

Is there fragrance in your personal care products? We don't know what's in "fragrance," so it's safer to choose all fragrance-free personal care products. Always check ingredient lists to be sure.

 

What kind of toothpaste do you use? Choose fluoride-free for kids younger than 2 and teach older kids to rinse and spit; fluoride is toxic if swallowed. Also, pick a paste without triclosan -- you'll see it on the ingredient list. Learn more about fluoride and triclosan.

 

Do you use liquid hand soap? If so, avoid anti-bacterials -- the American Medical Association recommends against using them at home.

 

What material is your shower curtain? Avoid vinyl shower curtains. If you get a new curtain (whatever the material), leave it outside for several days before using.

 

Do you have extra products? Less is more. Skipping cosmetics like hair spray and detangler, body sprays and powder is less toxic -- and cheaper!

 

{To learn more go to www.ewg.org; picture from Coastal Living}

and we're off

We are leaving for spring break, headed to Birmingham... then to Atlanta. Be back soon.

Think my hubby is happy the house will be quiet for The Masters. Hope you all have a great week.
 

good wishes for easter

Happy Easter!

An Easter Prayer

 

Of all of God's gifts
Easter shows us our fate
Forgiven we will rise
And pass through Heaven's gate

 

This Easter remember
The sacrifice of a Son
And through His resurrection
Eternal life we have won

 

This Easter I pray
That the love of God
Is resurrected
Reborn, renewed
Inside your heart
God Bless You! 

 

~anonymous

 

 
 

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.  ~Alice Freeman Palmer

all things nice

Discover peace by observing the world around you. Take time to drink it all in.

Learn from your setbacks and they will open the door to new opportunities.

When you push the boundaries of your strength, you tap into the body’s true power.

The most memorable moments in life are often unplanned.

{Body + Soul}

 

 

Pictures of sweet Julia last Spring at Elizabeth's beautiful wedding. Can you tell she had fun...if I recall she was a bit spicy that day. She was supposed to be one of the flower girls, but never made it down the isle. That's my Julia, sugar and spice and - of course - all things nice.