WWE and call your grandmothers!

This world tends to bring us positive and negative, sometimes in equal measure, but often not. Let's go over the good bits first!

Tyrel, Levi, and Chris are going to Wrestlemania! I have never loved the "sport", but my boys are hard core fans. Levi planned the whole event and they are all so excited. I am terrified! I don't love the idea of all of my children being on a flight together, and am tiring of the numerous nightmares of their fiery plane crash. Likely, they will be just fine, but I am fighting the urge to buy my own ticket and jump on that plane right alongside them. They are my babies! 

This will be Levi's first flight, and only Tyrel's second. Chris is an expert. Between his mission and his wonderful in-laws, he has traveled more than I have. 

Jared's new job!

My new job!

Jared and I both switched jobs since the last time I blogged. He runs all over town doing IT magic for medical facilities and lawyers and even a them hotel chain, and he loves it! I shuffle virtual papers for a team of fantastic engineers and even get to work from home occasionally. Work life is very good right now!

Now for the not so happy bits. My grandmother passed away a few months ago. She was the matriarch of a very large family, and we miss her very much. At the same time, we know that she is having a fantastic reunion right now with so many loved ones. Death, to me, has always been both a happy and a sad occasion. 

Grandma Uvonna Marie Duvall as a free spirited teenager

While I remain cancer free, my little sister Tiffany is not. What started as cervical cancer has spread to her brain, adrenal glands, and elsewhere. She is in the end stages of life right now, but is stubborn and is holding on as long as she can. Tiffany and I have never gotten along, which adds to the difficulty in my processing that she will soon not be here. She is in much pain and has suffered for so long. I do hope the suffering will end soon for her, but I am worried about how her children will handle it. The family will make sure their physically needs are met, but the emotional toll of losing a parent while young worries me.

Tiffany last year with her Storm wig :)

Update on my status: I still take 6-8 medications every day to deal with the side effects of having had cancer. I drink almost two gallons of water a day because I never regained my salivary function completely. I take water pills to shed all that water, and potassium and replenish what the water washer away. Synthetic thyroid, acid reducer, allergy pills to keep the swelling in my sinuses and throat down. I do not love taking so many pills every day. I took my self off of them last June and ended up in the ER on my birthday. Needless to say, I am taking them again. I have gained a LOT of weight post cancer, which is bothersome, but all in all, I am happy every single day! I have a great husband, kids and grandkids that I adore, and a stable life. We don't live forever, let's all make the most of the time we do have. Hug your loved ones. Call your grandmothers. Be happy. 

Me and my sweetheart

Grandkids at the aquarium