So let me catch you up!
About 3 weeks ago I started having a burning feeling under my arm. Then is spread to my breast and down my arm a little ways. I called the doctor and went in to check it out. She found an abnormal lymph node and sent me to a breast surgeon. Scared me to death! I just knew I had breast cancer and did my best to prepare for the diagnosis I just knew I was facing. A couple of days later, a rash broke out on my back and shoulder. It was VERY painful but I thought it was some side effect from the cancer I knew I had in my body (now I just knew it was all over). It was really bad!!! The pain was terrible and I could not imagine how bad the diagnosis was going to be. My appointment with the breast surgeon finally came around and I went, nervous as I could be, but prepared. It was the shingles! Praise the Lord! When I went to my doctor the first time, the rash had not broken out and she had no way to know it was the shingles. The abnormal lymph node was swollen because of the shingles but turned out fine on ultrasound and mammogram.
My thyroid is doing it own thang lately and my hair was in a terrible mess. It looked like it had been singed about 3 inches from the root all the way down the hair. It was a hot mess. The only way to make it look any better was to cut it all off. So now I am sporting a short spunky hair cut that is so not in my comfort zone but I do like it. Jeff and Jake are not fans but at least I don't look sick. I feel better about myself because my hair isn't in terrible shape anymore. Here is hoping the thyroid problem will react to medicine and as my hair grows out it will look normal, or at least normal for me.
My job was eliminated and I am currently unemployed. First time in my life! It is a BIG change for me and again, I am NOT in my comfort zone at all. This is the first time in my life, or since I was 16 that I haven't been working, making my own money and supporting myself and helping support my family. I took the job I was working as a leap of faith and I do not regret it at all. I was working for a very dear friend and his company and being healthcare, there had to be some restructure. There are no hard feelings toward him at all and I hope to have the opportunity to work for him again. The hardest thing has been, I found my passion while working the last month or so for him in a totally different place than I had ever looked - in long term care. I was working in the corporate office and the company owned long term care facilities. When the restructure was approaching, I didn't want to just sit around, so I went to the facility and started working with the admission team there. It was an amazing job! For the first time in my life, I looked forward to Monday and going to work to encounter new people, help new families out, and help residents transition to the facility. I simply loved it! I hope I can find a job doing something similar and fell like the work I do helps people.
Jeff took a new job with the same employer. After 20+ years, he is working inside, out of the weather. He is working 4 -10 hour shifts and is home 3 days a week. He will be able to help with school pickup and drop duties. Jake likes us all being here in the morning while he is getting ready for school.
And Jake started "big boy school"! My baby is in Pre-K3. I cant believe it. He loves it and he has already learned so much. In just two weeks, I am amazed at how much he has changed. He thinks eating lunch from the cafeteria is awesome. Of course, he still has to take his own snacks and juice. He has fallen in love with the sand box on the playground. I am sure they will have to add more sand in just a couple of weeks because he brings at least a bag home in his shoe each day. He has new friends that he loves playing with. But he does miss his friends. He asks about his "Mrs. Candace" friends a lot. We even had to go to the football game at school Friday night. He was so excited! He is just not a baby anymore and it makes my heart sad.
So through all of these events, I have learned a lot of "life lessons". Or at least, been reminded of some!
1. Always stop and give God control.
2. Never doubt what was done in good faith.
3. True friends will be there in good times and bad.
4. Life is to short to live with regret.
I already knew these thing, but sometime you have to stop, regroup, and refocus. I know that I am right were God wants me to be. I just have to be patient and let God work.
Here is a picture of Jake on his first day of school. Isn't he just a doll! I can't imagine not being "Jake's Momma". I am beyond blessed!
Now here is a picture of how the board was supposed to look. He erased it just before we were ready to take the picture so I had to draw it again that afternoon and retake the picture.
