Welcome back......

I have stared at this screen for days well months really, trying to figure out how and what to write. First, I am sorry for leaving everyone in the dust when I stopped blogging. I don't really have a reason why I stopped, just needed a break. I was looking back through all the stats and I have felt every prayer, liked, and click-throughs. Thank you blog family, near and far. I need you now more than ever.

 Brian and I have been very blessed over the 9 years we have been together. Everyone saw the engagement post, we got married November 21, 2009. It was beautiful, filled with all the people that we love and love us. “In sickness and in health” was shouted through tears and laughter! We danced the night away!

Life dramatically changed in 2013. I was at the doctor office getting blood work and a nurse told me to call Mom and Brian and have them come to the office. Turns out I was pregnant-I was about 15 weeks! We were all in COMPLETE shock!! Since I was diagnosed I was told there is a chance that I could never get pregnant. Also, Tamoxifen can delay a woman getting pregnant. I had been taking the medicine for about 5 years. While it was exciting, we were also scared. There had not been many other woman who got pregnant while taking Tamoxifen. I had an appointment with all kinds of neonatal doctors talking with us about how the baby could have a clef, holes in the heart, Down Syndrome, and even might not make it. I was scared to death, we were scared to death. I prayed that the Lord would take care of all 3 of us and we would love our miracle no matter what. I had every test a pregnant woman can have to monitor the growth and my health.

After 25 hours of labor (ohhhhh the laaaaaaabbbbbooooorrrrrr) I had an emergency C-Section and sometime after midnight on October 30, 2013 Annalee Lyndsie Aplin was born. She was perfect!

Here are some first pictures of Aplin Party of 3!

Hard to believe but in 2 weeks Annalee will be 2! She is growing up so fast and I hate to blink! She is such a fun-loving little girl. Her smile and laugh are contagious! She loves her family and her big dog, Trooper or Tooper as she calls him. Anything Madeline or Minnie Mouse we have to have and we don’t go anywhere without Bobbi the Bunny or her blankey. She is still attached to her “Gertie” the paci/cow at bedtime.

photo cred: Bonnie Iris Photography

Now to bring you up to date on my health. Brain and I have been trying to have another child since Annalee was about 10 months old. Nothing has happened. What has happened is my ovaries are getting mad and it’s now time from them to come out. My uterus has a couple of spots on it and I have been advised it is in my best interest to have a full hysterectomy. So on November 17^th I am going in for surgery. People ask me how I am doing and I really don’t know. I am up and down, scared shitless, and lots to process.

I hope I will keep blogging as I prepare for my surgery since that seemed to help when I had cancer. I hope you will read the posts and pray with me and for my family. I really do find my strength in all of you.

Please pray for Brian-he will be getting ready to start “finals season” of law school. I know he is nervous of how he is going to mentally handle all of this. He is my backbone in life. I can’t type anymore about him because of the tears streaming down my face. I love him, I loved him first….

Please pray for my Mom and Dad-I will be recovering at their house for about 2 weeks. Sometimes it can get hectic will me being down and having to care for Annalee. My mom especially. She puts everything on hold for me and my sister. I pray she has the strength when I become weak. I love her more.

Please pray for my sister and her family as they try to help out when they can and keep up with their own lives. Sis is my logical mind, she tells it like it needs to be said. She is my protector.  

Please pray for my in-laws as they take care of Annalee the week of the surgery.

Please pray for my precious Annalee-she is not going to understand that Mommy can’t pick her up for 4 weeks or tend to her like I should. I have to think-if I do this now, then I can pick her up for the rest of her life. Also, please pray for her future. I don’t know what the future holds concerning siblings. I just don’t ever want her to be lonely in life.

Finally, please pray for me. When I went through cancer you really don’t think about the next step. You just do it. You just fight. This is different because I don’t feel sick, I am not sick. It is hard to wrap my mind of what is fixing to happen to me.

Well that’s all for now, but I promise I will keep writing…..

Check the Ta Ta’s

Catherine