The Bald and Beautiful?!

Since I last posted, I have been a busy bee! 
The whole week after my appointment on Monday, was spent in preparation for the next week.  {We just got back on Saturday evening}{post coming soon!} 

The first stage was to shave my head.
It was getting pitiful up there, y'all!! 
I washed my "hair" on Saturday evening and a LOT came out.  I had a full handful with one swipe.
Sooo, it was time to just let it go.  Besides, I had been lint rolling my hats, scarves and my sheets...sweeping up hair ALL the time.  It was time.

From the very first time I heard that my hair would PROBABLY fall out, I knew what I wanted to do.  So, I must first introduce Ashley.  {Click on her name and it will open a new window to her page. She knows nothing about me, or me linking to her, but she is a part of my story, as well!}

She made a video when she chose to shave her head.  Her daughter is/was at the time of the video, a little older than Charlotte, or about. Her daughter AND her husband both took a few swipes on her head!  After her head was shaved, she gave her daughter markers and let her draw on her blank canvas head!!  It was so inspiring to me.  She was so strong and to make it easier on her daughter, letting her draw on her head?  So awesome! Perfect thing for my girls, since they are so little. 

Charlotte seemed fine with it.  She laughed when we first told her it might fall out.  She thought her mom being bald was hysterical! I am glad she was handling it so well! 
But, I wasn't sure how well it would go over when the time actually came.

Here is a direct link to her video.  I wouldn't dare post it directly to my page.

So, I got that stuck in my head that that was what I wanted to happen.  My experience wasn't quite as serene and calm as Ashley's, but it went right along with how my life normally is! Ha!

I warn you, the hair that was left on my head was sad, pitiful and gross looking.  Just warning you:

 

 

First up is Charlotte:

 

Next is Audrey:

 

See little Sadie up there?! She was ready for her turn!!

 

YAY!!

 

Then, my presh nephew, Levi, got a turn!

Can't leave the boys out!

 

My sister, Lisa, couldn't wait to get her hands on my head.

She actually thought I wouldn't LET her shave any.

I don't know why she would think that....

I trust her.

Maybe.

I told her, she couldn't mess it up...

 

Last, but, definitely not least, my dear/sweet husband!

 

 

He did most of the work.  I am glad he could do it.

 

Now that the hair was all gone, it was time for artwork!

 

Great face on the back of my head!

 

 

Audrey didn't care too much for the process, so she sat and watched.

Sadie tried to try a dog, but Jackie had to step in and help her a little.

Bless her heart, she was getting frustrated it wasn't turning out like she wanted!!

 

Levi's turn!!!  

You can see Sadie/Jackie's dog...kind of...?!

 

 

Jackie wanted to draw, too!

 

 

Lisa was ready to go with 2 things she wanted to put on my scalp.

 

 

All done, ALL smiles!!

 

 

 

My dad and Wanda came over to be with us, as well.

They didn't get in on the shaving or the drawing.

 

 

 

She thinks she's funny.

 

But, she has been a huge blessing to me during this time.

Definitely makes up for sucking as a big sister when we were growing up...

HAHAHA! Oh goodness.  I'm kidding. Sort of.

 

My mom was also there, but she didn't get in on the action, or the pictures.

 

After all was said and done, I was ready for my hair to be gone.

I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would.

I think if I had done it weeks ago, I would have freaked out. 

It had to be the right time.

Praise the Lord! It was a huge relief to get the hair off of my head and my floor!

 

Thank you for bearing with me through all the pictures! 

I do have a video, but I am keeping that just for our family.

 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

       Isaiah 40:31

 

 

Part 4

Time to get down to business!

Sher and Joy had to leave on Wednesday morning to get back home.
So, my sister, Lisa stayed with my girls at the hotel for 2 nights.  We decided while I was in the hospital, that the girls would probably be more comfortable and would be more at ease in their own beds, with all of their toys.  So, on Friday, Lisa took them back to our house and stayed with them until Sunday when my friend, Christina took them to church and stayed in our home with our girls, for the week. 
Am I blessed with some amazing people in my life, or what!?  How many people, sister or not, would drop their work, husbands and kids to go take care of someone else's family?  I don't know many...Well, I know of a few, for sure.  So, from then on out the girls pretty much stayed in the same place {except for the occasional night spent at Christina's house} while Lisa and Christina swapped places. 

Chemo started on a Thursday and it was 7 days, all day.  I didn't have a break, except for the 5 minutes while the nurses changed my poison bags out.  They gave me some fantastic pre-meds, so I only experienced a little nausea.  But, I was really weak and worn out. ALL.the.TIME.
I was also on an antibiotic drip.
This may be TMI for some people, but the story is too funny not to share.  I had a little abscess on my thigh, I informed my nurses about 3 days into my chemo, because I am just that observant. Not really.
So my doctors came in and looked at it.  Yes, I said, Doctors.  Begin Rabbit Trail:  Being at a hospital on a college campus, obviously it is going to be a TEACHING school.  So, they have doctors at every stage: student, intern, resident, fellow and attending.  All those people came in first thing in the morning.  It was like the 1st season of Grey's Anatomy. end rabbit trail 
So, they came in to look at it.  They said I would need to get an ultrasound on it, so THAT professional came in to look at it and then they wheeled me down to get a ultrasound.
After that, it seemed like every 5 minutes someone was coming in asking to take a look at it.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Elwart, I heard about your abscess.  Can I take a look at it!?" As they snap the blue, latex-free gloves on.
"Sure! Why not!  You are lucky number 17!! "
Jackie and I joked one time, it was going to be the person that delivers the food, to ask to see the abscess.  It was getting a little ridiculous.  But, really funny. We also contemplated charging a fee.
I doubt it would have worked, but it would have been worth a shot.
At least we had a little entertainment.

My week on chemo was filled with walking the unit, hospital professionals: ranging from nurses to therapists, taking meds, family and friends!

The SC Elwarts : Scott, Lauren, Ryan and Susan

{it'sthe only group picture I took of them, and I didn't tell them I was taking it! }

Plus, I am pretty sure they were trying to get celebs tweet them back for me! haha

So, it's okay.

 

My Grandma and Aunt Lori

 

The Hamtramck GIRL Elwarts: Liz, Sabrina, Abigail and Isabelle

{Jason and Zach were there, too}

 

My sister, Lisa.

I had a few more visitors, but I didn't get pictures of everyone

The Elwart family {both "locations"} were very kind in bringing me crafty things to do and pictures to decorate my room with!!  Also, a zebra blanket and some socks and slippers.  It felt like Christmas!  I was being spoiled.  I am not complaining one bit!

Liz hung up yarn in front of the window {picture above..} so I could hang all the cards I was blessed with! 
I can't remember who brought the clothespins, but, I used mod podge and scrapbook paper to decorate them with :

It made the room a little more festive and less like a hospital room.  Everyone loved it! I even had two nurses come in that were not MY nurses, just to see what all the other nurses were talking about!


I knew the girls were in good hands with Lisa and Christina, respectively, but, I knew they missed us.  So, I thought it would be good for Jackie, the girls AND me if he went home for the weekend to be with them. He didn't want to leave me, especially since I was getting off chemo that weekend.  I talked him into it, but he didn't want to leave me alone, so we asked Lisa if she could stay with me instead of the girls for the weekend.  Thursday, Lisa brought the girls up for a visit {and to bring the vehicle for Jackie to get back home}  They stayed about an hour or so, when the girls started getting cranky, they left.

We named my IV machine : Pablo

 

 

Thursday, I was taken off of chemotherapy.

 

 

 I still had to take antibiotics, so Pablo and I were still attached 2 times a day for 2 hours at a time. But, I was FREE for most of the day!!

Splash Pad

 

 

This post is a little late.

The splash pad has been closed since Labor Day.

But, I am a slacker, and haven't posted almost at all this summer.

 

I just love these pictures so I wanted to share them!

 

 

My precious HAM, Sadie!

 

There is something absolutely irresistable about a baby on tip-toes!

 



 

The closest I could get of a group shot!

 

We had a blast this past summer.

Every summer, we try to go once a week to the Splash Pad.

The girls and I look forward to going every year! 

See ya next summer, Splash Pad!

Life with 3 kids....

has not been what I thought it would be.

And yet has been more perfect than I thought it could ever be.

It's hard.  Not fun at times. And induces moments {or days} of wanting to do nothing but scream, pull my hair out and get in my car and drive off a cliff.

Now if that doesn't make you want to have another baby, I don't know what will.

Wait, yes I do....this:

And this:

Oh and I cannot forget about THIS:

Having three girls is the biggest blessing I have ever recieved in my life.

I thank God everyday for my girls.

I love my girls so much, sometimes I ache.

But they are very time consuming {who would have thought parenting would be!?!?!?!}

And, compared to THESE girls, the blog just comes in last place.  That is why I haven't been up here lately.

I find just enough time to update Facebook and that's about it! 

I am going to try to be better.  And when I get on here, I am going to try to WRITE better.

Maybe 2011 will be the best year yet!

A little pre-occupied!

Welcome to the world, little Sadie!!!

SADIE ELOISE ELWART

Sadie was born at 9:37 am on November 26, 2010
6 lbs 15 oz and 19 in

A Black Friday baby!!

I know with both girls, I gave the play-by-play on the births.
And, perhaps I will with Sadie's as well. 

I love the finished product, what I got out of the delivery, but the delivery itself left much {and by much I mean EVERYTHING} to be desired.  {like an epidural....}
Without getting into NOW, I will say that after Charlotte AND Audrey was born I found myself saying : "I could do that again, no problem" .  After AND during Sadie's I found myself saying "I DO NOT want to do that again"
bahahahahahahaha
No seriously.

But enough about the bad stuff.

Sadie is a dream baby! She is so easy going and just wakes to eat and falls right back asleep.
I couldn't love her anymore if I tried! I get giddy just looking at her.

I didn't know if my heart could handle 2 kids, now I have 3!  And, my heart is bursting with love for each of them!

Sadie Eloise, your sisters ADORE you!
Everytime you cry, Audrey gets this concerned look on her face and comes running to tell me that you are "trying".

Charlotte loves to hold you and helps to soothe you if you are crying!

She loves to rock you and say "shhh" {like a mommy, not an annoyed big sister}

She also strokes your cheek and tells you how sweet you are.

Audrey and Charlotte LOVE to give you "big baby bear hugs" and kisses all the time. 

You are one loved little lady, my Sadie!!!

Within your first few days of life, you surpassed your birthweight like a champ!  By Monday {3 days after you were born} you had grown to 7 lbs 1 oz and 20 inches!!  It was amazing!

You love to eat and I love that I can provide that for you.

It is some of the best times of the day when I just get to hold you and feed you!

Welcome to your family, Sadie!