Recent visit to NIH

We are asking for your prayers again.
It seems the doctors were a little too optimistic last time Savannah visited NIH. As I reported in earlier posts, they thought the cancer was completely gone but this trip they realized that what they thought was "scar tissue" in her spleen was in fact cancer. It had grown ever so slightly and they detected a pea size tumor on the outside of her spleen as well. She goes back in 3 to 4 weeks for more extensive testing. If it has stayed the same or grown they will remove her spleen. They assured her this was not really a big deal.....you can live just fine with out it. Of course, we'd rather her not have to have any kind of surgery but.......whatever makes her well! SO.....please remember her in your prayers again and please pass it on to all those prayer warriors!
We have had a few weeks of non-stop activity around here. In mid February, Mom and Daddy left for Virginia to visit Jeff (my brother) and his family. Donna had to go to Africa on business and Jeffrey needed help with the girls so they stayed about a month or so. While they were gone, I had the bright idea to redecorate their master bedroom. I wanted them to have a nice relaxing space to come home to after being away from home so long. Too bad I was so thoughtful and selfless!!!! :) I almost killed myself trying to get everything done! Bo and Savannah proved to be....some.....help. They helped prime and paint the old, dark 70's paneling and trim (when their schedules allowed :) and Danny was useful in getting the old closet doors off and cutting out the headboard so I could upholster it. All in all it turned out to be a lovely, bright, peaceful room. They were extremely surprised and both seemed to love it.
OH!, did I mention in the middle of all of that.....Shelby had her 16th birthday party at their house? I thought it would be a good idea to get movies and pizza for the 9 girls and let them PARTY in the basement while I worked upstairs finishing their room. HA! Needless to say......no work got done that night!
When Mom and Daddy got home they had my two precious nieces (Lilly, 13 and Rose, 7) with them. They stayed for their whole 2 week Spring Break. We had so much fun with them. The first week Shelby was still in school but everyday as soon as 2:18 hit we picked up 4 to 6 LOUD girls as well as Rose & Lilly and off we went.....we looked (and sounded) like a caravan of wild gypsies traveling down 71B in Grandma's suburban. People could hear us coming for blocks and heaven help the single or cute guys at the stop lights! Grandma might never be the same!
We also celebrated Shelby's actual Birthday too. We ate at JD China....Shelby's favorite place and then came home for cake, ice cream and gifts. Yes, she got a car. My Aunt Wanda got a new car and she was getting rid of her old one so Shelby got it. It's really nice and well taken care of. I hope Shelby keeps up the tradition. :)
In the midst of all this....Savannah decided since it was Spring Break, she and one of her friends would just "road trip" to Maryland to her appointment at NIH. So she left all the madness of home and was off driving....who knows where..... hopefully to Bethesda.
Anyway, have you ever been to a 9 day sleepover with 4 girls that shower constantly? It's exhausting but totally fun. The laundry however is NOT!
I say 4 girls because we invited Kim, Shelby's friend, to spend Spring Break with us. Rose and Lilly love all of Shelby's friends and consider them to be their friends too but all except Kim were on a mission trip. We had big plans to do all sorts of cool things but those 12 inches of snow on Sunday dampened a few of those. Although... we did make it bowling, to the movies, shopping, a sleep over with Bella and Gabby (cousin Wes & Melody's girls) and to Branson on Friday. We had a blast! Mom, Daddy, Rose and Lilly were up very early Saturday morning in order to get the girls to their plane by 10am. We all need to sleep for a week before life resumes. I WISH! But....Life goes on whether your tired or not....so......
This weekend Linda and I opened our booth in Lincoln at the Treasure Chest. I would never have considered such a location but other vendors say it is very profitable there. So...NOW....Sassy Salvage has 3 locations for your shopping pleasure. Fayetteville, Prairie Grove and Lincoln. Wohoo! we've hit the big time!
LOL! Thanks for your prayers for Savannah GOD is Good! love y'all

Today is March 9th

In the past, March 9th has not held any special significance for me....that I can remember anyway...BUT today is different!!!!! One year ago today, I got that terrifying phone call from the Breast cancer doctor telling me to find Savannah and get to his office immediately. He spoke with such urgency that I knew it was bad news. I kept telling myself on the drive to his office that -even if she does have breast cancer...people survive it all the time and surely we've caught it in time. Still, I knew whatever it was... was serious. Savannah knew it too. I could hear the fear in her voice when I spoke to her on the phone and told her to meet me there. Sensing we were going to need all the strength we could muster I called Danny and he met us there too. I was pretty much prepared for whatever bad news the doctor had (or so I thought) so when he circled a big ugly place on her back shoulder and said it was melanoma and that was what was causing all the problems, I was wondering why he had made such a big deal over something that could be removed so easily. I had always heard that melanoma is one of the worst kinds of cancers anyone could have but at least it was just on her skin. Then horror flooded my mind.....It wasn't just on her skin, it had spread to make that huge lump under her arm and if it had spread that much where else in her body was it? It was the most terrifying feeling I've EVER had. I can't even imagine what Savannah must have been thinking. The doctor was so good with her....he hugged her and said he had a daughter her age and told her they were going to fight this with everything they had. He had tears in his eyes and kept looking at us as if to say - I'm so sorry but you're going to lose your daughter. We made it outside to the front steps of the office before we burst in to tears.
I don't know why I want to remember the events of that day....maybe to just reflect on how far God has brought us and all the true miracles He has performed since that day. I will never forget the fear of that day. I will also never forget the peace that God gave me shortly after that...within hours really....and it stayed with me til we got the news that she is cancer FREE!! So, March 9th will never be taken lightly around our house again. It will be a day of Thanksgiving for our "Sweet Savannah" and her precious life.

Some new DRAMA
Bo is doing well after 2 trips to the emergency room a couple of weeks ago.
He thought he was dying......We thought he was having an appendicitis attack.
The doctors found a kidney stone! He was miserable and extremely sick. It was awful seeing him in that much pain but as I said, I think he's back to normal again.
Shelby is going to be 16 years old on the 15th of this month and she is expecting to drive!!! Who made that rule up?????? I'm all for changing the driving age to at least 18!!!! I'm not having an easy time picturing her out in this crazy world driving everywhere with all those nuts on the road.
Maybe I'm getting nervous in my old age......whatever it is......it's not a good feeling.
Kids driving.....Oh Lord, hear our prayers! :)

Linda and I have expanded our Sassy Salvage business. Now you can find us at our first location - Fayetteville Trading Post on N. College right across the hwy from Acumbaro Mexican Restaurant AND in Prairie Grove at Daisie and Olive's Flea Market. We are having so much fun and really have some funky, unique and fun home decor and fashion items. We add new things weekly so drop by on a regular basis so you won't miss anything. Many items are -one of a kind- since they are hand painted or crafted. Sometime soon we hope to have a Sassy Salvage blog or website.

It was March 9th when I started typing this but it has taken me so long to write it that it is now March 10th. I'm so slow! Good Night!

p.s. I still don't know when the FOX News story will be coming on but I'll send an email as soon as we know something. Love to ALL!