Squishy love

I can't believe that I'm almost done with treatment! Only 8 more days of radiation and I'm finished! Ah, relief. So far I have some sunburn effect on my left side where they are radiating and it's sore, but not too bad. I hope it continues this way till I'm done- these side effects aren't very difficult at all. My hair is really starting to grow back and take away from the "scalp" look. I still wear my wig- I like it- it's easy, cute, fast to get ready, removable when I have hot flashes, and the hair I have growing is so incredibly short that I don't like the way it looks right now. Not really my style. Anyways, I've spent 7 months in the wig already and people are just starting to not make the comments I'm now used to hearing like- "Wow, you really cut your hair" or "Your hair is soooo different" or "You look like a different person with straight hair". I've heard it all by now- multiple times- and if I go to super-short, natural, growing-in hair then I'm just welcoming the cycle all over again. I don't mind it, but of all things, the hair seems to get the most conversation. Crazy, huh? Did my hair define me that much? Oh well, Ryan doesn't seem to care if I have hair or not- I think babies focus on faces, not hair. Hat, wig, bald, short hair, glasses or not, makeup or not, he seems to know it's me and like it when I'm there. It's lovely to know that he loves me no matter what I look like. And so does my ever-supportive, loving, and studly husband, Bill. He still tells me I'm beautiful multiple times a day- and means it. I am the most blessed girl in the world- sigh!! Well, enjoy Ryan's latest pictures. I know that's what everyone is looking for on this blog- and I can't blame you. He's adorable, still good natured, mellow, and happy- and HUGE. Our boy is 17 pounds of squishy love and drool. Told you I was blessed.

It hasn't been THAT long!

I know, I know, I am a slacker, lazy, - etc. Can I blame the month-late entry on my forgetfulness? New baby? Chemo? Well, whatever the reason, I am now giving you all an update on our lives. Bill is awesome and working all the time to support us. I am now working Mon, Wed, and every other Thurs to help a little. And I enjoy my job, the people I work with, and getting out of the house once in a while. I started radiation yesterday and have 6 weeks to go. It's like getting an xray. I'm not radioactive afterwards and do not glow, much to Bill's disappointment. I will probably be tired and get sunburn effects later on, but for now, the only irritation is the time commitment of going every single day during the week. Oh well, this is the last step of the process and I'm done!

Ryan is laughing all the time now and talks his cute baby-cooing language. We love it and do whatever we can to make him do more. He also, as you can see, is gaining weight regularly and has had no problems outgrowing his clothes. At 4 months old, he is now wearing his 6 month clothing. I find out exactly what his weight is on Thurs when he gets another round of immunizations (yuck). Two weeks ago he was 14 pounds. I can only imagine what the current number has reached. But how cute are his rolls and chub?? I can't stop kissing him and he is so huggable. I hope you enjoyed the slide show. Bill put it on the blog for me after I spent some time. . . putting it together. Here are another couple cute shots for ooo-ing and ahhh-ing.

State Fair and other cute photos!

Smiles!

More cute shoes

I don't know when life will slow down. My guess is never again, but I'm enjoying the ride. My last chemotherapy was on Thursday, which means that I feel crummy this week. But oh well, the feeling of ick only lasts a week, and all I have left is radiation. Yeah! Ryan is keeping us very busy, nothing new really, just being adorable and eating constantly. Sometimes I just think that God blessed me with not being able to breastfeed -because I don't know if I would have been able to keep up with my "little" pigglet. Seriously, he's up to around 13 pounds now- at 3 months old. Just look at the cheeks and arm rolls! He decided to grunt out a hernia on the other side. Yes, he just had surgery 2 months ago for pyloric stenosis and a hernia- but this is the other side. Anyways, more surgery :( but it should just be a one night stay. I don't know the day yet, but I'm hoping for next week. He doesn't seem to mind his little bulge, so at least we aren't dealing with crying baby in pain. In fact, Ryan smiles all the time now and coos to us. And to the ceiling fan, and to his toys--- whatever, it's super cute to hear his little voice. And an occasional giggle makes life wonderful. Oh, and he slept for 7 hours last night!! Don't worry, we still had to get up in the middle of the night- it was from 7pm -2am, but hey, it's progress.

Look at our chunky boy!!

Ryan had on this adorable outfit- bringing out his beautiful blue eyes. Can you stand the chunky cheeks?!?

And the shoes!!!

I can't believe that Ryan is 11 pounds now! He is so fun, and starting to smile and coo a little bit. We (the parents) are doing well too. :)

Hi- from all of us

Hi there! I just wanted to share a couple of adorable pictures. Ryan says hi too. And Bill too.

Look at our cutie!

So sorry to make everyone wait a lifetime for more pictures of Ryan. He is growing like crazy, making up for lost time when sick. He is now 20 inches and about 9 lbs- can you believe it!? We are still up with him every 2 hours for feeding (hungry boy) and not getting a lot of rest, but that's what it's all about now. I'm so glad he's healed and doing so well. I am tired and achy with this last round of chemo- even more than before. I think it's finally hitting me- maybe the combo of everything. But I have lots of help from family and friends to watch Ryan while I nap a little. He is wonderful and a blessing- even when he screams in the middle of the night from gas bubbles. Bill's mom, Tab and her husband Kent were up last weekend for their first visit and we had so much fun. Ryan has so many awesome family members! He is definitely well loved. We are grieving the loss of my Papa. He passed away on Saturday and will be missed terribly. He was a wonderful man of God and an amazing example of love and life.