Picturing Peyton in lederhosen

The hills are alive with the sounds of my kids butchering Rogers and Hammerstein movies! It’s a beautiful thing to see and faintly hysterical to watch them dance around the bedroom to “Mary Poppins with short hair!” — as Peyton puts it. The kids have just fallen in love with “The Sound of Music” and Nathaniel hasn’t figured out that it probably isn’t cool yet….hope he never does.

Chemo this week has been fairly uneventful. I use the word uneventful loosely. Monday wasn't a LOT of fun, but it went as well as expected and the crying was kept to a bare minimum. We went Tues-Thurs for some meds in her port and it was painless and easy….praise God. She stayed accessed and there were no problems on that end. Today, after 4 fairly heavy days of chemo, she felt great! She was dancing and singing and just having a great time and it’s just an amazing thing to watch her feel good. Things we would have taken for granted at any other time in her life are precious moments now. She’s pretty much stopped eating already. I’m giving her meds for possible nausea, but she’s not feeling bad, she’s just not hungry. In fact, she hasn’t sat down to eat a substantial meal of any kind since Monday night. She went from eating around the clock to not eating in 3 days, I honestly can’t say which is worse. At least she has a definite reserve of chub to work with when she’s not eating, she’s already losing some of her steroid weight.

For Peyton to go to preschool next year, she must be potty trained. This is a fact. This is also about as appealing to her as suppositories….oh wait, we did that to her….as appealing as a plate of black olives and bananas dipped in ranch dressing…no, she likes that….you get the picture though. In a united front against diapers, Sharon and I each went out and bought special “Peyton Potties” today. Along with special pull-ups (Dora, because maybe she’ll feel bad for peeing all over Dora) and lots of potty candy (that name is just horrible all around, but that’s what she calls it). She’s being encouraged at each turn to go, it’s been an unsuccessful venture so far, but if she can beat cancer I’m sure this is a no brainer. She actually sat on the little potty waiting to see if anything would happen all the way from “My Favorite Things” to when Maria leaves the Von Trapp house….she didn’t pee, but she did tell me her booty was numb.

One of the bribes was that I would take her to Chuck E Cheese if she went pee in the potty. Rachael asked me “I go in the potty, can I go too?” That girl says the funniest stuff. She has a field trip next Friday to the aquarium and begged me to go and I told her that as long as Peyton’s not in the hospital I would do my best to be there. I even went as far as to let the nurses at the clinic know that Peyton’s blood infusion would have to be any day but Friday, because we weren’t coming! They’re often amused with me. This is important to my girl and I want to be there with her. It’s also a fine line to walk in explaining that it might be that Peyton’s health causes me to be unable to go, but it’s not Peyton’s fault. So much has changed in their lives, it must seem like everything revolves around the little bald dictator in the house, but they’ve done their best to adjust. I need them to understand why, but make them see that it’s not something that she did on purpose or that she can help. How do you explain that it’s because of her that so much has changed and not have them blame her when things go wrong for them?

I just tell them it’s all Pete’s fault! Hahahaha

Today was my birthday. 33. When people ask how old I am, I made a point to say at least 40 and enjoyed the shock on their faces. Then they’d say “You’re not 40!” Right, I know that, but I figure I look pretty good for 40, I look pretty haggard to try to pass off 29 anymore. That joke only works until someone just nods and accepts the 4-0 as a plausible age…that will not be a pretty day. I got to go diet free for the day and enjoy cake and candles with my family. Peyton came home after an afternoon with Grandma and asked “Is it your birthday yet? Where’s your birthday?” Apparently it ain’t a birthday until you’ve had cake, so I’m blaming the caloric free for all on her.

I’m still waiting for you all to sign up for Team Mayhew for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life at USF! If you can’t join us then at least spread the word and maybe someone else can, it’s a great cause that needs every person’s involvement. Plus, if you don’t join us, I am not above sending Peyton out with a sandwich board behind you saying “This person won’t join Team Mayhew”….shameless, huh?

We’ve had a resounding answer to prayers this week as my friends Harry and Lisa Greenaker are in Miami dealing with the aftermath of the surgery. On Tuesday, Harry came out of surgery with positive words from the doc and that alone was a relief. Harry was able to start wiggling his toes and has since been able to walk. After a surgery like his, it’s nothing short a miracle through the grace of God. He is in excruciating pain as his body tries to heal, he has physical therapy that is not only painful but frustrating. But Harry and Lisa are constant in their faith, their love for each other and their trust in the Lord is just beaming from them throughout this experience. We keep our prayers going for them nonstop and we ask that you all keep them in your prayers as well, for Harry’s body to be as strong and healthy as his amazing spirit, for Lisa’s strength and patience in role of mother, wife, teacher, nurse and caregiver, and for their boys to be understanding of the strain of the family and to never forget how loved and cherished they are.

We just thank you all for continuing to walk this path with us. I fully expected the hits on the website to dwindle down as the initial urgency waned. For us, every day is cancer, but for others it can get to be a downer. I’m constantly amazed by the encouragement given to us and the love felt. Thank you a thousand times over.

This was sent to be in an email (Thank you Traci) and it touched me, I hope it reaches your heart too.

"May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are
exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities
that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received and
pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones, and
allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love."

f.r.o.G…fully relying on God
–Anissa

ps…If anyone has a copy of “South Pacific” or “Oklahoma” they’re not planning to watch in the foreseeable future, shoot them our way. We are all about getting the kids just blasted with showtunes!