Praise the Lord!!

Blessedly and amazingly I figured out the whole picture upload problem.  It has to do with the fact that blogger and Picassa pictures are now linked and you have to go through picassa to upload pictures.  Despite my grumblings it is kind of easier now to upload now that I have figured it out:)  This is a random post catching up on pictures from the last week:)

Hope and Macy at preschool.  Hope loves preschool and is doing so well socially and academically.  She is still shy, but she is coming out of her shell more each day.
I love this picture of my kiddos in their new cool hats.  I am not sure why they are all crouching down, but they are.  David's hat was made by Samantha Bailey, Hope's was an online deal earlier this fall, and Kyle got his new hat for Christmas. 

This picture makes me smile and tear up all at the same time.  This is David during his first Upward basketball game.  Last year he made it to one Upward practice before his cancer diagnosis. This year he is back on the court and loving it.  He has to wear his headband to look like Lebron James, his hero.  Upward is a christian-based sports program and we love it. 

David in action!!!  We are so proud of him!


This picture looks like the game is rough but it really is not. His doctor or kidney doctor might be stressed to see him on top of Micah, but it is really a gentle game. 

I love this picture of my two youngest snuggled in bed.  This picture really shows how much hair David has now.  I gave him a little haircut the other night while he was sleeping:) 

I am hitting the gym pretty consistently trying to get in shape.  Sitting around a hospital the last year has not helped with my cardio health, so I am working hard to be healthier.  Hope and David love the childcare lady there, Ms. Dreama, so it makes it easier that they enjoy going. 

 We are facing another UVA visit next week and Mike is unable to go with me that day. Hopefully it will be a easy, quick appointment.  If you have Pop Tabs, we will be taking them to the Ronald McDonald house that day. 

My other New Years Resolution was to spend time in the word of God daily.  What has helped me tremendously with this resolution is the podcasts from Max Lucado. If you see me smiling on the treadmill at the gym, it is because I am laughing and enjoying these amazing and uplifting sermons.  They have helped me stay focused on God throughout the week.  My dear friend Tracey and I text back and forth all the time about the sermons. 

That is the Robinson family update for today.  I am so thankful for your prayers and encouragement today and always. 

HELP!

I am in a blogging rut simply because I am having difficulty uploading pictures to blogger??!!  Any help out there?  I am struggling and I am wondering if I should switch my blog to wordpress instead?  Please comment or email me if you can help me. 

Shew now I feel better.  I miss putting pictures on here because we have been busy living and loving life and I want to share.  We have been a basketball-loving family with Kyle's AAU team and David's Upward team. David scored a basket in his game today and we all went nuts!!  Go David!

We are approaching another UVA appointment for David and franklly we are at peace.  Kyle got full braces put on last week (yikes!) and participated in his school spelling bee.  We are rolling along enjoying each day as it comes.  Thank you for continuing to follow us on this life journey and praying for our family.

David's Kidney

This week we had a recheck of David's labs.  Thankfully his Creatinine has dropped from .9 to .8!  We will take all the good news we can get when it comes to Mr. David.  His BUN is still a little high, but potassium is in the normal range.  Please continue to pray for David's sweet kidney to keep functioning as normally as possible. Considering the beating it has taken between chemo, radiation, antibiotics, surgery, and such over the last year we are thankful that it is still doing its job.   

We return to clinic at UVA January 25th and then his next scan will be in February.  Yes, it seems to us that those three month cycles roll around pretty quickly.  Sigh. We just keep the faith and keep our eyes focused on Jesus. 

I have had several ask me lately how do we live knowing that the cancer could return at anytime.  We certainly know that and we try to live and enjoy every moment.  We cannot; however, dwell on the "What ifs" and live in fear.  We believe that God does not want us to live in fear but live for Him and "cast all of our cares on him for He cares for us" 1Peter 5:7.

I am blessed with many ladies in my life who encourage me, make me laugh, and we share God's word together even if it is through texting and facebook.  I am also thankful for all the encouragement and support we get through this blog.  It makes me want to cry humble and thankful tears when I run into people and they say that they follow this blog and are praying for us.  Thank you.  I am so thankful for my kids who keep us laughing and for Mike who keeps me in check when my mind starts wandering to a scary place. 

David is really doing awesome.  We are so thankful.  I remember that one of the nurse practicioners commented that we would see a big increase in David's energy and overall well-being six months after he finished chemo.  January marks the 6th month and frankly she nailed it.  He has grown and inch or two, put on a pound or two and looks healthy and great.  We are so thankful and it makes us so proud and happy to see his energy and spunk return.  We give God praise and glory for every inch he has grown and every pound he has put on. This time last year he was spiraling down to 45 pounds and the other day he finally hit the 60 pound mark!!  (that was with his heavy Jordans on but we will take it!)

Last year my doctor prescribed some medicine for me due to symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome after David's diagnosis and hospitalization.  I tried really hard to go off of that medicine over Christmas break.  Lets just say that maybe it is not quite time.  The nightmares came back in full force and my hands started shaking again.  I know that I suffer from that because tonight I used some new soap from Bath and Body works and as soon as I put some on I started shaking.  It was the exact soap that was in the kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House and it brought back all those memories of being there.  Those two weeks we were there were the scariest, and though that place is wonderful, it signals for me the darkest time of the journey. I know I have a lot of healing to do still. 

I am blessed woman that has a lot of love around me, sweet friendships with some Godly women who make me belly laugh, amazing kids who remind me what life is all about, a loyal and steady hubbie, and a Savior that loves me despite my meltdowns and pity parties.  If I have the love of family and friends and promises from our Savior who desperately loves us, then whom or what shall I fear?