Well,

Today is the later part of day 9 and I think it's getting better. It is slow and very subtle...but hey it's not worse! The headaches I would say have gone from severe to moderate! The nausea is a little worse, but that's OK, I have an iron stomach! The fatigue is exhausting (is that an oxymoron?) but I seriously see maybe 1/2 cm of the tunnel light. As long as it doesn't get worse, I'm cool with that.

So the plan seems to be stay on this med for 6 months (December-ish) and then do another MRI and see what the size of the tumor is. If it has grown, then we talk surgery, if it has stayed the same size, then we just talk about selling one of my kidneys to afford this medication for the rest of my life?! OK, we'll all deal with that when it comes. For now, it's not getting worse, so to me that is fantastic!

The realtor comes tonight to look at our house and talk with us (insert MAJOR TEARS HERE!) I love my neighborhood and house--to me, it is a mansion and could not be cooler! However, my dad told me that I own the house, the house doesn't own me. You gotta do what you gotta do right? We have been looking for an apartment to rent, which is at the same time, relieving to me that it will be less to clean! We have a saying on one of our million picture frames (I love pictures to cover my walls) that says:

"Family (or in our case, Fami-LEE): It's not where you go or what you do but who is beside you that counts."

I know that to be the truth and that is for DAMN sure! Scott and I are so lucky to have such great family and friends. Seriously we are the luckiest people in the world to be loved by so many other people. Just the comments I get on this blog make me so happy and make me feel so loved and protected by so many! I can't tell you, dear friends and "readers" how much strength I gain from you. Emily's quote was perfect--thanks by the way xo! There is strength in numbers. Melinda told me of this month's (July 2010) LDS Ensign opening article by Henry B. Eyring, entitled "Faithful Friends." My favorite part of his thoughts are the following:

"In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him(Christ). It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down. The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I've had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden."

Isn't that a beautiful thought? We're all in this together, right? I have been emotional as I have dealt with not the thought of having a tumor, but having so many friends that care that I have a tumor. (My favorite has been Shellie asking if by being dealt all this sh*t meant that I was Hitler is a former life! LOL) I am really moved when people show their care and concern. Thanks to so many! I will keep you posted, but I think a few days from now, I just might be feeling great--and then we just live a normal life until we do another MRI. We can do this, and by "we," I truly mean WE...I know that I am not alone and I am so thankful to have YOU.