Micah's 6th surgery--age 11

Micah was diagnosed with cancer at 11 months old: Nueroblastoma, stage IV and was treated with chemotherapy and had several surgeries--the final one removing 98% of her tumor and leaving the rest embedded in her spinal column, too dangerous to operate on. The cure rate of this particular cancer in children has a 57% cure rate (thanks to research hospitals like St.Jude) and Micah was among that 57% who kicked her cancer's booty and survived! *You can read more of her cancer story at her caringbridge site here or sign her guest book on her new current caringbridge site here *

However, Micah's particular cancer also has a 53% relapse rate, which means that over the last 10 years, and for the rest of Micah's life, there is a chance that her cancer could come back. For now...it has NOT.

WOO HOO! Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." What an awesome piece of encouragement from our Lord, the ultimate Healer and Comforter!

So the good news is that Micah's cancer is not back. And I was reminded of just how thankful we should be of this today by my wise brother (a doctor, in case you didn't know...) who said that the important thing here is that Micah's cancer is NOT back, its NOT relapsed and that the upcoming surgery and all that goes along with it is just residual. Yes! We are so thankful! I pray that I will never take God's mercy for granted where my daughter's life and health are concerned!

Now here is the latest: 

We went to the neurosurgeon today (one of the surgeons who performed Micah's 4th and 5th surgeries when she was 18 months old) and Micah will have to have surgery this summer. She will be getting rods put in for her severe kyphosis (a curvature of the spine, and in Micah's case a curvature originally caused by her tumor) in July or August of this year but she will ALSO be getting cadaver bones (ew!) implanted in the base of her spine in order to brace and support her spine so that the rods are more effective. She will have one surgery to do the bone fusion, etc. and then 4-5 days later after her body adjusts to that they will do the rod surgery. She will be an inpatient for approx 2+ weeks if all goes ideally. 

Then she will not be able to be mobile for approximately a year: no running, no stooping over, no basketball, no tennis, no lifting, no gym activities, nothing. Just walking and rolling her backpack if necessary. Small price to pay? Sure. And like my brother reminded me today, Micah's 11--this would be WAY harder if we had to limit her at, say, Haven's age of 4! Can you imagine???

So we go back to Micah's orthopedic surgeon on Monday (the one who originally ordered all the CT and MRI scans, and who will also be working with the neurosurgeons this summer on Micah) where we will hopefully set a date for the first surgery. OH and they are also hoping to go in Micah's previous incision sites so this could mean no new scars (or as we call them "miracles") for Micah Grace. This is a small, but huge thing for us!

I don't think I'm leaving anything out, but feel free to leave comments here and on Micah's caringbridge site so that she can read them! Micah is acting so fine with all of this, that it makes me wonder if she fully understands what's to be expected. However, those of you who know her know this: Micah is a walking miracle and one of the strongest kids (and people!) that I know and she will handle this beautifully like she has so many other obstacles in her 11 years. I am so thankful and proud to be her mom!

Wall Candy Frame Giveaway!

I love pictures! And I really love fun cute frames to put those pictures in! Remember how frames used to be plain, slim, flimsy things that basically just held a picture behind some glass? *shudder* Well aren't we glad THOSE days are over! Because now frames are almost as decorative as the pictures that go in them (okay, not really because I know some REALLY beautiful people...) but still, way better than they used to be!
So....in light of some of the most beautiful and creative frames I've ever seen, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY again! Yay! Beth with Wall Candy Frames has graciously agreed to give away one of her awesome frames!!

How adorable is this??? (holds a 5x7 pic, retails for $65 and also I know a REALLY good photographer who would love to help you fill it: Peacock Photography.)
Want it? Me too! All you have to do is subscribe to my blog (see that little window to the left where you enter your email address and click "subscribe"? Yeah, pretty tricky, I know.) AND go to Beth's Facebook page: Wall Candy Frames and simply leave a comment under the frame you see pictured above. Then just come back here, leave a comment telling me you did both! Easy-peasey! Already a subscriber? Don't worry, my friend, you are still included! Just let me know you already subscribe in your comment on this post.
**Extra chance to win: SHARE my blog link on your facebook wall and leave a comment telling me you shared it (in the comment section below, which means you will then have TWO comments, therefore two chances to win) and boom, you've increased your odds!**
Thanks again to the fabulous Beth with Wall Candy Frames for being so generous to my faithful readers and thanks to YOU, my faithful readers! (This is the part where you roll your eyes and go, 'dang, Sarah not only talks too much but she is totally shameless in trying to get people to read her blog'...um....well, YEAH I am.) Drawing will be Sunday!

*UPDATE: We have a winner!! Jenna Long Parker has won the FABULOUS Wall Candy frame! Yay! Congrats Jenna! ps. Here is the generator I use and the photo of the screen shot that chose Jenna's number in the comment section. And yes, I only did it once, you'll have to just take my word for it! :) Congrats Jenna!

White Chicken Chili Goodness

My sweet friend Haley Winter so kindly shared her White Chicken Chili recipe with me (I asked for it after hearing my sister brag about how DELICIOUS it was when Haley brought them dinner after my sweet baby nephew was born) and it was so good, I felt the need to share my adaptation of it! I made a regular version and a veggie version (for me) so I'm sharing both! (With Haley's permission!)

White Chicken Chili by Haley
2 cans of canned chicken (cooked in skillet to get rid of that canned taste, Haley recommended)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 soup cans of skim milk (I used one can 2% milk, 1 can evaporated milk)
1/2 cup chopped onion (I omitted, G$ doesn't eat onions)
1 can Rotel
1 pkg of white chicken chili seasoning (I used a Splenda, Emeril's NoSalt, crushed red pepper, chili powder)
2 cans northern beans (I used 3/4 bag of dried beans, boiled for 2 hours)
*I also added 2 cloves of fresh garlic (minced)


I put all these ingredients in my big slow cooker and let it cook on Low for several hours. Haley says serve with corn chips and cheese, so I did!

Veggie White Chicken-less Chili:
1 red onion, chopped
1 can Rotel 
1 can northern beans (I used a little less than half a bag of boiled dry beans)
1 can Pinto beans
1 can cream of potato soup
season to taste: Emeril's NoSalt, crushed red pepper, chili powder, chiplotle-type seasoning)
1 clove minced garlic 
I sauteed the onion with a small amount of EVOO. Meanwhile, I combined all ingredients into my totally cute owl slow cooker (pictured first) because it's a medium sized slow cooker and I didn't need to make as much of the veggie version as the meat version and let it cook on Low for a few hours. I served with corn chips and cheese.

I combined some of both chili's and took it to my friend BreAnna and her husband who just had a precious new baby and they enjoyed it! My friend Lawanda also enjoyed a sampling of both versions and I'm proud to say she liked the meatless version best--Yay! All of my family actually ate this meal, so this one will definitely go into the rotation. Thanks so much for your willingness to share your recipe, Haley!!