Too Blessed to be Stressed: September 2015

Hello everyone. As you all know, things have been anything less than crazy for our family. Because everyone is up to date on everything, I will just post A LOT of pictures, rather than typing as much. This was a very hard blog for me and Justin to post because of seeing how normal life was just two-and-a-half months ago and seeing how very different things are today. It is amazing how quickly one's life can turn upside down. We never expected this would be our new life - watching our daughter get poisoned each week just so she can try to stay alive; watching her push an IV pole down hospital hallways instead of riding a tricycle; acting quick and reaching for a throw-up bucket because she is throwing up after treatments and for days later; so weak in her bones she cannot walk; living out of a suitcase just in case a fever sets in; blinking back tears when the nurse tells you her ANC is rising because that is what determines how good our day/week will be with McKynsie. It amazes me how hard we thought life was before cancer attacked our sweet girl.

Taking life for granted is something we all do, it is human nature, but truly try to live each day fully. Time is the one thing that although it is free, it is priceless. So smile more, fear less, let go of anger, and cherish all sweet memories (even the bad ones). Stop focusing on how stressed you are and remember how BLESSED you are! We thank everyone for their love, support and prayers. Please know if you are reading this, you are a blessing to our family and we are grateful. Lots of Love to you ALL!

(PS: Blogger decided to shift all pictures around out of order, so I apologize! I did not want to go back through and reorganize due to the amount uploaded.)

GO GOLD! Remember to support Childhood Cancer Awareness this month!

Our Snowman Door!

Madison's first Starbucks!

Just a typical outing with mom! She sure is one in a "minion!" :)

Me and my beautiful girls, Christmas 2014

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas!!! Christmas morning.

Build a Bear Wokshop

Madison with Grandpa Mark and Stassi and Destiny

Beautiful girls!

Look who is shaving!

We are those parents, that wear the fun kid shirts!

Daddy and his girls, Christmas morning, 2014

Our beautiful hero, Christmas morning

She LOVES it!

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Daddy all tuckered out from playing dolls! Naptime!

Happy 13th Birthday Anthony!

This was June 11, 2015, right before heading to the river house for our family vacation. We had no idea our Kynsie bug had cancer at this time.


Madison playing Twister with McKynsie

McKynsie's Bday at home, after being released from the hospital, July 25, 2015

Her birthday balloons!

Jenny Jen!

Our Birthday PRINCESS!

Aunt Jen and Kynsie Bug

She was playing shy because she just got her big gift! A Frozen PowerWheel

I love this smile!

Happy Birthday!

Bald and BEAUTIFUL!

Look who is working! With TOOLS! EEK!

Helping Grandpa Mark build the addition in the garage

On our way to the River House

Isnt he so pretty?!

This was right after getting her IV put in, June 16, 2015; the day our world turned upside down.

Presents from Nana and Pop! xoxo

Waiting for her to wake up from a lumbar puncture

She is so swollen from the steroids and fluids and anesthesia.

She still wanted to get pretty through it all!

Her buddy and big brother came to visit!

After 7 days in the hospital, she was so happy to be going home! Discharge day! June 23, 2015

Having to give her her meds at home. She was not a happy camper.

Warning! Anthony is turning 13! How is this even possible?!

At clinic, getting treatment

For being so brave at treatment, she got a present from Ms. Stephanie!

An American Baby doll. She loved it!

All smiles, such a blessing to see!

Kynsie and her cousins, Rachel and Eric!

Who says no cars in the house?! It was raining, so Daddy let Kynsie drive her birthday present in the house!

Nana and Pop sent lots of goodies!

Kynsie is getting a platelet transfusion due to low counts

After transfusion!

Another present from a dear friend.

Daddy and his sweet girl

ANC went up from 8 to 18!

This night was special to me because she asked for my hand, put her fingers between mine and fell asleep holding my hand.

McKynsie getting an echo/ultrasound of her port

Sweet girl was having a rough day and was sad

Doing crafts with a volunteer

Aunt Lee Lee and Aunt Dom, Nana and Pop sent a care package! It was the first time we saw her smile in weeks due to steroids!

Not only did she get a care package, but her big sister came to visit too! She was ALL smiles this night!

Happy 4th Birthday Kynsie!

The cake the hospital got her to celebrate

Another therapy day and she is very sad

Waiting to wake up from a procedure

Birthday cake #2!

Jayda and Juji came to visit to celebrate!

Madison (Pocahontas) being photobombed by Uncle B!

Our first "home cooked" meal in weeks! Thank you Uncle B! Penne vodka and chicken parm...mmm!

Anthony and his favorite hobby...the iPod

Sweet girl painting her own nails

Tye-dying shirts at the hospital

First night back home from being discharged! Family dinner to celebrate going home after 21 LONG days in the hospital.

Birthday girl!

Her Elsa balloon was bigger than her!

Therapy wore her out!

Poor girl is so sad to be back for more treatments

Before treatment

After treatment

Taking after her mommy working on the computer!

Fishy face!

Making crafts

After every storm, there will be a rainbow! The view from our hospital room.

We had to switch rooms and McKynsie was not very happy, so some staff decorated her room in Frozen decor to cheer her up!

Yummy brownies!

Big sister, Maddie, made a family portrait and sent it up to the hospital with daddy. McKynsie loved it!

Playing tablets with Madison in the hospital

Ms Independent wanted to push her IV pole all by herself!

A volunteer brought McKynsie something to snuggle with :)

Aunt Sarah promised a Frozen cake when Kynsie got to leave the hospital and Kynsie got just that!

Madison doing schoolwork!

Smiles for Uncle Scott!

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Scott came to visit!

Pop sent a present!

Painting grandma's nails!

She was so happy daddy brought a piece of home to her in the hospital.

Clinic day = no smiles

Blood transfusion

Praying at dinner in the hospital and I snuck a pic!

This was a milestone day because McKynsie played with gloves, which she feared, and a stethoscope!

An awesome supporter does digital advertising on his truck. He advertised for McKynsie around town! What an amazing thing to see your daughter's face displaying around his vehicle, to honor her.

Playing pinball at her birthday party!

Daddy made Green Eggs and Ham and we read it at family breakfast!

At the River House, June 2015

The gang is here!

Maddie took me to Muffins for Moms at school! May 2015

Anthony got enough birthday money together to buy an iPod by himself!

The addition in the garage

Showing me she could put her feet on the table, while standing up

Smiling when Daddy came after work

Playing with Cousin Mya!

Hmm, so many decisions...We were both pretty unsure of how to dress the doll!

Our amazing cousins, Eric and Rachel, decorated our home when we were discharged! They put such a smile on our faces!

Aunt Donna and Uncle Ryan, Savannah and Hayley spoiled Kynsie with goodies, including this crown!

Not wanting to leave the house to go to the hospital :(

This is her funny kiss face!

Playing with Aunt Sarah and the girls!

Kynsie with her new doll, Elle, who looks just like her now!

Right after getting discharged and going home

Grandma and Kynsie, at treatment

:( Chemo...aka...poison :(

Maddie and her buddy, Uncle B!

She was so happy Madison came to visit and spend the night!

Great Grandpa painted a picture of McKynsie!

Reunited at home! My 3 blessings

Someone is grumpy!

Madison's parade at school

June 16, 2015, right when we got admitted and found out the devastating news. This was right before she had an IV placed and before everything changed for our family. That smile,that precious smile, is so very beautiful!