Slowly bouncing back from Cycle Eight......

Cycle eight may be over, but the "chemo hangover" has hit with a vengeance this week.  While Amanda felt pretty decent throughout the week of chemo, it wasn't until she was through with the medication that she really started to feel bad.  When I say bad, basically that means achy and tired.  So while she has been up to going to an event here or there, each evening her day quickly catches up with her and she crashes, feeling terrible with a headache and just wanting to go to bed, hoping to wake up and feel better in the morning.   She has even fallen asleep in the car in between stops and that is very unlike her!

She made two events this week however, which should not be a surprise, and those were her lessons at ROCK.  Today was almost a no go, but she wanted to ride a horse so bad, we gave it a try, even if it meant turning right back around and coming home.  Thankfully, once we were on the road she started to feel a little better and managed to even do a little PT once she was on her horse, Piggy.  Tuesday's ride was on a new horse named Oakey.  It was his first lesson at ROCK, and he did a great job.  Amanda really liked his laid back personality and they even did some trotting around the arena, although she was sore from that later on in the evening.  With Romeo out of commission, but on the road to recovery, Amanda has been riding different horses and seems to be enjoying it.

It's been touching to see friends and experience the joy that you share with us in the latest (and might I add greatest!) MRI results.  This will come as no surprise, but I heard a song today on KLOVE that I feel tells our story beautifully. (I recommend looking it up on YouTube if you haven't heard it yet.) While I know that we have not quiet reached our mountaintop, we have come so far and seen God do so much both in and through Amanda's life.  My prayer continues to be that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of what He has in store for her.

Matt Redman  - Never Once

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

Amanda's next appointment is a week from today.  We have some pretty awesome events coming up for our family over the next few months and I will share with you what they are as the time approaches for each of them.  Suffice to say, we continue to feel the love and support from the body of Christ in so many special ways. 

From Tuesday's ride: 

Meet Oakey! He was super sweet and very curious about the camera.

See?!  I think he was posing for me.  :)

She did so well riding him!

The lesson ended with her favorite - trotting!

Wednesday's Lesson:

Today, it was COLD and windy.  She was on Piggy and we stayed in the arena so it wasn't too bad.

Amanda and Ms. Judy talked non-stop....couldn't get a photo without one of them talking...

Except this one where she caught me with the camera up.  Doesn't she look thrilled?

Gotta love a little 'YMCA' to warm up on a cold day.

On the way home today, I asked her how she was feeling after her lesson.  Her reply? "Mom, I just got off a horse. I feel great."  So as the week winds down, I'm praying that Amanda will quickly start her bounce back.  I think I saw a little extra spunk from her this evening, so that gives me great hope. :)

Psalm 33:4-5

For the word of the Lord is upright,

    and all his work is done in faithfulness.

He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.