Check out Bryan's photos!

Bryan took a few shots of Kristin on the farm and in a nearby field of wild flowers. Click on his photo blog here. bryan boudreauxphotos.blogspot.com   On his blog click on each picture for a closeup. He is really honing in on his creative skills! Easy when you have a beautiful wife to practice on. Can't wait to see what Evie looks like out of the belly!!  I have some really great, talented kids!

Chemo  today made me sleep all afternoon. Now I can't go to sleep all pumped up from the steroids. Hate that.  It's just part of the deal.  Only 3 to go. I spoke with my friend Jenny who has had her last chemo treatment last week. She said it will take a few weeks/months for us to get it all out of our system and start feeling good again (as she was told) We probably have to take a 5 year follow up drug of Tamoxifen to help prevent the cancer from coming back. That kinda WIGS me out. Was hoping to be off all meds! So much to consider in this long, unfolding treatment deal. I have time... still gotta  do radiation following chemo for 6-8 weeks! 

Am trying to be patient. Well at least now I can watch American Idol to pass the weeks away.

Yes, I am an Idol fan. The redheaded teenage girl really rocked it tonight. 

Love to all. Peace Out!... I love Lent! 

Happy MARDI GRAS!!

Well, little Miss Audrey got to celebrate her very first Mardi Gras! So here she is with her Mardi Gras beads that her aunts caught for her at the Mardi Gras Parade. Momo Joyce (my mom) came over yesterday and we snapped  a picture of her holding Audrey. Last night another baby made his debut into our family... Thomas Andrus. Hallie and Mitch (my nepehew) had their 3rd child at around 10 p.m. last night. Mom and baby are doing great.  Now that's a lot of blessings!! 

Lent begins tomorrow. I love this liturgical time of the year. Getting on track spiritually is top  priority. Am certainly yearning for  a spiritual renewal. 

Chemo is tomorrow. Now that's something I can offer up for Lent! 

Babies, babies everywhere!

By the end of April my family will have added SIX new babies to the list of the ever growing Faulk Family (on my dad's side) since November. 4 boys and 2 girls. My, niece, Amy just had a boy this last week. His name is Cullen Stanley Curole (named after my dad, STAN THE MAN!!) What a joy it is to celebrate new life. Won't our next family gathering be interesting with all those little babies? Today Blair and Glen came over and Ricky's mom, (Tootsie) and Teenie and Carla (RIcky's Sisters) came to see Audrey. Tootsie was glad to meet her 'lil great grandbaby and really enjoyed holding her.
Had a good Sunday today. Ended it with a good old fashioned "breakfast for supper"! Ricky made pancakes and we made homemade whipped cream from scratch and topped it with fresh strawberries and blueberries! Yum!
Usually by Saturday and Sunday, I get achy bones and fatigue. Today was no exception. Am encouraged by the fact that I only have to do this 4 more times. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter, hallelujah!
Today I went to church with Ricky and the kids. Before we went I was sharing with Ricky this kinda empty void I have in side of me spiritually. The journey has certainly taken its toll on me in many ways. I always considered myself a deeply spiritual person. Now I can hardly muster up the energy or faith to even know where to start to reestablish my relationship with Jesus. I keep feeling this need to start over, like I've been given this miraculous second chance to make it all count, to always live in the light. And for fear of screwing it up again, I just keep fumbling through the effort to get back on track. But the homily for the day was about our healing. Christ says your sins are forgiven. He doesn't say get up and go you are healed. It is clear our healing comes from the forgiveness! Better yet from our sorrow for our sins... That just really struck me today. The cancer was only a wake up call. A frightening physical experience that became a very sobering emotional experience. The message at church today reminded me of my desire to live differently than I used to. But I think I've been holding on to all that I may have failed at before. And to move forward and embrace my "new" life I must embrace the forgiveness that God has for me. That is where my healing really is. In forgiveness, yes forgiveness.

Rick's in the Dog House/Barack O"MAMA!"

After you read this be sure to listen to and watch the you tube Stupid Boy video on the right!

I can think of a million bad things to say to Ricky today! (All in jest, of course) Let's start with the Keith Urban Song, STUPID BOY!... or how bout my grandpa's favorite, "If you don't have something nice to say then just don't say it at all." or my Dad's favorite, "Just shut up and drink your beer!" or maybe Just the plain old WWJD? ... It all started day before yesterday after a very emotionally exhausting day...
I had this conversation with my dear friend Kathy, as we left the funeral home for the second time in one day, having visited 2 different families in grief over the death of a loved one. When I dropped her at her house, we both commented that it was time for some joy in our lives. (which God has certainly sent to me with my new grand baby) But, you know, the kind of joy that we get in normal everyday life when things are going smoothly and there is no big "Story" unfolding that you have to cope with. I remember when life was like that and we were blissfully ignorant about life sufferings! Ahh! Those were the days! I commented that it had been a while since I just went leisurely shopping for a something to cheer me up! Like a "happy' little shirt or something fun to wear that represents the old playful pre cancer Madelene. We both agreed that a fun little shopping trip should help cheer me up! So yesterday, after my visit at the Miles Perret Center I decided to give it a try. I went to one store and found not one, but TWO HAPPY SHIRTS! I was so excited. So this morning (chemo day) I decided to wear one of those Happy Shirts! I was getting ready in the bathroom, had on my makeup, my jeans, and my new HAPPY SHIRT all tucked in with a belt and my high heel black boots! I was looking like the old sassy me! (note: I didn't have my wig on yet, so occasionally that looks a little "transvestdite-ish"!!) But today seemed to be an exception, even without the wig I thought I was looking pretty damn good! Don't worry, the vanity faded quickly when I met up with my husband and he made the biggest mistake of his life simply by opening his mouth.
So here is what the man I have been bragging about all these months said.... As I walked into the bedroom to help make the bed, ( a ritual we do every morning right before he leaves for work), he looked across the bed and said **(it is hard for me to type this because it is the stupidest thing he has ever said)*** ... "You know who you look like?" and I was thinking in my head surely he is going to say DEMI MOORE in GI JANE!!! Because she is the hottest bald headed lady anyone has ever seen!!! but I very reservedly answer him by saying, "NO, who do I look like?" And he says...."You look like Barack OBAMA!!!" And I'm thinking in my head in a very cocky "HEAD VOICE" " with an attitude..."Oh no, He didn't!!" But, yes he did say it and that my friends led to him chasing at my boot heels all day trying to make up to me either with false promises of things he can't come through with or trying to make light of his verbal mishap by switching it to "BARACK O"MAMA!" All of this has very little to do with my political thoughts on OBAMA, which I never want to get into on this blog, but just the fact that my husband picked an UGLY, big eared, shaved-buzzed head man to compare me to was by far the biggest mistake of his life. He is definitely fumbling through the make up time. So I gather up what little is left of my self esteem and go to my 12th chemo treatment!
As I walked toward the oncology office in front of him for chemo today he is walking behind me and says in a groveling effort to makeup to me... "Damn, you look so good. Looks like you need to go on a date!!" And I'm thinking no date in the world can make up for your stupidity today, buddy boy! ...meanwhile in my head I dream up the perfect "MAKE UP TO MADELENE DATE". It goes like this.. A private Keith Urban concert for the two of us in NAPA VALLEY, complete with a wonderful meal, overlooking an orchard, sipping the best wine money can buy, followed by the most luscious cheesecake ever and Keith Urban would dedicate his first song to RIcky and it would of course be, "STUPID BOY"!! Now wouldn't that be the best date ever?
PS I still love him dearly...as he just walked in the bedroom to bring me a chocolate bar and cookies!! And when I sat down today for my chemo, Sara, one of the sweet little nurses, says to me that she loves my shirt. BOOYA, Ricky! I LOOK GOOD IN MY SHIRT!!! (another twist on a Keith Urban song!)
FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ME OR RICKY A COMMENT!!!

Another TV Experience, not HGTV, but TV all the same!

Today I went to the Miles Perret Center to their Life With Cancer Support group to do a presentation on the importance of journaling through cancer. Although the group was only two people, I certainly walked away with inspiration from them. This experience is so enlightening, in so many ways. When I listen to the people I've met with their own stories, the lessons go deeper and deeper. HOPE is a word that seems to resonate in my soul over and over. This week has been good. Last Wednesday when I woke up I opened my eyes and began to cry! I was dreading going to chemo that day. I wanted to just give up and stop, NO MORE TOXINS!! Then I gathered my self together and went and survived it in spite of my DREAD! Today as I anticipate tomorrow's chemo I have this "bring it on" attitude. After this treatment I will only have 4 taxol treatments left. I am nearing the finish line and that feels so good.
Today while I was at the center, Julie Kelley shared with me a copy of one of their new public service announcements which features a clip of an interview I was asked to do last month. Of course it captured me in my hair dresser mode talking about my hair again. (or the lack thereof) So I attached the video clip to this post so you could see it before it hits the airwaves. (thanks Matt for helping me figure it out)
I got to see Audrey today. We went by for a quick visit. She seems to be such a content baby. And of course so pretty too. Blair is embracing motherhood so naturally and Glen is beaming! She is soo cute!
I just got a phone call from my mom to let me know that my niece, Amy, is on her way to the hospital to have her baby... Let's pray everything goes well and tomorrow morning we'll find out what she had.

Audrey came to visit today!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Valentines Locks of Love Day

Every year Rayne Catholic's Angel Network sponsors a Locks of Love Day and little girls from the school donate their pony tails to be used to make wigs for children who have lost their hair as a result of illness and chemo. This year I spoke to the kids about my cancer experience and my own fears about losing my hair and needing a wig of my own. Before we began the haircutting ceremony I took off my wig and  revealed to them my very bald head and the gym thundered with applause! 

From the very first time we ever sponsored the event, Blair and I have been on hand  as hairdressers to help cut the hair. It is always a very touching and emotional ceremony. This year, in particular, was extremely emotional for me and my girls. Blanche and Blair, (my two oldest girls) both volunteered to have their hair cut and donate their pony tails this year in my honor. Both of them had very long hair and I was so touched that they would sacrifice their beautiful hair to help others. But I know they really did it to show me their love and support. 

The kids at school laughed when I said the wigs made out of the hair donated that day would not melt when you open the oven to check your brownies!!

It was a magnificent demonstration of love and kindness, certainly fitting for a Valentine Celebration. Julie Kelley from the Miles Perret Center was on hand to talk to the kids about the generous services of the Center. We, in  turn, presented her with a check from the money the kids donated that day for Pink and Red /Jeans Day! 

Speaking of the generous services of the Miles Perret Center, today our family went Valentine Bowling in Lafayette. It was sponsored by the Junior League and available to patients and their families of the Miles Perret Center. Their focus is not only to help the cancer patient but their family, as well. The kids had fun and Layni Bug had the best score of all, sorry Ben!!! 

My Doctor's "great" sense of humor!

Had chemo today and was sharing with Erick and Dr.  Brierre how each week when I have chemo I loose my voice and I noticed that it starts before I even get there. For every treatment, I have to take a  steriod prescription the night before and the morning of chemo. So I asked if they thought that maybe it was the steroid making me get hoarse and loose my voice. Neither one had ever heard of that and were a little puzzled. When  I first started on the steroids I had to take 3 in the morning and 3 at night, each time gradually worked my way down to 1 at night and 1 in the morning. So he suggested I go to 1/2 each time.The steroid is used to help prevent side effects from the chemo. 

Well, I then very emotionally and tearfully described to them what the last week had felt like, being extremely tired and increasingly frustrated and ridiculously emotional. It was one of those stupid, weepy,  winey, lalalalalala conversations you should only do in front of your husband, children or very close friends!!  On second thought, you probably shouldn't even really ever do it, but in the moment you just can't stop yourself. When I was done and I looked up at my 3 guys (Ricky was there) and they all 3 looked like a batch of "DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS"!!  No one spoke for about a minute and then Dr. Brierre looked at Ricky and said, "Rick, I think I have an emergency at the hospital and I need you to drive me, let's leave Erick here to deal with Madelene!" Ha Ha very funny Gene Brierre, I will get you back. 

Before he walked out, he said he had second thoughts about reducing  my steroids to 1/2, he suggested I go back up  to 3 and 3 in hopes of me LOOSING MY VOICE COMPLETELY! He did make me laugh and assured me that in the weeks following chemo I will SLOWLY but SURELY return back to normal. On the way home I asked Ricky how it made him feel when I break down emotionally and he reminded me that it's not ME it's the CHEMO! 

We are going to the hospital to see Blair and Audrey in a little bit. That will cheer me up!

Here She Is!

What a glorious day! A glorious, LONG, day! Blair rested well last night with a mild slow induction, then this morning at 5 o'clock she was given a Pitocin drip that really kicked her into labor. She progressed quickly with no complications, had an epidural and at 12:39 she delivered Audrey. She weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. and she looks VERY much like her Daddy. She and her mom are both doing well. The new little mom went through this like WONDER WOMAN.  Audrey has already figured out how to nurse and had no problems eating. She was wide eyed, especially when her mom or dad would talk to her. She certainly recognized their voices. 

What a blessing to witness the miracle of God's wondrous works! Blanche (her nanny) and Glen and I were all able to stay in for the birth. Such an awesome experience! 

I was able to go to the hospital at 5 this morning and held up all day. I am so glad that her birth came on a day when I wasn't so consumed with chemo. That was perfect. Thank you God for that special blessing. 

Blair and Glen are going to be wonderful parents.  When I looked up at Glen, the moment Audrey was born I saw the most wonderful father. I saw a man fall in love with his daughter the minute she began to breathe! The look in his eyes reminded me of the look in Tyler's eyes when he saw Malorie walking down the aisle at their wedding. These are the bright moments we must cling to when the other things in life take our focus away from God's goodness. For today we will relish in the gift of life and its abundant blessings. I will be forever grateful for this spectacular day. 

And we get to see another beautiful baby girl in April when Kristin and Bryan have Evangelene. Wow, we are so blessed! What's that country song by George Strait? "I saw God Today!" Mimi and Happy are so HAPPY!

oops! a little mix up at the OB's!!

Well, one of the nurses told Blair to pack her bags cuz she would be admitted to the hospital after the doctor checked her this morning. As it turns out, he checked her and she is 0ne centimeter dilated and he wants her to check in to the hospital this evening around 7. He apologized for the mixup.... but a pregnant woman NEVER wants to be sent back home when her bags have been packed for a week! So we just have to wait a few more hours for the fun to begin. I will try to rest this afternoon, so I can be awake for the duration of the labor!  She's almost here!!

Today I FINALLY received my new wig!!! (Remember when I baked the brownies and when I opened the oven my perfect wig melted!) I've been wearing the crispy burnt wig, praying everyday for the the new one to hurry and get here. Today it came in the mail and I was so excited... until I tried it on and I looked like FRICKIN' FLORENCE HENDERSON FROM THE BRADY BUNCH!!!  So my kind husband came to my rescue and put the wig on, so I could reshape the wig into a better style. Thank God I am a hairdresser, because the average person would have been in a bind. It's much better now. I included pics of Ricky as my model and then me with the new wig, after I cut it. Now, I'm all ready for Audrey to meet her MIMI!

I can't wait to sit and post my blog tomorrow with pictures of the baby! 

Please pray for a safe and smooth delivery. 

No Audrey yet!

We're still waiting for Audrey to arrive. The latest news leaves us counting down the minutes in hopes that things just naturally begin to unfold. If not by Blair's apt. on Monday, Dr. Hardey will most likely check her and then induce. Let's all join in prayer and ask that Mother Nature kicks in order to avoid a drug induced labor. Blair is being so patient and we all can't wait to see Audrey and give her a big SMOOCH!
I had chemo yesterday and got a little wiped out, just felt really sluggish, so after I finished working I just hit the bed and took it easy. Today I am feeling really good. I am so grateful to be feeling so much better now that we await the arrival of Audrey. I feel confident I'll be able to help out and be there for Blair when she needs me. What a blessing, the timing of all this is just as it should be. A month ago, I couldn't even take care of myself and felt excrutiatingly awful! What a difference a few weeks has made. Only 6 treatments left!
Am including a slideshow of Audrey's precious little nursery. It came out as cute as you can imagine. Thanks Jackye, for pitching in when Mimi was feeling too awful to continue sewing! It's all sooo Blair! Even Audrey's clothes match her room. Her closet is even the cutest closet ever!! Enjoy!

DEAL OR NO DEAL?

About a month or so ago during one of the school masses we were awarded Rayne Catholic's Supporter of the Year award. Last night Ricky and I were recognized at Rayne Catholic's Dinner Dance for receiving that award. We have had children attending Rayne Catholic consecutively for the last 25 years. We have certainly done our fair share of volunteering over the years, but were totally surprised this year when our names were announced for Supporters of the Year! This honor comes at a time when we have felt totally loved and supported through the kind works of everyone (teachers, students and parents) at Rayne Catholic. Whatever we have given has certainly come back seven-fold in our time of despair and need. Rayne Catholic is, by far, a great place for our children to receive a great education as well as witness living examples of Christ in action everyday.
It was a stretch for me to be out on a Saturday night, am usually in bed by 8:30 or 9. But we enjoyed the evening very much. The theme for the dinner dance was DEAL OR NO DEAL. What a treat it was when some of the RCE dads came out all dressed alike as the "Suitcase girls" of DEAL OR NO DEAL!! Pay close attention to their COORS Light Suitcases! Very entertaining!
Tonight we are just watching the super bowl... well, I'm not really watching it but I did buy a square on a board at my oncologist's office, so I do have a vested interest in the game! The proceeds of the board will benefit research for leukemia and lymphoma.
Am still feeling better. Am so glad about that.