Right Where I’m Meant to Be

Has something ever happened to you or in your life that just reinforces the fact that you are right where are meant to be?

I thought life was good, well it was good – we had gotten to this place where things were comfortable.  Sure, the crops could be better, things could break less and there always could be just a bit more money in the bank, but we were happy.  After years of living just outside of town we able to finally build our dream home out on the farm.  We were able to finally commit to my husband saying no to work out west which took him away from home for months at a time.  We had 2 beautiful daughters who were healthy and happy.  We were looking forward to traveling more as the kids were getting older.  I liked our life.

Then things changed.  As comfortable as things were I don’t think that’s what life is actually meant to be.  I think we are meant to change and evolve.  I think we are meant to be challenged and grow.

This past October we were told that my 11 year old daughter had cancer.   She had a mole removed and it was confirmed as a malignant tumor, as melanoma.  They sent her slides down to the Mayo Clinic where they had 5 different pathologist look at it who could not confirm or deny what it was. 

So we were sent right away to Cancer Care in the city where we met with a pediatric oncologist who told us as far as he was concerned this was indeed melanoma.  He said that we needed to get a recursion surgery done by a plastic surgeon to a ensure that they got it all in it’s entirety.  She needed to have a CT scan and a PET scan done to make sure that it hasn’t spread to anywhere else in her body.  He told us that we were going to meet with a specialized doctor the following day at Cancer Care in dermatology and she would be able to give us more concise answers. 

We did meet with her and she slowed us all down.  She was not comfortable calling this anything other then a mole as the pathology reports were confusing at best.  She wanted to get the slides sent here and get her pathologist to look at them.  She was confidant that without rushing him he would be able to tell us exactly what we were dealing with.   I was a little concerned, our last test results took over 2 months to come back to us.  She assured us that they had a main cancer meeting coming up in 2 weeks where they sit down and discuss cases and she wanted to be able to bring our daughters case to the table at this meeting.  They would have answers by then.  We still needed to go ahead with the other scans and surgery though. 

We were back in Winnipeg the following week.  I cannot say enough good things about the staff that we dealt with both at Children’s Hospital & Cancer Care.  They went above and beyond and worked out our appointments for us, they were the ones that called back and forth and scheduled us in such a way to maximize our time.  Within the two days she had her CT scan, her PET Scan, a consult with the plastic surgeon and her surgery.   Every single member of that staff that we met with was absolutely amazing, talking with her and treating her with such respect and easing our worries. 

My mom had also just flown back into the country from Mexico where she had been for a few weeks with my brother who had back surgery while he was down there!  She landed while were were in the city for all of this so it was such good timing!  She stayed with us and was able to take my youngest with her for a little shopping and one on one time!  Thank goodness for moms!  You’re never really to old to need yours!!

My daughter’s surgery went well, she did amazing at her scans and getting needles.  They cut quite a large section out so that it would close properly and as smoothly as possible.  He stitched the muscle layer under her skin and then just steri-stripped the incision itself.    Her incision runs all the way from behind her ear along the bottom on her jaw ending just under her chin, it’s pretty long.  She had to take some time off from doing her usual thing, no gym in school, no playing her band instrument and no Ukrainian dancing.   Then we just wait.  Wait for healing, wait for results.

We went back into the city beginning of January and met again with the the plastic surgeon at children’s and with our dermatologist at cancer care.   The plastic surgeon reported that the new biopsy they had taken was clean and he was very happy with how she was healing.  He warned her that she needed to still take care of the area, applying sun screen daily – no matter the season.  If not, the sun would actually darken the area and cause freckling easier then because of her history they would want to remove any spots so she would be back up for surgery.  This was enough to scare her into making sure that sunscreen is applied daily!!

The next day when we saw our dermatologist she was happy to see us as well, that’s got to be a good sign right?!  She was happy to report that her scans were clean, and that they confirmed that she did not have melanoma!!  BEST NEWS EVER!!

While all of this was happening we had other things on the farm and life that we were dealing with; we had an out of control fire which we lost a tractor, rejected canola due to roundup contamination which nobody wishes to take any responsibility for, not the seed company nor the chemical company.  Very luckily my father-in-law had insurance on his tractor but unfortunately we are still at a loss with our canola, with the possibility of loosing up to $30 000.

Then I feel like l got hit again, I found out that were expecting our third baby come July.  It’s good news, it really it – just at the time it was not.   Our family was done, we were good.  Panic set in, my girls will be 12 & 9 when this baby comes.  My oldest will be graduating once this new one starts school!!  We planned on traveling for the winters once the girls were gone from home, that was in another 9 years!

After my youngest was born my hubby would’ve been happy to have another one right away but I wasn’t ready. I had 2 miscarriages between the girls and the last pregnancy just did things to me emotionally, plus getting pregnant wasn’t easy for us.  I had been on a light dose of fertility treatments to make me ovulate. (only getting your period a few times a year is pretty awesome until you are actually trying to have a baby!).

By the time I was ready to maybe have another baby we were pretty content with where we were. The girls were a bit older at that point and it made it so much easier to just pick up and go. So we decided that our little family was complete. So I’ve been on birth control for the past 5 years and after all the struggles of getting pregnant here I am pregnant when I was actively taking the pill – trying not to get pregnant.  Go figure.

It’s taken me some time to adjust to this set of news. I’m not devastated anymore by it, they always say ‘babies are a blessing’ right?!  Everyone is super happy for us and pretty much everyone thinks we’re having a boy.  The girls are excited, one wants a baby brother and the other isn’t sure, or hasn’t said anyway.

Raymond has been quick to remind me that things truly are different this time around.  The girls are older, and it’s not a horrible thing – they’re old enough to do a lot of things themselves, to help out with baby & to understand that this mama may need a few extra naps here and there.  He’s actually home.  This is huge as so much of our life together has been spent with him working out west and not being here.  I remember being in the hospital while I was having my youngest and he got a call to go to work, he left days after she was born.  So like he says, he’ll be around to help out this time.

He also tells me that in the end family is the most important thing.  He’s absolutely right, we’ve just had a little change of plans here!  And things are going to be good this year, we got the best news about our daughter’s health and I’m physically feeling better (no more nauseousness & pains) so here’s to a good year!!!

I am super thankful that I have a house full of products that I know are safe for our family, for this new babe.  I have always since my babies were born tried to live more naturally, a bit more chemical free.  I truly believe that the little changes that we make daily can add up to make a huge impact.

The events that took place this past fall have really reinstated the fact that we need to make these changes.  Cancer can come at you no matter what you do, but if I can make choices here in our everyday that can eliminate a lot of the risks out there, why wouldn’t I?!  It’s in the food we eat, we try to self-sustain whenever possible growing our own vegetable garden & berries and we now have an abundance of fruit tree’s planted, which we can preserve or freeze to last us through our long winters.  It’s in the choices we make when we purchase our cleaning products & our personal hygiene products.

I know that I am on the right path to better providing a cleaner lifestyle for my family and those around us and I also know that I still have a lot of learning left to do, don’t we all?  I’m happy that I have the opportunity to help others make changes to live a cleaner lifestyle with more natural products.  Tiber River Naturals has truly provided a healthier, happier home for us.

So maybe I am right where I need to be.  Maybe this is perfect timing for a new baby.  I feel a lot more settled as the days go by.  I feel like now that I’m in much better place then I was this fall it’s time to step up and do something about it all.  I want to give back to those who have helped us through all this.

While were were back and forth from the city to home we had the opportunity to be guests at the Ronald McDonald House in Winnipeg.  We were welcomed like family and were able to stay close to the hospital.  We had the opportunity to meet other families that were there and see the difference that the house made in their lives.   I want to have some fun with it as well and help all of you make some changes, big or small, in your homes as well!

So now what?

March is here and with it a brand new Tiber River Naturals catalogue and a fabulous spring scent as well as a couple brand new products!  I have set up a party that all proceeds will go to our local Ronald McDonald House.   I have a couple of ways that we can give.  I have a list of products from Tiber River Naturals that the families at the house can use.  You may purchase these through me and I will deliver them to the house.  Every time you make a purchase on this party 30% of all proceeds will be going directly to the house.  Each purchase you make for yourself on this party gets naturally derived products into your home and gives you a chance to win all the hostess credits!   There will be bonus prizes and other fun deals throughout!

Follow this link to join the party group on facebook and let’s get started!!  Not on facebook?  Not a problem – there is still a way for you to shop!  You can either send me a message directly or you can shop here on my website and enter party #13969 at checkout.  Tiber River Naturals ships across Canada via Canada Post!  Not in Canada but still want to make a donation, send me a message and we will get it all set up!

Let’s Party!!