And. So It Begins.

A number of months ago, I thought I should be blogging about our very recent move to Victoria, BC, the capital of British Columbia.

It was a super eventful process, full of stubbling, bumbling, near law suits, crazy situations.  Finally when the truck pulled in front of our new home, it honestly felt like the family heaved a collective sigh.  The stress was over.

As "Mister" established himself at work and M2 into high school, I found that the busyness of our former life was seriously missing from my new Capital Life.

I found that the most demanding thing to do with my day was plan dinner and I didn't need 10 hours to do that!

I decided to start walking Pippin everyday.  Some days, he had a 2+ hour walk, depending on where we went.  Our favourite is still near Fonyo Beach to Clover Point.  Pippin can walk the dog walk -- leash free -- he thinks it's his park.

I started work, and my walking became a little more sporadic, but I stuck to the schedule of 3-4 times a week.  In January, Pippin began begrudingly walking, so he got to stay home, while I laced up my runners and began running most of the walk, and took to running along the Gorge Waterway Park.

The second week of January began I had felt like I had sprained or strained a muscle in my leg.  The third week of January it was bruised.  I decided to quit running for a time.  Only I could prove that running was dangerous to my health.

The fourth week of January started and my leg was burning.  I pushed through that final week of January and on the 29th decided that I would go to the Doctor's office the following week.

Getting into bed that night at about 10:30--I realized my leg was swollen, it hadn't been in the morning, I felt it--it was hot AND there was a lump.

I thought I had a DVT (blood clot) and Kent and I got dressed and went to the ER.  In a city our size, we had 2 to choose from, so we went to Victoria General Hospital.  Miracle Number One: We were the only patients in the emergency room.

The ER Doctor, Carly Cooper ruled out a DVT and lymphoma based on labs, and sent me home with pain meds and  a sleeping pill.  I slept soundly.  12 hours after meeting Carly Cooper, I was getting a new ultrasound.  Miracle Number Two.

The Tech was looking at the picture and I said, it looks like it has it's own blood source.  I read a little too much while working with Dr. Lewke.

They couldn't pinpoint the problem, so an MRI was ordered.  Miracle Number Three: I had an MRI in 9 days.

The Radiologist said and I quote,"Kim has a funny lump in her leg."

Miracle Number Five:  I was in a specialists office 20 days after finding the lump and he performed an aspiration biopsy.  The lab work came in two days ago.

Lymphoma.  Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

I called Mister and he met me for dinner, we were stunned, shocked, but not alarmed.

We told our kids, we told our friends.

I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from my friends and family.  So, on a friends recommendation, the blog has been resurrected!

I will write the progress, set backs, all with honesty--there could be days that are great, followed by days of despair, but I know that all along, I have friends, family and God to lean on.