Hi Nikki,
Yes, seven of them, all as different as the next. They are Charity 24, Amy 22, Meg 20, Kelly 18, Mercedes 14, Skylar 12, and Sammy 10. We also have two grandaughters Kayla 6 and Shelby 5 with the third on the way (looks like the name will be Alexandria "Lexie" for short) and she will be here the end of October. I am so very excited about having a baby around again, we are certainly a baby loving family!
I live right on the city line between Va. Beach and Chesapeake. My girls attend a small private Christian school that is actually in Chesapeake yet I can see the school from my house. We have been looking for land in Chesapeake for over a year now but not having much luck. I dream of somewhere that I can feel some freedom rather then looking out my window and see my neighbors house. I want some horses for the kids and lots of land so that each of them can build a house right close to me! They all live right here in Va. Beach now which I am so thankful for, four still in the house with us and the other three less then two miles from us. Amy went to University of Maine for her first two years but transferred to a school here when I was diagnosed. She always jokes me that I didn't have to go to such lengths to get her to come home, lol. It was an empty feeling for all of us when she was gone.
I'm glad to hear that Tom is getting through the radiation with a good attitude, it will serve him well later down the road. My husband came to one radiation treatment with me, my last one. He just couldn't handle it so my daughter, Amy, always took me. I couldn't imagine having to watch someone I loved having that mask put on. I say a prayer many times a week that it is not one of my children suffering this. I can handle it for myself but could NEVER handle it for one of them. I have always said that if this disease gets me then I have the easy job which is to die and then go to my reward. My husband and children will be left here, without me, to work through the emotions of it all. Guess it's a good thing that I plan on living around 40 more years or so!
Take care Nikki and when you get to Chesapeake again let me know.
Minnie

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.