Parents, if you want wonderful pictures of your children, never teach them to say "cheese"! Please learn from my mistake or you will have thousands of photos just like mine - squinted eyes, scrunched up noses, clenched teeth, and an image that just screams "say cheez!!!". Join me while I search for that one perfect shot that doesn't conjure up images of dairy products. Oh, and unless you like that *messy* look, you'll probably want to clean their faces before you snap away. I never seem to remember myself.

An imporant sidenote is to make sure you document your life! Recording the little details of the who, what, where, when, & why makes for wonderful stories and captures your life for years to come. Because if you are like me, you'll forget it all 5 minutes later!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A Smile A Day

keeps the crabbies away. Well, maybe not really, but this little one is such a happy, laid back, carefree, awesome little boy. He is so friendly and happy and makes my heart sing. When I do get crabby, it just takes one glance in his direction for my heart to warm up and melt.

Photobucket

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Chemo sucks

I suppose that about sums it up.

Not only does it take an enormous physical and mental toll on my husband, who just completed his first 5 days of his first cycle (there are 3 more cycles to go), but it is emotionally hard on the whole family. It pains all of us to see him struggle with the side effects of these drugs. I know he and I both underestimated what these drugs will do to his body as we've been a bit shocked at how much it takes out of him. I so wish there was something, anything, that I could do to make this easier on him. Feeling helpless sucks. My children especially are not immune to the effects of the chemo drugs on his body and spirit. I once thought I could shelter them from it, but I just can't. They see their dad tired and unable to eat or do much. They see my worry and concern for his health. They hear my irritable tone much too frequently lately; irritable from my insomnia and emotional stress. But I hope they also see that he is doing everything he can to cure himself of this disease and will persevere and triumph.

It is so ironic that these "biohazards" that are breaking his body down, wearing him out, and draining him completely, are the very things that are going to save his life so that he can once again have strength and vigor for years to come. Ultimately, they will make him an even better father than he already is and help all of us better appreciate the true meaning of life.

But still, chemo sucks.

Photobucket

Photobucket

And to end with a happier note, little miss M was in a sweet mood at one point last week. :-)

Photobucket

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

That is the theme for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event. Every year, groups of people work together to raise money for cancer research and funds to support those undergoing cancer treatment. They create teams, collect donations, and walk around a football field track all night. The evening kicks off with a "survivor" lap, where cancer survivors walk the first lap while everyone stands and applauds them, celebrating their success in fighting this disease. This is followed by the survivor and caregivers lap. After this, everyone joins in and walks around the track, continuously, all night long. As night falls, hundreds of luminaries are lit up to honor and remember all those who are fighting and surviving, as well as those who have passed on. The goal of Relay for Life is to raise awareness and money so that one day no one will ever have to hear the devastating words "you have cancer".

We were late to the game this year and didn't have enough time to put together a team. So my husband signed up to walk the survivor lap and raise money as an individual. Amazingly, in just a few short days, generous family and friends donated $1400 to the American Cancer Society on his behalf! We feel so blessed to have people that care for us and want to support Ken's efforts.

When it came time for the event to kick off I was filled with a multitude of emotions. I planned on supporting my husband and honoring all those who have been touched by cancer but I didn't really know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect to be so emotional. It was quite strange for me to see my husband put on the purple shirt signifying that he is a "survivor". Then for me to wear the "caregiver" pin was overwhelming. I've been by Ken's side throughout this journey, holding onto his hand as tight as I can and trying to be strong for him and our family. I've listened to the doctors, read the research, and planned for the treatments and recovery. But something about a purple shirt and some pins made it suddenly feel too real and raw. Being surrounded by so many other people who have walked this journey, were still standing strong and fighting back, was surreal.

So we joined in with others this night to celebrate the fact that Ken's cancer is highly curable, remember Ken's parents who lost their battles with cancer, and most definitely to fight back. We'll be fighting all summer long, and for many years after that so that this disease can be conquered.

Photobucket

As evening fell, we were blessed with this beautiful glow from the heavens.

Photobucket

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

*closing my eyes and making a wish*

Photobucket

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear...an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring...all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
~Leo Buscaglia

Friday, June 5, 2009

I want another vacation

Nothing much more to say than that, I guess.

Ok, so maybe there is a lot more to say but the problem is that I can't seem to find the words. A lot has transpired over the course of this year and I'm still trying to find my way through it all. Life is certainly confusing at times and curve balls thrown our way seem to keep smacking us in the face. Supposedly these things happen to teach us a lesson and make us "wise". Woo-ha. Right now I think I prefer stupidity. At least ignorance is bliss. Or so I hear.

But I'm supposed to be cheery and positive, so I'm trying to see the wine glass as half full. I'm slowing going through some of the photos from our recent excursions. Here are a few special ones from Memorial weekend. The beach was glorious as the surf danced against the shore. Later that day as the sun was setting on the bay in Cape Cod, life was calm, warm, sweet, and for a moment all our worries were forgotten. It was a lovely escape.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket