Most of these are taken by Grace after her Curriculum night at school. The angles are great.
Thankful In Florida
4 years ago
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Please Pray
The following is from my best friend in high school. We lost contact for many years, but through facebook have been able to reconnect. She is going through a really tough time with her father being ill, and having already lost her mother. Please pray for her and her family as they battle this horrible disease.
For those of you who know, my Dad has esphogeal cancer and was diagnosed in January of this year. It was bad from the get go, but we have always been positive and expected a good outcome. After a big setback in May, when more cancer was found higher in his throat, preventing surgery that would help drastically, we started new radiation and chemo over this summer. ALL the Dr.'s and staff were sure this was it, he's young(58), in good health considering, and he is soooo upbeat and positive. Well, apparently we have been behind this cancer the entire time and it looks like as of yesterday, that we may never get the upper hand. He found out the results of his latest full body scan and the cancer that was in the throat is gone, BUT new aggressive cancer has formed in just weeks, in his liver, stomach and a new tumor is in his esphagus, almost as large as the orginial that took a year to grow. We are now looking at containing this and not curing it. Please please pray, I know he is not a family member nor someone you even know, but this is my only remaining parent and I am a wreck. I can't let him, hear my tears over the phone nor let on that I've been a shell of a human here since finding out yesterday mid-day. I am resting all my prayers and hopes on the next 9 week treatment, b/c if this doesn't work, that's all she wrote. We are finally dealing with some pretty scary numbers. It was easier for me to get this mass email out, than make phone call after phone call and keep reliving it. Sorry for the informal way I'm sending this out. If your church has a prayer list, please put him on it. And for those who may be interested he has a blog, drewspathtoremission.blogspot. Any things you may think are helpful, like prayers you use or any holistic things please, let me know, I want to try everything Thanks for the support Jackie
For those of you who know, my Dad has esphogeal cancer and was diagnosed in January of this year. It was bad from the get go, but we have always been positive and expected a good outcome. After a big setback in May, when more cancer was found higher in his throat, preventing surgery that would help drastically, we started new radiation and chemo over this summer. ALL the Dr.'s and staff were sure this was it, he's young(58), in good health considering, and he is soooo upbeat and positive. Well, apparently we have been behind this cancer the entire time and it looks like as of yesterday, that we may never get the upper hand. He found out the results of his latest full body scan and the cancer that was in the throat is gone, BUT new aggressive cancer has formed in just weeks, in his liver, stomach and a new tumor is in his esphagus, almost as large as the orginial that took a year to grow. We are now looking at containing this and not curing it. Please please pray, I know he is not a family member nor someone you even know, but this is my only remaining parent and I am a wreck. I can't let him, hear my tears over the phone nor let on that I've been a shell of a human here since finding out yesterday mid-day. I am resting all my prayers and hopes on the next 9 week treatment, b/c if this doesn't work, that's all she wrote. We are finally dealing with some pretty scary numbers. It was easier for me to get this mass email out, than make phone call after phone call and keep reliving it. Sorry for the informal way I'm sending this out. If your church has a prayer list, please put him on it. And for those who may be interested he has a blog, drewspathtoremission.blogspot. Any things you may think are helpful, like prayers you use or any holistic things please, let me know, I want to try everything Thanks for the support Jackie
Thursday, August 27, 2009
11 months and the First Day of Preschool
Lily’s first day of school went well. She ate goldfish for the first time. Took a nap for about 45 minutes and even enjoyed playing with the other babies. She is the oldest in her group at preschool and seemed to have fun. When I picked her up she started waving and didn’t stop until we got to the car. I think she was ready to come home. She took a huge nap and talked all afternoon to her sister, even enjoyed sitting at Grace’s ballet class. When we got home she ate a huge dinner, took a bath and fell asleep for the evening.
Today was day two and did not go as well. She started crying when I dropped her off and it seems that she did not stop except to take a nap and eat her lunch. Hopefully it has to do with the teething (if she is FINALLY getting some teeth.) Otherwise it is going to be a long school year.
As for her eleven month update: Lily crawls up a storm, she pulls up on everything. She also tries to walk by pushing the small chairs around on the wood floors. Lily prefers to self feed, she loves – eggs, bread, crackers, puffs, cheerios, yogurt drops, pasta of any kind, grapes, bananas, cooked carrots, peas, and anything else we can give her that is soft enough to gum(yes still no teeth). She is approximately 22 pounds of fun. She gets so excited every afternoon to get her sister off the bus, she jumps up and down while sitting in her little red car with her arms open wide, and tries to say Gracie. When she does it, her voice is low and she says it over and over and over. She wants to be wherever Grace is and loves to play with Grace’s things. She also enjoys pulling all the books off of the bookshelf, opening drawers and pulling everything out of them and crawling as fast as she can away from her chasing parents. She is very ticklish and loves to dance to the music. We are working on the sign language and the talking. I see walking and a lot of teething in our near future. Should be fun!
I will update with pictures soon, got to find the camera cable.
Today was day two and did not go as well. She started crying when I dropped her off and it seems that she did not stop except to take a nap and eat her lunch. Hopefully it has to do with the teething (if she is FINALLY getting some teeth.) Otherwise it is going to be a long school year.
As for her eleven month update: Lily crawls up a storm, she pulls up on everything. She also tries to walk by pushing the small chairs around on the wood floors. Lily prefers to self feed, she loves – eggs, bread, crackers, puffs, cheerios, yogurt drops, pasta of any kind, grapes, bananas, cooked carrots, peas, and anything else we can give her that is soft enough to gum(yes still no teeth). She is approximately 22 pounds of fun. She gets so excited every afternoon to get her sister off the bus, she jumps up and down while sitting in her little red car with her arms open wide, and tries to say Gracie. When she does it, her voice is low and she says it over and over and over. She wants to be wherever Grace is and loves to play with Grace’s things. She also enjoys pulling all the books off of the bookshelf, opening drawers and pulling everything out of them and crawling as fast as she can away from her chasing parents. She is very ticklish and loves to dance to the music. We are working on the sign language and the talking. I see walking and a lot of teething in our near future. Should be fun!
I will update with pictures soon, got to find the camera cable.
Friday, August 14, 2009
The American Heart Association
The following was in an e-mail from my cousin in Cali. If you know me well, you know Molly was the closest thing I had to a sister for four years before Anna was born. Molly is exactly four years younger than me and four years older than Anna. She is also a wonderful friend and mother. Please take the time to read this, her post and see her website for the American Heart Association. Let it touch you as it did me.
As you know, I work for the American Heart Association. To me, this isn’t just another job, it is my passion. When I was a year old doctor’s discovered I had a congenital heart defect that was surgically repaired when I was 18 months old. I am one of the lucky ones that hasn’t had to undergo numerous open heart surgeries in order to improve the function of my heart. Each year about 36,000 children are born with a heart defect. In fact, each year nearly FOUR TIMES as many children die from congenital cardiovascular disease than from all forms of childhood cancers COMBINED. For more than 50 years the AHA has led the way in efforts to safeguard children’s cardiovascular health. Since 2003 we have committed over $44.1 million in research relating to children’s health.
Today more than 1 million Americans live with a congenital heart defect. Please read the attached document that highlights three of my heroes, Kaelyn, Andrew, and Lily, and tells their heroic stories and to see their pictures. They are why I do what I do and they are what drives me to forward the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.
We’re working every day to help more babies live stronger, healthier lives and YOU can be a part of saving the life of a little one. Please contribute to my Heart Walk page (the link is below) and be a part of our lifesaving mission.
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Los Angeles, CA
An interesting article to read: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970203674704574336671475911680-lMyQjAxMDA5MDEwNDExNDQyWj.html
As you know, I work for the American Heart Association. To me, this isn’t just another job, it is my passion. When I was a year old doctor’s discovered I had a congenital heart defect that was surgically repaired when I was 18 months old. I am one of the lucky ones that hasn’t had to undergo numerous open heart surgeries in order to improve the function of my heart. Each year about 36,000 children are born with a heart defect. In fact, each year nearly FOUR TIMES as many children die from congenital cardiovascular disease than from all forms of childhood cancers COMBINED. For more than 50 years the AHA has led the way in efforts to safeguard children’s cardiovascular health. Since 2003 we have committed over $44.1 million in research relating to children’s health.
Today more than 1 million Americans live with a congenital heart defect. Please read the attached document that highlights three of my heroes, Kaelyn, Andrew, and Lily, and tells their heroic stories and to see their pictures. They are why I do what I do and they are what drives me to forward the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.
We’re working every day to help more babies live stronger, healthier lives and YOU can be a part of saving the life of a little one. Please contribute to my Heart Walk page (the link is below) and be a part of our lifesaving mission.
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Los Angeles, CA
An interesting article to read: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970203674704574336671475911680-lMyQjAxMDA5MDEwNDExNDQyWj.html
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Lily's progress
We just got back from Lily's six month post op visit. Her cardiologist was very pleased with her progress. She had a good pulse oxygen level, good blood pressure, good heart rate and a good EKG. Her doctor said that everything sounded good and that she could stop taking her beta blocker TODAY! They did an echo or sonogram of her heart and said that everything looked good too. (She was still for the first five minutes and then Tom and I had to try to hold her in positions so that she would not scream or wiggle out of reach. She even was licking the technologists hand.) Her stenosis levels in her aorta were better today than post op. Meaning that the surgery was successful and everything is continuing to grow appropriately. Her Pulmonary arteries looked good also. She has to wear a holter monitor early next week to be sure that she is OK off the beta blocker and I will continue to count her heart rate to be sure that she doesn't have any more fast heart rates. Assuming all goes well with that, she will not go back to the cardiologist for SIX months! This is fabulous. We are so thankful for her positive visit today and we will continue to pray for her heart. Thank you all for your prayers too.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The First Day!
Today was the day. Grace got on the bus with all her buds. She woke up grumpy, tired, and nervous. She left the house excited, and looking forward to learning new things. She had her backpack full of papers for teachers, her nap towel, lunch, snack and a few quiet activities for bus duty. Mommy got teary eyed as the bus pulled away with my baby - she hates it when I call her that. Now Lily and I are waiting for her to come home and hear all about her exciting day at Kindergarten. I did drive up to school to see her walk to her classroom but just missed it. I got a few pictures as she got settled into the classroom and waved to her. Then it was off to the boo-hoo breakfast. I admit I fed my emotions, as I held a sleeping baby and talked to some very good old friends and some new friends too. All of us excited and sad at the same time to have sent our kindergarteners off on their new adventures. It looks like it is going to be an exciting year of firsts for us. Activities will be starting soon, and preschool for Lily and I. Here is to a wonderful 2009 - 2010 school year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
