Am I really going to blog?: July 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

WTH???

Sam on her way to Grandma's house because our air conditioner quit working.

Those who know me well know that "lucky" isn't really a word to describe me/my life.

Our air conditioner quit working on Monday evening. I found this out when we got home from cheerleading practice and a chicken in the oven. We've been staying at the in-laws because it has been so darn hot. I stop by the house every evening after work to pack some clothes, lunch for the next day, etc. Tonight, when I opened the door I was met with a blast of ice cold air! My response was "What the hell???" For some unknown, unexplainable reason, the AC started working. Still going to replace the 35 year old system as it has limped along for years and one should be here in a few days. But it is going to be so nice sleeping in my own bed tonight!

On a sadder note, my friend Connie is retiring effective tomorrow. I'm going to miss her.

Sam's last game of the season was tonight. She really likes baseball and is pretty good at it too.

Until next time,

Lori

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Overwhelmed!

WOW is all I can say! The response to the 1st Annual Cam & Sue's Cancer Sucks 5K was astounding! I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to oeveryone who helped pull this off - to those who helped brainstorm, to organize, to register and to those who participated. I hope to see you all again next year!

Sam & Emily ran the whole 5K & were having a great time!

As they approach the finish, they are looking tired and serious!

The final few steps!
A family photo

*****

Mileage update: 2 weeks = 17.01 + 20.16 (had to play with my new watch!) = 37.17 or 451.86/600!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Happy 4th of July!

It started out as a beautiful evening! It wasn't too hot, a bit breezy. The girls were cute & having fun. We took the grill and had a cookout on the side of the road.

Here I am with my girl:

Cute cousins! Emily & Samantha strolling on the bike path. I told Emily to take care of Sam, she always does.

With my niece Emily. She is growing so fast.

Then came the lightening, thunder & the rain. We had to take a break and hop into some cars. I got the 3 little girls. They were singing along with Sam's iPod. They didn't seem to mind the delay at all!

Finally! The fireworks started! This was as still and quiet they have been in ages!

*******************

List update:

Mileage: 21.9 miles this week for a total of 414.69.

Items completed: 18/38

#1, #2, #3, #5, #7, #8, #10, #13, #14, #15, #17, #19, #20, #22, #23, #29, #34, #38

Items in progress: 11/38
#6, #9, #11, #16, #18, #24, #28, #30, #31, #35, #36

Until next time,

Lori

I HOPE....

I hope you never have to hear the words, 'Your child has cancer.'

I hope you never have to hear, 'The prognosis is not good.'

I hope you never have to prepare to undergo radiation or chemotherapy, have a port surgically inserted into their chest, be connected to IV poles. Look at you with fear in their eyes and say, 'Don't worry Mommy, everything will be okay.'

I hope you never have to hold your child as they vomit green bile.

I hope you never have to feed them ice chips for lunch.

I hope you never have to watch the 'cure' you pray for slowly take away their identity, as they lose their hair, become skeletal, swell up from steroids, develop severe acne, become barely or unable to walk or move, and look at you with hope in their eyes and say,'It's going to be okay, Mommy.'

I hope that you never have to stay in the hospital for weeks, months, or years at a time, where there is no privacy, sleeping on a slab, with your face to the wall, where you cry in muffled silence.

I hope you never have to see a mother, alone, huddled, in a dark hospital corridor...crying quietly, after just being told, 'There is nothing more we can do.'

I hope you never have to watch a family wander aimlessly, minutes after their child's body has been removed.

I hope you never have to use every bit of energy you have left, with all of this going on around you to remain positive, and the feelings of guilt, sorrow, hope and fear, overwhelm you.

I hope you never have to see a child's head bolted to the table as they receive radiation.

I hope you never have to take your child home (grateful but so afraid) in a wheelchair because the chemo and radiation has damaged their muscles, 35 pounds lighter, pale, bald, and scarred. And they look at you with faith in their eyes and say, 'It's going to be okay Mommy.'

I hope you never have to face the few friends that have stuck beside you and hear them say, 'Thank God that is over with,'...because you know it never will be. Your life becomes a whirl of doctors, blood tests and MRI's and you try to get your life back to 'normal'. While living in mind-numbing fear that any one of those tests could result in hearing the dreaded words...'The cancer has returned' or 'The tumor is growing.' And your friends become even fewer.

I hope you never have to experience any of these things... Because...only then...Will you understand...

(author unknown)