Am I really going to blog?: June 2012

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Tae Kwon Do

Samantha has been interested in Tae Kwon Do since she was tiny! She used to go to all of her brother's classes. My mom even made her a teeny little uniform to wear.

She has been asking for at least a year (probably closer to 2) to take classes. I deflected for a while. Told her she was too involved in other sports to take on something else. The reality was, TKD was one of Cameron's passions. We spent hours in the studio. I didn't know if I was strong enough to go back into that room, with the same instructors, watching the same moves. Turns out, it is ok. And best of all, she loves, loves, loves it.

We dug out Cameron's first uniform and it fits her pretty well. We also got out the pads and kicking boards for practice at home.

More pics - past & present:

There go my Saturday afternoons for the foreseeable future.....Anything for my girl!

Until next time,

Lori

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Couple days off.....

In an effort to continue the Great Summer of 2012, I took a few days off at the end of the week. We spent some time at the pool, went to the movies to see Madagascar 3 (circus afro, circus afro...... stuck in my head forever now!) & played some games at the fun barn!

On Friday, we made our trek to the the Columbus Zoo! I LOVE the zoo! Always have. Sami does too. We were there about 5 hours and saw most of the animals that were willing to be seen - those elusive wolves never seem to come out! Here are a few pics from our adventure:

Taking a ride on a horse -she was glad she didn't get the pony!

Comparing the size of her hand to one of a gorillas:

We've capped off the weekend with some shopping, a massive piece of chocolate cake for dinner Saturday (& breakfast Sunday!), more pool time & finally, we are about to enjoy some home-made peach ice cream!

Mileage update - 568.38/1000 as of last night! Feels great to be on the downhill slide!

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)

Am I really going to blog?

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Tae Kwon Do

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Couple days off.....

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Heehee! At least someone is cheering me on!!

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I HOPE....