Everyone wants to be involved in my mom's cancer process because we all love her so much. Thanks to those who have run, bike ridden, shaved your head, brought food, given rides, taken care of my dad and brothers, made bracelets, gifted wigs, hats, hugs, kisses, times, and other presents , etc. for my mom. She may not like to be in the spotlight--but she certainly is the light of our lives!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Jen's "Wonder Women"
Everyone wants to be involved in my mom's cancer process because we all love her so much. Thanks to those who have run, bike ridden, shaved your head, brought food, given rides, taken care of my dad and brothers, made bracelets, gifted wigs, hats, hugs, kisses, times, and other presents , etc. for my mom. She may not like to be in the spotlight--but she certainly is the light of our lives!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Fact: Cancer does not take away artistic talent
Here are pics from Zach's Eagle Scout project. Yes, he is only 15, and is a STUD for getting his eagle so early.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
hip hip HOORAY!
Dear Family near and far,
Yesterday was my last official chemotherapy after 6 long months!!! (haleluyah). All the boys came a half hour before I was done with balloons and sat with me. Morgan and Daniel had a tour of the Radiation room (I know they loved the free chips) with the 1 foot thick concrete door, while the other boys sat and watched "Hello Dolly" with me. (I bet the boys were wishing there was Nintendo) (I watched lots of movies while getting my treatments) When they took out the infusion I got to wear a crown and there is a little bell in the corner of the room All of the infusion nurses and doctors who have worked with me, and the boys all came and stood around while I "rang the bell!" It is a ritual they do at this Cancer center, and it was kind of a closure for my boys. (I’m sure each boy rang that bell, including dad) I will begin radiation treatments in 2 weeks which will last for 6 weeks. I go every day. I was even tattooed for that...3 freckles. I told them if I had to do that, I would like hearts but they didn't think I was being very cute. (I think she should have gotten skulls tattooed).
I actually I will be going back for a full year as a participant in a clinical trial for more infusions, (boooo) so I thought it was anticlimactic to ring the bell, but we decided it would be good for the boys. Especially since summer is going to soon be over and everyone will be getting back to their schedules, and mom will too as my energy level comes back! I am starting to get my hair back, and it even gets disheveled when I take my hats off..."hat hair!
Thank you so much for your love and support through this very interesting experience. I will need your continued support as I continue to heal. Cancer seems to be a life time process of constant tests and checks and I will always be on some type of medication to keep it away. My new adjustments to life! But that is okay!
But for now we are celebrating. I came home to streamers and a big sign with little cancer men drawn dead on one side and a circle with a slash over the word cancer! The boys even did fireworks in the driveway at 11:00 at night to celebrate (to be honest, our boys never need an excuse to do fireworks). It was a good excuse to try out some of those big ones they bought in Ohio on the family reunion they went to.
Here is a thought: Many people believe that the basic issues of wellness are (1)disciplining ourselves to eat well and (2) exercising regularly. Not true. The single overriding objective to wellness is creating constant personal renewal where we recognize and act on the truth that each day is a miraculous gift and our job is to untie the ribbons.
Living life with joy! Joy--the emotion evoked by well-being. Delight. Bliss. Genuine happiness. True wellness is the ability to generate a joyful stance toward life on a daily basis.
When you feel this you will want to praise yourself and do things that make your feel at your best.
I love you all,
Jennifer, Aunt Jenny, Mom
Monday, July 20, 2009
Katie and Grandma's Visit
Hanging out with just the girls!
Eating out as a family.
I love this picture. Mom and dad--exhausted! I loved just talking with them and hanging out and laughing. I felt like I was still living at home!
My grandma at south school next to the tree my mom made.
mom and gma in the monopoly room (that my mom did of course)
This is one of the FAKE flowers from my wedding. My mom brought them to all the people at the cancer center. Well the valet parking guys thought it was real so they've been watering it for the past few months! hahahaha
Happy Birthday to you! Fried Rice! July 5th was her bday.
mom and gma at the cancer center. Gma giving mom a foot-rub!
My gma brought her mother's silky blanket that everyone loves. It was so that my mom could have her mom's arms around her when she wasn't there with her.
Yee Haw! Mom getting creative with her hats! Make a wish. Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Due to the rigorous schedule of cancer treatments, my family stayed home this 4th of July and got to celebrate it with our whole city up at Waveny Mansion. But of course what is the fourth of July without a little decorating? We have the coolest mom ever! (and p.s.—mom, is that hair I see growing on your head? I think it is!)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Songs from the Heart
So my mom loves music. She is also an appreciator of music (if you look downstairs in our basement you'll see what I mean. Or just come over to my house and you're bound to hear drums, electric guitars, violins, pianos, etc).
Well--she wrote some lyrics to popular tunes to help her and the other cancer patients smile through the chemo process. ENJOY:
Itsy Bitsy Needle (Sung to the Itsy bitsy spider)
The itsy bitsy needle won’t poke my arm today!
Down came my sleeve and I said “Good-bye—Hooray!”
Up came the sun and they gave my arm a rest,
But, hey that itsy bitsy needle now pokes me in the chest!
(I have a port that is surgically placed in my chest for infusions)
Oh where oh where has my little dog gone
Oh where oh where has my lovely hair gone?
Oh Where oh where could it be?
With my head gone bald ,
And my nose grown long
Oh where oh where could it be?
The Adams family song:
Its creepy and its kooky,
mysterious and spooky.
Its all together ooky .
My new Cancer Family
The place is a museum
When we go in to see ‘em
They help us not to scre-um
My new cancer family.
So now when I feel freaky
I don’t need to get weepy.
They help me all so sweetly.
My new Cancer family
Oh what a beautiful Morning
There’s a bright golden shine on my bald head
There’s a bright golden shine on my bald head
The white of my complexion is as white as a ghost
And it looks like I’m gagging and need a piece of toast---
Chorus:
Oh what a beautiful mirror
Oh what a beautiful girl
I have that yucky yuck feeling
I think I’m going to hurl!
2nd: All the nurses and doctors take care of me
All the nurses and doctors take care of me
They poke, prick and pick me so I can be healed,
Then they smile, wave good bye, with me leaving chemo-filled
[chorus]
They say one day I will feel healthy,
They say one day I will feel strong.
But now when I go home I lay on the couch,
And when people come over I feel like a grouch.
[chorus]
Jingle bells
Jingle bells, my nose smells, my nose hairs have gone away.
Oh how nasty it is to pick, my boogers every day.
Jingle beads, my nose bleeds, my tissues are my friend.
Oh what fun it is to ride on the chemo coaster again.
The grand old duke of york (my favorite)
Old captain Nupagen,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them down my bones and cells,
Then marched them up again.
And when your white count is up,
And when it’s down its down.
And when it’s only half way up
Your smile turns to a frown.
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree
I looked in the mirror and what did I see?
A scary old lady impersonating me.
Cancer has brought me such a weird surprise.
A bald headed person right before my eyes.
I can take an armful of chemo to heal.
Cancer is a tough bug and needs to be healed.
I wish it wasn’t so,
But it was you see,
A bald headed girl that’s reallyimpersonating me.


