I don't know where to begin...

You'll never believe what happened to us!

In December of 2009, our 4-year-old was suffering from joint pain and swelling. It was so intense that she was unable to walk at times. At first, doctors diagnosed her with Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis.

While completing the necessary testing for diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, doctors found her to indeed have Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). On March 19th, 2010, she began her first chemotherapy treatments. She has endured multiple spinal taps, bone marrow biopsies, blood transfusions, and side effects due to treatment, but, through it all, she has a positive attitude. On April 19th, 2010, our Princess achieved remission. She will continue to face demanding chemotherapy for the next 2 years.

So, I've been absent for a bit and have just now started to surface slowly from the depths of cancer. We don't know that the future will bring us, but we are very hopeful with God's grace that our Princess will journey through this challenge well. Her type of ALL has a 90% survival rate and she is responding well to treatment. We are all not without scaring from this tremendous disease and continue to face challenges socially, emotionally, and physically.

Recently, in an attempt to find comfort, I have started another blog titled "Orange and Gold" after the two colors used to denote Childhood Cancer and Leukemia. We hope that you give it a try at http://ouralljourney.blogspot.com/, we would love to have you. For now, I will try and post when I can, but mainly focus on our princess at her caringbridge page.

We are thankful for every day we have with our Princess and pray for a total recovery.

Latest Project

Weeks ago, the oldest one comes home from school with what seems like the Webster's dictionary full of papers. It was all fliers, notes, letters, updates, and homework. While going through it I noticed that the annual Giving Tree was set up outside the principal's office. It was to be filled with warm hats, mittens, and scarves for children.

I told the oldest that I would knit her a hat that she could put on the tree. She protested. She stated that a hat would simply not be enough. I would have to make a scarf and mittens as well. "Well, just a hat won't keep them warm enough."

After some careful thought of the colors that she wanted to use, we sat down and made them. She helped knit the scarf in her own way and designed most of it.

She placed it on the tree today.

The Day

On the phone during dinner preparation with Husband who will be working late:

Wife: (with frustration) They just won't give me a minute today. They seem to need me for everything.

Husband: Um,hmm.

Wife: (still frustrated) The oldest one had naughty spot today for refusing to help clean up toys.

Husband: Um, hmm.

Wife: (frustrated and disappointed that Husband is working late again) Yummy dinner tonight. How's your day been going?

Husband: Well, the toilet backed up in the Parish Center, and there was a geyser of waste that went everywhere. We had to call a professional cleaning service to clean it up. They said that we cannot use the Parish Center for a week to ten days now because the air quality is so poor.

Wife: You win!

"Movin' on Up"

He's walking! Yes, that's right, as of yesterday, my boy is walking. He's not exactly a track star (yet), but he took two whole steps without assistance. I was so proud for him.

So this morning I began quizzing my husband, "Do you remember the date when the oldest walked? Crawled? When the youngest crawled, huh, huh. huh?" Of course he didn't. Because only passionate mama's remember every tooth, every rash, every step.

This means that our youngest is growing up. (Tear.)

Be positive

Every week we do so many important and meaningful things, but we never spend the time reflecting on the positive. Rather we dwell on the negative and find imperfection everywhere.

Well, I'm going to make a renewed effort to dwell on the positive, something that can be a challenge for me.

The things that I did well this week:

1. Went to Home Depot and purchased correct baseboard for my daughters room, solo.

2. Sent out the invitations for my daughter's birthday party, via email.

3. Brought the youngest to the doctor for a routine check-up with little incident, solo, again.

It feels good to be empowered by the situations in life that might be a little out of the comfort zone. A big orange building with evaporating salespeople and seasoned construction professionals did not stop a 4 foot 10 inch woman from walking out with a three foot baseboard heater with confidence. But I also purchased new tulip bulbs, so I guess it wasn't as masculine a trip as possible.

Agustin

The first virus of this school year will be named Agustin, after a dear priest my husband and I remember from our childhood parish. It is still confusing. It seems to only cause head congestion with little or no runny noses. A slight temperature, but as of yet, no cough, no stomach upset, or weird rash.

Agustin has only hit the oldest. We are trying to keep the youngest away from her grasp so that he can get his one year check up tomorrow, complete with shots! We will have to split shift tomorrow, which I am not crazy about when one of the kids has shots.

I really don't like viruses.

Birthday invitations

I thought that I would try and email my oldest one's birthday invitations instead of physically sending them this year. It's greener, it's easier, and it's cheaper.

But apparently, when one does this you have to take into account the many different operating systems that people have. I have had to send this simple invite as a publisher file, a works file, a pdf file, and a jpeg in the hopes that someone would be able to open it up!

If this doesn't work out we may be having a princess party with the dogs.

Split-Shift Wednesdays

Wednesday's are one of those complicated days in our house. My husband works a full day and the oldest has to come to and from school (which is an hour away) while he is at work. So, to make the schedule less intense, my husband brings the oldest in and I pick her up so that he can get some work done. But some how, it looks easier on paper than it actually is.

And today the youngest had to come along for the ride. So that meant two straight hours in a car seat. Yuk! Needless to say, he was overjoyed to move around after lunch. All Wednesday's will not look like this.

P.S. Ballet class went well for the oldest, but left a little to be desired for mom. And dinner was very good.

First Day of School

Well, before we knew it the first day of school was upon us today. The summer flew by in a hurried frenzy. After our late blooming and unwelcome virus, George, blew over in late June, it was time to start enjoying the summer, and one another, free of sickness. But the weather didn't get the memo. July was wet, but we made the best of it, trying to do all the things that we wanted before summer turned to fall. August was met with a new nephew and the world's strangest vacation. And then, there it was, the first day of school, full of excitement and comfort. The same classroom, same toys, same teachers, and some of the same friends. Some new friends, new things to learn, new adventures, and new projects. We had a good morning.

This afternoon will be a new adventure:

For our oldest: ballet class
For our youngest: cooking dinner with daddy.
(This could go very badly.)

It's great to be back!

George

So, apparently there is no cold and flu seaon in our house; it's just all the time. The oldest one's fever lasted over a week. She was so wiped out after it finally passed. We had one healthy week, in which everything else became a challenge, and then we were back to fever-town. Everyone except the husband was marred by the cold/fever virus, even me. Five days after the latest installment of sickness started we are finally seeing the light of day.

I think I am going to start naming the germs like hurricanes. I think we'll call this one "George."

Sickness

To be sick, or not to be sick. That is the question.

The oldest is going for her second fever in one month. Good times. But Tylenol seems to be working its magic and she is loving sitting on the couch and watching as much PBS as she likes. Hopefully, the merry-go-round will end soon and we can get off the ride of never ending sickness.

In the mean time, I have concerned grandmothers, godmothers, and mothers praying that someday soon we will surface for a fun spring!

Mother's Day

I imagine that it is no accident that Mother's Day falls squarely in the month of May, the month dedicated to Our Lady. So I invite everyone to say an extra Hail Mary tomorrow for a special lady in your life.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, and all those ladies in our lives that have been like a mother to us.

Mommy Moment

Today was a gift.

The husband took both children shopping for Mother's Day. I needed some mommy time after the oldest ate toothpaste and painted the bathroom with it, and the youngest had a six hour aversion to napping yesterday. I was minutes away from having blood vessels burst in my brain. The husband was warned.

I slept in, I showered, and spent the morning at the library. For me, that's heaven. (And the husband is in the middle of cleaning the kitchen.) I couldn't ask for a more calming day.

The Small Stuff

1. The Big 3-0!: The husband is turning thirty. It may seem like small change to some, but to us it's a big deal. This calls for a celebration! So this week I booked a hall and we are going to greet thirty with enthusiasm.

2. Brother/Sister time: I cannot take much credit for this one, but my husband and his sister finally had a chance to have some brother/sister time this week. A nice phone call goes a long way.

3. Playtime: The kids and I played for a whole half hour today uninterrupted.

Prayer in Chaos

So, whatever happened to all that prayerful quiet time that I was supposed to try and cultivate? That was before the ear infection, the virus, and the strange sleep (or lack there of) schedule that screams that something else is array.

Well, until the kids are back on track there is always AmericanCatholic.org. I love this site. Have you been there or am I the last one to discover this secret? They have a minute mediation that suits my schedule, a daily catholic question, saint of the day, and a free e-newsletter. This site will soon be part of my online routine. Anything that helps me cultivate prayer in this busy world is appreciated.

Which brings me to an interesting question. Is their prayer in chaos? Our parish distributes "Bringing Home the Word," by St. Anthony Messenger Press in our weekly bulletin. It's full of positive commentary, suggestions for magnifying the church at home, and more. They suggested that each family take an hour a weekend as "pasture time," when we can make ourselves still to listen to God's message. Here's the thing: not going to happen with real little ones. But that's okay.

There is prayer in chaos and I'm not talking about those times when we invoke prayer as we lose our patience ("Lord, Give Me Strength!"). Seeing children play and explore, sing and scream, dance with shear delight is prayer. A wise person once told me that children are God's gift to a marriage, and your marriage is your gift to your children. So what better way to honor God's gift than to encourage delight in our children as we live a prayer to God.

The Power of Pink

Monday, 4/27: Fever rising. Little one sees doctor. Nothing abnormal found.

Tuesday, 4/28 5AM: Fever 104.4. Call doctor. Ready to go to emergency room. Doctor says not so fast, try a cool bath and Motrin.

Still Tuesday, 4/28 4PM: Fever 104.6. No change. Doctor says go to ER. Panicked parents.

Still Tuesday, 4/28 7:30 PM: Fever 103.6. Emergency room doctor's diagnosis: ear infection. Lots of pink medicine will save the day. Parents take a deep breath and thank God.

Wednesday, 4/29 7PM: Everyone's fever breaks. Relief.

What a difference a week makes! Having a sick kid can send a parent through the roof with worry. It's no picnic for the sick child either. It seems that the littlest one has my knack for high fevers. Will buy stockpile of Tylenol. Life is such a miracle, but so fragile. With Mother's Day right around the corner, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful and healthy family, now.

While I was away tending to the sick and fancy-free, there has been much concern over the newly discovered H1N1 virus. More germs than my Lysol can handle! Thank God children are washable.

Unsolicited advice: As soon as the kids come home from a public place or close contact with other children, I wash their hands. It wouldn't hurt to change their clothes either. Some germs can last hours even days on surfaces. And above all, I encourage them to never touch their eyes or nose unless they have just washed their hands. Most germs enter the body through the eyes and nose, not the mouth. This is one of those times when we can encourage them not to share. Have them use their elbow when they sneeze. Good for all germs, not just H1N1.

For now, I'm not panicked. I have lots of pink medicine to handle my current crisis.

Chaos Reigns

Like the calm before the storm, last week's beautiful days only led to chaos.

It seems that the oldest one's stuffy nose has led to a fever and a bad cold. The youngest one contracted it as well and has had a sudden aversion to sleeping. This has not helped anyone in the house. He saw the doctor and, as usual, there is nothing that they can do for a low-grade fever and an runny nose. And to top it all off, the mama bird has contracted it, too. Yes, I also have a fever and all the cold symptoms.

So the book discussion group will be, yet again, postponed. It will be even better when I'm off the Tylenol.

Beautiful Days

So, who ordered the beautiful weather?

It's gorgeous around here today, and after the winter that we have had, we could sure use some more days like today. And right on schedule the oldest one is not feeling well. It's probably the beginning of seasonal allergies for her, but until we know for sure, she is on the couch resting with Benadryl.

Today is also Confirmation for our young men and women in our parish. Too long of a mass for me to bring the gang, so we stick around the nest. Confirmation always makes me cry anyway. It's probably just me, but I think that confirmation is such a joyful event that before I know it, buckets of tears are streaming down my face.

The youngest has kept me moving with the joys of never-ending teething, so this week's installment of the book discussion on Bug Russ & Me will be postponed till tomorrow.

Pray that an unfortunate accident does not befall one of the numerous ATV riders that keep driving their toys up and down our road while I toil at the hope that sleep will overcome a teething 9 month old.

Mommy Meltdown

And now for the positive:

1. The oldest has taken numerous outings in underwear and is really potty training.

2. Organized a fun family dinner party with an old friend.

3. Made chocolate chip cookies for the oldest one's class at school.

And now for the not-so-positive:

Alright, so I admit it. I had a mommy meltdown yesterday. Considering that I only have one or two of these a year, it's a big deal. And it all started with a small, but suprising oven fire. I forgot to put away left over chicken and then started the broiler. Lots of smoke, slightly scared older one, and one very stressed mommy.

Sometimes we just have to admit that there has to be a family restructuring before we can move on. It was obvious to me that I had so many things on my mind that I was forgetting things. Forgetting the chicken probably doesn't seem like that big of deal, but it was just the straw that broke mommy camel's back.

As "Sacrament Season" appraches, the hubby is under strict instruction to pull a bit more weight around the house. The oldest must help with her responsibilities. And the littlest one needs to slow down the teething. Seven teeth at nine months.

Dr. Mom's Prescription: More rest, more praying, more quiet time, and more mommy time.

Earth Day

Earth day. A day designed to encourage people to care for the planet. We are asked to nurture and care for others and everything that God has provided. It is always a step in the right direction when we listen and respond to the needs of others: person or planet.

In our home, we recycle, use reusable bags when we shop, we installed CFL's and have fuel efficient cars. We buy local foods and use reusable bottles for our water on trips. We do as much as we are able, but it still seems to me like the news is getting this false impression that people are still not doing enough. Millions recycle and have been since the early '90's. CFL's were economic long before the Green movement took hold.

The real solutions to these global issues lie in the hands of lawmakers. People want to see more done. Progress, please. Do not wait till gas is $4.00 a gallon before you make a fuel efficient family car that can handle a real winter. I cannot put a wind turbine in my backyard, nor can I afford solar panels. Until a music director can make zillions of dollars, this is it. I pray that someday this issue will be a distant memory and all people will care for what God has provided.

What do you and your family do for Earth Day?