A Mother's Journey

Patience

2009-05-31T19:29:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a difference a year makes! As I write this today, Lauren has finished her last day of high school and has started the graduation party circuit with her friends and a new love in her life. She has received five scholarships and will be attending Miami University in a few short months. This coming Friday my first born little girl will walk across the stage as an Honors Graduate and a Cancer Survivor!

A few weeks ago Lauren did the usual three week long thyroid cancer testing, including the dreaded low-iodine diet, Thyrogen shots, CT scan, whole body scan, blood work and all the other crappy stuff that comes with it. As always, she is a trooper and manages to push herself through the days when she can barely function from being off her medications. Lauren and I were feeling really good this time, perhaps even letting our guards down a little in hopes that we would hear the words "cancer free" for the first time. Well, it didn't work out for us this time and we drove home in silence after leaving the doctor's office earlier this month. No tears this time, just feelings of anger and frustration, as this was supposed to be the "easy cancer." Her cancer has proven to be stubborn and is just not ready to leave her body just yet. That's okay, she's stubborn too and she'll keep fighting and living her life as it is dealt to her.

I'm confident that we will hear the words "cancer free" together, just as we heard the words "you have cancer" together. Just Lauren and me, the way it's always been. Together in the doctor's office, holding hands, just waiting to hear those two words. We'll wait....we're stubborn that way too.

"Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow-that is patience."

Deja vu!

2008-12-16T13:33:00.003-05:00

dé jà vu {dey-zhah voo}

1. Psychology. the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time.
2. disagreeable familiarity or sameness: The new television season had a sense of déjà vu about it—the same old plots and characters with new names.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl

2008-12-13T18:25:00.002-05:00

Welcome Baby Easton!

2008-12-09T19:44:00.002-05:00

Meet my new nephew Easton Christopher!

Yes We Did!

2008-11-05T18:26:00.000-05:00

Soccer Mom and the Coach

2008-10-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

You just gotta love a man that coaches a teenage girls soccer team. On this particular day, my hubby coach needed a little sideline help so I was his girl.

That's me on the right watching my hubby coach give a little pep talk.

Look at him! He's so focused.

Hey! No pointing fingers. The parents are watching!

Honey, please don't yell at the girls. You might hurt their feelings.

Oh no! Playing in the grass is not a good sign. Better luck next week Coach!

Friday Foto Finish

2008-10-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my little corner of the world. I wish I could make this stuff up.

Say what?

2008-09-28T18:55:00.001-04:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

Friday Foto Finish

2008-09-19T07:31:00.005-04:00

It's been a crazy week here in Mayberry.

Enough said!

Do it for Stephanie

2008-09-12T06:48:00.010-04:00

Welcome back, Lance!

2008-09-09T18:57:00.004-04:00

"I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden," the 36-year-old Armstrong said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. ... It's now time to address cancer on a global level." ~Lance Armstrong

I am a happy woman!

Feeling invisible?

2008-09-08T11:11:00.001-04:00

Stand Up To Cancer

2008-09-05T20:59:00.003-04:00

We used to have such crazy dreams.
The kind of dreams that brought us together, made us not mere mortals, but a movement.

We used to dream we'd get to the moon.
And we were crazy enough, fanatical enough, relentless enough, to get there.

We dreamed we'd split the atom.
Make smallpox and polio whispers from forgotten history books.
Make technology infinite, individual.
Connect the world.

All the unbelievable and the impossible,
all the can't do and the never will, we overwhelmed them, we overpowered them, we conquered them.
They said no and we, well,
We said yes.
We stood up.
We stood up and changed the world.

Stand up when everybody else sits down
Stand up when it's easier to turn away
Stand up for everyone who can't rise anymore

When the answer seems impossible, stand up
When the dream is right within our reach, stand up
When the powerful refuse your call, stand up

The moment is now and the time has come to stand up.
One out of every two men
One out of every three women
will face these diseases we call cancer.

Our sisters, our brothers, our fathers, our mothers,
our husbands, our wives, our children.
Our very best friends and those we've yet to meet.

One person every minute, one person in a moment gets lost, gets stolen, gets taken away.

We are a tapestry of lives touched and brought together by a terrorist we can actually find. And in the time it's taken to read this, three more Americans have died.

Unforgivable.

This is where the end of cancer begins.

When together we become a force unmistakable.
A movement undeniable.
A light that cannot dim.

When we take our wild impossible dreams
And make them possible
Make them true

When together we rise as one
When we stand up
When we Stand Up To Cancer.

September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

2008-09-03T09:44:00.000-04:00

Check your neck! Go ahead, just do it!

Miss Thing's Last First Day of School

2008-08-25T08:28:00.008-04:00

I blinked. This is what happens when you blink. One day your baby is in kindergarten and the next day she is a Senior in High School. When the heck did that happen? Just seems like yesterday when I took her to the first day of kindergarten with her Barney lunchbox and Mimi & Papa in tow. Papa was a nervous wreck and made sure he introduced himself to the teacher and made sure his Winkie had a good seat in the classroom. He even walked around the school introducing himself to anyone that would stop, making sure everyone knew that his granddaughter was in their school now. What I wouldn't give to have that day back again.

First day of 12th grade

Kindergarten 1996

Class of 2009

Me Me Me

2008-08-21T19:51:00.017-04:00

I've been tagged...

I am... a die hard Texan
I think...I need another vacation
I know...a lot about nothing
I want... for nothing
I have... the best kids ever
I wish... time would stand still for awhile
I hate...when the phone rings, dirty dishes in the morning and bad news
I miss... my daddy, being 16, bottles and diapers, line dancing and long Texas summers at the lake
I fear... fires, drowning, getting lost, the unknown and the boogie man
I feel... loved, lost, bent but not broken
I hear... the shower running, country music
I smell... Jambalaya, Febreze
I search... for answers to many, many questions
I wonder... what I will be when I grow up, what could have been and what will be
I regret... way too many things
I love... my life as a mommy and a wife
I care... what you think
I always... return emails
I am not... extroverted
I believe... there will be a cure for cancer someday
I dance... in stores to embarrass my kids
I sing...loud on the treadmill
I don't always...say the right thing but I mean what I say
I write... about whatever is on my mind
I win... most of my battles
I lose... my mind on a regular basis
I never... say never
I listen... to my mother most of the time
I can usually be found... in my office
I'm scared of... thunderstorms, robbers, fast cars, dying
I read...blogs and biographies
I forget...to stop and smell the roses
I just... wanna be me
I worry...about everything
I am happy about... school starting on Monday!

Gun-Toting Teachers OK in Texas

2008-08-20T12:31:00.012-04:00

(FOX News)-A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to pass a law specifically allowing teachers and staff to pack heat when classes begin later this month.

Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements. Superintendent David Thweatt told FOXNews.com the policy was initiated because of safety concerns.

"We have had employees assaulted before by people in the last several years," Thweatt said. "I think that safety is big concern. We are seeing a lot of anger in society." He wouldn't comment further on the nature of the assaults. The Texas superintendent linked gun-free zones with the uprising of school shootings in recent years. "When you make schools gun-free zones, it's like inviting people to come in and take advantage," Thweatt told FOXNews.com.

In order for teachers and staff to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; must be authorized to carry by the district; must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations and must use ammunition that is designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.

Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff's office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district's lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target.

The kindergarten through 12th grade school district is home to 110 students. Thweatt said officials researched the policy and considered other options for about a year before approving the policy change. He said the district also has various other security measures in place to prevent a school shooting.

"The naysayers think [a shooting] won't happen here," Thweatt said. "If something were to happen here, I'd much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them."

He told FOXNews.com he doesn't think students will think twice about the new policy. "I hope they forget all about it," he said. "We want them to pay attention [to their school work]." Texas law outlaws firearms on school campuses "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution."

While the district's plan shot them into the national spotlight, carrying guns to school is nothing new some states. In Utah, the law allows anyone with a permit to carry a gun in public schools and state institutions of higher education. It was unclear how many of the 50 or so teachers and staff members will be armed this fall because Thweatt did not disclose that information, to keep it from students or potential attackers.

I say hell yeah! Don't mess with Texas (kids)!

Friday Foto Finish

2008-08-15T13:58:00.005-04:00

Lauren and I found this butterfly in our yard and as you can see, it has a broken wing. It was trying so hard to fly away, but just couldn't do it. We even tried to give it a little help, but the poor thing just wouldn't fly away. This was the butterfly's last day of life, as we found it lifeless in our driveway the next morning.

This picture means a lot to me. The butterfly is a symbol of Thyroid Cancer. Lauren is a survivor and wears her LiveStrong bracelet everyday as a reminder. Today she was holding life in her hands, not knowing this would be the butterfly's last day alive.

"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it's forever." ~Carl Sagan

I'm beginning to wonder...

2008-08-08T16:40:00.006-04:00

Do all men cheat?

WASHINGTON (Aug. 8) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday admitted to an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer. He denied fathering the woman's daughter. Edwards told ABC News that he lied repeatedly about the affair with 42-year-old Rielle Hunter but said that he didn't love her.

He said he has not taken a paternity test but knows he isn't the father because of the timing of the affair and the birth.

A former Edwards campaign staffer claims he is the father, not Edwards.
Hunter's daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, was born on Feb. 27, 2008, and no father's name is given on the birth certificate filed in California.

The National Enquirer first reported on the affair in October 2007, and Edwards denied it. "The story is false," he told reporters. "It's completely untrue, ridiculous."

The Enquirer carried another story last month, stating that its reporters had accosted Edwards in a Los Angeles hotel where he had met with Hunter after her child's birth. Edwards called it "tabloid trash," but he generally avoided reporters' inquiries, as did his former top aides.

Are you freakin' kidding me right now? Elizabeth Edwards has been victimized twice, once by cancer and once by her husband. Time to go hide under a rock Mr. Edwards.

I'm betting that the kid is his. What do you think?

Still stable

2008-08-04T18:28:00.006-04:00

Lauren had a 4 month follow-up at Children's Hospital Friday and her levels remain stable so YAY! She was not allowed to have breakfast and this picture was taken at noon so she was not a happy camper.

I did manage to get a smile out of Lyndsay!

"Young people have an almost biological destiny to be hopeful." ~Marshall Ganz

Rest in Peace Randy Pausch

2008-07-25T11:00:00.008-04:00

"Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day because there's no other way to play it." ~Randy Pausch

I See You

2008-07-23T13:35:00.003-04:00

I love my new SiteMeter! I can see who's looking at my blog and where they're from. It's fabulous! I can see that the State of Ohio (Columbus) has been here and so has my stalker in California. I'd love to see what the State has to say, so go ahead and leave me a nice encouraging message. Wonder why they keep coming by? Hmmm.....you'd think they would be out searching for answers to all the cancer clusters in Ohio. Nah, not our trusted health officials, they'd rather be reading blogs than actually doing their jobs. Bravo....and welcome back y'all.

Ask Erin Brockovich

2008-07-20T18:08:00.002-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am on a mission. Here's a little history: Nearly 4 years ago my daughter Lauren was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, a rare cancer especially in children. Within months of her diagnosis, I learned of 2 other teens in our small community with the same rare cancer. We all live within a mile of each other and all the kids were diagnosed within months of each other. I do believe in coincidences, but after tons of research I learned that there are only about 350 new cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed each year in teens. Three of those new cases were in my small town, I do NOT believe this is a coincidence.

Since our story went public, dozens more residents of our community came forward with either stories of thyroid tumors or cancer. There were even 2 more young girls in my neighborhood with benign thyroid tumors that had to be removed. So it seemed very logical to me to contact every State and local agency I could think of to help us find some answers. The Ohio Health Department did in fact start and investigation into the cancer cluster, but closed it with no explanation or concern for our kids or the local community. The local health department is useless and the EPA referred us back to the Ohio Health Department.

Fast forward to now.....I saw that Erin Brockovich has a new site where you can ask her questions, so I did. And here it is:

Question:

Dear Erin,

I hope you can help us. What do you think the chances are of 3 teenagers being diagnosed with the same type of thyroid cancer (papillary) within months of each other, all living within a mile of each other? This happened in our small rural town of Trenton, OH nearly 4 years ago. We have recently learned of another teenage girl in a neighboring community diagnosed with the same cancer. There are also 2 girls in the neighborhood with benign thyroid tumors. What could be happening here? We can’t get anyone to help us and the State Health Department has turned their backs on us after starting an investigation a few years ago. We were told by a leading thyroid cancer expert that the odds were “astronomical” that this could happen so what should we do?? Please help us. Thank you.

Stephanie

-Erin’s Reply-

Dear Stephanie,

Please understand that I am not the doctor nor expert here. Having said that, after 17 years working in environmental cases with many renowned experts, when we see numerous people coming down with the same cancers it always raises a flag.You are right to be concerned and are on the right path to uncovering answers just by emailing me or others, talking to neighbors, getting the State Health Department to even begin an investigation and becoming curious as to what could be happening. When communities ask questions and start using common sense, things begin tohappen. Keep it up!

Are you aware of any industry that is near you or near the teenagers who have been diagnosed? Is there something common which they all do besides your water supply? Is there a ball field or area which they may play sports or hang out at? Is there a landfill near you? These are some of the things that I would look for. Also, don’t hesitate to just use Freedom of Information and write to yourlocal agencies to see if there is a reported contamination in the area or a Superfund site. Many times this type of information is just sitting in a file somewhere. It’s happened to me more often than not. Most important, talk with and work with your neighbors. Do a door to door survey and find out what is going on with others.

Good luck and if you need any help don’t hesitate to write again.

Until next time, keep alert to the world around you.

Erin Brockovich

Friday Foto Finish

2008-07-18T18:25:00.003-04:00

The grass got a little wet too.

Home Alone

2008-07-16T19:32:00.007-04:00

Hubby's gone. Kids are gone. It's just me and the animals. Glorious!

So last night me and my partner in crime hung out at a local biker bar to sell tickets for our Harley raffle. What a hoot! We had a prime spot to sit and watch the bikers parade through the parking lot and show off their goods. Some were just okay, but then you get some hot mama who rode in on her hot pink Harley, high heels and pink leather jacket. Suddenly, I wanted to be her. Just for a day. She looked H-O-T and she knew it! She handled that bike like no man I've ever seen. I'm still in awe.

I must say that bikers are some of the most generous and genuine people I've ever met. They always welcome us with open arms and open their wallets for our organization. We met Kenny from the band Stagger Lee and he graciously promoted us all night and even sent us a really nice email this morning thanking us for trying to make a difference. Sweetness!

So since the hubby has been gone I've turned into a wannabe biker babe groupie. Honey, come home!