Happy/Merry/Happy

Greetings
Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays.  Things around here have been crazy since Thanksgiving, busy decorating, shopping, knitting and cooking.  Hard to believe that 2 years ago today we were trying to figure out why Sarah was so sick, poor kid spent the entire month of December feeling awful.  If only I knew then what I know now, trust your body, if you don't feel right find a doctor who will listen.  Don't give up until you do!  I thank God everyday that we finally found the right doctors, and made the right decisions to get Sarah the help she needed.  I am happy to say that she is doing very well, and is enjoying her winter break this year, though she is anxious to get back to school and her friends!

Christmas Eve Zen made his traditional shrimp and scallops for dinner, and lemon sole for me. It was a quiet evening at home for the four of us; the calm before the storm.  Christmas morning we were up early, (thanks Sarah) opened presents and left for Mom's in Saratoga by 10:30 am!  Christmas dinner with the family was wonderful, I made the lasagna and a quinoa casserole, mom made an antipasto and shrimp cocktail, all my sisters brought appetizers, and we had a sit down dinner for 29 people.  Dinner was followed by lots and lots of desserts; including tiramisu, "dirt" and lots of special cookies.
The kids, ages 5-23, enjoyed each others company and had a great time just being together; it is always great to see how well they all get along.  We then had all 29 people spend the night between mom's townhouse and one of her neighbors houses; followed the next day by lunch at a local restaurant.  It was great to spend time with my mom, sisters and their families; of course it all ended much too soon, and before I knew it we were headed back home.

The New Year is just days away, I pray it is a happy and healthy one for all.

xo maria

Christmas Past

Favorite Christmas picture ever!!!

Christmas Present

Thankful

Today is a day to reflect  and give thanks.  I am thankful for my family and friends, for good health and good food.  Chef Zen has the "feast" under control, the house smells wonderful!  The parade is over, so now I am watching  a Christmas special on the Hallmark channel and thinking about all the decorating I want to do this weekend.  Hope everyone enjoys this special day, sending you all love and good wishes for love, health, and a happy holiday season.

Other Stuff

 The past couple of months, while all was quiet on the Sarah front, Greg was plagued with a very weird ear infection!  Just imagine, after all that has happened in the past 2 years, you are awakened at 3am by your 22 year old son who is crying in pain and wants to be taken to the hospital.  Very scary to say the least!  After the middle of the night hospital run, Greg had to go to an ENT, where his ear was drained, and he was given medicated ear drops.  He had to go back every 2 weeks for 2 months to have the ear looked at and drained; a very painful experience to say the least!

Speaking of pain, I have had a pain in my right hip since August! To make a long story short, after several visits to several doctors, a CAT scan, an x-ray, and an MRI, I have been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my hip, lucky me.  This coming Friday I have an appointment to get a steroid shot in my hip, and then physical therapy will begin!  Cataracts at 51, arthritis at 53, what the heck is happening to me?? :(



October 14th would have been my Dad's 84th birthday.  I went to Saratoga to be with my mom and we "visited" dad.  I still miss him everyday!










My amazing mother is doing well; filling her days with creating beautiful pottery, good books, exercise classes, friends and family.  She misses my dad, but he would be so proud if he could see her now.  His memory lives on in all of us, and we happily remember all the wonderful years we had together.

At the end of October I headed back to Saratoga for our annual "girls" weekend.  Myself, my mom,  and my 4 sisters spent a wonderful weekend together; eating, shopping, eating, telling stories, eating, and reminiscing.  Dad would have really loved all the eating!

Next week is Thanksgiving, 

I am thankful for so much.

:)

18 months cancer free!!

Hi friends,
I know it has been a while, time to fill you in.
First the super, great, wonderful news: Sarah's November MRI is clear!!!!!
She is 18 months cancer free!
At today's visit, Dr. M said he and the radiologist spent time going over the MRI's from the past 18 months.  He said he is very pleased that all looks stable, we are also very pleased.  Still have to maintain Sarah's 3 month MRI schedule, for at least another year.
Sarah continues to be busy at school, enjoying being a carefree college student.  
She is going to the gym and running and doing strength training, Dr. M is very happy.   
Doesn't she look great?

 We still hate brain cancer, tests, and any reminders of illness;
but we are oh so thankful that our girl is a survivor!

 Sarah is already gearing up for the 2014 "Relay for Life" at Ramapo College.

The "notebook" continues to grow and the bills keep on coming.
There is my box full of MRI CD's, it too is filling up.
In the last 2 years I have used up 9 checkbooks just on medical bills, yikes!!!

Cancer is very expensive $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Sarah's smile, PRICELESS :)

                       

A GREAT DAY!

Greetings,

I know it has been a while since I posted,  but it is because we have been busy living!
Before I update you on anything else, I have to tell you that yesterday was a great day.  I went to visit Sarah at school, we went out to lunch, shopping, grocery shopping, and even got our flu shots.  What is so great about that you might ask?  My daughter is HAPPY!!!!!!  She was bubbly and talkative and a pleasure to be with, my best buddy is back and I could not be happier or more proud.  Spending time together and enjoying each others company is what I missed most during Sarah's illness.

updates:
1.  Sarah worked at the Y-camp until August 16th, ending on a high note.  She got great reviews from her bosses, but more importantly, she received cards and friendship bracelets from all of her campers!  Nothing better in the world than over 20 "love" notes from little 7 year old girls!!!!

2.  No rest for the weary, Sarah had an MRI, blood work and 3 more immunizations on August 19th.
ANOTHER GOOD REPORT!!!!!

3.  We then embarked on a whirlwind "girls" vacation.  Headed to Saratoga Springs, NY;  picked up Grandma, and continued on to Vermont to my sister's home.  Spent a few days catching up with family,  even had the chance to have lunch with my dad's Cousin Vinny and his wife Judy.    All eyes were a little teary as thoughts turned to Dad, and how much he is missed!     We helped Rachel sort through her room in preparation for her first year at college, amazing how much "stuff" girls need.

4. Then it was back to Mom's house, just in time to take her for a fun day of oral surgery.  True to form she came through with flying colors; and of course insisted that she did not need pain medicine.  What a trooper!  Then it was back home to get Sarah packed for school.

5.  August 30th  was back to the DR. for 3 remaining immunization shots and blood work.  Sarah is now good to go.  Almost done with shots, 1 in October and 5 more next summer.  Just like her Grandma, Sarah is a trooper.

6. Packing a girl for school is just so much fun;  5 large rolling suitcases, several other small bags, 2 cars, 1 student and 2 parents.  After several trips back and forth to the parking lot, and up and down on the elevator, Sarah was all settled into her suite.  Very nice set up, 4 single rooms, a bathroom, and half kitchen (large fridge, microwave, sink, closets, table and 4 chairs, sofa, NO stove).

7. Since the Labor day move in, I have been to visit Sarah 3 times.  Believe it or not, each time I had to bring more absolutely necessary, can't live without "stuff."


 That pretty much brings us up to date.  I am so happy and relieved to report that my girl is happy, healthy, and having fun.  Looking forward to many more GREAT DAYS!

love and smiles,
M


                                 

Heat Wave!

A month of temperatures over 90 degrees feels like one continuous hot flash!!
Needless to say, I have been a little out of sorts.
I spent July 6-12 at Brant Lake with the "family."  It was soooooo hot, I went in the Lake, first time in a few years.  All the planning and e-mails made for a very well coordinated vacation, lots of good food, drinks and fun!  Sarah was only able to stay the first weekend because of work, but she made the most of her 2 days and had a great time swimming, skiing, and visiting with her cousins.  We all look forward to our yearly family reunion at Brant Lake, so many memories, both old and new.  For me, the yearly trip to the lake is bittersweet, I love spending time with my mom and sisters, but I miss them even more when the week is over.  We walk, talk, reminisce, and catch up on the daily lives of our families; and then the week is over.  As all of our children get older, finding time to get together gets harder and harder, between jobs, school and sports, finding a common "free" weekend is not easy.  We have to get by on phone calls and texts until the next reunion,  "girls weekend" and that is not until October or November!

This year was our first trip without my dad, so many memories of him at the lake, making pasta was not the same without him!  On our first night, as a tribute to Dad, we set off Chinese Lanterns.  All of us sent our love and wishes to him, along with the lanterns.  It was a touching and really beautiful way to remember a great man.  Later in the week my mom, sisters and I went on a boat ride and sprinkled a few of Dad's ashes in the Lake he so dearly loved.  Brant Lake is and always will be a very special place for my family.  Rest in peace Daddy.

At home it was back to business as usual; laundry, cleaning, knitting, shopping and cooking.  I have been trying some really great vegetable and salad recipes from a website called, Oh She Glows.  I have been making a conscious effort to eat healthier foods, and have been trying to get Zen and the kids to do the same.  Convincing them to eat healthier is like banging my head on a brick wall, oh well, at least I am setting a good example!  I am also trying to use products with ingredients that are safer for myself and my family; another undertaking that is not as easy as it seems.  So many products have added ingredients that are unnecessary,  unhealthy, and possibly even dangerous; I have been spending these unbearably hot days indoors, doing research, much to my family's dismay!  I am determined to have them be healthier, whether they like it or not.  Livestrong and Wellness Mama, are two other websites that I have found to be very informative and useful.

Have a happy, healthy day, and keep cool.
I am off to get a cup of green tea and do some more research!

Getting Ready

It is that time of year again, getting ready for Brant Lake.............
The one time during the year that all of the "Marino" girls are together, spending a week at the lake where we spent all of our childhood summers.  With any luck it will stop raining before we go.
The preparations have begun: phone calls, numerous emails, planning, shopping, packing, more emails,  baking, and so on.... It takes a lot of coordination to entertain and feed 11 adults and 16 "kids."
The kids range in age from 5 to 22; it is wonderful to see them all together, enjoying the lake and each other.  It is a balancing act to figure out which of the older kids will be able to come and when. Unfortunately summer jobs tend to get in the way of summer fun!!!  Sarah and Jacob will only be able to spend the first weekend with us, Greg will be joining us during the week, and sadly I don't think Jessie will be able to come at all :(    Zen will be there for his usual 2 days, and then back home to see our "camper" off to work every day.  I am hoping to stay the week this year and catch up with my mom and sisters, and hopefully some much needed sleep.  I just can't sleep through the night lately, maybe some clean mountain air will help!
 Last year was disastrous, with Sarah having so many restrictions as she recuperated from her stem-cell transplant, I hope she enjoys this year, even if it is only for a weekend.  As far as her job goes, she is tired but loving it; her 8 year old campers all love her.  Everyday she comes home with notes and pictures made by the girls.

Time to go check for more lake emails,  make some lists for the lake, and do laundry.......the one constant in my life.

New website...

Is My Cancer different ? New website with lots of great information, hope you will check it out.

May-June Knitting

Has it really been a month?

Ok, ok, I know, I have been very bad at keeping to a blogging schedule :(

Since the last post:
Sarah had a wonderful 21st birthday celebration.
Her birthday/month ended with her being de-ported! That's right the port is gone!!!!!  On May 29th we visited the surgeon and said good-bye to the port.  One more milestone reached.
Memorial Day was the Lobster Fest at RRCC, Zen and Sarah's favorite day of the year!

June arrived bringing lots of graduation parties; congratulations to all of our friends and family who  have reached a milestone in their lives,  college, high school, middle school, elementary school, and yes, we even have a preschool graduate in the family! Good luck to you all.

June also marks the beginning of year 2 post stem-cell transplant for Sarah; and that means shots!!
She needs to be revacinated with all of the childhood immunizations.  We will be going back to Overlook Hospital, to the Cancer Center to have this done.  Needless to say, neither one of us was looking forward to that.  But, she was a trooper; day one we had to wait for 2 hours for 3 shots, and that was nerve wracking.  Day two, 3 more shots, but it went much faster, we were in and out in 30 minutes.  Let's just say it was a flashback to when she was a baby, we both had tears in our eyes when the needles came out.  Next round of six shots is in August, along with another MRI, and then 2 more in October.

I went for my pre-physical blood work last week, and this week it is my turn to see the doctor, only salad until Thursday when i have to get weighed!!

Zen is recovered from all of his injuries, and is back on the golf course, he is not so cranky anymore, which makes all of us very happy.

Greg has been busy working, and catching up with friends.

My mom was here this past week for a few days, and we had a great time.  She is amazing!!!
We all went to Westchester on Sunday to my cousin 's house for a mini family reunion.  A great time was had by all.

Sarah started work today, she was gone all day, I missed my side-kick.  Target was no fun without her!
I think she is going to love working at the Y camp.

Guess I have to get used to doing chores by myself again.

That's all for now.

Happy 21st Birthday Sarah

Today we celebrate Sarah's much anticipated 21st birthday!!
She is happy, healthy, home and ready to party.  Big difference from last year when we spent her birthday in the hospital.  Her friends have arrived, and it is wonderful to have a house full of  smiling, happy young women; all getting ready for dinner at the club.

We have so much to be happy and thankful for.  Sarah finished her first semester back at school and is home for the summer.  She has applied for a camp job, and is anxiously waiting to hear if she has been hired.  She has settled into a routine, and is happy to be home, at least for now.  Sarah's last MRI on May 15, 2013 was clear; hip hip hooray!  Dr. M says all is good, she is doing well.  We are in the process of scheduling her port removal (next week) yeah, and her shots (all the childhood inoculations were wiped out during stem cell transplant and have to be given again), not so happy about this one.  MRI's will still be every 3 months, which I am happy about, even if Sarah is not.  I can't imagine how neurotic I will be when they are spaced further apart.

Greg is also done with school for the summer and has been working every weekend.  He is slowly adjusting to once again sharing the bathroom with his sister, and listening to her sing when she showers.

Zen is still recuperating from his leg injury, hand surgery and an unidentified  arm ache.  He has been a good patient, but is missing playing golf!  Hopefully all pains will be gone soon so he can spend his days on the golf course (please).

I have been sorting, organizing and packing away "college stuff" and winter clothing.  Space bags are my new favorite toy,  I love vacuuming the air out!  (Pathetic I know).

Almost time to get ready to go to dinner, unfortunately the weather is not cooperating, it is thundering and pouring rain outside, but the party must go on, so off we go to brave the elements!

Pictures coming soon.
:)

In the mean time...

We are approaching the end of Sarah's first "post treatment" year, she is due for an MRI in 2 weeks.  I have been doing a lot of reminiscing, so much has happened this year that I am thankful for.  Sarah is  at school finishing her first semester at Ramapo College; doing well and looking forward to enjoying summer and all of the activities she could not do last summer!  She participated in Relay for Life and raised a lot of money, this was a very positive and empowering experience for her.  Sarah has made some good friends at school, and is looking forward to living with them in the fall.  I am so proud of her, and thankful for her continued good health.  I am pretty certain that the MRI's will continue at 3 month intervals for at least the next year, Sarah is not thrilled by the prospect, but I welcome the reassurance that all is still going well.


In the mean time, tomorrow I will be putting my nurse's uniform back on to take care of Zen after he has hand surgery, again!  This is the third time  he has to have hand surgery, this time it is to remove a tumor in one of his fingers.  The surgeon is confident that it will be benign, I hope he is right!  Poor Zen has been looking forward to this golf season, since he did not get to play very often last year.  Almost forgot to mention that along with the hand issue, he also has a torn muscle in his leg and is on crutches!  Hopefully he will have a very speedy recovery, and be back on the golf course and in the kitchen cooking soon, for all of our sakes.

Wish us both, patient and nurse, good luck tomorrow, we will need it!
M :)

One Year Ago Today.....

My darling daughter, wow one year ago today we entered Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, scared but hopeful! I read through some of my blog posts from those first few days, they made me cry.  I am so very proud of you and all you have accomplished since then.

I posted this comment last year, "This horrible cancer is like a thief, robbing my daughter of her health, youth and innocence; she is the bravest person I know. Keep fighting Sarah, I know you can beat this; there is a beautiful future waiting for you. Sarah has always risen to a challenge, I am confident that she will find something positive in this horrible experience, and make the world a better place. Together, we will get through this, one day, one hour, one minute at a time."  

We did make it through that horrible time, and you are still the bravest, most determined person I know.  Keep up the good work sweetheart, you are already making the world a better place with your big heart and beautiful smile.  :)


Here are some inspiring words:

What happened to Spring?

Another week, another weekend; busy running around doing errands and catching up with laundry!
The house got so cold last night, I had to turn the heat back on, ME, the only person in this house that is never cold, so you know it was really cold!  Finally saw the movie Argo, it was great.  Zen played golf, Greg went to visit friends at Quinnipiac, and Sarah had a busy weekend with Sorority activities and school work; the house was sooooo quiet.  We are coming up on Sarah's one year stem-cell transplant anniversary, so far so good, next MRI in 3 weeks.

It is hard to believe that the Boston Marathon bombing was only a week ago.  So much sadness and grief, my heart goes out to all that were injured.  When are these senseless acts of violence going to end?  I keep asking the same question, unfortunately no answer in sight.  I can only do my part and try to be more tolerant, more patient, and kinder to all.  Are you doing your part???  I will leave you to ponder that question.

What a difference a year makes.

Last year at this time, I was in the hospital with Sarah for her last "regular" chemo treatment;  it/she was a nightmare!  She was so full of steroids, other meds, and fear of the upcoming stem cell transplant, that she was frantic and insisted on leaving the hospital earlier than she should have.  Fast forward to today, one year later; Sarah is happy, healthy, and back at school.  My sweet girl is back, the tumor that was making her crazy is gone, no more tantrums and wild behavior.  A year ago, it was hard for me to imagine a happy future; but thankfully here we are, thankful for every new day.

Relay for Life at Ramapo College was inspirational; so many young adults working together for a wonderful cause.  Sarah spoke beautifully about her experience, and of course I got teary eyed as she walked the first lap with the other survivors.

I too am moving on; Sarah's illness had me "crippled" afraid to live my life.  I will always worry about her, that is what mothers do, but I too am living again, going out with friends, pursuing my interests, and moving forward.  At least for today, next MRI is a month away, time to start worrying.


Inspirations from the web:

My beautiful daughter

Relay for Life