January 6, 2014 2 years and counting......

"Good morning Mom, do you remember what happened 2 years ago today?"

Yes Sarah, it is a date I will never forget........
We started that fateful day with an appointment with an infectious disease doctor, as we had been told Sarah had lyme disease.  After a look at Sarah's crossing eye's the night before, our wonderful eye doctor insisted we investigate further.  In our quest for answers, Sarah was finally sent for an MRI.  As we were getting back in the car, we got "the call"  go straight to Overlook hospital, a Neuro team is waiting.  The journey began; tests, scans, biopsy, more tests, IV steroids to control the swelling in my baby's brain.  I sat next to her when she was awake, trying to calm her fears, when she slept I walked the halls, crying and praying that my child would not die.  After a week in the Neuro ICU, the diagnosis was given, CANCER, very rare, very serious, very scary!

Well, here we are 2 years later: six rounds of Chemo, too many medications to count, stem-cell transplant, quarterly scans, and a happy and healthy strong young woman to show for all that agony.


So you see Sarah, I will never forget that day, or any of the 730 days that followed, they are engraved in my memory and in my heart.  I am thankful everyday that you were strong enough to fight this awful disease, and that I was strong enough to fight for you when you wanted to give up.

Cancer changed all of us, Sarah, Zen, Greg and me.  I hope we have changed for the better, able to appreciate each other, and everyday that we have together.

Sarah's message to all:
KNOW your body, if you don't feel right find a doctor who will listen.  Don't give up until you get real answers,  your life may depend on it!!!!!

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!