church newsletter #2...

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ketchup...

ok, really this is a "catch up" post, not a "ketchup" post - but that's one of jaden's favorite jokes, so i couldn't resist! ;0)

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1st, i wanted 2 update u on a little confession i made last month...i had someone ask about how we've been doing with the tardies - & i'm proud 2 announce that we just received jaden's report card this week (more on the actual grades soon), & it shows that he's only had TWO tardies in the last 6 weeks (which means the same 4 the other 2 kiddos too)!
whoo hoo!
i'd say that's progress! ;0)

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next, 4 those of u wondering - the van was considered totaled! yay!
even tho this is what we hoped & prayed for, it actually came at the worst possible time! between my appointments, curtis' work schedule & everything else going on in our busy lives - we haven't had 1 second 2 go looking 4 a new ride!
i really need 1 of these...
& another bummer - since it was totaled & the insurance company made an offer to "buy" it, they no longer had 2 provide us with a rental (so much 4 me trying 2 extend our time with 1)....they still gave us 5 days as a customer service, but i had 2 turn in the rental last night....i'm probably going back 2 get another car 4 the weekend (they have great weekend deals), since curtis works & i just can't survive 2 whole days with 3 kiddos & no car!

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in case any1 was curious, here's what i ended up writing 4 our 1st (revamped) edition of the church newsletter....the lady putting it 2gether was very pleased (glad she didn't regret asking me 2 contribute!)....i also loved the poem & pics she decided 2 include with my ramblings ;0)

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lastly, i was given a Kreativ Blogger Award from my friend BC @ Sincerely, B - thx girl!
i'm supposed 2 list 7 things that i love, so here goes...

1. i love spring! yay - it's finally here! & i love finding evidence of it inside & out - like the beautiful flowers that my girls r constantly picking & putting in little cups of water ;0)

2. i'm a fresh fruit nut! & i'm loving the grocery store these days - so many more options 2 chose from! & the fruit stands r opening up! i keep a bag of clementines at my desk at work & have been stocking the fridge at home with all kinds of fun stuff 4 the kiddos & i 2 snack on

3. i adore the beach - i'm longing 4 our yearly trip (that will b somewhat delayed this year, due 2 a certain cancer diagnosis/treatment!)....oh, 2 lay in the sun & watch my kiddos play/swim, with my babe beside me (he'll b properly shaded under a shirt, umbrella & hat of course ~lol~) - now that's the life!

4. i ♥ milk! actually i probably drink too much milk some days, but at least it's 2%! ;0)

5. taking pics - i won't go as far as 2 call it "photography", cause i have no idea what i'm doing - i just snap what i like & i like a lot of what i snap ;0)

6. my kiddos' teachers - this year has especially shown me, just how important our kiddos' teachers r in their lives! not only r they responsible 4 molding their little brains 4 almost 7 hours a day, but they've also been there as support & a shoulder 2 cry on throughout this whold cancer schmancer stuff! they've shown great patience with me during my forgetful/sick/tired days & have really stepped up & gone above & beyond the call of duty!!!

7. & of course, my darling husband & kiddos - what can i say? i'm truly, truly blessed!!!


& i'd like 2 pass this award on 2 a couple of blogs that i ♥love♥...
G5 Family
lulufish
Dear Trevor
WeSnLani
Livin' la vida Garcia

what r u loving right now???

chemo #4 & some other random stuff

chemo #4 (of 8) was yesterday - i've made it past the 1/2 way point!!! i have a PET scan scheduled for the 17th...2 see how the cancer is responding to the chemo & 2 start coming up with a plan 4 my radiation that will follow

the therapy session went as usual...i even got another neck & shoulder massage! then i felt pretty good most of the evening - just tired...my girls' amazing daycare provider offered 2 keep them late - she feed em dinner & let em hang out with her daughter for a few extra hours, so that i could take it easy...curtis picked up jaden from daycare b4 heading in2 work...so he & i just hung out - he played video games & i chilled on the sofa, chatting with him about his progress in the game...that boy is a real gamer - he's zooms thru new levels like it's nothing! not just his manuvering throughout the game, but the strategic planning he puts in2 figuring out how to master the levels, is quite impressive! of course, i made him read a book afterwards! ;0)

one new, & oh so fun, side effect that i'm experiencing is mouth sores...it's actually a lot like canker sores, all around the front end of my tongue...u'd think with the vomiting, the sores, & the metallic taste in my mouth that makes even water taste nasty 4 for the week following treatment - i'd b miss skinny minny by now! but i guess i'm making up 4 it on my "off" weeks...things really do taste good that weekend b4 chemo! ;0) & i'm thankful that the sores r minor compared 2 what others experience sometimes (sores all over inside of mouth & even down throat)...mine's totally tolerable

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i wanted 2 touch on the incident that happened with gabby at school last week (since several of u have asked me how we handled it)...well, she didn't bring it up - i even probed - asking her lots of questions about her day (more than usual)...but she never once brought it up! i went back & forth all weekend - wondering if we should...but we decided not to

i was happy with how the school handled it...especially the immediate email 2 let me know! i was just totally shocked that 1 of my kiddos would b exposed 2 that word already...i'm not naive enuff 2 think it would b a word they'd never hear, but dang - kindergarten?!

we're hoping & praying that this will b the last time she'll hear that word 4 a looooong time - & we're not sure that 6 is really a good age 2 delve in2 the topic...i know the world is a cruel & harsh place sometimes, but we'd like 2 let our kiddos keep their innocense as long as possbile...i know that if we explained to gabby that the word is full of hatred, directed at a whole race of people - one that she belongs to - that she will no longer look at the world the same way...do we really want her 2 go out from this day forward, knowing that there r people out there that may dislike her just because of her skin color? we're gonna let her b a kid 4 just a lil while longer ;0)

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corinn decided on saturday that she wanted 2 mail nana a letter...she wrote this up, totally on her own...it says "i ♥ mom, jaden, dad, me, gabby, nana"...nana has one 2 many NA's & i'm not sure y she left off grandpa, but i was seriously impressed! especially with the "me" vs her name!

i was all out of envelopes & told her i'd pick some up the next time i was out...she says "that's ok, i'll just make one!"...& she did...she came back a little while later & had folded 2 sheets of paper 2gether 2 form a pretty impressive envelope...we taped it all 2gether, addressed it, stamped it & stuck it in the box - with the flag up (her fav part)

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P-dub's post came right on time 4 me...i'm so anxious 2 start planting flowers & maybe even a small garden 4 us this year! i'm excited 2 follow along with her & learn some tricks...i have such a black thumb, but i love the earth & i love seeing something through from beginning 2 end like that - 2 b able to reap the rewards of all ur hard work! & even feed ur fam in the process! sweetness!

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a fellow church member came up 2 me after the sermon on sunday, & asked if i'd b interested in writing a "mom's corner" 4 the church newsletter! she said she reads my blog & enjoys my writing ~lol~ sorry, not sure y i laugh at that - i guess it's the lack of structure in my writing...incomplete thoughts, crazy spelling/punctuation/gramatical errors, runon sentences galore! & this is going 2 b read by the church members?! oh, the pressure!

she told me 2 think about it...& i'm waiting 2 hear back on the details - how often, what kind of topics, etc...we'll see - it could b a lot of fun! ;0)

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& lastly, i wanted 2 share this video...Pastor Ryan posted it on his blog & i'm totally digging it! so i had 2 share it with u! i'm sure it took FOREVER 2 make this - but how stinkin' cool...really?!

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
by IgnitionVM