never give up...

u've met Socks...

Socks likes leaves...

sometimes, the leaves r hard 2 reach...

but he doesn't give up...

till he gets the leaf he's after...

mmmm, leaves...

"now, i wonder if i can get the one above that one?!"
way 2 aim high Socks!

;0)

going, going, gone...

i mentioned in my weekend recap post, that my hair is very quickly falling out now...well, it's simply more than i can bare! (get it? bear/bare! ~lol~ i crack myself up sometimes)

no...not the balding part - i'm not worried about being bald...it's the darn shedding part!


the absolute worst part is showering - not only do i get handfuls of hair when i wash it....but imagine being wet & having shedding hair all over the place - clinging 2 u....i've turned into a maniac in the mornings, battling the hair situation....and i avoid moving my head/neck throughout the day, so that i don't have 2 walk around with gobs & gobs of hair all over my shoulders....it tickles & itches - it's just annoying as hell!

ack!!!

if curtis didn't work 2nd shift, i would have had him shave it off last evening! i was halfway tempted 2 get us up early this morning, so he could do it...but i really want the kiddos 2 help with the big shave too (they're so gonna love it!), & that would have just been too much 2 add 2 our morning routine 2day

but curtis is off 2moro - so after i get off work & the men finish up at jaden's martial arts training, we're going for it! :0)

u know i'll have pictures 2 post either later that night or friday morning - wish us luck!!!

field trip 2 the children's museum...

today, gabrielle's class (& the other 2 kindergarten classes) went on a field trip 2 the Harrisonburg Children's Museum

i've been there quite a few times throughout the years, but this was gab's 1st trip - and she LOVED it! who wouldn't?! this place has soooo much 2 do! the only problem, was that the 60+ kiddos only had 2 hours 2 do it in!

1st, they sat & listened 2 a story about water...

gabby sat beside her 2 BFF's - kaitlyn & phoenix! phoenix is the little boy who is hearing impaired & is attached 2 gabby at the hip! it's so cute 2 watch him try & get her attention & follow her around every where...gabrielle says she likes it - phoenix is her friend & she really likes having him around! she's constantly learning new signs & it's hilarious 2 witness phoenix's helper/translator use gabby 2 help keep phoenix in check ;0)


the group split up - 1/2 went inside a room for a lesson/project with water 1st - the other 1/2 played...then we switched

here's gabby building her boat...

i was actually surprised by how many parents felt the need 2 "assist" their kiddos in the boat construction...i guess these will b the parents that do the science projects for their kiddos when they get older! ;0)


not that gabby would have even let me help her if i'd tried - she's so independant! & she had a definite plan for the design...


she was the very last 2 finish - & was oh so proud!


all that hard work paid off - it floats!!! ;0)


then it was play time!
gabby had heard about the rock wall from jaden, & she couldn't wait 2 try it out!

a big barn, with a slide

a puppet stage

gardening

& a market

an ambulance

a stage 4 dress-up & putting on plays...a music & face painting area off 2 the side

an area all about insects - including a live tarantula & frog


sooooo much fun!

instead of riding the school bus with gabby & the crew, i met the group at the museum...when it was time 2 part (me back 2 work, gabby back on the bus 2 school), gabby got upset...she started tearing up & asking me 2 come back 2 school with her...i explained that i had 2 get back 2 work, but that i'd see her in just a few hours...as they were heading out the door, phoenix notices gabby's tears & starts signing 2 her...his helper tells gabby "don't be sad gabby - phoenix is telling u 2 b happy!" too sweet! :0)

lastly, here's a video of one of the girls' favorite things 2 do in the museum 2day...they spent quite a while at this station

thank u...

a couple of weeks ago, a good friend posted this video...i got all teary-eyed watching it - thinking about the many friends & family members that have supported & encouraged me...thru this whole cancer journey, and before!

i've been totally saturated with LOVE these past couple of months...as i got my initial diagnosis & then began treatment...not only from the close family, friends & co-workers that i see on a regular basis - but from YOU! from my blogger friends!

some of u r friends from long ago, & we've only recently reconnected...some of u, i have plans 2 meet someday...some of u, i'm not sure if i'll ever meet! it amazes me how well u know me - how connected i feel 2 u & ur families...we relate - through our daily stories of life's many trials & successes! i feel that i know u - i feel that i have a true friend in you!

so THANK YOU!

thank u for all the wonderful words, gifts, prayers & thoughts...thank u for being there!



here r a few pics of some of the generous gifts i've received recently...i'm afraid i don't have photos of everything & i hope i'm not leaving anyone out...i am just so overwhelmed with thankfulness 4 each & every one of u!!!


thank u Jen, 4 the gorgeous scarves & gripper!

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thank u Cincy office, 4 the Ghiradelli chocolate basket that was waiting on my doorstep that 1st day of chemo!

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thank u Shanna, 4 the mouth spray (so using this already!), dvd's (thx Mark!), books 4 the kiddos (they LOVE them!), etc!

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thank u 2 curtis' buddy, Eric (& his wife) - 4 the sweet flowers & balloon u sent me after my 1st treatment!

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thank u aunt tracy, 4 hooking me up with my new do, plus tons of funky accessories that i'm gonna totally rock!

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thank u aunt Dawn, 4 the cozy blanket, candle & chocolates u sent me 2 enjoy as i recuperate!

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thank u ma, 4 surrounding me with scripture & love!

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thank u co-workers, 4 the meals u're providing my family with the day after my chemo treaments...and 4 the vacation donations u've given me!!!

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thank u Wendy, 4 my snazzy new pink shuffle - it's all loaded & ready 2 go 4 my next treatment! (& 4 all the fun books, movies, notepads & pencils u sent 4 the kiddos)

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thank u 2 the many friends that have offered 2 fix meals, watch my kiddos, accompany me 2 treatment - i so feel the love! ;0)

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thank u Michele, 4 making me these cool ribbon magnets in HL colors!

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thank u Darlene, 4 the lovely sunny color that's blooming in my cube!


"i thank my God upon every remembrance of you." ~philippians 1:3

it's a new day!

how perfectly appropriate 4 today!

& guess what?! it's a new day!

;0)

snowy update...

just back from the cancer center – got my levels checked & they’re better than last week! so no booster for now...they’ll check it again on monday, before chemo #3 – but we’re good to go for now

it started snowing while i was there – and outside looked like this, by the time i got back to work...they are dismissing school at noon - but the snow has stopped, the sun is out & i suspect it will all melt away in a few hours...darn – the kiddos want to go sledding soooooo bad! ;0)

love you guys!!!
sharon

thank God he had a dream!

Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I Have a Dream"

delivered August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

weekend recap...

i noticed a theme this weekend...almost everyone i know, decided 2 stay inside - where it's nice & warm! the skates crew included! ;0)

we did trek outside a few times - but never 4 very long...the super low temps, plus frigid winds, made it just unbearable!

we cooked 2gether & made homemade hot cocoa...
we played games & read books...
we watched movies & made crafts...
it warmed up some today, making it a little easier 2 climb outta bed & get dressed 4 church...daddy had 2 work all weekend, so mostly it was me & the kiddos...we visited nana 2nite, with pizza & ice cream in hand...the kiddos enjoyed watching a little cable (boy, do they LOVE watching cable @ nana's!),
while mama & nana shared some coffee...
corinn, being the little helper, even assited nana in packaging some bacon 4 the freezer ;0)
i was hoping 2 get some purging/organizing done in the kiddos' rooms this weekend & that didn't happen...but i'm not worried about it - it'll get done...i actually started feeling a little guilty - wondering just how many more weekends i could get away with being totally unproductive & lazy?! it just feels sooo good! ;0)

i hope u had a great weekend too! they just come & go so fast these days!

-----


i'll check in 2moro with a report on my blood levels...i've had a pretty good couple of days - this heartburn is enuff 2 make u wanna rip ur throat out! but honestly, it's not unbearable...it's just heartburn...i'm also starting 2 lose my hair...4 the last 3 days, i've shed like a dog getting a new coat! it's actually driving me batty - i can't stand animal hair & that's what it's like...short hairs all over the place - in the tub, on my clothes, in my bed - ack! u can tug on my do a little bit, & literally pull out a gob full of hairs - gabby thinks it's cool! ~lol~ if it continues like this, i might b getting that buzz cut sooner than i thought! ;0)

cold remedy...

last night, we had the coldest temps this area has seen in 8 years - 5 degrees - & that's not counting the wind chill!

brrrr!

hope it's warm where u are...

fender bender...

last evening, i left work at 5pm to go grab the kiddos, then head back 2 the burg for jaden's martial arts training....after picking him up @ his after-school daycare, we headed 2 get the girls

i pulled up 2 a stop sign at the end of his daycare's road....there was a gentleman in a pick-up waiting to turn left @ the sign....i pulled up 2 his right side (2 turn right) & proceeded 2 wait 4 the street traffic 2 go by

all of a sudden, i feel someone rear-end me (barely)....i look over my shoulder 2 see the black jeep cherokee that just hit me, squeeze in between my van & the pick-up beside me, pull out into traffic & start heading down the street 2 the left - almost causing another accident!

i get out of my van & wave at the cherokee, thinking "how in the heck r they just going 2 drive off?!"

unfortunately, because the sun was setting in the same direction that the vehicle was traveling in, i couldn't see their license plate....the man in the pick-up told me 2 go ahead & call the cops, & that he'd go follow the cherokee! there really r good samaritans out there!

i turn on my flashers & get off the road as much as i can - but i don't want 2 move too much....i wasn't sure how particular the cops would b about me moving my van - especially since it was a hit & run

i had several friends stop by, offering 2 help me....they all thought i was broke down or had a flat....but i kept sending them on their way, until finally a cop showed up....the good samaritan came back & it turned out, it was an older lady that was driving - and she just drove home! the gentleman told the cop where the house was, so the cop told me 2 pull over into a nearby parking lot & he would b back

meanwhile, another officer shows up 2 start all the paperwork with me....i'm already like 20 minutes late picking the girls up (thankfully, their daycare provider was very understanding)....i'd already let the sensei know we wouldn't b making it to training either

once it was all said & done - it turned out that the elderly woman really had no business driving....she's in the beginning stages of alzheimer's & they're guessing she just got confused & drove home (where she lives with her son)....i chose not to press charges, as long as they made her get a medical evaluation (something they submit to the DMV) cause i don't want 2 run into her on the road again! luckily, she's fully insured & when i spoke to the insurance company 2day, they assured me her son was already in there this morning & the ball is rolling on her claim

my back tail light is busted & my bumper is smashed in a little....but no one got hurt - no harm, no foul....just another day in the life of this chaotic mama! ;0)

iPhone cake...

this cake was a gift for a co-worker, from his mom who recently moved to florida...she still spoils her boy! ;0)

he loves his iPhone, so of course i had 2 make 1 out of cake!

2 layers of strawberry cake, filled & iced in butter cream....covered in dark chocolate & regular fondant....accented with fondant & hand painted

enjoy michael!
:0)