i heard today of a 34, mom, wife, cancer battler

i just heard that a friend's wife is now battling stage 3 breast cancer and i don't even know what to say, i just can imagine a fraction of how she must feel.


Oh women, aren't we all so secure in our lives? Our beautiful babies, our lovely girls and boys growing so quickly, our petty spats with our husbands, the hugs, the kisses, the laughter, the joy.


SCREEEECCCCHHHHHHHH. Halt it right there! So you thought you were protected? You're actively nursing your little baby RIGHT now. You've been a good mom to your kiddos and you're still YOUNG, RIGHT?

Excuse me, I mustn't have heard you right. I have mastitis, not cancer. I have a clogged duct, not cancer. What are you talking about cancer? I just had a baby. That's why I'm tired. That's why I don't feel good, it is hormones. These hormones are so tough, especially after a fifth baby. I'll just stay in bed today, then I'll feel better. Right?

Ladies, we're not safe. We're not protected. We don't have to have a history of sickness. We don't need big "signs" - cancer doesn't care who we are or what we have going on. All it needs is a little hiccup in our health and there it is. And we have to change. Our whole life has to change. Our confidence is gone. Our knowing is gone. Our plans are gone. But our will is still there.

Our will is still holding on, willing us, teaching us, begging us to survive because we're loved and we're needed and we want to hold on and fight.


So pray, pray for the mom, the 34 year old mom with the new baby and 4 big brothers and sisters and a loving husband who wish her well. Send this on to your friends to pray for her to and their friends and on and on because she could be us.

Now I'm not a germa-phob but...

Now I'm not a germa-phob but the handlebars of a shopping cart are DIS-GUS-TING, say it with me sisters, DISGUSTING! So yesterday I went grocery shopping with my little Mallory who can now sit in the cart...second time trying...she's 9 months old this upcoming weekend so we're getting a little bold!

I have a cart wrap protection device..with a cute mirror on the back (how pray tell does she play with that?) toys on the front and no instructions. Lucky me, Natalie, my 7 year old (7 1/2 sorry) was with me and hooked us up. Literally, it was strapped to the cart, she was strapped to the cart on and on...we shopped, she was happy (yeah!) - of course she was happy she's always happy!

And since I was being thrifty and was at Aldi's (is Aldi's everywhere? they're BIG in KC and they're discount heaven) - where I have to bag my own groceries (yes, i forgot the recycle bags, AGAIN) and they throw all items from cart A (where mallory is happily smiling) into cart B (sans Mallory) I had to unstrap the baby protector from cart A and reattach it to Cart B.

Bright Idea Mommy decided to move the baby in the protector at one time to save time (people behind me, not going to keep cooing at baby for long). Well, I unstrapped the protector and not the baby, tugged her in the seatbelt and ended up disassembling the device, removing the baby, placing said baby in cart B, paying and then, yes, while I bagged groceries, reattached protector and replaced baby because EVERYTHING goes in her mouth, ick ick ick.

Why the trouble? My friend Jennifer's little gal got a strange infection requiring a surgical procedure from quite possibly a cart. (throw up in my mouth, UGH). NO THANK YOU!!!! So, Sorry Aldis I don't think all your customers are disgusting, I'm just not willing to take the chance.

...And we're travelling on a plane soon, can you imagine the fun our fellow passengers will have with us if this is how we are in a grocery line!!!

the "think sheet"

So, its no surprise that Maisey had a think sheet sent home from 1st grade, to make yet another, worst day of her life. (we've had 2 so far this week and it is tuesday - monday was a day off).

Guess what for? That's right! Talking too much in class. No surprise here because she IS a bit chatty, not sure where she got that from... BUT her think sheet was REALLY for laughing when she was talking out of turn...like, haha, i'm doing it again (that's what i think she was thinking).

So, I chatted with her about it, made her sit by me still and quiet for 15 minutes (practicing quiet!) and THEN sent her dad to review the think sheet and have "the talk" with her...not sure how that went but according to him, not good.

Where or where can we channel that energy during the day? AND if anyone laughs, or if she gets nervous because she's getting the attention, eeek...not pretty! i just hope she doesn't have to scoot her desk next to the teacher's...that is TORTURE (not that i'd know)....

By the way, my friend Alison at thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com is having a FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY for a kid's book. Check it out!!!! (she is giving 2 grown up books away too!!!!)