April 5, 2008 To More Beautiful Week-ends

Ok people pretend this stick person can dance. I couldn't up load the video of this women dancing. So use your imagination and make the stick women dance.... It's beautiful women month! And all my girlie friends are beautiful... so here's to you. ( sorry men maybe next month will be for you).



Life is good. This chemo round was a whole lot better. Just a few side effects, but we are working on them.



We are keeping busy with Myles and his lacrosse. I am glad he has something to occupy his time. (Plus we have something to do!)



Thanks to the dinner crew this week you guys are truly amazing: McGillen's, Sieradzki's and the Swiltalski's. We sure do appreciate all that you do. thank you to all the St. Angela Families that helped me through the difficult months. I do believe the road is going to go smoother from now on. I have faith and lots of people praying for me. Thanks to our friends from up north the Steele family that brought over a breakfast dish. It was great!



This week we stayed close to home. I did get out and played Euchre and won!!!!!



New friends and old friends stopped by to check on me. I am so glad we have so many wonderful friends.



I soon will be calling on you guys to take me to my treatments now that they got all the bugs taking care of. Jacqueline did get to be with me on the last round with Matt and his sister Kim. That was a nice surprise. Plus, Linda and Cheryl (teachers from school), had the pleasure of taking me on Friday to remove the "Sh,, Bag". Thanks guys for taking me.

I am asking for my wonderful support people to add Greg (my brother-in-law) to your prayers this week as he is waiting on test results. We are hoping that the cancer has not come back. He has been through a lot. Greg, I know you are cancer free, your truly an amazing person. Please keep up the faith and you will get through this . ( I know it didn't come back because this is my 6 months to be the Queen. You had your year to be the King. So I have got the throne now. So be gone with you!)

Enjoy your week.. I have a class on Monday on how to take of myself during this time. Plus I am going into work to celebrate reading month and find out the winners who raised the most pennies for patients. The winners are going to Olive Garden, I think I will go with them. Hey, Linda schedule it on a Monday or a Tuesday. We also have Lacrosse and we are going to try and watch one of Myles friends Padraic play Rugby on Friday. Oh I forgot to add the dry wall person is coming on Monday. We sure are busy this week....

Thanks for the cards, emails and prayers, they truly help me since I am stuck at home and can't work. I love you all.

Remember to Live, love, laugh..... One day at a time....
Julie

March 31, 2008 Opening Day!

Batter Up!!!!





Getting ready to bat the next round of Chemo!



So go Tigers!!!!!!!

Take Hold of Today

Make this your moment -

your time in the sun,

your chance to do something

that you've never done.

Forget about "should haves"

and "might haves" and "could haves"

Reach out and take hold of today!!

Well Easter came and went. We went to both sides of the family and had good food, good time and good memories. We celebrated Matt's, Paul's, Jodie's and Shawn's birthday. This is the only time Matt's birthday was on Easter day.

March 25th we went to the Schools fund raiser and Big Boys. It was great seeing everyone. The Washington People really worked hard. We just sat and ate. We even won a pie. Matt insisted on giving it my boss Darlene. Enjoy it Dar!!!

March 26th a Mini Round of Chemo. Sheri and Dawn had the pleasure of taking me. Had a rough start but it all turned out ok. We almost have the mini down pat. Thanks guys for being there with me..

March 28th I stopped by work for a few hours to catch up with the students and staff. Boy I was whipped.

That night Jane, Tom, Ross and Jenny helped Matt celebrate his birthday. We went to Tom's Oyster bar for dinner and back here to continue the celebration. This is going to be the longest 6 months being sober for me. They were so funny! We sure did have a good time.

Myles finally returned from AZ! He had a great time. Thanks to the Sieradzki family for taking him with you. Maybe next time I will be able to go and rest and relax.

Saturday we went to see Myles play Lacrosse. The won 4-2. It sure is a rough sport. We sure will be busy with his schedule.

At night we went to Anne's mom's 85th birthday party in Richmond. She looks great!

Thanks to the dinner crew this week: Badali's and the Siladke's.

Enjoy the game go Tigers!!!

Have a great week. The next up date will be after my next Maxi Chemo Round!

Remember to Live, Love, Laugh.....One Day at a Time......

March 22, 2008 Happy Easter!!

Here is another pair of Kick Ass Cancer Boots! (thanks Dawn)

Live today

Cherish your yesterdays,

dream your tomorrows,

but live your todays.

Tomorrow belongs to those

who fully use today.

This comes from the book No Limits But the Sky. (Hallmark special. Thanks Lisa from Washington). More of these great inspirations to come. I just love the book. I just love the basket of goodies you guys keep sending me. Jill I love the angel magnets. You guys are the best!!

I know it has been awhile since my last posting, but I am trying to live a normal life. (HAHAHA).

Dinner thanks go out to the following families: Siladke, the men at the Sieradzki house, (sorry Debbie you were out of town: your boys did good) and the Smilnaks. thanks so much. You don't know how this helps my family out. Gerri I will take a rain check for Lou's Pizza.. You guys are the best... Thanks Cindy for organizing it...

Well the week-end was good with friends and family keeping me busy-- visiting and playing cards. ( Jane I don't think our husbands will ever be the fastest at cards-- but we do love them).

St. Patrick's Day was different we usually go to the Elk's Club, but their cook left. So the cooks came to my house. The family came here to Corn beef and Cabbage, Shepard's pie and dessert. Thanks to Jenny and Dawn for helping to make my first St. Patrick's feast. It is great making memories. Sorry Jac you couldn't be here.

Thanks to Barb Butler who took me to breakfast and shopping (for Matt's Birthday gift.. boy did I get a deal). Thanks to Barb, Teresa, Judi and Shelly for my new angel of Healing. She is so beautiful. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends.

March 19th... Round 2 of Chemo.... didn't happen... white blood count too low... just got a mini chemo treatment instead. Still took a lot out me but, it wasn't as bad. (Mom was here on Spring Break with me.) So the next big treatment will be April 2nd. So I will wear the same boots again. Cindy is on a mission to find me size 7 white gogo boots. Those will be for Round 3 since I can wear white after Easter. Beautiful flowers came to brighten my day thanks to Sheri's mom,dad and her sisters family. They sure did help.

Good Friday was spent getting my doctors note to my work. Doc can't tell me when I can go back yet. I am getting pretty restless. Shopping and going out to eat is getting a little boring for me.. plus costly... Matt is trying to find me jobs around the house to keep me busy instead.

Jane was my chauffeur... to get my nails and feet done... just in case I could of wore sandals this Easter. What a joke that was. Because of the snow Jac didn't make it home to dye Easter eggs. So Dawn, Ashlee, Paul, Anne, Lola, Greg and Myles did the eggs. (My mom was missing in action!). New traditions and new memories that is what life is all about. Played a new game Racko.. of course Jenny is the Queen.. Anne, Paul and I did try, but she was just too good for us.

Thanks to my Bunco Gals for keeping me entertained this week. I sure do love playing even though I don't win .

Myles leaves for Arizona on Easter for a few days of rest and relaxation. He sure does deserve it.. Yes, he did make the Lacrosse Team. Thanks to Coach Jolly for being understanding and letting him have the week off. Myles knows he has to work hard if he is going to get any play time. (I promise to post the times for his games next week).

I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and remember to make memories with your family. Cherish your time together. I am truly, truly blessed by you all. Thanks so much for being there for me. I will post again after my next mini-treatment on Wednesday.

Remember to Live,Love, Laugh........ One Day at a Time.....

P.S.

{Just to let you know one of Matt's friends, Grace, asked me to walk in the Walk of Life in May as a person fighting Cancer. There is different ways we can help her... purchase a star for a $1, and or purchase a bag that will line the track with a candle in for $10 the bag can be decorated with a survivors name or someone who passed from cancer or someone fighting cancer. Let me know if you are interested. If you want more info I can give you Grace's email address. If I raise $100 I can get a tee shirt to wear during the event. }

March 13, 2008 ADJUSTING!!!

Good morning to all.....
The message for the day:

Laugh with your happy

friends when

they're happy... (Romans 12:15)

A week has gone by and I am doing pretty good. I have just finished Round 1 of my Chemo treatment. Dawn, Jane and I went to Weisbergs on Wednesday. The 3 hour treatment lasted 6 hours. Oh what fun. My body is having a hard time with the BENADRYL, that they need to give me for the side effects from the Chemo. Drugs and me just don't mix! Hopefully we found out that I need the BENADRYL to be spread out longer. They can't give me the dose in a 5 minute interval. So now I am just dealing with the side effects and trying to get a handle on them. I look lie a 14 year old girl going through puberty. What a side effect. Plus some other side effects that I won't bore you with.

Other than that life is pretty much the same. Matt is trying to get the roof ready for the roofers who come out on Monday. He is trying to clean up his attic. He sure does have a lot of stuff, but we all new that. Also, my brother and Matt are trying to get the half bath toilet up and running. Plumbing problems. YUCK!!!!! Soon and very soon the door wall should be fixed. I feel so bad for Matt. When it rains it pours.

Jac is doing fine she had to work her whole spring break. She is saving for that study abroad to Italy this May. Life is tough!!(HAHAH). She did manage to come home for the week-end. She was a great help. Her next time home will be Easter week-end.

Myles is plugging along with the Lacrosse try outs. He has two scrimmages this week-end. Too far for me to go, but Matt will go and tell me how he did. He should know by Monday if he makes the team. Were all praying that him and his friends all make the team. That would be SWEET!

Matt did get out and see his favorite artist Robert Cray. Thanks to Jenny and Ross for taking him. They had a great time. While he was out we had Craft Night, you all know how much I enjoying crafts. Ashlee, Dawn, Jane and Jac sat and used Ashlee's Cricket and made cards. It is a pretty cool machine, but too much work for me. I played Wii with Myles.

I want to say THANK-YOU to Laura, Jenny's sister-in-law, she came over a gave me two acupuncture treatments this week-end. I sure wish she lived closer. Connecticut is too far for me to go. They really seemed to help.

Dinner thanks goes to the Peters and the Berlins. I do appreciate all that you guys do for us. The meals have been a big help.

Round 2 of Chemo is March 19th, which is the big one, and March 26th. So I will up date after the 19th. Pray that this round isn't as rough as the first one. Look for a picture of my second pair of "Kick Ass Cancer Boots" in the next blog. They are just too cute.
As the saying goes:

Life isn't about how

to survive the storm,

But how to dance

in the Rain!

I am sure ready to dance in the rain with my new boots. I just might have to get something new for each round of Chemo. I sure do like boots and clothes. I think I deserve them.

Well that is all for now so remember....

Live, Love and Laugh... One Day at a Time!!!

Love ya,

Julie

Friday, March 7, 2008 Hanging in there!

Just a few Laugh-out-loud lines from author Barbara Johnson:

Frogs have it easy; they can eat what bugs them.

Smile! It kills time between disasters.

Life is like an ice cream cone: Just when you
think you've got it licked, it drips
all over you!



Just to recap my week...

Monday I spent with my friends Sally and Jane we had a nice lunch and visit. Thanks guys for being there for me.

Tuesday, The BIG BAD CHEMO DAY! Yes I wore my Kick Ass Cancer Boots! Well it didn't go as I planned. We arrived by 8:00 and by 9:30 I was hooked up and practically out of it the whole time I was there. Yes, I got sick and it sucked. Matt and my parents were there and they know more what went on that day then me. All I can tell you is that I received a lot of medicine throughout the day. We finally left around 4:00 p.m. I came home and went straight to bed. I missed the wonderful meal brought by Marianne Licata, it was from my favorite place Netties. My family truly enjoyed it thanks Marianne. Hopefully, they left me some.

Wednesday, I spent the whole day in bed. I didn't do much of anything. Thank GOD for my parents. They were here for me. The Cesul family came to visit and brought dinner. What a relief for my family. but once again I couldn't eat. I sure am missing a lot of my favorite foods.

Thursday, thanks to Jane she came over and washed my hair, so I could go to Weisberg Center to have my pump removed. My parents took me there and finally my pump was removed. Everything went smoothly. My parents took off back home again. Matt brought me home just in time to watch General Hospital. ( one of my highlights of my day lately). Dinner was provided by the whole Deck family! Once again my family enjoyed the great meal. I was in bed feeling sick.
My brother and his wife came by and we watched American Idol. Another one of my favorite shows. Still a little queasy.

I received a wonderful package in the mail from Marilyn ( my former boss). It is a cute, pink and jeweled picture frame with my saying on it Live, Love Laugh. Now I need to figure what pictured to put in it.

Today is Friday and I don't have any plans. Jac and Myles are both home so maybe we will just sit around and play games and watch movies. I do enjoy my kids home. I am feeling a lot better. So we will see how today goes.

Remember to Live, Love and Laugh....One Day at a Time.

Once again my wonderful St. Angela families have dinners covered for March! You guys are the best!!!! God is really watching over me. Thanks to you all.

March 2, 2008 Getting Ready

Good Day Everyone,

Give a girl the correct
footwear and she can

conquer the world

said Bette Midler.

This saying came from the book If the Shoe Fits..A Treasury for the Shoe Lover. Someone from my school gave it my weekly basket. So thanks to whoever you are. Everyone knows I love my shoes and boots. The ones I have chosen to kick cancer with is these black and white rubber boots. They are just so cute. I will have to find new ones once the weather gets warmer. Hey, St. Angela Families, maybe I will get those white go-go boots I talked about a couple of years ago. (Wouldn't that be funny, walking into Karmanos with those boots on!).

February 28th.... Took my mom and Jenny to see the new place I will be going to Weisberg Center. They agreed it is beautiful. Since I will be there weekly getting treatments and other medicines that I need. I will be needing rides on Wednesdays, So let me know who is available . I am not sure about Fridays yet, I might be able to take myself. We will just wait and see.

That afternoon I drove for the first time.. Let me tell you it was great. I took my mom everywhere I needed to go. I think I wore her out. I did end up coming home and taking a nap. Dinner was delivered by the Richardson's. It was very good. Thank you so much. I was even able to go to the Lacrosse meeting, it was wonderful to see some friends I haven't seen in a while. Keep your fingers crossed for Myles to make the team.

Friday, I was so busy catching up on paper work . It took me all morning. In the evening my girlfriend Sheri and her husband Mike had the some of the gang over again. I just love seeing my friends. I needed to see them before Tuesday, I needed some extra encouragement. Thanks guys. I love ya all.

Saturday.... My exercise gals came for a visit, Nicole, Angie and Kathy. They brought flowers and cookies. Thanks guys for the great visit and gifts. My dad came to collect my mom to go home. But she will be back on Tuesday for the big day. At night we went with the Greg, Dawn and Ashlee to dinner for their anniversary. It was great to see them, even though they were nice and tanned. I am sooo jealous. My son and Chris and Chelsea drove up to see Jac. Their first of many visits I am sure of it.

Sunday..... Church at St. Lawrence to see my favorite Father.. Bob. I just love how he gives the sermons. I even went at 8:00 a.m. to see him. Breakfast was at my favorite place the Pantry, with Greg and Dawn. Greg loves that place too. The afternoon was spent playing my favorite card game Hand and Foot. Thanks to Sharon, Jenny and Jane for entertaining me all afternoon. We started at 1:00 and ended at 7:00 when the pizza arrived.. thanks to Buddy's pizza.... sure was yummy..

That is all for now. I will write after my Chemo week. As always....

Remember to Live, Love and Laugh.... One Day At A Time.

P.s. Tonight we eat the dinner from the Lemanski's. thanks neighbors.

February 28, 2008 Count Day to Chemo

Hello Dear Friends,

Life is short

Break the rules

Forgive quickly-

Kiss slowly

Love truly

Laugh uncontrollably

and never regret anything

that made you smile.

That is what you all have done, made me smile. I am truly blessed! I will never be able to express how much your love and support has helped me and my family during this crazy journey! The journey is going to get tougher and I know you will be there for me.

Hockey is now over the boys tried hard but fell to defeat on Saturday. Know what will I do. We are hoping that Myles will make the Lacrosse Team. Try outs are next month. Dinner was delivered by the wonderful Gerri. Thank you so much. A couple of visitors also came by on Saturday. Amy (my replacement at school, please stay until I can get back!) Also, Matt's cousin Teresa. Thanks for the visit ladies. Plus Jac came home for a quick visit thanks to her friend Chris!!

Sunday we all went to church and I got to see my ST.Angela family. I love seeing you all! You are the reason I keep coming back. Thanks for all the prayers. The day was spent with my parents and my family. Dinner was delivered by Matt's cousin Liz (she had time before she had to leave for the Czech). Boy and I thought my life was busy. My niece Stephanie came over and gave me and my mom facials. I never had one before. Nice job Stephanie. ( I forgot to give you your birthday gift, please come stop by).

Monday, my wonderful sister sent over her husband Doug to vacuum my house with her Dyson. YES, I am sold. It works wonderful! He could of done a commercial on my house. Thanks so much! I told my sister I am not buying one that she could just come over once a month and clean for me.(HAHAH she said to me)! Maybe she will keep sending Doug over instead! I did make it up to school for the Monday Lunch Club! It was great seeing everyone. I sure do miss you all. I even made a quick visit into my classroom. The students looked great. Tonight I got to cook a meal. My first in a long time. My family actually like it. I know some of you are surprised, but I can cook, I just chose for Matt to do it! At night my mom and dad took a ride over to see my dad's sister (since she can't drive, but she can do everything else)! It was great seeing her. I even got to see my brother and his wife. Thanks guys for keeping me busy!

Tuesday, The day we have been waiting for. The Trip to Karmanos! Again we drove in the snow. Gave blood, saw the doctor and gave more blood. The day for Chemo will begin on March 4th at 8:00 a.m. The doctor said it should take about 7 hours. So we will pack our breakfast, lunch and snacks. That place is soooooo busy. The day is finally coming and I am scared sh.......less. I know, I know that all of you will send your love,prayers and support, but that is how I am feeling. My husband and my mom and dad will be with me. It will be along day.

Enough of that! I ending my evening playing BUNCO with my gals. I had sooo much fun, I even came in second. (Lost first by 1 point). I so enjoy being on the move.

The rest of week looks pretty calm. I hope to update the blog over the week-end. If not after Chemo. Keep the prayers coming.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOES OUT TO MYLES'S FRIEND MIKEY ON FEBRUARY 29TH LEAP DAY! HOW OLD ARE YOU KNOW MIKEY 4YRS. HAVE A GOOD ONE.

Remember to LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH..... ONE DAY AT A TIME!

P.S. I got a new welcome mat with that saying on it from my friend Michelle from St. Angela's. Thanks Michelle. I love it.