"Molecular" Video

Okay, if you can believe it - I am betting that *this* post will be short and sweet.

A new video was introduced to me by way of my support group and I just had to jump on here to share it with you.

The kids talking on here are so cute. I had to watch it a couple times just to hear the little girl try and say "molecular"

Looks like September is turning out to be a busy month!

Kindergartener No More

Today in perfect timing with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month our local Make-A-Wish chapter invited us to Splash Lagoon (an indoor water park) for the evening. The kids really had a blast. Even Nathan-the-scaredy-cat braved the tall water slides! ...and liked it

Josh tired out early though and we did end up leaving an hour early, but the rest of the kids agreed they all had fun and it was plenty of time to transform them all into prunes!

In School News: our kindergartner is a student no more. After his most recent trip to the ER, and after much debate with his teacher and principal we have decided to pull him out and wait until next year. His teacher, is a VERY understanding and wonderful teacher, but she said she noticed that Josh was tiring out very easy. Half way through the days she would allow him to put his head on the desk, and she was willing to do this for the rest of the year... but Jon and I decided since he barely made the cut-off date as it was, and in hopes to prevent any undue illnesses, it probably is best if we wait. Surprisingly, Josh was ecstatic. In fact days before he made a comment that he couldnt wait until he was 6. When we asked him why he replied, 'so I dont have to go to school anymore...' That seemed deja-vu-ish. Did I tell you that before?

We're still working on things at home, but admittedly, as smart as he is, his attention span does need some maturing.

In Awareness Month News: This coming Friday CNN will air a childhood cancer special featuring the video that I wrote about two posts back. This is exciting news! A lot of positive feedback has come from that video already. In the end, we hope our representatives will stand up and take action!

In 'other' news: My mother had a colonoscopy last Friday, in which she had several polyps removed. She should be hearing the results of that within 7-10 days. I know I have come here in the past with prayer-wishes for my mother-in-law and for children that we've never even met, but here I am again. Please pray for a clean biopsy results. Also, I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow to be done on my brain. Gonna see if they can finally fix it - LOL. Just trying to keep things light. Seriously, I have been having trouble with dizziness and uncontrollable muscle twitches over the past month so my doctor ordered it to rule things out. I'm praying they have good music while I'm in the tube and that I'm half as brave as Josh has ever been.

...and with that I will bring this to a close. I came here with a quick update. Well... we all know how that goes. I'll be back again before the end of the month. Next time I will bring details regarding the CNN show. Also, in case some of you live by a Chili's - just a reminder that they are having their annual Create-A-Pepper drive and on Sept 24th - 100% of their proceeds will be donated to St Jude's!

P.S.
GO STEELERS!!!!

Crazy Cancer Mom

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

I dont know how it works, but after such a long reprieve from ER visits now we are on a roll again. Friday I had to take Josh to our local hospital due to fevers. It was just a routine trip, but nothing 6 hours cant cure. After x-rays, blood work, urine cultures, a round of IV antibiotics we were released on good behavior He was on a parole of sorts.... meaning his freedom is dependent on his blood cultures, but I am confident that the fevers stem from funky kindergarten germs. So far so good.

Friday night Jon and two of the girls played in an exhibition game for a Make-A-Wish tournament this weekend. All three teams won. But when Jon went to leave that night he discovered that someone slashed our car's tire. After all we do for the softball league it is disheartening to think that someone would do such a thing - remember - I am now stranded at the hospital with Joshua. Not to mention it is now midnight and Jon has 2 of our kids, plus one straggler with him.

I ended up walking home from the ER, carrying a 40-lb feverish child in the middle of the night. A one point a car full of ignorant-probably-drunk-girls drove by yelling out the window to "go home and put my kid in bed". I burst in tears right there. On top of the slashed tire, I now had to worry about what people thought of me carrying my son halfway across the city in the dead of the night. I was bawling so hard to had to sit down. Right then Joshua said to me, "it's okay mom, I can walk now"

Which of course only made me cry harder.

After our hour-long walk, I was all cried out and now fuming. How dare someone judge me. Not one person even bothered to stop and see if we were okay. Then to think about the car and our so-called softball family.

After a good night's sleep, I've come to the conclusion. Why let one (or two) bad apples spoil the whole bushel - so to speak. This too shall pass and what doesnt break you will only make you stronger.

Okay enough of the cliches. I love my kids and my kids love softball and that's why I do what I do. As tiring as it sometimes is. I love Joshua and I would carry him on my back in a blizzard to Pittsburgh if I had to.

Let me say again. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and in honor of that I am going to try and post every week this month. With some link or another. Most of you know I am part of a Childhood Cancer Support Group. We are a group of parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends who all understand what it is like to hear the that one word that you can never in your life mute again. A friend of mine has started a movement. So far it is in it's beginning stages. She no doubt can get overwhelmed in all her efforts so far. After my night Friday, I was reminded that we cant give up, and want to support her in any way I can. Her purpose is to gain awareness for childhood cancer. Why? For the purpose of future funding and research! I am sure everyone reading this knows what a pink ribbon represents. How many of you have bought a pack of pink Tic Tacs? Cancer aside - who here knows who Jarrod from Subway is? Now... who knows the color of the leukemia ribbon - or the color of the childhood cancer ribbon? And I know there are a lot of crucial causes out there cancer aside: Diabetes, Autism, AIDS... and unfortunately the list is too long.

Alicia's site is sure to raise awareness. She has pledged to PUBLICLY lose 100 pounds in honor of our children and Childhood Cancer Awareness. The more public she goes, the better her chances are of picking up a giant sponsor. Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Subway you-name-it...

Who hasnt seen Kirstie Alley in a Jenny Craig commercial??? Now - could you imagine Kirstie's salary for those commercials going to Childhood Cancer instead?

So here's the site - Crazy Cancer Mom

There are a lot of pages to wade through already, and it will no doubt will take you a few visits to get through all that is written there, but her Blubber Blogs are hilarious, and the Crazy Cancer Mom's Kids page is in it's infant stages, but what she writes on her opening page is so heartfelt. Even if you dont read a word - do one thing - Pass it on. Let's get the word out. She is our next Jarrod!

Josh - the Super Star!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

I had other topics in mind for today's post, but in light of a recent video that has been released featuring, in small part, Joshua, I decided to focus today's blog on awareness.
According to the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, as recently as thirty years ago, few children with cancer survived, but now almost 75% can look forward to being cured.

However, treatments can come at a high price.

While there are, of course, immediate effects, there are also late effects including learning disabilities, secondary cancers, deteriorating bones, collapsing joints, loss of fertility, heart damage and post traumatic stress disorders in the survivors and their family.

In the video you will see some statistics, and feel the purpose of this campaign. It speaks of 400 children in a year's time that wont be placed on a trial due to lack of funding.

Joshua is one of them.

In fact, just recently there has been debate about Joshua's protocol not being as effective as others. Not something a mother wants to hear. Only time will tell. And for a parent of a child with cancer - time is everything!