Christmas Sugar Cookie Tradition

I can't remember when this tradition actually started but for a few years now every Christmas Eve day I've been making sugar cookies and the kids with some neighbour kids ice them and decorate them in preparation for Santa. 

I honestly thought it wouldn't happen this year thinking they're all getting too old but boy was I incorrect!  At the beginning of the week I was quickly reminded that the kids were expecting this tradition yet again.  So this morning I had kids aged 10 to 16 sitting around the kitchen table decorating their cookies! 

CP Holiday Train

Pretty much since we've lived in Maple Ridge we've heard of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train but never seem to be organized enough to remember specifics and end up missing the yearly event. Not so this year, maybe because it was on a Saturday instead of the traditional Friday night. Whatever the case we made it this year!!

Waiting.....

Waiting.....

Waiting...

It's Coming!!

Arriving!!

Beautiful!!

Awesome!!

How exciting!!

So the kids and I made a perishable donation for our local food bank and waited for the train.  Honestly, I'm pretty sure I was WAY more excited about this adventure then the kids.  Being newbies we weren't really sure what happens and therefore didn't stand in the right location for the show, etc.  Instead we just watched and admired the train with all its holiday decorations.  Next year we'll go with a plan!!

LOVE the opportunities we have to get involved and help our community out no matter how big or small they may be.  Awesome teaching tools for our whole family.

Sibling Friendship

I had to take this shot (not the greatest via my iPod Touch), something they've always loved doing during holidays is having sleepovers taking turns as to who's room will be hosting the event - this particular one was Eli's room!  

Getting too big for two in a single bed

I LOVE how well my children get along.  They have a beautiful friendship that I hope stays with them their whole lives.

Energized

Today we met up with the cousins at The Great Escape where all the kids could run around like wild beasts!!

The lava slide was one of many fun apparatuses to play on!

Christmas Tradition With a Twist

In the past you've seen posts of our family decorating a gingerbread house or gingerbread train (always a kit).  A fun family Christmas tradition enjoyed by all of us. 

I can't remember where or what we were reading but Les saw a rice krispy house that instantly made him say, "We should do this!"  So no kit to follow by (this makes me panic) we created......

Les was the carver and assembler

Probably what we all agree as being the best thing about our Christmas rice krispy house is that its way yummier to eat then the store bought gingerbread kits!  We're thinking this just might be the new tradition to our tradition!!

1460 Days = 4 Years Cancer Free?

I have to admit this has been a tough one this year.  Maybe seems trivial to some but for me I question whether I can still celebrate a 4th year of breast cancer freedom even though I've just been diagnosed with another cancer. 

My breast cancer check ups are every six months for 5 years because they consider recurrence more likely to appear within the first five years of being diagnosed.  Endometrial cancer check ups are every 4 months for 3 years (at least to date that's what I've been told this could change).  For me these check ups were so close to being completed but looks like I've just been given an extension.

Don't get me wrong I'm grateful for much!  There is just a little bit of an underlying sadness I'm not quite able to shake - give me some time and I will.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

My birthday cheesecake!

I guess I'm officially 39 and holding?!?  Not really but it just sounded like the thing to say!

Never one to whine or cry over getting another year older but this year my emotions are tender, my heart is full and all the birthday wishes meant more then any of you will ever know.

A relaxing day with my beautiful family, a Christmas production shared with some amazing women, a hot chocolate and late night car chat with a couple girlfriends filled with tears and laughter and a package from a dear friend that put the biggest smile on my face.  Truly spoiled and blessed.  Thank you!  Now I'm looking forward to my hot date tonight with one lucky guy!!

Finding Out Not as Close to Cancer Freedom as Thought is Harsh

November 24th Les and I went to see my gynecologist for my 2 week follow up appointment.  As you know from a previous post we were waiting for a pathology report on my uterus.  Something that really wasn't a concern to my doctor considering I am ONLY 38 years old.  Well, the pure shock he was willing to show informed us the results were a concern.  The results came back telling us I have Endometrial Cancer. How VERY grateful I am that I booked this appointment on a day Les could come. I couldn't have done another one of those appointments on my own.

It truly was a surreal moment.  All I could think was REALLY I'm 38 years old and have already had breast cancer now this but at the same time I wasn't completely surprised (don't get me wrong there has been many tears since that moment).  The doctor was very grateful that he didn't continue to push the direction he wanted to go with the medical condition and grateful that I didn't back down once I knew what I knew needed to be done (that could have become a whole different story which we're not going to think about).  I knew something was wrong with my body. I just didn't know what.  Now we do.

Admittedly we left that appointment shell shocked with lots of unanswered questions and with a to do list of x-rays and blood work.  At this point we don't know the stage or grade but have asked to pick up a copy of the pathology report.  We don't know if the ovaries need to be removed (cancer agency will make that decision), what or if treatment will need to be done, whether I'll need to go to the cancer agency and whether it's a secondary cancer or breast cancer metastasis .  The three things we do know is that a year ago when I started having issues a biopsy of the uterus was taken and the results came back negative, the tumor is gone (the hysterectomy took care of that) and that I'll be seeing my gynecologist every 4 months for the next three years (I still have one more year left of seeing my family doctor every 6 months for breast cancer).

What's even harder then finding out you've got cancer again?  Having to tell family and friends.  This has definitely been harder then the first time (even though technically we think it's gone which is very good).  Once okay but really a 2nd time?!  Brutal.  I love those close to me so much it's SO hard to be a reason why they emotionally hurt I just want to take that pain away. 

November 29th - Les was able to pick up a copy of the pathology report today.  He tried yesterday but my file wasn't to be found and the doctor was in surgery all day, apparently he's known to take files home with him over the weekend.  Hmmm doctor thinking about me over the weekend is this a good thing or a bad thing!?  Anyway, file still wasn't there today but the secretary was able to have a copy faxed to her.  So.... what we now know via the report.  Uterine cancer more specifically endometrial adenocarcinoma (aka endometrial cancer) stage 1A and grade 1 (out of 3), cervix and fallopian tubes were clean.  Looks like we caught it early!  No mention of breast cancer so at this point we are guessing that this is a whole new cancer.  There are still many unanswered questions yet like what happens to the ovaries, other treatment, etc. and it looks like those questions won't be answered until I see the doctor again on the 22nd, unless we're called in sooner.

December 5th - After much thought we finally made the decision to sit down with the kids and explain what's going on.  I actually think they out of anyone were the easiest to talk to.  We've gotten through this once before as a family and we know we can do it again.

December 6th - Have been informed I have an invitation appointment for January 10th at the BC Cancer Agency. 

I LOVE This Guy!

It Isn't But Let's Just Say It Is

Eli's explanation to a friends parent, "My mom had to have surgery and it has nothing to do with cancer.  She had to have it because of women issues but I don't want to talk about it, let's just say its cancer even though it isn't."

**note** at this point Eli wasn't aware of the medical findings from surgery

D.A.R.E. to Beat Drugs & Violence

Eli receiving his D.A.R.E. Certificate

Hello every one my name is Eli I am going to tell you how to be drug free and to keep you bodies healthy.

First I’ll tell you some things about smoking.  It causes lung disease, has 200 known poisons, goes to all body parts and is illegal less than the age of 18, makes your hair and clothes smell bad. Now for alcohol, it’s very dangerous and causes you to make car crashes and makes you act crazy and you won’t be able to control yourself.

Peer pressure there’s pressure, treason, bullying, friendly, positive, and tempting peer pressure.   Now how to say no to drugs.  Say no giving a reason or a fact changing a subject, repeated recourse or keep saying no use humor, saying stuff randomly to confuse them.

The  D.A.R.E. rules:  Raise your hand - one person speaks at a time,  be positive and respectful a put down can hurt feelings, observe and use the quiet signal, use the words someone I know instead of telling their name when saying a story, answer only the questions that are comfortable to you.

I am going to tell you what dare design making model is: 

Define - describe the problem.

            Assess - What are your choices?

            Respond – Make a choice. Use the facts and information you have gathered.

            Evaluate – Review your decision. Did you make the right choice? 

I felt fine about D.A.R.E. I think it was just okay. That’s how I felt about it.   I hope you like my D.A.R.E. Report. To make wise choices and don’t use drugs.

A Slow Climb

Just got a call from my family doctor.  Hemoglobin (red blood count) is up to 109!!  Her words, "it's slowly climbing up to normalcy."

Wacky Hair Day

Scholastic Book Fair Wacky Hair Day Nov. 18/11

Panic Turned To Yes I Can

Ten and a half years ago my mother-in-law Martie was saying goodbye to us and as she drove away I had nothing but sure panic in me.  How was I going to cope with 2 kids and 1 of me?!!  Not long after I did realize I could do it.

She's helped us many times since then but for the first time that feeling hit me again as we said our goodbyes this morning.  She's spent the last two weeks taking care of us as I recover from yet another surgery but it's time for her to return to her hubby and for me to return to reality. 

I will truly miss her caring ways, she's one amazing lady and I know I have the BEST mother-in-law in the world (too bad for you) and because of her the BEST hubby in the world (again, too bad for you)!  Not enough flowers or thank yous can express my gratitude but sincerely from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU Martie!! 

Now it's time to buck it up and get on with life.

Healing

Surgery was late Tuesday, November 8th evening and recovery is coming along.  I struggled waking up or at least it sure felt like a really long time for the 'fog' to finally be lifted.  Bright and early the morning of the 9th my gynecologist was kind enough to make a quick visit to inform me that surgery had gone well, they might have to give me more blood but needed to check what my levels are at, they took everything they said they would, ovaries looked good so as planned they were able to stay but within the same breath he also proceeded to tell me that he was very alarmed to have found a polyp in my uterus and that it's already been sent away for testing.  Then left and I bawled.

That morning I realized I think for the first time that I have a real fear of cancer coming back.  Had he spoken to me when I was mentally stable (keep in mind surgery had only happened 10 hours ago and I was still in a state of 'heavy fog') it wouldn't have been so dramatic.  We already knew I had at least one fibroid and in all the reading I had done about that polyps had been mentioned too.  Many women deal with polyps and the cancer rate in a polyp found in the uterus is really low but there is still that chance..... I sitll have another week before I find out the results.

Now a week later and the healing is slow but progressing.  The staples were removed yesterday.  I never did need another blood transfusion, however, my levels did drop to just below 100 from surgery and so I've been prescribed iron pills for the next couple months to get my levels back up to where they should be.  Downfall is that the pills make me extremely nasueas and I've rediscovered I don't do nasuea well at all!  We've since switched to a liquid formula which seems to be much easier on my stomach but the nasuea still lingers a bit.

6 to 8 week recovery time please go fast!

A Positive

When I was approximately 10 years of age I was admitted to the Calgary Children's Hospital to have my tonsils and I believe my adenoids taken out.  There are only a couple things I remember about that visit but they are memories that feel like it could have just happened yesterday.  1)  I remember waking up in recovery starring straight at a teenage girl that was topless (I'm pretty sure my eyes went as big as saucers) and she was vomiting and a tube was being shoved down my throat (or so it felt like). 2)  Being in my hospital room sitting up vomiting blood over and over again into a metal dish.  I can still remember the taste and smell of the blood.  Yuck, yuck, yuck!   I threw up enough blood that I had to have a blood transfusion for 1 unit of blood.

Almost 30 years later I found myself not vomiting blood but losing an extreme amount of blood over a short period of time.  Enough to warrant a somewhat emergency total hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix) and salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes).  I had just received my IV and the surgical room was being prepared when my anesthesiologist took one look at the blood work I had had done that day and quickly cancelled surgery.  My hemoglobin levels were sitting at 79.  Apparently they're supposed to be around 125.  Only 4 days prior my levels were sitting at 103 - it was dropping fairly rapidly.  The levels were so low now that should there have been complications I wouldn't have had any excess blood to help me. Overnight hours were spent receiving the 2nd blood transfusion in my life only this time for 3 units of blood.

I don't think I'll ever forget that my blood type is A Positive!

Question of the Day

This morning Eli quietly asked me, "Can surgery be passed on?"

It's hard to comprehend why your mother is going in for surgery when it doesn't look like there is anything wrong with her.  Yes, he knows it has nothing to do with cancer - that was established right away but how do you explain women issues to a 10 year old boy without freaking him out?!  The excitement of finding out Grandma Haddad will be helping us out for the next couple weeks quickly made him think of nothing but pure joy!! 

As exciting as that is he's still a boy that exudes caring, thoughtfulness and sensitivity.  I guess over the last couple of days it was still being processed in the back of his head until this morning when he felt he could ask what he was thinking.  We discussed his question and then he proceeded to offer to do everything for me while I recover.  Eli melts my heart.

So the big question you might have - surgery?!??  This is all very sudden as in booked this past Thursday sudden.  Due to women issues (I don't want to freak you out with details either) I'm needing to go in for a total hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix) and salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes) tomorrow afternoon.  Not really looking forward to the 3 to 4 day hospital visit or the 6 to 8 week recovery process but its what's needed to be done.  For the past few days I continually remind myself in the end it'll make me feel WAY better than how I currently feel and compared to some of the health issues I've had to endure over the last 4 years this will be no problem!

Pictures Forgotten - Oops!

The horrible mother that I am did not get a picture of Adrianna the cat or Eli the werewolf.  Oops!!  I did however get a picture of the pumpkins they carved and designed (all on their own) AND we did roast the pumpkin seeds from said pumpkins with sugar and cinnamon.  Mmmm good!

Eli's Pumpkin

Adrianna's Pumpkin

NO Pivoting

Update on Adrianna since she dislocated her knee for a 2nd time. She had a CT Scan done on her knee September 16th and today we finally got in to see the orthopedic surgeon to get a better idea of what the issue is.  So it seems there are two big underlying issues:

1)  She has extremely loose joints
2)  Her bone hasn't grown properly

The bone issue is that the end of the femur is shaped with two balls and for Adrianna one of those balls (for lack of a better word) isn't completely rounded which means the patella (knee cap) doesn't sit perfectly between those two balls which leaves the patella vulnerable to slip out at any given time.  Plus, one of the dislocations or both caused some cartilage (underneath the patella) to chip so she's got some bits floating around but there doesn't seem to be a concern about that.

What happens now?  If she was a couple years older it would mean surgery but she's still growing so we want to avoid surgery as long as possible.  What does this mean?  Absolutely NO pivoting.  How?  Well that's the question yet to solve.  She will always have to do physio exercises to get that area strengthened and to keep it strengthened (that's where the issues of extremely loose joints comes in).  We're still trying to figure out school gym classes as most activities she does in gym means some form of pivoting.  Also, she'll need to teach herself to be very aware of knee placement and turning so that she doesn't pivot and have it dislocate.

Thankfully she loves to bike as that is one of few exercises she can do that she won't have a tendency to pivot and it will strengthen the necessary muscles.

Temporarily Working Locally

Les was asked to work in Maple Ridge for two weeks to help cover holiday relief. It's only been a couple days but boy we'd forgotten just how much we miss him in our late afternoon/early evening routine!!

More House Updates

Back in July we completed the living room renovations and this month we completed the dinning room/kitchen renovations.  We again replaced baseboards and trim and painted but left the same laminate flooring.  Even though we didn't have carpet to rip out and replace with new flooring it felt like a big job.  Probably had something to do with painting around all the cabinetry.  Les as always did an awesome job! 

Kitchen

Dining Room

Next is the front entrance but that's a couple months away!

Out and About

The kids were off, Les was off, the sun was actually shinning so it was the perfect day to head out and enjoy it all!  We decided that North Vancouver was our area of destination, not only could we go shopping at a couple specialty stores in the area but we could also accomplish another one of our 'Things to do in August' list (we got a little side tracked due to Adrianna's dislocation).

A Skinny Pig we saw at the Pet Store

With shopping completed we headed first for Lynn Canyon and it's Ecology Centre. We first checked out the Ecology Centre.........

Could it be a Smurf house??

What animal do you measure up to??

Then it was off to the suspension bridge (far from a priority for Les)!  However, when we got to the bridge it was really busy with tourists so Les decided we should walk one of the trails (anyway to procrastinate).  We started a trail that would lead us to Twin Falls Bridge and loop us around to the other side of the suspension bridge (this would mean he's only have to cross once). 

We quickly realized that with Adrianna still recovering from her knee injury there was no way she'd be able to do the trail so she and Les headed back towards the suspension bridge while Eli and I continued.  Eli and I also quickly learned that we were not equipped for this hike.  No water, plus flip flops and rain boots are not the most ideal!

A much need rest from stairs!

Mother Nature is amazing!

Finally making it to the bridge we found Les and Adrianna waiting for us on our side.  This now meant that poor Les had to endure crossing the bridge one more time!  Why he crossed in the first place is beyond me?!  A guy thing?!??

Holding on for dear life!!

Heading across for the 2nd time!

 Realizing we were all starving from our adventure in Lynn Canyon we headed to the grocery store for some snacks and head up to Cypress Mountain view point to eat and relax. 

It just didn't seem to be Les's day.  First the suspension bridge and then an incident with dog poo at the view point that had me peeing myself laughing.  He was getting kind of mad at me but it was VERY funny, although I'm sure I would have reacted with much more dramatics!
We then headed to Lighthouse Park located just off of Marine Drive in West Vancouver.  75 hectares of virgin temperate rain forest, this park is home to some of the largest Douglas Firs in Vancouver. 

In the future we'll check out both areas again but next time prepared for hiking with proper footwear, water, camera (all these pictures taken with ipod), food, etc.

Our Family of Four

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my husband and children. 

It's just one of those days where I absolutely appreciate all that they teach me and the time that we have together.  Whether we're shopping together, working on chores together, cooking together, doing homework together, playing together, laughing together, yelling together, crying together, etc. I appreciate it all!  We may not always be the happiest family and may not always express ourselves in the best way but for the most part we show and express that we care for each and that means more then anything in the world to me!

I LOVE my family of 4

The New School Year Is In Full Swing



Eli's Project - Video Games (had to pick what interests him)

The kids 2011-2012 school year has started and boy what a kick off it has been!  We've had projects, tests, title pages, artwork completed and handed in as well as presentations ready to give.  It's only the 2nd week of school!! 

Adrianna is in grade 7, her last year of elementary school - yipes is all I can say!!  I CAN'T believe she's that old already.  My sweet, sweet girl.  I'm not ready for all this growing up stuff is there anyway it can be slowed down?

Eli is in grade 5, full of energy and ready to jump in with both feet.  I just keep asking myself how is it that time goes by so fast? 

Service for the Community

Well after months and months of talking, planning, organizing, etc. the day arrived!

What a fantastic couple hours this morning it was! Les was the driver while Adrianna, Eli, my girlfriend Cassandra, her daughter Savannah and myself walked around the same route we walked 6 days ago only this time to pick up the filled grocery bags of food for our local food bank. Then it was off to the church to drop off all the bags and help unload the continual stream of filled cars.  What an eye opener to see just how generous the community has been. Bags upon bags upon bags of food weighed, separated, loaded into banana boxes, loaded onto trucks and delivered directly to our local food bank.

THANK YOU to all those that donated it touched our hearts to see how willing people were to help out the less fortunate within our own community.

**UPDATE**The results are in! 153, 960 addresses visited, 14,752 hours of volunteer time, 247, 605 pounds of food collected, $672, 852 value of support raised! Thank you SO much everyone! What an amazing job!