The Bully

CANCER is the Bully. It has touched my life in many ways, as I am sure it has touched yours.

My first experience with Cancer occured when I was a teenager. My neighbor, and the young boy that I often babysat, was afflicted with Ewing's Sarcoma at the young age of 5. I always believed that Peter, my dear sweet neighbor, would beat this awful disease. I watched as Peter struggled and fought the cancer and all of the treatments for a couple of years. Peter's parents, family, and other loved ones looked on in horror and devestation, but never failed to provide their never-ending love and support for Peter and for each other. In the end, I was proven wrong and Peter succumbed to this evil affliction when I was 16. It was my first experience with death, and it was truly awful.

When I was in college I began to babysit another family, the B's. The B's middle child, Michael, was diagnosed with Luekemia during his pre-school years. Michael fought the good fight for several years and after his bone marrow transplant, I truly believed Michael would survive. Unfortunately he did not. Michael passed away on August 2, 1999. I was 20 years old and death was no easier to deal with the second time around.

You can imagine that I became quite cynical towards cancer. The Bully had taken two of the most precious lives I had encountered. I became to feel as if God was preparing me for something larger in life. I still do not know what He is preparing me for.

When I was pregnant with Devin my maternal grandfather passed away on February 14, 2006. He had suffered for a couple of years: penile cancer followed by cancer spreading into his lymphnodes until he was to sick to function or continue with life. My Peppere had tried to beat the cancer too, but this bully was too tough for him.

Last year, a coworker of mine passed away after a terribly long and torturous battle against breast caner that eventually spread into many other areas of her body. She was brought to Heaven on December 24, 2007. While many families were celebrating the Goodness and Graciousness of God during the Christmas holiday, Penny's family and friends were mourning their loss.

Along the way, I have known some survivors of cancer; some people who were stronger than the Bully. There is my Aunt Nancy who survived cancer many years ago, my mother's friend Marcia's granddaughter Steph who fought for a long, hard year at the age of 17, before being told she was in remission, the Art Teacher at work who battled breast cancer the year before I met her. There is also my Mother-In-Law, Maggie, who battled breast cancer and survived. Maggie is a healthy energetic woman who has shown the Bully that he will not take everyone, especially her, down.

It is for these reasons and many more that I am choosing to walk in the Care for Cancer Walk on September 28, 2008. I will join my mother in law, father in law, husband, son, and other family and friends in raising money and walking in the face of the Bully.

I will do this because cancer has touched my life in so many ways.
I will do this because patients with cancer deserve the best care.
I will do this because the world needs to find a cure for cancer.

If you care to make a donation and help me in fighting the Bully, please go here.

Update on Devin

Devin is still battling the ear infection. After several days on amoxicillan (sp?) Devin was still having high fevers, not eating well, and ubber crabby. Since this week is my first week back at school, Erick took him to the doctor's again this morning. Erick has been such a sport about caring for Devin on his vacation. He is such a good Daddy! Anyway, the doctor said that there was no improvement in his nasty ear infection and switched up the meds. He should be good as new by Saturday! I hope so anyway, I'd like to be able to do some fun family things this week-end and Devin has a birthday party to attend on Saturday!

On a side note, Devin is now fully addicted to Toy Story, the movie! Oh my goodness! The kid wants to watch this movie all the time! I even borrowed some movies from a friend, and Devin still just wants Toy Story!!!!

My Blogging Award

Thanks to Steph I was given this blog award. As part of this award I complete the following questionnaire and get to choose 7 bloggers who are brilliant!

A. Attached or single? Attached

B. Best friend? Erin

C. Cake or Pie? Cake

D. Day of Choice? Saturday

E. Essential item? Cell phone

F. Favorite color? Purple

G. Gummy bears or worms? worms

H. Hometown? Manchester, NH

I. Indulgence? Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee

J. January or July? July- my birth month and summer vacation!

K. Kids? Devin

L. Life isn't complete without? family and friends

M. Marriage date? 6/26/05

N. Number of brothers and sisters? One brother, Mark

O. Oranges or apples? Apples

P. Phobias? something bad happening to my son

Q. Quotes? Everything happens for a reason (or is that more a cliche?) ALSO Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

R. Reasons to smile? love

S. Season of Choice? Spring

T. Tag seven peeps: In no particular order:

Okay, so its not 7 people, but its close......

Lisa

Sharon

Stacey

Rebecca

U. Unknown fact about me? I was kind of relieved that I ended up having a c-section

V. Vegetable? lately...broccoli

W. Worst habit? checking the computer too often

X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasounds are pretty cool

Y. Your favorite food? seafood, pizza, ice cream

Z. Zodiac sign? Cancer

My Sicky

The Time Line: Late last week Devin started with a runny nose. On Saturday evening I noticed that he was feeling warm. When I checked his temperature he had a 100* temp so I gave him Motrin and brought him home (we had been having a super fun day at my parent's house). By Sunday after nap time his fever was up to 102* and Monday morning (my first day back at school) his temp was up to 103*. I went off to work, to sit in countless meetings and think about my sick boy at home, while Erick brought Devin to the doctor's. The doctor, not his usual, said he had a very pussy and infected right ear. She told Erick that Devin's swimming season was over and gave him antibiotics and ear drops. All this afternoon Devin's temperature never came down from 102-103*, even with the Motrin. At one point Devin was shivering badly so Erick called the doctor's office back to speak with a nurse. The nurse told Erick that we could increase Devin's Motrin dose, but now we have to wait until 10 pm to do so. I just put him to bed wearing only a diaper, with a cool towel on his back, and a 103* fever. :( The plan is that we will go check on him at 10 pm and give him a higher dose of motrin and make sure that he is alright.

My feelings: I hate when Devin is sick and feel so badly for him. I feel so helpless that I can not bring his fever down. I also feel bad that I am not home with him. All summer I have been here and the worst he has had is a stuffy nose. Now he has this ear infection with crazy fevers my first day back at work for a new school year!

Luckily: Erick is on vacation again this week and had planned on being home with Devin anyway. This works out because one of us does not have to miss work and use sick time AND we aren't paying the sitter yet, so no child care costs for services not rendered!

The entertainment: While Devin has been sick, we have been letting him watch more tv/movies than usual. The reason for this is that he has such a high tolerance for pain that he is still trying to run around and play even though his body doesn't really let him. He has to keep coming over to the couch and put his head down. This is why we let watch movies to calm down/relax/rest. His favorite? Toy Story and Toy Story 2 back to back, over and over!!! They are a cute series of movies, the first 2, 3, even 4 times but now...especially after 3 times in one day, its getting a bit old! LOL

Swimming

On Thursday Devin and Erick went swimming in our complex's pool. Devin has really taken to swimming this year. He uses a life jacket, but can pretty much swim on his own other than that. He also LOVES to jump in the pool!

Canobie Lake Park

So we finally picked one of the things from our list to do on our vacation. Last night we met my parents and brother at Canobie Lake Park. The park has been updated and added to a lot since I last went. I was excited about the amount of rides and the shows. The first thing we noticed, however, was how many people were there! The place was jam-packed, which in somewhere like an amusement park, translates to LONG LINES!

Devin was not liking the long lines and luckily there were plenty of us "adults" there to keep him busy and let him roam around while we waited in line.

Here is Erick holding our spot in line. Thanks hun!
I have included this picture of Devin LOVING the water fountain, just for Lisa!
Here is my new favorite picture of Devin, waiting for the Bob the Builder show to start.
Devin, once again, loved the Tea Cups and Tilt-a-Whirl. Sorry, no pics, I was too busy enjoying myself on the rides!

And, here is Devin at the end of the night. We let him get some popcorn (from the gigantic popcorn box stand) to enjoy on our way home (alright, and to keep him awake!).

Trucks

"Look Mommy, Daddy its a parking lot!" exclaims Devin proudly.