For Kripity

Kripity, Kripity, doc
Sister of mine
Cancer lit up your clock
Giving its sign

Reminding us all
Of life’s preciousness
Scaring us all
Scaring you most

If I could
Will it away
I’d take it away
But what I know best

Is that fear
Brings change
Change for the good
Change for the better

It isn’t easy
To be the medium
Delivering the message
To help others remember

That life isn’t about
Having the newest car
The biggest, newest house
The best designer purse

It isn’t easy
To be the one
Wearing cancer
For all to see

You know life
Comes in those moments
In between
Where

A smile and a giggle
Light up your life
A warm embrace
Pours life into your soul

A quiet moment
Seals up your cracks
And settles into your bones
Allowing your core to emerge

Poignant moments
With the ones you love
Reveal the true meaning
Of your existence

Life is rarely
Easy and carefree
It has hills for climbing
But also for coasting down

We slip and slide
Cry and laugh
Beg and plead
For your returned health

Remember
You are amazing
Resilient, adored
And most of all beautiful

Your strength
Shines from within
Pulling you up
In your darkest moments

Lifting you up
Into the light
So you can take back
Your cancer-free life

I love you.

Cuteness

2010 school pictures...enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy birthday Mom!

I hope your day was wonderful.

Love,
Jen

Grace Playing Ode to Joy

Grace Ode to Joy Violin from Alpha Girls on Vimeo.

Meghan's 1st Attempt at Violin

Megs 1st Violin Playing from Alpha Girls on Vimeo.

Tooth Loss

Grace lost her upper left lateral incisor on Saturday, November 6th.

Trick or Treat 2010

Happy Birthday to Me

School Days 2010

It is time for a long overdue update on the girls, as we recently had parent-teacher conferences.

Grace's teacher reports that she is doing quite well in 3rd grade. Hooray for Gracie! Grace is now reading to learn rather than learning to read. This is more of a challenge for her, but she seems to be embracing that challenge quite nicely. I'm super proud of her ability to express herself in writing. Her English spelling is atrocious, but that is to be expected considering her primary way of being taught is in German. Grace enjoys writing her own stories, drawing maps to find buried treasure, or reading Harry Potter books along with anything Junie B. Jones. She rapidly learns her math, which still amazes me. She loves learning to write in cursive, and is enjoying being a "big kid" at school. Finally, Grace still tends to be a bit more shy than her classmates. She is easily embarrassed by speaking in front of her peers, but overcomes that with some time and patience.

Meghan's teacher tells us that she is advanced with her printing and drawing, which was nice to hear. She is rapidly acting like one of the big kids at school even though she is still tiny for her age, coming in at a whopping 35 pounds. She is doing very well with her spelling words in German, and learning to add and subtract. Reading is rapidly coming to her in much the same way Grace acquired English reading...all by herself. She sometimes gets the words wrong by guessing, but I like that she just goes full steam ahead Meghan-style. Being the true Meghan that she is, we also learned that Meghan has some trouble with patience for others in her class. However, she has infinite patience for herself. LOL We also were not surprised that she is easily distracted by others chatting, although she does not initiate the chatting. Meghan has two best friends, Miana and Sophia. They love to play together at recess. Overall, Meghan is growing up fast, especially chasing after her big sisters.

So, it was a good report all-in-all. Way to go my beautiful daughters! Mommy is so proud of you and your accomplishments.

Vintage Uncle Gary

RIP Uncle Gary

My uncle Gary was called home to Heaven today. :(

Another Tooth Gone

Grace lost her upper right lateral incisor today. She was quite excited, and Meghan was not so happy since her teeth are just a teensy bit wiggly.

Pink is the New Jen

The last two weeks have been rough. One of my dearest sisters, Kristen, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is only 36, and is the proud mama to a 10, 7, 4, and 8-month old. She has just begun her chemo process. And, no, we do not have a family history of breast cancer. Not that it matters anyway. Kristen is still fighting for her life.

It is odd, but I've never been in this position before. You may ask, "What position?"

Well, I've never been the one, who sits on the sidelines watching the nastiness unfold. In the past, I've been the one who nearly died from severe preeclampsia twice, watched my precious fragile babies fend off prematurity, and agonized over the fact that both of my daughters have Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency which brings on liver and lung disease.

Me. I was in the thick of it. I cheated death. My girls cheated death.

Me. I've embraced and immersed myself into the existence I had not planned for myself at the outset.

Me. I've been the one in the fish bowl, where all peer in wondering how and what to do.

Being a supporter on the side lines is an odd place for me to be.

It doesn't quite seem to fit yet. I'm so used to my preeclampisa, prematurity, sensory processing disorder, and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency awareness and advocacy starring roles. How on earth can I integrate another one? And a role where I get to feel powerless to provide any real help.

Gosh to integrate another role...hmmmmmmmmm. This is going to take some time, but I know myself. I'll embrace the pink. Kristen is so worth it, and so is her family.

Hopefully, my perspective on being the patient and dealing with health challenges will help Kristen in some small way.

Gosh, I want to take those cancer cells out of her in some magic way.

Life threw Kristen a curve ball, and I'm going to help her hit it out of the park.

Cancer

I've been going over how to write this.

And over.

And over.

And over.

My sister, Kristen, has breast cancer.

My sister.

My 36-year old sister.

How on earth did this happen?

How?

Why?

It's so not fair.

I'm mad.

http://www.caringbridge.com/visit/kristenkickscancer

Tim is Home from Afghanistan

When you were just a boy of 5
I left to start my adult life
Off to college I went
Before I left, you tugged my sleeve, and said
"You can't go. You're the other mom."
"Sorry Timmy. I'll miss you, but I must go."

Then we reversed roles
Last summer as a man of 24
You journeyed to Afghanistan
To serve your country and your fellow man
Before you left, I hugged you close, and said
"Please be safe, Tim. This is could mean your life."

Now, hallelujah!
You’ve safely left the strife
I celebrate that blessing
But never forget your comrades
Who didn’t come back
Who don’t have their lives

With each day
I know you will find
A little bit of peace
And a different meaning to your life
So please be kind to yourself
And know your fortitude amazes big sis Jen

As you reintegrate
And process all your experiences
Without the filter of war
Remember it is one day at a time
One memory at a time
And ask for help as you need it

I’m one phone call away
Always available to you
Very unlike the hills and mountains
You climbed up and down there
Never forget that I want you to know
How proud I am of you and the man you’ve become

First Day of School

Fun at the Fair