Climb to Conquer Cancer 2010

When my granddaughter was barely four years old, she was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This is a bit of a summary of the disease. ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that the body uses to fight infections. In ALL, the bone marrow makes lots of unformed cells called blasts that normally would develop into lymphocytes. However, the blasts are abnormal. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

Needless to say our family was devastated with this news. I won’t go into all the specifics, but about 8 weeks after the diagnosis, Butterfly was in remission and after another two years of chemo and treatment she is now cancer free. I may be wrong on all the specifics, but looking back, the whole thing was a blur and I just operated every day making life good for both Cinderella and Butterfly.

Last year my daughter, Cinderella and Butterfly participated in the Climb to Conquer Cancer 2009. This year they participated again. So here are some great pics of them climbing the mountain for a cure.

More Wedding Pics

I just had to post this pic. It is Corvette giving away our daughter. No more words are needed.

Wordless Wednesday – Cinderella’s Wedding

The Wedding

Sorry I have not updated sooner. I have been busy taking care of Butterfly and getting her to and from school while Cinderella is on her honeymoon.

The wedding was awesome. Everyone looked great and Butterfly was a mini-me of Cinderella. And Cinderella was just that. The ceremony was perfect and the reception was so much fun. I enjoyed dancing with Corvette and spending time with my family and friends. My parents were the longest married couple there. 62 years and counting. My mother gave a wonderful speech about marriage and I watched my daughter dance with her father.

There are too many pictures to post here so you can go to my shutterfly page to see them. They are not in the correct order and some were taken by Tango’s uncle so I will have to wait for the professional pictures to see our family picture.

Congratulations Cinderella and Tango, and may you live happily ever after!

Gearing up for the Wedding

Cinderella’s wedding is just 3 days away. Needless to say the excitement level is growing. Everything is coming together just fine and outside of a few things I need to do like packing, I am ready.

The weather forecast for Friday, the day Corvette and I will drive 2 hours to the wedding destination is calling for 70 percent chance of rain. Wonderful. Well, I guess we will just deal with it.

I can’t wait to see Cinderella in her wedding gown walking down the isle. My eyes get wet just thinking about it. My mind is flooded with so many thoughts and memories these days. I remember when she was born. This was before everyone found out the sex of their babies. I already had LCpl Honda. I so wanted to have a girl, but I was convinced it would be another boy. When she came out, Corvette said, “Oh, it’s another boy!” I remember feeling a little disappointed when I heard the Doctor say, “Well if this is a boy that’s the funniest looking penis I have ever seen!” I said, “You mean it’s a girl!” He said, “That right!” And me, I was estatic!

Cinderella has always been a unique girl. Growing up she was my sweet, little and very girly child. She always surprises me like when she was going to start high school. Her brother, who was a year ahead, was on the wrestling team. When we went to his first match, Cinderella turned to me and said, “Mom, I am going to do that next year.” And she did! Just know that this was the boy’s wrestling team too! She managed to get a pretty good record and placed third in a tournament!

She also surprised me after graduation when she came and said she was joining the Army. This was pre-9/11 when people were not joing like they are today. She made it through basic training and we flew to Missouri to watch her graduate. Needless to say it was a very proud moment for Corvette and I. I am also proud to say I have a veteran daughter.

She has had tough times in her life, but I do not want to speak of those today. This wedding is about love and life. I will sit in the pew and watch my little girl marry a most wonderful man. My heart will take yet another beautiful picture! I do not expect any surprises from her on that day, but you never know!

Cinderella, I so love you and I will be the proudest Mother-of-the-Bride ever!

The Booklet

Cinderella’s New Tattoo and Butterfly’s Girly Bedroom

Cinderella got a new tattoo in honor of Lolly Pop Kid. The movie ‘Cars’ was everything to him so of course she got the Lighting McQueen car. Here is a pic of it. The artist drew it freehand and did a nice job. She already has Butterfly’s name tattooed on her back and it is only fitting Lolly is there too. I thought about getting one. I really have no idea what to get. I thought about his initial. Hmm maybe a lollypop with his initial intertwined. I am going to have to think about that one.

I also spoke with Butterfly yesterday and she was kind enough to send me a picture of her room. She told me she rearranged it all by herself and for the most part decorated it too. I love it. It is sooo pink. What little girl would not love this room? I especially love the pink butterfly curtains. Very appropriate if I don’t say so myself!

Also, notice the movie on the TV. Yes, it just happens to be ‘Cars’ and of course there is Lighting McQueen with his big, toothy smile. Just like our Lolly. We know he is still with us and many ways.

BTW, his tree has a brand new orange bloom. I look forward to watching the oranges grow.

Love you big boy. Thanks for sending the love from heaven.

Bachelorette Party Anyone?

With Cinderella getting married early next year I have become interested in different aspects of putting a wedding together. Not that I would want all that work, but looking at all the dresses, gowns, reception areas and such can be quite fun.

Cinderella will be having her bachelorette party in Las Vegas. I am not quite sure where Tango’s bachelor party will be, but I am sure it will be a fun and exciting place. There is such a bevy of ideas and places to do and go. I ran across Redseven. Based in the UK, Redseven arranges Hen parties and Stagg weekends for brides and grooms. What is this you ask? Well Hen parties and Stag weekends are the European equivalent to Bachelorette and Bachelor parties except on a slightly higher scale. Instead of a one-night party, the occasion usually involves a weekend stay.

Redseven even will arrange a Hen party or Stag weekend almost anywhere in the world. The bride and groom and their guests will be treated to the best of hotels, restaurants and other accommodations. Redseven can tailor a party to exactly what the customer is looking for and they offer many different packages. They also can arrange Christmas parties, company parties and extreme sporting parties.

I do not think Cinderella and Tango will be going quite this far. I do think it serves as an interesting idea for bachelorette or bachelor party or as they are called in Europe, Hen parties and Stag weekends.

Sunday Brunch

Yesterday, family and friends came together and we planted Lolly’s tree. The week before, I prayed for cooler weather and that prayer was answered. I was a little worried a major storm might interrupted the planting but that did not happen. The tree was a little bigger than I expected. I have a VW bug. The tree is about 5 feet tall and it actually fit in my car. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. LCpl Honda dug the hole in the yard. Everyone arrived and we feasted on sub sandwiches and potato salad. Grandma M brought a carrot cake. Lolly loved baby carrots. Everyone took turns shoveling dirt into the hole. Then Butterfly and my friend’s daughter, Big Brown Eyes helped Lolly’s dad Tango make a well around the tree. Finally, we made a circle around Lolly’s tree and said a prayer and asked God to bless the tree.

It was a wonderful day.

After the planting, I gave everyone a picture of Lolly’s name in the sand.

I am posting our group picture, although we took many pictures that day. The rest I have chosen to keep private. I am also posting a picture of my dad, Grandpa DingDon, one of Lolly’s namesakes. No recipe today. Yesterday was simple, kind of like a picnic. Everyone knows how to make a picnic. Yes?

We love you sweet boy. Donovan. Our Lolly Pop Kid.

I had to add this drawing, done by Butterfly, Lolly’s sissy.

ps. The drawing was lying on my kitchen table today and my cat decided to walk on it. The blue background was done with pastel chalk. I just spent a whole bunch of time in my bathroom trying to wash the blue color off of my cat’s feet. Fun.

Yea, I think that is all I have to say about that…

I am not ok either

My daughter Cinderella wrote this awhile back because she can hardly bear people asking her if she is ok.

Are you okay?

 A piece of my heart is gone forever, I am not okay.

I may smile, laugh and make jokes, but I am not okay.

The pain in my heart hurts so badly and I am not okay.

It is hard for me to get out of bed everyday, I am not okay.

I am able to function everyday, but I am not okay.

Sometimes I want to end it all and I am not okay.

How can I go through life without him, I am not okay.

I am not the same person I once was, I am not okay.

Some people say I am strong, but that does not mean that I am okay.

I am really weak inside and I am not okay.

I want him back so badly and I am not okay.

I pray to the Lord to give me strength, but I am not okay.

Please stop asking if I am okay.

I am not ok either.

I can not fix anything.

I would if I could.

I can not change anybody.

People do as they choose.

I still want to scream some days.

And I do.

I wish I could go back in time.

But I can not.

I wish for my family to heal.

But I know they never will.

I still have tears everyday.

I am afraid of the day I don’t.

I can not change anything.

No, I am not ok either.