Jude and Jett July 2009

Julie posted these to her Facebook page and I just wanted to share them with those of you who don't use Facebook or have Julie on your list of "friends". These are two of the most precious boys I have ever seen! Jett will be 1-year old in just a mere two weeks, and Jude will be 4 the last day of August. They have grown so much this summer!

A Good Read

Taylor and I spent an afternoon at Border's bookstore while she was here. That is one of my favorite activities and while I would love to work at a bookstore, I'd be broke because my paychecks would go for merchandise. Anyway, I digress. I picked up the newest book by one of my favorite authors, Jenn Lancaster, called "Pretty in Plaid". I've also read her other books, "Bitter is the new Black", "Such a pretty Fat", and "Bright Lights, Big Ass". All of these books are hilarious and have made me laugh out loud (just ask Taylor). But my favorite of these is "Bright Lights, Big Ass". I don't know how to describe Jen's writing, but one of my friends who has read BLBA, says that it was like she was talking to me. Jen writes these books about herself and her life, and really takes an honest look at who she is and why she is the way she is. Anyone who is looking for a good read and a great laugh should pick these books up. But especially read "Bright Lights, Big Ass". I highly, highly recommend it.

More Pictures in Boston

Taylor on the train to come home after a long hot day

At North Station in the TD Banknorth Center in Boston

We saw these bronze "statues" at Quincy Market in Fanueil Hall. Taylor was quite surprised when they moved. If you notice the statue in the tri-corner hat, you'll see that he is in different positions in the the two pictures.

Taylor and Carla's Big Adventure

My cousin Steve's daughter, Taylor was here to visit last week while her sister Shelby, was at a writing camp at the University of Maine in Orono. We had a great time just shopping, going to the movies, relaxing at home, amongst other things. On Saturday, she and I took the Amtrak Downeaster to Boston for the day. It was a beautiful day! The sun was shining, it was warm (actually very warm, and we both had a wonderful time. Heat got a bit much for auntie here by the end of the afternoon but we still had fun. We saw lots of things...some of them very, very strange indeed. Unfortunately we couldn't get pictures of the very strange things we saw without someone assaulting us but trust me when I say that some things were definitely WRONG on oh, so many levels. One of the fun things we did was go to the Observation Deck on the 50th floor of the Prudential Center in downtown Boston. Here are a few of the pics that we got from the deck.


The Charles River

Taylor Lane

Fenway Park

The John Hancock building

Taylor on the Observation Deck

Happy 4th of July!

It has been raining here in Maine for about 3 weeks now and it's getting pretty darn depressing. Everything is wet, streams are high and plants etc., are drowning. The lawn hasn't been mowed in about 2 1/2 weeks and I'm beginning to believe that we'll have a moat around the house before too long.

My US results came back yesterday. I'll be having another Ovarian US in 6 weeks to re-evaluate the mass to see if it has grown. Nobody seems to be worried about it so I'm not going to be either.

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July and remember that everyone has a July 4th but only we as Americans have the wonderful reason for the holiday that we have!!

Reflections

Over the past few days America has lost 3 well-known entertainers. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and of course, the legendary, Michael Jackson. Of the 3, I personally liked Ed McMahon the best, simply because I loved the Johnny Carson show and Ed, Johnny, and Doc Severinsen were part of my life from the first night Johnny was on TV.

But, the reflecting I've done has been while I watched the news reels about Farrah Fawcett and her experience with cancer. What a journey she was on! Is it any different than what other cancer patients go through? I don't know. I'm betting some of it is different simply because of the resources available to her because of her social/financial standings. But for the most part, her experiences with the emotions, feeling, and physical effects of treatment were probably pretty much like anyone else. I will admit that as a cancer patient/survivor myself, I was really hoping she would do well. Anyone who has cancer will tell you, you're always a cancer patient, even if you're a survivor. I have been watching with a bit of trepidation the things that she experienced. As a nurse, I'm aware of the disease, some of it's treatments, the sequelae of treatment, etc. But as a patient, I'm thinking of my own mortality. From what I can get from her story and reports, just a few short months ago, she was told that her 5 year chance of survival was over 70%, and that she was "cured". 70%. To a cancer patient, 70% is a lot. A year ago, I was told essentially the same thing. Cured. 5 year survival chance greater than 75%. Makes one think.

This past week I had my 1 year CT scan. Most of it looked good but I had another ovarian US yesterday to evaluate a small mass on my ovary that is new. Then to come home and find out that Farrah had succumbed to this insidious disease made me think. And I'm still thinking. You wouldn't believe all the things that go through your mind. You look in the mirror and you don't look any different. At least until you start treatment. It doesn't show from the outside how there are cells inside you mutating and growing so incredibly fast and out of control. So you continue to watch and think. I've been lucky. I haven't had to be treated with the chemo drugs. Only surgery. I still have my hair. I can still taste things. But, just how much of this is only temporary?

Don't get me wrong--I am thoroughly enjoying life, not sitting here "waiting for the other shoe to drop". I'm working at two jobs I love, pretty much going where and doing what I want, and yes, even looking outside and watching the grass grow. Wouldn't do anything differently, with maybe the exception of going to Disney World. I am enjoying my family who continue to be a source of support and love. But, the happenings of the past few days, have definitely given me pause to stop and think. For all my friends out there--enjoy life and make the best of what you have. We are so much more fortunate than we think.

New Events

While this week didn't quite turn out like we expected and we had to cancel our trip to Boston, we are still managing to enjoy life. No matter what, life is still good. As every one knows I had my 1 year CT scan this week. I recieved my final report on it on Friday and while most of it came back excellently there is a "spot" by my left ovary that wasn't on last years CT, and didn't show up on my US in October, so I will have to have that evaluated again. Will have to have it done by US because CT really does not detect ovarian malformations very well. Am not worried since this could actually be a glitch in the CT pics themselves.

Earlier in the week I got into something that I'm allergic to and turned into one huge "hive". We have narrowed it down to some possibilities such as CT contrast, peanut butter, and strawberries. Ended up doing 2 stints in the ER at Mercy Hospital to receive IV steroids, Benadryl, Atarax...etc. What a mess! I actually looked like a cross between the Michelin Man and a burn victim. The last visit and injections on Saturday seemed to have helped and while some of the hives are still there, the burning, itching, and the swelling is going away. I can open my eyes now and my hands aren't 3 times their normal size anymore. Needless to say, I'm going to end up having a work up of some sort for that. What a week!

The good parts about all this: Art is home for a few days, he's resting and the stress of caring for his mother is a bit less, the boys were able to have their get together with their friends last night as they planned, the hives were caught early enough before my airway could fully swell, and Adam was around to do what needed to be done for me on Wednesday night. God does watch over us all.

Happy Birthday to Me!

This morning I had my one year follow-up nose to knees CT scan. Since it's now almost 6 hours later, and no one has called to tell me there is an alien living inside me, I am going to presume that the old saying "no news is good news" is holding true. Last year when I found out I had cancer, I was not even home from having the CT scan and there was a message waiting for me to call my physician. This year it looks like I dodged a bullet but we'll keep our fingers crossed until we get the official word.

Enjoying the summer

Summer Daze

Triple trouble

Here I come!

Jude and Jett

Jude and his pool

A new bike!

Jett gets the prize--a frog!

In the pool we go

Jett at about 9 months

One of the joys of our long life together has been having not only our own boys but being able to enjoy their friends and their friends children as well. Alex and Julie have very graciously and lovingly allowed us to be part of their lives and their children's lives over the past few years and we so appreciate it.

Since Art's been taking care of the elderly and currently spends his time in Millinocket with his mother, we haven't been able to get together with our "extended" family of friends as often as we'd like. We both miss this alot. We've also missed most of Jett's first year. Unlike with Jude, we haven't been able to be as much a part of life as we'd have liked. Here are some pics that Julie sent out the other day to her friends on Facebook. Aren't these two of the most precious little guys?

Roses

Anyone that knows me, knows that flowers make my heart go "zing"! Especially roses....the hubs, God Bless him, brought me red roses for our anniversary.

35 Years

This past Monday, Art and I celebrated 35 years of marriage. The few hours we were able to spend together were a lot of fun and much needed. After some roses, a nice lunch, and walk in the Old Port, and then yes, a trip to one of our "together places", BJ's, the day ended much too quickly and he had to make the drive back north. After he left I was talking to one of my friends on "Facebook", who just happened to also be one of my bridesmaids and we were reminiscing about all the fun we had that year that Art and I were dating. It really doesn't seem like 35 years ago. We have been through so much in 35 years, and have still managed to come out on top. When I think back over the 35 years I'm reminded of a movie that Mary Steenburgen and Steve Martin were in called "Parenthood" and I remember what the Grandma in the movie had to say and it went something to the effect that when she was a little girl and was taken to the amusement park, there were rides such as the smooth, predictable merry-go-round but then there were "thrill rides" such as the roller-coaster. Life is much like that and we make choices as to what we want to ride. Some people choose the nice, smooth merry-go-round, wanting to go through life not mussing up their hair. Others choose the roller coaster and hang on for dear life, taking all the twists, turns, and loops in stride and try to enjoy the ride without puking. I think we chose the roller coaster. While we started out on the flat, smooth, part like everyone else we ended up with many loops, twists, turns, and corkscrews being thrown in along the way. As we've gone through the years, we've come close to flying off or puking but we managed to hold on and are better for it. God and life have treated us well and I wouldn't change anything at all.
Let's see if I can remember everyone....from L>R: Margie Appleby King, Julie Seile Michaud, Jody DiFrederico, Wendy Lane-Doiron, Me, Allison Billingham, Stephanie Peckham Mooney, Jane Boutaugh Frost, and Diane Birt Brown.

Steph, me, Art, and Harold (Hippie) Plourde

My Dad and Mom, Me, Art and his mother and father

Carla and Arthur Birt

June 8, 1974

Friends

Adam took this picture of Shelly and I at Fr. James 25th anniversary of his ordination back in February.

Getting ready to eat

Sue

Susan and Karen

Nancy hates having her picture taken but I was able to sneak one in

Gathering At Sue's

Last night we had a get together at Sue's home over in Falmouth. What a fun time! Good food and great friends--it doesn't get much better than that!

Sally

Susan and Sue

Charlotte and Connie--Connie loves being retired

Charlotte and Connie

View of the bay from Sue's living room--what a gorgeous site, even through the fog

Donuts

The Crew

Theresa Lane, Mavis Gardner Martinkovic, Steve Lane, Taylor Lane, and Shelby Lane

Taylor, Mavis, and Short Bus

On Monday (Memorial Day) each year, my cousin Rod and his wife Ada have a sort of birthday/welcome summer celebration at their camp on Ambejejus Lake. Rod makes chocolate donuts (fried in lard of course and very healthy), and family gathers to not only welcome summer but celebrate my Dad's cousin Mavis's birthday. This year Mavis will turn 91 and is still going strong. This was also the first year that I have been home to attend and we had a wonderful time, even though it was a wee bit chilly.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend was a busy weekend for us. I traveled to Millinocket so that we could have my Dad's interment service at the cemetery, and at the same time we buried my Auntie "M". While her real name was Harriett, I called her Auntie "M" because for much of her life she lived in Massachusetts. It was a very nice service and essentially we "killed two birds with one stone". Okay, that was gauche, but you all know me...and that's exactly what we did. I was surprised at the number of people that were there but I guess I shouldn't have been. There were some of Dad's friends that had not been at the funeral because they were in Florida at the time he passsed, and of course the family. Dad's cousins, my cousins on both sides of the family because Auntie "M" was Mom's older sister, and of course my sister and her hubs, as well as the remaining aunts and uncles.

Spent the week after finishing up the cleaning out of their home. I don't know how many contractor bags of trash we moved out of the house but there were a significant number. My sister took a fair amount of "treasures" to sell in a yard sale (I HATE having yard sales), I packed up some for our Christmas Sparkles fair, and some of course we saved. It seems strange that 80 years of life comes down to what is left that can be put in boxes, sold, trashed, or given to Goodwill. While my sister was there helping me sort through stuff, we were able to laugh at many things, marvel at the amount of bric-a-brac collected over 60 years, and we even had a few surprises. When I was alone with Art on Thursday morning, getting ready to come back to Portland, it felt strange to be leaving my childhood home for what might be the last time. So many memories, both good and bad. A bit of nostalgia as I remembered running down the stairs going to our bedrooms, carrying my sister (she was 2- I was 9), falling, and having her look at me and say, "that was fun! Can we do it again?" The back porch, the front porch....the basement seances, Julie and I watching the boys drive up and down the street from the kitchen and of course jumping up to see who it was every 5 minutes. It made for an interesting and thoughtful drive back to Cumberland that day, believe me.

More semester pics

Missy
Paula

Missy

After the final exam

Before the final exam

Semester Pictures

Victoria working hard

Tori

Renee

Okay, where's all the good stuff?

Buddies

Deb Poirier takes her camera everywhere with her during the semester so she can keep a record of what is happening with our class. These pics are of the second semester Freshman class from 1/09 to 5/09. Thanks for sharing, Deb!