Valentine Make and Take Night Out

When James was born I joined a new moms group through a local organization in Oak Park called Parethesis.  From that initial 6 week group, we formed a weekly playgroup and added to our group over the years.  This group was supportive and welcoming, and made that first year (and beyond) of parenthood sane.  We are a group that has already proven that we will support each other no matter what, and our bond is lifelong.  The women from that group, have banded together to create the following event in Oak Park.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend as we have a family wedding that evening, but I thank them for their support.  I know it will be a great time! Here is the info....

Please join us!!! I am hosting a Valentine “Make & Take” (with several super friends) on February 12th from 7 to 9 pm to benefit Kari Harris, a wonderful, courageous person and mother of 2 who is fighting stage 3 cancer. Everyone will make 3 beautiful items to take home: a decorated picture frame, a pendant necklace, and a Valentines Day Card. You choose the styles: shabby chic, urban, romantic, modern, or eclectic. These will make wonderful gifts for family and friends!!! Also, Susanne Johnson, a friend of Kari’s and an Arbonne Independent Consultant will be present. Susanne will donate her profits from the sale of Arbonne products during the event to Kari. For those who cannot attend the event, but are interested in Arbonne’s products, you may visit http://www.spatreats2u.myarbonne.com. Please register for the Valentine “Make & Take” by emailing Jocelyne at jadkins10@earthlink.net and I will send you my address. The event will take place in my home and the fee is $35, to be applied deposited into Kari’s fundraising bank account at Community Bank (minus the cost of supplies for the make & takes). Your attendance automatically includes you in 3 raffles!!! The evening promises to be filled with fun, treats, and friendship. If you cannot attend, but would like to donate any amount, I will send you my address and you may send a check made out to “Team 4 Harris”. I do hope to see you on the 12th of February!!!

James and the Giant Gingerbread

Mama Diane and Papa Bede bought James a TJ's decorate your own gingerbread man for Christmas.  What a great activity for half time of the Bears Packers game!  I present to you, the Gingerbread Man. 
Run run run as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!

                                                                 the finished product....

Hair!!!!!

My hair is long enough (haha) that I feel that it is ok to go out in publice without my scarf.  Here is some pictures.  Not sure on the color yet... what do you think?

behind....

I am so behind on my postings.  I have to catch up and get Jay to get more pictures posted. 

Last week, January 13th, Jay took me to chemo.  I am glad he got the chance to see the day hospital and see the process of a chemo treatment.  It was nice to have him there.  I appreciate him taking the morning off and taking me.  He then brought me home and my mom was there and he went to work. 

Thursday the 13th was my mom's birthday.  I was thinking about her birthday last year and how special it was.  My mom is always doing things for everyone else and many times focusing on my grandparent's anniversary rather than her birthday (my mom was born on her parent's 3rd anniversary).  I wanted to do something special for her and have a day that she could spend with her friends.  So, Audrey and I arranged a surprise, tea at the Drake Hotel downtown.  To make it more special, I invited her two close friends Sue and Joan.  My friend Jen was also in town, so she joined us too.  It was really nice to surprise her and we spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying laughter and friendship.  Here is a picture...

If I would have known what was about to occur and how much I was going to be leaning on her, I would have taken her on a European adventure!  I am very grateful for my mom and all that she has done for me, not just this year, but always,  No matter what it is, I know that she will be there for me.  As I live my life, and grow each year, I become more and more grateful for my parents and what they have done for me. When I started teaching and listening to the 4th graders practice music, I thanked them for putting up with that awful sound of practicing every day!  More seriously, as a parent, I understand the sacrifices they made, the times they put me and my brother first, the things they gave up so we could have, doing the things that we right, but hard.  They gave us knowledge, wisdom, life skills, confidence in ourselves, ability to make our own decisions, the chance to stand on our own two feet, create our own life, yet we always knew we could fall back and rely on them.  We knew they would be there for us, no matter what.  I get that more and more each day.  I am so grateful that I have the ability to thank my mother, and my father, for that gift. 

This journey has taught me that you need to say the things you feel, acknowledge the ones that you cherish, and live in each moment.  Please, learn this from my journey for yourself and apply it to your life.  I think this world would be a better place.   

Day of Fun!

It is the last day before the kids go back to school so I thought it would be fun to take James to Build a Bear for the first time.  Here are some pictures....

At the fluffing station...

Dressing his new Panda Bear

                                                Naming the Panda Bear.  James named him James....

The finished product....

Chemo number ?

I've lost track of the number of chemos- but I do know I have 4 more left!  Audrey, my sister in law took me last week to my treatment, the one between Christmas and New Years.  It was hoppin!  We had to wait almost 2 hours!  yeesh!  BUT, she was great company and I appreciated her taking me on her day off.  We also stopped into the Imaging Center to see what Debbie, the hair stylist, thought of the hair that is coming in.  She was very impressed with how evenly it is coming in.  She thought another few weeks and I would feel comfortable not wearing a hair scarf.  Yeah!  She also said she believes my hair is blonde!  whoot whoot!!!  Here's to growing hair!  So excited! 

Christmas

I was hoping to have some pictures to post with this from Christmas, but they are on Jay's camera and Audrey's camera and I need to get them.  I will post them soon hopefully. 

We had a really nice Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We went to mass at 3pm.  The church was just beautiful and so filled with people that even though we got there 25 minutes early, it was already standing room only!  We ended up sitting behind the alter in seats they reserve for the choir ( I guess..).  The kids were fairly well behaved thanks to some goldfish and the promise of using their flashlights at the end during Silent Night.  After church we went to Jay's parents and saw  his brother and sisters and their spouses, and all of our nephews.  We enjoyed watching them open presents and play.

Christmas morning James and Katie were so excited to see what Santa had brought them.  It is was wonderful to see the magic of the season in their eyes.  It was also touching to me that James was more excited to give us his presents than to open his own.  That makes my heart happy.   We had monkey bread for breakfast (yum!) and then got ready to go to my parents house.  We had such a nice time with my parents, my grandparents and my brother and his wife and my nieces.  We had a nice meal, opened presents, and the kids played nicely.  Katie loved playing the organ and then after she opened the guitar from Rob and Audrey she jammed out the rest of the night.  This kid has a musical future I think!  We had a bit of a scare as my grandfather fell in the house, but after a trip to the ER it was just a concussion and nothing more serious.  Thank God.  The kids are still talking about how great papa fell and bumped his head. 

It was a wonderful Christmas and I am fortunate that I got to spend it with so many wonderful people.  I am also fortunate that the worst chemo was behind me so I could enjoy the holiday and not feel so sick.  It was quite a change from last Christmas and I look forward to next Christmas as by then my journey will be complete and I should be all healed. 

I went to church the following Sunday after Christmas, lot less crowded of course, and I went by myself.  It was so nice to just take in the beauty of the church, it was really decorated so nicely for Christmas.  It was nice to just sit and reflect, and thank God for all the positives he put in my life this year.  Carrying me through this journey, helping me discover the cancer before it spread anywhere else, and opening the hearts of others to be so kind and generous to me and my family.  Not a week has gone by since my diagnosis that someone hasn't done something nice for me.  A meal, a card, a phone call, or a kind note.  I thank you all for your love and support.  The New Year has some hurdles for me to jump over, but the worst is over.  Thank you!