Here are a couple of Alyssa's perfomances. The videos are each about a minute & a half. Most of you will be bored so skip it. It seemed to be the easiest way to share with family!
Aunt Dolly
13 years ago
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Viking Fest
Last weekend was Poulsbo's annual Viking Fest. It's the usual small town festival with rides, food and a very long parade. The adults have discovered that the parade is much better with beverages! This year it was mojitos! Perfect on a warm sunny day! My parents & nephew, Jake, came out to enjoy the fun with us.
The weekend started & ended with Nick's baseball games. His team is having a great year, only losing one game. The first was a blowout on a chilly evening. Grandma & Grandpa loved it. Sunday afternoon we played the only team that beat us. It was a great game which we won. Nicholas had his first triple of the year! Too bad Grandma & Grandpa had gone home that morning!
Alyssa was so excited about Viking Fest this year because she was in the parade. She has been doing Norwegian dancing all year. They performed on the waterfront Friday evening to kick off Viking Fest. She was great! She couldn't wait for the parade. I don't think she realized how far they'd be walking! The little kids are so cute in their bunads!
Of course the rides & carnival games are the best part for the kids! Jake was determined to hang with his older cousin Nick! They went on every spinning ride and begged to waste money on the games! Why do they think winning some dinky stuffed animal is so cool? I just don't get it!
The best part of Viking Fest for me, aside from watching the kids have fun, was running & finishing the 5 mile road race. I managed to run the whole thing and finish in 55 minutes. It felt great! Terry left me in the dust and finished in 43 minutes. He asures me that won't happen when we do the half marathon next month! Nicholas ran the mile race and is ready to beat his time next year. Alyssa finished 1st in the kids dash.
I always look forward to Viking Fest weekend but I'm happy it only happens once a year!
The weekend started & ended with Nick's baseball games. His team is having a great year, only losing one game. The first was a blowout on a chilly evening. Grandma & Grandpa loved it. Sunday afternoon we played the only team that beat us. It was a great game which we won. Nicholas had his first triple of the year! Too bad Grandma & Grandpa had gone home that morning!
Alyssa was so excited about Viking Fest this year because she was in the parade. She has been doing Norwegian dancing all year. They performed on the waterfront Friday evening to kick off Viking Fest. She was great! She couldn't wait for the parade. I don't think she realized how far they'd be walking! The little kids are so cute in their bunads!
Of course the rides & carnival games are the best part for the kids! Jake was determined to hang with his older cousin Nick! They went on every spinning ride and begged to waste money on the games! Why do they think winning some dinky stuffed animal is so cool? I just don't get it!
The best part of Viking Fest for me, aside from watching the kids have fun, was running & finishing the 5 mile road race. I managed to run the whole thing and finish in 55 minutes. It felt great! Terry left me in the dust and finished in 43 minutes. He asures me that won't happen when we do the half marathon next month! Nicholas ran the mile race and is ready to beat his time next year. Alyssa finished 1st in the kids dash.
I always look forward to Viking Fest weekend but I'm happy it only happens once a year!
Friday, May 8, 2009
All Done
I've been done for a week. It feels so good. Sorry it's taken so long to post. I thought we were busy while I was going to radiation but the last week has been crazy. I'm not sure how I had time to have cancer!
Last Thursday was Girls Night Out in Poulsbo. Thanks to Johnene, Kristin, Tarra, Kristen, Angela, Julie & Sherry for taking me out to celebrate. We had a great dinner at Burrata Bistro. It's a great new Italian restaurant in Poulsbo.
Overall I feel pretty good. I managed to get through radiation with only mild side effects. The burns aren't too bad. Everyone keeps telling me I have a good tan. It was a very expensive tanning bed! I have some irritation to my throat & esophagus. It feels like a sore throat until I forget and eat something spicy. I've been told it will take a few weeks to heal, maybe longer if I don't pay attention to what I eat. I'm still tired. Some days I feel great and forget to rest. The next day is really tough. I'm trying to remember to take it easy. I have 10 days until I go back to work. Hopefully I'll be ready!
I'd like to thank all of you for helping us get through the last 5 months. I knew that we had some good friends but I guess I didn't realize how good & how many until I got sick. There is no way I would have been able to do this without help. I've ben complemented on how well I dealt with all of this. I would have been a mess without all of the support from family & friends. Terry & I are extremely fortunate to have all of you. Thank you seems so inadequate but that's all I can do.
Last Thursday was Girls Night Out in Poulsbo. Thanks to Johnene, Kristin, Tarra, Kristen, Angela, Julie & Sherry for taking me out to celebrate. We had a great dinner at Burrata Bistro. It's a great new Italian restaurant in Poulsbo.
Overall I feel pretty good. I managed to get through radiation with only mild side effects. The burns aren't too bad. Everyone keeps telling me I have a good tan. It was a very expensive tanning bed! I have some irritation to my throat & esophagus. It feels like a sore throat until I forget and eat something spicy. I've been told it will take a few weeks to heal, maybe longer if I don't pay attention to what I eat. I'm still tired. Some days I feel great and forget to rest. The next day is really tough. I'm trying to remember to take it easy. I have 10 days until I go back to work. Hopefully I'll be ready!
I'd like to thank all of you for helping us get through the last 5 months. I knew that we had some good friends but I guess I didn't realize how good & how many until I got sick. There is no way I would have been able to do this without help. I've ben complemented on how well I dealt with all of this. I would have been a mess without all of the support from family & friends. Terry & I are extremely fortunate to have all of you. Thank you seems so inadequate but that's all I can do.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
April Fool's
Things have been a little hectic at our house in the past few weeks. Last Wednesday, April Fools Day, we surprised the kids with a trip to Phoenix. They were really excited when we woke them to break the news. Then they remembered what day it was. Terry & I had to convince them that we really were going. I don't think they were sure until we actually got on the plane.
The trip was a blast. We went to the last M's spring training game. It was pretty cool. The kids managed to get a few autographs. Alyssa got Griffey's, not sure she really understands how cool that is though. We spent the rest of the trip sitting by the pool. It was sunny and hot every day, absolutely perfect! We stayed at Squaw Peaks Resort. I strongly recommend it if you have kids. Floating down the lazy river with a maragrita was my favorite part. The kids loved all of the fun activities they had at the pool. Nicholas won the water slide races twice and Alyssa won the cannon ball contest for the smallest splash!
It was the break that we needed. It was nice to reconnect as a family. A great way to relax before starting radiation.
I was supposed to start this week but now I'm not sure. I have my next planning appointment on Monday. Apparently the first plan was going to cause too much lung damage so it is taking longer to figure it out. I'm all for having the least amount of lung damage possible!!!! Terry & I signed up for the Seattle Rock n Roll half marathon at the end of June. Now I might have an excuse for walking!
We also started baseball games this week. With both kids playing and Terry coaching T ball, things are pretty busy. Nicholas' first game was Monday. He's playing triple A, which is kid pitch. It was a good game with our team winning. Nicholas had 2 doubles and then was called out looking by his own Dad! Terry had to fill in as umpire. Nicholas didn't seem to mind but I thought he should have walked him.
Alyssa's had her first T ball game last night. What a riot! It is so much fun to watch. Terry is coaching 14 little kids! He has so much more patience than I ever will. I'm pretty sure Alyssa is only playing because we bought her pink glove and bat! She had fun and thinks she hit a home run. The last batter in each inning runs all the way around the bases!
I hope to add a few pictures when I get my camera downloaded. As much as I wanted to get going with radiation, it's nice to have a few more days of feeling good. I still have some fatigue but otherwise feel great.
The trip was a blast. We went to the last M's spring training game. It was pretty cool. The kids managed to get a few autographs. Alyssa got Griffey's, not sure she really understands how cool that is though. We spent the rest of the trip sitting by the pool. It was sunny and hot every day, absolutely perfect! We stayed at Squaw Peaks Resort. I strongly recommend it if you have kids. Floating down the lazy river with a maragrita was my favorite part. The kids loved all of the fun activities they had at the pool. Nicholas won the water slide races twice and Alyssa won the cannon ball contest for the smallest splash!
It was the break that we needed. It was nice to reconnect as a family. A great way to relax before starting radiation.
I was supposed to start this week but now I'm not sure. I have my next planning appointment on Monday. Apparently the first plan was going to cause too much lung damage so it is taking longer to figure it out. I'm all for having the least amount of lung damage possible!!!! Terry & I signed up for the Seattle Rock n Roll half marathon at the end of June. Now I might have an excuse for walking!
We also started baseball games this week. With both kids playing and Terry coaching T ball, things are pretty busy. Nicholas' first game was Monday. He's playing triple A, which is kid pitch. It was a good game with our team winning. Nicholas had 2 doubles and then was called out looking by his own Dad! Terry had to fill in as umpire. Nicholas didn't seem to mind but I thought he should have walked him.
Alyssa's had her first T ball game last night. What a riot! It is so much fun to watch. Terry is coaching 14 little kids! He has so much more patience than I ever will. I'm pretty sure Alyssa is only playing because we bought her pink glove and bat! She had fun and thinks she hit a home run. The last batter in each inning runs all the way around the bases!
I hope to add a few pictures when I get my camera downloaded. As much as I wanted to get going with radiation, it's nice to have a few more days of feeling good. I still have some fatigue but otherwise feel great.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
NO MORE CHEMO!!!!!
This will be short & sweet as we are on our way out to celebrate! My scan was clear. I'm done with chemo!!! My PICC line is out! Today has been awesome! Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers. It means a lot to have so much support.
More to follow...
More to follow...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Going Crazy
Friday I had what will hopefully be my last chemo. Johnene & Kristin came along for moral support and entertainment! We even managed to go out to lunch with Erika to celebrate. At the very least, I've gotten to the point of repeating my scans to check on my progress. That alone seems worth celebrating. My CT/PET scan is scheduled for March 24th. Only one more week to wait. Time is moving very slowly. I know the results will be better than my first one, but as to whether the cancer will be gone, we'll just have to wait & see. I'm hoping to move on to radiation and be done with chemo. Not that I'm really excited about radiation, but at least it will feel like progress.
I am much more tired after this round of chemo. I've been very good about doing nothing this time. My only activity for the last 4 days has been a trip to the grocery store. Never thought that could be so much fun. I'm getting a little crazy and definitely driving Terry there! While the fatigue seems to be worse, the aches & pains are not. I probably shouldn't be complaining because it could be so much worse!
I've got a pedicure planned for the end of the week. Seems like a great way to recover. Hopefully there won't be snow on the ground! My Dad is coming to visit us on Sunday, which we are all looking forward to. Alyssa is probably the most excited, not sure if it's because Grandpa is coming or that he's bringing her first American Girl Doll!
Happy St Patrick's Day to all.
I am much more tired after this round of chemo. I've been very good about doing nothing this time. My only activity for the last 4 days has been a trip to the grocery store. Never thought that could be so much fun. I'm getting a little crazy and definitely driving Terry there! While the fatigue seems to be worse, the aches & pains are not. I probably shouldn't be complaining because it could be so much worse!
I've got a pedicure planned for the end of the week. Seems like a great way to recover. Hopefully there won't be snow on the ground! My Dad is coming to visit us on Sunday, which we are all looking forward to. Alyssa is probably the most excited, not sure if it's because Grandpa is coming or that he's bringing her first American Girl Doll!
Happy St Patrick's Day to all.
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