Questions For You

Hello-
Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?
My family certainly did :)
A great time is always had by all of us.
I am so very blessed in having
the family I was "born" into
but doubly blessed to have
the family I married into.
I squeezed everyone into a photo,
(and mind you this is with 12 people
who could not make it this year!)



I have started Christmas shopping
a little early (for me) this year.
With Ryan's treatments and check-ups
and unexpected hospitalizations,
I need to be prepared.
Along with shopping,
I went dress shopping for a family wedding
coming up this weekend.
How depressing that was!
Have you ever bought a dress
as a back-up in hopes you'll
find one you really like
instead of the one you just bought
just in case you don't find another dress?
That would be me.
I have also begun the search for the perfect
online Christmas card.
So here are your questions,
if you choose to answer them ;)
In years past, I always bought store-bought cards
and taped a photo of my girls inside.
I am finally going to do it online,
but would like to know...
1) Where did you buy your favorite online photo cards?
And another thing I am doing differently this year,
is we are buying a fake tree for the 1st time.
I am sick of the live trees becoming
a gnarly mess in my living room
5 days after purchasing them.
Also finding the needles late in May
is not a happy holiday reminder for me.
2) Where have you bought your fake Christmas tree?

I made this page late last night:



Yes Virginia, that is a 12x12 page from me!
There is a Santa Claus after all!

Have a great day!
-Jody

Happy Thanksgiving

Ryan is finishing up
her #4 round of chemo tomorrow morning.
That leaves 2 more rounds to go,
10 more days in total.
I just wanted to wish all of you
a very Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday.
I am very thankful this year,
for all the love and support
from our family and friends,
(online and in real life)
we could not have survived without you.
I hope much love, laughter and full bellies
are in everyone's future :)

Love,
Jody

Highs and Lows

Hello again-
It has been a while since I have updated...
Last week was full of highs and lows,
starting on Sunday when Ryan complained of ear pain.
Now for a healthy person,
an earache is one of the worst pains but for Ryan,
who already has a compromised immune system,
an ear infection is nothing to ignore.
After pain pills were prescribed...the pain was still bad.
After visiting the family doctor who prescribed antibiotics,
the pain got worse and she spiked a fever.
A fever over 100.4 is immediate hospitalization.
After driving her to our local hospital's emergency room,
she was taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai hospital,
because her blood counts were extremely low :(
So during Ryan's off week from the hospital,
she spent it in the hospital.
She was so upset, not knowing if she would be able
to make her school's drama production.
This was the low point of her week.
The nurses/doctors did everything
in their power to make it happen,
and after being admitted since Tuesday afternoon,
she was released Friday afternoon,
just 6 hours before her play!
She was amazing in her part,
as were the rest of her castmates,
and after the show was over,
she walked down the school hallway,
to a rousing ovation!
And this of course, was the high of the week!
:*)



We now prepare for chemo round #4 (out of 6)
We both relish these moments at home,
they seem so far from our norm these days.

Having watched Ryan shine in her role onstage,
gave me a little spark of creativity,
and I even scrapped because of it.
As usual, not a lot of product,
just sweet photos that inspired me
of Ryan and her boyfriend, Bobby,
still together almost 4 years later,
through sickness and through health.
I can't help but love how much he loves my girl:



That's all for now,
thank you for checking in.
And as always for your good thoughts
and comments about Ryan.
I read every single one,
usually with a tear rolling down my cheek,
for I have the best blog readers.
Much thanks and love,
Jody

From The Bottom Of My Heart

We are back from the hospital after another 5 day stay.
The moment we enter the hospital,
I feel like I am drowning.
I can't breathe until the moment we are discharged.
This time I did get a 24 hour reprieve on Halloween,
when my husband spent the day with Ryan,
while I went home to trick or treat with Erin.



When I woke up Sunday morning,
I was told there was a package waiting to be opened.
I could not believe my eyes:
(Thanks Jamie for these photos!)




A lovely scrapbook filled to the point of explosion
with inspiring layouts and handmade cards
There was so much thought and caring and love
on these beautiful pages and cards
that I wept while reading each and every one.
Ryan and my family thought every single one was incredible!
All thanks are to my sweet friend Jamie,
who I never would have met if not for this hobby
we both happen to adore.
Jamie, thank you so much for everything...
your emails, your support, but mostly for your friendship.
She has joked in the past that she is my #1 fan,
but she is so very mistaken,
because I am hers!
Thank you so much to all the ladies who contributed
to this amazing gift, from the bottom of my heart.

My entire family is amazed by the outpouring of support
we have received since Ryan's diagnosis.
Delicious homecooked meals have arrived for my family
on our doorstep numerous times.
Cards arrive daily, some homemade, some store bought,
but all with the same sentiment inside.
We are loved.
And we feel it :*)
My husband and myself are very proud people,
we ask for nothing, but the overwhelming kindness
of our friends, family and perfect strangers
is heartwarming to say the least.
Here is just a glimpse of the love
that I could find in a couple of minutes time
all around our home.:



From the wonderful ladies at Write.Click.Scrapbook,
Ryan and I received 2 care packages
full of things we could use while at the hospital
(lotion, toothpaste, earplugs, journals, pens, chocolate)
and things she could use out of the hospital.
(Itunes card, headscarves, a lovely necklace, a cookbook,
gorgeous decorative banner, magnetic memo pad and so much more!)
So unbelievably generous of them all,
thank you again my friends at W.C.S,
from the bottom of my heart.

We have received gas cards, assorted cookie collections,
floral baskets and yummy popcorn bins:



Friends have picked up our other 2 girls,
fed them and kept them overnight.
Things you never think that you will need help with.
I don't think we will ever experience another day
of the same magnitude as the benefit for Ryan
that was held almost 3 weeks ago.
We still talk about that day as being
the biggest joy since her diagnosis.
The only thing we live for these days
is to see this one smile.
And that day she did nothing but.



So once more. thank YOU
for reading about Ryan's battle,
for your comments to us,
for your prayers...
From the bottom of my heart,
Jody