Free At Last; I Am Free At Last!

Yesterday afternoon I had my port taken out. It was a very minor surgery and yet a huge milestone for me. That foreign apparitis in my body was very disturbing for me from the start. Knowing they don't need the port anymore for treatment is the end and my new beginning.

It has been a beautiful summer. I feel like God has made such cool weather and absolutely gorgeous skies just for me. My radiation lasted six and a half weeks and two thirds of the way through it started to burn me to the point of discomfort. Just before the end, my skin peeled off and left nasty open sores that were raw and at times unbearable. Going outside in the sun or in weather over 75 degrees was impossible. Most days this summer hardly made it to 80 degrees and our brick home stays cool so I can open the windows and enjoy all the wonderful sounds of nature. Well, except for the rooster next door to us that likes to crow between 2:00 and 4:00 AM.

Larry and I were able to get away thanks to Tom and Emily. They rented an awesome bungelo in Northwest Michigan. The resort site was tranquil and filled with english gardens, streams, and water fountains outside our bedroom window. The trip away really did me good, I was able to spend time with the girls, (Evelyn, Sophie and Kathryn), in a way I was not able to do before. Just to get away from the "cancer routine" and boredom of home was overdue.

Sometimes it is hard to fight depression that comes along with the fatigue of radiation, but with plenty of time on my hands while resting, my wheels have been turning. That is where my new beginning comes into play. I want to sew again, I want to create, I want to learn more about sketching and drawing pictures. I have always had a natural ability to draw but have not the time to expand on it or use it. I want to get back to my roots so to speak. I am finding myself getting my life back in order and putting it in a place where it belongs, instead of out of control. Running two businesses and not having the time to spend with the kids and being so tired; everything seemed useless. I don't want that hopeless, useless feeling anymore. After being sick with cancer and realizing what is really important, I find myself not sweating the small stuff and I look at things completely differently. I want to be close to my family, nature, and surround myself with creativity. I thank God for this new beginning and this time to slow down and realize what is REALLY important....My new beginning.

We have not been posting messages very often anymore, but I would like to keep people updated as I attempt to recreate my business and begin new projects. If you'd like to follow along, just check back every so often, and we'll do better at posting updates.

Crystal Mountain Vacation

Snowshoe Cabin

A family picture in front of the cabin, obviously Kathryn & Sophia have zero interest and have found something more intriguing on the porch

English Gardens

Evelyn loved looking for frogs in the streams.

This was our favorite place: the porch overlooking the pond and fountain.

Sisters having fun!

Our bedroom with the garden view.

Evelyn was ecstatic about sleeping in bunkbeds.

Storytime in the bunkbed.

The first time the twins slept together since the NICU. Tom and Evelyn running down the dunes.
Pup what are you doing running down the dunes? Pretty Kathryn Sophia in her gloryPup taking Evelyn down the Alpine Slide Chairlift ride Evelyn was yelling at Pup because he was winning the race A walk through the Art Park - A mile long trail through the woods with various art and sculptures from local artistsEvelyn on the rock climbing wall Evelyn and Daddy at the water park pool - She recently learned to swim on her own Emily with her hands full! Relaxing pool-side A walk on the Frankfort, MI pier with the girls

The famous "Family Tree" as Tom calls it - they've taken a picture at this tree every year since Evelyn was born

Our turn...

Sophia laughing at Pup's "Donald Duck" voice

Sisterly hugs

Pup, Evelyn and the carved Indian

Puppey Crockett?

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Happy News!

Tuesday afternoon my mom called to tell me that her biopsy came back negative. Hallelujah! She received the news from her radiologist when they called to schedule her radiology and when my mom said she hadn't gotten results back yet they said they had the results and the lump was not cancer. She still needs to get with her surgeon to discuss what the lump actually was, but she has bronchitis now so she won't see her surgeon until she is feeling better and they also put off radiology for a week so she can get better. What a relief for us all to hear. Thank God! And, thanks for your prayers!

Maybe this week we should all focus on praying for that little Nevaeh Buchanan and that she returns to her home. The helicoptors have been flying over my house every day for the past week and its a constant reminder that there are sick people in the world who would harm our children. I can't stand that this is so close to home and she is still missing.

Sorry It Took So Long!

Hello Everyone! I must apologize that this next blog took so long to get here. It's been a very busy month. First, we held the SPECTACULAR Spaghetti Dinner for my mom. The event and the day turned out better than I think we all dared to imagine. It seems like you plan and plan for events like this and you never quite know for certain what to expect (too many people, too few people, is the set up correct, are all the supplies in place, etc.) Well, everything fell into place just right. The support we received was so overwhelming, and we raised a generous profit to help my parents out with the closing of the businesses. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated and attended the dinner! My whole family has just been surrounded by good people to get us through this difficult time in our lives. "Thank You" just doesn't seem to encompass the gratitude we feel.

As soon as the spaghetti dinner was complete, my family went into full on wedding preparation mode for my Big Brother Ben's wedding to Ashley Blanchett (now Hansen). As expected, my mom insisted on hand crafting Ashley's wedding gown, and I think we all held our breath as we weren't sure if she would feel well enough to achieve the task. Well, in less than one month's time, my mom made the most gorgeous wedding gown ever (well, maybe equal to the one she made for me and for my other sister in law Tara)! My mom knew all along that she would get it done and get it done perfectly couture without cutting any corners. It wouldn't be any other way for her. Some days were hard as she would get stuck on a certain design element and she would say that her brain just wasn't letting her figure things out like she normally could, but she pushed through it and it was lovely! Ben and Ashley's wedding was a super fun day and they make the cutest couple ever! (Congratulations guys!)

Now, the next update currently on all of our minds, is my mom is going into the hospital Friday for a biopsy on another lump she found prior to the wedding. The lump is located under her arm on the same side they performed the mastectomy. She really has no information at this point except that she has spoken to her radiologist and surgeon and they are both concerned about the discovery. I personally just don't know what to think. It is very stressful and worrisome for all of us. Of course, we try to remain optimistic, but this isn't easy after the past few months. We have some time to just pray for the best until the surgery is complete and she gets the results. I always feel at this stage in the wait and see game, that anything can be changed by prayer. Nothing is certain until the Doctors tell us so, so I pray for a miracle that more cancer hasn't grown in her body since the mastectomy and chemo. Please say prayers for my mom this week that not only will she get good news, but also that she remains strong and optimistic. Thank you.



Here is a link to view the terrific pics my Uncle Bill took during the spaghetti dinner:

http://picasaweb.google.com/billcarrabino/HansenPastaDinner?authkey=Gv1sRgCPiFvL298sLAIQ&feat=email#

Here is also a link to view the pics Bill took at the wedding so you can see the lovely dress and my wild family!

http://picasaweb.google.com/billcarrabino/BennWedding2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCK3o9_zkzNGc4QE&feat=email#

Here are a couple of pics Tom took:

Emily Johnson (Tom's sister) made aprons, tote bags and other breast cancer awareness items.

All the family working hard in the kitchen.

My little family.
Andrew and Tara working the register.
The raffle items display table.

Evelyn Mirabelle.

HUGE dessert table donated by Cakes By Stephanie.

Kathryn, Evelyn & Sophia sporting their "I Wear Pink For My Mum" shirts.

Happy Easter

Two weeks ago my mom had her LAST chemo treatment! And, as of last Thursday, her store has been completely vacated. It seems like years ago already since my mom received her diagnosis this past winter on January 2nd. Spring is a good time for chemo to be completed and for new beginnings to take place. I told Evelyn the signs of Spring are flowers growing and Mum's hair returning - she got a kick out of that. I can't wait for my mom to be able to put this phase behind her and start to create her "new life". The past two weeks were obviously the hardest yet for my mom. She was constantly sick and overwhelmed with the closing of her business. By Easter, things seemed to be perking up and we spent a nice day together at my parent's house with my brothers and sister-in-laws. As of today, my mom is sounding better and feeling better so I think we are on the uphill swing.


My family has been very busy preparing for the upcoming Spaghetti Dinner. We have been blown away by everyone's generosity. We have gotten so many offers for volunteers and many organizations have donated goods for the dinner. We have also received many great raffle items that I'm sure the guests will be happy to try to win. They are as follows:


I Pod Touch
Princess House Pitcher with 8 Glasses
4 Tickets for Alice in Wonderland with Basket of Tea, Tea cups, White Rabbit in Tea Cup
Monroe Motor Sports $50 Gift Certificate
Anytime Fitness Donated 2 – 3 Month Memberships with T-Shirts ($100 value ea.)
Newport Chiropractic ½ Hour Massage ($40 value)
Bridgewater Candle Company Gift Basket ($25 value)
Logan Charles Hair Salon $50 Gift Certificate

Here are some fun pics for Easter:

KathrynSophia

EvelynPartners in Crime.
Enjoying the warm weather.

The Easter Bunny uses a pacifier.Sophia eating her first chocolate bunny (a little bed head).Kathryn doing the same.They love being outside after the long winter.
Kathryn wouldn't walk a couple weeks ago; now she runs!This sums up Sophia! Gettin' into mischief.Mum, Sierra and Lily at Ben & Ashley's wedding shower.

Andrew's Sweet Little Lily

Mum with her First Granddaughter, Miss Sierra.