': 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