Happy New Year

Happy New Year:

Last year I spent the holiday limping around my house or slowly walking to shul. A few days before the holiday started I got an infusion of an intense drug called Taxol that left me in a lot of pain.  Even pain meds didn’t really do much for the pain.  It was very important for me to get to shul and to pray for a healthy new year. 

One year later…..I am going to be spending the holiday with my family.  I am looking forward to going to shul to pray for a healthy year.  I am looking forward to seeing my children dip the apple in the honey and to sing all the songs that they learned in school. After being sick everything has new meaning.  I try not to take anything for granted any more.  I do hope that those that I have hurt in the past forgive me for my actions. 

 When I last saw my plastic surgeon we talked about the importance of moving on in life.  Many months ago when I told him that I had my ovaries out, he told me that it was something that had to be done.  This past visit I told him that I went to a water park and went down waterslides and once again he told me that it was something that needed to be done.  One year later I am healthy and enjoying life once again.  I was in my classroom on the first day of the school year.  I know I had a goofy smile on but I was just so thankful to be there.  I am back in my groove of doing the laundry, the cleaning, the cooking, and taking care of the children after they get home from school.  It feels sooooo good to be busy and to be able to do all the things I had to stop doing for a while. I was able to take pictures with the kids on their first day of school.  I was able to help my mother plant (Stephen really did all the hard work) butterfly bushes for her birthday.  I can’t wait to watch for butterflies with her and the kids.

I know I have been bad with the last two months of pictures in the chair. The truth is I had Ruthie take some pictures with the signs but I am just not crazy with how they came out.  I know that people have told me that they like my hair but it is driving me crazy.  It seems to have a mind of its own.  I am not into the “growing out” phase of my hair.  I am not sure if it will remain curly or if it will go back to its old ways.  Some have said that after a year the curl will go away. I never had curly hair so it is a whole new experience for me.  I can’t wait until I can put something in it to help get it under control (and not look like I am 8).

Have a happy and a healthy New Year!

water park

Water park...



Last summer if you asked me what I would be doing this summer, I would 
not have said "water park.". The summer of 2012 seemed light years away.
 I could not fathom the thought of actually having fun with my children. I 
could barely get off the couch to wash the dishes let alone plan a 
vacation.  I felt bad that the girls were having a bummer of a summer. I
 promised them, "next summer will be really special.  Next summer will 
be a lot of fun!"



I have tried to hold true to my promise. I have taken the girls on lots 
of little day trips. We took them to Kentucky to visit with my mom's 
side of the family. We took the swimming at my cousin's house. They got 
to go to Pennsylvania to play with Darian and Haigen.  They got to play 
with Matthew and Zachary from Boston.  I took them down to Georgia for 
my nephew's bris and for the girls to play with their cousins that they 
don't get to see so often since their move to Atlanta. They got to take 
Nana and Grandpa to the zoo and show them all the animals.  We all went 
back to Georgia as a family to celebrate my niece's Bat Mitzvah. Once 
again the girls had so much playing with their cousins.  On the way down
 to Georgia we spent two nights in Charlotte, North Carolina. We booked 
two nights at the Great Wolf Lodge.



For those that don't know, Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park. 
Since North Carolina schools had already started the lodge was pretty 
deserted.  We had the run of the place to ourselves. There was no 
waiting on lines for the rides. Yes, I actually went on water rides. I 
am not crazy about the wet bathing suit experience, but I went on the 
rides anyways.  Why?  I went on the rides for two reasons.  Firstly, I 
went on the rides to see the girls and to see their happiness. After 
watching their sad, scared faces last summer, I needed to see them happy
 and not scared.  Second of all, I needed them to see that I was ok. 
 For a seven and four year old they say some things that a kid should 
never have to witness. They saw their mommy get really sick.  I needed 
them to see that I am well now and that I am ok.  I need them to see me 
happy and laughing.
 

I think everyone had a great time!  Here are a few pictures.