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| A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient Procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery. It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important... please take the time and do it! Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women. Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same. There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached. Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number. http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women. | ||
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Mastectomy Bill
Summer's Here
The school year was over for students last Wednesday. My last day was Friday. Whew! I am so glad Summer Break is finally here. We have an extended Summer here this year. I have twelve weeks off! Yipee!!
The kids are all healthy again. That is a big relief. I am now under the weather. I spent a good part of the long weekend in bed with flu like symptoms. I am just now starting to feel like I am on the mend. Thank goodness!!
We head to Orlando for our Disney trip on Thursday. I can't wait!! On Thursday we will go to Mickey's Backyard BBQ for a character dinner. It should be fun. We will hit the Magic Kingdom on Friday. We usually go in the morning for a few hours, head back to the hotel for nap time and then end the day at the park after dinner. That is certainly one of the best parts of staying on property.
On Saturday we are going to a Character Breakfast. Riley is beside himself he is so excited. He said he is going to hug Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale. He can't wait to have his picture taken with his "friends". He is at just the perfect age to really get into the whole Disney experience.
On Sunday we will Park Hop between Epcot and MGM. We have to hit MGM since it is Star Wars weekend. James is a big Star Wars fan. He is very excited that our trip fell during this weekend. He is at that funny age where Disney is still exciting...but is really looking forward to the rollercoasters and such. He is just starting to become more of a dare devil. He has always been our reserved child.
We will head home on Monday. I am sure we will wish we could stay an extra day or two... but also be ready to sleep in our own beds. We will have one day remaining on our tickets so I imagine we will head back over for a day before the end of Summer.
The weather here has been really nice. We have been taking the golf cart up to the Clubhouse to play at the playground. That really is one nice perk of our neighborhood. At the pool they had a steel drum band on Sunday. I never thought we would ever live somewhere that had so much to offer families. I think we were, certainly, lead to this community. If we had bought our house even one month later than we did, we would not have been able to afford to live here. The timing was just perfect.
Well... I will try to post Disney pictures when we return... and hope that I feel healthy by the time we hop in the car on Thursday!
The kids are all healthy again. That is a big relief. I am now under the weather. I spent a good part of the long weekend in bed with flu like symptoms. I am just now starting to feel like I am on the mend. Thank goodness!!
We head to Orlando for our Disney trip on Thursday. I can't wait!! On Thursday we will go to Mickey's Backyard BBQ for a character dinner. It should be fun. We will hit the Magic Kingdom on Friday. We usually go in the morning for a few hours, head back to the hotel for nap time and then end the day at the park after dinner. That is certainly one of the best parts of staying on property.
On Saturday we are going to a Character Breakfast. Riley is beside himself he is so excited. He said he is going to hug Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale. He can't wait to have his picture taken with his "friends". He is at just the perfect age to really get into the whole Disney experience.
On Sunday we will Park Hop between Epcot and MGM. We have to hit MGM since it is Star Wars weekend. James is a big Star Wars fan. He is very excited that our trip fell during this weekend. He is at that funny age where Disney is still exciting...but is really looking forward to the rollercoasters and such. He is just starting to become more of a dare devil. He has always been our reserved child.
We will head home on Monday. I am sure we will wish we could stay an extra day or two... but also be ready to sleep in our own beds. We will have one day remaining on our tickets so I imagine we will head back over for a day before the end of Summer.
The weather here has been really nice. We have been taking the golf cart up to the Clubhouse to play at the playground. That really is one nice perk of our neighborhood. At the pool they had a steel drum band on Sunday. I never thought we would ever live somewhere that had so much to offer families. I think we were, certainly, lead to this community. If we had bought our house even one month later than we did, we would not have been able to afford to live here. The timing was just perfect.
Well... I will try to post Disney pictures when we return... and hope that I feel healthy by the time we hop in the car on Thursday!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Last Night
After scouring and cleaning away germs until me fingers were raw.... I started looking for a place to rest my head.
Since Riley and Jerry had been sleeping in my bed all day there was NO way I was climbing in with them. Madeline was in her crib, so that place was taken. James was groggy on the couch. I strated helping him into bed... with one last stop to get sick along the way... handed him his pillow, blanket and trusty pot into his top bunk. So.. the bottom bunk, with the handy dandy rail became my place of slumber. Hmmm... recipe for a fun night...
At midnight Madeline awoke. Let's just say she was far from happy. She was exercising her excellent lung capacity to the best of her ability. I changed her diaper, rocked her and put her back to bed. I climbed back over the lovely bed rail, back into bed.
At 2am Riley arrives at HIS bed, to find his mother sleeping. I got him a drink of Gatorade and took him to the bathroom. I was able to coax him back into bed with his father.
At 2:45 am, I hear a noise in the kitchen. I climb back over that blasted bed rail to find Riley asleep on the kitchen floor. I put him back into my bed once again.
At 3am James is having a lovely dream and talking in his sleep. Throughout the night he also made various sounds that let me know that he could explode at any moment. Being that I was sleeping.. or at least trying to sleep beneath him, this was not very comforting.
At 3:30 am Madeline is awake again. I give her a warm bottle and am back over the bed rail by 3:50 am.
At 4:20 am the lovely, delicate Miss M is screaming AGAIN. This time there is a strange urgency to the yell. I go in and pick up the screaming banshee... oops.... I mean precious angel. SHE WAS NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN!! My lovely daughter had decided that being naked was a good idea until she had to go to the bathroom. Big fun.
I got the little darling cleaned up, back to bed and asleep... dreading the climb back over the bed rail.
So.... I was up at 7am to start the day. Jerry had been up at least twice during the night getting sick... but, thank goodness, I didn't hear a thing.
I think I got the best aerobic workout I have ever had last night. I believe I climbed over the bed rail a grand total of 11 times last night. Tonight... the back porch is looking good!!
Since Riley and Jerry had been sleeping in my bed all day there was NO way I was climbing in with them. Madeline was in her crib, so that place was taken. James was groggy on the couch. I strated helping him into bed... with one last stop to get sick along the way... handed him his pillow, blanket and trusty pot into his top bunk. So.. the bottom bunk, with the handy dandy rail became my place of slumber. Hmmm... recipe for a fun night...
At midnight Madeline awoke. Let's just say she was far from happy. She was exercising her excellent lung capacity to the best of her ability. I changed her diaper, rocked her and put her back to bed. I climbed back over the lovely bed rail, back into bed.
At 2am Riley arrives at HIS bed, to find his mother sleeping. I got him a drink of Gatorade and took him to the bathroom. I was able to coax him back into bed with his father.
At 2:45 am, I hear a noise in the kitchen. I climb back over that blasted bed rail to find Riley asleep on the kitchen floor. I put him back into my bed once again.
At 3am James is having a lovely dream and talking in his sleep. Throughout the night he also made various sounds that let me know that he could explode at any moment. Being that I was sleeping.. or at least trying to sleep beneath him, this was not very comforting.
At 3:30 am Madeline is awake again. I give her a warm bottle and am back over the bed rail by 3:50 am.
At 4:20 am the lovely, delicate Miss M is screaming AGAIN. This time there is a strange urgency to the yell. I go in and pick up the screaming banshee... oops.... I mean precious angel. SHE WAS NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN!! My lovely daughter had decided that being naked was a good idea until she had to go to the bathroom. Big fun.
I got the little darling cleaned up, back to bed and asleep... dreading the climb back over the bed rail.
So.... I was up at 7am to start the day. Jerry had been up at least twice during the night getting sick... but, thank goodness, I didn't hear a thing.
I think I got the best aerobic workout I have ever had last night. I believe I climbed over the bed rail a grand total of 11 times last night. Tonight... the back porch is looking good!!
Monday, May 21, 2007
The Last Man Standing
Well, here I sit... the Last Man Standing. To say it has been an eventful day would be an understatement.
I overslept this morning, hopped in the shower and was headed to wake up the kids. Before I even got out of my room I hear James calling my name. Thanks to the lovely baby monitor I could hear why he was calling me. He was sick.
His calling woke Madeline up. I got James as settled as I could.. in the bathroom.... and retrieved Madeline from her crib. I made a few phone calls trying to figure out how to help James today. The next thing I knew... Riley is awake and running to the bathroom.
Well... now I had two boys getting sick in the same bathroom and a very out of sorts little girl. I called Jerry. He was coming home so I could go to work. After spending 3 months on leave after China, I don't even have one sick day left.
Off I went to work...and lo and behold... now Madeline is sick. Okay... so by 10am I have three sick children at home. Jerry called to make a Dr. appointment for Madeline, since she has battled chronic ear infections since we have been home. I promised to leave work as early as possible so I could take her to the Dr.
Well, after school I did take Madeline to the Dr. When picking Madeline up, Jerry tells me he was feeling a little under the weather. The Dr. finds fluid in both of Madeline's ears. Fun So, Madeline is back on another antibiotic! Argh!!! This is the third batch in a month. Augmetin, then Ceftin... now Septra. This poor baby girl just can't shake the ear issues and congestion.
We leave the Dr. office and head to Publix to buy Gatorade and bland foods. Madeline falls sound asleep in the car and now feels a little warm. Upon arriving home we find.... JERRY is now sick. Yup, EVERYONE but me is now sick. I was almost afraid to walk into the house.
Everyone has spent the evening throwing up, taking small sips of Gatorade and sleeping. Jerry and the boys have fevers of about 100. Poor James and Riley have been asleep more than awake today. James even missed his awards ceremony at school. He doesn't even realize he received 4 awards!!!
Right now Madeline is in her bed sleeping restlessly, James is asleep on the family room couch and Riley and Jerry are asleep in my bed. I am seriously considering sleeping in the car! haha.
Everyone will be staying home tomorrow.... though I am going to make the mad dash to work to try to avoid any extra sicky exposure.
So... I am the last man standing. I am the only healthy... and I use that term lightly, person in my house. I have washed sheets, disinfected EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you can scrub and spray and even said a few prayers asking for help in staying healthy...
So... light a candle, say a novena and cross your fingers that Jerry and the kids get healthy quickly and I don't get sick at all. (I know, it is nice to dream!! I am sure it is only a matter of time before I, too, am worshipping the porcelin god.
I overslept this morning, hopped in the shower and was headed to wake up the kids. Before I even got out of my room I hear James calling my name. Thanks to the lovely baby monitor I could hear why he was calling me. He was sick.
His calling woke Madeline up. I got James as settled as I could.. in the bathroom.... and retrieved Madeline from her crib. I made a few phone calls trying to figure out how to help James today. The next thing I knew... Riley is awake and running to the bathroom.
Well... now I had two boys getting sick in the same bathroom and a very out of sorts little girl. I called Jerry. He was coming home so I could go to work. After spending 3 months on leave after China, I don't even have one sick day left.
Off I went to work...and lo and behold... now Madeline is sick. Okay... so by 10am I have three sick children at home. Jerry called to make a Dr. appointment for Madeline, since she has battled chronic ear infections since we have been home. I promised to leave work as early as possible so I could take her to the Dr.
Well, after school I did take Madeline to the Dr. When picking Madeline up, Jerry tells me he was feeling a little under the weather. The Dr. finds fluid in both of Madeline's ears. Fun So, Madeline is back on another antibiotic! Argh!!! This is the third batch in a month. Augmetin, then Ceftin... now Septra. This poor baby girl just can't shake the ear issues and congestion.
We leave the Dr. office and head to Publix to buy Gatorade and bland foods. Madeline falls sound asleep in the car and now feels a little warm. Upon arriving home we find.... JERRY is now sick. Yup, EVERYONE but me is now sick. I was almost afraid to walk into the house.
Everyone has spent the evening throwing up, taking small sips of Gatorade and sleeping. Jerry and the boys have fevers of about 100. Poor James and Riley have been asleep more than awake today. James even missed his awards ceremony at school. He doesn't even realize he received 4 awards!!!
Right now Madeline is in her bed sleeping restlessly, James is asleep on the family room couch and Riley and Jerry are asleep in my bed. I am seriously considering sleeping in the car! haha.
Everyone will be staying home tomorrow.... though I am going to make the mad dash to work to try to avoid any extra sicky exposure.
So... I am the last man standing. I am the only healthy... and I use that term lightly, person in my house. I have washed sheets, disinfected EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you can scrub and spray and even said a few prayers asking for help in staying healthy...
So... light a candle, say a novena and cross your fingers that Jerry and the kids get healthy quickly and I don't get sick at all. (I know, it is nice to dream!! I am sure it is only a matter of time before I, too, am worshipping the porcelin god.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
Just for the record.... I am the luckiest Mama in the world.
I have three beautiful, smart, healthy and happy children.
I have one fantastic husband of almost 17 years.
I have two parents who are healthy and living life to the fullest.
I have two sisters who are kind and caring constants in my life.
I have friends who have been there for me through thick and thin.
I have thousands of sisters as a constant source of support and friendship.
I am one lucky Mama.
To all of you out there in cyber land... Happy Mother's Day!
I have three beautiful, smart, healthy and happy children.
I have one fantastic husband of almost 17 years.
I have two parents who are healthy and living life to the fullest.
I have two sisters who are kind and caring constants in my life.
I have friends who have been there for me through thick and thin.
I have thousands of sisters as a constant source of support and friendship.
I am one lucky Mama.
To all of you out there in cyber land... Happy Mother's Day!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
How Can It Be?
When I awoke this morning, I knew today was different than any other day. I was still groggy. I didn't hit the snooze. I wasn't sure why... but I knew I had to get up. After rising I remembered.
Today is THE day.
Today is a GREAT day.
Today, Riley has been in my arms for three years.
Wow.... THREE YEARS!
Riley has now been with us longer than he was with anyone else. He has been my baby for as long as I felt him in my heart. He has been in my arms for the most blessed three years of my life.
Before Riley I never realized a little piece of my heart was missing. The picture in my head and the baby in my heart didn't look alike... but my heart knew.
For the past 14 months Riley has been a constant source of amazement. Starting with his referral, our lives were forever transformed into something more than we ever thought possible.
Riley is quirky. He loves to pretend to be a dog named, Poochie. He understands that he must be a trick puppy while in Target and walk on his hind legs. What a hoot!
Riley is loving. Whenever he thinks I am sad or upset he kisses his hand and puts it on my heart. He loves his family completely.
Riley is a great big brother. He loves to help Madeline out of her crib when she wakes up. He carries her away from anything he thinks will hurt her. He gets very upset when she is sad. He gives her hugs and kisses. He tries to do everything Big Brother James is doing.
Riley is smart. He loves books, counting, pretending to read. He tells me that he is Reynolds and I am Ashe Reynolds.
Riley is creative. This little guy can sit for, literally, HOURS at the kitchen table with scissors, paper, crayons, markers, glue, tape, yarn... and make artistic creations.
Riley is Chinese. He tells people he is Chinese. He tells people he was born in Nanning. He tells people he climbed the Great Wall of China. He tells people his sister is also Chinese.
Riley is strong. He rides his bike without training wheels like Evel Knievel down the road. He puts his feet up on the middle bar after he gets the bike to warp speed. He crashes into the grass and laughs.. getting up to ride again.
Riley knows he is adopted. He tells me that James was the baby in my tummy. He shares that he was in his birthmother's tummy in China. He talks about how I told him he had to wait someplace safe, with his foster family, until I could get to China to bring him home. He says he wants to go see his birthmother when we go back to China. Telling him that isn't possible was hard.
Riley is funny. He tells us he "cries his eyeballs out". He loves to dress up in his Spiderman costume with his Darth Vader mask and carry a ball around telling us that he is "DarthSpiderBall". He does a happy dance that resembles MC Hammer back in the day.
Riley was placed in my arms three years ago today. I have been a little weepy today. What a magnificient day. He told anyone who would listen, Happy Gotcha Day! He even told the toll collector on the parkway! He requested Chinese food for dinner. (Give me an excuse to go to P.F. Changs...)
I can't even imagine my life without him. He has added such warmth, happiness and love to all of our lives. Three years seems like such a long time, but truly feels like just yesterday. I honestly have a hard time remembering my life before May 10, 2004.
A Gotcha Day is something special. It is a family day. It is my baby's day. It is today.
I love you BaoBao... my beautiful baby boy.
Today is THE day.
Today is a GREAT day.
Today, Riley has been in my arms for three years.
Wow.... THREE YEARS!
Riley has now been with us longer than he was with anyone else. He has been my baby for as long as I felt him in my heart. He has been in my arms for the most blessed three years of my life.
Before Riley I never realized a little piece of my heart was missing. The picture in my head and the baby in my heart didn't look alike... but my heart knew.
For the past 14 months Riley has been a constant source of amazement. Starting with his referral, our lives were forever transformed into something more than we ever thought possible.
Riley is quirky. He loves to pretend to be a dog named, Poochie. He understands that he must be a trick puppy while in Target and walk on his hind legs. What a hoot!
Riley is loving. Whenever he thinks I am sad or upset he kisses his hand and puts it on my heart. He loves his family completely.
Riley is a great big brother. He loves to help Madeline out of her crib when she wakes up. He carries her away from anything he thinks will hurt her. He gets very upset when she is sad. He gives her hugs and kisses. He tries to do everything Big Brother James is doing.
Riley is smart. He loves books, counting, pretending to read. He tells me that he is Reynolds and I am Ashe Reynolds.
Riley is creative. This little guy can sit for, literally, HOURS at the kitchen table with scissors, paper, crayons, markers, glue, tape, yarn... and make artistic creations.
Riley is Chinese. He tells people he is Chinese. He tells people he was born in Nanning. He tells people he climbed the Great Wall of China. He tells people his sister is also Chinese.
Riley is strong. He rides his bike without training wheels like Evel Knievel down the road. He puts his feet up on the middle bar after he gets the bike to warp speed. He crashes into the grass and laughs.. getting up to ride again.
Riley knows he is adopted. He tells me that James was the baby in my tummy. He shares that he was in his birthmother's tummy in China. He talks about how I told him he had to wait someplace safe, with his foster family, until I could get to China to bring him home. He says he wants to go see his birthmother when we go back to China. Telling him that isn't possible was hard.
Riley is funny. He tells us he "cries his eyeballs out". He loves to dress up in his Spiderman costume with his Darth Vader mask and carry a ball around telling us that he is "DarthSpiderBall". He does a happy dance that resembles MC Hammer back in the day.
Riley was placed in my arms three years ago today. I have been a little weepy today. What a magnificient day. He told anyone who would listen, Happy Gotcha Day! He even told the toll collector on the parkway! He requested Chinese food for dinner. (Give me an excuse to go to P.F. Changs...)
I can't even imagine my life without him. He has added such warmth, happiness and love to all of our lives. Three years seems like such a long time, but truly feels like just yesterday. I honestly have a hard time remembering my life before May 10, 2004.
A Gotcha Day is something special. It is a family day. It is my baby's day. It is today.
I love you BaoBao... my beautiful baby boy.
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