Just signed up for Relay for Life...anyone else walking?

For those of you that may like to follow me & my progress, feel free to click on this linkhttp://main.acsevents.org/goto/jordandoncer And if any of you plan to be there let me know, I'd love to see you out there!!

XOXO,
Daughter

Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days

So....as far back as I can remember, Mom & I would listen to Bruce Springsteen and talk about how we'd marry him one day...yep, that's right...both of us, lol. Not too sure how that all was gonna work out, but it sounded good to us and we agreed (wink, wink). What did I really know about anything in 3rd grade....well...I knew that I REALLY liked his music and that he was "The Boss". And it's funny, b/c he's someone I still listen to today & he's even made it to my ipod. YAY for shuffle & The Boss when he comes on!!

I've been wanting to post one of his songs for awhile now, but wasn't sure which one until today. I thought "Glory Days" seemed appropriate.

I try to teach E&K to enjoy their days today, but I also try to teach them the value of today. I know that sounds silly, I mean, they're only 6 1/2 (they'll be 7 next week)... But I want them to love others, be kind to others, be thoughtful, be polite....be all of the things that God planned & hoped for us to be to ourselves & others. I want them to be happy with every "today" that they have. I don't want them to look back & wish for the past to be their present. I feel like if we are kind... loving... thoughtful... & polite that we can be happy with our choices and we won't need to look back to find our "Glory Days" but rather we can look at all of our days as "Glory Days".

Some of the ways that Mom & I have "Glory Days" are just having fun, smiling & laughing at ourselves...I'll have to ask permission before I post pictures, lol. Sometimes we wear pink wigs up to the doctor's office, or in public, you never know! We've had SO many comments & compliments when we do that...we should do it more often. And sometimes just painting each other's finger/toenails is fun, except for Mom when I spend an hour painting JUST her toes. Sorry Mom!!

I hope today is a "Glory Day" for you & those that you love....

MUCH LOVE,

Daughter

One way I saved...

It seems like everyone is "talking" about ways to save $money$....and honestly I think we ALL want to "save money"...right?!? Okay, well I LOVE saving money........except when it comes to drinking an "off brand" soda to replace my beloved Pepsi....that I REALLY REALLY don't wanna "save money" on if it means switching to a store brand....there is NO replacement!! :) I do feel like some of the ways people are talking about saving are just saving you up front, but are costing me more in the long run or are things that we say are the "same" but you & I both know they aren't (like store brand Pepsi...c'mon, that's NOT Pepsi in that can).

Some of you are making MULTIPLE trips to treatment or going to NUMEROUS doctors in just a week alone. The trips to & from treatment sure add up when it comes to gas, especially at $3.50+ per gallon right now. And what kind of gas mileage are you getting...are you driving a gas hog like mine? Seriously, I think I average like 14 mpg, which isn't helpful in saving money! So I thought maybe some of you may want to look into a way to help save money & cut costs b/c this was a pleasant surprise, one I hadn't expected!

Last year, it was time to look at checking rates for Homeowner's & Auto Insurance because it had been a couple of years....and honestly I didn't expect to find any real savings b/c it seemed like EVERYONE's rates had gone up & premiums were increased across the board. But I'll just say that I was MORE THAN surprised when I got my rate quoted for my Auto (and later quoted my Homeowner's). Not only was I going to save hundreds if I switched JUST my Auto, but my coverage was going to be better....can you believe it....BETTER!! But I checked w/him on Homeowner's too...just for grins.... and I was almost in shock on how much better coverage I'd have AND still save money. And now....he not only saved me money, which makes me CRAZY happy, he's become my Insurance Agent...and him & his family are actually NOW family friends of mine.

If you live in Texas you may want to at least consider checking your rates w/him to help save some money. I've been his "client" for a little over a year now & been SUPER happy!!

http://www.libertymutual.com/lm/brandenweber

Managing Hair Loss, Dry Skin & Brittle Nails ARTICLE

If you're about to begin chemotherapy (or maybe if you've just begun) I thought this article on Cancer Connect may be something helpful to read, or as a helpful reminder.

http://news.cancerconnect.com/caring-for-yourself-during-chemotherapy-how-to-manage-hair-loss-dry-skin-and-brittle-nails/

Post your comments below if you have other helpful tips or ideas that you'd like to share with others.

Sincerely,

Daughter

A Press Release...

So I thought that I'd share this link for those of you who may be interested in reading about "Major Breast Cancer Study Shows Lymph Node Removal Does Not Improve Survival" that was posted on Texas Oncology's website...

http://www.texasoncology.com/press-releases.aspx?id=6038

Foods to Fight Cancer ARTICLE

I came across this article on "Foods to Fight Cancer" and thought that it might be something to incorporate into all of our daily lives, whether you've been diagnosed with cancer recently...in the past...or just know someone who has & want to help nourish your body too.....

http://news.cancerconnect.com/foods-to-fight-cancer/

Would love to hear your comments if you know of other links you've found with helpful information. Post them below to share with everyone!!

You hold a special place in my heart!

JF, you are truly an AMAZING woman who holds a special place in my heart. You're not "just" E&K's computer teacher, but you are a kind & thoughtful person who I have come to admire over the last year and a half and a person I refer to as a friend.

JF has a heart of gold. She LOVES her own 2 boys so much & somehow manages to love each & EVERY SINGLE one of her students in her computer classes. How can one person have SO much love to give? I admire her patience....her thoughtfulness....kindness...and sheer joy to be a part of all of her students lives. What an amazing woman!!

JF, you bless my life just by knowing you & you being a part of my daughters weekly routine. Thank you JF for all you do to inspire love, kindness, patience, thoughtfulness & all that you are...inside of us all!! You're AMAZING!!!

XOXO,

E&K's Mom

P.S. If you'd like to follow JF on CaringBridge http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/julieframe

Sometimes you just need a good laugh!

Everyone has that one person...that one person who's good for a laugh...good for a smile....good for a good time....

I'm lucky enough to have a few people in my life who can do that. And I just wanted to take a moment to say "THANK YOU" to those special people. LOVE YOU GUYS!

XoXo,

Daughter

God has really blessed us...

109 - Woke up to E&K counting down the hours to go see the Justin Bieber movie.

110 - E&K ate lunch at a "speedy" rate to make it to the JB movie.

111 - I had enough time to make E&K hair clips to go w/their dresses they wore today.

112 - We got ICEEs & popcorn at the movies, YUMMY!

113 - Made it to the movies in time to miss most of the previews...if your kiddos are anything like the mine, then this is a HUGE BONUS!

114 - The JB movie was GREAT, we loved the whole thing....even Mommy did!

115 - REALLY enjoyed my time w/E&K this afternoon...felt like they've grown up a lot since the days of bottles & diapers...bitter - sweet!

116 - Picked out new binders for school for E&K when they return from Spring Break.

117 - E&K got their very own Journals...I have some really happy girls in my house.

118 - We managed to buy a couple small bags of Cheetos at the check out of Target for E&K to munch on for our little car ride home....I had some NICE orange fingers to contend w/when we were exiting our car, but sure did make me smile!

119 - E&K were super excited to start writing in their new journals...this lasted a good little while. :)

120 - Mommy cooked dinner....AGAIN! Tonight was chicken soft tacos & homemade Ranch w/some cut up fresh veggies.

121 - Dinner was a success...EVERYONE ate it!

122 - Got a lot of stuff organized in my "crafty area" which was oddly relaxing & it was VERY MUCH satisfying.

123 - E&K went to bed like big girls....and Mommy got some sweet hugs & kisses before bedtime.

124 - The cleaning continued after bedtime....

125 - Was able to finish watching "The Fighter" which was a really good movie...and not just b/c I enjoy movies w/Christian Bale.

Today was a GREAT day! And although I still have A LOT of energy left in me, it is time to call it a night & wish everyone well....Hope everyone has a great night's sleep!!!!!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!

I downloaded this song on my phone for E&K and I can't help but SMILE from ear to ear every time I hear this song. The YouTube version is a little bit quicker than what I have on my phone, but couldn't resist posting....hopefully you're at least grinning as you watch this. ;)

And the blessings go on...

96 - Woke up to happy girls!

97 - Beautiful weather, yet again.

98 - Was able to catch up on the phone with one of my VERY BFF's, M, today.

99 - Helped E&K build a fort in the living room.

100 - Had just enough time to make dinner for E&K before heading out to meet up w/C&M.

101 - Enjoyed dinner & drinks w/C&M.

102 - TONS of entertainment at Garden Ridge w/C&M....pretty sure the clerks & stocking crew thought we were slightly intoxicated....I assured them that we are just THIS awesome!

103 - Shopping at Target was WAY fun too....we looked everywhere for the "needle & thread" that we were unable to locate or purchase at our prior stop of Garden Ridge.

104 - We accomplished the "needle & thread" test in the car.

105 - We NOW KNOW that M will be having a BOY...that's right people, I said a BOY...FIRST and then a GIRL and two is her limit!

106 - We RE-confirmed that Crystal will be having a girl first and then a boy...right...a boy comes after the girl? :)

107 - As for me....well, we know that E&K are officially girls and that they will be my only children.....how's that for PURE entertainment & knowledge for ya?! Love you ladies!!

108 - Today was a great day for connecting w/friends.

Joshua Radin-Brand new day

Today REALLY is a "Brand New Day."

Lots of Love,

Daughter

Oh SO blessed...

with SO many blessings....and as blessed as I feel some days, I find that some days are easier than others to "spot" the blessings. Some days can be a sad day, some can be an EXTREMELY happy day and some days could even be an upset kind of day.....so some days....can be easier, so to speak, for me to remember or point out the blessings with the hours as they pass.

For example, today was overall a WONDERFUL day, but one little piece...one short moment....one small look....can alter SO much and make it just a little bit difficult to "spot" those blessings....in that moment, for a blink of an eye....you might find yourself forgetting what you're blessed with. So as I write my 100 blessings, know that some days it comes easier than others b/c I am just like you.....and we're all human.....and some days have a moment of distress.....and some days may feel like an ABSOLUTE train wreck. But I assure you....if even for just a moment, if you take just a small sliver of time to make a promise....that you'll remind yourself of the good....that you can turn that day around and it all be worth WAY more than you thought it would be when it seemed so hopeless....or sad....or maddening.

So.....now I continue with my blessings, with my promise to list 100 blessings in 10 days....

82 - E&K came in quite sweetly to wake me up this morning.

83 - A&S were all cuddled up in their puppy beds when I went to wake them to take them out for their morning potty trip....I just love watching their little puppy bodies stretch as they wake up and look up at me all sweet waiting for me to pick them up.

84 - E&K got dressed & played well with each other before their Aunt C came over.

85 - E&K and Aunt C went to Gatti Town for an afternoon of fun.

86 - Mommy went to see her VERY first movie all by herself....oh no...what to do with such silence & no interruptions.....Ahhhh....so quiet & relaxing.

87 - I found myself missing E&K as I watched my "Mommy movie" this afternoon, it's nice missing your babies sometimes.

88 - E&K and Aunt C showed me a "surprise" when I picked them up...can't say what, we're all going to try & keep it a secret....SHHHHHH....don't tell anyone that our family STINKS at keeping secrets about "surprises."

89 - Had a WONDERFUL phone call with Mr. DG!

90 - Enjoyed watching E&K draw artwork.

91 - E&K are quite talented in the Art Dept, sure makes me proud.

92 - E&K made some SUPER AWESOME "books" today.

93 - No gym & no working out today...relished the moments of relaxation.

94 - Enjoyed some very productive communications today, with several people.

95 - Managed to eat a WHOLE sleeve of GS Thin Mint cookies....UH OH....somehow that really "felt" like a good thing....YEP...it was!

Alright...I'm nearly at 100 blessings and I'll have to go back and look to be sure....but I am pretty sure we are not at Day 10. So, it's looking more & more like I'll be going WAY over. Sounds to me like yet ANOTHER blessing! :)

Lots of Love,

Daughter

P.S. iHEART you Mom, btw.

3-Day for the Cure ANYONE?

Okay, so I'm all signed up, but I received an email with a coupon for $25 off of your registration if you were wanting to sign up. Let me know if you're interested and I'll forward it on to you. There is no limit as to how many people I can send this to, so if you & some of your friends or family are wanting to sign up then feel free to share it with them too.

Hope to hear from you...would LOVE to see you out there!!

XoXo,

Daughter

MANY Blessings...

The day is coming close to being done & I thought I better make note of the many blessings before I head out. Something tells me I'm going to come up with more than 100 blessings by the time the 10th day comes. How about you...how many blessings have you come up with so far?

71 - Woke up early...started the day off with a pep in my step.

72 - Our babysitter, A, is ABSOLUTELY wonderful. We HEART you A!!

73 - E&K had A LOT of fun w/A today.

74 - 9am appointment went really well, great group of ladies!!

75 - Was able to have some "free" time before 12pm appointment.

76 - E&K and I made it to our hair appt safe & sound.

77 - E&K and I got to see Miss M after hair appt.

78 - E&K got sweets at the gas station, Mommy's super big girls!

79 - Mommy cooked dinner...that's right...you heard it here....THIS Momma made her angels dinner.

80 - A&S got to play outside since the weather was nice.

81 - Had a few free moments to paint my own nails...tomorrow we will attempt to paint E&K's.

Did you know....

that March is National Craft Month? Who knew? Anyone who knows me, should know that a "Craft" is my best friend...okay, not literally, but I sure do HEART my crafts. Post a comment of your most recent craft, tell me what you did last and what's on your agenda for your next one....I am always looking for the next fun craft to do (even if I have a MILLION of my own awaiting me).

For me, doing crafts is very therapeutic, it's something that I TRULY enjoy and can really relax when I'm "creating" something fun & new. One of my favorite things to do is make blankets, nothing fancy...or not yet anyways, perhaps one day....but I've made a few baby blankets. Most of my blankets seem to be for loved ones who are in treatment. Do you know how ABSOLUTELY COLD it is up at the dr's office??? Seriously....it is SO cold that I think I may need to make my very own blanket to use while I'm up there....but I have made some for friends & family and it makes me happy to know that they're all snuggled up with something that I made. :) Most treatment centers have blanket warmers that they keep TONS of blankets stocked up in. But if you have to go back for labs or to see the dr before treatment, then it's something handy to pack with you. And if you go back to treatment & you don't have a loved one with you then it can be nice to pack one w/you to cuddle up with while you wait for your nurse to come see you & offer you one.

Sooooo....I mention ALL of this just to say that iHEART crafts & iHEART making blankets & iHEART making blankets for the people iHEART....and it can be especially nice to make a blanket for someone that I know who's going through treatment. If you know how to sew and you'd like to make a blanket or you'd like to make a "craft" post a comment below. And if you think you may like to make something & donate it to a treatment center you can post a comment below as well. For those of you who may like to get involved in some way & make a difference with a "craft" please send an email to C2plusU2011@yahoo.com with your information and how you'd like to and someone will respond within 24 hours.

Can't wait to hear from all of you!!

XoXo,

Daughter

Happy Birthday Brother!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY R! It's a BIG one, the big 2-1!

You are an AMAZING Brother, iHEART you more than my words can ever say...I hope you have a FANTASTIC day and I feel incredibly blessed to have you as my MUCH younger brother. ;) Hope 21 treats you well!!!!!!

XoXo,

Your WAY cool Sister

SO many blessings... :)

It seems like each day I find more & more to be grateful for and realize just how blessed I am and how much I have taken for granted. For those of you following this...I think you'd be surprised how many blessings we ALL really have if you made the same promise to list 100 Blessings in 10 days. I'd LOVE to hear yours if you're willing to share...

59 - Brother, R, turns 21 tomorrow.

60 - E&K and I spent a quiet morning at home together.

61 - E&K acted like angels today.

62 - Mom volunteered up at Dr's office this morning & accomplished 2 things at once while doing so.

63 - Mom, E&K and I spent the afternoon together.

64 - K, Mom & I watched most of Babe while E watched the weather channel in the other room.

65 - E gave us all FULL weather reports "live" and we all appreciated the play by play.

66 - Enjoyed some freshly cut veggies w/dinner & so did E&K - plus they tried some Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing that I brought home to try when we were at the store for our 2+ hour trip.

67 - K finished the rest of her book "Dork Diaries" the pinkish colored one.

68 - K beat Grandma and finished her book before Grandma did, YAY Katy, you did it!

69 - Managed to get a trip to the gym in for some fast paced walking and a little jogging, 3 miles complete!

70 - Was able to spend a little while relaxing & watching the Mavs game this evening before heading to bed.

Brother.

R, I can't believe you will be 21 tomorrow....I am SO proud of you & the person that you are. Although you & I are states away, you are close in my heart. iHEART you R!

XO,

Sister.

CHECK OUT the Bulletin Board! tab

The latest addition to the C2 blog is the Bulletin Board! tab, go check it out and start posting comments..... The Bulletin Board! could REALLY be a wonderful resource for our readers so I encourage you to take a look & see what you may be able to post.

Thank you for your help EVERYONE!!

XOXO,

Daughter

B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G-S

Feeling EXTREMELY blessed...

38 - Early bird gets the worm...got up early to get some things done today.

39 - E&K got to spend time w/Grandma (aka My Mom).

40 - E&K had "special" breakfast w/Grandma.

41 - E&K and Grandma have play time together!!

42 - GREAT 9AM appointment.

43 - 2+ hours of grocery shopping w/E&K and E&K being quite helpful!

44 - Let E&K help with "self check-out" at grocery store...on purpose. Patience of a goddess, I think!

44 - Remembered to take grocery shopping list w/me to the store.

45 - Made it to the bank in time to deposit a check.

46 - Exchanging emails w/Philadelphia family this morning.

47 - Enough time to clean guest bathroom...with NO interruptions.

48 - Making friends =) smile.

49 - Made plans to meet with M Wednesday afternoon, so E&K&I can see her, we've missed her!!

50 - E made me a picture and wrote "Hot and fabules Mama". Clearly I am if she says so, haha!!

51 - Good phone call w/KB.

52 - Was able to put together bookshelf for craft room, WhooHoo!!

53 - KB truly IS inspiration & I am lucky to call her a friend.

54 - KB is one STRONG, AMAZING, COURAGEOUS & just down right AWESOME person...YOU ROCK KB!!!!!!

55 - E&K&I made Hamburger Helper for the 1st time...this was a FIRST for all 3 of us. ;)

56 - Dinner was a success, all the girls ate!

57 - Was able to go to the gym, made it a little less than 30 mins before closing...got 1.75 miles in going 4 mph at incline of 10 alternating with jogging at 6.5-7ish. YAY for a quick workout at FAC.

58 - Squeezed in 15 mins of "Insanity".

Thank you Lord for everything you have given me.

XOXO,

Daughter

The blessings keep coming...

All day it's been on my mind, how many blessings will I come up with...am I really appreciating everything that I should be thankful for??

Well...

25 - My friends C&B just gave birth to their first baby last night, little Miss Z. Welcome my sweet angel!

26 - Grateful to have friends like C&B.

27 - Lucky Charms were on sale at Kroger for $2.18 a box.....I bought 2. :)

28 - Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts were outside Kroger this afternoon with nice smiley faces.

29 - Spent time w/Mom this afternoon.

30 - Gave Mom a Mani (no pedi today, maybe next time).

31 - Mom & I watched QVC together, you can never go wrong with QVC.

32 - Mom & I took her dogs D&L for a walk around the neighborhood.

33 - Craftiness...I'll post some pics in the "Photos/Videos" tab of the latest, but this must wait until I go to visit Miss Z...it's a SURPRISE!

34 - Spring forward, the clocks moved ahead an hour and although I lost an hour of sleep, my sweet angels had an early bedtime. E&K&A&S all went to bed like BIG girls!

35 - Caught up on a little bit of laundry....little being the operative word here.

36 - A break from "Insanity" & "Hip Hop Abs".

37 - An easy going day!!!

Until next time...

MUCH Love,

Daughter

C-A-T-H-Y

C ertainly

A mazing,

T alented,

H eroic &

Y outhful!!!

XoXo,

Daughter

More Blessings...

Today was a great day, another day filled with MANY blessings.

14 - Was able to sleep in.

15 - E&K were quietly playing this morning so Mommy could sleep in.

16 - The weather was nice enough for E&K and A&S to play outside.

17 - E enjoyed playing Mario Kart on the Wii and earned Diddy Kong (Mommy has no idea what this is, except that E was CRAZY happy & iHEART her happiness).

18 - K enjoyed reading in her "Dork Diaries Tales from a NOT-SO Popular Party Girl" book.

19 - E&K ate their dinner without fighting w/each other. =) Happy Mommy!!

20 - "Hip Hop Abs" dvd came in the mail today, YAY!!

21 - Did "Hip Hop Abs" workout dvd, this was a site to be seen, OH MY!

22 - Made a hair bow for a friend's daughter, baby C.

23 - Saw SUPER funny Aflac commercial on tv.

24 - Was able to watch the movie "Due Date".

$50 so far...

So far we've raised $50 toward the required minimum fundraising goal of $2,300 to participate in the 2011 Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure. For those of you that may like to donate to help me reach my goal, you'll visit the link below...

www.the3day.org/goto/jordandoncer

Thank you for your support!!

~XO~

100 Blessings in 10 Days

EVERYday is a blessing and I find myself often forgetting some of the smaller things that, at times, I take for granted. Don't you think we all forget, at least some of the time, the things that we are SO fortunate to have, to be blessed with? I know that some of us are better than others at remembering or showing our appreciation, but what if we all took time to write out 10 blessings each day for 10 days...could we find a small piece of added happiness in that day? I think we might! I thought it'd be nice to come up with 100 BLESSINGS in 10 days...10 a day, so here are mine....

1 - E&K got dressed, ate breakfast, brushed teeth & arrived at school on time.

2 - Arrived early to 9:45am appointment this morning.

3 - Treatment was ran over 30 minutes, instead of the 1 1/2 hours that we are quite certain it was ran over last time.

4 - Weather was BEAUTIFUL again.

5 - A&S (my two sweet puppies) were able to play outside for MOST all of the day today.

6 - Arrived right on time to lunch appointment.

7 - Lunch appointment went super good, LOVED Alicia!

8 - Had time to spare after lunch appointment to get a few things done around the house before picking E&K up from school.

9 - E&K were able to play soccer outside after school with their friends.

10 - E&K were able to enjoy some play time outside at home too!

11 - E&K's cribs found a new & good home with another family.

12 - E&K stayed up a little late tonight and went to bed like BIG girls.

13 - Managed to make it to the gym for 2 1/2 miles on the treadmill.

Had a couple of other blessings that I couldn't leave out & so many more that I hope to share in the days to come. Post a comment with your daily blessings too, we'd love to know what you're blessed with...

XoXo,

Daughter

Life's a "Rollercoaster Ride"

Life's certainly a "Rollercoaster Ride". But as sure as you're feeling down, you'll be back up before you know it. =)

LOTS of LOVE,

Daughter

Sara Bareilles - Breathe Again with lyrics

Don't lose your faith...God is there to help keep you strong through this journey. Keep your faith strong! He's there for you EVERY "breath" you take. Look inside...your faith will help you, he will help you, he's EVERYWHERE watching over you.

XOXO,

Daughter

Feed the ducks!!

Today was a B-E-A-utiful day outside!!! It's starting to feel a little like Spring outside...but don't worry, it'll feel like winter in another day or two, just wait, we do live in TX.

So the four of us went to the pond today. Grandma (we refer to her as Grandma when it involves my two little ones) packed the loaf of bread and a couple of snacks for E&K and we were on our way. It's something so little, it's something so small, but the four of us girls had a GRAND time feeding the sweet little ducks. FYI - NO ducks/geese attacked the humans today, YAY for the little things!!

The pond is just around the corner and the weather was perfect, so we decided we should make this a regular outing. If you don't have a pond nearby, a park could be the next best thing. We agreed that next time we'd pack a blanket...don't wanna have to check the ground for puppy or duck poo. Mom & I thought maybe we'd sew a blanket that we could call our "duck feeding at the pond blanket". Okay, so I'm the one who wants to sew it, but Mom agreed...wait, did she agree or was her head just moving b/c she was trying to block the wind out of her face? Hmmm....well, either way, Mom & I are SO gonna sew a blanket. I'll post a comment after we get a picture up in the Picture/Video section.

Today was a beautiful day, post a comment and tell us what you did today?

Lots of Love,

Daughter

Exercise?!

Oh my!! It is true, I clearly NEED more exercise and I'm reminded of it with all of my silly aches & pains. Some of us need a swift kick in the rear to get our butts in gear so we get out & in the gym. I have to admit, I am one of those people & I have given into peer pressure of friends.

Last week I got back into the gym to start working toward my training for the 3-Day for the Cure this upcoming November. This is 60 miles people, 60 miles of walking...oh yes, I said "walking" and last year I was in sad shape with my blistered up feet & broken down knees. That's not going to happen this year. :)

A friend of mine convinced me to start the "Insanity" workout program, so a couple of days ago I began & today was Day 3. Goodness...I didn't know I could possibly sweat SO much, definitely not feeling like a pretty lady with all that sweat! BUT, I must say, I have SOOOO much more energy. In fact, that may be why I wound up staying awake until after 4am yesterday then back up at 6:30am....perhaps! No, I'm sure that was me just wound up on the Pepsi I drank right before bed, whoopsie!!! But seriously, for those of you struggling with feeling like you just never have enough energy, or you have little people to chase around the house who require A LOT of attention & ENERGY, then you should consider getting back into the gym or starting a workout program (of course you'll want to be sure you have doctor's consent/permission if you are or have been in treatment). There is something calming, something very productive about it all. When I lay in bed at night, I have this new found sense of great accomplishment. And I am quite sure I didn't get the whole house clean today, so it couldn't have been too great of an accomplishment. ;) Exercising feels good, whether it's 5 minutes or 50 minutes, 5 times per day, consider making the commitment. My bet is on "you being glad you did."

Most doctors believe that if you exercise (on some level) during your treatment that it will help you with your recovery & help keep your body strong. Post your comments and let us know what you do & share any tips you think may be helpful...

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts Official Video

EVERYTIME I hear this song I can't help but think of this as a simile to women (& men) battling breast cancer. It brings tears to my eyes, but happy tears, when you see that she regains her strength & triumphs as he (the cancer) crumbles right there in front of her.

James Blunt - Calling Out Your Name [Lyrics]

I dedicate this to my mom and anyone else out there battling cancer. "Lift your head up high" because someone cares & someone is out there "Calling out your name".

Mom, I love you more than ANYTHING & I will ALWAYS be here to "Call out your name" because TOGETHER we will not let cancer define you. This will only build you stronger, stronger than you EVER were before. iHEART YOU MOM.

XOXO,

Daughter of Yours

2011 Komen NorthTexas Plano Race for the Cure

Okay, so I'm all set and ready to go for the Plano Race for the Cure this year... Okay, so I'm not "all set" as in I'm ready to actually RUN in this, but I am ready to make an attempt (attempt being the key word here) in my running efforts AND I have registered. This year the walk is Saturday, June 11th so if you're out and about or you'll be there be sure to hunt me down & say hello!! I am SUPER excited, as always!! :) Because this will be the first time that I attempt the 5k instead of the Family Fun Walk/Run, so it should be interesting as to how it goes...fingers crossed! I'll definitely keep everyone posted and give a quick update after the race, until next time...

Sincerely,

Jordan

What is Cathy Cares, better known as C2?

There are MILLIONS of people with cancer, whether it's: breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma or one of the many other forms of cancer. Cancer is EVERYWHERE whether we want to "see" it or not, it's there, it's all around us. And Cathy Cares (C2) is a blog that's been created to honor my mom, Cathy, to help people find:

-resources

-advocates

-links to other websites

-ideas & tools to raise money

-help when money is limited for a person with cancer

-chat rooms

-healthy diet ideas

-exercising ideas & videos

-events

-social networks

C2 = Cathy Cares

C2 or C squared or Cathy Cares, no matter what you call it, this is something that's been created to help people find answers and to help me find answers. Our job is to help each other through this, because cancer SUCKS and it's NEVER a walk in the park. Let's work together, let's work through this, let's help find an end to cancer because we ALL love someone who's had it or who has it. Let C2 be something that helps get us all through until that day comes!!

Who is Cathy?

She isn't perfect, she isn't a saint, she isn't you and she isn't me but she is....Someone who is more than close to me....Someone who I love....Someone who loved me, even when I interrupted her with my birth...& forced her to miss her FAVORITE soap opera at the time, General Hospital...Someone who fed me my first bottle...Someone who changed A LOT of dirty diapers, I imagine anyway although can't say this for certain ;) ...Someone who took care of me when I chipped my elbow & busted my chin open (needing 4 super awesome stitches)...Someone who took care of me when an ice pick fell on my head by rushing me to the ER, because I would NOT ride in the ambulance even though blood was gushing out (only needed 8 stitches for this trip to the ER)....Someone who didn't ground me for the rest of my life (which I SO would have done if I were her) when I told her my sister "shit in her diaper"...Someone who took me to Ballet, Tap & Jazz for year after year because it was my EVERYTHING and made sure I was ready for all of my recitals, even if it meant I did three of them one year on a broken foot!!...Someone who took care of me when my foot hurt SO badly after 3 dance recitals & rushed me to the orthopedic surgeon who gave me a nice hot (and I do mean HOT) pink cast to help me heal my 'newly' found broken foot...Someone who ALWAYS made sure I got to school on time & never forgot to pick me up, even though I am quite sure there were days she wished she could ~wink, wink...Someone who signed me up for 4-H to expose me (yes, I say expose b/c for those of you who know me, know that I do NOT like cooking) to the finer things in life such as cooking and what not...Someone who not only made sure I got to & from 4-H, but also was sure to sew my project to be entered into the County Fair and someone (and I'm not naming names) got a Blue Ribbon...wonder who that was?!...Someone who always made sure I got to ALL of my orthodontic appointments (oh yes, there were A LOT of those, if you don't believe me then you must NOT have seen my teeth PRE-braces)...Someone who took me to and from my first job for 2 years since I didn't have a driver's license...Someone who helped me find the perfect Homecoming dress...Someone who didn't kill me while attempting to teach me to drive a standard in a Food Lion parking lot...Someone who also didn't kill me when I got my first speeding ticket, within just a few short months of getting that glorious & prestigious driving license, for going 71 in a 50 & racing on my way to school...somehow that police officer managed to pull both of us over, didn't think that was too fair at the time, kinda thought I was gonna get off the hook for that one...Someone who once again did not end up killing me when I got in my first car accident driving home from work (lord only knows why the woman didn't just lock me in my bedroom at this point and throw away the key)...Someone who ALLOWED me, which was extremely generous of her, to go to prom Junior year...oh and took me to store AFTER store to find the "perfect" dress so that night would be special...Someone who read to me, even in high school, because she knew how much I HATED reading, just so I would get it done...Someone who didn't kill me for moving out at 17 to live with a boyfriend (kinda feel like a cat with nine lives at this point)...Someone who, even when living with boyfriend, would find ways to let me work for her...Someone who, when I broke up with said boyfriend, let me come home...Someone who took care of me when I needed to get injections in my jaw and only wanted her...Someone who helped me look for the perfect wedding dress...Someone who took me back to the bridal store after alterations and let the manager know just how much they ruined my dress & that they altered it TOO much, manager then credited the price of the dress toward the dress that I REALLY wanted (did I mention this dress was triple the price, YIKES!!)...Someone who knew how much I wanted the sparkly Swarovski tiara for my wedding day and made sure that I had it for my special day...Someone who let me cry on her shoulders when I was pregnant with my twin daughters because I was so worried about them...Someone who is always good for a laugh when one of my daughters gets sick, pukes all over her & then freaks out b/c there is puke all down her pants...but before "freaking out" calmly puts my sweet daughter down on the couch so she can proceed to "panic" mode...Someone who comes to my rescue when I have kidney stones, not just once and not just twice, but FOUR times and feeling like someone is ripping my kidney out with their bare hands...Someone who still loves me even when I almost punch her in the face as she leans down to see if I need anything when I'm flailing my arms all around from pain when passing one of my many kidney stones...Someone who reads to my children because she knows how much I love all of her funny voices she uses as she reads to them...Someone who helps me clean and put my dishes away when she knows I'm stressed and feel like there isn't enough time in a day...Did I mention she also managed to somehow teach me right from wrong somewhere in between all of this?......Someone who NEVER left my side & always made sure I was safe....Someone who has done SO MANY things that I can't even begin to list them all...She's that someone who has inspired me to be the person I am today....Someone who has given me everything....That someone is the woman who gave me my first breath.......AND I'm not famous AND I'm not a millionaire AND I'm not a queen or even a princess, but I am her daughter, and she is.....MY MOM!!!! Cathy is my mom!