A REALLY good story....

Earlier this morning I received an email from the American Cancer Society, which prompted me to visit their website and I came across this woman's story. So....naturally that meant I just HAD to share it with all of you. Please read & enjoy!

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SurvivorshipDuringandAfterTreatment/StoriesofHope/lung-cancer-survivor-relies-on-sense-of-humor

MUCH love,

Jordan

Mom's Story....

My Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer May 5, 2009 & at that moment it'd be fair to say that we felt like our world was turned upside down. Cancer is something that is quite prevalent in our family so on one hand we knew what to expect throughout this journey. But knowing really doesn't come until you're in that moment and until it happens to you, or someone who's the better part of you like my Mom was to me.

Mom had a double mastectomy followed by 6 rounds of chemo & radiation treatment. It was a rough road, the sickness, the agony, the pure hell it put on her body....but you had to think it was all worth it in the end. She lost her hair, she lost a part of who she felt she once was, her body was being poisoned....it was a lot for one person to go through.

So the end of the treatment came, or so we thought. But Mom called me the morning of February 3rd saying she needed me, that her head was hurting unbearably. Those of you who know my Mom, know that she sometimes liked a little excitement, but this was different.....I could feel it, this time I just knew something was very wrong. I had just dropped E&K off at school that morning and went straight to her. We sat in a dark room in complete silence and i gently rubbed her head trying to sooth & relax her. I told her to take deep breaths, that we'd get through this and that it'd all be okay. Soon after I uttered those words she began to throw up though, and again, those of you who know my Mom she does NOT throw up. She was in far too much pain and it was getting worse, so we left & went straight to the oncologist. They gave her some meds, which I tried to tell them she was allergic to, but no one listened & gave to her anyway. These meds were to help calm her, to help with the nausea etc so we could go back for a CT scan to see what was going on, but their plan backfired, she couldn't sit still and was worse than when we arrived. We got her into a wheelchair and they told me to rush her to the ER across the street, that they'd let them know we were coming.

Staying calm but moving quickly, we went to the ER. They too couldn't perform the CT scan b/c she was still not able to remain still. We had to wait until the meds wore off....so waiting is what we did. FINALLY she's able to go back for a scan and each minute that passed felt like an hour. She comes back to the room, sedated at this point & in an induced coma, and soon after the ER doctor comes into the room with a copy of the scan. Very plainly, emotionless and without any compassion he points to it and says "You see this area right here, that is where the tumor is." I thought, very quickly, to myself how I know I didn't 'hear what I think I just heard. Thank goodness Chelsea was there, it's always been us girls, but in that moment I don't know what I would've done without her. This was COMPLETE devastation, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't control the emotion that came over me. It was my sister, and the grace of God of course, that got at least me through that moment. From that moment forward there was absolutely no sense of time what so ever. The Neuro Surgeon, Dr. Charles Chang, came and met with us and explained in further detail what we were looking at & the risks involved. At the time I thought, wow, this man is very matter of fact and I don't know if I like him and he's about to drill a hole in my Mom's brain. But after some deep breaths I realized he was indeed the man for the job, he had an answer for every question, he checked his emotion at the door so we'd have every ounce of confidence in that he knew exactly what he was doing and that there was no room for error. He was not certain that she'd make it through this surgery and told us that if she did make it through it'd be a long road ahead and that there will likely be cancer in other areas due to the fact the cancer had metastasized to her brain (and when you remove a brain tumor you are not able to remove the surrounding tissue with cancer cells w/o losing brain function) since most chemos do NOT treat your brain. Mom & Dr. Chang kicked butt in surgery, he gave my Mom...all of us....more time! God is good, we truly were blessed with a miracle to be in such good hands.

The road didn't stop there of course. Mom remained in an induced coma for a little longer, but we were able to slowly lighten sedation and see how she responded. She was doing good, she was coming out of the sedation and began breathing on her own again. Hearing her voice again was the first sign, in my mind, that everything was going to be okay. She could talk again, she could tell us how she felt and she could respond. Mom had NO idea what all had happened. She woke up not knowing the decisions that had been made and the many fears that we all had. Emotionally this was hard on Mom, this was another obstacle that only she could deal with since it was her who went through it. As hard as it was for us, we were just on the sidelines, it was her who went through it physically.

We moved on from the hospital and went to a rehab facility where Mom had to learn to walk again, to do the simple things that you and I may take for granted. This was no simple task for most, but for my Mom....well, she pretty much kicks butt at whatever she puts her mind to and this was no exception. It took time, but we got there, she did it! During all of this, she's beginning her radiation treatment to her brain. Once we completed that, we had another PET scan which unfortunately did reveal more extensive signs that the cancer had spread. As hard as it was to hear, if she could make it through brain surgery then I figured she's got this one in the bag. Okay, so I didn't really think that, but I knew my Mom was tough and together we'd do it.

Like I said before, there are very few chemos that treat the brain as well as the rest of the body, so we were looking at a limited supply to choose from. We tried and tried to find on that her body would accept, but none worked. So we moved onto other chemos that would be strong enough to regain control of the other cancer in her body since at this point we didn't have reason to believe cancer remained in the brain, aside from the possible microscopic cancer cells. Over and over we attempted treatments, but each time we kept coming to the same road block which was that we kept getting mixed results. Each time we'd see improvement in some areas, but new growths and enlargements in other areas. This was NOT us having control of the cancer, but the cancer still controlling her body. We had to keep trying, there's 1,000's of drugs out there, so trying is what we did. In the meantime, we had also re-visted her plastic surgeon, Dr. Jeffery Krueger, and asked for his help in removing her tissue expanders. Out of all the agony we experienced in trying different treatments for the cancer, a ray of hope came from Dr. Krueger and his office (specifically from his office, Carrie). Not only were they glad to help & saw to it that they did everything in their power to help make sure that my Mom was taken care of, but they did it with compassion. Compassion isn't a skill you can teach or acquire, it's who you are, it's something you either have (or don't) for the love of others. I thank God for the two of them to have been a part of our journey!!

FINALLY, the first part of 2011 we start this last chemo and we get a PET scan back in March that shows NO new growth, NO enlarged tumors and we even saw that some had gone away while the rest had shrunk. We were elated, we were on Cloud 9!! FINALLY, after all this time, we were there, WE HAD CONTROL!!!! This was the best news of the century, well, aside from E&K being born. But really, if bells & whistles could've gone off at that moment I'm pretty sure everyone would be deaf from how loud it was.

But those imaginary bells and whistles that we were once hearing were silenced. In May of 2011 Mom started wheezing, she started having difficulty breathing.....on May 11, 2011 she was admitted to the hospital for what we were told was "just" pneumonia. This final trip to the hospital wasn't supposed to be her final memories. Each day we were faced with one surprise after another, but we tried tot make the most of it b/c at first we were not told it was anything more than a case of pneumonia. Mom was a champ though, she followed all the rules, she did what she was supposed to and we spent many of those first days laughing & being silly like only we girls can do. Toward the end of our hospital stay we were informed by the oncologist that this was in fact cancer, that he was no longer able to help us. And on June 9, 2011 God tightly embraced Mom in his arms & took away all of her pain and all of her suffering.

Martina McBride - I'm Gonna Love You Through It

Everyone needs someone to love them through it!

These men & women who are battling cancer are fighting for their lives. If you know someone who has been diagnosed, whether it's recent or not, know that they NEED you to love them through it & show it......sometimes loving them just means stopping in for a quick hello & sometimes it means sending them a quick note in the mail to let them know you're thinking of them & sometimes it just means sitting with them during their treatment that week.

No matter how strong you think that person is strength grows in numbers, so be another person standing by their side through it & know that it makes a difference. Each of us can help make a difference & I encourage you to do so in whatever way you know how to b/c I guarantee he or she will feel your love.

MUCH Love,

Daughter

Don't forget to order TEAM JORDAN bracelets!!

For those of you who'd like to show your support and purchase a TEAM JORDAN bracelet, please post a comment below with your Name and the Quantity. Once you've done that you can go visit my 3-Day for the Cure fundraising page at

www.the3day.org/goto/jordandoncer

Each bracelet is $5 and all money raised from the bracelets will go toward my Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Donations can be made there for your bracelet order as well as a general donation toward my walk.

Thank you SO much for your love & support!!

MUCH love,

Daughter

100 More Blessings....

Earlier this year I challenged myself to come up with 100 blessings in 10 days and it seems appropriate to make this challenge once again. And since it's been awhile since I've taken the time to count my blessings, I thought I'd start to countin'.......

1 - K felt well enough to go back to school this morning.

2 - We managed to get K to school (and a morning bath) on time this morning and NO sickness in the car.

3 - E & Mommy are having special a day at home together.

4 - Received a $120 online donation last night for my 3-Day for the Cure walk.

5 - E is starting to feel better & is looking forward to returning to school tomorrow.

6 - GREAT friends who check in on E&K and I to make sure everyone is still in one piece. ;-)

7 - Having "down" time at home to relax while E is cuddled up on the couch.

8 - Catching up on the "sick" laundry we accumulated yesterday.

9 - Blisters on my feet are beginning to heal.

Will be back again with more blessings!!

MUCH love,

Daughter

Heaven's calling....

God embraced my Mom's brother yesterday, October 30th, 2011.

I know Mom needed him. I know Mom knew his pain. I know Mom spoke to him & said it was okay to come & be with her in heaven. She knew he was tired. She knew his human body was now too weak for this earth. I know that she called his name from Heaven and made sure he knew God would be there to embrace them together.

He fought this disease for a long time and he, just like my Mom, was a CHAMP! He was a good man, a great son, an amazing Uncle, good friend......and God has healed him.

Uncle J was a quiet man, a little reserved at times even. But every time I went for a visit to see my Mom's parents in NY he was sure to stop in & give me a hard time. As a kid I LOVED it, I LOVED when he came b/c I knew that we'd always make a trip out to his truck & see if there was any gum in the glove box. This wasn't just any gum though, it was Big Red gum, the kind that as a child burned my lips & tongue and brought a tear to my eye. You can imagine, that this favorite Uncle of mine, must have for sure had a nickname for me.....yep.....I was known as CryBaby. And oddly enough, although as an adult I do not cry when I eat Big Red, I have still been known to be called that from time to time.

I have some wonderful memories of my Uncle that I thank God to have, but I will try to take great comfort in knowing the pain is gone and Mom now has a partner in crime up there in Heaven.

I love you Uncle J! I love you Mom!

MUCH Love & Prayer,

Niece/Daughter

House Painting

House Painting 101

So.....painting in your FAVORITE jeans and NEW FAVORITE sunglasses.....could be considered a BAD idea. Good news though, NO paint on the jeans (that I can tell so far) and just a few minor specks of paint on the lenses which THANKFULLY came off without so much as a scratch. Painting was a success, SWEET! And did I mention that my painting wasn't too shabby either, or I thought it was anyway. :)

MUCH love,

Daughter

XOXOXO

BIG thank you to ALL of you!

I'd just like to take a moment to thank each of you for being such a blessing in my life, without you..........my life would be MUCH different.

Today's an especially difficult day, but with such great friends (my sister, Chels, & Tonia especially) in my life it will be an especially amazing day too!! Mom & I's birthday is exactly 1 week apart....every October it's like one BIG holiday in our family, with both birthdays and then of course Halloween (Mom's favorite holiday) too! The month isn't over yet, we're just barely half way through, but because of my friends & because of all that you do to love & support me....I know it's all going to be okay.

God has truly blessed me with some incredible friends (again, especially my sister & Tonia) and two AMAZING daughters. Last night, as I lay in bed, I thanked God for all that he's given me & I wanted each of you to also know how thankful I am, so thank you. Each of you were carefully placed in my life, at exactly the right moment and in exactly the right way....and I thank you for being a part of the girls & I's life.

With MUCH love & appreciation,

Jordan

XO XO XO

Good Shive Low CD Release Party

Tonia & I at Good Shive Low CD Release Party

10-14-2011

It was a great show & I was SO thankful to have been a part of this night for such an AMAZING band. These guys are UNREAL & I LOVED every minute of the show....even when it had to get moved to the indoor stage b/c noise levels were just TOO loud....CLEARLY a good sign of a SUCCESSFUL event. Congratulations Good Shive Low!!!!

BIG HUGE thanks to these guys for collecting donations for my 3-Day for the Cure walk & passing out TEAM JORDAN bracelets!!! Not only are they AMAZINGLY talented, but they're incredibly kind & generous to help me raise money for this year's walk.

Their music isn't like ANY other band you've heard and I can guarantee you'll want to download their WHOLE cd after listening to just one song like I did.

Check them out:

www.GoodShiveLow.com

MUCH LOVE,

Jordan

XOX

Logging in the miles with the girls!

E&K are loving the nightly "Training Walks" with Mommy!

On Wednesday we got 1.10 put in, half before dinner and the other half right after. Mommy didn't have to carry any children this night, good job girls!! ;-)

And then tonight, we decided to mix things up a little bit and brought the Razors along....this made for a little more fun & a quicker pace for me (which I was appreciative of), YAY! Tonight we did 1.15 miles and the 3 of us had a great time. We're even able to do some slight "multi-tasking" b/c we pre-heat the oven for the first half of the walk, then loop back by the house to put food in so it's done by the time we finish up our walk. Works out PERFECTLY, if you ask me. Ran into some neighbors, who were amused & thought maybe we were onto something for how they'd plan out their night out. Who knows.....maybe we'll add some fellow neighbors to our nightly walks!?!

Will keep you updated on our mini "Training Walks" and let you know how we're doing. Tomorrow we're adding a little friend for the girls.....her Mommy recently was embraced in God's arms, so we pray the little girl can walk with us & know we hold her in prayer each day & each night.

MANY prayers,

Daughter

P.S. To support us in our fundraising efforts for the 3-Day for the Cure please visit my personal link at www.the3day.org/goto/jordandoncer

Dear God...

Dear God,

I ask you for so many things, each and every single day, but I ask for you to PLEASE keep my family in your thoughts & prayers in these coming days. I ask & I beg you to please keep my loved ones from pain & suffering.

I pray that you can give my family a miracle of healing. Please heal my Uncle, please do not let him suffer, please find a cure for all that his body endures.

Although many are in greater need of you, much more than I in this moment, I am grateful for the strength you somehow manage to provide me with. Thank you God, without you I'd be lost. I ask that you please help others see their strength through you & I pray they know your undying love.

With MANY prayers,

Jordan

1.03 mile Training Walk w/E&K

Girls and I did ANOTHER "Training Walk"!

SUPER stoked we made it w/o the little red wagon...

Can you tell......?

Girls and I walked 1.03 miles tonight before dinner and Mommy only had to carry E&K for about 1/2 a mile of it....not too shabby. Good job girls!!!

MUCH love,

Mommy

XO~XO~XO

P.S. If you'd like to support me in my fundraising please visit my personal fundraising link to make an online donation at www.the3day.org/goto/jordandoncer as of right now we're at $570.00 toward the $2,300 requirement to walk.

Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

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Give yourself to others.....know that it may be YOU that they need in that moment & at that time. Don't wait for them to ask for your help or for them to ask you for something, just be there by their side unconditionally loving them.

I never knew how much I needed some of my friends & my sister until recently & I thank God every day for them. Without them.......well.......I'm just really glad that I'm not without them & that they stand by me.

MUCH love,

Jordan

They're in!!!!

TEAM JORDAN Bracelets

$5 each

(100% of your $ goes toward my 3-Day walk)

If you'd like to make an online donation to pay for your bracelets, please text me or leave a comment on this blog post so I know you are looking to buy bracelets & we'll make a time for your bracelets to be picked up. Thank you SO much for your love & support!!

MUCH love & appreciation,

Jordan

XOXOX

www.The3Day.org/goto/JordanDoncer

1 Mile Training Walk

10-3-2011

Today the girls & I did a 1 mile "Training Walk" to get prepared for this year's 3-Day for the Cure walk. We made it 6 houses and the rest of the walk looked a little something like this for the girls..... Thank goodness Mommy brought the little red wagon!

MUCH Love,

Daughter

XOXO

TEAM JORDAN - $10 iTunes Giveaway

I've officially created a TEAM JORDAN Facebook page to help bring awareness to my fundraising efforts for the 3-Day for the Cure.

Check out TEAM JORDAN Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TEAM-JORDAN/197764646961015

I REALLY need your help....please visit the page and hit "Like" so we can keep growing with followers. Right now we have 47 people who "Like" the page. Would LOVE to hit 100 "Like's" by the end of the week, but I can't do it without you.

For those of you who would like to help, please make a comment on this blog post AND visit & "Like" the TEAM JORDAN FaceBook page before 5pm Sunday, 10/9/2011 so you can be entered into the drawing.

Drawing for $10 iTunes gift card will be held: 10/10/2011

MUCH Love,

Daughter

At $250 so far...

My 3-Day event for 2011 takes place November 4th, 5th & 6th, a little less than 3 months away. As of right now I've been able to raise $250 toward my $5,000 fundraising goal and I'm so incredibly grateful for everyone's love & support!! For those who may like to help me in my fundraising I welcome you to visit my 3-Day homepage at:

www.the3day.org/goto/jordandoncer

MUCH love & appreciation,

Daughter

3-Day Training

Gearing up for another year of 3-Day training

with my FAV brand of socks!

If Tonight Is My Last- Laura Izabor

Today marks 2 months of Mom being healed & in the arms of God. I dedicate this video to my sister, C, on behalf of our Mom. Mom spent her last moments with C & I by her side.....Mom had exactly what she wanted & needed and that was for us to be right by her side loving her.

I love you sweetie....and so does Mom!!

Love you super duper,

Sister

For YOUR Entertainment...

For those of you who need a good laugh this morning, this may do the trick! Yesterday I was attempting to learn how to put the bag on the lawn mower as well as turn it on. Who knew it could take an actual effort to accomplish this?!?

MUCH love....& laughing,

ME

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th everyone!

The girls & I had an early 4th of July celebration with some good friends last night & we thought we'd share a quick glimpse into our night with each of you....

We headed out to Kaboom Town in Addison & saw a pretty amazing fireworks show & the girls all rode their Razors around in circles....and more circles....until this Mommy thought she'd get sick from watching. We're just so incredibly grateful for the "little things" that God has given to us....and so blessed that we were able to spend the evening in the company of our friends Shannon, her daughter, her Mom & her sister. We HEART our Girls Nights!

This year was a little different than last year's celebration.......it's our first 4th without Mom/Grandma. Last year we cooked out, did sparklers around the yard, hoola hoops, ate ice cream....and had friends over. Over all it was an AMAZING 4th & one of the best yet! Although Mom didn't get to celebrate with us again this year, we certainly thought of her throughout the day & night.

We hope each of you have a wonderful, and safe, 4th of July this year!!

MUCH love,

Daughter

Prayer request...

Please say a prayer for a VERY dear friend of mine that I was blessed to meet during the time my Mom was in the hospital.

This lady, as well as her family, became my family for many nights during my Mom's stay at the hospital. We all bonded over a Dallas Mavericks game, which clearly this is a bond that CANNOT be broken. ;-) This family was so kind to me, so loving, so sweet.....and all of them have a very special place in my heart.

Tonight I just found out that she's in the hospital & was admitted earlier today. Please say MANY prayers for her & her family during this time. They've suffered a great deal of grief while another loved one was in the hospital last month. Please pray that my friend who's now in the hospital is well soon & able to be at home with her own loved ones.

It's amazing how far prayer can go.......it's such a small thing really & it only takes but a moment of your time.......but it can do so much for others.

MUCH appreciation & love,

Daughter

SO proud of my friend Kat W.

As some of you know, I've made a blanket & bow or two in my time, so.....I couldn't resist making one for my friend Kat too, to let her know I love her & that I'm always 110% behind her.

MUCH love,

Daughter

A kind woman...

A kind woman named Joy, who I was never able to know very well, passed away yesterday morning. Her spirit was sweet & kind and all that is nice. And I know that her memory will forever live on in her family. Please take this moment to say a prayer for her family in their time of need.

Do not worry....Mom will take good care of her!

MANY prayers,

Daughter

Natalie Merchant-Kind And Generous

My Mom continues to give me many things although she is no longer here with us. And I not only thank her for all she's given to me, but I thank each of you too....who've been there for me at my weakest & finest of moments. THANK YOU for all you have done!!

MUCH Love,

Daughter

HEART you.

6-10-2011

Chelsea & I made a special visit to Nordstrom, our FAV store, to goof off & honor Mom with a little dress up time. We tried on TONS of dresses & found the PERFECT ones for Mom's special day -- Mom would've said "That dress is SO Chelsea and that dress is SO Jordan!"

Rhonda Preston @ Stonebriar Nordstrom was AWESOME! She's a dear friend of mine who I've come to know through business. And when I told her I needed help getting ready for Mom's service & could she pull a bunch of dresses for my sister & I she didn't bat an eyelash. She pulled SO many great dresses in our sizes & turned this sad time in our lives into a joy that our Mom would've been proud to be a part of. Chels & I were able to honor our Mom by enjoying this the way that Mom would have....and that's with a smile & some goofiness!!

iHEART you Chels! You're a beautiful young woman

and I'm proud to call you my sister.

XO,

Sister

Cancer SUCKS!!!

I was going through some of my YouTube videos that I've done & ran across this one that I did back in February of this year, which seemed appropriate & relevant to how I feel again today...

Break Thru - Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me

I miss you Mom!

I'll spend the rest of my life trying to help people find their "Break Thru" & help be by their side in honor of my Mom. She will always be in my heart & always be my inspiration to be more...to do more...to love more...to do everything I can to find everyone a "Break Thru" when they're fighting cancer. I miss her SO much, but I know she's watching over me guarding, protecting and guiding me in this mission.

LOTS of Love,

Daughter

P.S. Please sign up as a "Follower" of our blog!

Cathy Cares, Inc.

Good morning!

My Mom lost her battle with cancer 2 days ago. She fought one heck of a fight....25 months! And I am SOOOO incredibly proud of her and all of her energy & courage, she's inspiring to say the least!

For those of you who follow this blog, you know that this was created to honor my Mom and built to help other cancer patients emotionally & financially in their journey of fighting. It's been a work in progress and there are still pieces to put together in order to get this organization up & running, but....

Cathy Cares, Inc. is in the process of becoming a corporation and a Not for Profit organization. A fee of $550 has been paid to get this started and we are told it will take several months before it will be considered "Active". Please sign up as a follower to this blog to show your support for my Mom and check back for more details.

Those of you who would like to make a charitable donation, please be sure you've signed up as a "Follower" of this blog so we can reach you when our status is clear & Active. We appreciate your generosity and look forward to helping your funds go to help Survivors emotionally & financially.

MUCH Love,

Daughter

5k training...

Okay....so today marks the first day of my 5k training for the Plano Race for the Cure. Have no fear, I am not alone in this....a friend of mine offered to help me train. And I'm not intimidated in the least just b/c she did a half marathon a couple months back....okay, maybe I am just a little bit. But I made her promise not to poke fun at me behind my back too much, since clearly I am lacking in the athletic dept. And she agreed! We agreed! We agreed that she'd only talk smack to my face to keep me moving. So far so good!! And I'll try to post an update tomorrow as to how much of my mileage I actually walked, haha.

Lots of Love,

Me

10 more days until Relay for Life...

ONLY 10 more days until the BIG day! It's hard to believe, b/c that's just around the corner.

As of right now I've been able to raise $175 in personal donations for our team with a personal goal of $500. Just about half way there, WHOOHOO!!

For those of you who'd like to follow the status of my fundraising please click on the link below:

http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=15975001&pg=personal&fr_id=32391&s_src=iphone

Hopefully my camera won't be on the fritz and I can snap some good pics at the relay. I am SUPER excited.....can't wait to share how it goes!!

Lots of Love,

Daughter

Happy Mother's Day ladies!

Photo Taken: 10/2010

Hope all of you ladies out there have a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!

Lots of Love,

Daughter

HOLY COW!!

I just received an email from our Relay for Life Team Captain and she said that we are now at $3,100. This is AMAZING and WONDERFUL! With just a little over 2 weeks to go until the event I'd say we're on the fast track to success. You ladies are unbelievably awesome!

We still have another fundraising event, our 2nd (and final) Dippin' Dots day & the change that the kiddos at school are bringing in. Between both of those, I'm sure we're going to go over $4,000 & it's hard to believe that in such a short amount of time we could raise this much. I'm in awe of the love & support from this school and this team.

I joined this team because I am inspired to do more, to do my part, I wanted to show my support for JF and I wanted to honor my Mom. These are two women who show me strength & give me LIVING proof that you can do ANYTHING!! And there isn't a day that I don't say a prayer for JF and my Mom, iHEART you ladies.

Love,

Daughter

1st Giveaway...

This will be C2PlusU's first giveaway and we're SUPER excited! We will be doing a giveaway of a $10 iTunes gift card, b/c who doesn't need some new upbeat music or fun apps?!

Here are three different ways you can enter the giveaway:

• Read 2 of our blog posts & post a comment on each of them
• Become a "Follower"
• Post a link to your favorite C2PlusU's blog post on your FaceBook account in your status telling people about the blog

Each one counts as an entry in the giveaway, so if you do all three you triple your odds! That's it, pretty simple, right?

Okay, the cut off will be Friday at midnight (central time) and I'll post the winner Saturday morning.

Good luck everyone!!

Lots of Love,

Daughter

Seven Things Young Men Should Do to Protect Against Cancer ARTICLE

If you have a special man in your life; husband, boyfriend, father, brother, son, cousin, friend....then this article may be something worth sharing with them.

http://www.texasoncology.com/press-releases.aspx?id=6134

LOTS of Love,

Daughter

Surprised Kitty (Original)

This video TOTALLY makes me smile & laugh EVERY time I watch it!! My brother had told me about it a few years ago & I saved it to my YouTube "Favorites." Hope you'll get a good laugh too.... Or if you know someone who needs one, this could do the trick (it does for me, but then again I am easily amused).

XoXo,

Daughter

Jon Christopher Davis, "Relay For Life," for the American Cancer Society

Good morning!!!!

Okay, so I'm sitting here trying to get some work done & I have my iPod on shuffle & this song came up.... A few months ago I had come across it online somewhere & couldn't help but download it. =) Not sure how many of you have heard this song, but with the Relay for Life coming up I thought I'd share it with everyone.

Lots of Love,

Daughter

Dippin' Dots Fundraiser

Okay....so we held a Dippin' Dots fundraiser for our Relay for Life team, Team Frame, at the school this afternoon. And we raised nearly $400, we came in at $399 to be more precise....but who's counting?! And we did this in less than an hour, I'd say that was pretty darn successful if you ask me.

We had two different locations at the school, both stations had long (but quick) lines of parents, students & siblings. The kids were all SO excited to get their ice cream and eager to choose their flavor. Did I mention that we had 6......

Yes, you heard me right, there were 6 different flavors to choose from. OH my!!!! And I must admit I thought we'd have lines of kids contemplating their many options with impatient friends surrounding & crowding....however, ALL of the kiddos were so polite, so patient & quickly chose their flavor without so much as a blink of an eye. And the kids who weren't as fortunate to have 6 flavors to choose from & suddenly found themselves out of their "first pick" did quite well and opted quickly for the next best one.

Over all this afternoon was a GREAT success and I think we're all eager to do another Dippin' Dots fundraiser that I'm sure will be just as good (our second, and last, Dippin' Dots Fundraiser will be held May 13th, same time, same place - hope to see everyone out there again)!! And once again, Team Frame members, you ladies all ROCK and I know Julie must be incredibly proud to have each of you out there supporting, loving and advocating for her.

With MUCH love & appreciation,
Daughter

Happy Birthday Dad!

E&K's Papa doesn't live nearby, so we send our birthday wishes via internet....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

....oh and Happy Earth Day too!!!!!

Love,

Daughter and E&K

Total for Team Frame Car Wash....

.....was $310. That is AMAZING! For just 3 short hours of everyone pitching in to wash cars we raised over $300. It's amazing how a little bit of effort, a little bit of physical activity can raise money. And really....I think it's safe to say that we all had fun while doing it too.

I am SO proud to be a part of Team Frame's Relay for Life! These ladies are amazing and so giving of themselves and their time. And although I do not know them all personally, I feel extremely blessed to be a part of the team.

Lots of Love,
Daughter

Relay for Life Car Wash

We had our Car Wash for our Relay for Life team & it was a SUCCESS! Almost all of our team was able to be there & we had a few helpers that I know we all appreciated having there. We'll find out on Monday what the grand total is on the donations, but the last time we took a count on the money we were in the $260's and still had an hour left. I'll post an update this week for those of you following our progress.

If you'd like to show your support too, even if you weren't able to come to the Car Wash today, please click on the link below and you can make an online donation.


http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=15975001&pg=personal&fr_id=32391&s_src=iphone

Just a little over a month away til the BIG DAY....

XO,
Daughter

Happy Birthday Sister!

Happy Birthday C!!!!

I can't believe you've turned 23, you're starting to make me feel OLD...SLOW down, slow the years down. :)

iHEART you sweetie. You are a remarkable young woman and I am INCREDIBLY proud of you and all that you have accomplished.

XoXo,

Your SUPER DUPER sister

Happy Birthday E&K!

My dear sweet angels....HAPPY BIRTHDAY E&K!!!!!

Mommy is SO proud of you and the girls you are becoming. In 7 short years you have never failed to amaze me, to make me laugh, to make me cry...happy tears, and to make me feel like I am loved by your sweet little hearts. You two are the best part of me and I couldn't be more proud!!

iHEART you E&K!

LOVE,

Mommy

XOXOXOXO

7 months until I walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Dallas

That's right, only 7 months until I walk in my second Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Dallas event. I am EXTREMELY excited to be a part of this again. Last year was an incredible experience and I really look forward to sharing this journey with you!! I'll post some pictures & funny videos so you can truly feel the experience. :)

Genetic Testing ARTICLE

For those of you trying to understand whether or not to consider "Genetic Testing" this article on Texas Oncology's website may be of some help to you.

http://www.texasoncology.com/patients-public/medical-services/genetic-testing.aspx

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