Half Year Mark.

At The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp

Six months of chemo free days. We had the best weekend to enjoying it at The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in CT. This was our first visit at this camp and we are hooked! Friday we arrived at dinner time and settled in. Our Saturday was action packed, I started the day off with some yoga, met the kids and our wonderful Family Pal for a yummy breakfast and then some fishing, I took Iza to record a song in a fancy recording studio ( I can't wait until we get out CD!), Magi did one also, Mimi was loving fishing she would have stayed there all day!  Before lunch Magi and I had some time to squeeze in Archery, she is a big fan and asked for a bow an arrow at home, we might have to hold off on that just a little while. After lunch we rested up and dove right into some arts and crafts, all 4 rooms of it, it was a small heaven for us. The Tower was next on our list of things to do, a giant wall to climb, all three girls got their gear on without hesitation and waited their turn. All loved it (including me) the bonus was the long Zip line to get down from the tower, Magi chose not to go down the zip line and got lowered down, although said later she wished she "flew". Somewhere there was yoga for the kids, more arts and crafts, Dinner followed by lots of singing and dancing. The girls have lots of new songs to sing now.  The most awaited event was stage night. All the kids did such a great job getting out there and showing their talents, making us laugh, sing along and answer knock-knock jokes.Iza sang, Magi "played" on the piano, and all three did a fancy fashion show in prom dresses taped on with duck tape! Sunday we got up bright and early so we can enjoy every bit of camp before we had to leave. At breakfast all the Moms got special treatment since it was a mother's day at camp, it was so sweet, the dining hall was decorated in rose petals. All the kids came to us with cards, flowers and gifts, it was a very special day! During the whole weekend families were photographed by Hallmark Institute of Photography, before we left we were presented with a framed picture and a CD with images, the above picture is one of them. I am sure I am forgetting a bunch of things but as you can see we had an amazing time. Iza and Mimi are looking forward to spending time here as campers later on this summer, Magi has a couple of years before she is a camper.

Thank You The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, Thank you to all the staff, our awesome Family Pals! 

OxOxOxO

Happppy Valentine's Day! We love Heart Day!

Two years ago we spent Valentine's day at the hospital Mimi had a fever and needed a platelet transfusion. Last year was the first year Iza and Mimi were in school and were SO excited to take Valentines and have a party at school, unfortunately Mimi got a fever in the middle of the night and to the hospital we went. She was so bummed. She did get a treats and Iza brought her Valentines from school, she also got to experience fake nails!

THIS year we made it a big one! Starting this morning Daddy made yummy breakfast for all the girls in the house, including Nana who was visiting from FL. We participated in Hilltown Families Valentine Exchange, making lots of cards and getting some great ones in mail.

This is the third year Mimi received a special Valentine from "Cali Ali Valentine", a mom of a cancer survivor pairs up her grade school students with a child in treatment. It is so thoughtful this year Mimi wrote a note back to her Valentine.

We made gift bags for everyone in class, lots of handmade cards. It was a heart making factory here last night! The girls also decided to make some cards for the Children's hospital and cupcakes for the nurses and staff.

2/14/10 Rockin' the Tattoos and Auntie Meg's boots! All done while the IV is running.




2/14/10 Getting Some platelets, the yellow bag on top of the IV.





2/14/2010 LOVE! Hearts sent to her from an elementary school in IL decorated her room.

2/11/2011 Opening her "Cali Ali Valentine" :)

2/14/11 NOT Happy about missing her Kindergarten Valentine's Day party but she got Nails!

Valentine's 2012!!! Guess who is who behind their Winged Hearts art project.

Miss MagiBoo and her Heart outfit - "It all matches! They all have hearts!"

BIG day tomorrow!

Mimi's PORT is coming out!

She has known that once she no longer needs chemo the port will come out. She also always said she wanted it out before her 7th birthday. We met with the pediatric surgeon and although he wanted to wait until after her birthday, so she won't be sore for her birthday, she insisted she wanted it before.

Tomorrow, December 1st, Mimi is scheduled in the operating room at 11:30am. She will go under general anesthesia and the surgeon will try to use the same incision they used to insert the port, for minimal scars. The surgery itself should not take more than an hour. Mimi is hoping to keep her port read below to find out why...

"My Port" by Mimi, almost 7

"What is a SuperSib" by Iza

There is Art in our Hearts.

I truly believe Art was a big tool in for all of us through the last two years, especially for Iza and Mimi. It is a way for them to escape, express, and communicate their feelings. At every hospital stay, clinic visit there was some sort of art being created. Child Life was sure to keep Mimi, along with Iza and Magi when they were visiting, busy with all sorts of activities but I would say the number one request was paint. For the second year in the row the girls participated in the Annual Baystate Children's Hospital Art Show. Betsy (Child Life Specialist) was not kidding when she told us this year it would be bigger and better! It was red carpet treatment, music, lots of smiling kids, amazing art work by artists of various ages. The girls had a great time making some more art while at the show and playing with their hospital friends. We always love to see the hospital staff while NOT inpatient.

Mimi with her artwork "Mimi Healthy" a self portrait in which she is holding a large glass of milk and has fancy earrings on.

Iza's piece titles "Super Sib Iza" It is a picture of her with a mask and a SuperSib cape on, and every super hero needs a palm tree!

The girls with Betsy.

Thank you for such a great Art Show for all the artists, and for healing with art every day.

Back to School and Fun!

Iza and Mimi are officially 1st graders! Above are pictures from their 3rd day of school. It rained the first two days and we were all still getting used to getting up early. So far they are loving school and I have not heard any complaints. Mimi was scared to go back to school, she was nervous about getting sick. She understands more than she ever did before, she knows getting sick lands her in the hospital.


The weather turned out beautiful on Friday so we set out on a spontaneous art filled adventure with some friends from school. A local college was holding a Family Art Night, the girls created abstract art from cardboard, it was really fun! Above the streets we saw a couple of hot air balloons that took of from a park near by. We walked around the galleries and searched around for some amazing sidewalk chalk art. Below are some of our favorites.




Later at night on the way home we drove to Look Park to see if the hot air balloons were still there. We drove in to the dark park and out in the field balloons were lighting up one after the other. It was amazing to watch. It was a great night!

Winter Wonderland at Camp Sunshine

On Tuesday (2/22) we made a quick trip to clinic for counts which were great so with giant smiles on every one's faces we filled the car up and off on our adventure we went. The whole time the girls thought we were going to visit Auntie Tracy for a couple of days. They were getting a bit suspicious asking why we need our pillows, towels and a bunch of outfits. Mimi and Iza were very confused as to why there were bathing suits packed, I was able to somehow make answers up. Wednesday we woke up ate and back in the car we went I told the girls to take a long nap, when they woke up Mimi read a sign that said we were in Maine. A couple miles later she saw a sign that said "CAMP SUNSHINE" with an arrow to turn left. All three were screaming "Turn LEFT Turn Left!!! Can we go there??? Can We stay!!! Pleaseeee" To which Tracy and I replied "Sure!"

Three Very Happy Campers

It was so great to be back! The girls ran around looking for counselors from the summer and were overjoyed to find some of their favorite people. I kept another secret, one of Mimi's friends from clinic was coming to camp as well the girls were all happy to see each other.

The five days were filled with winter activities; ice skating, snow shoeing, horse drawn slay rides, walks in the snow, sledding. Aside from outside fun the girls enjoyed games, arts and crafts and the indoor pool, Iza and Mimi got to go daily and loved it! The talent show was such a hit! Iza sang Baby by Justin Bieber she brought her J.B. pillow up on the stage with her. Mimi did three cart wheels. While Magi went right up and sang Three Little Monkeys, no fear of the audience at all. We were all equally tired at the end of each night.

The Gang

While the kids were off doing their activities with some wonderful counselors, adults got fun time also, as well as some time to be able to meet and talk to other parents who understand, relate and share their stories.

We had such an amazing summer session last year that I wondered how the winter session will be and it was so wonderful. It truly was a Winter Wonderland. We got about 16 inches of snow during one of the days, it was beautiful to just sit at the fire place in the dining hall and look out the window as the snowflakes were dancing.

Gorgeous View of frozen Sebago Lake.

Once Again Thank You Camp Sunshine and everyone who makes it possible we can't wait to go back!!!

we are counting down the days until March 18th when we go back for a special Twin with Cancer weekend.

Colors.

A new found love for finger painting.