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.

Snow Snow and more Snow...

A whole lot of snow has been piling up around here, every time it snowed the girls had a snow day or a delay. Today was the first day with snow that they had school and it was really hard to get them moving in the morning they did not believe me they really had to go. On the way home today they never made it in the house they just played outside until their noses were red.



Iza thought long and hard how to spend her Birthday Toys r Us gift card and chose a Barbie pool. While outside it is cold and snowy, all the Barbies have been having pool parties complete with slides and drinks! Mimi got a Barbie (Fake) IPod.

A Walk in the Park. WoW. Just WoW!

First I want to Thank all the people that were able to walk this morning! We were one MONKEY of a team! We were very excited to be a part of this fundraiser and with the help of some amazing people we were able to raise over $6000! How awesome is that?!

Click for larger image

We hope everyone had a great time walking! A big applause to everyone who contributed and helped us reach our goal plus some, Stacey who raised over $1000, James M. who caught up to Stacey as well! Hannah who was in surgery with a broken arm the day before the walk but came to support her buddy! Everyone who traveled getting up super early to cheer with us, all the shoulders that literally carried Mimi, Iza and Magi. This was awesome!!! We were on the news but I guess a crying mom did not make it on there, I was doing really well until I was asked to tell them about Mimi's journey, thank goodness for Dan being quick!

Thank You to today's Purple Sock Monkey Walkers and Team Members!!!

Mina

Kate, Ella & Lily, Audrey & Caeli
Andre & Marcella
Ashley & Ricco
Steven, Jess, Hannah & Norah
Carol
Elena & Clover
Ela
Shannon, Ainsley & Cash
Chris & Meg
Vic & Eryn

Erica
Roya & Haley
Stacey
Gene & Linda
James
Sherri
Tracy
Sarah, Lesley, Tate & Gabriel

Mary

Frito Lay

Penny

Leidy, Roberto, Amaraya & Penelope

Heather

Link to our page

June is here!

The girls standing under the Giant Basketball Tower at The Basketball Hall of Fame. also the home of Cold Stone Ice Cream, according to them that is what people need to eat on their "Married" day.

June 2nd is a great day!

13 years since my Senior Prom with Dan.

Our 8th Wedding Anniversary.

photo by Mimi

Iza and Mimi's 5 1/2 Birthday! And they think they are super lucky because they found four-leaf clovers.

Three robin eggs hatched outside of Magi's bedroom window. We sneaked a peek when the mommy bird flew off to get some food. Here is a video we were able to get Iza was taking it while on my shoulders.

Our Caterpillars are making their way up in their well covered cups, which means soon we can transfer the chrysalis/cocoons to their butterfly home.

June is the best!

Play!

This weekend we went to see another play at the Eric Carle Museum. We are making up for all the plays we missed during our last hospital stay :) The play Hensel and Gretel was put on by Berkshire Theatre. It was great! Fun for the adults and great for the kids. It was impressive how each cast member played more than one character. Once again all the girls got to check out the backstage and try on some of the costumes. I love how the girls end up doing the plays at home after.

Hensel, Mother, Hannah, Mimi, Gretel, Iza and Father.

Weekend Fun!

We haven't been out much due to low counts but Sunday we packed a mask and lots of antibacterial wipes and went to see a play at the Eric Carle Museum. Goldilocks and the Three Bears by the Castle Hill Theatre Company what a great show, a fairy-tale favorite with twist! The cast stayed after the performance to talk with the kids and we even got a back stage tour, all the girls truly enjoyed it! The day was nicely finished off with fast melting ice cream, giggles and lots of rolling down the grassy hills at Atkins Farm. Thank You to MacaroniKid where we won tickets to the play!

Happy.

Big Hugs. Yellow Sponge Bob Ice Cream. Horses and Horse rides!

Strawberry Ice Cream. Slimy Giant Tadpoles. Hungry Lamas!

Gumball Eye balls Sponge Bob Ice Cream. Ride on Daisy. Making Wishes!

Fantastic All-Girl Kind of a Day!

Yey! We are all home.

Mimi was discharged around 7pm. I guess a kid that is bouncing off walls and using up every craft that is coming from child life needs to be home ;) Her fever never came back and we have a clinic visit on Tuesday so we were allowed to go home, with the knowledge that if fever comes back we will return.

Thank You "Movie guy in the Green shirt" ;) who brought LOADS of crafts in today and sent us home with glitter!

Mimi is now sleeping in her bed with a promise she can come to our bed after her nighty chemo pill.