HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY GRANNY!!!
Since October 3, 2009 (the day I launched this little project) you all have checked in 10,000 times!! That's a lot of checking in over the last 2 years. While some blogs might reach 10,000 in like a week or a month, I'll take my 2 years and all the friends and family that got me to this point and be excited about it!! This has proven to be a fun little journal and I'm glad that you all keep me going, cause if it weren't for my oh so dedicated readers I would have given in to the pressure of the blog a while ago! Just in case you've forgotten some of what you've seen in the past 10,000 page views here's EVERYTHING!! And, I've added a new little feature below so you can all give me quick feedback without having to write a comment. Thanks for caring about us and if you keep coming, I'll keep posting pictures - even if I am a slacker sometimes!! :o)
Without Beau around things are kind of quiet. Cort has been a lazy bones most days, but has also gotten to tag along a lot more as we've headed out and about. One thing that is easier to do without the easily excitable Beau here is teach Cort new tricks. This is one that we started yesterday and he seems to be grasping the concept. The plan is to be able to let him out and pull the door to, then he can let himself back in when he's ready and close the door behind him. As you can see, he still needs to be prompted to close the door but he's definitely getting there!!
My two week re-adjustment period is done and it's time to get back on track! To help kick things off, Kyle and I rode bikes to Jeremiah's tonight for my first galati of the summer. (better late than never!!) I'm not sure if we're going to re-instate the long run reward system every Saturday but you can't go wrong starting off the week with a black cherry galati!! (Kyle had a pomegranate Italian Ice) As always, delicious!! Have a good week everyone!!
I was a slacker and didn't take a picture today despite having a lot of opportunities! Kyle, Cort and I went to the farmers' market and then later went to B-dubs to watch the Bucks squeak one out over Toledo. Anyway, it all works out well because today is my mom and dad's 29th wedding anniversary!! This is a picture, from their wedding day, obviously! Congratulations!!!
First things first of course!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAP!!!!
Alright, I e-mailed this to some of you so I apologize if the story is a bit redundant, while mowing the lawn and movie night are suitable blog topics this one felt like the right choice for today. Also, this is going to be long and a little more thoughtful or perhaps heavy, than usual - you've been warned!
Did you know September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - now you do!! Funny how things can line up.
By now, anyone reading this should know that I volunteer at Arnold Palmer Hospital (APH) and when asked what I do I answer that I hang out with kids on the Hem/Onc unit. I take them activities and things to do when they can't leave their rooms, sometimes I sit with kids when they feel crappy and don't have anyone else there with them or when their parents need a break, sometimes I use my amazing wheelchair maneuverability skills (oye!) to take them (and their poles) downstairs to get food in the cafeteria or to a special hospital-wide event, sometimes I hangout while they do activities in the playroom, other times I clean toys and put things away. I do pretty much whatever I'm asked to do to help out. I've been there for over two years now, on the same unit, working with pretty much the same (awesome) staff, some of whom I've become friends with, and both fortunately, and unfortunately some of the same kids. Some days when I'm there I get lucky and can share in celebrations and be there to say bye to a good number of them as they leave inpatient treatments in improving health and great spirits having won a hard fought battle. Sometimes I'm there to say hello again to a familiar face that is unfortunately returning in health that is no longer improving, after one of those celebrations...and I have had to say a few goodbyes knowing with almost certainty that when I come back, that child won't be there. BUT, because I'm only there a couple times a week and in the case of this summer not at all...it is the nature of the beast that there are times that I don't get to say goodbye at all. I knew this going in, and I'm aware of it pretty much every time I walk out the doors. But, I go back, and as most of you know, it's my ambition to keep going back (and hopefully at some point even get paid for it!) because it's something that I'm REALLY passionate about! Now, don't get me wrong. I'm just a volunteer. I'm not there everyday in the trenches, I don't get nearly as close to these kids as the staff do, and I haven't had to let go of nearly as many kids - so I'm not comparing myself to them at all - they're amazing!! I only hope to one day be as awesome as they are for all the kids and families they work with!
Anyway, my point is that it's easy to list off the tasks that I complete when I volunteer there, but that's about all there is to the conversations usually, because well, I can't say much more! I wouldn't want to violate HIPAA policies and I certainty don't want to risk getting fired from my volunteer position for telling stories or sharing too much. Not to mention, when the words Hematology/Oncology come out of my mouth it usually gets an immediate, ohh...and kills the conversation (who are we kidding, the word Hematology has nothing to do with it, haha!) But there are so many amazing, amazing, strong, spirited, adorable kids and so many awesome stories!! Today though, while checking in on Facebook, there was a post from Orlando Health and APH about their new blog, so naturally I checked it out. The story posted today was one that I was familiar with and since THEY shared it, I can share it with you guys! I'm so excited that I can give you a face and a story to go with..."I volunteer at a children's hospital on the Hem/Onc unit."
Click your back button once you're done and it'll bring you back here! :o)
Now I'm not going to claim to be Dr. Joseph's best friend, favorite colleague, beloved volunteer buddy, best patient or any of those things...but, as you can see above, I DO have one of his famed business cards. And, while the story doesn't have what most will perceive as a happy ending, and it makes me sad to know that I missed being there to celebrate his REAL birthday and say goodbye by just a couple of weeks or so; I know he left this world having had some amazing surprises, celebrations and wishes come true in the weeks before, all made possible by those incredible "team members" I've mentioned! Most importantly, I wanted to share it because it gives at least one face to the - you guessed it - amazing kids that I have come to love and shows where I'm lucky enough to GET to go and spend time a couple times a week. Dr. Joseph was a very cool kid - he was loved and respected for that and countless other reasons by everyone (seriously, everyone!) at APH. So yeah, that's what I have for you for today! I apologize if this was too long, or a downer - hopefully you didn't see it that way though. It's a big part of my life down here and I don't get to really share it with you that often!! Have a great day everyone!
GOOD LUCK GRANNY!!!!
Well, it's not a race yet; but it will be! Training for the Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon has officially begun! Can you guess whose schedule is whose? Kyle's morning run was VERY rainy, as he got stuck in the downpour that came by right after he walked out the door. I, being faint of heart and wise enough to know that Cort would have no part of running in the rain, waited it out and then went for my run - but, unlike yesterday, I actually woke up and went so we're moving in the right direction. The challenge now is getting myself (and probably Cort too) in 13.1 mile shape in 9 weeks!!! YIKES! And I claim to be a planner! HA! Oh well! I'm signed up! No turning back now!
Posts
All Comments
