OMG - I can't believe I got to see the Jonas Brothers

I know it has been a while but time just slips away. I usually like to add entries at the end of the day - but the evenings have been busy. The kids got back from camp Saturday afternoon. We had an hour together before we left to go to the Jonas Brothers concert. Samantha, 2 friends and Isabella piled into the van and we hit the road. Daniel didn't get to see Tom Petty - he got home from camp a bit too late and he was tired anyway. Apparently both kids stayed up all night their last night at camp. Both of them had loads of fun!

Anyway - back to the concert... there were so many kids and people and it was really warm. Fiddlers Green was not the best venue - long lines everywhere and a bit disorganized - but the girls found a good spot and we settled in. Every time anyone walked on stage - every girl screamed - holy moly.

I know that I was the same way when I was younger - but it was still fun to sit back and watch all the hysteria. Isabella had a great time as well. I had to hold her on my shoulders for most of the concert so she could see - she was clapping and dancing - so cute. I wish I had some pictures - but I followed the rule that said no cameras and I had dropped my phone Saturday morning, so I couldn't use that either.

Sunday we spent the day relaxing and doing some house chores. The kids headed back to their dad's yesterday afternoon and will hang out there until Friday when we head to the mountains for the Courage Classic. I am a little nervous - I went for a ride on Sunday evening and my knee feels ok - a little weak - but ok. I just keep telling myself all I can do is my best. I am still going to try and keep it all fun. I really do enjoy riding my bike so I am going to focus on that.

Jeremy's mom and cousin Hannah come in on Thursday afternoon. We are all excited to see them and hang out in the mountains. I am especially glad for the vacation time. This weekend is the start of a couple of very busy months. After the Courage Classic - Jeremy has Ajay's bachelor party (I also have Gina's bachelor-ette party) then the next weekend is Jeremy's 100 mile off road Leadville ride. Then the kids and I (and maybe even Jeremy - we are working on that) will head for a weeks vacation in Cody and spend some time with my Mom and all our family there. I am looking forward to visiting with my Grandma and Grandpa - it has been a while and we miss them!

After Cody we then have Ajay and Gina's wedding - another fun weekend in the mountains. I am then hoping to go and visit my friend Dianna for a spa weekend the first week of Sept. Then the rest of September will attending some Pediatric Cancer awareness events on the very first awareness day ever -- Sept 13th! We also have at the Miracle Party on Sept 20th. We are close to having a web site with all the info - I will post it when it is ready.

Not to mention in all this that the kids start school in about 4 weeks. Daniel will be a Junior and Sam a Freshman (another Holy Moly). Samantha is starting physical therapy today. She wants to start school without her crutches - however, she really isn't too motivated to work on it at home. I feel myself nagging her and I don't like that at all. So I decided to let the PT guys do that... Her leg looks good and she is only using the crutches as a safety net - I am sure she can meet her goal with a bit of work.

We will have her next round of scans in Sept as well - can you believe that it will be 6 months? It seems like it was a lifetime ago but at the same time yesterday...

Well I need to get back to work. I have some pictures of Sam from camp that I am loading into another slide show. Hopefully I can add that later today.

Until then - Love to everyone!

Tag - Along

Isabella has started to ride the tag-a-long with Jeremy. She gets so excited to put on her helmet and ride. You would think that as much as we like to ride bikes in our home that she would be a natural. Izi got a bike for her first birthday, but she doesn't like to ride it. Even now that she tried the tag-a-long and loves it - she is determined not to ride her bike until she is 4.

Tonight was really warm and so we decided to hit the park. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures above (I tried to get close) but she is wearing her signature skirt with her princess flip flops. I just think it is so funny that she does everything in her skirt.

Well the big kids got off to camp just fine. Samantha was a bit subdued, but she got to see Savannah (her companion from Wapiyapi) and Daniel found his camp friends as well. It is a beautiful camp North West of where we live - about an hour and a half drive.

They will be coming home on Saturday morning - which is super busy already. Chris will be picking the kids up because Isabella has a birthday party. Saturday - Jeremy will be doing his 50 mile mountain bike race as well. Then we have the big Jonas Brothers concert. So far I have an extra ticket - one of Samantha's friends can't make it. I suppose if I can't find someone to buy it - Isabella will be going. Poor Daniel - he has his hopes on going to Tom Petty - but tickets are $100 a piece and Chris has a scheduling conflict. I know Chris is still working on it - but it may be a long shot.

I got on my bike tonight and my knee feels good - I didn't push it - but I think with some Advil and ice - I will try a long ride this weekend.

Oh - something I have been trying to forget - but my laptop crashed again Saturday morning. It just won't power up (I am using Samantha's - which doesn't like me much either it seems). The IT guys think it is a bad system board. I am hoping to get it replaced and be back in business tomorrow afternoon - keep your fingers crossed that the hard drive was not affected.

Ok - I am signing off for tonight - boring I know - but I just had to share Isabella's pictures. I don't know if I just forgot what Dan and Sam were like at this age - or if I was just too busy during that time of our life (we had just moved into a new home and I was getting that in order and starting to go back to work) - but I just love that Isabella has such a great imagination. She turns everything into a story and of course is constantly talking. I think the drama in her life is mellowing out - she seems to laugh a lot more and it is easier for me lately to get her smiling.

Well - I hope everyone is laughing and smiling more often too - Love you all!

Sister bonding

Well we have a bit of sister bonding going on tonight. All in all it is a good thing but poor Jeremy is having a small heart attack.

Samantha is super excited because The Jonas Brothers are coming to Denver and I gave the ok for us to go. Chris gets to take Daniel to Tom Petty and I get the Disney band (just wait until next time!) Anyway the concert is next weekend and like I mentioned - Daniel will be at Tom Petty with his dad, Jeremy has a 50 mile mountain bike ride so he won't be home - we were talking about finding a place for Isabella when one of Samantha's friends found out she couldn't go. Samantha opened her mouth and said "Donna is out and you, Isabella are in!" Well this started it all. All the way home from dinner (tonight was uncles dinner) Samantha and Isabella listen to Jonas Brother songs. Needless to say Isabella is now excited that she gets to go with Samantha (which by the way is still up in the air). It was kind of cute - Samantha was telling Izi who her favorite brother is and Isabella said "you are going to have to find a little Jonas brother for me!" The video above is Isabella singing part of a Jonas Brothers song...

This was something I wasn't prepared for when we decided to have Isabella. I thought that having 1 kid would be a breeze after having 2 little ones at the same time. I wasn't prepared to have 2 real teenagers and another teenager in a 3 year old body.

It is always nice when one of my teenagers gets in touch with their inner 3 year old. Here the girls are coloring together. :)

Thank goodness today is Friday. Jeremy spent his morning working at Isabella's school. He volunteered to do some wood working with the kids and was in turn asked to do pull together some carnival games. He has been using all his new tools to start making some hobby horses, a plinko game and a couple of those boards that have pictures painted on it with holes cut out so you can put your face in and have a picture taken. He had 3 classes of 3 to 5 year olds. They did some sanding, sawing and drilling this time. Next time they will do some painting and gluing. Then at the end of the summer program they will have a carnival. I will make sure to take lots of pictures so we can document all Jeremy's hard work.

Tomorrow morning I have to get up too early. I volunteered to shuttle the boys (Jeremy, Noah and Ajay) up to Kenoshaw pass. I drop them off up there and they will ride the Colorado Trail into Breckenridge. It is a long ride but wonderful training for Jeremy as he prepares for his mountain bike races.

I was hoping to get a really mellow bike ride in this weekend but I don't know if I can yet. I tried to ride to the pharmacy today and my knee was all wobbly and felt like it would fail any time I tried putting any pressure on it. I felt a bit discouraged since I don't have much time left before the CC. My emotions are hot and cold. My brain tells me just raising the money and doing what I can is all that is important, but I really want to do this for my daughter. I don't think she realizes my intention, but this ride will be hard work for me - nothing compared to what she has been thru - but all the same, I want to do this for her. At the end of the day - all I can do is my best. I will definitely ride across the finish line thinking how strong my daughter is and remembering how proud I am of her.

Well I am going to sign off for now. Have a great weekend. Love to everyone!

Comedy of Errors

UG - Aren't I purty? I finally gave in and decided I would put a picture up. I look so much better than I did. I have actually left the house a couple times - wearing my sun glasses of course.

Every time I see myself in the mirror - I am amazed that I crashed. What other 41 year old suburban mom do you see with 2 black eyes?

Want to hear something funny? Last night - in the middle of the night, I thought I heard Samantha calling my name. So I jumped out of bed out of a deep sleep and hustled out the room. The funny thing was our bedroom door was closed (this is not the normal - but the dogs were acting up) so I ended up literally running into the door full speed. Needless to say I woke up Jeremy as I stumbled down the stairs holding my nose to Samantha's room. She was not calling me - I got to her room and she was snuggled up sleeping soundly. I made it back upstairs and climbed back into bed. My nose was throbbing like crazy but as my heart rate slowed back down I couldn't help but laugh at myself. I couldn't believe I had hit my face again! Jeremy just shook his head and asked if I was ok - his life is never boring with me around.

Other than smashing my face multiple times - life is pretty normal. Samantha and Daniel came home Monday evening. Samantha spent yesterday relaxing and hanging out with her friend Donna. Daniel had another orthodontist appointment - turns out he needs another retainer ($$$). Tonight the kids are with their dad at a Journey concert. Anyone with one of SuperSam's healing tunes knows she loves Journey.

We are hoping to have an uncles dinner on Friday night and then the kids are off to Sky High Hope Camp on Sunday.

I am hoping to get a bike ride in this weekend - I sprained my knee when we crashed on Friday(totally take after my mom) and the doctor said to keep it rested and iced for the next few weeks - so the ride won't be too long.

Jeremy will get a nice long ride in on Saturday - he is riding part of the Colorado Trail, a 6 hour mountain bike ride. He is training for the Leadville 100 - his race is in August. His ankle is getting back to normal, I think he only has a couple more PT appointments. He is so good at doing his exercises.

I hope everyone is doing well! Love to everyone! Leave us some comments so we know how everyone else is doing... we love to hear from you all!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Hi all! We had a wonderful week - just plugging along mainly. Samantha came over for dinner on Tuesday - actually she ate at the mall - bit we played a game of Life and then watched a new television show she is interested in. It is called 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and it is about a 16 year old girl who finds out she is pregnant. We have only watched the first episode but I think it will be ok. Better than America's next top model or Gossip Girl - both which I think set unrealistic expectations on how life is supposed to be.

The new show was a bit shocking to Samantha in that sex is a big topic in most of the conversations - but the thing I like is that so far it is realistic. Another good aspect is that it opened up a nice conversation between Samantha and myself. Obviously after everything we have been thru this past year - if I found out Samantha was pregnant - it would not be the end of the world. Any new life would be welcomed - however, I did stress that it does not mean I am encouraging her to go out and get pregnant. I still expect her to make good decisions.

Take a look at Samantha fohawk -- I tried to capture it...

Thursday she came back over for dinner - we all went together to a friends house warming. We have friends that found a house in the Washington Park area of Denver. It is a fantastic neighborhood and houses there are priced pretty high. But it is something that is worth it to our friends - they are a few blocks off of the park and their home is beautiful - very European feeling. Fitting since one of them is from England and the other from Italy. They are super nice people and the food was fantastic!

Then for Friday - Jeremy, Isabella and I spent some time at the Boulder Reservoir - Isabella had a blast playing in the water and sand. It was a hot day and the water kept us comfortable.

Later that evening we packed up the tandem and Isabella's chariot and headed off to the city park to watch the fireworks. We met Daniel and Samantha there (they were hanging out with their dad). Fireworks were great. The night would have been perfect but on the way home Jeremy and I crashed on the bike. We were not going fast but hit the side of the sidewalk and the bike tipped. Most people think to protect their faces and end up with scrapes on their arms and legs - but no so luck for me. I broke my fall with my face. It looks a lot worse than it feels - but I hate that now everyone can tell that I don't know how to put out my arms when I fall. :)

Today - Jeremy spent time working on the supplies for Isabella's school carnival and I have been pretty lazy - doing some wash and watching TV. I was supposed to go for a bike ride on Sunday - but my right knee is a bit swollen from yesterday so I am passing. I am sure I will be able to do a short ride tomorrow night or Monday.

Both kids are coming home on Monday and will stay with me until Sunday when I take them to camp again. I love that they are going even though I miss them terribly when they are gone. Samantha is getting more and more independent and it is a wonderful time for brother and sister bonding. I can't believe we have 20 more days until the Courage Classic and then I am hoping to take a week vacation in August and go visit my Mom. I was thinking this week would work - but Sam has a concert she wants to go to and I am covering for a co-worker.


I am going to leave you with a couple really cool videos - one of Samantha walking and one of Isabella singing. Am I blessed or what!

Love to all!

Another Sunny Sunday

Samantha got back from camp on Thursday afternoon. She had a great time but was ready to be home. She traveled with many of the kids she went thru chemo with - but because she was the oldest - she didn't get to camp with them. She was kept super busy and loves to brag how she beeped going thru airport security and that she kissed a fish... Yep you heard that one right. She wrote a whole story about her camp experience and has bunches and bunches of pictures. I thought I had all the pictures and was going to put together a slide show - but low and behold - they are missing.

Samantha is with her dad this next week - so as soon as I get her story and the corresponding pictures I will put it all together. There is another camp she want to go to - I have to get the paper work in tomorrow and Sam and Daniel will head off to camp again on July 13th.

Everyone else is doing well. Daniel is having a great time - working when catering gigs come up and then relaxing all the other times. He gets to sleep in until noon everyday - oh I how I miss those days... :) I try to sleep in every once in a while - but I usually only make it to 8am or so.

Daniel got a chance to go to the Renaissance Festival and he came home with a funny looking shirt declaring he has found his calling. I will try to get a picture and post it later. Then today there was a day long concert and he and his friends went. We ran into a little dilemma today. Daniel wanted the van to go to his concert, Jeremy went up to the land to set up the tipi and I had the Miracle 2008 party planning meeting. With only 2 cars - I decided to ride my bike to the meeting - need to train for the Courage Classic. My ride was 23 miles to the meeting - so I got a 45 mile ride under my belt. For the most part I feel good - a bit tired. I think I need to plan my meals better so I can keep my energy level up for the whole ride.

Just think that in 5 weeks - I will do the same mileage 3 days in a row. I guess the true measure will be how I feel tomorrow!

Needless to say I am ready to hit the sack so I will be signing off for now.

As soon as the Miracle 2008 Party web site is up and running - I will post it.

Until then - Love to everyone!

Camp time again

Saturday we spent doing just a bit of shopping so Sam could get ready camp. Apparently my toilet bag wasn't exactly what she wanted. Samantha and Isabella decided first thing in the morning that they wanted to make brownies. So we set off in search of brownie ingredients and a make up bag.

We were successful - Isabella went down for a rest reluctantly (as always) and Samantha relaxed a bit.

There was a Relay for Life (cancer fundraiser) for the city of Parker. This year they agreed to feature Gold Ribbon Families (my mom's support group). Apparently the National Cancer Society wants to highlight GRF nationally so we decided to go show our support. Samantha got a special 'survivor' purple T-shirt and did the first lap. It was probably only a quarter of a mile but I was so proud of her!

We saw some familiar faces like Hope and Brando as well as meeting a new face. Her name is Mallory. Mallory is battling Leukemia and I believe has 1 year left. She is only a year younger than Sam so they hung out for most of the night.

Aren't they cute in their purple shirts! Brando was super cute as well - I think he did the lap in 2 minutes. He just took off and I have a feeling he doesn't stop for too long. :)

We stayed for a few hours and then headed back up north - Parker is a suburb of Denver - but while we are north west, Parker is South east. The night was beautiful so it worked out.

Once home - Samantha and Isabella made their brownies and Sam finished packing. I had to make a late night run to get some candy for Sam's plane ride - so very important!

We got to bed around 11 or so and I set my alarm for 3:45am. Yep that is right - we had to be at the airport by 4:30am.

We arrived right on time to a bunch of smiling faces. The kids were so excited. Sam went to camp with Allison, Kennedy, Jimmy, Kyle, Abby and a couple other new faces.

Here they all are with their counselors - Tonia and Jane. Samantha was a bit nervous. This was the first time she has flown alone. She did fantastic - Allison and Sam are close in age and I think with get along wonderfully. Sam is the oldest of the group...

I got a phone call from her when they landed in NC and she told me that she did indeed beep going thru security and had to get patted down in a special room - even with a doctors note.

But they made it and even though she sounded a bit tired - she also sounded excited. I know they will have a blast but I miss her already. She will be flying back in on Thursday. This is a great experience for all these kids. They get a chance to feel independent again after such a hard journey.

After I dropped Sam at the airport - I was able to catch a couple more hours of sleep. Then I took advantage of Jeremy being home and went for a bike ride. I did about 20 miles in and hour and a half. I felt good and strong. I kind of winged my route - if there was any type of hill - I took it. I didn't find anything like I will see during the Courage Classic - but I keep telling myself every little bit helps. After my ride - I treated myself to a massage - so nice.

We topped off the day by hanging out listening to some free Jazz down in Denver's City park with some friends. We had a picnic and drank some wine and watched the kids play.

Jeremy and I laughed today as we told each other our 'to do' lists - they are never ending. The week is already planned out and it is only Monday.

I am going to sign off now with a special request. Please keep another child in your prayers. Our friend Thomas Buck was placed in hospice today. He had some aches and pains and his MRI showed that his tumor came back. The doctors have done all they can. His mother is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Every time we crossed paths - she always was smiling and always asked about Sam. She cried happy tears when we saw her on our way out from our last chemo treatment. They have fought so hard for so long... They have a care page - carepage.com and the page name is ThomasBuck.

Good night - Love to everyone!