Photo Shoot

I was asked to pose with the kids for Concord Hospital's Cancer Survivor Day "Save the date" card.

Here is the photo:

I offered my wall hanging for the event too...i hope they accept it...I would be so honored. I did all my radiation treatments here and they were excellent. I also adore Lisa from the Payson Center support services too. She was a true comfort during some difficult days.

Hope

Cycle 2 of chemo was yesterday, that's me with what looks like I'm giving you all peace, which I sincerely do...wish you all PEACE, but my *giggle* intention was to signify cycle #2 of chemo. Like the hat? Kim of Deedaloos made it...but I accessorized it with the flower :p

...it was a long day with my mom at my side. We left at about 7:30 dropped the 3 girls off at Becky's and headed off to Lebanon for lab work, and my protocol testing.

Then a great meeting with Dr. Kaufman he said the lymph nodes are shrinking and the tumor is slighly softer and a little smaller upon measurement.

HOORAY!

So I asked him what the percentage is for that fast a response from only one treatment the TAC regime of chemotherapy medications. He replied that it is small....so I told him that it must be all the prayers and most of all God. He laughed...and said it was science...I rebuked him and said God can do all things...with the proper tools.

Psalm 4 :1-8

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress: be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call to him.

Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Dedicated to my husband , may he find the light of the word and always find it in Christ Jesus.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it maybe seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:20

We then went over the pharmacy for some extra meds and finally to the infusion room by about 1 pm...we got out of there about 4:30 and home by about 6 pm.

We found Sara on the time-out mat and Papa cleaning up spilled milk. The girls were watching some TV... it's so comforting to know that life is as normal as it can get, for right now. We are anticipating moving back home this week and then I'll be able to have friends visit and playdates at the house when i am too tired/sick to go out. I have many friends that want to come and bring me to chemotherapy or stay with me once the mastectomy happens and it's all so hard at my folk's house...as it is, I feel like me and the kids have been such an imposition...it's been 9 weeks away from home! I'm hoping to reopen HHQ soon too...the extra money will come in handy as I'm already trying to organize for the holidays...just got some cute stuff for the Bitty and American Girl dolls at MaPetiteChou.com
We are definitely looking forward to seeing Kit Kittredge the movie....coming soon!

On the right road...

Hi everyone! It's guest blogger Becky writing to you about the recent events. So here goes...

Jodi is amazing. She has such strength even with everything going on in her life. The diagnosis of cancer would send most people for a loop, but not Jodi. When I see her with her kids and the way they look at her I know they are very proud of her (even little Sara) and look up to her. Jodi got a good report today. All the cancer is contained in her left breast and in 2 or possibly 3 lymph nodes. The rest of her body is clear of cancer. She will be visiting Dartmouth Hitchcock on Wednesday for her second opinion and then will find out when her treatments and surgeries will start.

Emily and Elizabeth are off the a great start with the "Cancer Doll" and "Angel" they are making as a form of art therapy. Here is a picture of them; a work in progress. I am sure I can speak for Jodi and say they have been doing a wonderful job writing down their feelings and stuffing them in the dolls. Look for upcoming videos featuring these creations.

With the help of Jodi's parents (they are wonderful!), friends, and an occasional tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, everyone is staying positive. We're looking forward to the words "In remission" in the near future!

Journey to wellness the Happy House Quilts way

I am writing to say that I have 2 wonderful friends that are going to be guest bloggers here for a while. Becky and Karen are amazing moms that have made me grow as a woman and as a mom in so many ways. I rely on their spirituality and inner strength in more ways than they really know. So please enjoy their posts about my journey into the world of breast cancer, chemo and surgery to eliminate the tumor that is in my left breast and lymph nodes.

Just the facts....
National Cancer Institute link

• The doctors found my cancer after my first mammogram.
• I had dense breast tissue...a.k.a. lumpy boobs
• I didn't know the lump was there but now see it/feel it clearly...I'm not a stupid woman but a typical mom that just didn't take time to take care of herself...like so many women out there, always put the kids and others first.
• I am an art therapist and will be creative with the kids throughout this journey and hope to share our creative endeavors with you all. I believe in active mastery over difficult situations...and through this active mastery we can conquer our fears and gain insight to ourselves.
• I am a spiritual person, I believe in Jesus Christ and know that God has a gift to teach me and my family through this journey.
  

My diagnosis so far...

• Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
• Intermediate grade and high grade Ductal carcinoma in situ
• Lymph node biopsied resulted in a report of scattered malignant cells identified consistent with the metastatic carcinoma

Blessings to you all...enjoy each day as it comes...it's a miricle.

Trapunto

Sisters hands made 5 years ago???
I made this when Emily (now 7) was 2 and Ellie (now 5 1/2) was 3 months old. The technique is called trupunto and I learned about it by watching HGTV...do you think Alex Anderson has any idea how she has changed my life??? I will be buried with this as it is such a wonderful part of my textile journey...and it's my babies! Plus how do I choose to give it to one daughter over the other??? I have another one prepared to make for Sara...with all 3 hands of the girls but time is fleeting...good thing these can be made later in life...all you need is to capture their hand prints now...so precious! I have imagined doing one for each year of a child's life...maybe the grandchildren...or maybe it will be Sara...who knows.

I was commissioned to make this next one for a friend after she saw my creation of the girl's hands.

This posed some unique problems but I think I worked through them. She had 3 kids 2 older with quite large hands and one little one about 2 years old. My Sister's hands was all done by hand while I nursed and the baby took naps...but this one was done both by hand and machine and I love the echo quilting that was able to be consistent throughout the piece.

Now before you get all overwhelmed...this is not so difficult to make. This can be simplified and made with the kids with brown paper bags from the grocery store! Trace the hand and then use a 1/16 hole punch to punch holes along the drawn line...not too tight...then thread a plastic needle or yarn needle and thread some yarn or floss onto it...then allow your preschooler or older child to stitch along... leave an opening for stuffing...then close it up and trim away the excess paper!!! Here is an example made into a Gingerbread Woman...i wrote on the back of this one all the memories of the year and it hangs up on the Christmas tree every year...the kids love to read about the year we moved into the house! This can be made in an afternoon...looking for more boredom busters? Check out my other posts about painting the deck...and Threadibilities!!! Inspire, create, grow with your kids!!!

I cracked 100!

Ok...so I cracked 100 hearts at my Etsy shop, 108 to be exact...but my real goal is to get to 100 sales...the holidays will be upon us soon so there is definite hope for the future! My vision is unique art for the hair, pets and cups...so I won't stray too far from that!