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.

NH Mirror October '08 edition - Highlights Happy House Quilts

Hooray...HappyHouseQuilts @ etsy.com is highlighted in this month's NH Mirror magazine,

In the Shopaholic Section
PAGE 18
NH Mirror is a NH magazine for women...about women...yippee!

Awww and they picked my breast cancer awareness ribbon bookmark...perfect for breast cancer awareness month!

Cure for FREE!

Hey Free is good but CURE is better...
http://www.curetoday.com/
this subscription link was sent to me from a friend of a friend...but it's free and chock full of great stuff...be well my friends...be well.

Oprah and Christina Applegate speak out about Breast Cancer for all women!!!

Wow, I don't always catch it...but Oprah is on right now...Christina Applegate is talking about her experience with being genetically positive for the breast cancer gene, as well as her double mastectomy.

Here's a link to the Q&A after the show with Christina's oncologist.

Check out Oprah.com for more links...but the bottom line...get your mamogram starting at age 35...Crap...wish my doctor told me I could have done that...i thought I had to wait till i was 40. Find out if there is a family history...that didn't do me much good as I am adopted...but if anyone in the family has it...don't blink...call and get a baseline! If you have dense breasts...yup, have those...then you probably need an MRI as a mamogram might not be sufficient to identify the cancer.

My cancer has been a blessing and a gift from God...but I don't want anyone else to have this gift...it's a hard gift to accept some days when you are a mom to 3 small kids trying to do it all.

Blessings to you all!

Chemo cycle 4 update

So here I am in my comfy chair on monday...Brian my crafting buddy escorted me as I am too woozy to drive afterwards...sporting the wig...and bummed you can't see the cute hydrangea bobby I made just for the day...rats...will have to take another pic and upload it later...I sure do look happy...but it's the days after that I don't capture in pictures...scarey!
Brian is making his mom a shall with wool spun by him! It's wool from rare sheep in the UK...i keep forgetting the names of them...rhymes with Scotland...rats, cotland maybe? I'll get back to you on that....sleep deprivation (aka insomnia) and toxins on the brain have me all confused.
I certainly don't need one of these...but I wish i could kick back with a cocktail and relax this summer...new design...do you love it? need to make it in pink for a cosmopolitin and a few more treats...stay tuned...this one went to a special bartender friend that hooked me up with all kinds of wig treats from her aunt's shop, A Special Place.

I just added this pick to use it as a metaphore...feeling like i'm floating alone somedays, but at least I'm moving in the forward direction...right?

Hey thanks to my chemo buddy Sara for this poem...hope she starts her blog soon!

Worthy of My Friends

It is my joy in life to find
At every turning of the road
The strong arm of a comrade kind
To help me onward with my load.

And since I have no gold to give,
And love alone must make amends,
My only prayer is, while I live-
God make me worthy of my friends.
-Frank Dempster Sherman

It's been busy with the kids...but browsing Etsy and found these...

I absolutely think these are great!

With permission from the shop keepers I am posting these "Cute Creations"
First let's start with something I'm thinking about for my 2 year old for her stocking stuffer...

DuckySoaps at Etsy.com
or click on the photo for a direct link to the listing...I'm quite certain they can make more!
autumntomay's shop at Etsy.com
or click on the photo to take you directly to the collage listing

C for Cure - Collage no. 4

The shop keeper is also a survivor...blessings to all survivors today, I hope to be one soon!
Cycle 4 of chemo is tomorrow.

Search Cancer Awareness at Etsy.com

Generosity of Strangers!

Wow...a fellow EtsyMom sent me an email and is doing a surprize for me...

these bracelets are beautiful and I wanted to share the link to anyone interested in them.
They are just so different that other bracelets that I've seen...and yes, I've been more aware of them lately, they are everywhere...but why buy a mass produced one when, if you really wanted one...it could be hand made by an EtsyMom!
Thanks, Anhoki!

My tumor...really needed it's own post...kwim?

The journey continues....Breast Cancer...

Invasive ductal carcinoma with ductal carcinoma in situ
you can actually see the lymph node invasion on this last pic towards the bottom right corner. These pictures were taked from my oncologist's computer...not bad...
His name is Dr. Peter Kaufman...he's doing a protocol that I might help out with too...more pictures will follow as I know more.

So, I think I have said it before...this is a 8 cm tumor which places it in the stage III category however...i'm not a dumb woman...I just have 3 busy kids and have a busy life...get your mamogram as early and as often as you can...even without insurance most local hospitals can offer you free screenings!!! Don't be silly...call and do it today!

Update Oct 08 see new results from second MRI post chemo treatment here

Breast Cancer Awareness in wool felt

So I'm 40 this year...and that means a mammogram...well I'm so glad i didn't put it off because they found it...CANCER. I'm seeking treatment options now...but PLEASE get a mammogram done! It might just save your life. And if i can live and maybe save one of my daughter's lives...then it's all worth it.

Clip available at etsy shop.
Proceeds to benefit cancer awareness.
Thank you for your support!
Blessings to you and to all the women suffering with Breast Cancer yesterday, today and tomorrow.