Take That Cancer!

You know the description of cancer as a war is so so accurate.  It involves a series of battles- some lost, some won, battle scars and wounds, psychological struggles, and collateral damage.  Some days it still controls our days and other days we get a chance to stand up, fight back, and move forward .  Today was one of those days.  Can I get a few bars of "I get knocked down, but I get up again.  Never can keep me down!"?

We were excited to get our package in the mail yesterday with our new t-shirts from CafePress.  They have 0ver 40,000 options for childhood cancer, you should be able to find something :)  We are getting our gold on as often as possible to get the word out.

If being a walking billboard helps spread the word we are totally up for the challenge.  My wardrobe needed some gold anyway :) They have thousands of options for all ages.  And a helpful hint... while browsing put everything in your "shopping cart" and save it.  A few days later they will send you a 20% off email to buy what's in your cart- bonus!

Anyway, today we went back to MOPS.  I love the girl time with my friends and Carter loves seeing his friends and Ms. Robin.  he's a bit of a rockstar.  When he walks in, they all yell, "Carter"- something like Norm from Cheers.  And Julia was excited to be joining the kids.  Last year she still had a port and low blood counts, so she spent her time alone in a office with a DVD player.  Now she can just be a kid again.  Then we joined the gang for Lunch Bunch and bike riding. It's the simple things like this that still seem like such a special gift.

And it is finally Julia's turn to play sports, too.  She has been living in her brother's shadow on the sidelines for the last four years.  The first 2 years she was too young.  The last 2, she was too sick.  And now, she's just right :) Yes, it comes with challenges.  She is still in diapers and we have to adjust her meds to make the timing work, but we are trudging on. She could not have been more giddy and excited to start from buying her first soccer ball to getting her first leotard and ballet shoes.  Her time had finally come and she was ready.

This afternoon she had her first dance class.  We have this amazing pair of women who started a dance group for 4yr olds through adults that teaches dance and choreography through praise and worship.  They teach the girls to dance before an audience of One.  They perform in churches and nursing homes to lead others in worship.  I didn't know how she would respond, but really hoped it would be a positive experience.  As a ballet dancer of 8 years myself, I can't say I wasn't tickled to help her put on those shoes.

It was absolutely precious! Watching all those eager little girls spinning, tiptoeing, plie and eleve-ing, leaping, and praising.  It made my heart very happy.

And at the end they gather to talk and pray.  By this point my eyes are welling and I could explode from the gratitude in my heart.

Last year this week, she was in the hospital, very sick, in isolation.  This year she is wearing a tutu and giggling with a group of little girls.  Take that cancer! 

And for the sucker punch? The numbers are in from St.Baldrick's on Saturday...

Rainfall?  1inch

Heads Shaved?  104
Online donations? $29,000

Cash collected at the event?  $13,000

Total for pediatric cancer research? $42,000!!

priceless.