We're Famous! (Just Kidding!)

 Read out story here: Monica's Team

Potential Match!

I still can't believe it. Really.  It's a miracle.
A potential MATCH!
She is 23.  (<----My favorite sentence)

That is all we know. Besides the fact that SHE is a wonderful, selfless human being for putting herself aside to think about what she can do to save a strangers life.  I hope there is something that I can do for her one day, but until then, SHE is my hero.

We say "potential" because there are a few loose ends that need to be tied up, but when they are we are ready to go.

If all goes as planned, I will be moving to Stanford Hospital in September. Geoff thinks it will be on his birthday (9/11).  I will endure 12 rounds of whole body radiation in four days, then two days of intense chemo.  Then on day ZERO, I will get my BMT (Bone Marrow Transfer).  From there I will be admitted for 30 days.  If I can find the strength to make it through these 30+ days, then I'm home free. 

After the 30 days, it will still take 70+ days to recover in an apartment near Stanford...

Then, if all is well, I will be able to come home.  I hope to be home for Thanksgiving...or Christmas.

2012 is a rough year. Really looking forward to 2013!

Leukemia Warrior Girl

So I begin with a simple picture.

On February 19, 2012, Geoff and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary...we went to dinner...and I was so sick.  Possibly walking pneumonia.  This lasted 4 weeks then I think had bronchitis with aching bones for the next few weeks.  I was teaching with ice packs at my side everyday.

In early April, I finally went to the doctor to find out that I was pregnant!!!  We were so excited and I was so miserable at the same time.  We had been waiting and trying (multiple rounds of IUI's and IVF) to conceive for the past 7 years.  We had our first ultrasound and blood work.  Strong heartbeat.  Beautiful leg and arm buds. Looks like a very healthy baby. So relieved.  Then to the lab.

The lab calls and says that that there was a mistake and they need to redo the blood draw.

On April 10th, I went to work.  A 45 minute commute one way.  Left work.  Driving the 45 minutes back home. Picked up Kat and then headed back to the lab before they closed at 6pm.  We were home, ate dinner and put Kat to bed as usual.

Then at 8:20pm, the phone rang. It was the lab.

"Monica, your white blood cell count is off the charts. You need to head to the ER immediately. You have Leukemia."

And then my story begins...

8:45pm: ER
1:00am Admitted to the hospital

Surgery to put in my Groshong port.
Surgery to remove the baby.
Aggressive chemo.
Hair begins to fall out.
ICU for a few days with strep
All in all....26 days in the hospital.


Then, home for a month.

Back in the hospital with a septic fever for 2 weeks.

I have been home for almost 2 weeks now.
I have ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)

AND I NEED A BONE MARROW TRANSFER

If you think you can help, please go to www.marrow.org and register to be a donor.  

You will receive a kit in the mail.  Swab your cheek and send it back.  

PLEASE HELP ME and my family. 

Kitchen Update, Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, and Vegas!

I think it's about time to update this blog.  Time is flying by, as usual.
Being a visual person, pictures seriously say a thousand words. So here goes in order...

My new kitchen...tada!

We stayed home for Christmas this year...putting the kitchen back together. We had dinner in downtown Sacramento.We planned on going ice skating, but it closed early. 

 Kathryn, a girl who knows exactly what she wants...asked for a back scratcher that matches her bedroom. What!!! Luckily I love a good craft challenge.  Check it out!  (I know, I took pictures of it...haha)

She was so excited to see that Santa came (and left footprints). We realize that she is getting older, but she says "if  you don't believe, then you don't get presents!"  Smart kid!

 

The best gift tag EVER!!

To: Dad   From: the family you live with. 

 

Two days after the kitchen was completed, we left for the Midwest.  Kat had an orthodontist appoint (yes, we fly to Wisconsin for that!) and I had a wedding to go to in Madison (Mr. & Mrs. Sugar).  We also stopped by briefly to see some family.  Then back to Cali.

 

Milwaukee "W" Hotel

                                                                  Dinner with Dylan. 

  

 Maggie & Kat

 

                                               Milwaukee WinterFest with Abigail!

Then at the end of January, my entire family met up in Vegas to surprise my mom for her birthday! Because Geoff and I are CRAZY, we drove.

                             Kathryn & Nevaeh in the Bellagio Garden for Chinese New Year!

                                               My sister and her beautiful daughter Jazelle.

                                                                         The Grandkids

                                                    My parents and "little" brother and sister!

                                                                   The whole gang!

This weekend, Geoff has surprised me with a trip to Monterey Bay for our anniversary! Hopefully it won't take me two months to post those pictures! 

Thanks for checking in!

Granite for Christmas!

Well, it's Winter Break time...so we decided to redo our Kitchen counters!


We started out with that ugly, California white tile. Yuk!  I can't stand the stuff.  The grout gives me OCD! So here's the before pictures and the progress thus far!!! The install happens on Monday! (Yeah!)
The Island Before:

 

The Island during.....

The most of the kitchen before...

and the current stage...

And some of Geoff working....and telling me to stop taking pictures...haha.

Tomorrow we will demolish the sink side and bar.  I will post pictures of our new kitchen on Monday! Thanks for stopping by!

A few more random updates....

 

From Kathryn's State meet. 

 

Apple Hill Pumpkin Farm & Winery....Loved this sign! 

                      We found a REAL blacksmither...we had a lot of questions to ask him.  

Kathryn eating an apple from the orchard...next to the wine grapevines. 

OK...meaning to update this, but here is my NEW classroom.  I have since turned the carpet the other direction and have gotten new red chairs.  

                                               My OWL word wall.  I did a whole OWL theme.

I just adore this picture. I think because she looks so relaxed before the big competition.

Thanks for checking in! 

Wow! It's been a long time....

Sorry it's been so long, here are a few updates in random order!

Kathryn at Level 4 State Competition.

Kathryn posing for pictures for our Xmas cards....(we are still getting used to short sleeves in Dec)

 

Here is a glimpse of what really happens when we are attempting to take our Xmas pictures each year.  Payton wanted the "ball" at the end of Kathryn's Santa hat! 

Kathryn at Halloween....She was Tigress from Kung Fu Panda (again!)

  

Apple Hill Pumpkin Farms and Winery