My mom's cancer journey begins

Last Friday, September 21, my mom was admitted to OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and the battle of her life began.  3 weeks prior, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

She underwent an 11 hour surgery called the Whipple. 

She is still in the hospital and is making great progress with her recovery.  However, the story doesn't end here with a stitched up belly.  She will most likely face chemotherapy and a long recovery period.  But she's a fighter  and she is going to whip this thing called cancer. Give it the smack-down.  

My mom has an amazing network of family and friends.

Thank you for all of the love and support out there! 

First Day of School

 Today was the first day of school for these handsome 3rd grade boys.
(Click here to see all of their first day of school pics.)

 Today was the first day of school for this mama, too. 

A corner of Mrs. Moore's room.  It's going to be a great year!

Coco the Snail

We have a new pet at our house...Coco the snail.  I figured that he would last about 24 hours, and that would be the end of it, but no~ it's been almost 2 weeks and he's still going strong.

 Nate found him near a creek at a nature camp that he went to a few weeks ago.  He thought it was just a shell, but once he got home, he realized that there was a living creature inside.  We quickly made a makeshift habitat.  Rocks, dirt, algae water, and fish food to eat.  We were going to be heading out of town for our annual beach trip the next day, so we had to set it all up in a big tub with a lid.

Coco's lovely habitat, complete with colorful polished stones.  Can you find Coco in this picture??

 Let me tell you, this is a real low maintenance pet.  Except for when the lid is left off and he slides his way up the siding on the house.  I've gotta say, he's one cool snail.

This makes us 'other people'

Last year amidst the chaos of having my dad  in the hospital and clinging to the last few days that he would have on this earth, I remember my mom telling me the story and words that my grandma had said when my grandpa was sick and dying almost 45 years ago. 

 "Well, this makes us other people, doesn't it?" she said.

 Because, as you know, these types of scary, sad, and heartbreaking life events are the kind of things that happen to other families.   Not yours.  Not mine.  Just other people.

On Thursday, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  This makes us  'other people' again.

Please send your love, well-wishes, prayers, good-vibes, strength and light our way as we begin this journey.

I know that she'll fight the fight, but dang~it just really sucks.