Sep 02 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Sisters
Me (far left) and Nancy (far right) hug our sister Bren
Tag Archive 'sisters'
Aug 27 2009
It’s [for] You, Bren!
{note about video: it will automatically load and play – to pause scroll over the “menu” and it will pop up}
Holy cow…my favorite Dolores O’Riordan with the Cranberries just released a solo album! AND…get this…she is going on tour with the Cranberries right here in North America beginning this November. I absolutely must go and of course I have to take my daughter with me who is still mad that I took my nephew instead of her to the last one.
In the above video she is quoted as saying, “Certain moments only last for so long and it’s important to live within those moments.” She goes on to talk about why do we rush around and the wisdom of appreciating what’s on our plate right now. She’s f-ing brilliant!
And then she sings a song she wrote for her dad when he was sick (he’s better now!) and of course I immediately thought of my sister who is currently going through some health challenges. I love you, Sis, and this one’s dedicated to you! Watch the above video to listen to “It’s You” by Dolores O’Riordan and check out her on-line store to buy her new album “No Baggage”.
Aug 16 2009
Weekly Winners: My Sister Bren
I am visiting my sister Brenda and her family right now. And the truth is…the visit was prompted by a health care crisis. Here is what Bren says:
“I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure…something that we as a family were not prepared for. I am working hard to better myself as well as listen to whatever my cardiologist says. We are all optimistic that my condition won’t worsen and in the next 3 months I become a person living with CHF not dying from CHF. Thank you to everyone who have sent their well wishes and prayers.”
So this week’s Weekly Winners is dedicated to my sister Brenda and her courage to transform her life and not only live, but THRIVE through congestive heart failure.
Click through the photos to read my descriptions and don’t forget to visit the founder of Weekly Winners: Sarcastic Mom
Aug 06 2009
How are you living?
Last week I visited my sister her husband…
and their daughter…
…up in Oregon. They live off the grid, which means that they are self sufficient in every way imaginable. They create their own energy, tap into a well for water, and they even dump their own trash. Yup, no garbage men off the grid. Thank goodness for cell phones, satellite tellie and internet; otherwise, they’d not only be off grid but out of their minds!
It was so nice to simply hang out with my sis, her hubs, and their 2 year old daughter. We’ve been building a new relationship over the last couple of years and it was great to reap the benefits. We went shopping, swimming in the river, watched movies, and I even helped my sis set up Google Analytics and Feedburner. Yeah, there were a few tense moments, but they weren’t weighted down with old hurts and unresolved arguments. They were simply tense moments in a 2 bedroom cabin housing 6 people in 110 degree weather (yes, there was a record breaking heat wave during our visit!) Those moments came and went as quickly as the air rushing through the 6 fans we had running 24/7.
Anyhow, I thought my visit would be a nice break from all of life’s stresses. But, now that I’ve been back for awhile I realize that there are just as much stresses living off the grid as on…they are just different. I worried about using too much power so I continually turned lights off. I stressed about the water line breaking again and tried to hold me pee as long as possible. I tried to drink less water despite the heat because all drinking water has to be brought in. And worst of all, I scrutinized every step outside for fear of accidentally stepping on a rattlesnake:
As you can imagine, my sister has struggled in the transition to life off the grid ~ she’s a huge bug-o-phobe! ~ and after experiencing it first-hand even I thought I would want them to move back to Barrow, Alaska. But, strangely enough, I don’t.
Because it’s not about where they are. It’s about how they are.
I want them to create their best life. I want them to feel safe, secure, and fulfilled. I don’t care if that’s in the Oregon backwoods, the arctic tundra, or even as missionaries in South Africa.
We differ in so many ways, but one thing will always remain true and indisputable: I love my big sister and her family. I support them if they decide to stay off the grid or not.
Click here to view all the photos from my trip
Sep 11 2008
Finding Love Through My Sister
Catherine sent me this link to a really cool website called Shutter Sisters. She told me I would love it and I absolutely do! Today’s post is about finding love and this question is asked:
How is it that Love finds you?
The first thought that came to mind is through my sister Nancy. We’re actually going through some tough challenges right now as her son Alex lives with me and it didn’t happen on the best of terms. However, she consistently acknowledges my accomplishments, comments on my blog & photos, and reaches out to me.
So, Nancy, even though we are venturing into new and frightening territory, I super appreciate your love and support. Things might be rocky, but you are always my big sis. Thank you. And I love you.
*HUGS*
{Photo credit: “Snap Shot” by Grant Family}
Jul 28 2008
The Breast Spa {part 3}
I searched the wall for something, anything to hold my attention away from the poking and prodding I knew was going on. I settled on counting the dots on the ceiling tiles, which got old quick. So instead I searched for groups of three dots. I like things that come in threes – just like my two sisters and me.
“Can you feel this?” he wondered.
“No,” I answered honestly. Couldn’t feel a thing. Not the needle prick. Not even the loneliness.
“Okay. Can I have an 18 gauge needle please?” he asked her.
Crap! Why the heck do I have to know that that’s a huge needle?!
I searched the ceiling frantically for the next bundle of three. There’s one!
Okay, now breathe.
I noticed that my leg muscles were tensed and I slowly released the tension. I remembered how when I gave birth I learned how to relax through the pain, which really helped relieve it. But, in all honesty, I wasn’t in any pain as the doctor inserted his large needle into my breast and pressed into the cyst. Too bad for me it wasn’t a fragile bubble of fluid just waiting to be popped. Nope. Instead the cyst turned out to be as hard to crack as a walnut.
The doctor would lean into the needle in order to penetrate the cyst and each time he applied more pressure I would tense and hold my breath. I was seriously afraid he would push too hard and the needle would slip puncturing the dreaded vessel again. I fought back the bloody images.
Instead I searched the trios of dots looking for anything that resembled the flowers on my sister Nancy’s blouse. When I was in labor with Carina, Nancy was my coach and she wore this v-neck t-shirt with tiny pink flowers all over it. When I had contractions I would immerse myself in the flowers, grip her hand, and the pain would subside even when the contractions didn’t stop. I remember feeling so safe with her by my side and I lay there alone in the breast spa wishing she was there with me.
“Got it! Can I have a 5 cc tube please?” he asked her.
“What color is it?” I asked and looked towards him for the first time since being poked.
“It’s greenish brown, which means that there is no need to send it to the lab.” He held up the tube of fluid he had withdrawn from my boob. It looked reddish brown to me, but it didn’t really matter as long as it was normal cyst fluid that doesn’t even need to be tested for cancer.
For the first time through this whole lumpy bumpy breast ordeal, there was quantifiable, touchable proof that I don’t have cancer. Yay! It’s such a relief to climb off this huge table, strip the cotton robe, and skip on outta here without waiting for more test results. I’ll take my deflated, but healthy boob with me and see ya in 6 months for a check-up. Thanks, Doc!
