I'm a Survivor....

So I was not going to write this post.  Then I stopped for a moment and said to myself, "Why, you deserve to celebrate this...5 years, this is the marker where you are actually considered a "survivor" and not just in remission".  So then I said to myself (I talk to myself a lot) "Hell yea, I am writing the post!!  I am a survivor baby!!" Well actually I am going to add a few new words and then copy and past my blog from the past.  Sorry, not because I am lazy but it takes me a week to normally write a blog post ... so yes, this time I am under a time crunch and I am going to cheat a little.

It was 5 years ago that I rang the bell.  The bell that signifies the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one.  Cancer is just that, a journey.  For some it is worse then for others but to all it is a life changing event.  I can honestly say that it not only changed my life, or Keith's... but if affected so many around us.  I am honored when my niece does something like cut off her beautiful locks of hair and donates them to the Locks of Love foundation, or when she participates in a fundraiser to help raise money for cancer patients. For all of those who have posted and reposted this on their Facebook status:  May I ask a personal favor..... Only some of you will do it, and I know who you are. If you know someone who fought cancer and won, or fought cancer and died, or someone who is still fighting please add this to your status for 1 hour as a mark of respect and in remembrance. I hope I was right… about the people who will♥  Or just my friends who remembered this day... this very special day...without me even saying anything at all.  I love you all and the support you have shown me is huge!!!  Please don't think I take it for granted.  I know that I am lucky and blessed is so many ways.

My name if Jennifer Ponce and I am a 39 year old 5 year Lymphoma cancer survivor!

Four  Five years ago on August 22, 2006 I rang the bell. The bell that was to signify the end of my cancer treatment. Not the journey...just the treatment. This day was far more emotional then I ever could have anticipated. I thought it would really be no big deal, I would ring the bell because Keith and a few of my friends insisted. Heck - I didn't even know the bell existed until a couple of days before my last zap of radiation.

When you ring the bell you also recite what is written on the plaque:

Ringing Out

Ring this bell

three times well

Its toll to clearly say,

My treatment's done

This course is run

And, I am on my way!

REAR ADMIRAL IRVE C. Le MOYNE, USN

JANUARY 4, 1996

I can tell you that I rang that bell way more then three times well... I took a hold of that string and rang that bell with every ounce of my being...with warm tears streaming down my face that could be seen flooding the floor beneath. In fact everyone around us was crying. Not just me, not just Keith and my friends, but there was not a dry eye in the lobby... I don't think this is something that is special just to me...I think anyone that witnesses a patient ringing that bell is overwhelmed with emotion.

This is Cathy, my radiation technician, she was very kind and made me laugh everyday through radiation.  I have gone back to try to find her and she has since moved on...but she really made a difference in my life and I wish I could tell her that.  So this is the best I can do...Thank you Cathy!!

My hair started growing back just before my last round of chemo (the doctor told me it was because my body was past the insult of the chemo...nice Dr. Sam...nice....). So I promised Keith that I would remove my "security blanket" after ringing the bell. I promised not just for the day, but for good. This was a hard one for me. With no hair and no bandanna I felt ugly. But I was officially no longer sick and it was time to move past this chapter, so I hesitantly agreed. The significance was strong so I knew I had to get past my self consciousness.

I did not copy and past the entire post from last year, and of course I made a few changes to make this post unique.  If you want to get a better glimpse of our cancer journey feel free to read last years post on August 22, Life is Beautiful!  Would link you there...but I have NO idea how to do that.

Special prayers at this time for Patty Coe who has been recently diagnosed with Lung Cancer.  My heart and prayers go out to you and your family at this time!

Please continue to pray for those still battling this awful disease. As well as for those who are survivors to NEVER have to battle it again. GOD STRONG!!! ~ ♥

Crawfish Season

I yearn for the days that we call "Crawfish Season".  The days of the year that fall between early March-late June.  A rare time of the year that is generally not to hot for sitting outside with a pile of broiled mudbugs (crawfish), sausage, potatoes, corn, mushrooms, carrots, a roll of paper towels, and and ice cold beer.

 

This year we really enjoyed the weather and the crawfish.  We had two different outdoor crawfish boils.  Keith found an awesome place to buy live crawfish at a reasonable price [ The Crawfish Company 713-758-0972 for anyone interested ].  He has to special order them and the man brings them into town from Louisiana that morning.  You have to pre-pay..so if you don't pick up your loot your still eatin' it (no pun intended). 

Watching Keith and Bill prepare for our first annual crawfish boil was a little bit funny, okay hilarious.  At one point I looked outside and they actually had the laptop out there, they googled crawfish boiling instructions... Ha, I love it!! you can google everything these days.  I will admit that the finished results were delightful!  It was some of the best crawfish that I have ever eaten.  They were big, they were juicy, and cooked just right! Good job guys!!

  

Memorial Day 2011

On Memorial day we had another crawfish boil at my brother's house which was equally as fun and tasty.

This flag was a gift to my brother from a very dear friend, William W. Taylor III (aka Uncle B). He served several times in Iraq/Afghanistan and I have no doubt that this flag was flown proudly overseas. Thank you Uncle B for always taking care of EVERYONE!!

Ahliana and her cousin (because he is a good sport and he loves her) ran through the water sprinkler.  I think here Ahli is telling him to get up that "she" is not done playing.

She loves the comforts of Aunt Sandi.  And I love that Aunt Sandi loves my baby like she would love her own. It is funny because whenever we leave Aunt Sandi, or vise versa, Ahli crys for her.  It is a heartbreaking cry and it should probably hurt my feelings a little, but it doesn't.  With this cry I know that she loves my family and had so much fun that she doesn't want it to end...and that she is purely exhausted.  So with these crys comes a comfort that she will see them all again soon.

Ahliana and Tyler found a crawfish without pinchers.  So they wanted to keep it and carried it back into the back where my brother and his family have a small gold fish pond.  Together her and Tyler "saved" the pincherless crawfish.

Did I forget to mentioned that my dear sweet daughter named the crawfish Lilly?  I thought that was a very sweet name, for a crawfish.
Look at that steamy yumminess!!

Uncle B.....!!!!

Uncle E showing Ahliana a crawfish with pinchers.

I can't wait for next year and the fun that our new seasoned crawfish boilers will bring!  Let's see we had two this year... I anticipate that next year there will be at least three....Who's in????
***just catching up... I know we are past crawfish season... I have about two more posts to go....

May Madness...

May is always a VERY busy month for us.  It starts of with the beloved anniversary between me and my wonderful husband, then Mother's Day, Ahliana's 3rd Birthday (which is always about a week long), and ends with Memorial Day.  I am going to try to bundle all of that into this one post so please forgive me in advance if it's a long one.

Anniversary

It is amazing to think that 9 years ago I met my husband, at a bar nonetheless...yes, I said bar.  That was always a big NO in my book of unspoken rules... I remember thinking that you do not meet good men in bars... I will have to admit now that I was wrong.... My husband is truly amazing and I am very lucky to have him by my side through thick and thin.  In the last 7yrs I can honestly say that I have put him up to the test...

I, Jenney, take you, Keith, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part...

Mother's Day

We made the trip out to Galveston , where we met up with the boys to celebrate the day (they went out a few days prior to get some fishing in).  I really wish our Gulf water was not so brown... these pictures actually look a little gross.  Gross water or not... we had lots of fun.  Ahliana searched for shells and clams.  We found several itty bitty clams and as the tide would come up the little mussels would quickly sneak out of  their shell just enough to bury themselves under the sand to keep from getting washed away... it became a game.. entertaining enough for (an almost) 3yr old...  I think the highlight of my day was when my little bug curled up in my lap and feel fast asleep... the hot summer heat didn't even bother me...  together we melted into one as she quietly slept and I soaked in every minute of it.  This day was really a celebration of her... without her I would not have the pleasure or the privilege of being a mother. 

The Birthday Girl- The BIG 3

Ahliana had a hard time turning three.  She told me numerous times to cancel her party because she did not want a birthday.  When I would ask her why she would tell me without hesitation, "Because I don't want to get older, I always want to be your baby".  Little does she realize... she will ALWAYS be my baby...

We started our celebrations at the Children's Museum.  She had so much fun.  She wore a shirt that said , Happy Birthday to me, every time someone wished her a happy birthday she would tell them "I don't want it, I am giving it to my daddy".. oh silly girl, if this is how you are turning 3 what are we going to do when you turn 30?  Birthdays are fun and it means that you have been blessed with another wonderful year of life.  Embrace it my child.

Trying to catch a big fish for daddy (on his birthday...)

When we got home we had lots of fun blowing bubbles with our little bubble gun.  So much easier then the little sticks you have to blow into.

Such an Ahliana face.  I love this face!!

Happy Birthday to you...♫ ♪

Happy Birthday to you...♫ ♪

Happy Birthday to Ahliana ...♪♪♪♫

Happy Birthday to you...♫ ♪

So in love with his baby girl... you see the sparkle for her in his eyes always!

One of my favorite moments.  Ahliana pulled us both in by wrapping her arms around us as everyone sung Happy Birthday to her.  Such a sweetie.

Looks like a little girl that wanted to cancel her birthday party...NOT!

The birthday theme was a mix of John Deere and Cowgirl ... When I found this pinata I was super excited.  It was a little small but ohhhh soooo cute!!  Get it Ahli!!

This is the BMOC (big man on campus) he made the first break in the pinata.  Unfortunately for us this happened way to soon.  There were several other children that wanted a swing at that little tractor so Keith broke out the electrical tape and taped it up a couple of times to give all the kids a swing.  Okay how funny is that.... only my hubby.

The party was a success.  I think all had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect.  No really it was perfect (understanding that while I am typing this it is about 110 in the shade here).

A big Thanks to Kristy for taking all the pictures.  Without her none of these wonderful pictures would have been possible.

I will have to save Memorial Day for another post.  I want to get May's update posted before it turns September on me.  I promise to post again soon.