Oh Holy Night

For Bridgette

Back in June, my dear friend Bridgette was diagnosed with breast cancer. I started getting to know Bridgette last year when her son and Aubrey were in the same Pre-K class. I actually remember the first time I saw Bridgette, which was probably a year before that. She was pregnant with her 3rd boy, and I remember thinking she was the best looking pregnant woman I had ever seen!

Fast forward to June. We were swimming in her pool one day when she said she had found a lump and was going to get it checked that very afternoon. We all talked about how it was probably nothing. I don't think I ever thought for one second it would be anything. I left a day or two later for our summer trip to Santa Fe.

I distinctly remember one morning thinking that I should check in with her and see how her appointment went. That very day, my friend Emily texted me and said to please call her ASAP. I had this feeling it was about Bridgette, and it was. The lump was cancer. I was shocked. I didn't know what to think or to say, but I knew I needed to call Bridgette right then. Although Bridgette and I had definitely grown closer and I was so happy to call her my friend, I still felt a little uneasy about calling. Would I be bothering her? What if she didn't want to talk about it? What in the world would I say? I have had similar feelings in the past when dealing with shocking news about a friend, specifically when my college roommate's 3 yr old son died. I regret to this day that I didn't call her right away. I waited a very long time to contact her because of my own fears and insecurities, and then I just felt like a terrible friend for waiting so long. What I know now is that it is far better to reach out. No harm can come from that. If the person isn't ready or able to talk, it's no big deal. But they will know that you care and will know they can count on you for support.

Anyway, I called Bridgette and from that short conversation, I knew more about Bridgette than I had learned in the past year. I had no idea how strong and brave she was. She was out for a walk, not changing her routine just because she was now a cancer patient. She knew the importance of taking care of herself. She was of course shocked, and hadn't had time to fully process all that would happen, but she was not sad. I'm sure she has cried a lot out along the way, but she was and is upbeat, she was and is positive, she was and is not going to let this cancer beat her. She is very competitive, you know.

Right about the same time she was diagnosed, my back took another turn for the worse. Here Bridgette is dealing with cancer, and she always asked how I was doing, and with genuine concern. E-v-e-r-y time I saw her. In many ways, cancer has changed her life, and yet, I somehow feel like nothing has changed. She is still strong, positive, and an incredible friend!!!! She inspires me so much and I could stand to learn a lot from her strength of character.

In the last 6 months, Bridgette has had a double mastectomy and reconstruction, 10 weeks straight of chemo, another surgery to remove her implants because her skin wasn't healing properly, and another 4 chemo treatments spaced 2 weeks apart. This last Tuesday was her last chemo treatment, just in time to feel yucky for Christmas. But she would never let us see that side of things. She has continued to exercise, take care of her family, and stay close with her friends. She is simply amazing.

Bridgette, Matt, and the boys... the day before surgery

Race for the Cure, Nov. 2011

Last day of chemo

And here is where you need to be really creative and imagine you see confetti raining down on Bridgette. Yes, I missed it. I got flustered by the moment and snapped too soon.

Leaving the infusion room for the last time!

Ringing the bell, and yes, these are blurry. Again, I was flustered and forgot to change my camera settings. Gheez.

Thank you Bridgette for your friendship and for teaching me so much about life and how to live it. See you later 2011... here's to a new year and an even stronger and better Bridgette!

Photos: lost but not forgotten

Well, not really. These photos were on a camera card that I just haven't used in a while and I almost forgot that I took them! Guess I should clean things up a little more often. So before I get the obligatory Christmas post up and going, I thought I would share these...

The little man's first attempt at putting his big boy undies on by himself. Inside out and backwards.

Aubrey's back to school sock-hop

Oh, and I certainly won't ever forget this... the hole in our dining room ceiling...

and the mess it made when my uber-handy husband put his leg through the ceiling.

And this... I have no idea, but I sure am thirsty now.

Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful family and friends. I am truly blessed.

SIX

Aubrey recently celebrated her 6th Birthday. I know I say this every year, but how is that possible? It has been a big year for her with graduating pre-school, starting Kindergarten, playing soccer and tennis, and getting her first permanent tooth (and no, she hasn't lost the baby one yet... it's getting crowded in that mouth).

So far, she seems to be adjusting to growing up pretty well. Of course, she is exhausted from school and has a little more attitude lately, but for the most part, she makes good choices and is still so excited by life and learning (it has taken me several days to get this post done, and wouldn't you know it, she has been making some bad choices! ugh). She is extremely independent, and a little stubborn, which I know will serve her well later in life, but often gets her into trouble now. We were walking home from school the other day and she was getting a little too far ahead for my comfort with all the traffic around. I asked her to come closer and she said "no mommy, I want it to look like I'm walking by myself." If given the chance for a play date, she would always prefer to have it at someone else's house. I've decided that they must have better snacks. At family camp recently, she wanted to sit with our friends and their kids and not with us, and even after they had left the table to chase their kids, she preferred to remain there alone instead of sitting with us. It sometimes breaks my heart and makes me think she doesn't like to be with me. Maybe I have been too hard on her, maybe I haven't been fun enough, maybe I haven't shown her enough love. But i have to remind myself that she was like this from day one. Always more content to be out of the house. Always better behaved for everyone else. It's just her personality, and I do love it, even if I can get frustrated sometimes. I'm sure I perpetuated it some when Henry came along. I expected a lot of her, probably too much for her age. She was so verbal and seemed so mature that I think I forgot that emotionally, she was still a baby herself. Anyway, I just want her to slow down a little now!!!

I asked Aubrey the same questions I ask on every birthday so I can remember what she was like at this age. Here are the results. You'll notice there wasn't much change this year from last year.

What is your favorite food?

A: Shrimp Enchiladas

What is your favorite book?

A: Rainbow Fairy chapter books

What is your favorite color?

A: rainbow, gold and turquoise

What is your favorite song?

A: Great Fairy Rescue

What is your favorite toy?

A: Tinkerbelle puzzle

What is your favorite thing about Kindergarten?

A: science

What is your favorite movie/show?

A: The Magic Schoolbus

What is your favorite game?

A: Candyland

What is your favorite thing to wear?

A: tinkerbelle t-shirt

Who do you miss?

A: GiGi

Who is your favorite brother?

A: Henry

Who do you love?

A: mommy and daddy

What was the best part about being five?

A: playing soccer

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: a scientist

Who is your best friend?

A: Clara

So on to the actual birthday. Unfortunately, Brian had to leave town that day for work, so we woke her extra early so he could wish her a happy day and see her open her present. She was half asleep, so my surprise didn't go off exactly like I hoped, but once she woke up she was super excited about going to Disney World!!! My dear friend Jeny is still in the Navy reserves, and as a result, gets an incredible discount at the resort. We have been wanting to meet up for a girl's trip, and decided it would be even more fun to take our oldest girls to Disney. Even with the discount, it's a big trip so we decided it would be a once in a lifetime birthday present. I found a huge Cinderella Castle balloon and stuffed it in a gift bag. It floated up when she opened it with a note attached. She is starting to read, so I thought it would be fun for her to read it herself. She was so sleepy that I basically had to do it for her.

Since she didn't have a party last year and she won't really get her present until we go to Disney in January, she got to have her first big birthday party. Until now, we have kept it a little low key with either a celebration at the house or a park. She has been wanting to go roller skating lately, so we decided to have her party at Playland Skate Center. I used to skate there as a kid, and it hasn't changed much! Her only request was for a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake. She also wanted to make sure everyone in her class was invited. I was leaving the country the next day (more on that soon), so it was nice to just show up with the cake and a few decorations and that was about all we had to do.

Skating was a little tricky for most of the kids, but they all seemed to have fun.

Fairy wings for the girls, and super-hero masks for the boys

They had some great skates for Henry. They wheels hardly moved, so he was able to stay upright, which definitely allowed us to focus on the birthday girl.

Samuel and his daddy, Jack.

Aubrey gave the "walker" a try, but preferred to just hold on to the rail

Aubrey has really come to love Maddie. They aren't in the same class, but we had met her last year through a mutual friend. I don't think she remembered meeting her, and just came to know her on her own during recess.

Happy Birthday to our sweet and spirited Aubrey!!!