Cancer Sucks!

I saw a sticker on a passing car that said "Cancer Sucks." How true. It seems that everyone has been touched in some way by this awful disease. Holding strong to our serenity, joy, and fervor for life is difficult at best. A friend of mine said he would crawl into a hole and never tell anyone if he got cancer. I think I would go on Oprah. Now, someone I love has cancer, so I decided to run in a Race for the Cure 5K. I know...it doesn't seem adequate. Then, again, what does?

 

It was very motivating to be a part of a race with 4000 women, wearing a lot of pink. However, the person I ran for doesn't have breast cancer---or breasts for that matter! I'm not going to say who it is, because he is very private...

While I was running, I tried to separate my pain from my desire to finish. I imagined fighting something within my own body. I felt somewhat successful. I finished 602nd, I raised $125, and I felt hope for a cure.

Although Cancer is still my enemy, in its wake I have found an amazing human spirit that I did not believe existed. I have learned to enjoy the life I have instead of wishing it were different. Carpe diem, my friends!

Lexington

On our way to Spradlin Branch Hollar we made a quick stop in Lexington. Since my girls are animal-lovers and especially horse-lovers, this was a great place to be! Evie got to ride a pony for the first time. Can you see the pride on her face??

 

 Elise is an old pro!

 Next, she got Daddy to carry her.

Elise was deep in thought about...I'm not sure what...maybe her prayer from last month: "Dear God, I really want a horse, but my daddy won't let me. Amen." I was also racking my brain on how to get a family photo...self timer?

 ...didn't really work out...so, we asked someone to take it for us!

 Then, the foal came over to Elise, and she started feeding him grass and clover.

 

Needless to say, they had a BLAST!! And, then, the horses had to go in the barn to eat...

...not sure *what* she is thinking here...not sure I want to know either!!

What a beautiful day! You would never know that Evie kept us all up until 4 a.m. or that we got to Keeneland only to find out that the races didn't start until the following day! You would never know, except I told you!! :)

Spradlin Branch Hollar

Back to my original post for yesterday: Car Setters Part Deuce. Once again we set out in our car. I was determined to get my hands on this little munchkin!

As you can see, I succeeded...as did some of the other Hillsiders...

 

We all gathered at a very cozy spot in Spradlin Branch Hollar.

 
 

The kiddos had a blast with the neighbor's animals.

 ...and with each other...

 Miss Bonnie even let them do a little gardening.


 
 ...but I had a better use for that garden!

 

 

 

Are they not just too sweet!?! All of these precious babies are sending me into fits! If my husband wasn't so practical, I might be doing the nine months of morning sickness all over again right about now...

...he does drink beer, though...hmmm...oh, nevermind! I'll just love on the babies I do have! :)

Montage

Yesterday was our last day of fall break, and ordinarily I would write a Car Setters Part II, describing our journey across KY and WV, meeting Baby Bheem, seeing my parents, seeing horses... However, I will have to put that off til tomorrow. Ya know how they say 'when it rains, it pours'? Well, they should also say 'when the sun shines, it shines bright'...or something like that! I have had a montage of celebrations to tell you about! Not only did I have an amazing trip, but I returned to a new baby living directly across the street and Neena's baby demanding to be born.

Although Neena has been a part of our family since the day she came to nanny for Elise, I was absolutely *floored* when she asked me to be a part of sweet Baby Lucia's birth. It's still kind of surreal. Instead of telling her how unqualified I am as a midwife, since both of my babies were sliced out of me, I decided to have faith that she knew what she was doing...plus, I *really* wanted to be there!

We spent the morning playing Go Fish and War---with me taking advantage of the laboring mama...

 ...until those contractions really amped up...

 ...in which case, the Baby Daddy's hand worked wonders.

 ...until it didn't. Then, the epidural became her best friend!

After a long, long day, Neena rested up for the pushing to begin.

 ...and the Baby Grandma worked some crosswords while the Baby Daddy did a little worrying.

 

 ...then he did some fanning between pushes...until...

 Baby Lucia arrived!!!

 "We" may have some war wounds, but just check out the gorgeous baby!!!

 

 The Baby Grandma and the OB agree: she is definitely a keeper!

Just look at the way she looks at her mama, and she doesn't even have a *clue* what kind of warrior her mom was to squeeze her out! Amazing. What a miracle! Thank you, Neena. You have changed my life forever.