Just back from a quick trip to Georgia for a celebration of my Great Aunt Margaret's life. I'm so glad that I could be there with my children. I loved being able to introduce Patrick to my extended family. Had a great time at Uncle Les and Brian's for a birthday party for Julie (1), Oliver (4) and Georgia (9). Thanks guys for going all out with the balloons, gourmet cupcakes and slip & slide!
Today, my new friend Sara is beginning chemo. She is about 27 weeks pregnant. Please keep her in your prayers. You can read her blog at supportingsara.blogspot.com.
My Georgia turns 9 tomorrow! Hard to believe. She just began three weeks of day camp at Game On! Sports Camp for Girls held at Lake Forest College. We are preparing to send her to my former camp - Keystone in Brevard, NC for two weeks in July. My baby is growing up!
Patrick has two teeth and is teething the top two. He developed croup yesterday after battling a bug while down south. I'm trying to catch up from the Avon Walk, etc. So excited to go to Waussakee, WI this weekend for a couples retreat with my book club.
Happy summer!
Jana
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
We did it!
We did it!! Friday night we all got together at the beautiful family home of Karen Uihlein. (Thank you Karen!) Lots of family and friends came together for this special event. We had a little welcome ceremony with champagne toast to introduce the out-of-towners to my local friends. I handed out gift bags to each of us loaded with all things pink including our team t-shirt, pink camo with our team name "Patrick's Platoon" across the back. Then it was early to bed for a good night sleep. We woke up at 4:30 a.m., grabbed a muffin and some fruit and loaded into the van (with Larry, our awesome driver). We got to Soldier field at 6 a.m. for the welcome ceremony and we were off and walking by 7 a.m.!
Some of the girls were faster than others, so we broke up into several smaller groups. The scenery was beautiful and the weather was lovely until around 10:00 a.m. as clouds rolled in and the drizzle turned into a steady rain. Luckily, my sister Rebecca handed out rain ponchos to each of us. By the time we got to lunch at mile 10 we were pretty wet, but the rain tapered off and the skies cleared (we even saw the sun again!) Our van was coming to pick us up around 4 p.m., half of the girls finished the walk by then...26 miles!! (those girls really moved!!) the other half finished close to 17 miles! We all hit the wellness center for some much-needed yoga to stretch and the massage chairs (glad we got there early!) Then in our van and headed back to the house. In the van we discussed all of our various injuries...many blisters, sore legs and hips and overall aches and pains. This was much harder than any of us thought! At the house we all showered and enjoyed much needed massages. The dinner was amazing, but we were all exhausted and headed to bed. The next morning was crazy hard to get motivated, but we rallied and got out the door by 7 a.m. Larry brought us coffee and donuts and even wore pink in honor of our walk. We were bandaged and back at the starting gate by 8 a.m. The day couldn't have been prettier. Sunny skies in the 70's with a slight breeze. 13 miles today, the group staggered a little bit but we all met up at the 10 mile mark for lunch and then it was just 3 miles to go. The cheering fans along the way and all the horn honking really helped to motivate! We crossed the finish lines with our families in tow (such a special moment!) the weather changed again and it began to rain, the families left and we headed to the closing ceremony. I put on a "Survivor" t-shirt and joined the 300 other survivors for this moving end to an incredible weekend.
Thank you to my dear teammates for walking with and for me and raising nearly $33,000 for the Avon Foundation to support breast cancer programs.
Some of the girls were faster than others, so we broke up into several smaller groups. The scenery was beautiful and the weather was lovely until around 10:00 a.m. as clouds rolled in and the drizzle turned into a steady rain. Luckily, my sister Rebecca handed out rain ponchos to each of us. By the time we got to lunch at mile 10 we were pretty wet, but the rain tapered off and the skies cleared (we even saw the sun again!) Our van was coming to pick us up around 4 p.m., half of the girls finished the walk by then...26 miles!! (those girls really moved!!) the other half finished close to 17 miles! We all hit the wellness center for some much-needed yoga to stretch and the massage chairs (glad we got there early!) Then in our van and headed back to the house. In the van we discussed all of our various injuries...many blisters, sore legs and hips and overall aches and pains. This was much harder than any of us thought! At the house we all showered and enjoyed much needed massages. The dinner was amazing, but we were all exhausted and headed to bed. The next morning was crazy hard to get motivated, but we rallied and got out the door by 7 a.m. Larry brought us coffee and donuts and even wore pink in honor of our walk. We were bandaged and back at the starting gate by 8 a.m. The day couldn't have been prettier. Sunny skies in the 70's with a slight breeze. 13 miles today, the group staggered a little bit but we all met up at the 10 mile mark for lunch and then it was just 3 miles to go. The cheering fans along the way and all the horn honking really helped to motivate! We crossed the finish lines with our families in tow (such a special moment!) the weather changed again and it began to rain, the families left and we headed to the closing ceremony. I put on a "Survivor" t-shirt and joined the 300 other survivors for this moving end to an incredible weekend.
Thank you to my dear teammates for walking with and for me and raising nearly $33,000 for the Avon Foundation to support breast cancer programs.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Patrick's Platoon!
We are one day away from the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer! When I signed up for this in January, it felt like it was years away!! But it's HERE! My team of 14 is gearing up. We have are practically giddy with excitement! We are decked in pink, have pink nails, pink flip flops, cute pink camo t-shirts that say "Fight Cancer" and "Patrick's Platoon," pink camo bandaids and on and on.
Tonight and tomorrow night, we will all stay together in our friend's large guest house. At 5 a.m. tomorrow, we will be picked up by a van to take us to Chicago to begin the 26 mile walk. Opening ceremonies will be at Soldier Field and we will end in Warren Park at a special Wellness Village. Our driver will take us back to Lake Forest where we will be met by 3 massage therapists and dinner. Early to bed to begin again on Sunday at 8 a.m. for 13.3 miles back to Soldier Field. Our spouses and children will meet us at Buckingham Fountain and some of the kids will walk this final mile with us. My children - Georgia and Patrick will cross the finish line with me! I am so excited to actually cross this finish line and put my whole breast cancer experience officially behind me!
Thanks for all your support, prayers and love!
xxoo
Jana
Tonight and tomorrow night, we will all stay together in our friend's large guest house. At 5 a.m. tomorrow, we will be picked up by a van to take us to Chicago to begin the 26 mile walk. Opening ceremonies will be at Soldier Field and we will end in Warren Park at a special Wellness Village. Our driver will take us back to Lake Forest where we will be met by 3 massage therapists and dinner. Early to bed to begin again on Sunday at 8 a.m. for 13.3 miles back to Soldier Field. Our spouses and children will meet us at Buckingham Fountain and some of the kids will walk this final mile with us. My children - Georgia and Patrick will cross the finish line with me! I am so excited to actually cross this finish line and put my whole breast cancer experience officially behind me!
Thanks for all your support, prayers and love!
xxoo
Jana
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