How You Can Help

I debated and debated about writing a blog requesting any kind of 'help' but darn if you guys aren't continually asking "do you need anything?" "can I help you guys out?"...etc.

Truthfully, we have been doing pretty good. It has been easier going through cancer treatment with all the older kids home from school so that we have help around the house and with babysitting. I've also gotten a wide array of head gear- a bunch of super cool handmade scarves from my mom (with matching earrings too!) and cool knitted hats from my dear friend Julie's mother-in-law and also from one of her friends too. I've now become obsessed with finding shirts to coordinate with all my scarves and hats!

Back in February we received a wonderfully generous gift certificate for a local Super Suppers store from our friends and supporters of the SP Corps (gosh how we love you guys!). We have finally used it all up and have been blessed with a wide variety of ready to cook meals every month.
That being said, meals are our biggest need right now. Having both Pat and I getting chemo at the same time has left a burden of neither of us wanting to eat or cook. My sense of taste is completely off- I need to over-salt everything, even put salt on a hot dog! Pat's chemo is giving his a sore mouth and throat- he has become a fruit Popsicle eating maniac, sometimes going through a whole box in a day or two! One thing about the weird chemo side effect of food aversions is that eating food is not so much an issue- it's the cooking and smelling it cook that is a bit unsettling.

The kids have done great trying to fill the gap by making frozen pizzas, Hot Pockets, burritos and some casseroles. Unfortunately, they still need to eat lunch and dinner at home and the variety is getting a bit monotonous. We have mostly been getting restaurant take home and fast food but to be honest- with the added price of gas costs going back and forth to the hospital (a 45 min ride from our new house!)- it is killing our budget!

So, if anyone has the desire to help out...we would really appreciate assistance in that area. A few ways to help would of course be to drop a meal off to us if you live in our area. We are open to anything- our kids are good eaters. If you don't live near us, a gift card to a popular restaurant (we have most of them nearby) would be a welcome treat. Many days it gets to be 5pm and we have no idea what to make or we don't feel well enough to put anything together.
I am also out of inspiration when it comes to making something fast so another great way to help (and it's the FREE option!) is to share with us some of your recipes for making quick and easy meals. We have a large deep freezer and I am hoping to try and do a one day cooking extravaganza where I can make ahead a bunch of easy to heat up meals for the days we are feeling to sick to cook or drive to pick up dinner.

Cards, emails and phone calls--as always, MUCH appreciated. Even if we are not up to chatting or don't get your email reply out for a few weeks, it is a nice treat to know that we are remembered and thought of by our friends and family. It is a great spirit booster for us, especially when Pat hears from one of the 'guys' - you know who you are old Army buddies, pick up a phone- best time to get a hold of Pat is in the evenings. He hasn't done real Army stuff in over a year and is tired of discussing his cancer all the time. Get busy--hint hint!

Do you scrapbook? Have any old supplies you aren't going to use and might like to pass along? I am trying to find things to keep me busy when I am not feeling good so that I don't just lay on the couch and watch the Discovery Channel all day. I have five years worth of photos to catch up on and the movers dumped my supply of paper and stickers into a box where everything ended up crinkled and wrinkled and not looking so good. I could use some replacements but haven't felt too much like heading out to Michaels or Hobby Lobby to shop- plus I am limited on going out in public when my cell counts are low- I have to try and avoid contact with germas or sick people. Also, if you have any good photos of Pat, me or the kids- email me a copy so I can put them in an album!

Of course, another great way to help is to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we spend our ENTIRE summer vacation at home while both Pat and I get pumped full of cancer killing poisons...does that sound pathetic enough to warrant a little sympathy? haha!
Seriously, this will be the second year in a row we have not been able to take any kind of family vacation--dumb cancer--anything you can do to keep our spirits up and alleviate summer break boredom would be immensely appreciated! (thanks to whoever signed us up for some magazine subscriptions-besides my mom- super idea!) Oh, and the books- loved them! We are such huge readers!

We love you guys! {{{HUGS}} from our family to yours!

Today's Glass Half-Full:
"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up."
- John Andrew Holmes Jr., American writer and minister