children · Friends · Happiness · Parenting · Son · Uncategorized

Letter to My Little Man

A letter for my little man, who I love more than the stars.  Something for him to read through when facing a questionable moment. Archer, my Man!, I love you. I’m not perfect at showing you that I love you all the time.  I yell and get angry and I know that makes you wonder. … Continue reading Letter to My Little Man

ACA · Affordable Care Act · Cancer · Chemo Dad · Chemo mom · Chemomom · Childhood Cancer · Family · Histiocytosis · Motherhood · Obamacare · pediatric cancer · Uncategorized

Eight years and It Doesn’t End

Today is the 8th Remission Anniversary for Sophie defeating Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, a rare form of cancer.  Eight years ago today, we were told that Sophie’s cancer was gone.   Eight years ago today, we had hope that Sophie would grow up ,she’d grow old, she’d have a wedding and a job and children and a… Continue reading Eight years and It Doesn’t End

Cancer · Chemo Dad · Chemo mom · Childhood Cancer · children · Daughters · Family · Happiness · Histiocytosis · Love · Motherhood · Parenting · pediatric cancer · Uncategorized

The Moment You Face Your Child’s Mortality

You just read that title and thought “I know my kid is mortal.  I’ve faced this.”  And I would agree with you before my daughter was diagnosed with cancer.   But I didn’t realize what my child’s mortality really was until it slapped me in the face. I knew, when I got pregnant, that I had… Continue reading The Moment You Face Your Child’s Mortality

Cancer · Childhood Cancer · children · Histiocytosis · liver disease · Parenting · pediatric cancer · PTSD · Uncategorized

Feeling Squishy

3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. I have Sophie tucked into her booster seat behind me.  Butterfly pillow between her head and her brother’s car seat as she leans into it.   Sugar-skull covered fluffy blanket over her.  She’s still in her Lego movie pajamas and falls right back to sleep once I get the truck moving. I… Continue reading Feeling Squishy

Cancer · Chemo Dad · Chemo mom · children · Friends · Uncategorized

Do Not Dictate How I’m Supposed to Feel

In my last blog I said I didn’t want to be negative.  I didn’t want to make a list of things NOT to say to the parents of chronically ill children.  And I still don’t.  But someone said something to me that has brought this one thing forward.  One thing that should NEVER be said… Continue reading Do Not Dictate How I’m Supposed to Feel

Cancer · Chemo Dad · Chemo mom · Childhood Cancer · Family · Histiocytosis · Love · Uncategorized

Five Things the Parents of a Child with a Chronic Illness NEED TO HEAR

Since my daughter was diagnosed with liver failure and then cancer, I have heard it all.  I can give you a long list of things not to say to a parent with a sick or chronically ill child, but that would be exhausting and wouldn’t nearly cover it all.  These lists are all over the… Continue reading Five Things the Parents of a Child with a Chronic Illness NEED TO HEAR

Cancer · Chemo Dad · Chemo mom · Childhood Cancer · children · Histiocytosis · liver disease · Motherhood · pediatric cancer · PTSD · support groups · Uncategorized

The Steps of Grief with Each Doctor Visit

When you have a child with a chronic illness, you have to go through the steps of grief emotionally to handle the disease.  But once you go through those and get through the initial emergency period,  you can get complacent during long stretches of generally good health where the “chronic” doesn’t rear its ugly head.  … Continue reading The Steps of Grief with Each Doctor Visit

children · Family · husband · Love · marriage · Parenting · Silly Kids · Uncategorized

What Every Person Who Wants a Kid Should Be Told.

I have three kids.  I love the hell out of each and every one of them and wouldn’t trade a minute with them.  But I had NO idea what I was getting into.  When you are young and in love you think “I want a child that looks like him.” or “Maybe our children will… Continue reading What Every Person Who Wants a Kid Should Be Told.