Happy Birthday Olivia

(and Happy Anniversary Carolynn & Frank!)

No Gala

There will be no pictures of Bob & I in our gala threads this year. We decided to skip it and spent the evening with a friend. We decided we would rather spend time with friends than making small talk with acquaintances. Bob spends so many hours at work with these people, and you know the talk would have turned to work. It was nice for him to have time away from that.

I am keeping the dress since it was a great deal, and I will be able to wear for other occasions since it isn't as dressy as previous dresses had been.

Girl Time

Going out of dinner with the girls tonight. Tomorrow is my friend Erin's birthday & we are going out to celebrate! Good food + good friends = good times! :)

Fun Times

Tonight Bob & I are heading out on the town with a few dear friends! I am really looking forward to it. I think we have spent every New Year's Eve since we have know each other home. We end up being asleep on the couch before the New Year even arrives. At least I know we will see it in this year. LOL!!

Old Friends

This afternoon I got together for lunch with my best friend in the whole world. We have been friends since 8th grade. She has been by my side for some of the greatest & worst moments of my life as I have been for her. Even though we don't talk or see each other as much as we used to when we do get together it is like we were never apart.

Let's not let another five years go by without seeing each other again -- I missed you!! I love you, Linda!

Ladies Night

Last night I joined five friends for a rare ladies only night! With all our schedules it is really hard to get all of us together, but this time it worked. The stars must have been aligned just right when we planned...LOL!!

I had a great time, ladies! Thanks for being such great friends!

#512

I was looking through my blog entries this morning and noticed that my next post would be #512. Not an even number to celebrate or anything, but I couldn't believe how quickly they have added up. When I started blogging in June 2006, I didn't know that I would have much to say and some days I don't, but that's OK.

I enjoy my time in blogland and cherish the friends I have made in my blog travels. I want to thank my readers! Whether you are a commenter or a lurker, I appreciate each one of you!

Happy Birthday

to my dear friend Renee who I haven't seen in ages! I miss you, girl!

So Sorry, Kev

Our friend, Kevin, did end up stuck in KC for an extra 24 hours due to the storm on Friday.

A few hours after he got home he found out his 14-year-old nephew had passed away. His nephew was autistic and had issues with seizures most of his life. He had numerous surgeries and tried many medications to control the seizures. Recently, they had been under control -- until Friday night while he slept. The medical examiner said he probably had the seizure around midnight -- shortly after mom & dad had checked on him before turning into bed themselves.

Please keep his family in your prayers. As you can imagine with a death so sudden and unexpected, they are taking this really hard. Pray memories of their time spent together will comfort them in this very difficult time.

Kev...we are here for you if you or your family need anything! Love you, buddy! :)

Olivia's Words

Olivia called from her best friend's house this morning to say, "Thank you for letting me go to the concert. It was AMAZING!"

I could hear her BFF giggling in the background. They both had a good time and they were still giddy from the whole experience. My girlie & her friend were a bunch of giggle gooses! :)

Friendship

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. -- Elisabeth Foley

Answered Prayers

Thank you all for your prayers for Carolynn!

All four of Carolynn's biopsies and the unknown tissue were benign! In three months, she will have another FISH test. If it is negative, that means she does not have bladder cancer. If positive, the cancer would be found early and treatment would be minimal.

Thank the Lord for answered prayers!

Prayers for Carolynn

My dear friend, Carolynn, is facing a bladder cancer diagnosis. A few weeks ago she tested positive on a FISH test. FISH is very accurate (95%) and highly sensitive, but is not a definite diagnosis of bladder cancer. A positive FISH indicates abnormal growth/a possible tumor. As follow-up to the FISH, Carolynn had had a CT IVP. The CT IVP came back negative which means any cancer has not left her bladder.

As I write this, she is in surgery -- having a cystoscopy/TURB. At least four areas will be biopsied and any growth or abnormalities will be removed.

Next she will have to wait for pathology results. If the cancer diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan will be put in place. If the biopsies come back negative, she will have to wait three months and repeat the procedures. Bladder cancer is a recurring disease, and it could take a more time before it shows itself beyond the FISH.

Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.

I love you, Carolynn, my dear friend!

Biking, Running

I was able to get back to exercise a little bit this week. I got in two bike rides and one run.

WEEK OF SEPT 3

SWIM	BIKE	RUN/WALK*
0.0 miles	13.0 miles	3.25 miles
0hr 00min	0hr 55min	00hr 40min

The bike rides were fine even though this was only the second time I was on my bike since the triathlon.

The run today was another story! I met my friend, Erin, at a nearby trail for a morning run. It was hot, humid & raining lightly. We decided to run anyway because neither of us have had much time to workout lately and really need to get back into the groove. It kicked us both in the rear end. We weren't able to run the entire 3.25 mile trail, but did run the majority of it. We are going to meet every Friday morning for a run as long as the weather holds. I am sure we will get our ability to run that trail back in no time if we keep it up.

Hooray for Erin

Congratulations to Erin on being accepted to law school! Way to go, girl! I knew you would do it! I am proud of you!

Tri THANK YOU!

The Danskin Triathlon was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I need sometime let everything soak in and write about the weekend. I want to express the emotion I felt during the event for all of you who supported me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for that support. I could not have done this without you.