~FIRST DAY of FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN~

~MY SWEET BABY MADDI~

~Pictured above, FIRST DAY of FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN~

MY HOW WE'VE GROWN FROM LAST YEAR at Alternative 1/2 day Kindergarten, I don't know who is having more fun this year, Me or Maddi!!! SHE LOVES SCHOOL!!! Although I have been sleeping this entire week, I know that once chemo is over (I am 1/2 way done) I should start to have more energy and feel like a real person again. I cannot WAIT for those days....somewhere around the New Year I am hoping and praying for!!! Have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~Last years picture of the FIRST DAY of Alternative 1/2 day Kindergarten~

~We've BEEN ASKED to go to the LIVESTRONG PRESIDENTIAL CANCER FORUM

I AM SOOOOO HONORED and HUMBLED as I received a phone call TODAY from Dr. Ghosh, my Oncologist, who asked if Bob and I would go with him to THE LIVESTRONG PRESIDENTIAL CANCER FORUM to meet Lance Armstrong and be part of the forum!!!! WOW!!! This might be my calling.....Please pray I am well enough to go!!!! BOB IS MY MEDICAL ADVOCATE and he and Dr. Ghosh talk their medical terms and in turn, Bob explains it all to me in laymen terms. THANK YOU BOB!!! You are my ROCK!!!

Hugs and Love to all of you, Amy (who has been sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day, as this last chemo treatment has really thrown me for a loop)

SIX CANDIDATES CONFIRMED FOR THE LIVESTRONG® PRESIDENTIAL CANCER FORUM; MSNBC BROADCAST ELEVATES CANCER DIALOGUE TO THE NATIONAL STAGE MSNBC'S Chris Matthews will co-moderate with Lance Armstrong; Iowa state elected officials to host - The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced today that the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum, a two-day event featuring 2008 presidential hopefuls from the Democratic and Republican parties in Cedar Rapids next month will be co-moderated by Lance Armstrong and Chris Matthews of MSNBC. The forum provides candidates with an opportunity to detail their respective policy plans for fighting cancer, a disease that kills nearly 1,500 Americans every day.
"Cancer is non-partisan. It's the number one killer of Americans under 85," said Armstrong, founder and chairman of the LAF. "Each of the confirmed participants is demonstrating the importance of a national cancer policy in his or her platform. We greatly appreciate their commitment and invite all remaining candidates to attend."
As of today, and in alphabetical order, the following Democratic candidates have confirmed their attendance: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator John Edwards and Governor Bill Richardson; and the following Republicans have confirmed their attendance: Senator Sam Brownback, Governor Mike Huckabee and Governor Tommy Thompson.
In addition to the participant confirmations, MSNBC will be broadcasting the Forum. Each afternoon following the forum, MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" will feature candidate interviews and comments, and on tonight's program Armstrong will discuss the forum and cancer-related issues with Matthews.
"The Presidential Cancer Forum is a critical step for the Lance Armstrong Foundation toward making cancer a national priority," said Doug Ulman, president of the LAF. "MSNBC will help elevate our nation's focus on cancer by shining a spotlight on an issue that takes far too many lives."
The Democratic candidates' forum will be held on Monday, August 27; Republican candidates will convene the following day, August 28. Both discussions will take place at U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 10 A.M. until noon CDT. Tickets for the forum are available, at no cost, at www.livestrong.org/forum.
Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, and Iowa Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, will provide welcoming remarks for the Republicans and Democrats, respectively, and comment on the future of cancer-related public policy.
"The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum will be an excellent chance not only for Iowans, but for people across the country, to learn more from the candidates about their efforts to fight this devastating disease," said Sen. Grassley. "Most of us have a personal story about the impact cancer has had in our lives, whether through our loved ones' struggles or our own. We have the opportunity to bring this disease to the forefront of the policy debate."
"Iowa is proud of its history as a bellwether in each presidential election season -- and we are equally proud to be hosting this discussion," said Gov. Culver. "We've all seen the yellow wristbands and witnessed Lance's tireless advocacy on this critical issue. Now, with the help of his leadership, the LAF is hosting the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum as a vehicle for us to see just where the presidential contenders stand on cancer issues ranging from funding for research, to survivorship services as well the hope to one day find a cure."
The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum stems from a commitment by Armstrong and the foundation that bears his name to build and mobilize a LIVESTRONG Army that unites citizens, government officials and cancer organizations across the country to make cancer a national priority.
"The dream is that we get rid of this disease forever," Armstrong said. "The '08 elections and the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum give all Americans an opportunity to ask the candidates 'What's your plan? And where does cancer fit into your policies?'"

Details for the event are as follows:

LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum:

Hosted by the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Democratic Candidate Forum, Monday August 27, 2007

Republican Candidate Forum, Tuesday August 28, 2007

U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

~SCHOOL STARTS THIS WEEK~

SCHOOL IS STARTING THIS WEEK....YIPPY SKIPPY!!!!

SCHOOL STARTS THIS WEEK and for the first time in my life, I AM EXCITED!!! I used to cry when the kids had to go back to school because I loved the summer with no schedules, no practices, no games and no homework. BUT.....this will be the first time in 6 and a half years that I will have all the kids in school. I AM BESIDE MYSELF to think I will have full days to myself to get stuff done that I have always wanted to get done. Just to be able to run to the store without someone tagging along will be soooo much fun!!! Please don't think I am a bad mom for feeling this way, I just never had my kids in daycare, pre-school, or to a babysitters since they were born and this is a new freedom I am looking forward to!!!!

I am still fighting my mouth sores, nothing is working and it's getting hard to swallow. I go to the doctors tomorrow to get more blood work done and get my red blood cell shot (that one is only $5000.00....LOL a mere $1000.00 less than the white blood/bone marrow shot that I have the day after chemo). And if this shot doesn't work, then I will have to have a blood transfusion. PLEASE PRAY they don't blow out any veins (it finally happened at my last chemo treatment and IT HURT. And pray this shot WORKS....I am scared to death to have a blood transfusion)

I finally felt good enough yesterday to go get Maddi's school clothes, yet it wore me out. So, I am taking this week off from the blog. The big girls start school tomorrow, Maddi has her dry-run on the bus tomorrow, then a half-day on Tuesday and then full days start on Wednesday. And Nick and Alex start school on Wednesday. Needless to say, I will be busy with all of them and need to take the break. Here to a FABULOUS NEW WEEK to all of you.

ALL MY LOVE, Amy