Sending An Angel!

Alexa and Morgan have Aunt Pinky freezing in the cold!



Elena lends a helping hand, she got her sisters ready for Aunt Pinky's arrival!
Sunday, November 25th

I don’t know what happened Sunday and I’m sure Mike wishes it didn’t but… I woke up at 5:30 AM, scrubbed two bathrooms, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned our playroom, mopped floors, Mike spot cleaned the carpet and I steam cleaned three rooms! Whoa…all by 9:30 AM! Maybe “steroids!” Lol!

Then I sat on the couch waiting for my Sam’s run Rita does for me each cycle, she even knows my list without calling! :>) Mike and I were beat!

Sunday afternoon, we waited for the arrival of our Angel in disguise, Pinky! Pinky flew in to help us with the girls this week. She's been with us in heart since she heard of my cancer, sending inspirational emails, notes, flowers and blog comments. Now Mike and I feel so blessed to have Pinky with us. I truly believe God puts people in our lives at the right time for the right reason. After our travels, third chemotherapy cycle and complete exhaustion between Mike and I, Pinky arrives. Her sweet, soft energy flowing between all of us, Lord knows we need it! I can’t tell you the last time I compared someone to “mom,” Mike’s or mine, if I ever did but having Pinky with us is like having mom & grandma here.

Pinky sat at the airport on the busiest travel day, delayed for several hours carrying the last of her homegrown summer roses in a vase for me, a bag of carefully wrapped presents for each of the girls and homemade cookies for Mike! And she still arrived with so much love, compassion and so at ease. I remember the years when we brought fresh flowers on the plane for someone else, how we greeted someone at the airport with flowers and even took time to carry bags of gifts on the plane. But we have to “remember” those days because we no longer make the simple things in life be simple.

Of course, the girls LOVE Pinky! I heard they traded daddy in Sunday night for her! They were all giggling, each getting louder to tell their story to her and only wanting Pinky to brush their teeth at night. Lol! Only God could know how much we needed a “mom” and a “grandmother” in our house at this time. Someone to share their love and time with the girls, make them feel secure when everything feels like it's falling apart and someone to help Mike and me in every way possible.


Tonight, I thank God for my answered prayer and thank God for Grandma/Mother’s like Pinky. Oh ya, I also thank David for sharing Pinky with us this week! :>)

I feel like I can rest this week knowing we are living with an angel. I pray for the strength to get through the upcoming tough days, looking forward to ONE last cycle, WE PRAY!

We miss you guys!!

Home Sweet Home

Aunt T finally sits down after days with the girls!





Aunt T, Uncle Emad and Aunt Eka, thankful for each other! lol!



Enjoying Thanksgiving!


Thanksgiving - Saturday, November 24th

Well, we are back in Tennessee once again! You know, I recently read if you travel more than 50 miles for your cancer treatment, you raise your odds of living 3%! By now, I believe I will live well past 75! Lol! My girls are officially little angels, bursting at the seams of naughtiness. I find myself saying, “They never act this way.” Something I rarely had to say! Mike’s blood has been replaced by coffee, Coke and anything that gives a natural sugar rush! And me, well I’m still Chemo Girl…just exhausted from all the travels and drugs but still in the ring!

We had a sweet Thanksgiving! A lot of food, a lot of desserts and a lot to be thankful for! I still can’t believe Thanksgiving is over though. We spent the day hanging out at Sonia and Emad’s, waiting for the big hour to eat. I was grateful Patricia and Sonia prepared most of the food the day before. I was pretty tired from the chemo drugs and I worried about how much I could contribute. (It wasn’t much, although I did make a boxed Pineapple Upside Down Cake, and Mike thinks we can't bake! Lol)

On Saturday, the “gift” of cancer finally found itself a bow!

There we where, driving down I-94, wheels spinning, kids a singing, Aunt T in the very last row taking us crazy Pahariks in one last time, mommy in the passenger seat and daddy in the driver’s seat!

Mike says, “shit.” Without panic. No stressed tone. No excitement. Just “Shit.”

I look back and sure enough, flashing blue lights at 8:30 AM! OK, we left the apartment 7 minutes prior! Like, we haven’t even said “bye!”

My initial thought is, they are going to strip this car to pieces when they see us! Bald American guy in the driver’s seat, bald Mexican-American girl in the front, three American looking toddlers stuffed in the middle row, another Mexican-American girl with hair truly stuffed in the last row, surrounded by bags and bags of luggage and Tennessee plates!

Yup, we are going down!

Instead, I thought about this “Gift” from God people talk about. Cancer.

I know this is sad but I have been told by many people that cancer is a “gift” from God, so why not use it! :>) I rip off my hat, exposing my bald cancer head as the officer approaches my passenger window.

I think this is most of the communication between the officer and I… (Note: I wasn't driving! Lol)

I have cancer. I get my treatment in Michigan. Taking my sister who flew in to help us with our THREE TODDLERS back to my other sister’s house. Just trying to get back to Tennessee tonight with three toddlers. I usually drive this route, he’s not familiar with it, today I’m sick and I’m tired. Sir, just trying to get back to Tennessee tonight with THREE TODDLERS and CANCER.

Forgetting to mention, I did eat a Thanksgiving meal here and it was real good. I did see my family too and it was real nice. No, just cancer and the kids! (Once again, slapping my shameful hands!)Lol!

I know, I used my “gift” to help with a ticket but it was Thanksgiving weekend and I should be thankful of this, so "they" say! :>) We couldn’t afford a ticket right now and if I let Mike talk, he would have said…

Officer, I WAS speeding. I’m real tired. I got no sleep last night due to my wife. (Not clarifying I was sick from cancer, allowing his imagination to flow!) Lol! I really don’t like driving and I’m just trying to get us home and QUICK! Please write me a ticket for 83 in a 70 mph zone, SIR! Haha!

So there you have it! Mike did get a minor infraction but we did get a little break thanks to Chemo Girl! After that, I decided to drive the family home, fortunately I only got sick twice and my leg was the greatest pain this day. But what a drive it was!

We stopped at Aunt Patty’s for an early dinner, she bought Honey Baked Ham, avocadoes and tortillas! There’s that pork taco craving again! Haha The kids helped her rake leaves and they colored her walls with Baked Cheetos fingers and two hours later, on the road we went! Poor Aunt Patty, I know she has to feel so used by us, always stopping by to eat and sleep and we don't even live in the neighborhood! Lol!

Well,we were in Tennessee around 10:30 CT thanks to gaining an hour! The neighborhood already filled with Christmas lights!! It was so nice to be home, sleep in our beds and everyone wake up in their own room!