My Great American Hero

Today our treasured, wonderful Papa went to heaven. We will miss him tremendously. We already do.

Two (very special) Requests

Last Monday night we returned from a wonderful weekend at Shasta Lake with our pals the Houstons, and I was ready to sit down in front of this monstrous red laptop to share some humorous tales of our weekend getaway. But instead, I learned that my brother-in-law Tom was awaiting results of a bone marrow biopsy which would likely confirm that he had leukemia.

Tom asked if I could lend some moral support (and most likely, ample noisy distraction), so the girls and I headed over the mountain to Bend to spend the remainder of the week with Amy & Tom and their girls. What I witnessed at their home surprised me to no end. Amy, the one-and-the-same-girl who sobs through most weddings, was as calm and strong as could be. Tom, despite beginning a chemo regime, had his sharp sense of humor and his determination. They have managed to follow the doctor's orders to take this one day at a time, and they are doing so graciously, impressively, admirably. I am humbled by their strength. And I know their approach will help them get through this battle.

Test results concluded that Tom has CML leukemia. Fortunately, the chemo pill they have him on now is already dropping his white blood cell counts. He will be meeting with CML-experts at OHSU in the coming days to develop a formal treatment protocol. New medications have been developed in recent years and these offer tremendous hope. While a bone marrow transplant is the only cure for CML, medications can help the disease remain in check for a period of time.

So I have two small requests of all of you.

One, please take a few moments to send some positive, warrior-like energy to Tom, whether it's in the form of a prayer, a meditation, or positive thinking power.

And, two, go get yourself registered on the Bone Marrow Donor Registry (http://www.marrow.org/). It's easy to do, and requires only a simple blood test. Enter your zip code and find a drive near you. The Portland area has several drives in the coming weeks, including May 19-21, and June 14. In the Bay Area? Even more options! Go do it. You'll be so very glad you made the effort. Who knows if your marrow is the exact match for someone who desperately needs it. Go find out.

RIP

Today after school, the girls clamored into the dining room to see our lovely new pet fish. As we approached the bowl, I spied the orange and white one, Baby Chiara, laying on its side at the bottom of the bowl. Here's how the conversation went:

Mary: "What's wrong with Baby Chiara?"

Me (trying not to gasp): "I think she's just sleeping."

Mary: "But she has her eyes open."

Me: "Well, sometimes fish keep their eyes open when they rest."

Lucy: "Is it dead?"

Mary: "No, Lucy, it's eyes are open!"

Mary, looking more closely: "Mom, are you sure it's just sleeping?"

Me: "I'm not sure. Maybe."

Lucy, lip quivering: "It's dead. Is it dead from eating my cereal?"

Mary, sadly: "I think it's dead, too."

Me: "Yes, I think the poor fish died, I'm not sure why."

After a moment of silence, Mary pipes up: "Mom, when you take it out of the bowl can we look at its bones like dinosaur investigators?"

Quick recovery, girls. If only the economy could bounce back so fast.

Rest In Peace, little Baby Chiara goldfish.

New Additions to the Loeb Clan!

We are excited to announce the addition of two creatures to our family.... Cutie and Baby Chiara. Mary's 5th (yes, 5th...I can't believe it either) birthday started with the gift of two goldfish, which she and Lucy promptly named. (And then which almost lost their lives when Lucy attempted to feed them her entire bowl of cereal for breakfast! Whew...close call #1. Sadly, we also experienced close calls #2-4 today and are happy to report Cutie and Baby Chiara are thriving despite the cheerio breakfast, fist-grabbing fiasco, and two bowl-tipping accidents. )

Mary had a wonderful celebration in honor of turning the Fab Five. Because we are out of town the two weekends sandwiching Mary's birthday, an honest-to-goodness party was out of the question. However, Mary asked if she could invite a few close pals from school over for lunch on her birthday and we thought that was a terrific idea. To prepare, Mary drew a poster-sized donkey and then some festive party hats. So today the kids played, "Pin the Hat on the Donkey" and it was the perfect party game, enjoyed by her pals and their younger siblings alike. In all, we had eight little ones here today and it was chaotic and wonderful all at the same time.

Here's to a great year for Miss Mary! Now let's hope we can keep Cutie and Baby Chiara alive... and keep Lucy under watchful guard!

Dancing Queens

This weekend, we were at the Oregon coast to celebrate the beautiful wedding of cousin Joseph and his bride Cora. And, typical of our family, we found a way to squeeze multiple parties (and pastries!!) into one weekend.

Before the wedding on Saturday, we met in the lodge of the resort to celebrate cousin Chiara's first birthday with the most beautiful and tasty cupcakes imaginable. Hard to believe how fast she is growing!

Saturday evening, we enjoyed the lovely wedding ceremony, officiated by Uncle Mike. Our famous family chocolatier Becky made the cake, which was adorned with white chocolate seashells. Absolutely, positively amazing! After the wedding, the music began and our girls danced the night away with their second cousins, Holden and Camden. And when I say danced, I mean jumped, leapt, spun, jigged, and even attempted some fancy break-dancing moves (oh, yes, Uncle Ryan, they would have made you proud). Lucy's stamina was incredible. Lest you think I'm exaggerating, anyone there to witness Lucy's dance-fest should use the comment section to attest to the fact that this child has more energy than most little bodies can hold. We laughed and laughed as Lucy's flushed cheeks ran circles around us all.

Sunday morning between rain storms, we played at the beach and scoured the sand for treasures. A wonderful way to kick off a week of celebration... more to come on that topic soon!

Great Expectations or Great Mortifications?

Lucy and Mary both LOVE babies. Anytime we see a baby while we are out and about, they squeal and point with delight.

Today, we were in the check-out line at the market and the girls were giggling together in a huddle. A big rotund man in front of us in made eye contact with them and smiled, saying, "You two are having such a great time!" Lucy immediately smiled back, then began exclaiming, "A baby! You have a baby!" I looked around, trying to see the baby she had spotted. No baby in front of us, no baby behind us, no baby anywhere.

Lucy said it again, this time more distinctly, "You have a baby in your tummy!" as she pointed at the man's round belly. "You are pregnant!" His face fell, his smile disappeared, and he turned on his heel and proceeded to wait in line silently for the next few (very) awkward moments.

Meanwhile, a whispered biology lesson followed, while I tried to explain to Lucy that women have babies, men do not. Her inquisitive nature forced her to wonder aloud: "Then what was in that big tummy of his?"

Oh the situations she gets me into!!

And, speaking of situations, here is the long-awaited photo of Miss Mary Minus One (tooth, that is!)... doesn't she look about sixteen years old? I cannot believe how fast she is growing.

grateful (not-to-be) dead day

Today is the two-year anniversary of my cycling accident. There were many horrific things about the day: those terrifying seconds as I watched the truck veering straight into my path, the pain of the injuries, and the look on Curtis' face at the ER.

However, with two years of perspective, I remember the tragedy through a whole different lens. I remember the incredible generosity of friends and family. The countless meals that appeared on our doorstep. The cards and flowers that made the house look like a florist shop. The visitors who cared for our home and children-- and us. It truly brings a tear to my eye to recall all of those gestures.

I wish I could say that on April 26, 2007, I immediately appreciated all of this. But, that's not the case. I was in such a state of pain for the weeks and months that followed. In fact, I remember sitting in a radiology waiting room with that awful sling on my arm and road rash everywhere, and the woman beside me saying, "Some day, you will see that a lot of good will come from your accident." I nodded at her politely, but inside I was furious that she could make such a ludicrous statement. I couldn't hold my kids, couldn't do my job, couldn't do any of the activities I enjoyed. How in the world could any of that fall into the category of future Good?

But, isn't perspective wonderful? She was right. Right as rain. Two years later, we are settled in our beautiful neighborhood in Portland, where we always hoped to be. I get to spend every day with my gorgeous girls. I can lift my children with both arms again and truly appreciate that ability. We are close to our families once again. And the accident was the impetus for all of these blessings. Who would have imagined? So on this day, I find myself, above all, incredibly grateful for all of that Good.