You can help!

The Race for the Cure is going a step further this year. Besides the run/walk that over the years has raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research, this year, organizers are bringing the research here. Letting YOU be a real part of finding a cure to end breast cancer.
Sheila Hauck, an organizer with Komen Evansville says "we need hundreds, thousands of women to come out, 18 years old and up. It only will take 20 minutes, a small stick in the arm."
Two tablespoons - that's all the blood they need. Your sample, along with all the others from Evansville will be sent to the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis to be used in research around the world.
Hauck says the research will compare women with breast cancer to women that don't have breast cancer. "Finding the small things in the tissue and cells the genetic link that triggers what turns on that cell to divide out abnormally -- what starts that cancer."
Turning a parking lot in downtown Evansville into a donation center is a huge, unprecedented task for Komen Evansville. And organizers say the only way they can pull it off, is with your help.
"We need over 200 volunteers to make this run smoothly." Hauck says, "We need regular folks to greet and help people in to the tent and we need people trained in medical field that know what research is about and help people fill out consent forms and we need people who know how to draw blood."
Mary-Beth Owen, one of the original organizers of the Race for the Cure says, "It is a tremendous responsibility but it's a privilege that Komen has chosen Evansville as the only site in the US to do this tissue blood bank draw."

For more information-please e-mail me.

Cancer stinks

'nough said!

First day of Camp

If you look real close, his shirt is on inside out and backwards. I guess he was in a hurry!

Camp Carson

Ty is leaving for Camp Carson today and will be gone for 5 nights. He had a book he wanted to pack and stated "Put it in there for me." I told him that he was going to be in for rude awakening this week when he had to do things for himself. His reply was "Yeah, you are right. You should probably pack an alarm clock for me."

Boonville Prom 2009

Aren't they cute!!!

Extreme Hair Makeover

Ty decided to style his own hair this morning into what the hairdresser called a "fauxhawk". Then this afternoon he decided he wanted all of his hair cut off . You decide which you like better :) Unfortunately the picture doesn't do this mornings hairstyle justice.

Ty received the AR award for his class for this six weeks since he read 56 books-more than anyone else in his class.

Handsome Bob

Some of you know this story-others don't but it is worth telling again.

I met Handsome Bob when he came in to see me about a research study. He was not able to participate in that certain study but I asked if he would be interested in another study we had and he said Yes.

Bob has been blind since birth. He is currently 61 years old. He had been institutionalized for 8 years at the Indianapolis school for the blind. He has a cane and his clear point of focal vision HAD been two inches from his face.

As part of the study, he had to have an exam. Dr. Eric Weyer told Bob about a surgery that he might be a candidate for. Bob ultimately was not able to participate in my study but we were able to get him in to see Dr. Tharp about the possible surgery. Bob had his first surgery about four weeks ago. His vision in his left eye is now 20/70 uncorrected.

When I talked to Bob for the first time after his surgery he told me "I never knew the sky was so blue."" I am sitting in my living room watching the squirrels play in the tree." Prior to the surgery Bob said the squirrels would be a brown mass. He couldn't see their hands, faces etc....

Bob is going to have the second surgery once his left eye is completely healed. I/We are so happy that God had our paths intersect. So often we want something and we want it now! But ultimately everything is up to our Master and he will decide when the time is right, not us. Sixty one years of blindness and now Handsome Bob is able to see. We don't know the plans He has for us but we can be assured they will be GOOD!

I bought Bob a bumper sticker at The Vineyard and it said "I was blind but now I see. John 9:25"

The **F** word

Picture this: a seven year old boy locked in his bedroom with the toychest blocking the door. He is crying and says " I can't believe you said the **F** word to me!" Sob,Sob.
I replied "What **F** word?"
"You know the F word?"
"What word?"
"The FR word"
"WHAT FR WORD?"
"The FRE word!"
"JUST TELL ME WHAT WORD"
"Freakin'-I can't believe you said that to me.

Yes I admit it! I said to my son "You are acting FREAKIN' ridiculous." This whole disagreement lasted about 15 minutes and was all because he wouldn't read the title of the story that he had to read. Sometimes motherhood can be so challenging.

All about Mom

1. What is something mom always says to you?
What- I dunno know. Pick up your clothes (Ty) Not right now.(Cj)
2.. What makes mom happy?
Whenever I listen to you (Ty) I dont know (CJ)
3. .What makes mom sad?
What- Umm, when something bad happens. (Like what?) I dunno know. (Ty) Me moving out (CJ)
4.How does your mom make you laugh?
Whenever you say something funny. (Ty) When she trips over her own feet (CJ)
5. What was your mom like as a child?
I dunno know.
6. How old is your mom? (39)
39 39
7. How tall is your mom?
I dunno know 5'11"
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
I dunno know. Watch America's Biggest Loser
9.. What does your mom do when you're not around?
I dunno know. Seriously-I don't.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
I dunno know. Seriously-I don't Helping people
11. What is your mom really good at?
I dunno know. Disagreeing with my Dad. Being a Mom
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Cooking pizza right. (It is in the oven right now and he thinks it is burning.) Leaving work at work.
13. What does your mom do for a job?
She's a nurse. Research Coordinator
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
I dunno know. Oh yeah, Banana pudding but that's not from the food pyramid. Olive Garden
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
I dunno know. Always staying strong.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Most likely the roadrunner. I don't know
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Not very much (I think I am going to cry) Fight over kitchen space
18. How are you and your mom the same?
I don't exactly know Hard headed
19. How are you and your mom different?
I dunno know She's a girl and I am a boy
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
'Cause she gives me stuff. 'Cause she puts up with me.
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
That he's funny That she is divorced from him.
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
I dunno know Mexico or Florida
Ty's answers are in red, Cj's are in blue.
I think this was supposed to be funny, but I am not feeling it right now. I felt a little better after CJ answered.

Wonderful Winter Weather-NOT!

So we have been hit by snow,ice,sleet. We lost electricity for almost 72 hours. I thought it would be nice to get back to 'normal'. Temperature today was 53 degress which means that all of the wonderful stuff that caused problems earlier will continue to cause problems. Our basement wall is now leaking. We have had to pull out the wet/dry vac to soak up the water as it seeps in on our new paneling and carpet. But hey it could be worse-we could still be without electricity and not be able to use the wet dry vac! I am attaching a picture or two that I thought were pretty with all of the ice.

A new niece or nephew!

Well we have known for a few weeks that there will be a new baby in the family. We expect the arrival to occur sometime in September. I found out tonight that if it is a boy it's name will be Critter Tygra! Is that weird or what?




We love you Jamie and Chris!

The best Apple Dumplings Ever!

This is the finished product. My friend Perri gave me the recipe. I have made it once for my family and once for my coworkers. Unfortunately some of them didn't get there quick enough so I am going to make another batch tonight. It is so easy.

Take two granny smith apples peeled and cored. Cut each apple into 8 pieces. Have two cans of crescent rolls. Wrap one slice of apple with one crescent role. Place the wrapped apple in a buttered 9x13 dish. Melt two sticks of butter. Add one and a half cups of sugar and barely stir. Then add one teaspoon of vanilla and stir. Pour this mixture over the apples and crescents. Then pour a 12 oz Mt. Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Be sure to let it cool or you will burn your mouth on the apples. I think it tastes better on day 2.

Food for thought

Mcdouble-$1.o0 Two patties, one slice of cheese
Double Cheeseburger-$1.29 Two patties, two slices of cheese.
I was curious what the difference was, so I asked.