So Loved, So Missed

This has been a rough month. I haven't really felt like blogging about it. I've been crying enough without seeking additional opportunities. Really, I've been avoiding any activities that let me sit down and process my thoughts. ...and if I let myself forget about it, I feel like she's still there and I'll see her the next time I visit.

For those of you who aren't "in the loop", my little sister Becky left this mortal life on October 8th. She was recovering from her brain surgery (of all things) - doing great in rehab. She was doing better than anyone thought possible (neurosurgeons included). Then, the day before she was supposed to go home to her kids, she got a serious headache. None of the medications could make a dint in it. When they finally got her an MRI, they found that her brain tumor was back with a vengeance. Bigger than before her operation.

We all hurried to the hospital to say goodbye. My sisters and brother, my parents, some good family friends, and Becky's husband and older kids. It was the saddest, most tender moment of my life - not just because I was losing my sister. I was watching my parents lose their second child to cancer. My little nieces trying to process the loss of their mother. My awesome brother-in-law saying goodbye to his beloved wife. It was heartbreaking in so many directions.

Becky was an amazing woman. She was such a fun sister. She always wanted the family to get together (and that's love! - it's a big family, with many more hooligans than just mine!) Becky remembered the kind things you did for her and seemed to forget your thoughtless mistakes we all make.

She was the funnest, most cheerful cancer patient ever. (I would've been the whiniest, crabbiest ever. I'm like that with no good excuse all the time.) The only time I saw her cry about it (which - given - I wasn't always around) was when she tried to tell me that someone donated their frequent flier miles so a relative could come up and visit/help out. Then...and any time she saw a loving shout-out supporting her on facebook. She was so touched by all of the support and love people gave her family.


This post is super-inadequate, just like I knew it would be. ...but I'm out of tissues...and I need quit wallowing and go to bed.

conference, quilting, and cartoons

Wasn't this conference session wonderful! ( I think it usually is.)Even James and Cozette were captivated...


...but not by the wonderful talks. They watched Winnie the Pooh, so that the rest of us could listen to the words of the prophets. (See my bald head in the bottom of this picture!)


My favorite talks were the ones that reminded me of the Little Britches books. I loved President Monson's story about the family with the farm, celebrating Thanksgiving on one of their leanest years.

...and who wouldn't want to hear a talk in which someone exclaims, "You stupid cow!" (...to a cow, of course, otherwise it wouldn't be funny.)

I also found a project to keep my hands busy while listening.


It's a pre-printed cheater quilt, but hand-quilting it makes up for that, right?


Church in jammies - that's what I'm talkin' about!

What the 'Hoole?

My Sofi has found some crafting that works well with trying to keep the house immaculate at all times - resulting in these darling charms.


They're inspired by various books she's been reading. A relief of Bastet (I'm guessing some Theodosia book), a barn owl (the Guardians of Ga'hoole), and a dragonfly. I'm not what the dragonfly was inspired by...unless it's the nymph form of an actual dragon?...Eragon?

Sofia and I went to see the Legend of the Guardians. Caught the last matinee. Cozy tagged along, so I spent part of the movie watching her play dance dance revolution, eat twizzlers, and run wild in the lobby (some movies I don't mind it so much). Sofi filled me in on what I missed...and let me know what they changed from the books.

It was nice to have a little girl time, but of course I had to pay the piper when Jonny found out. As he sobbed into his macaroni, we reminded him the he took me on a date to see the Sorcerer's a Princess before everyone else. Yes. I had to watch that movie twice.

In other, more important and cool news, my sister's surgery went very well! They got the big, problematic tumor out, and Becky's already smiling with both sides of her mouth again! Yeah!

Becky Update

Becky is at UW Medical Center, and we can all heave a little sigh of relief. All of the smarties (you know, brain surgeons and such) have decided that surgery on the large tumor (the one that's effecting movement on her left side) is the best option. That's the plan for tomorrow. See what I mean about UW? MUCH less stupid waiting around.


Aren't my sisters cute!...and awesomely stong...and amazing....


One of the Neurosurgeons stuck all of these doo-dads on Becky's head. When she has her MRI, they're going to make a sort GPS map of her brain...let them know where all of the tumor is, so that they can safely remove as much of it as possible.

We think it looks like her kids went crazy with the fruitloops while she was napping.

We love you, Becky! Have a nice nap {for reals!} during your surgery!

On Friday, my little sister Becky was taken to the hospital with stroke symptoms. The hospital did an MRI and found that, though there was no blood clot, there were three tumors there....just where we don't want them! They're causing some swelling, taking away the use of Becky's left arm and, increasingly, her left leg.

Scary times. We're all trying to keep Becky company in the hospital, and I just hope we aren't crowding her too much! Tomorrow, we expect she'll be transferred to UW in Seattle. We love you, Becky! See ya in Seattle!

Cozy's Babies

My ubertalented Grandma Cozette made some babies for my baby. (Well, it was really a collaboration - I bought them; she dressed them. I definitely did the easy part!)


Cozy loves to carry them around and lose their hats and shoes. ...and they smell sweet, just like real babies!

A Roaring Success

Yesterday we drove over to Snohomish for the "Bald for Becky" blood drive and fundraiser. I gave blood for the first time in over a decade (years of cheeseburgers have overcome anemia, being underweight :), and low blood pressure - ah, the miracle that is fast food!) and got the $10 buzz cut.

The event was a raging success! All of our generous friends and neighbors kept the blood bank people busy the entire time...they had to turn away about 20 people when it was time to wrap things up.

Ever seen a bake sale make over $800? We never had! The grange has already offered to donate the use of their building again next year, if we want to run a blood drive again. My family is considering doing an annual event, benefiting a different family (who are dealing with cancer) each year. They're so awesome. All I could muster up was a cute bunting for decoration. Maybe next year I'll have time to at least finish a quilt for the raffle!