five years ago

I've been thinking about what to write today. It's a big day.
Five years ago today my mom received a bone marrow transplant.
When I think about that, it kind of takes me aback.
Five years ago my mom was really, really sick. She was diagnosed with both Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Two types of a very terrible cancer.
It came as kind of a shock. All of a sudden.
For awhile she had been getting colds off and on but nothing too serious. And then she had a gynecologist appointment where they drew blood and noticed her blood count was very low. So they sent it off to have it tested.
I was at my freshmen college orientation when my mom was admitted to the hospital. My parents made the decision not tell me until the weekend was over. Paul (my step-father) picked me up from orientation.
I remember it being weird that Paul and not my mom was picking me up from orientation.
I remember him saying that he had some bad news to tell me. And my heart racing.
Paul was very brave to pick me up and tell me this news. He and my mom had only been married for a few months (three or four) so he and I were still getting to know each other.
We went to go see my mom straight away and it was so surreal. It still is.

What you might not know about me is that my father passed away when I was 11. So my mom has been the only parent I've really ever had. She has been my friend, my parent, my confident, and my role model. And suddenly she was sick. Really sick.

The time she spent in the hospital seems like one of those fuzzy flashbacks they have on tv shows. It's a time I don't really want to remember.
We are so grateful to God for my mom. For our family. For the strength that was given to us during that time. For the understanding, the care, the doctors, the compassion, and the motivation. It was not easy.

My mom has had five other friends diagnosed with leukemia and she is the only one who has survived.

You guys have no idea how grateful I am to God to my mom is alive. And healthy. She is an amazing, strong woman.

My Uncle was a perfect match for her to receive a bone marrow transplant. I am constantly amazed at science for letting things like bone marrow transplants be possible! The crazy thing is that my mom has my Uncle's DNA.

So today is definitely a day of celebration. My mom is alive and a survivor.

surprise! surprise!

I mentioned yesterday that I spent part of my afternoon planning a surprise.  The surprise was for my husband when he got home from work.

I blew up a few balloons that I purchased earlier today and tied them together with thread (and later dental floss when I ran out of thread!).  The first balloon was sitting outside our front door when G came home.

And then he had to follow the rest of the balloons down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Where I had dinner set up (notice the make-shift linen table cloth). Dinner that night was sweet corn risotto. And there was another surprise for G in the fridge...

Swedish ölkorv (or beer sausage) which G loves.

Yay for surprise!

lazy sunday

Our apartment smells like lilies and it's been raining all day. In other words, it's a perfect Sunday. We started watching Season One of The Sopranos early this morning  with a breakfast of spicy potatoes, sweet onions, a fried egg, and coffee. We've taken breaks to make scones and go on a short, rainy walk. And now a break to make dinner.
I love lazy days like this with G. I love lazy days especially when it is rainy. I love that he was inspired to bake us scones this afternoon to eat with cream, jam, and cheese. And that we drank tea as well.
Tomorrow he goes back to work. I have a few errands in town- mainly involving the post office. I'm hoping for a few more days of summer before autumn truly starts. Because after that, it's just dark dark dark.
So here is to lilies (again and again), walks in the rain, addicting tv series, scones, cinnamon tea, and G who is perfect to be absolutely lazy with.

Saturday

I'm pretty bad at these daily updates.
Today was not great but not awful. How ambiguous right?
I had a terrible headache all day, sad dreams the night before, and G and I spent a few hours fighting about cooking pork in our very vegetarian home.
But the day also had it's perks. G surprised me with lilies! He also made us hummus which we ate while watching one of the more ridiculous Bond movies (Her Majesty's Secret Service). And we had friends over for dinner. Dinner included one of the best salads I've ever had (basil, a nectarine, avocado, lettuce, feta, black cherry tomatoes) and my first ever ice box pie.
So I'll take next Saturday without the 12 hour headache and the pork fight. Instead I'll stick to lilies and ice box pie.

























- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

First Aid Kit

So it seems that blogging everyday is pretty hard. Sorry that this is short.
Tonight we saw First Aid Kit perform live and for free as part of Malmös Sommarscen. It was a mesmerizing show and the girls are fantastic live. Like, really really awesome.
I was a sucker and bought a cd and got their autograph after the show!
























I didn't realize there was a zoom on the iPhone camera until after the show. But we really had great seats. Here they are performing Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song."



















And here they are up close after I asked for a photo.

Both G and I were really impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the show.

germany and new rules. a good combo.

We are back from Germany. We ate pretzels, drank beer, G had schnitzel, and we rode a few ferries. It was a good trip, in fact it was a super good trip. A big Thank You to G's parents who helped make this trip possible and were nice enough to let us tag along with them. Thank you!

Sometimes I get writer's block. In fact, I've had writer's block for the past few months. Most of writing is in the emails I write to my family or friends. Very rarely or really ever do I write for the fun of it. Which is kind of what I was hoping this blog would be for... writing. Fun writing. But every time I sit down to write something I just stare at the blank page and post a few pictures. 

I do like writing. In fact, I like it a lot. Maybe I'm not the best, but it's something I throughly enjoy and miss. How do I continue to write when I have such a severe writer's block...?

New goal: I will post every day until school starts again on August 30.  Nothing like a good regiment to cure writer's block right?

another vacation

We are on vacation. Again. Well, I have been on vacation for a few months now. But G has a week off from work so we are up in the country enjoying the last few weeks of summer.
Tomorrow we leave for Germany. We will only be there one night but I'm super excited. I haven't seen much of Germany other than the airport and one border shop.
Yesterday, we were inspired by Julia Child and made hollandaise sauce with artichokes. Tonight, I made cheese enchiladas complete with chili gravy. It tasted just like a Tex Mex restaurant. Oh, Texas I heard you are really, really hot right now.
Not to make anyone jealous, but the weather here has been perfect. Almost like Spring but with less wind.

I promise to post more once we are back from Germany.