Thursday, April 22, 2010
Potter: Our Pumpkinhead
This was too funny not to share. I came home from work and realized that only one of our dogs was greeting me. I became worried and started calling for the missing dog. I found him in the corner, not knowing what to do. It gave Mary and me a good laugh. I hope you enjoy it.
Monday, April 19, 2010
A Family's Plea for Life
Dear Friends and Family,
It all started with Sue…
In 1985, while my Aunt Sue was nursing her youngest son, she found a lump in her breast. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 27, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fifteen years later, after several transitions into and out of remission, Sue lost her battle; she was 42. Her death came just 19 months before her youngest son graduated from high school. While cutting my hair, she once told me that it was her unofficial goal to see all of her kids graduate — she almost made it.
While Sue was fighting for her life, my Uncle Joe died from cancer on May 9, 1991.
Nine years later, on Sept. 20, 2000, my grandfather, John Schafer, died of cancer; little did we know, 2½ months later, we would reconvene wearing the same funeral clothes for Sue.
As if to add insult to injury, in February of 2000, my Aunt Rose was diagnosed with breast cancer. Few people knew as Rose wasn’t very public about her cancer, but one can only imagine suffering from the same disease that you have just watched your sister die from. Rose died 10 years later - February 28, 2010; she was only 50.
Is your head spinning with dates? Imagine being my grandmother, who not only had to bury her husband, but also three children.
Shortly after Rose was diagnosed, she handed me a paper with a bunch of medical jargon on it. She told me to show it to my OBGYN at my next visit. I humored her, not understanding what it was about. In a fleeting moment, I mentioned my dad’s family history with cancer at my annual exam. She told me that having a paternal aunt with breast cancer wouldn’t raise my chances. In fact, she made it sound like I was way too young to worry about such things. If I had only brought that piece of paper…
While Rose was fighting cancer, my Aunt Sally was diagnosed on Nov. 15, 2006; today, she is cancer free—a flower among the thorns.
It was at this point that common sense overpowered grief, and we all began scrambling to find that piece of paper Rose gave us two years prior. This was more than a coincidence; something Rose had figured out way before the rest of us were willing to admit it.
After some research, we discovered that my grandfather carried the BRCA-2 gene mutation, which has a 50/50 chance of being passed onto offspring. Though the gene doesn’t affect men in as drastic a way, my dad, who has watched one sister, one brother and his father die and was currently watching two sisters go through cancer treatment, looked at his three daughters, and he knew he needed to get tested. About two weeks later, my dad advised me to get tested because he had just discovered he was a carrier of the gene.
In all respects, we were lucky. My two sisters tested negative, but I was positive and had some hard decisions to make. After many doctors’ appointments and hours sitting in front of the internet, the bottom line was revealed: my family history combined with the effect of the gene put me at an 87-89% chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
With advice from physicians, I had a hysterectomy in July 2009, and I have a double mastectomy scheduled for this coming July. A few weeks ago, I asked my oncologist if these surgeries were an overly dramatic reaction to the gene mutation. Her response will stay with me forever; she said, “You know what else is dramatic? Chemo.”
There is no doubt in my mind that I owe my life to Rose. Her “knowledge equals power” tenacity forced me to face the reality of the situation. To thank and honor her, I will be participating in the 3-day Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk on Nov. 5-7 in Dallas. My goal is to raise $2300. Many of you were so generous two years back when I participated in the 2-day Avon Walk in Chicago. For that event, in total, I raised $2000. Donations of all sizes are welcome. No gift is too small.
Gene and I are dreading the day that we have to sit Mary and Geno down and discuss this life-altering possibility. It’s hard to believe that within their small healthy bodies could lay a sleeping monster that could claim their lives. These fears may be for not, however, if efforts from fundraising campaigns find new ways to treat cancer or even cure it.
It all started with Sue…let it end with Rose.
You can help me thank Rose three ways; there are payment plans for those of you who wish to spread out your donation:
1. Mail me a check: 9103 Rainland Dr. Arlington, Tx 76002. Make the check payable to “Susan G. Komen for the Cure.” I will mail you a tax number.
2. You can donate via my facebook profile page by clicking on the “donate” link on the left side under my fundraising progress bar.
3. Or you could donate via their website by following these steps:
· Go to http://www.the3day.org/
· Click on the “Donate” link on the top gray tool bar
· Click “Search for participant”
· Fill in my name “Angela Kanak”
· This will bring you to my personal page
· Click on the bright pink box above my progress chart
Thank you so much!
Love,
Angie (first and always in my heart a Schafer) Kanak
It all started with Sue…
In 1985, while my Aunt Sue was nursing her youngest son, she found a lump in her breast. Shortly thereafter, at the age of 27, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fifteen years later, after several transitions into and out of remission, Sue lost her battle; she was 42. Her death came just 19 months before her youngest son graduated from high school. While cutting my hair, she once told me that it was her unofficial goal to see all of her kids graduate — she almost made it.
While Sue was fighting for her life, my Uncle Joe died from cancer on May 9, 1991.
Nine years later, on Sept. 20, 2000, my grandfather, John Schafer, died of cancer; little did we know, 2½ months later, we would reconvene wearing the same funeral clothes for Sue.
As if to add insult to injury, in February of 2000, my Aunt Rose was diagnosed with breast cancer. Few people knew as Rose wasn’t very public about her cancer, but one can only imagine suffering from the same disease that you have just watched your sister die from. Rose died 10 years later - February 28, 2010; she was only 50.
Is your head spinning with dates? Imagine being my grandmother, who not only had to bury her husband, but also three children.
Shortly after Rose was diagnosed, she handed me a paper with a bunch of medical jargon on it. She told me to show it to my OBGYN at my next visit. I humored her, not understanding what it was about. In a fleeting moment, I mentioned my dad’s family history with cancer at my annual exam. She told me that having a paternal aunt with breast cancer wouldn’t raise my chances. In fact, she made it sound like I was way too young to worry about such things. If I had only brought that piece of paper…
While Rose was fighting cancer, my Aunt Sally was diagnosed on Nov. 15, 2006; today, she is cancer free—a flower among the thorns.
It was at this point that common sense overpowered grief, and we all began scrambling to find that piece of paper Rose gave us two years prior. This was more than a coincidence; something Rose had figured out way before the rest of us were willing to admit it.
After some research, we discovered that my grandfather carried the BRCA-2 gene mutation, which has a 50/50 chance of being passed onto offspring. Though the gene doesn’t affect men in as drastic a way, my dad, who has watched one sister, one brother and his father die and was currently watching two sisters go through cancer treatment, looked at his three daughters, and he knew he needed to get tested. About two weeks later, my dad advised me to get tested because he had just discovered he was a carrier of the gene.
In all respects, we were lucky. My two sisters tested negative, but I was positive and had some hard decisions to make. After many doctors’ appointments and hours sitting in front of the internet, the bottom line was revealed: my family history combined with the effect of the gene put me at an 87-89% chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
With advice from physicians, I had a hysterectomy in July 2009, and I have a double mastectomy scheduled for this coming July. A few weeks ago, I asked my oncologist if these surgeries were an overly dramatic reaction to the gene mutation. Her response will stay with me forever; she said, “You know what else is dramatic? Chemo.”
There is no doubt in my mind that I owe my life to Rose. Her “knowledge equals power” tenacity forced me to face the reality of the situation. To thank and honor her, I will be participating in the 3-day Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk on Nov. 5-7 in Dallas. My goal is to raise $2300. Many of you were so generous two years back when I participated in the 2-day Avon Walk in Chicago. For that event, in total, I raised $2000. Donations of all sizes are welcome. No gift is too small.
Gene and I are dreading the day that we have to sit Mary and Geno down and discuss this life-altering possibility. It’s hard to believe that within their small healthy bodies could lay a sleeping monster that could claim their lives. These fears may be for not, however, if efforts from fundraising campaigns find new ways to treat cancer or even cure it.
It all started with Sue…let it end with Rose.
You can help me thank Rose three ways; there are payment plans for those of you who wish to spread out your donation:
1. Mail me a check: 9103 Rainland Dr. Arlington, Tx 76002. Make the check payable to “Susan G. Komen for the Cure.” I will mail you a tax number.
2. You can donate via my facebook profile page by clicking on the “donate” link on the left side under my fundraising progress bar.
3. Or you could donate via their website by following these steps:
· Go to http://www.the3day.org/
· Click on the “Donate” link on the top gray tool bar
· Click “Search for participant”
· Fill in my name “Angela Kanak”
· This will bring you to my personal page
· Click on the bright pink box above my progress chart
Thank you so much!
Love,
Angie (first and always in my heart a Schafer) Kanak
Saturday, February 13, 2010
What a Whirlwind!
Geno in his carseat shooting me a smile
Mary cleaning up in the bath
Mary at the zoo on New Year's Day
Geno's 10 month picture--taken by my friend Allison--she has her own business. If you're interested let me know:)
The One Year Update
Mary cleaning up in the bath
Mary at the zoo on New Year's Day
Geno's 10 month picture--taken by my friend Allison--she has her own business. If you're interested let me know:)
The One Year Update
Well, it has been nearly a year since Mary and I came to live with Gene in Texas, and it has been an interesting year. Obviously, the addition of Geno to our family has been wonderful. He's an incredibly happy baby that constantly brings joy to our lives. Aside from a monstrous earache, he's been very healthy. In addition, he is trying to walk. He can take one-two steps before he face-plants himself to the floor--he has the bruises to prove it. He also walks on his knees--which brings tons of laughter to his teachers at Kids R Kids. I can't believe he'll be one in 7 weeks.
Mary has adjusted well. At first I thought she would never stop asking about Grandma, Papa, and Ella, but with time, she met new friends. She enjoys school and has learned a ton. Each day she comes home with astounding knowledge. She knows how to spell several words, counts to 15, says many words in Spanish, and she even knows some sign language. Her teachers say that she's an absolute joy to have in class, though she can be a little sensitive--I wonder where she got that from:) A few weeks ago, I took her to see a performance of Annie, and it was love at first sight. She constantly talks about Annie and the other orphans. She even told me that she would like to live in an orphanage. Nothing is cuter than hearing her sing "Tomorrow" and "Hard Knock Life" while playing.
Unfortunately, Gene and I have had a rough time lately. On Monday (2-8-10), Gene was surprisingly laid off from USBC. Fourteen employees' jobs were simply eliminated because of the economy. Since Gene was a relatively new hire, his job was among the cuts; however, some well-respected, experienced professionals were also sent packing. We immediately made the decision to move back to Illinois as soon as the school year ends, but fate had another spin for us.
Two days after the downsize, another recreation-based company, Strike 10, called to speak to Gene about a comparable job. This was a huge compliment to Gene. Strike 10 had received notice of USBC's cutbacks and right away noticed/recognized Gene's name. Within 10 minutes of the interview, Gene was offered the job. The way Gene has explained it to me, he is in charge of the billiards--I know, not bowling--accounts. It's not really a job that Gene would typically go for, but we were in no position to be picky. Now our plan is to reevaluate our status in May, as the school year ends, and make any relocation plans then. Needless to say, this past week was a whirlwind of emotions, and our realtor is on speed dial.
The bottom line is that we moved here for the USBC job, and if that job no longer exists, reason would say we can return to our families. We'll just have to wait and see what fate throws at us next.
We hope all is well with you and yours!
Sincerely,
Angie
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Season’s greetings,
We hope this finds you and yours happy and healthy as another Christmas and New Year rapidly approach. You are receiving this letter because you are family or among our closest friends. As such, we would like to give you the seasonal update on all things Kanak. Here goes:
First and foremost, Mary Christine and Geno are doing wonderfully. Both are growing bigger and smarter by the day, which has made them a hit at preschool. Mary, though a bit quiet and reserved, is said to be among the sharpest kids in her class. She is very good with her numbers and letters; in fact, Mary can spell a few words already. Like her mommy and daddy, she is definitely a rule follower. Her drawing has come a long way. Her people now have torsos, ears, and hair--we're very excited.
Geno, on the other hand, is a bit more of a free spirit. He is quite a bit more physically advanced than the rest of the babies in his class. Because of this, he often crawls over to their locations and promptly tackles them while trying to give hugs. This lands him in “baby jail,” an exersaucer that keeps him entertained and contained until the workers can give Geno undivided attention and/or move the other babies out of harm’s way. But despite the challenges, Geno’s bright smile and affectionate nature have made him the most popular baby in the building. Often, the workers express genuine disappointment when Angie picks him up for the day.
Speaking of Angie, as expected, she has done a fine job adjusting to life in Texas. She is working at the best school in the area, where she has quickly earned the respect of her students and coworkers. There is no denying the fact that she greatly misses Herscher and all of the wonderful people with whom she worked, but, like a true professional, she has put those feelings on the back burner and poured everything she has into helping her current students. I’ve always know that Angie is a great teacher, but this year has helped remind me of just how wonderful she is in the classroom. She’s a terrific educator, and Mansfield Independent School District and its students are lucky to have her.
As for me, I am doing quite well. My work at USBC has been very well received – as was made evident by the glowingly positive performance review I received in September – and I have made some great friends here. Nothing will ever replace the feeling of being around friends and family back home, but the wonderful people I’ve met here have made the transition as positive as it could possibly be.
So, there you have it, the current State of the Kanaks address. Despite some persistent homesickness that will never fully go away, we are all healthy, happy and very much looking forward to a fun filled Christmas and happy New Year. We hope that you and yours are experiencing the same. Please know that we care about you very much and that you will be on our minds and in our hearts during this special time of year.
Best wishes for a merry Christmas and happy New Year,
Angie, Gene, Mary Christine and Geno
We hope this finds you and yours happy and healthy as another Christmas and New Year rapidly approach. You are receiving this letter because you are family or among our closest friends. As such, we would like to give you the seasonal update on all things Kanak. Here goes:
First and foremost, Mary Christine and Geno are doing wonderfully. Both are growing bigger and smarter by the day, which has made them a hit at preschool. Mary, though a bit quiet and reserved, is said to be among the sharpest kids in her class. She is very good with her numbers and letters; in fact, Mary can spell a few words already. Like her mommy and daddy, she is definitely a rule follower. Her drawing has come a long way. Her people now have torsos, ears, and hair--we're very excited.
Geno, on the other hand, is a bit more of a free spirit. He is quite a bit more physically advanced than the rest of the babies in his class. Because of this, he often crawls over to their locations and promptly tackles them while trying to give hugs. This lands him in “baby jail,” an exersaucer that keeps him entertained and contained until the workers can give Geno undivided attention and/or move the other babies out of harm’s way. But despite the challenges, Geno’s bright smile and affectionate nature have made him the most popular baby in the building. Often, the workers express genuine disappointment when Angie picks him up for the day.
Speaking of Angie, as expected, she has done a fine job adjusting to life in Texas. She is working at the best school in the area, where she has quickly earned the respect of her students and coworkers. There is no denying the fact that she greatly misses Herscher and all of the wonderful people with whom she worked, but, like a true professional, she has put those feelings on the back burner and poured everything she has into helping her current students. I’ve always know that Angie is a great teacher, but this year has helped remind me of just how wonderful she is in the classroom. She’s a terrific educator, and Mansfield Independent School District and its students are lucky to have her.
As for me, I am doing quite well. My work at USBC has been very well received – as was made evident by the glowingly positive performance review I received in September – and I have made some great friends here. Nothing will ever replace the feeling of being around friends and family back home, but the wonderful people I’ve met here have made the transition as positive as it could possibly be.
So, there you have it, the current State of the Kanaks address. Despite some persistent homesickness that will never fully go away, we are all healthy, happy and very much looking forward to a fun filled Christmas and happy New Year. We hope that you and yours are experiencing the same. Please know that we care about you very much and that you will be on our minds and in our hearts during this special time of year.
Best wishes for a merry Christmas and happy New Year,
Angie, Gene, Mary Christine and Geno
Monday, October 5, 2009
August-September 2009
It's hard to believe, but Gene has been a Texan for almost a YEAR!!! Mary and I are still newbies rounding off at 7 months, and Geno is a born Texan--he'll be saying "ya'll and fixin'" by his first birthday.
Mary is doing really well at school. Her teachers say she's very well-behaved. She is learning so much! Everyday she comes home espousing new information about life and literature. She especially enjoys music class and gymnastics. Outside of school, Mary has recently joined a toddler bowling league (no, I'm not kidding). She has her own shirt and everything; last week, she got a patch for her first 50 game. She's looking forward to Halloween, but she changes her mind daily as to what she wants to be. Currently, ladybug has emerged as the frontrunner. At her 3 year check-up, we learned that Mary is tall and thin for her age; she's very healthy!!! One of Mary's new favorite movies is The Wizard of Oz. I thought it would be too scary, but she thought it was so cool.
Geno is growing leaps and pounds! Today at his 6-mo check-up, he weighed in at about 18 lbs. He's wearing 9 mo clothes, and he started eating food this past weekend. He's a very happy baby, often smiling at strangers. He is very close to crawling; right now he scoots, rolls, bounces, and rocks his way from point a to b. He loves being read and sung to. I wish I could say he's sleeping through the night, but he's not even close. He gets up about every two hours to nurse.
My new teaching job is getting better week-by-week. There were days, I'm not going to hide it, that I wanted to pack my bags, march into Herscher, and beg for any job available. MHS is definitely different than Herscher, but it has its strengths too. We love going to athletic events at the state of the art stadium, complete with jumbo-tron (Gene and Geno made it on the Jumbo-tron in August).
Gene is still happy at USBC. He enjoys all the perks that come along with working for a company that specializes in something you love: t-shirts, free merchandise, coaching tips, meeting bowling legends--he's in heaven.
We have decided to make the trip home the week of Thanksgiving; we hope to see many of you then!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
July-August 2009
First, I want to thank all of you who were able to come to Mary's Illinois birthday party. A good time was had by all. Mary's Texas birthday party was just as great! We held it at a place called Pump It Up--an indoor bounce house facility that specializes in birthday parties. Mary and many of her new Texas friends had a great time.
One of our first orders of business when I returned was for Gene and I to pick a day care. We decided on Kids R Kids: Schools of Quality Learning. It's a wonderful facility, pricey, but wonderful. Plus, we love the fact that we can watch the kids during the day via Internet through the school's surveillance system. They started going full time on August 10. It was hard to let them go; I have enjoyed my stint as a stay-at-home mom, but I know they are in good hands. The teachers say that Mary is quiet and that she is a rule-follower. Geno has been quite a hit in the infant room. One teacher said that he's the happiest baby they've had in a long time.
One of the highlights of the past few weeks was my Mom's visit. She came down to help with the kids while I recovered from my hysterectomy. The procedure went smoothly and other than the anesthetic-induced migraine, I recovered quickly and felt pretty good a few days later. It was great having Mom here. She cleaned the whole house and did all the laundry! Mary loved all the attention. While she was here, Mom got to see Mary's and Geno's new school, Sweet and Sassy (Mary's hair salon), and Big League Dreams (where Gene plays softball). Mom and I also got pedicures.
I want to thank all of you who sent get well cards my way and called to check up on me. That was very much appreciated! A few of my former teaching colleagues sent me an Edible Creation--chocolate covered strawberries. They were gone in about two minutes. Mary devoured most of them. My mom and I split the rest. Thank you, Beth, Jessica, Amanda, and Kerri! It was wonderful.
I have been busy getting materials ready for the school year. I've been assigned Junior and Senior English. Luckily, I've taught these before at Herscher, so I have a few tricks in my bag. Texas is huge into teacher accountability, so I have to do a ton more pre-planning work in terms of typed, daily lesson plans and objectives, but I'm getting there. It's tough being away from Herscher; I really miss that school, but I hope that Mansfield High School becomes a new family for me. They are the Tigers too, and they have the same school colors--go figure!
Gene STILL loves his job, and he is still active in some work-related softball leagues. In fact, while we were in Illinois, Gene inundated himself with softball and other league sports; one weekend, he played 7 softball games, 36 holes of golf, and 1 soccer match. Even for Gene, this is a lot of sports. His work bowling league will begin in early September. He is looking forward to changing his Friday night routine from playing softball to attending Mansfield sporting events with me.
Gene's Note: In case you were wondering, the second picture in this month's blog is not, in fact, a new pet. That was the Black Widow spider I stumbled across while moving the hose to mow the lawn. In a strange bit of coincidence, that very same day, Angie stumbled across a Brown Wolf Spider in our garage. While not poisonous like the Widow, the Wolf Spider is actually larger and more visually intimidating. If I hadn't poisoned it into oblivion, we would've snapped a picture of him as well, may he rest in peace. I'll say this, Texas has some wonderful qualities, but the critters are certainly not one of them. Now, I'm just waiting to stumble across a scorpion or, heaven forbid, a snake. When that happens, those of you who truly miss us may be happy because I may just pack the clan up and head back to Illinois! I know we have nasty little things back there, too, but I didn't seem to stumble across them nearly as often!
Well, I guess that's all for now. As always, we hope that all of you are well. We miss you!
Love,
Angie & Gene
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
July...so far
Hi Everybody!
Much of July was/is being spent in Illinois visiting family and friends. We have had a great time getting together with old friends. We spent a few days in Effingham at my Aunt Rose's place on the lake. Mary got to go on a boat ride and sleep through some very loud, spectacular fireworks. While in Effingham, Baby Geno got to meet most of my dad's family. Everybody enjoyed holding and getting to know him.
Geno made his second debut at my cousin Lauren's graduation party, followed up by a family get-t0gether with my Mom's family the next day. Mary got to go on two more boat rides and even swim a little bit in the Kankakee River. This family party was especially fun because my cousin Pam's baby was there. We were pregnant together and had close due dates, so it was fun to compare her baby, Lilah, and Geno.
Another highlight of our visit was getting to meet Baby Blake Strejc. He had a very interesting birth (on the kitchen floor), and we were so happy to be here to visit Sandy and Blake in the hospital after everyone was deemed safe and healthy.
As many of you already know, I found a job at a high school VERY near our new home in Texas. Though I don't know my exact teaching assignment, the school, Mansfield High School, has a very good reputation. I know it's no Herscher High School, but with change comes growth. We are still in the process of interviewing day care providers, but we have narrowed it down a bit.
I sound like a broken record, but Gene still loves his job. The people he works with have been very kind to us. Gene has enjoyed playing on multiple company softball teams, bowling leagues, and the occasional soccer team. Year-round outdoor sports--Gene's dream state!
Mary is very much looking forward to her Illinois birthday party on July 18. Any reader is invited, so please come out! AGAIN...NO PRESENTS ARE NECESSARY! We just want to visit and have fun. We rented a jump house if that entices your coming. Also, we have to travel back to Texas via plane, so presents may make that trip harder on us. If you really want to get Mary something, however, feel free to contribute to her swing set fund. Gene and I are saving to buy her a comparable set that we left behind in Illinois (which now resides at my sister Terra's house).
Geno is growing bigger by the moment! At his 3 mo check-up, he was 13 pounds and 24 inches. He has been healthy and eating like a horse. I get mixed reviews as to who he looks like. Personally, I see a bit more me in him than Gene, but time will tell. Baby Geno loves to laugh and play peek-a-boo. He especially enjoys looking in mirrors and swinging in his swing--where he often falls asleep. He's not close to sleeping through the night, but he gives us a 3-4 hour stretch of sleep in the early evening that we both appreciate. Lately, he has liked to swat at objects above his head. He is so tickled when he actually touches or grabs something!
I hope to see you on the 18th!
Love,
Angie
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