Positive Energy!

Hi! I don't even know how to open my blog entries anymore, so I'll just say, "Hi"! You know, Mark and I were watching the Celebrity Apprentice show Sunday and I was just shocked @ how Dionne Warwick and Star Jones were behaving! The job was to create a childrens book - each team was responsible for several objectives regarding the book, but the way Dionne and Star insisted on getting credit for coming up with the idea and having written the book was just embarassingly ugly. Yikes! I suppose I could see their point in making sure that they are given credit for coming up with such a great idea, but it was the way they went about it and I felt that since it was for charity, that it should have really been handled better. Very negative - if you saw the show, Marlee Maitlin was so mad about how terrible the attitude was that Dionne and Star had! I'm just using this as an example of what I had just written previously - how I really try to surround myself with positive people all the time - who would want to do otherwise? It just amazes me how much "bullying" there is out there in our daily lives. Just going about our business, have you noticed how much "evil" there is out there? OMG!! Why would anyone behave so badly? Apparently the people that act that way are very unhappy and want to make other people miserable! Wow. I mean, really? REALLY? There are people out there that are so bitter and angry that they thrive on "attacking" happy people like me?! You would be amazed. That's ok, I know who I am and what I believe in and I won't let anyone get me down - @ least not for long!

I just want to emphasize how blessed I am to have these people I can call my family and friends! Here is a photo of my sister Celia and I - this was taken on Christmas Day in Mom's back yard!

Then, there is the beautiful Fossum family! My brother-in-law Greg is awesome - always trying to do something to help me in some way to make things better! The boys are so special - Davis tells his Mom that he prays for me and always asks how I'm doing. Mark (little Mark) has come to special prayer Masses for me - that has meant the world to me! He is such a doll! Both boys are very sweet and loving to their Aunt!

Here are some of my very best friends! Here is Patty (wearing glasses) and Dorinda - this was taken in December and the first time they met each other! Patty lives in Dallas and Dorinda in Houston! I've known Patty since I was 13 and Dorinda since I was in my mid-20's! Both are amazing and wonderfully supportive of me and my situation! Dorinda has been with me through countless surgeries through the years as I've tried to get rid of this avm! Dorinda is a party waiting to happen and very loving! Patty and I have always kept in touch through the years and whenever we see each other, it's as if no time has passed, we pick up right where we left off! Patty and I have always had fun laughing @ the same things and just feeling comfortable with each other, knowing we are there for one another no matter what!

Then there is the beautiful Felice, pictured here with her darling little girl Emily! She lives in Dallas with her husband Jon and of course

Emily! I met Felice when she joined the Cathedral Choir and we hit it off instantly and have known each other probably about 17 years! She and I have laughed so much and had lots of fun through the years! How can you go wrong having a friend named Felice - her name says it all!

You know I have to say that my kids are the cutest in the world! I come home to these adorable puppies that love me unconditionally! Hanz and Bella make me so happy - they are wonderful therapy for me when I've gone through some bad times with this avm! To me, heaven is jumping in bed wearing my jammies with my babies surrounding me and Mark laying next to me! Mark takes such great care of me - from doing all the cooking, to everything else in between! We always say that when we said "in sickness and in health", we had no idea it would be this difficult! It has brought us closer and has taught us so much about what is really important in life!

My Mom is always praying for me. My in-laws, Doris and George and thier friends are always praying and asking about me. My brother-in-law Jim and his wife Shelley have been so fantastic about helping us with whatever they can do to make our lives a little easier! I appreciate Jim taking Mark out to lunch or to an event, so that Mark can have some fun and get away from the having to take care of me!

Well, I have got to get some sleep! I must take a nap between my work day and dinner time! Thank you everyone - for being there for me!

Love,

Cyndi