My Surgery.

It's all set. I completed my pre-admission testing today @ the hospital. All is good, so far. The hardest is yet to come. That's why I am still in need of much prayers from the family as the surgery can take frm 1 and 1/2 to 2 hrs. Hospital stay is estimated at 3 days & recovery time is 6 weeks! They'll be removing my right ovary as well as the ovaryan cyst on that side via C-Section & I've had 2 of those so I pretty much know what to expect, in a way. Except with this one, they send a piece of the fatty tissue to be tested (biopsy).

My aunt & uncles will be visiting next week from Chicago & Alabama, so that makes me feel better knowing that I'll have some help. And, my mother-in-law is still with us.

I'll be at "FLORIDA HOSPITAL" on Rollins Ave. which is 35 mins away from my house.
Surgery date: Mon. 7/21/08
Time: 11:00am

Take care, everyone.
God bless us all.............

P.S. I will blog as soon as I'm able to ..

In need of your prayers ...

Beginning last week , my life has been nothing but worrying. Alotta worrying, crying and feeling very sad & terrified. The question " WHAT IF.." runs like crazy thru my head day & night.
I went for my annual pap smear last Tuesday & to discuss results of my sonogram for a cyst on my right side. (I had been having heavy periods & cramping was my complaint).
I was told, after having waited more than 30 mins, that I needed to go see the OB right away (at the hospital), and that my pap would have to wait ...
So, after I get there, I had to wait 2+ hrs to see him. He looked at the results of my sonogram & said I needed surgery right away as it was a "BIG CYST". It measured the size of a 16wk old fetus! So, I scheduled the laparascopy for 2 days after (which was Thursday). I also went for a blood exam called CA-125. (cancer marker)*
THEN, on Thursday morning they call me frm the Dr.'s office to say that the surgery was postponed as the Dr. had an emergency.
The Doctor then called me himself & explained that my blood test didnt come out normal, it was twice above normal. So, now they set me up an appointment with an oncologist for tomorrow morning for additional testing.
I have been a nervous wreck like never before in my entire 34 yrs of life!
So many thoughts running thru my mind! My family in Chicago has been supportive thru this since the beginning. They call me & offer encouraging, positive words.
Especially my supervisor @ work & my co-workers. (They even had a small circle of prayer for me today). The waiting is terrible.
But like the Bible says: " don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself." I have much faith in God & know that he will help me & guide me thru it all, whatever He has in store for me.
May God have mercy on me, and on all of us....
I am in need of prayers. Thank u in advance ..

** HAPPY BIRTHDAY, U.S.A. **

It was a wonderful 4th....
We had a bar-b-q in back and Eggie's family came by & we all enjoyed the pool as well as good food.

Then, we went to see the Fireworks Show @ the lake as we usually do every year.
The kids went wild. It really was a great 4th ....

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Together as a family.

Do you have a "Sacro Desco" in your home?

"Sacro Desco" is Italian for sacred table, and it's a commitment of many in Italy to share at least 1 meal all together as a family.... EVERY DAY.
Maybe that habit is one of the reasons why, statistically, families in Italy are more cohesive than those in the U.S.

Yes, I know that eating meals together provides an opportunity to talk about your day... to listen to and encourage one another. But, in today's world (at least in MY family down in Florida) it's hard to practice Sacro Desco EVERY DAY. So, since that's not feasible, we have a few days (usually my husband's days off, Thursdays & Fridays combined with my usual days off, Saturdays & Sundays) where I try to make dinner together as a family a priority. Whether we eat @ home or on the go.

Dinnertime is not just about feeding the body, but nourishing the soul.
To go into detail, my 2yr old son already gives thanks to God before & after eating. Not only that, he thanx his parents! (if I'm the cook for that specific day, he thanks me and vice versa. Yes, my husband is a GREAT cook!)

I am positive that Sacro Desco has made my children aware of the importance of having food on our table and of how much of a blessing it is to be able to savor every bite & being thankful for it considering what many families are going thru now with the gasoline prices & loss of jobs & homes. It is a sad, stressful & frustrating time for many.
Let's pray for those less fortunate....

HAPPY JULY!

que chulería ..

This shows us the types of characters they are.
Truly magnificent photo.
For me, it was a wake-up call.
If only we could all forgive & forget like those two.
If only we could all just get along like that despite our differences, huh?

There would be so much more peace, love & a tremendous amount of calmness in our world.
This is what the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is & should be about .. unity....
Forever united.... United we stand ..... etc, etc...

AQUATICA ON DADDIES' DAY ..

It was a great Fathers' Day. We went to Aquatica @ Seaworld!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are my 2 papi chulos enjoying a beatiful day of almost 100 degree weather:







This waterpark tops ALL Florida waterparks. Sorry, Disney.
But anyway, why no pics of me? My hair was messy & plus, I didnt have no make-up.
And, THIS is what livin' the Florida life is all about. I live it like there's no 2morrow. We never know. So, we enjoy while we can.... and u should too ...........

Graduation 2008

Congrats to our lil' Kindergarten grad, Angelice!




Mi orgullo...





Daddy' girl ...





That was her teacher, Ms. Hollenbaugh, wonderful lady..

After graduation, we had a cookout in our backyard where almost everyone, including me, went in the pool It's only 4 feet but it reminds me of when I grew up back home in Chicago. The kids have lots o'fun & that's what matters.