Major Milestones!

Today is Jack's first day of Kindergarten (actually Kindergarten camp) and Owen's real, no-kidding first day of Preschool! We are very proud of them. Here they are dressed for success and ready to take on the world...



And we couldn't resist taking a pic of the yard - which, under the loving guidance of zoysia master Brian Felix, has taken on an Augusta-like splendor...

Ho'omaluhia

We had a blast on Sunday with the Blanchettes at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. The kids caught so many fish it was amazing. Olivia wins for catching the biggest fish of the day....

More pics from the relay

The "Team Kristen" kids had a blast raging around the beach park that night.

This is my friend Peggy who I met pretty soon after I was diagnosed. She is also a survivor and has been an inspiration for me seeing how great she has handled everything.


Dave's mom Susan was on Team Kristen too. I love this picture.

Relay for Life

This past Saturday goes down as one of the best days of my life! 13 girlfriends made up "Team Kristen" and raised money for cancer research, agreed to and did (amazingly) walk all night in a Relay For Life event in Kailua Beach Park in honor of me. I am so touched by what they all did and for their fun and laughs and friendships. There were 25 teams, but "Team Kristen" really rocked I must say. They raised right under $5000, which is thanks to a lot of you who are reading this right now. That night was magical. Bagpipes played as the first lap was for survivors and then everyone's teams followed on the second lap. I can't convey the feelings of happiness, pride, and gratitude I felt on that walk. I was smiling through tears the whole time. Looking back over my shoulders at everyone and their families on Team Kristen is a memory I will never forget. I have known I've had the love and support of so many people throughout this experience, but this was literally a physical example seeing everyone walking behind me. I cry just thinking about it. It was so moving. Thank you so much everybody.

The Best News Yet!

We received the best news yet from my surgeon Dr. Matayoshi yesterday....He got all the cancer! The chemo shrunk the lymph nodes to nothing (there were no signs of cancer in them in the pathology)and my breast tumors were small and he got them all. The margins are clean.

Dave and I breathed the deepest sigh of relief in 7 months. I can't stop smiling and neither can he.

The kids come back this afternoon with Dave's mom (in 2 hours). I can't wait. I can't wait to squeeze them and kiss them and smell their great kid smell. A month is a long time.

I'm jamming to some Celia Cruz right now blasting through the house preparing for their return. Just got done watching Juno on pay-per-view. Loved it.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee?

Some perspective from our friends at Surf News Network...

Home from the Hospital!

YEAH - She's HOME! Kristen's surgery went very well on Wednesday and after only one night in the Hospital she was released and is now recovering and resting (sleeping actually at the moment) at home. Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, encouragement, calls, emails, letters, positive vibes, flowers, offers of food, and countless other acts of love and kindness from so many of our friends and family. Love is certainly in the air around here - thank you all.



This picture was taken earlier in the day - she's happily holding the 3 drain bulbs that she'll be living with for the next week or so (notice the conscripted Camelbak fanny pack - easier than pinning the bulbs to the inside of her gown). Kristen's spirits are great - she's still a bit groggy at times - but she should shake that off by this evening and even now is generally feeling pretty good. Her appetite has returned and after 3-4 days of solid R&R she'll be well on her way to a full recovery from the surgery.

Special thanks to Christy for hanging out with me yesterday during the surgery (6 nervous hours is a LONG TIME) and for making sure Kristen was squared away with the best doctors and nurses Kaiser had to offer - you're great - thanks.

What's next? 2-3 days before we get the pathology results back - which will hopefully show good clean margins (meaning they'll be pretty confident they got it all). Then back to the surgeon next week to get the drains removed - followed (most likely) by 7-8 weeks of localized radiation therapy... but we'll see - with chemo and now surgery behind us the future is looking pretty bright :) - and the kids come home on the 10th!

TEAM KRISTEN!

Here is a pic from the "Team Kristen" surprise dinner at Pinky's on Monday night. We didn't get one with everyone on our camera - so if someone does have a pic of the whole team - please email to us and we'll post it!

Thanks to all of the Team Kristen volunteers and to so many of you who made generous donations to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life charity. The fundraiser walk will happen on Saturday night, July 12 - so it'll be here soon. If you'd like to join the team and/or make a donation on behalf of Team Kristen - please visit this website. Thanks again!

Summer Lovin'

So much has been going on since I last blogged. The kids camped out in the backyard with their friends right before school got out.



Olivia finished up her 2nd grade school year and was mortified I tried to take her picture at the awards ceremony at school.



Owen is constantly cracking us up with his crazy antics. He is a total rascal!



I love how he puts himself to sleep - wrapping up in his blanket - just so...







After school got out the Palawiki gang all headed out to the waterpark for a fun day of putt-putt and water fun. It ruled!

My mom took the kids back east for a month to NC. They have been in Charlotte with Dave's parents and to Emerald Isle Beach for 2 weeks for our annual vacation. Bummers Dave and I had to miss this year. It has been hard without the kids, but also fun.

We have been keeping super busy with house projects and movies, dinners, yardwork, and just hanging out together. I have really enjoyed the peaceful days and am getting ready for surgery tomorrow. I am having the double mastectomy and auxillary lymph node removal too.

Last night my friends surprised me with the news that they had formed "Team Kristen" for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life happening in Kailua on July 12. I am touched beyond belief that they have all decided to do this. It sounds like a very neat experience. It is a fundraising walk that goes through the night. Starting at dark and finishing when the sun comes up, it symbolizes peoples struggle with cancer coming through the darkness of battling the disease and into the light upon conquering it. Everyone camps in Kailua Beach park with their teams and two people from each team are walking throughout the night. I love the idea.

I had been feeling nervous and scared lately, but have been hearing from old friends and receiving emails and calls and goodies that have totally boosted my spirits again.

Even more pics

More from May...


Jack is moving up in the world - he is officially a preschool graduate! Here he's looking festive with his good buddy Ryan Encarnacion at Kailua Baptist.

Should also note that Jack wrapped up his first year of T-Ball in May - if you are interested click on the Flikr photostream link on the right panel on this page - lots of pics there. Good fun.


Owen celebrated Jack's graduation by rummaging through the cubbies looking for lost change and melted candies. Owen will be a Kailua Baptist preschooler next year... prepare for carnage.


A few days after graduation we headed up to the North Shore for a beautiful day at Leftovers - and nearly tripped over this honu. Lots of snorkeling and surfing this day - will post a movie or two later (Kristen, Christy and Tricia all went surfing too!)


Not sure when this was taken (G-ma Karen's camera seems to mysteriously reset the date/time stamp to match the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics) - but this was another nice day at Kailua beach...


This was taken back in March - but wanted to share - Miss Olivia's 8th birthday (that's 5+3)...

Catching up with May pics

Sorry we haven't been posting regularly - it hasn't been for a lack of material - just not enough time in the day (which is generally a good thing). Best news is that Kristen finished up chemo in late May! She started in Jan - so 5 months of chemo later she's moving on the next stage of treatment!

Here are pics of some of the fun from last month...


The excellent 2-story Komae Treehouse - kids dig it.


Olivia's May Day performance at Enchanted Lake Elem.


Yes it's Ladies' Nite...


Family day at the Honolulu Zoo.

Mother's Day Lunch - Mexico Lindo

After spending hours in the woods with a bunch of kids what could sound better than a Li-Hing Margarita?

Needless to say - things got a little rowdy when the food was served - here's Jack (looking oddly Bon Jovi-ish) wearing beans and guacamole:

...and Olivia (as far as I know she is NOT drinking a margarita):


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Mother's Day Hike

We took an awesome hike with the kids to celebrate Mother's Day - Nu'uanu Pali - Judd Trail...
Here's Kristen and the kids in a bamboo forest:

Heavenly view through the Norfolk pines:

Owen taking a break (look at those cute hiking boots!):

And the whole crew under a Banyan tree:

We almost had as much fun as the mosquitoes!

Click below to see more pics from the Judd Trail Hike:

www.flickr.com allboogied's Judd Trail photoset