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Tuesday, September 1, 2009 11:51 AM CDT

okay, here's the quick and dirty...

second semester of my sophomore year went alright. i got good grades. i met my boyfriend brennen.

summer flew by, which was alright with me. i didn't do much. went to a brewer's game in milwaukee. i pretty much just worked all summer at the cheese factory in nelson with mitch and jarod. i got to see brennen quite a bit, which was nice. i had appointments in june and everything checked out just fine. :)

now i'm back in river falls. i just moved into the house i'm renting with 5 other girls...its pretty big. brennen and i went shopping to get a few things we both needed. classes start tomorrow.

just a note. my boyfriend just found out that he has cancer...thats all the information i would like to share at this time. he had surgery. he's meeting with an oncologist today. prayers would be appreciated.

i'll update more when i have time. i'm off to campus to get some stuff done.

kristin

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 3:41 PM CST

well, merry christmas...
sorry i lack in updates, but in my defense, i'm a very busy girl...

to start things off, i just had appointments in rochester yesterday. i had blood work, a ct scan, leg x-rays, and an echocardiogram. everything checked out fine. they moved me from check-ups every four months to every six, so i don't have to go back until june. i'm also going to be transitioning from a ct scan on my lungs every time to just x-rays. they're beginning to get concerned about the amount of radiation i'm recieving from the ct scans and that can cause a secondary cancer later on down the road. i'll also be seen in the same place, just on a day they call the long-term care clinic...for survivors who have been out for a few years. these are all great signs... :)

i just finished my fall semester of my second year at uw-river falls...i took some pretty hard classes this time around and pretty much was eating, sleeping, and breathing homework and studying. i did find time to go visit hannah in la crosse though, and also made it to some parties. don't worry, i behave myself. i know whats important. i ended up with two As and three Bs this term, so i'm very happy with that. i only missed the deans list by a .1 on my GPA...next semester, right?

things around home have been pretty basic, i guess. mitch and jarod keep my parents pretty busy. although it's much easier now that they're both in high school. football was a bit rough for them with a losing season; needless to say they were very excited to start basketball. varsity is looking to have a great season, and the jv has been struggling a bit, but they just love to play. they also fill up their free time with hunting and fishing. i'm pretty excited to go out ice fishing with jarod while i'm home on break.

speaking of break, i'll be keeping busy working at the old ways, fishing with jarod, and keeping up with my online class.

well, just thought i should update quick after my appointments. i'm very excited for this Christmas season. tonight my family is going to mass, then opening presents from my parents. tomorrow my dad's side of the family will be over and then on saturday we go to sharl and jeff's house to celebrate with my mom's side.

but let's not forget the real reason for this joyous season. my faith in God and Jesus has never been stronger. i know i survived cancer thanks to them, and i will always be so thankful for that. so as you are celebrating Christmas with your families and friends, make sure to take time to celebrate with God and Jesus as well. i know i will.

peace...
kristin

Thursday, September 18, 2008 4:30 PM CDT

wow, it's definitely been awhile. i just read my last update and uh, yea. things have changed. we'll just say that.

i think we left off at my good appointments in april and my outing to the pink rose. pink rose was a blast. my friend lexi went with another frat member, so we got to dance the night away! lexi and i even had to navigate the ol chevy home...we'll just leave it at that.

since then sam and i took a break over the summer because we'd both be so busy and it wasn't good timing...and we're gonna stay this way for a very long time.

i finished the school year off fairly well, getting a few things out of my system. a couple of my classes didn't really interest me, and i had a terrible chemsitry professor. but other than that, the semester went fine.

this summer i worked two jobs: waitressing at a restaurant in wabasha called the old ways, and doing housekeeping at the americinn in wabasha. it kept me busy and i really didn't have any days off all summer, just a few random days here and there.

i also raised my sheep, and i enjoyed my last fair as a 4-Her/FFA member. the fair is always fun. i got a first blue with my ewe lamb and a first red with my wether. i sold my ewe in the auction and won champion overall total performance as well as the rate of gain trophies at the carcass show. i also found out from dewey that my wether would have won the carcass show easily... so it was a good year. i also did a little cattle fitting for my friend derek... so that was fun as well. a couple of my friends from school came up for a day or two so it was nice to see them as well.

my brothers both enjoyed their baseball seasons and i even got to catch a few games every now and then, so that was nice...

i had appointments in august and everything is still good, so thats good. i'll go back in december, and if everything is still good, i'll switch to every 6 months. apparently i have had a lot of ct scans and they might have to start worrying about the amount of radiation i've gotten from those...but whatever. i trust them...i'm not too concerned. haha.

now i'm back in river falls, enjoying my time spent with friends and keeping on track with my classes. so far the classes haven't been too hard, and i have quite a bit of free time...i ended up dropping a class, english, because the professor was horrible and wanted me to "love" writing and english and blah blah blah. im' not that into it and she expected a lot...not for me. i still have my 15 credits though...in one of my classes we get to go out to the farm and do some livestock evaluations, so that's definitely my favorite class. :)

my brothers are both playing football and this year
they're both in high school: mitch is a senior and jarod is a freshman. its fun to watch them in the same game!

i guess that's all i really have for ya. if anyone still checks this i'd be surprised though... so if you're around, leave me a message, let me know.

peace. :)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 1:33 PM CDT

OK, it's Sue...aka Mom again!! Well, yesterday, Mark and I met Kristin at Mayo and.......NO NEW SPOTS!!! It was a very good day! Dr. Arndt told us that Kristin could come back in 4 MONTHS, and hopefully go to 6 months very soon! She also said that Kristin has had so many chest ct scans and there is a concern about radiation so getting to 6 month check-ups would be good. GOD IS GOOD! WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO EVERYONE FOR THE PRAYERS!! KEEP THEM COMING!

(hey, it's kristin, sorry i haven't updated for awhile. school keeps me pretty busy. sam's going with me to roch. tomorrow for blood and a ct, but i'm sure everything will be fine. prayers don't hurt though... the pink rose is saturday and i'm pretty excited. i'll put up a pic or two sometime next week, i promise. otherwise, mom did a pretty good job on the update...take care!)

NEW PICTURE!!

Hello everyone! This is Kristin's mother, Sue! Kristin had good scans in January and they told her that if she continued to get good scans this summer, she could graduate to 4-month check-ups! Actually, her last lung surgery was February 2007 and she has had good check-ups since then! She has an appointment for scans on Friday, April 4th, and then Mark and I will meet her at Mayo on Monday April 7th for the results of her scans! So, PRAY, her scans show "no new spots"!

She is LOVING college! She's getting good grades and seems to thrive on everything that has to do with college. She comes home when she has to work at the National Eagle Center. She was home for a whole month over christmas and she was getting bored....I don't know if she was more ready to go back to UW-River Falls or if Mitch was more ready for her to go back! It's his big thing to tease her when she's home by saying "I thought when you went to college, you'd stay at college!"....and she takes the ribbing for about oh, lets say 3 whole seconds before she lets him know she's heard enough!! And Kristin and Jarod communicate quite regularly over the internet because no matter what information I try to "fill" him in on that involves Kristin, he always says "Oh, I already know that!--Kristin told me!" They can be such stinkers!

Kristin was asked to the the AGR "The Pink Rose" Banquet by a AGR Fraternity member named Sam Speerstra. It is this coming week-end and I wish I could go and take pictures!!! I don't know who is more excited, her or me!! We got to meet Sam twice over spring break and he seems like a very nice guy. Kristin sure smiles alot when he's around....hmmm!

Well, as a summary, Kristin is working hard at college, thinking about summer employment, Mitch is busy with track and looking forward to baseball, Jarod is waiting for jr. high track to start and looking forward to baseball, and both Mitch and Jarod are looking forward to playing on the same summer basketball team!! As for Mark and I, we say "Let the games begin!" and in between all the games, Mark and I will be waiting for the Buffalo County Fair to watch Kristin show her steer and sheep!!

As soon as we get the results of her April 4th scans, I'll update to let everyone know the results!! PRAY!!!

Thursday, November 22, 2007 11:41 AM CST

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
We all have so much to be thankful for this year...so..

I'm thankful for my family. My mom, dad, mitch and jarod. they are irreplacable and i don't know where i would be without them. i may not tell them how thankful i am to have them around, and i know i don't thank them NEARLY enough for everything they do for me. they are behind me no matter what i decide to do. they're letting me start to make most of my decisions on my own, and i know that can't be easy, especially for my parents...

I'm thankful for my extended family. they, too, are always behind me no matter what i do. they like to give me a hard time, but that's cool. my family is the greatest and that's all there is to it.

i'm thankful for my friends: hannah, heidi, larissa, brooke, zeb, lauren, megan, ali, andy, greg, alex, jake, nick, tj, mike, ben, adam. i know there are more, but it's a long list. i know i always have someone who will help me out, someone who will be there, no matter what. my friends are my life.

i'm thankful for my health. this past october, i saw the first october in TWO YEARS go by without finding a new spot on my lungs. i think that this is a great feat. in 2005 and 2006, october was the month the doctors found a new spot on my lungs, which was inevitably followed by a surgery in january. With the passing of october 2007 and no new spots, i'm sure that my health is stable and will be that way for the rest of my life. it is at least a very good sign.

i'm thankful for my opportunity to go to college. i know that not everyone can do this, for various reasons. i'm so glad that i'm attending uw-river falls; i know it's where i'm supposed to be. i'm happier than i have ever been, i think because i'm so much more independent. i love my classes and i'm so glad that i am capable of getting good grades. i've decided to swing my major to animal science, PRE-VET. it will be a long road with a lot of hard work, but i am certain that it is what i want to do with my life.

there are so many more things that i'm thankful for, but those are the things at the top of my list this year.

i'm sure you all are looking for an update. i have been at school for about 3 months now. i'm so happy and everything is going really well. well, aside from a couple weeks where i had every sickness known to mankind: strep throat, the worst cold ever, pink eye, the flu. my classes are going really well and i don't HATE any of them really...
i've made a ton of new friends, most of whom are guys. lol. it's such a blast up there and i don't even know what else to say about it. its a lot different from high school, but SO SO much better. haha.
the semester is almost over..with about 3 weeks left and then finals. time sure flies by when you're having fun!

other than that, i had appointments in october and those went fine. no news is good news in that department i guess...

i turned 19 on monday and i celebrated by studying for my biology test i had the next day. woohoo. fun stuff!

hunting went really well for my brothers. jarod shot a 9 pointer and mitch shot a doe and a nubbin buck, so yay. go them.

that's all i really have for you i guess...
take care, God bless, and happy thanksgiving!!

kristin <3

Friday, August 31, 2007 2:40 PM CDT

now i know i said i would update after the fair, and technically, i'm doing just that. it's just a lot later than i intended it to be! but that's just the way it goes...time flies when you're having fun!

first things first, i asked everyone to pray for brendan, and it paid off. he went back for scans again, and they were clear this time! so yay for him! he can start college on time and worry free too! :)

the fair went really well. neither of my sheep did very well in the live show, and i skipped out of showmanship because, well, let's just face it. i don't have awesome showmanship skills. i sold my lamb at the livestock to Randy Ludwigson, so thanks, Randy! Hannah's family bought my other one, so thanks to them too! at the carcass show, my lamb got reserve champ. rate of gain and placed 3rd overall...so i was really happy. my other lamb that wasn't entered in the carcass show would have done even better than the one that was in it, so i guess i just raise really nice lambs! :)

our vacation to jellystone the week after the fair was really nice. it was great to just get away for a weekend! we went with the litschers, so it was way fun! we had a blast.

other than that, nothing is really going on here. we are in football season mode right now. mitch started the week after the fair so he's been pretty busy. they had a scrimmage at pepin and according to him, they were the best team there. last week friday, they played pepin and won, so they're off to a good start. they play in plum city tonight, so we'll see how that goes. the boys are saying that it should be a good game. jarod's ready to start his football season on the first day of school, too!

i've just been staying busy going to alma's football games and cfc's football games, i went to one of hannah's volleyball games this last week. zeb had a bonfire as our last party of the summer before everyone goes off to school. we've been going to movies and just hanging out. and i like it this way. :)

i move in up at UW-River Falls on SUNDAY, september 2nd. i'm so excited and so looking forward to it! my roommate seems really nice, so i'm sure we'll get along great.i'm excited for my classes, to get out on my own, to meet new people, and to spread my wings!

i will be home quite a bit to work at the national eagle center, but that's okay. i can make some money and not have to pay to do my laundry! haha... :)

other than this, i really don't know anything else. i do have appointments coming up in october, but i don't know how i'm going to do them yet. mom is going to call mayo and see what we can get worked out. but you can definitely start praying for those now!

i will leave it at this for now, and i will try to update when i get a chance.

take care and God bless!
kristin

Friday, July 27, 2007 8:07 PM CDT

**sunday night...july 29**
please keep brendan in your prayers as they just discovered a spot in his lungs. it sucks big time to hear that and is hard to deal with, so pray for him and his family!!
www.caringbridge.com/visit/brendanfinneran

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wow. soo sorry for the lack of updates this summer. it's just been crazy. i've been putting in a few hours here and there at both the extension office and the alma marina. i also had an interview at the nat'l eagle center so i could put some hours in there in august as well as when i come home from school on the weekends occasionally.

i've also been doing a lot of 4H stuff. volunteering my time here and there, going to 4H CAMP!!, and livestock judging... we went to state again for livestock, so that pretty much rocked. we struggled a little at state, but oh well. we had fun anyway.

my sheep have grown nicely and i'm excited for the buffalo county fair next week. (august 2-5 if you're interested) it's my all-time favorite time of the year, so yay!

we are taking a little weekend vacation after the fair, but i can't go to camp jornada because of it. the weekends overlap. i'm a little sad to not be going, but it's okay i suppose. i'm planning on stopping out at camp for a day during the week hopefully! i'm gonna miss it, though.

i had appointments w/ my oncologists on tuesday, july 24. i just had a ct scan, so it wasn't a hard day at all. i stopped by the 3rd floor and saw my favorite nurse ever, tammy. it was soo good to see her again! then, we got to see the new peds. floor! oh my goodness! i love it up there. it's so nice and much more patient-friendly! wow! everything checked out okay w/ the docs so i don't have to go back to rochester until october! woohoo!!

other than that stuff, i'm just busy getting ready for school. i'm so excited. i move in at river falls in 36 days! yay! i still need to go shopping, but that'll happen after the fair. i'll hopefully update again after the fair.

take care and God bless!!
kristin

Friday, June 8, 2007 11:51 AM CDT

Wow. Time has just flown by! I think the last time I updated you all was after prom. Well, a lot has happened since then.

I GRADUATED. I haven't had time to get the pictures on here, but I will eventually. It's really nice to be done with school, homework, blah blah blah. My party was great, the weather was beautiful, and I had a great time! I was so glad to see soo many people who came to my party, some whom I hadn't seen in a loooong time! The underclassmen are finally out of school now too, so I get to spend most days with my brothers now.

I will be working at the extension office at the courthouse a little bit this summer. I finally got the paperwork done, so I just have to go up there and get started I guess. I will probably take the paperwork in this afternoon and hopefully get started next week-ish.
I'll also be working at the Alma Marina on the weekends. I haven't started there yet because I was waiting for Heidi to get back from her vacation in NYC. So I think this Saturday she's going to train me in.
For the two weeks after I was out of school but the underclassmen and teachers were still going, I was babysitting for a part-time teacher every other day, so that was nice to get a little money that I can spend this summer. Everything else I make will be going into savings for this fall, I guess.

Speaking of which, I had my freshman registration at UW-River Falls on Monday. I kind of learned what to expect, how things go on campus, got my student ID card, met some other students with a similar major (there was only one other person there that day with the exact major as me, animal science, management option with a meat animal emphasis!), and registered for my classes. From what people have been telling me, I got a pretty good schedule. Overall, going up to River Falls on Monday really got me excited to go to school again. I'm really excited for college to start in the fall and I'm feeling really good about my choice to attend UW-River Falls!

Other than working a little bit here and there this summer, I will be busy working with my market lambs for the fair, volunteering with 4-H, going to Mitch's and Jarod's baseball games, and just having fun with my friends. 4-H camp is right around the corner, June 17-20, so I'm really excited for that. I also have to help with the Livestock Clinic in Buffalo County next weekend, and with the dairy breakfast on the 23.

I like to keep my summers busy. The busier they are, the fast it goes, and the sooner I go to college...

I'm going to miss my friends and family though.

I do have some appointments coming up in July to check things out with my lungs, so please pray that those appointments go well. I really don't want to have to deal with anything coming up while I'm at college! I just want college to be as normal as my high school years weren't. That's reasonable, right? Pretty sure...

Thanks for stopping by...please sign the guestbook so I know that people still check this thing out...
Take care and God bless!

Kristin

Thursday, April 5, 2007 4:32 PM CDT

**MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007-- oh baby, oh baby! i got the all clear at my appointments today. just thought i'd let ya'll know. they said that obviously there is some scarring from surgery in february, but it was expected. woo!! now i don't go back until july! ahh! hooray! thank God for all that He does!
oh, and check the prom pics!

**sunday, april 22, 2007. --so i'm super tired, so you're lucky that i'm nice enough to upload prom pictures into the photo album...check em out! i had a GREAT time..!


**sunday, april 15, 2007. --just a quick little update type thing...
while i'm thinking of it today, i should let you all know times and dates for graduation. of course, all you loyal followers of my wonderful (lol) self are all invited to share in this SUPER DUPER FANTABULOUS EVENT that i simply cannot wait for. commencement exercises will be FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2007, at 7:30 PM IN THE ALMA HIGH SHCOOL AUDITORIUM. we will then have an open house party dealy on SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2007 from 10 AM UNTIL 2 PM AT MY HOUSE. it would be so sweet if you, YES YOU!, could come out and help me celebrate! i really want to share this day with everyone. (especially because then everyone can come and see how much different the shed and garage look after they've been cleaned! its a lot of hard work, and i WANT TO SHOW IT OFF! lol..) if you need directions or anything at all, you can give us a call, or leave a message in the guestbook, k?
oooh, in the shed today, i found the stand for the pump from when i had a feeding tube. oh, the memories -- not so great, mind you -- that that stupid thing brought back. so, i think it's only appropriate to use it to display stuff at my party. ya know? like something that needs to be hung up or whatever. i'm not sure what yet, but it'll come to me, i'm sure. hmm...
ohh, and prom is next saturday. i'm pretty excited. especially to go to sullivan's for dinner. it's the best place ever! i'll post pictures sometime after that. i promise.
until then, we're just super busy here at home trying to get the dining room/kitchen DONE, as well as cleaning the shed and garage. oh what fun! not. i suppose i should get going. please send the prayers my way as i have appointments at mayo on APRIL 23, 2007. i'll have lung stuff done and i get to see dr. schives for me knee. i haven't had it looked at in a year. so please pray pray pray! thanks for stopping by. sign the guest book, please! <3s to all!!
--kristin

*********************************************

Well, I figured I should probably give you all an update, huh? Sorry these updates are few and far between...I'm just busy!

Let's see here, solo & ensemble went well. A duet Hannah and I did is going to state as well as our woodwind ensemble. I'm pretty excited. At our livestock judging competition at UW-River Falls, our team got 3rd place out of around 35 teams. Hannah got 1st overall, I got 11th, and Jordan got 14th. NOT BAD! =)

Other than that, school is kicking my butt. Not really, but I do always seem to have a lot of homework and projects. We are so busy right now with everything that's going on. We just had a "Reality Check" program. My scenario was that I was an animal scientist and my "husband" was a pediatrician. We had "two kids", 2 boys ages 2 & 4. Between the two of us, we were bringing in $10,289 a month. Reality Check was not hard for me! Next Wednesday is career day, and the Wednesday after that is Senior Day in Buffalo County. School should go right by! I only have 27 days left in my high school career, then I GRADUATE! I'm so excited. Prom is also coming up on April 21st. =)

We're also super busy planning for 4-H camp. I'm a Junior Director at camp this year, so I pretty much run the show! haha, I'm just kidding. But it should be a good time with Hannah, Sarah, Tommy and Gavin! It's in June, so I have a little time to wait yet... =)

My parents went down to Kentucky for Easter to visit with my Mom's side of the family. They always go down. So they left me, Mitch, and Jarod home alone! PARTY!!! no way, I'm just kidding. lol. We will spend a lot of the weekend with my Grandma and Grandpa at their farm... it should be fun. Hopefully it'll warm up a little bit though!

Jeez, um. Well, it's now 2 months post-surgery, and I'm feeling great. I have no complaints. I should be going back to the oh-so-wonderful Mayo sometime this month. I'm not too worried about my tests yet...but you can definitely pray for me! I just want all of this to be over with before I go to college in the fall. Cancer is the last thing I want to be worried about during what my mom says will be "the best years of my life..."

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend. I know it's definitely a time for a joyous celebration! Jesus was resurrected on Easter! Whats not to celebrate! God is GOOD! Take care and God bless...

Kristin

Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:55 PM CST

Well, I have been back to school for a week, and I am glad to say that I am almost completely caught up with my homework. So that is a relief. Whew. I'm feeling a lot better and I feel like I'm almost back to normal. I still can't lift as much and I am not as active as normal, but I'm getting there. My right side still gets sore after awhile, but it's a tiny pain so I just ride it out. I don't take anything for the pain anymore, which is good. My only real problem is that I don't like to peel off the steri-strips that are on the incision and they aren't falling off as easily as last time, so I may need to buck up and peel those suckers off pretty soon.

The rest of the school year until I graduate in May is super busy. Starting on March 10th with my placement testing for college, I don't have a free Saturday until graduation weekend! (Not counting Easter weekend, but I will probably be in Kentucky for that, so that's not exactly "free" either...) So the rest of the school year should go nice and fast! I've got placement testing, districts for forensics, solo & ensemble, livestock judging at the Ag-Tech contest at UWRF, Easter, State forensics, prom, sheep weigh-in for the fair, and state solo & ensemble is in there somewhere! I like to stay busy!

On a completely unrelated note, the SeNiOr ClAsS recieves our caps and gowns and announcements on March 1! I have changed the backgroud color to grey because RED AND GRAY are the colors of our gowns. Oddly enough, the girls are wearing gray (it's supposed to be "silver" but we all know they'll just be gray)and the guys will be stylin' in red gowns. That pretty much makes it official and final! I can't wait.

Ohhh let's see. Zeb got third at the Individual State Wrestling Tournament in Madison today. We're all so proud of him. He has worked super hard! And he's super great because he keeps me caught up on my homework when I miss school! Well, he and Heidi collaborate with that...

Oh. and. This blizzard we're supposed to be getting here better actually show up. I had to stay home this weekend, so I better get a Monday off of school out of the deal! Jeez... =)

So I guess this is all I really know. Take care and God bless. And thank you to everyone who did things for me, sent me gifts, and most importantly, PRAYED for me while I was in the hospital and recovering. It is appreciated SO much.

Kristin

PS. Please keep Bryce Breuer's family in your prayers as Bryce became and Angel on Thursday. He was so strong and touched so many people's lives. He was such an inspiration to so many. He will be greatly missed by many. Visit his website and leave his family a message. I'm sure they'd appreciate it a lot! www.caringbridge.com/mn/bryceb

and please pray for every single person who is affected by cancer in anyway. to battle cancer takes a determination that is only known by those who fight. so please, don't try to understand, just pray. it's the best thing a cancer patient can ask for.

Friday, February 9, 2007 4:12 PM CST

UPDATE 2-12-07
so my chest tube came out this morning, and i'll have another chest xray sometime here, and depending on how that looks, i'll be outta here this afternoon. my mom's up here today, so thats good. we're still not sure how we're gonna get all of my flowers home, though...haha. it'll be good to get outta here...and i'm excited! i'll update again later...
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so its kristin here. i have a pulse-oxygen monitor on my left pointer finger, so typing is difficult. ignore any typos. haha.

i'm feeling surprisingly well. the pain this time is nothing like the last two surgeries i had. so that's good. the doctors are thinking i'll maybe get out on monday. so yeaa..that'd be good.

um, i don't know. i'm up at st.mary's on the second floor, room 2-141. my cell phone number is 715 495 0231, feel free to give me a call.

yesterday, my friend Wes and his mom surprised me with a visit. i was really surprised because he had told me that he wouldn't be able to make it up this weekend! it was soo good to see him. and he stopped back in today for about 45 minutes. we had the same kind of cancer and we met last year when i was in for lung surgery. thanks for coming Wes! i appreciate it soo much!

today my grandparents were here because my grandpa had an appointment, and they hung out for a few hours.

this weekend is looking pretty full with visitors. tomorrow i'm expecting Brooke and Kayley for sure. on sunday Hannah and Zeb are gonna come up, and so are Heidi, Melissa, and Sarah. i'm really looking forward to it!

um, oh. we talked to dr. arndt, the oncologist on call, and she said that i don't need to come back for two months. since it was the only spot they found again, and it was encapsulated again, thats the best we could have hoped for next to scar tissue. so no further treatments will be needed. hooray!

so this is all i really feel like writing. i'm really tired because i didn't get a lot of sleep last night. so thanks for everything, everyone. thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. i'll be around, so sign the guestbook or give me a ring.

kristin

February 8, 2008 6:38 PM CST

Well, it is 12:50 and they just took her in. It was alot of waiting this morning and answering questions. Kristin stayed very upbeat all day yesterday and was in pretty good spirits this morning. They changed her check in time from 6:45 am to 9:00 am so we were able to sleep longer this morning. I gave Kristin a hug and kiss before they wheeled her in and she looked at Mark and they did the Talladega Nights-Ricky Bobby "Shake 'n Bake!" I keep telling Mark she takes after him...and that made it real apparent!

Mitch has a game tonight at home against Independence! Go Rivermen! I told Mitch this morning to show Independence what he's got!

Well, I'm sure it'll be a good 4-5 hrs. before I'll be able to add anything! Keep praying!

We did find out she'll be on the Peds ward so she is REALLY happy about that!

3:45 pm. Dr. Moir just came out and said there was only 1 nodule and it came out easily and it was encapsulated like last time. 'Bout all we know at this moment. Will update as soon as we know more!!!

Thursday, December 21, 2006 9:15 AM CST

Well, well, well. It is a "snow-day" here. Except it's raining. And apparently it froze or is going to freeze. I don't really mind though. That means taht my physics test won't be until after Christmas break! So now I should pass it for sure! Give me a break, physics is hard and I hate that class.

I guess I haven't really updated this thing in a while. I have been busy going to Mitch's and Jarod's basketball games. Mitch has been doing pretty good; his team is having a rough season though. Jarod is doing well also, he's one of the leading scorers; he has one game left in his school-season before his travel league starts up in January. They will be busy. And so will I.

I have been keeping busy with 4-H, FFA, pep-bands, announcing, and applying for scholarships. I have to apply for a lot of them. Which means a lot of essays that I really don't want to write. But....GOOD ESSAYS = MONEY FOR COLLEGE. So I will just do them.

I just thought you would like to know that I also got accepted to UW-Platteville and Winona State University. However, I will for sure be attending UW-River Falls in the fall of '07.

School is going pretty good. This week we had a test in pretty much every class, so I've been busy, busy, busy studying for those as well. I hate to study, but I can do it. I usually don't have to study too hard though; I have a mind like a steel-trap, you know. Haha...

Tomorrow I have a big unit test in English and since school is closed for the day, I will not be able to study tonight because I left the book at shcool. Oh, the irony! I have that first hour class, then the rest of the day is our Winterfest. We basically just sit around school, watch movies, go bowling, have a volleyball tournament, just sit around and have fun. I'm looking forward to that a lot.

Um...I go back to Mayo at the end of January. I have a long day of tests that day. More than normal because I have some tests that I only need to get every 4 months, or every 6 months. It will be a LONG, EXHAUSTING day. So you can start praying for those to all turn out well now if you'd like.

On Saturday, my family will go to my Aunt Sharl's for Christmas with my mom's side of the family. Then, on Monday, my family will go to my Uncle Bruce's house for Christmas with my dad's side of the family. Good company, good food, a good time. I'm looking forward to it all because I LOVE CHRISTMASTIME!!

I hope that you all have a very blessed and wonderful Christmas and that you don't forget the TRUE reason we're celebrating. The reason for the season is the birth of Jesus, so keep that in mind. I hope that you all have a happy, HEALTHY New Year as well.

I probably won't update this again until next year, 2007, which also happens to be the YEAR I GRADUATE! Yeaa!

kristin

friday, november tenth, two thousand six

update: november 12. i can't believe that i forgot to mention that my 18th BIRTHDAY is on the 19!!! holy cow. i'm almost an "adult." haha right...me, an adult.
end of update.


*let*it*snow*let*it*snow*let*it*snow*
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Those (^) are snowflakes. Today marked the very first big snowfall here. It was kind of good timing. We were getting out of school early today anyway. It's kind of pretty. On the way to school, the roads were terrible! But, on the way home, they were fine because the county guys got out and plowed. When we got out of school and were heading to our cars, we had a snowball fight. It was pretty fun, but now I'm soaked.

School has been going pretty good. The first quarter is FINALLY over. Things are more relaxed now...no big tests or projects due anytime soon. Thank goodness. I managed a B in physics, so that was good. ALl my other classes are As.

I am in the Dairyland Honors Band. We had a rehearsal on Tuesday, and we have another on Saturday. We also perform tomorrow night. Wh-hoo. It's pretty cool...but the rehearsals are a little boring...

Um, I guess there really isn't much else going on. I don't have to go back to Mayo until January, so that's great. Kind of nice...

Hunting is coming up. I'm not sure if I'm going to be heading out into the woods yet this year or not. More than likely though...I gotta get that thirty pointer...

Oh! I have been chosen to be the announcer at all of the home boys' baskeball games at school. So that's pretty sweet...I'm practicing my announcer's voice...haha..

So I guess this will be it. Nothing really left to say...So have a good one, stay warm!, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving if I don't get around to updating again. We all have SO much to be thankful for! Take care and God bless...

kristin

Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:36 PM CDT

Well, I had my appointments in Rochester yesterday. I had x-rays of my knee, a CT of my lungs, and bloodwork. The x-rays and bloodword were fine. AND SO WAS THE CT SCAN! HOORAY!!

It was a little confusing though. The radiologist thought that the one spot on my right lung looked a little bigger. The oncologists really didn't know what to think, so they called Dr. Moir (my lung surgeon) down. He looked at the scans and said he thought it looked smaller. He said at worst it was maybe the same, but not bigger. At this point, they're thinking its more than likely scar tissue. They don't want to see me for three months. I'll go back in January 2007!

Praise God. He is sooo GREAT!!

My doctors told me that physics is pointless. They had to take it and haven't used it yet. I hate physics. I'm not very good at that class. So, now I at least don't feel so bad about it.

Thats really all the news I have for you at this point. I'm goin to Hannah's tonight to watch Grey's Anatomy. We stand in front of the tv and yell at the characters...sometimes we yell at each other. It's our favorite show ever. Tomorrow, after school, I am probably going to Stout to visit Sarah overnight with Heidi. I'm looking forward to it. I also have a Recognition Celebration for 4H on Sunday, AND its corn-picking season at the farm. I am going to be busy.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. Please keep it up. I'm not out of the woods yet. And sign the guestbook if you get a chance; I'd love to know you stopped by...

kristin

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 4:07 PM CDT

**ABBY and MADDIE: I am going to UWRF for sure. so you can count on me visiting for dinner!!**

Okay, okay...I know you're all wondering how HoMeCoMiNg went, right?! Well, it was great. It was the best year of homecoming I have ever been a part of. The dress up days were fun, decorating our hallway, the Volleyball game was fun (the junior cheer..lol), SENIOR POWER!, Alyssa and Zeb getting Queen and King (congrats, by the way!), the football game, the halftime show, court's ride around the field in the back of Tyler's truck, and of course, the dance. I can't even tell you how much fun I had this week! Hooray for homecoming! I'll put up some pictures, so check for those, too!

Um, I'm sure a lot of you saw the article about me in "Hometown Health" that just came out. It was pretty cool to see an story about me. Hope you all enjoy it!

In even BIGGER news...

drum roll please.............................................

!!!I GOT ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE!!! Yes, that is right, I, Kristin Elizabeth Schamaun, got accepted to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. I am going to college in fall 2007 in River Falls! It's super SUPER exciting! I did apply to Winona State as well, just waiting to hear back from them...

Other than that stuff, nothing too noteworthy is happening I guess. Just going to football games ad volleyball games, playing pep band, taking stats, and doing homework. I could tell you that I switched from alto sax to tenor sax and that I love the tenor so much more because that side of the band is a lot of fun. My favorite class that I have in my schedule at school is American Studies (Government). We've already had sub sandwiches three times at school, followed closely by pizza and chicken fajitas with two times each. Zach pinches me in band when I mess with the buttons on his horn...lol. Oh, and Hannah and I don't get to hang out as often as we'd like, but we do have Vet Science--Small Animals together, so that is the only time I get to talk with my best friend ever. I went to the Sectional Leadership Workshop for FFA last nite, and that was kind of boring. We stopped at Pizza Hut on the way home though, and that was good. After the Mel-Min football game, I went to a bonfire with some guys from the team. I was the only girl there, that kind of sucked. Yea, it was actually pretty fun...

Have I made my point yet!? I AM NORMAL!! I'm not writing about my latests tests or whats coming up. Not writing about what meds got switched around or when I'm getting out of the hospital. I hope I never have to write about that kind of stuff again!

I do have appointments in October sometime, so pray that that spot they're watching doesn't grow, and then I won't have to write about the previously mentioned topics anymore. Pray pray pray!

Thanks for stoppin' by. Check out the pictures from homecoming and sign my guestbook because it's getting a little lonely in there. Peace out...

kristin

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 6:43 PM CDT

Well, I decided to take a little break from my homework to update this little website. You're welcome.

So I have officially started my senior year of high school! Let's just say this: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I have yet to have a bad day. I have just been in a really good mood every day and I don't know why. I love going to school, haning out with my friends, and I don't really mind my classes. I have vet science, child development, american studies, physics, english 12, and accounting. Nothing too hard has come up yet. Just some cruddy advanced algebra stuff in physics. I am having a wonderful year and I anticipate the entire year to be like this! That would be wonderful.

I got voted onto homecoming court by my classmates, which I think is pretty cool. So homecoming week is next week. The dress up days this year are mismatch day, western day, nerd day, red and white day, and wacky hair day. So thats really exciting too. Coronation of king and queen will take place after the volleyball game on Thursday, September 21, and the dance is Friday nite after the football game! I am very excited for all of that!

I started applying to college today. I am applying to UW-River Falls and Winona State, so hopefully those come back positively. My intention is to start at UW-RF because I really like the campus and it isn't too far to drive on my appointment days. I'm looking forward to college soo much!

Um, other than that, nothing too big is going on anymore because I'm always in school. I don't go back to Rochester until the end of October, so you can start praying now if you'd like. I need prayers that the spot on my lung doesn't grow at ALL!

kristin schamaun

(ps: HOorAY for WES! one year in remission is coming up soon! a very fun holiday!)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 6:41 PM CDT

**update, August 25, 2006**
For the most part, my appointments went well. The spots that they were watching remained unchanged so that was great news. However, there is one new little, tiny, microscopic (not really, but it is really small) spot on my lungs. It is undeterminable so they can't really tell what it is. We are going to check it again at the end of October, and if it grows at all, I'll probably need surgery again, but it's not going to grow. So pray prAY PRAY!

I'm getting a cold as well. It stinks.

The Rivermen football team lost to Pepin yesterday at Stout. There was a two hour delay in the fourth quarter of the game because it was storming really badly and the tornado sirens went off in Menomonee. Kind of scary. It was a lot of fun though, even if we all got soaked!

Oh yea, and I added one new picture to the photo album...

*********************************************************************

I had a cavity filled today. What a pain in the butt, or mouth rather, that was. My mouth finally woke up after all that novacane about half an hour ago...

So, as I'm sure you all expected, Camp Jornada was an absolute blast! We had a performance by ComedySportz, had a formal homecoming dance, got to ride in some classic cars, had the annual JELLO war, went to a Minnesota Twins game, had a movie night, and much, much more. It was so fun to see all the familiar faces this year as well as to meet a ton of new people. It really is more than just a camp for kids to go to in the summer. It's more like a family. (I read that on someone's site and thought it was perfect...so I stole that...) I wouldn't trade a week at Camp Jornada for ANYTYHING! And I really mean that. Not even 20 trillion dollars. I'll post some pictures from camp in a few days...when I get some time to scan them into my computer.

Um, football has started. So that is exciting. So has volleyball, and there is a game tonite that I am going to be leaving for in a little bit...wh-hoo.

I HAVE APPOINTMENTS TOMORROW in Rochester. It is kind of nice this time because my first appointment isn't until 10:15 am. Usually they start at 7:00 in the morning, so this is really nice. I just have a CT scan of my lungs and then I get the results from Dr. Arndt in the afternoon. I'm a little nervous as there are still a couple of spots on my lungs that they are keeping an eye on...so hopefully those haven't grown any since June. So if you could say a little prayer for me tonite or tomorrow or whenever you read this, that would be GREAT!

Other than that stuff, nothing really is going on. I have been trying to get to the golf course, but I just can't seem to find the time. I was going to go out today and shoot nine, but my mouth took longer than I thought it would to "wake up." But I WILL GO! Anyone wanna golf with me?

Um, School starts on September 1st. I find this kind of silly because that is a Friday and then we get a three-day weekend for Labor Day. Whatever though. I am not one to complain because of a longer weekend. I am excited to start school just because I am going to be a big senior. It is almost time to start filling out applications to college as well as applications for scholarships. I'm expecting that to keep me very busy.

So now I'm going to get going because I have to leave for the volleyball game. So take care and God Bless. And as Wes says: "Pray for the bald kids."

nuamahcs htebazile nitsirk
kristin elizabeth schamaun

Wednesday, August 9, 2006 1:39 PM CDT

Well, just a quick little update here...

The Buffalo County Fair was the best time ever! I had so much fun hanging out with Hannah, especially. I got a first blue with my sheep, which put me in the final class for grand and reserve champion, but Ashley and Mark won those, respectively. I was like the reserve-reserve champion...haha. It was an overall good year. I got $1.60/pound at the auction and Randy Ludwigson bought my sheep. (THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING MY MARKET LAMB RANDY!!!)

I got my senior pictures on Monday. They turned out really well overall. You can go to www.muellerphotography.net, click online albums at the bottom and put in the password which is schamaun. You can then view my photos and tell me which ones you like best. I am having a really hard time deciding which ones!!

On Friday, I have a college tour up in River Falls. For the most part, that is where I want to go. For what, I have no idea, I just know that I want to do something agricultural.

On Saturday I will be going to my uncle's house to watch the Fountain City days fireworks. That is always a really good time. Its a lot of fun to hang out with my family and friends for a night.

Then on Sunday, I leave for Camp Jornada for a week. I will get back home on Friday afternoon. I am excited to get away from everything for a week. It should be a good time!

That same Friday is the football team's 4-team scrimmage in BT. I'm looking forward to that too because football season is my favorite time of year next to golf and the fair. Especially since I get to do stats again this year!

Then, school starts. And I am surprisingly excited for school to start. I think the fact that I am going into my SENIOR YEAR helps that. I'm excited to start applying...but also nervous. So we'll see how that all goes...

Take care and sign my guestbook after you check out my pictures to let me know what you think and which ones you like best. God Bless....

Kristin

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 10:13 PM CDT

**check out the new photo!**

Sorry for the lack of updates this summer...but I don't really know anything. At all. My summer has been pretty laid back and I like it that way. Well, kinda....

First of all, my senior pictures went really well. I am so excited to get
the proofs on August 7th. But I won't tell you guys about them until later...but I think that they turned out really well. One thing I will tell you though: I wore my liveSTRONG bracelet in every single picture...I'll keep the rest a mystery. Zoey and her family knows about them though!

I have been keeping busy volunteering for 4-H this summer. I helped out at two summer project series already, and have two more to go. I also helped at the Cloverbud/Explorer Days in Alma and Mondovi. All of those days were spent with young kids, and I enjoyed it all. I don't think I could do it everyday though...I was more than a little tired afterward. Whew!

State Livestock Judging didn't go so well. We had a tough day. Hannah did well, but the rest of us struggled. That's all I really want to say about that. (:S)

Um, THE BUFFALO COUNTY FAIR IS COMING UP!! AUGUST 3RD-6TH! I better see you all there! I will be showing my sheep on Friday...but I am so excited. This is the one thing I work for ALL summer long. I look forward to it so much every year! I canNOT wait!

Speaking of my sheep, he is currently named
"bullwinkle-dylan-billy-brian." I guess that is what I get for asking for everyone's suggestions. If you have any, let me know...I'll probably have to have a random drawing...

CAMP JORNADA IS COMING! CAMP JORNADA IS COMING!
I am so excited for camp jornada this year! It has a sports theme this year, so that is sweet! I leave for camp on Sunday, August 13, and return home on the 18th. I cannot wait to see all of my camp friends again! I miss them all so much!

Um, OH! Football is going to be starting up very soon! In fact, the day I return home from camp is the day they have their annual 4-team scrimmage, in B-T this year. So that is exciting! GO RIVERMEN!!! :)

Okay, I have a very special friend from Ohio who really needs your prayers. Her name is Trisha. She had osteo just like I did. However, the chemo drugs she took to get rid of the cancer also caused something to get messed up in her bone marrow. I don't really understand the whole situation, but I DO know that she could use some prayers! --www.caringbridge.com/me/trisha -- So could all the other kids/teenagers who have'had cancer. Also please pray thatI remain in remission.

Thanks for everything everyone! You are all great! Take care, God bless, and sign my guestbook if you have a chance!

--kristin

Sunday, July 2, 2006 10:07 AM CDT

JULY 10, 2006:
Oh my goodness. I think that I am going to go CrAzY! My senior pictures will be taken on Wednesday, and I canNOT decide what I should wear. I am very excited for them though. HmMmMmM............................
(it's so great that this is all i have to be worried about...)

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Where do I even start!? After I got the good news at my latest appointment, I have been going nonstop! Busy, Busy, Busy. I wouldn't have it any other way!

I'll start with June 28th. Jordan, Jacob, Hannah, and I went to Area Animal Science Days for 4H to be Buffalo County's senior Livestock Judging team. We ended up getting 1st place!! We are going to state now. It's our second trip to state for Livestock judging, so we are all pretty excited.

Jarod and I got our sheep for the Buffalo County Fair (August 3-6, I think). They are a little on the wilder side, so we need to really get them tamed down. Overall, though, they are really nice animals and I can't WAIT till the fair rolls around!

The other day, I went back to do chores. I fed the sheep and the one calf that is still on milk replacer. Then, I went in the pasture to get the sheep water from the cow water. Well, after I got the water, I forgot to close the gate. BIG MISTAKE! We have 5 steers, and they all found the open gate. I was the only one home and I can't run. Yea, you get the picture. They ran into the corn field next to our house, and then I heard some cars honking. You guessed it, 3 of them were down on the highway. I was scared out of my mind that we were going to lose all 5 steers and it would have been all my fault. Thankfully while I was worrying Hannah called me and I told her what happened. She came right over with her dog and helped me chase them in. I had called Dad earlier, and Todd and crew came over, too. They were a big help and I'm so thankful that they were able to come help me. What a night...you know what though? I haven't forgotten to close the gate since!

This Wednesday, Anne, the girl I stayed with in Michigan, is coming to stay with me until Sunday. It's a 4H exchange trip. We are going to be going to the cities one day to the Mall of America. I think it should be a fun time!

Hannah and I went golfing a couple weeks ago. It was a good time. I shot a 52. I am SO NOT complaining! It was one of the best rounds I've ever shot.

I have my senior pictures on the 12th of July. I am kind of excited, but I don't have any idea what I am going to wear! I do know that I will take a picture with my golf clubs and my saxophone. But other than that, I have NO idea.

I also need to schedule some college tours yet. It's getting a little late, I know, so hopefully I'll still be able to do it. It's kind of scary to have to be thinking about college already. I do know what I want to go for, kind of. I either want to go to UW-River Falls for Animal Science with emphasis on livestock, or Winona State for Nursing. I just can't decide. Right now, I am leaning toward UW-RF. Who knows how many times I will change my mind.

I have a few people that I want to ask you all to keep in your prayers. WES, who just had surgery: www.caringbridge.com/visit/weszitnay , BRENDAN, who I just "met", just had limb salvage surgery and has more chemo to go: www.caringbridge.com/visit/brendanfinneran , ZOEY, who I just saw in the parade yesterday and is going through chemo: www.caringbridge.com/visit/zoeyslaby , BRYCE, who relapsed and would be very thankful for your prayers: www.caringbridge.com/mn/bryceb , and CAITLIN, who had to have all the hardware in her leg replaced because of an infection and is on vacation right now: www.caringbridge.com/oh/cait . Also, keep Rachel, Nolan, Kristina, Mike, Kurt, Kristina, Nikki, Noelle, Liz, Kayley, Brooke, Leigh, Ethan, and Shawn in your prayers as well. The list is longer, so pray for every single child/teenager fighting cancer. Or as Wes says, "pray for the bald kids (even the one's whose hair has come back, or is growing back)."

Take care and have a good week. Sign my guestbook if you have a chance. I'd love to hear from you...

Kristin

Sunday, June 18, 2006 10:07 AM CDT

UPDATE MONDAY JUNE 19 2006:
Everything is stable! I don't even have to go back until the last week of August!! I will now have the best summer of my LIFE! YAHOO!!

btw: Thanks for the good time last night Hannah and Dylan! It was well worth it! ;)

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Well, I survived 4-H camp. What a blast those four days were! I had SOO much fun with Hannah, Sarah, Tommy, and Gavin! (The yurt, licorice, 18, cosmopolitan...lol, Hannah.) I cannot wait till next year. The next big 4-H event is the fair...which is going to be SUPER fun as well. Right Hannah!?

Mitch got his license on Friday, so that is kind of nice. Now he can at least drive himself places. HOWEVER, we are currently sharing the car. Thus, when he is driving himself to baseball, I am stuck at home wishing I could be driving him to baseball. At least he has not removed my girly pink flip-flop car freshener. It smells a little girly, and I am actually surprised he hasn't touched it yet. Yikes...

Um, let's see...Camp JORNADA is in August...I am looking forward to that SO much. It's like a super giant family at camp, and I love it. We all have something (terrible) in common (cancer), and that makes the bonds we make so much stronger. I can't wait to see Brooke, Kayley, and Liz again!!!

**I HAVE APPOINTMENTS ON MONDAY!!** That is tomorrow. I am scared out of my mind. Hopefully they tell me that everything is okay. I want them to tell me that everything is okay. I have faith in God that whatever happens, happens for a reason. I know that God will take care of me, no matter where my path leads. I trust Him completely. Let's just hope that His plan coincides with my plan. I think I'll be just fine...but until I hear the doctors say, "Well, everything's clear," I will be praying like CRAZY! I hope that you will be too. I will appreciate it VERY much. I <3 U all.

Also, keep everyone I have met in your prayers: Zoey, Wes, Kristina, Briana, Noelle, Brooke, Kayley, and Bryce. They all need prayers as much or more than I do. So remember them, too.

Well, I am going to go with my Grandma to the Steamboat Days parade in Winona today. That should be fun. Then, maybe I'll go to a movie with Hannah tonight. She wants to keep my mind busy so I am not as nervous for tomorrow. I love Hannah!

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, and a good week. I'll update tomorrow night after my appointments. :) Put on a happy face! liveSTRONG.

Kristin

Thursday, June 1, 2006 5:48 PM CDT

Well, it's official. I AM A SENIOR! We even got to eat lunch earlier than the underclassmen today; a sure sign that you are, indeed, the top dog. Let me tell you something too: IT FEELS GOOD and IT'S ABOUT TIME! Classes today were fun...short and sweet. All my grades were As and Bs, so I am not complaining. School's out for summer........!!!!!!!!

I have already begun carting my brothers around, but I don't mind...as long as they keep my car clean. Mitch will actually be getting his lisence in a few weeks, so that is a little disappointing because then I will not have to pick him up or drop him off as baseball anymore. I always enjoy that....(wink).

I guess I don't really have any big plans for the summer. I am a counselor at 4-H camp and that is coming up, so I am excited for that. And I still have to go golfing with Wes before he gets busy, too. (Wes: I will beat you..be afraid, lol.) I need to schedule some college tours (yikes) and find a job yet. I also plan on golfing a lot and hanging out with my friends. Now that school is out, I think I am going to have too much free time, therefore, I need a job. Any ideas? If you have ideas or suggestions, leave 'em in the guestbook.

Baseball has officially started. I am so happy that it has...it's one of my favorite sports to watch. They played CFC and Arcadia and lost both games. They are plaing tonight in AC/Lincoln, so I hope they do better than the previous games. It's pretty cool because I also get to watch my brother be the varsity 1st baseman...it's also a little nerve-wracking but I'm getting used to it.

Well, I guess thats really all I have for you guys. Uh, let's see...
remember to keep every single cancer kid in your prayers, especially Bryce, Zoey, Caitlin (congrats to her, by the way, for graduating!!), Kristina, Wes, and all the others. Also, please pray for my scans. I have them coming up in June sometime...but please pray that the spot the docs found in April is nothing. I want it to be nothing so badly that it almost makes me sick to think about it being something. Life is too good for it to come back again. And if it does, I am sure I will have to have chemo again, and I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT STUFF AGAIN! ever. So, please pray really really REALLY hard. I appreciate you all so much. <3

Schamaun, Kristin E.

BTW: did I mention to you all that I am A SeNiOr!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:08 PM CDT

Well, I finally have a few minutes, so I will update you all.

My appointments went well, I guess. I saw my leg surgeon, and he said that it probably feels better than it is, but there is nothing to be worried about there. I will see him again in a year. There is a spot on my lungs that we are watching again. It is right on the path that the surgeon took to get the the spot during my last surgery, so they think that it is more than likely just scar tissue. Keep those fingers crossed. AND PRAY LIKE CRAZY! Other than that, I am feeling great and everything is good.

State Livestock judging went okay. Our team got 19th out of about 40 teams, so we are happy. It was everyone's first year ever judging (on our team) so we are pleased. The trip was fun overall. I can't wait till next year! I am running for president of our FFA chapter for next year, so that is exciting as well.

We had our jazz band trip to Goodman. It was a long trip, but it was super fun! Our band sounded great and we totally rocked the clubhouse up there. We also had State Solo Ensemble, and both of my events got a 1st. I am very happy with that. WAHOOO!!

I got my ACT results back. I GOT A **25**!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO relieved/happy! Relieved because I don't have to take it again and happy because I can get into all of the colleges that I was looking into with that score! I currently hold the 3rd highest score in my class. I am very excited for that.

Golf is going well. I have really improved. At the beginning of the season, I was shooting in the 70s. I am now down to mid-low 50s, right alongside some of the guys. I also parred my first hole on Monday. I WAS SOO EXCITED! I have bogeyed before, but never parred, so it was great. (hole 7, par 4, on the front, in case you were wondering.) Golf is almost over though, but that means that BaSeBaLl is going to be starting up! I cannot wait!

Today, our Human Biology class took a field trip to the Minnesota Science Museum. It was really fun. We saw the "body works" exhibit, and that was really cool. We also saw a show in the Omnitheatre and a 3D show. It was a good time. We were jammin' to the tunes all the way home, too.

I have a lot of homework before I can start thinking about summer. I have a 20 page research paper on stem cell research due soon, as well as 2 chapters for human bio, a project for human bio, an advanced algebra test, and two chapters in college grammar. Whew...who knew that the end of junior year would be so difficult!?

We have a bunch of graduation parties to go to this year...just think: next year, the parties will be for MY CLASS! I am almost a SeNiOr!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats kind of scary, actually......

So I had better get going....Brooke is getting antsy to read this. (See, I did mention you...lol) I'll talk to you all later....remember to pray. and sign my guestbook if you have time.

kristinelizabethschamaun

PS: please pray for Emma's family as she earned her wings...also for Cassidy's family as she earned her wings too. Cancer really sucks.

Saturday, April 22, 2006 9:10 AM CDT

**HEY!! It's Sunday afternoon, 4:12 to be exact, and I pretty much just rolled out of bed. Actually, like 3 hours ago, but yea. I'm still SUPER tired. PROM WAS A TOTAL BLAST!! I am sad it's over! :( I updated the photo album and changed the one above....
hope you all enjoy! ;)

PS>>congrats to Joe and Heidi, 2006 Prom King and Queen!! I <3 U guys!

*********************************************************

Well, I woke up just a little too early today and I have a little too much time on my hands this morning. TODAY IS PROM! I don't have anything to do until 11:00 this morning. So I sit here, twiddling my thumbs. I got a spray on tan on Tuesday and again on Thursday. I got my nails done last night. Today I get my hair and makeup done by Lisa and Mary. Then we are meeting at Heidi's for pictures, and then it's off to Olive Garden for dinner. We will then proceed to the school where we will take a kajillion pictures and then dance the night away. I am the "mistress of ceremonies," so I get to announce court. It should be fun. I am anxious to find out who will be the prom king and queen! It should be a long but GOOD day. I am so EXCITED!

I will be sure to post pictures sometime, I just can't guarantee when. I am so busy. I have state judging and a trip to Goodman with the Jazz Band this coming week, AS WELL AS APPOINTMENTS AT THE MIRACLE WHIP. So start up your prayer engines!

I will update the pictures and the journal after prom. Take care! <>

kristinelizabethschamaun

Monday, April 10, 2006 9:10 PM CDT

Just a quick one...

Looks like spring is here to stay! It was 75 degrees out today! I went outside after school and swung my NEW CLUBS! They are pretty nice. Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

My parents are leaving for Kentucky to visit my great-grandma and all our other relatives down there, so hopefully they'll have safe travel. I really hope they have a fun time most of all. While they're gone Mary will stay with us here, and then we are spending the weekend with my grandparents. It should be a fun time for all!

I do have appointments on the 26th, but it might get rescheduled because of state livestock judging. So pray for my scans either way. I really appreciate all those prayers!

I hope you all have a happy Easter. Spend time with your family and celebrate Jesus' ressurection. It sure is a joyous time. My favorite time of year! Mostly, be thankful for everything that you have. Happy Easter!!

Kristin

PS>Keep my friend Luke and his family in your prayers. They lost their home in a fire last weekend, and they are about to lose their mom to the horrid disease that is cancer. It's so terrible. I HATE CANCER. PRAY FOR THEM!

Sunday, April 2, 2006 10:33 AM CDT

Howdy ya'll. Haha, that was me trying to summon my "western side". It didn't work so well, huh? Haha, well I think this update will be rather short.

Spring is here, eh? Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. Bleck. I'm not a big fan of all this rain. Mostly because it makes everything muddy and then doing chores is messy. It also makes for wet feet at the golf course. Oh, well.

Golf is super fun. I am so glad I decided to play. Katie and I have so much fun at practice! We are hoping to hit the course in Cochrane tomorrow. Hopefully we can. I still need to get a set of clubs though. Not Jarod's or anyone elses. MY OWN clubs. Nothing would mean more to me than my own set of clubs. (hint...)

I went to the Section 3 Ag-Tech contest for FFA yesterday at UW-River Falls. Hannah, Jacob, Jordan, and I made up the livestock judging team. We practiced all last week, and yesterday was the competition. We had to judge 2 classes of market swine, crossbred gilts, Hampshire yearling ewes, market lambs, Dorset ewes, Hereford heifers, and two classes of market steers. We went around individually and marked them. We then handed in our results. They took the individual scores, added them up, and came up with our team scores. There was 25-30 teams there, and the ALMA FFA LIVESTOCK TEAM TOOK 2ND PLACE!!

Individually, Jordan got 5th, Hannah and I tied for 8th, and Jacob got 32 out of over 100 individuals! Needless to say, we are all super proud. Our team qualified for state!!!!! That is on April 28th. We'll still need to practice some more yet. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing else is really happening here. I have ACTS on the 8th, prom on the 22nd, APPOINTMENTS ON THE 26TH!, state judging on the 28th, a trip to Goodman, WI, on the 29-30th, and then I'm into May. I'm booked, and April just started yesterday! I like to stay busy though. Its fun!

This is it. That is all I have to say. Strange, huh? It's not even long today. Oh well, that is what rainy days do to me. I'll talk to you later. SIGN MY GUESTBOOK>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kristinelizabethschamaun

***URGENT!!: Please say some extra prayers for my friend Luke and his family. Early Saturday morning, their home caught fire and was destroyed. They have other difficult things besides their house to deal with as well. **PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM.** They are such nice people and never deserved this.

Thursday, March 16, 2006 12:45 AM CST

ToDaY iS a SnOw DaY! I love winter in Wisconsin because just when you need a break from school, winter brings a snowstorm. It's our second snow day this week, though, and I'm not sure that we really needed two. Oh, well, I am NOT complaining. After this snowstorm, however, I will be ready for spring. I love spring. We'll probably have one more day of snow, though, because my parents informed me that robins are supposed to be snowed on three times upon their arrival to the area. Today's snowstorm is our robins' second. I cannot wait for spring. Enough about winter though...

Guess what day tomorrow is! Besides St. Patrick's Day. March 17th is the anniversary of my first chemo. It has been two years since that terrible day. That's a long time. It seems like it just happened, but here it is, the two year anniversary. I was diagnosed on March 10th, had about a kajillion tests done from the 11th-16th, and then, on St. Patty's day, I had my first chemo. What an anniversary to be celebrating.

It kind of brings some mixed emotions, I guess. It's really great to think that it's been two whole years since I was first introduced to cancer. I made it through nine months of chemotherapy, 4 surgeries, many, MANY tests, and I'm still here, with minor changes. I made it through another surgery more recently and the news that the spot on my lung was, indeed, positive for osteogenic sarcoma. Thankfully, no more chemo was needed. I mean, that is A LOT for someone to have to go through. I'm still not so thrilled to have to celebrate this anniversary at all. Who wants to celebrate the fact that two years ago, I was hooked up to Pita (my grandpa's and my name for an IV pole; an acronym actually: Pain In The A$$.) getting my first of many chemo treatments? I certainly don't want to remember, but I will celebrate because two years later, I am still here.

I am still amazed that everyone handled everything so well. My family and friends are still SO amazing. I cannot even tell you about it. The outpouring of support we recieved...I'm still in awe. I, We, cannot thank each and every one of you enough.

Things are returning to normal though. I can't get out of doing household chores anymore because I am tired or pukey. My counts are fine, and I don't have chemo-brain anymore. I have to get up to get my own snacks...my leg is fine and no longer healing. Hmm, I'm not so disappointed to see that get back to normal because it means that I AM NORMAL again. (I have hair, I can walk, I can go to school everyday....the list is quite lengthy, so for your sake I'll stop here..)

On a lighter note, I am busy, busy, busy! Prom, the ACTs, FFA judging, golf, softball stating...I filled up my calendar already! I am really looking forward to staying busy...

I have scans and a consult with the docs on April 26th, so that will be interesting. START TO PRAY NOW. I feel great, so I'm not worried. I get to see Dr. Schives...I met him when I was first diagnosed, and he did my knee surgery. When I first met him, He came in wearing the traditional blue scrubs, a traditional white lab coat, a traditional bandanna thing on his head that all surgeons and people in operating rooms wear, and, get this: rubber boots. They were like mud boots. He had the legs of his pants tucked neatly into them. It was quite a sight. It really was funny.....

Right now, the snowing has let up a little bit, but it looks rather windy outside. Mom and Dad are at work, and Mitch is in Madison watching the State Boy's Basketball Tournament, so it's just me and Jarod at home today. He was given the task to go outside and shovel. I might go outside and help him when he goes and does that. I haven't shoveled in years. *sigh*.......

I do have some prayer requests for my friends in the Caringbridge world: Rachel and Jared. Say an extra prayer or five for them because they could both use a miracle right now.

Also, remember Wes, Kayley, Brooke, Kristina, Luke, Zoey, Josh, Emma, Savannah, Noelle, Caitlin, and Kristina.

This is rather lengthy, so I will be going now. SiGn My GUESTBOOK!!! Please, I would very much appreciate it. Take care...

Peace Out, A-Town....
Kristin

PS: The two year anniversary is, by tradition, the cotton anniversary. I wonder what cancer got me? Or maybe it went with the Modern gift: china? Either one would be cool. I'm not sure what I would do with China though...perhaps I'd give it to my mom.....

Oh, and A MILESTONE has been reached by ME. I played volleyball for the first time in like three years in phy-ed last week. Now don't go freaking out...not real volleyball. It was where we just bumped and set back and forth with a partner (Zeb)...and I loved every minute of it! And in case you didn't hear, I got a hair cut last week. Just got a little trimmed off so that it's a little easier to manage. After prom, though, I am gonna shock you all.

This is really it now...I'm leaving....

Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:00 AM CST

*........MaRcH 9, 2006........*
I guess that I really don't have that much to say right now. I will have something in a few days. Just a brief account of what has been happening lately.

I got my big Social Security paper finished for college grammar, so that in itself was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. As of now, I am completely caught up in school from my surgery. Thank God. I signed up for golf today and I am looking forward to that. A little too much, maybe. I mean, HELLO, Katie and I will be the only girls on the BOYS golf team. I'm not complaining. ;) Solo and ensemble is coming up so we are working hard on that. I am also still the stat person for the softball team, so yay me! I am starting to study for my ACTs now too. I'm getting kind of nervous for that. Prom is right around the corner too, so I am getting excited, even though there is a ToN of work we have to do yet. Oh well, it makes for an interesting year.

I'm still doing well. I think that I am completely healed from my surgery. I'm not even sore hardly at all any more. I went outside after school today (45 degrees!!!) and swung the golf club. That did hurt a little bit. I have appointments coming up on April 26..you can start to pray now if you would like.

By the way, I GOT MY FIRST HAIR CUT YESTERDAY. I actually just got it trimmed to make it a little easier to do in the mornings. I <3 it. YaY!

Here are some people to keep in your prayers: Zeb (having surgery tomorrow), Brooke, Zoey, Wes, Kayley,
Kristina, Josh, Sara...all the kids that have cancer.

Peace out, A-Town....
,.;'*';.,K-dawg,.;'*';.,

PS. American Idol is awesome. Vote 4 Chris and Wil! YaY! Also, SIGN MY GuEsTbOoK!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Well, I just have a few moments before I have to go back to church to pick up Mom and Jarod from Sunday School, so get ready for the world's fastest update.

I have been pretty busy lately being a wrestling fan. Zeb won regionals and sectionals, so he was at the state tournament Thursday-Saturday. On Thursday, we had a send-off pep-rally for him. We don't have wrestling cheerleaders at our school, but they needed someone to lead cheers for him. (*let it be noted that Whitney, Hannah and I have been the ONLY people from school who have followed these boys all season*) So in place of cheerleaders, they picked the "wrestling backers"...aka: Whitney, Hannah, and me. That was an experience. It was great though and we wouldn't have not done it for Zeb.

I had to wait through school on Friday, unable to concentrate because I was too busy wondering how Zeb's first match would go. They announced at the end of the day that he had won by decision. I was SO relieved. He had another match at 7 Friday night, right during our pep-band for the boys basketball game. So after pep-band, us "wrestling backers" literally ran down the hallway to check out the internet to see the results. We waited about 10 minutes and went to check again. We saw that his name had advanced again, and we SCREAMED. This meant that he was in the STATE FINALS, division 3, 130 lbs. We were stoked.

Fast forward to yesterday: I had a forensics meet in Holmen. The whole day Hannah and I could not concentrate because we were so excited for the finals down in Madison. So after the power round, Hannah and I waited for her dad to pick us up so we could head to Madison. We got there and met up w/ some of Zeb's family. We were so excited to be there. It was pretty wild and there was such an energy in the Kohl Center (which, I might add, can boast a FULL HOUSE last night). It was the greatest night. Zeb lost and placed second. It was still a great day. We got home last night...err, I mean this morning at about 2 o'clock am. Needless to say, I am a little tired.

Hannah and I have decided to become wrestling cheerleaders for next year's season so that we can be MaTsIdE for all the matches next year. And we'll get to *miss a couple days of school.

I got up and went to church this morning and now I have to be at school in an hour to help at the 4-H Festival of Arts. Its an all day affair. Then I have homework to catch up on.

This coming up week seems to be looking pretty uneventful so far. I'm sure that that will be changing though. I like to keep busy. Hopefully I'll find something to do...

kristinelizabethschamaun

ps. SIGN THE FREAKIN' GUESTBOOK...please.

Monday, February 6, 2006 8:35 PM CST

*****update, February 22, 2006*****
Well, just a quick update. Um, idk really. Forensics is going well, FFA week is half over, girls basketball is over, things are winding down. Except for school...still going strong! I have more homework than ever! I'm still working on getting caught up from when I had surgery. Hard work in the second semester of your junior year.

I'm the announcer person at prom. I get a special title, but I'm not sure what that title is, but I do know that its kinda stupid. I'll let ya'll know what it is later.

The best week of February is over now. Speedweeks has concluded in Daytona. The race was pretty good. Jamie did well, until like 3 to go. Then he crashed. He was running 1-2-3-4-5 all day. Oh well. Better luck in Cali!

Thats all I really have for today. Do me a favor and PLEASE sign my guestbook. It's been a little quiet in there lately. So just sign it and make this chica happy.

**kristinelizabeth**

Hmm...well I think that a majority of my followers didn't even know that I had appointments today, did you? That's mostly because I forgot to tell you. I'll try to do better with that in the future.

My appointments went well. I had blood drawn and the counts are perfect. I had a full body scan, and that appeared to be normal, so that was GREAT! Um, I had lung x-rays and those were good as well. I just have to remove the steri-strips and band-aids. Eventually. The verdict was to get lung CTs every two months and not to do chemo. That is great...it sounded really good to me! I saw a lot of people today too. I saw Norma, Dr. Ti (thats not really her name; her name is a lot longer than that. 17 letters actually. whoa...) Donna and Julia, Julie, Dr. Rodriguez, Penny, and Kelly. I saw Wes, but didn't get to say hi becuase I was late for my next appointment. We went to Applebee's for lunch, so it was a GREAT day.

As you all know, the Big Band Dance was on Saturday night. From what I hear, many people were skeptical that I would even play (even my parents didn't think I would play..). Well, just so you all know, I proved everyone wrong. I played in every song. So HA!!! I even had solos in Hey Jude and Embraceable You (even if I did "improvise in Embraceable You..). I had a great night. I loved it. YAY!

I am pretty sure that I am going back to school tomorrow. I did absolutely NO school work while I was out because I just felt SO crummy. Hopefully it won't be too hard for me to catch up...right.

Some fun stuff is coming up though. Tons of planning for prom is in the works. I'm co-chairperson for that this year, so things will be getting hectic. Forensics is starting pretty quick. We are going to start studying for the ACTs soon. The basketball seasons are winding down, but that means that softball, golf, and track are starting up soon. I plan on doing golf and doing stats for the softball team...so hopefully that'll work out. We have tons of solo & ensemble music to work out. AND FFA week is coming up VERY SOON! We have lots of planning to do for that yet.

JOB OPENING: I am going to be needing an assisstant for the upcoming months. Inquire in guestbook. Flexible hours, but the pay and benefits are minimal. Apply at your own risk. (i'm just kidding with this bit...)

So yea, this is all that has been lately. I'll update again when I get a spare moment, so it may just be awhile. You'll live. If you get really antsy...SIGN MY GUESTBOOK! I'd love to hear from you!

kristinelizabethschamaun

PS: Keep all the kids who have/have had cancer in your prayers: Zoey, Wes, Josh, Kayley, Brianna, Brooke, Noelle, Luke, Jewell, Leigh, Caitlin, Kristina C., Kristina D., Nolan, and Mike. There are many more...

PSS: Also please pray that I remain in remission. With this last scare, I don't want to have to do it again. SO PRAY!!!!!

Thursday, February 2, 2006 3:00 PM CST

Well, I was sitting around too much today so I figured I should get up and perhaps let you all know what was going on. Are you sure you can handle the following bit of information?.......I'M HOME!!!!!!!!

I came home on Wednesday afternoon. My chest tube was supposed to come out on Monday and then I would come home Tuesday. Then, the docs decided to keep it in until Tuesday and I would come home Wednesday. Again, they decided to keep it in until Wednesday and send me home Thursday. Well, they really did pull it out on Wednesday. Then, I had a chest x-ray. The x-ray looked so much better (fluid wise) that they decided to send me home Wednesday afternoon! I was very excited!

I spent all day today at home. I am on tylenol w/ codeine for the pain, but I haven't needed it every 4 hours which is as often as I can have it. I plan on staying home tomorrow morning because I still don't sleep very well at night, but then I will go to school tomorrow in the afternoon. I want to go tomorrow afternoon just to get the initial "oh my gosh! kristin! how are you!"'s over with. A kazillion people will ask, of this I am sure. I don't mind so much; I like knowing that they care.

The Big Band Dance is on Saturday! I'm excited. My breathing isn't as good as it could be, but I'm thinking its good enough to try and play a little bit. We'll see though. Keep those fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I just thought I should update and let you all know what was going on. Um, yea...so this is it....

Kristin

PS: Thank you to everyone who sent prayers/ cards/ gifts/ money to me and my family. Especially thank you for the prayers. Thank you to my nurses who kept me in somewhat good spirits and for putting up with me. I liked seeing you all again. Thank you to everyone who visited me also! I enjoyed your company more than you know!!

PSS: Please keep all the kids who have or have had cancer in your prayers: Zoey, Wes, Luke, Kayley, Brooke, Josh, Leigh, Kristina C., Kristina D., Caitlin, and EVERYONE!

Thursday, February 2, 2006 3:00 PM CST

Well, I was sitting around too much today so I figured I should get up and perhaps let you all know what was going on. Are you sure you can handle the following bit of information?.......I'M HOME!!!!!!!!

I came home on Wednesday afternoon. My chest tube was supposed to come out on Monday and then I would come home Tuesday. Then, the docs decided to keep it in until Tuesday and I would come home Wednesday. Again, they decided to keep it in until Wednesday and send me home Thursday. Well, they really did pull it out on Wednesday. Then, I had a chest x-ray. The x-ray looked so much better (fluid wise) that they decided to send me home Wednesday afternoon! I was very excited!

I spent all day today at home. I am on tylenol w/ codeine for the pain, but I haven't needed it every 4 hours which is as often as I can have it. I plan on staying home tomorrow morning because I still don't sleep very well at night, but then I will go to school tomorrow in the afternoon. I want to go tomorrow afternoon just to get the initial "oh my gosh! kristin! how are you!"'s over with. A kazillion people will ask, of this I am sure. I don't mind so much; I like knowing that they care.

The Big Band Dance is on Saturday! I'm excited. My breathing is as good as it could be, but I'm thinking its good enough to try and play a little bit. We'll see though. Keep those fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I just thought I should update and let you all know what was going on. Um, yea...so this is it....

Kristin

PS: Thank you to everyone who sent prayers/ cards/ gifts/ money to me and my family. Especially thank you for the prayers. Thank you to my nurses who kept me in somewhat good spirits and for putting up with me. I liked seeing you all again.

PSS: Please keep all the kids who have or have had cancer in your prayers: Zoey, Wes, Luke, Kayley, Brooke, Josh, Leigh, Kristina C., Kristina D., Caitlin, and EVERYONE!

Saturday, January 28, 2006 11:36 AM CST

The good news: surgery went well.

The bad news: it was positive for osteogenic sarcoma.

The good news: NO CHEMO!!!! It was the only spot and it was encapsulated so they are going to monitor me very closely.

Kayley and Liz came up on Friday night. I also met Wes Zitnay Friday afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa are coming today and Heidi is coming today to spend the night! Todd, Tina, Bryce & Derek are coming tomorrow. Anyone else is welcome to come and visit.

I'll add more later!

Kristin

Thursday, January 26, 2006 8:22 PM CST

Hey everyone! Just thought you'd like to know how it went. Surgery went well. I have an epidural that is keeping the pain under control! I'm in room Francis 2-145 and I should be here 4-5 days. Can't eat or drink until tomorrow. It sucks! If you're bored, have no life and have nothing to do, come to Rochester and visit me!! My room # is 507-287-4158, cell #'s 715-461-0392, 715-495-0231. I'll let you know what the spot is when we know more.

nuamahcS nitsirK

Friday, January 20, 2006 2:20 PM CST

Well, we got out of school early today because today was the last day of the first semester! I'm glad that the first semester is finally over. The second semester of school is always more exciting than the first. Prom, golf, softball, the Big Band Dance, trip to Goodman, and the list goes on. Also, for human biology, we are taking a trip to Chippewa Valley Technical College for a 2 hour class/tour thing. We get to see a human cadaver (still not sure how I feel about that) and get to have a medical situation simulator thing with "life like human symptoms". Should be interesting. I am really looking forward to that!! Cheers to the second semester.

Well, I had my check up on Tuesday. One thing that I never told you guys about my check up in October was that the doctors found a spot on my lung. Neither the doctors or the surgeons knew what it was, so we decided to just watch it for a month. I went back to have it checked in November, and it was stable and hadn't grown. Everyone decided to give it the "3-month test" and check it again in January (Tuesday). Well, it has grown a little bit. They still don't know what it is however. The spot has fuzzy edges and is asymetrical and they said that cancer is usually round with very defined edges, so a little hope there I guess. We're praying for infection or scar tissue, but not ruling cancer out. So please pray that it is infection!

I am having surgery on January 26 to have the spot removed. They will go back in on the same incision on my right side. Hopefully I will be out in time to go to the wrestling meet on the 31st, or at least the Big Band Dance on the 4th of February. My goal is to play the Big Band Dance, or at least my solo in "Misty".

INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION!!! Pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray pray!!!

I have a really bad cold right now and it sucks. It just won't go away! It seems to be getting a little better today though, so I don't really know what to think. Oh well...

I guess I really don't know much else, so I'll let you all get back to whatever you're supposed to be doing. Please pray that it is just an infection, and that I can play the BBD. Also, keep Zoey in your prayers. Sign my guestbook too; I'd love to hear from you!!

nuamahcS nitsirK

PS: INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION INFECTION!

January 17, 2006

jaunary 17th, 2006...Soo...maybe the journey isn't quite over yet. Check back in a day or two...and don't flip out just yet...

**SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2006**
Just a quick update. I didn't really feel like updating the entire thing. I don't have a whole lot to say right now. I have scans/check-up on Tuesday 17. All day. Bleck. PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY!! Let everything still be clear!!

Also, say a prayer for Zoey EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. She's about 2 years old and was just diagnosed. She's got a long road ahead of her, so just pray for her EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!

OMG! Before I forget, go to http://wisconsin.wishes.org/stories.html It's so cool! Thanks again Zack!!!

Well that's it for now. I'll update again after Tuesday. SIGN MY GUESTBOOK!!!!!!!!!! please.

*****Wednesday, December 28, 2005: Just stopping in to make a few changes and to put my Christmas present to you guys on here. Look in the photo album for pictures from the Make-A-Wish trip. Finally...I know you said it, too!*****

Merry Christmas!! I hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday!! Today we have my mom's side of the family at our house. Tomorrow, we will have my dad's side of the family at our house. It's a good holiday.

My favorite present so far is that fact that along with Christmas, the end of December also brings one year of being in REMISSION. Please pray that 2006 will put another year of REMISSION behind me. I really only need 4 more years of remission and then I will be considered cured. So by 2009...pray, pray, pray!!!

During this holiday season, please pray for all the other kids and their families who are battling cancer/have battled cancer. I hope that they all have a good holiday season too!

I am really glad that we have a week of school off. I finally get to sleep in!! Wh-hoo!!! I do have some homework that I have to finish up before the 2nd. Bleck.

I am very excited for New Years! I get to go to Preston, Minnesota to hang out the the Camp Jornada gang. I am very excited to see Liz and Brooke and everyone again! I CANNOT WAIT!!

I just wanted to update quickly to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Be safe! Thank you, everyone, for all the support you have given me in the last two years. I appreciate it.

Kristin

PS: THE BEST GIFT YOU ALL COULD GIVE ME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS A GOOD OL' NOTE IN THE GUESTBOOK!!! please!!

PSS: CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS ENTRIES AND CHECK OUT MY MAKE-A-WISH TRIP. IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!!

PSS: I found this story on another site:

Believe in MIRACLES!!

Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa at Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap, holding a picture of a little girl. "Who is this?" asked Santa, smiling. "Your friend? Your sister?" "Yes, Santa," he replied. "My sister, Sarah, who is very sick," he said sadly. Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "She wanted to come
with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!" the child exclaimed. "She misses you," he added softly.

Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy's face, asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted. "What is it?" Santa asked warmly. "Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa but ..." the old woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's elves to collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors. "The girl in the photograph ... my granddaughter .. well, you see .. she has leukemia and isn't expected to make it even through the holidays," she said through tear-filled eyes. "Is there any way, Santa ... any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That's all she's asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa."

Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew what he had to do. "What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying," he thought with a sinking heart, "this is the least I can do."

When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to Children's
Hospital. "Why?" Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face. Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother earlier that day. "C'mon .... I'll take you there," Rick said softly.

Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in the hall. Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and saw little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met earlier that day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood by the bed, gently pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead. And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with weary, sad look on her face. They were talking quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family, and their love and concern for Sarah. Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!"

"Santa!" shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IV tubes in tact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old -- gazed up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room.

As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering "thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes. Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good girl that year.

As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels. "Oh, yes, Santa ... I do!" she exclaimed. "Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you, "he said. Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly, "Silent Night, Holy Night ... all is calm, all is bright." The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all. When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah's frail, small hands in his own.

"Now, Sarah," he said authoritatively, "you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!" He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to
give her the greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of HOPE. "Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room. Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah's mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa's side to thank him. "My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. "This is the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and hugged him.

One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap. "Hi, Santa! Remember me?!" "Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a "good" Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the "only" child in the world at that moment. "You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy -- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before. He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines
smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.

That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed --and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "Thank you, Father. 'Tis a very, Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 9, 2005 7:41 PM CST

What's happening out there!? Haha, not a lot here. I'm loving the snow! Hating the coldness! Thank goodness it's supposed to warm up soon! Driving sucks in the winter when you have to get into a freezing cold car and shiver all the way home! Oh well...

Hmm..let's see here...um, hunting was kind of a flop this year. My uncle got a couple on the last day of the season and when we added those plus the two my dad and uncle got in zone-t, we have a total of 4. Wh-hoo. Oh well, there is still the late zone-t, and I am most certainly NOT going. IT'S FREEZING and I am NOT crazy.

No scans or anything until January. That's exciting I guess. I got a card in the mail from Dr. Anderson yesterday and that was cool. He likes it in Texas. He gets to kayak/canoe all year round. That was his activity at Camp Jornada, so yea. Ha, I have been getting a lot of extra credit points in Human Biology because I have so many medical things to share with the class. So far, I have told the class about my knee replacement surgery (we were watching a movie of an acutal surgery: I thought it was the coolest thing I have ever seen, but they all thought it was disgusting!) I have shown my port-a-cath, brought in some left over cans of my osmolite (feeding tube cocktail), and shown a CD of one of my lung CT scans. My teacher thinks that everything I bring in is the coolest ever. If I'm getting extra credit for it, I don't mind one bit!!

Ugh, basketball is underway. It's not my favorite sport at all. Girl's Basketball is boring because I can't play. It was never really my favorite sport but now I kind of miss it I guess. I still do stats for them on away games sometimes, if I'm not busy. Me and Casey and Alex take turns.

Boy's Basketball is a very different story. 7th grade: Jarod's team is having a very rocky season. He's enjoying it though. They have won a few games. He has a tournament at CFC tomorrow. HIGH SCHOOL: Mitch started the season with 2 quarters of JV playing time and 2 quarters of varsity playing time. In the second game, he had 1 quarter of JV and 3 quarters of varsity. In the 3rd game, he STARTED VARSITY!! That is very exciting getting to cheer on my brother. I guess I'm kind of proud. He worked hard to get to where he is I guess.

Whenever the boys have an away game, they are required to wear button-down shirts and a tie. I actually know how to tie a tie, so some of the guys find me to tie their ties, and it's kind of funny! And then I found 20 dollars. (Finding 20$ makes any story a good story..lol)

I got my grades for the frist quarter, and I had all As and Bs. I made the "honors" honor roll. My goal for the 2nd quarter is to make the "high honors" honor roll. I have been working really hard this quarter. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

OOH! On New Year's Eve, I get to hang out with the Camp Jornada Kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(hopefully) My mom and I still have to discuss it, but hopefully we'll be there! I cannot wait!

Make sure to check out the MAW trip details in the previous journal entries! THANK YOU AMY, DONNA, JaMiE, UAW-GM, AND MAKE-A-WISH!! I still don't have any pictures of the trip up yet, give me time people! "If you wait, they will come."

Anyway, thanks for stopping by! MAKE SURE YOU SIGN MY GUESTBOOK!!! I'd really appreciate it! I hope that everyone has a wonderful and SAFE holiday season!! Take care...

Kristin

PS: Prayer requests:
Grandma Rhodes, Brianna, Trisha, Emma, Rachel, Nolan, Caitlin, Kristina D., Mike, Kurt, Chris, Hannah, Kristina C., Leigh, Jessica, Nikki, Savannah, Noelle, Trisha, Liz, Haley, Justin, Brittany, Kayley, Jewell, Lukie, Brooke, Carly, Amelia, Graydon, Josh, Sara, the ENITRE CAMP J. GANG, and everyone still fighting, who have fought, and who were forever cured*.


PSS: This is my favorite song:

Skin, by Rascal Flatts

*Sara Beth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well, since the day that she fell
And the bruise just won't go away

So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
Till the nurse with the smile stands in the door
And says will you please come with me

Sara Beth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white, something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you

Six chances in ten, it won't come back again
With the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved, it's the strongest there is
And I think that we caught it in time
And Sara Beth closes her eyes.

And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair

Sara Beth is scared to death
As she sits holding her mom
Cause it would be a mistake for someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom

For just this morning, right here on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
And Sara Beth closes her eyes

And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair

It's quarter to seven, that boy's at the door
And her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap
They all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had all been
Softly she touches just skin

And they go dancing, around and around
Without any cares
And her very first true love is holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared**

Wasn't it awesome!? All of my "cancer comrades" and I think that its the most amazing song ever, and the music videa is pretty amazing, too! This song just about sums it all up...

Saturday, November 19, 2005 8:08 PM CST

It's my birthday! The big 1-7! WH-HOO!!!! I can finally get myself in to R-rated movies...legally!! This is very exciting!

So, I spent my birthday hunting. We're talking up at 4:30 AM, at my grandparent's house by 5:30, in the woods by 6:30. I saw absolutely nothing all day. I did see a lot of squirrels, but that is IT! Oh well, there's always tomorrow. The only person who shot at all today was Mitch, but he must not have hit her very well because when they went to track her, they couldn't find her. We'll continue the search in the morning. I really love hunting, even if I do have to sit on stumps and get a wet butt...

My appointments went well and I don't have to go back to Miracle Whip (get it? its a brand of mayo?) for two months. Thats always good I guess...I really can't wait to go back there...I <3 Mayo!

Well, the Rivermen ended up winning at level 3 against Plum City, so we played level 4 against Gilman last Saturday. The game was delayed an hour because of lightning, and when it finally started, we were really evenly matched. But a couple of mistakes put Gilman up by 2 touchdowns in the 4th. We ended up losing in level 4, tying the school record for getting this far in the playoffs! CoNgRaTs On A gReAt SeAsOn, RiVeRmEn!! Basketball and wrestling are starting up now...so Go RiVeRmEn Go!!

Details from my Make-A-Wish trip are in the Previous Journal Entries part of the page. Definately check them out. Sorry I don't have pictures of that up yet..they should be up sometime this week; I'll let ya'll know. (THANK YOU AMY AND DONNA AND JAMIE AND UAW-GM AND MAKE-A-WISH! have I said that enough? ha..its not possible to say it enough!!)

Uh, I guess that's all I really know right now. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Take care everyone!

Until Next Time...
Kristin, 17 y.o.

PS: I love the concept of being 17!!

PSS: Happy Birthday Joe! We (me and Joe) have the exact same birthday! Wh-Hoo!!

PSSS: Happy Birthday on the 22nd to my cousin Matt! He's turning the big 20! Holy cow!! We (me and Matt) shared a birthday cake from my Grandma tonite! It was yummy and had a hunter with a green dog on it..lol...

PSSSS: This is my favorite song ever:

Skin, by Rascal Flatts

*Sara Beth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well, since the day that she fell
And the bruise just won't go away

So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
And flips through an old magazine
Till the nurse with the smile stands in the door
And says will you please come with me

Sara Beth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white, something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you

Six chances in ten, it won't come back again
With the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved, it's the strongest there is
And I think that we caught it in time
And Sara Beth closes her eyes.

And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair

Sara Beth is scared to death
As she sits holding her mom
Cause it would be a mistake for someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom

For just this morning, right here on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny
And Sara Beth closes her eyes

And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And a soft wind is blowing her hair

It's quarter to seven, that boy's at the door
And her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap
They all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had all been
Softly she touches just skin

And they go dancing, around and around
Without any cares
And her very first true love is holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared**

Wasn't it awesome!? All of my "cancer comrades" and I think that its the most amazing song ever, and I have yet to see the music video, but I hear that thats pretty amazing, too! This song just about sums it all up...

Thursday, November 3, 2005 6:04 PM CST

Hey all! Sorry it's taken me so long to update...I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY!!! The end of the quarter is coming up, so everything has to be finalized and finished before tomorrow. Argh....

So, I know you are all wondering about the Make-A-Wish trip, right? Well, here's a day-by-day...

Wednesday: Woke up early because the LiMo picked us up at 5:45 am. Thats right, I said LiMo! It was a long ride. We went to the airport, I got stopped in security because my knee set off the metal detectors. Talk about embarassing... Got to Charlotte, NC at about noon. Got our rental car, or van rather, and then went to the hotel. After we got settled, we met the coolest person on the face of this earth, Amy Laws, NASCAR Make-A-Wish Coordinator. She gave us our schedules, tickets, and VIP(!) parking passes. We then went to Bass Pro Shops (per Jarod and Mitch and Dad's request). After that, we had a meal paid for us at the Texas Roadhouse Bar and Grill. That was some good food....

Thursday: Had to be at the track to tour the Garages at 11:00. While touring the Garages, which was a TOTAL BLAST, we saw several drivers/owners/crew chiefs/important people and got some of their autographs. This list includes: Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Casey Mears, Mike Helton, Robby Loomis, Richard Childress, Jeff Green, and many others. The Garage Tour was one of my favorite parts of the trip. After the tour, we stood outside the entrance to the garages to see who we could see. While standing there, we realized that they were shooting a MOVIE!! The movie is called High, Wide, and Handsome, starring Will Ferrell. After they shot their scene, with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the director of the movie introduced us to Will. We talked a little and I got his autograph. That was exciting!! After that, we left the garage to find something to eat. We then watched qualifying, the crash cars, and the legend cars. After the long day, we went back to the hotel....

Friday: On Friday, we got the morning off, but we went to the track to do some souvenir shopping. We got a lot of fun things like hats, shirts, cars, etc. Then we went to the Busch Race. I dont remember much about this race because I was getting really excited for the next day... I do remember that Jamie finished alright...

SATURDAY: THE BIG DAY!! We went to the track at 10:30 because we did a charity walk around the track for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The track is a mile and a half, so afterwards, we were more than a little tired. We went back to the van and rested. At 2:30, we were down at the entrance to the infield to meet Amy and Donna, the make a wish ladies. I was so pumped. When Amy and Donna showed up, Amy asked me, "How loud do you think you can say 'Gentlemen, start your engines?'" The previous day, we had met some of the BIG IMPORTANT guys from UAW-GM, the people who had sponsored my wish and the sponsors of the race. It just so happened that the guy we introduced our selves to was the guy who was supposed to say the most famous words in motorsports. So, trying to be a good guy, he decided he wanted the 5 make a wish kids to say them. Oh. My. Gosh. I was soooOOO excited. After they told me that, we walked to the infield. Then, we walked to the motorcoaches where I was supposed to meet Jamie McMurray. We were a little early, so we had to wait a bit. Finally, Amy said that it was time to go. This is when the butterflies really hit me. Jason, Jamie's PR guy, met us at the gate and took us to his motorcoach. It was huge and awesome. There was a Harley and a BMW sitting outside it. Double awesome. Jamie came out of the motorcoach. He was the nicest guy ever and I don't think that I can thank him enough. After talking for awhile, I gave him my numbers: email address, website, home address, home phone, cell phone, and school phone, just in case of emergencies. I gave him the Make-A-Wish star, and yes, the bag that went with it. I also gave him my lucky penny. He taped the Lucky Penny to the inside of his car. After meeting with him, Amy told us that she had some bad news. NASCAR couldn't get all the credentials they needed to get the MAW kids to say the starting words, so we didn't get to say "Gentlemen, Start your Engines." It was okay though. The guy was a little angry about it, so he announced our names over the loudspeakers at before he said it. It was awesome! My name was said over the same speakers that said Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Elliot Sadler, Jamie McMurray, and so many more names.
Because of my lucky penny (okay, maybe not) he ran really well all night. We're talking top 5 most of the time. Then, Michael (darn it) Waltrip blew a tire and spun himself and Jamie out of the race. Oh, well, it was so fun anyway....

Sunday: We slept in and then went to Bob Evans (like Perkins) for breakfast. We went to NASCAR Speekpark for the rest of the day (we had passes). They had mini-golf, go-kart/bumper car things, and a NASCAR shop. It was a pretty cool place. This is the place where I earned the nickname Blocking Queen as well as the Cut-off Queen. It was a BLAST!!

Monday: We checked out of the hotel and then went and got some pictures developed so that I could show everyone on Tuesday. We flew back and the LiMo guy met us at baggage claim. We got home at about 9 o'clock.

The Make-A-Wish trip was the best experience in my life. It couldn't have been any better. We were treated like stars. It was all that I imagined and more. I am eternally grateful to Make-A-Wish, the two wish granters, the LiMo people, Amy and Donna, Jamie McMurray for taking time out of his schedule on RACE DAY to meet with me, UAW-GM for sponsoring the trip, and every one else I have forgotten to thank. IT WAS PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Um, since then, all we really do now is go to football games. They are playing in Level 3 of the playoffs tomorrow night against Plum City. Go RiVeRmEn!!! Mitch is loving every second of it...

Jarod has gone hunting for the very first time (T-Zone). They were unsuccessful, but he had fun. They picked the wrong day though; it rained. Jarod also started junior high basketball. They had a game on Tuesday, and they lost. They also had a game tonight, but they aren't home yet. He's loving every minute of it...

On Saturday, I'm having a birthday party. I turn 17 on November 19, which also happens to be the opening morning of the gun deer season, so mom figured that that wasn't a good day to have it. The only option was to have it earlier, so the 5th is the day. I'm excited I guess...:)

Thats all I really know..I have some more appointments at Miracle Whip on November 15, so !!PRAY HARDER THAN YOU EVER HAVE BEFORE THAT EVERYTHING IS STILL LOOKING GOOD!! At the end of November, it'll have been one year that I've been of of chemo treatments. PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!

Until next time..
K to the ristin

PS>>> IF I DON'T START SEEING SOME GUESTBOOK SIGNINGS, I'M GOING TO BE VERY ANGRY!! Haha, I'm just kidding, but please do sign the guestbook as I love to hear from all of you...!

Friday, October 28, 2005 10:31 PM CDT

Sorry I haven't updated yet! I've been busy catching up on homework and going to football games. My Make-A-Wish trip was awesome! (Thanks Amy, Donna, and JaMiE!!) I'll update more about that later.

GoOd LuCk ToMoRrOw RIVERMEN!! I LUV OUR BOYS!!!!

I'll update on Sunday possibly or Monday for sure with details about the trip!

Take care...

Kristin

Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:23 PM CDT

******OCTOBER 10, 2005 UPDATE!******
Just a quick note to say that tomorrow is mom's birthday, so leave her a note in the guestbook! Also, I'm still very excited for the trip! PRAY FOR SAFE FLIGHTS AND THAT MOM DOESN'T GET TOO UPSET ON THE FLIGHT! (she hates flying!) I'll update when we get back: watch the race on SATURDAY NIGHT!! Laters...

Whit: if you check this out, look down the page in my update from the 8th!!

PS> Do you know what really rocks my socks right now!? Playing a harmonized note in concert band during our warm up! It makes me smile EVERY STINKIN' TIME! I <3 harmonized notes!!

PS again> GoOd LuCk On FrIdAy NiGhT aGaInSt BlAiR tAyLoR gUyS! I'lL bE tHiNkInG aBoUt ThE gAmE aLl NiGhT!!

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******OCTOBER 8, 2005 UPDATE!******
The football team played CFC last nite and kicked their butts! Way to go guys! We're still undefeated at 7-0!! Wh-hoo!! HaPpY bIrThDaY cLiNt (7th: 18) AnD zEb (8th: 17)!!

The make a wish people came this afternoon and gave us some details about our trip! Sounds like it should be fun! I'M SOO EXCITED!! I'll update again after the trip! Pray for safe flights!!!!

**(October 14: HaPpY bIrThDaY wHiTnEy! Sorry I'm missing it!)**

***********************************************************

Well..apparently NO ONE looks at this page anymore! SIGN THE GUESTBOOK!! please? Haha..its fun to get messages in there...all you have to do is type hi!

Last week was Homecoming. It was really fun. The entire week we had dress up days. They were very fun to get dressed up for. Thursday night, the volleyball team had their homecoming game against CFC. We lost, but it was alright. After the game, we had coronation of the king and queen. Alex and Jhad got it. That was really cool. Then on Friday, we had the Homecoming games! There was the egg drop, shaving cream pile, tug of war, toothpick relay, and make up. Those were all really fun. Then, we had lip-syncs! THE JUNIORS KICKED BUTT!! That was the only thing the juniors won all week!! The football team played AC-Lincoln, and of course we kicked their butts! I had to march in the 1/2 time show; we had a 70s theme and that was cool. After that, Heidi, Brittany, Whitney, Sarah, Alyssa, and I came back to my house to get ready for the dance. We all had dates this year, so that was really fun. I went with Zeb. The dance was super fun and super short! I can't wait until next year! I'll try some pictures in the photo album, but if they're huge I'm gonna take them out.

On Tuesday of last week, Denise, Matt, and I went to the Section 3 Sectional Leadership Workshop in Independence for FFA. We had 3 sessions and got to meet our state FFA officers. It was a BLAST! Right now, we are planning our Food for America program to be held next week as well as our trip to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky! Should be a good time!!

So, our FOOTBALL team is 6-0!!!!!!!!!! WH-HOO!!!!!!! I'm so excited that they are doing soo well! It's really fun doing stats with Andrea. This Friday, we play CFC, and we should finally be able to beat them! Lookin' forward to that one! I LOVE OUR BOYS!! KEEP IT UP RIVERMEN!!!!!!!!!!

My Make-A-Wish trip is coming up! We leave a week from tomorrow!! I'm so excited. So far, I don't know anything about the trip except the dates we leave and get back! Ashley from MAW is coming this weekend to give us some more details..I think. Should be a good time!!

Mitch is having a good time playing football. The JV finally won a game last night. They are 1-4. He's also been bow-hunting a little bit here and there. He's missed a couple of times, but that goes with the territory.

Jarod is still having a good time managing the football team! I still can't figure that one out... He is still really excited to go hunting so he can get that big buck and BS with the family all weekend! Good times...

Thats about all I know as of right now. I will not update again until after my MAW trip to North Carolina! Take care everyone and pray for everyone still fighting cancer and those that are in remission: Emma, Rachel, Nolan, Caitlin, Kristina D., Mike, Ashley, Kurt, *Chris*, Hannah, Kristina C., Leigh, Jessie, Nikki, Savannah, Noelle, Trisha, Liz, *Haley*, Justin, Kayley, Jewell, Lukey, Brooke, Carly, Amelia, Josh, Brianna, Sara, and myself. LiVeStRoNg!!!*

Kristin

PS. Also PRAY for safe flights for me and my family on our trip to NC and that my scans on the 20th of October are all good and clear! SIGN THAT GUESTBOOK NOW!!

Sunday, September 11, 2005 8:26 PM CDT

UpDaTe: SuNdAy, SePtEmBeR 25, 2005
Tomorrow is the official start of HoMeCoMiNg WeEk at school. The Rivermen football team remains undefeated at 5-0!>KeEp It Up GuYs!! Maybe I'll update after homecoming ONLY if I start to see a few more guestbook-signings! >>How's that for incentive!?<<

<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>

Okay, so I already know what you all are thinking! "She's finally updating her site!" I know that it has been awhile, but I have been very busy!

School started on the 1st, and I love being a junior! I'm finally going back to school full time without having to miss a week here and a week there for chemo. I never in a million years would have thought that I would look forward to going to school. Um, I've got my schedule memorized: phy-ed, human biology, study hall, lunch, band, and chemistry on A-days and speech, advanced algebra, study hall, lunch, band , and mass media on B-days. I really don't even hate any of my classes this year. We've already had two pep-bands and I must say that we sounded pretty darn good. We've started working on our half time show for homecoming: I really like the music. We're going with a '70s theme. We're playing "Play that Funky Music", "Brick House", and "25 or 6 to 4". Its really fun. In human bio, we dissected a fetal pig! It was really awesome! I already gave a speech in speech, and thats about it. Oh, and Alex Brakke is training me in to take stats for the football team! That's REALLY fun. So this year should be a BlAsT!!!

For Make-A-Wish, we are leaving on the 12th of October and returning on the 17th of October. I'm really looking forward to meeting Jamie McMurray! We don't know anything else about the trip. Jamie didn't quite make it into the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but that's okay. Maybe that means he'll have more time to talk to me while we're down there, haha... Thank you to Mike and Tanya for bringing me that picture of Jamie from Bristol! I love it!

Lets see here...OH MY GOSH< I almost forgot! Football is going really well for Mitch..the VaRsItY is 3-0!! WOOHOO!! JV is 0-1, but they have another game tomorrow. Mitch sees a little varsity time on special teams, and has had some assisted tackles, so thats pretty cool. He's the QB on JV, and he does really well. He seems to connect with Zeb real well, once for a touchdown, once for a long pass, but then was called back because of someone on our team holding. I'd even go so far as to say that I'm proud of him, but that may be pushing it just a little bit. Good Luck tomorrow JV!!!

Um, Jarod is a manager for the football team. I don't know...he seems to like having sweaty towels and waterbottles thrown at him by big, sweaty football players. Whatever floats his boat, I guess. He's really excited for hunting to start. It his first year, so I think he's looking forward to it...I'm a little nervous to be in the same woods with him though...haha...

By the way, please, PLEASE pray for Brianna!! She has relapsed and it's not looking good for her. I met her in the hospital and she's just a year older than I am. It should not be like this. I just saw her at camp and she was fine. She found out she relapsed 10 days after camp. PRAY FOR HER PLEASE!!

Congrats to Kayley! She's done with chemo!!! Woohoo!

Other than that, I don't really know anything else. Just thought that I should check in with ya'll. Take care and LiVeStRoNg!!!

>>k-ristin<<

PS: *Camp JoRnAdA* stuff is in "past journal entries" and ther are pictures in the photo album. Check them out!! Sign my guestbook while you're at it...I'd love to hear from ya!

Saturday, August 20, 2005 7:00 PM CDT

My checkup in Rochester went fine today. I got Donna's favorite quote: "Everything is boring. Boring is good." WOOHOO! Also, CONGRATULATIONS TO KAYLEY! She is in the hospital for her LAST CHEMO!!!!!! Keep it up! You rock girl!!

THERE ARE PICTURES FROM **CaMp JoRnAdA** IN THE PHOTO ALBUM!! FOR MORE PICS, GO TO www.campjornada.com!!

**********AUGUST 26th************
Hey guys, just thought that I'd update quickly tonight to let you all know that the ALMA RIVERMEN WoN their football game tonight against the Pepin Lakers! It was so exciting to see everyone so pumped up! WOO HOO>congratulations guys! In pure school spirit, I've changed the background/words to our school colors for the 2005-06 school year! GO RIVERMEN!!!!!!!!!Mucho love..

**********AUGUST 24th************
Are you guys sick of me doing this. Well, too bad! Just wanted to let you know that I am going to Rochester for scans/check-up on Monday, August 29th, so let the prayers fly. I expect everything to be well because I'm feeling fine! I'll go now. Take care and mucho love!

**********AUGUST 22nd************
Today we found out about my wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I get to go to a NASCAR race to meet Jamie McMurray. We are going to the UAW-GM Quality 500 in North Carolina. It's a night race. I'm soo excited!! Mitch'll have to miss a football game, but I think that it'll be worth it! We don't know the details yet, so I'll keep you posted as we find out more...

******************************************************************************

Well, I got back from CaMp JoRnAdA yesterday at around 4 bells. Camp was soo much fun so I'll give you a day-by-day. mmmkay?

Sunday: We got there and got settled in our cabins/lodges. Then, some jugglers came and did a performance for us. They juggled clubs, giant clubs, knives, and flaming torches. It was really cool. Then, we had dinner. Then, after dinner we had a circus type thingy in the parking lot. There were blow up things like a velcro wall and a bounce house. There was cotton candy and icees. It was a lot of fun.

Monday: We went on a nautre hike/photography session and then had a hospice group. It was just a session to talk with other "patients 16 ." We talked about everything we wanted to. Then I went to lunch followed by arts and crafts. Then we had dinner. After dinner we got a HoT aIr BaLlOon ride. We went about 150 feet in the air and that was uber fun!!! After the hot air balloon ride, we had a dance. I stayed up until 1:45 am.

Tuesday: I did more arts and crafts and then had another hospice group. Then, we had lunch followed by fishing. We just hung out after that until dinner. After dinner, we had the Southeast Minnesota Classic Car Club come to camp. We got to ride in some of the classic cars. I rode in an old El Camino, an old Mustang and a Camaro. In the Camaro, we did like 6 burn-outs and we went like 90 mph. It was so much fun! But then the cops came and shut us down because they thought we were doing street races. Haha, right. Street races with 3-4 KIDS in the car, uh huh. I stayed up until 1:30 am.

Wednesday: We went to a water park in Red Wing from 9-4. It was a lot of fun. Me and Liz went swimming and down the water slide together. Then, I just hing out with Jewell after that. When we got back to camp, we had dinner and then watched Napoleon Dynamite. I stayed up until 2:00 am.

Thursday: We finally got to sleep in! We had free time until lunch and then we had a wagon ride to the petting zoo. On the way back from the petting zoo, the people who couldn't fit into the wagon (older campers and counselors) sprayed us with silly string and drenched us in water. It really wasn't fun at all because it wasn't very warm out. Then we had olympics (egg toss, find the gummi bear at the bottom of a pile of whipped cream, and wrapping counselors in toilet paper, and pass the oily watermelon around a circle), then, threw eggs at the Anger Wall. Then, we all got a plastic shopping bag full of Jell-o. JELL-O WAR!! we threw Jell-o and whatever else you wanted at people. I had a ton of Jell-O thrown at me and a few eggs cracked on me. I was sticky afterwards. We got cleaned up and took showers and had dinner. Then, we had the awards. I got the "I can't do George Washington with my hair!" award. That was pretty fun. I stayed up until 4:30 am!

Friday: We got up and had breakfast. Then, we packed. We all took pictures together. Then, we went to the chapel and the owner of the ranch thing we stayed at (Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch) and his daughters did a singing thing for us and Camp Jornada presented him with a check for the new lodge they are building. Then, my parents came for lunch(Buffalo Burgers!). Then, we went back to the chapel for closing ceremonies. People went up and said what their favorite part of camp was and we had a slide show of pictures that photo guy Bob had taken throughout the week.

I had such an awesome time at camp. If anyone from camp checks this out, sign the guestbook. I miss everyone: the entire adult staff, Dr. Anderson, Elizzzzabeth, Emily, Laurel, Sarah, Officer Cayla with a C, Katy, Valerie, Lindsey, Marissa, Sara, Jewell, Kally, Jessica, Kayley, Brianna, Stacey, Carly, and LUKEY!!! I hope I get to see you all again next year!! I can' wait! I LOVE CAMP JORNADA!!!!!!

On our way home from camp, we stopped in Rochester to go shopping at JC Penney's. I got some new school clothes. Then, when we got to Alma, we had to stop at school for Mitch's first ever high school football scrimmage. He did pretty well. He is the JV quarterback, and he gets to play special teams on Varsity. I'm so excited for him. So I'm pumped for the football season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was just a hang out with Mitch at home day. Mitch shot a woodchuck while they were gone. (woohoo, right?) Mom and Dad went with Jarod to his Sportsman's Day for Hunter's safety. He got to go to the Rod and Gun club and shoot some guns and stuff. He shot 5 out of 9 clay pigeons while he was trap shooting. I'm excited for him for that one! He said that he had a good time, but he's a little nervous for the test on Monday. It's so wierd that he already gets to hunt this year!

School starts pretty soon, but I think we're all ready to go back. I guess I'm excited. This'll be my first "normal school year" free of treatments and fevers and surgeries and everything. Just an occasional check up for me now! Yay! That's uber exciting!!

I don't think that I've ever written this much in my journal before, so I'm gonna go now. SIGN MY GUESTBOOK!!! WooHoo. Take care everybody!!!

*--k-ri-s-ti-n--*

Wednesday, August 3, 2005 12:55 AM CDT

AUGUST 13TH, 2005: Just thought I'd check in. I don't have anything to create and entire new update, so this is it. Tonight, we are going to the fireworks in Fountain City for Fountain City Days. We go up to my Uncle Bruce's house; he's got the perfect view up there!! That should be super fun! Then, tomorrow, I leave for CaMp JoRnAdA!!! I'm so excited!! I'll be at camp until the 19th, so I'll update afterwards. School's coming up: I'M ALMOST A JUNIOR!!! Super great!! Take care everyone!!

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AUGUST 7TH, 2005: First of all, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you that one of the friends I have made through the internet has passed away from this terrible disease. She was around 25 years old and had stomach cancer. She had recently taken a turn for the worse, and was not able to fight any longer. My hope is that she is now a cancer angel and will give the researchers/doctors a push in the right direction to finding that cure. I hope they find it soon. Please say an extra prayer for her family and friends.

The fair was this weekend. We took Squirt up on Thursday and he weighed 107 pounds. During the sheep show, I got to show one of John's ewe lambs because he had two breeding stock in the 1st blue category. Then I showed Squirt and got a 2nd red. It was alright. Then, during SENIOR showmanship, with people like Mark who have been showing for, like, EVER, I didn't do so well, but that was because Squirt wasn't cooperating so well either. But it was fun and I plan on doing it again next year. At the meat animal sale/auction, I sold Squirt for $2.00/lb. to Hunger Logging. So on Tuesday, we are going up to Gunderson's Meat place thing to see the carcass show. It should be interesting. A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE SCHAFFNERS AND SCHMIDTKNECHTS FOR HELPING ME SO MUCH, AND TO HUNGER LOGGING FOR BUYING MY LAMB. It was fun and I can't wait until next year!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So it has been a little while since my last update, but I seriously have a really good excuse! I was in Ralph, Michigan on my State-to-State Exchange Trip! It was so much fun I don't think I can put it into words. But I suppose that I'll have to try for your sake, huh? I'll just pick out the important stuff, I guess.

Well, we had a flight out of Minneapolis on the 27th. The plane was tiny; like 32 seats maybe. We flew to Milwaukee and then changed planes; this plane was smaller yet: 22 seats maybe. We flew into Iron Mountain, Michigan and met our host families. Kali (from Pepin) and I stayed with the Cootwares. They live in Ralph, Michigan, town of 63 people of which 57 are registered voters. Woohoo, big town.

While we were there, we walked a LOT. First, we walked from a neighbor's house to the church. The parents were going to visit for a few minutes and then were going to pick us up on the way. They visited for longer than a few mintues. We walked 2.5 miles to the church. Uphill. In wet flip-flops. Then, the next day, we went to Piers' Gorge. We walked about 3/4 of a mile to a spot were we stopped to swim. that was pretty fun. Then, the next day, we went to Bergland to spend the last nite at the Walleye Lodge. After we were settled in the Lodge, we went to the Porcupine Mountains. We walked like 6 miles in the park. It was really fun, actually. Then, we went through Houghton and Ishpeming to Marquette where we went to Art on the Rocks. That was pretty cool. It was like the Stockholm Art Fair.

We flew out of Marquette at 6:00 Monday morning; this plane had about 32 seats. We flew into Detroit and then from Detroit to Minneapolis on a normal sized plane. Then we drove back to Ellsworth and then back to my house.

Overall, the trip was fun. I would definately do it again. I can't wait until they come here next year! I already am starting to miss everyone there: John, Cheryl, Mike, Anne, and Ronnie. I felt right at home with them, so I couldn't complain at all!

Since I've been home, I have been working non-stop on my fair projects. My sheep is almost ready to go, but my other projects aren't really getting anywhere, but that's okay with me. My sheep was my first priority. I am so excited for the fair. I wouldn't be able to be taking my sheep to the fair if it wasn't for the Schaffners and the Schmidtknechts. They helped me out a lot with Squirt, so THANK YOU!

Then, I believe that it is 10 days until CAMP JORNADA! I am very excited, but also kind of in trouble. I don't have any circus attire. The theme is a circus, but I don't have anything circusy, so help! Haha, it should be very fun!

Other than that, I don't know anything else. Have a good week/weekend and try to come out to the fair and see my sheep! He'd appreciate it! Haha... Take care!

-k-ri-s-ti-n-

Sunday, July 17, 2005 12:13 AM CDT

*****UPDATE July 24, 2005: Just an update to tell you all that LANCE ARMSTRONG WON HIS 7TH STRAIGHT TOUR DE FRANCE!!!! WOO HOOO!!*****

*****UPDATE July 19, 2005: I had an appointment in Wabasha and e verything is still looking good! What a sigh of relief! And GOOD LUCK to our high school boys! They play round 2 in the tournament tonite in Arcadia, and I"m going to cheer them on! Oh, and one other thing: Watch ESPN for updates on the Tour De France. Keep an eye on Lance Armstrong. He is SO going to win his 7th straight and I'll be excited when he does!*****

Hey everyone! Sorry to keep you waiting for an update, but man! Have I been busy!!!Um, well, I don't even know where to begin. I've been keeping busy, but not a whole lot new has actually been going on...

I haven't had any tests or scans or anything new to update you on, but I can tell you that I have been feeling really well lately and I don't really have any complaints. I have banged my knee a couple times. Once when I was getting into the truck and once when I was getting up from the computer. It hurts like the dickens, but not right away. When I actually hit it, I don't really feel anything but pressure and I hear the noise. I usually feel it a couple minutes later, and then I aches for a little bit. My knee is still working though, so I don't think that it did too much damage.

Alright, I last left off telling you about the Dairy Breakfast. It went well. I got to park cars and direct traffic from 6:30 AM till 10:00 AM! After that I was off to judge the ice cream eating contest. It was quite fun I suppose.

We went to a Twin's game with the Wielands on the 2nd of July. Oh my gosh, it was flippin' awesome! I had so much fun up there. The Twins won and we all got Johan Santana figurine things. That was pretty cool I guess. Then, on the 4th, we went to the parade in Buffalo City and then went to the Litscher's house to visit with them becuase we hadn't seen them in forever.

On the 5th I had to go up to Camp Kiwanis (a boy scout camp outside of Stillwater and Marine on St. Croix) for 4-H camp! It was so much fun to be a counselor with Sarah. We went swimming, and had campfires and a ton of other stuff. Emily and I were in charge of the drama, and I had no idea what I was doing. And, I got sick for a little but while I was up there. I think the heat just got to me. We came home on the 8th of July.

I have been keeping busy with little league games. It seems like every night there is a practice or a game that we go to! In June, Mitch had a tourney in Wabasha and they won the championship. Last weekend, they both had a tourney at C-BC. Mitch's team won the consolation and Jarod's team didn't win anything. Yesterday and today they have a tourney in Pepin. Jarod's team lost both of their games, and Mitch's team lost this morning. They play again at 3:45. Next weekend, they both have a tourney in Alma. Hopefully we get nice weather and they can actually win.

This week we also found out that for my State-to-State Exchange Trip for 4-H we are going to Michigan. I will be gone from July 27-31. Hannah and I are the only ones from Buffalo County going. We have to go up to the Pierce County Extension office in Ellsworth for a meeting about it tonight. It should be a good time. I'll be back about a week before the fair, so hopefully I can get my sheep ready in time. He has some company back there with him now though. We bought 3 holstien calves. They are cute, but they're crazy too!

Then, after the fair, Mitch's football practice starts. Then they'll have their first game, and then school will start. THEN I'LL BE A JUNIOR! I am looking forward to that a lot. Mitch will be a FRESHMAN and Jarod will be in 6TH GRADE! We're getting old...

On Tuesday, my Grandma and Grandpa leave for a 19 day trip to Alaska. They have been wanting to go to Alaska for forever. They are so excited! They have been talking about it for the last 3 months, so I'm glad they're finally going! I hope they have a good time. Also, it was their 45th wedding anniversary yesterday. That is a LONG time...holy cow!

I guess I don't know anything else really. I'll update after my next doctor appointment, but I don't know when that will be. If it isn't before my trip, I'll update the page then. I hope that all of you are enjoying your summer as much as I am. Take care and have fun!

Kristin

Friday, June 24, 2005 8:31 PM CDT

*****JUNE 3, 2005: I just have a quick question. Does anyone know how to make the pictures smaller? I need specific instructions! I tried to make them smaller today, but it didn't work. HELP!!!*****

*****JUNE 2, 2005: Just stopping by to change my background. So go out and have fun this weekend. I am going to a Twin's game today and tomorrow, I don't know what we're doing. Mom's talking about going down to LaCrosse for Riverfest or whatever it's called. Monday's the 4th and I don't think we're doing anything too spectacular except a parade in Buffalo City and fireworks in Wabasha. But we'll see. So have a a happy and safe holiday weekend.*****

Well, guys, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I don't know anything new at all! My summer's been quite boring and I kinda like it that way! You guys should try it sometime. Being bored I mean...

Well, I am sure you all are anxiously waiting to hear how my tests went today. All is clear in cancer-land. Nothing new. Pretty boring day, and boring is very good when talking about cancer. I had x-rays of my lungs and my knee, a CT scan of my lungs, a venipunture, an echocardiogram, and then just an appointment to get the results. Clear, clear clear!! I bet they could hear me breathing a sigh of relief all the way down the hall! I've been out of treatments for almost half a year already! But I never fail to be sick to my stomach anytime I have tests; especially the ones over at Mayo. It was pretty fun today though. After my CT scan, mom and I mozied on down to my old home away from home, aka: the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Francis building. I saw a lot of my old nurses. You never really realize how much you enjoy their company! Its like one big happy family! I saw Bonnie, Tammy, Josh, and a whole bunch of others! That is always soo much fun...I love seeing them. I told my mom today that I wish I could go back to the hospital and she whipped her head around and said "Why!?" "I miss everyone here." And I really do. I really got to know some of the nurses and they really got to know me, and I miss talking with them. Pathetic, I know! But if I could stay there and not feel like crap at the same time, I would seriously LOVE it there. Stop looking me like that! I know you guys think I'm crazy now, but it's fun over there. Anyway...

Tomorrow I have to be in Modena at 6:30 AM!!! (Don't ask where it is because I have NO idea, and its a really tiny town. We're talking smaller than ALMA!) As V.P. of our FFA chapter, I was obligated to help out at the Dairy Breakfast. TONS of fun. Yea...

I don't really know anything else so I suppose I will let you get back to whatever it is you are supposed to being doing right now. I caught you didn't I?! Haha...sign my guestbook it you guys have time! Take care...

kristin, tiny dancer, lou, louski, brewski, deedles, and whatever else you wanna call me, but keep it nice!

Hey D-R (and anyone else who wants to try to guess): "Don't you have someone else you can annoy? Family? Friends? Poisonous reptiles?" I swear that if you can get this one, you are the greatest quoter of all TIME! It is animated. I got the quote when I went for my echocardiogram because they put in a movie due to the fact that the echo. lasts like an hour and a half!

Monday, June 13, 2005 9:44 PM CDT

**JUNE 20: There isn't anything going on that you guys already don't know about. This summer's pretty boring so far. Hope you all are enjoying your summer. Oh my gosh...I almost forgot! On Friday, June 24, I am going to Rochester for an appointment/x-rays/scans/blood draw (venipunture as they call it over there)! Pray hard! Oh and D-R: Its Major League, the best movie ever! You had me stumped for like a second! Take care everyone! (does everyone like the background? hows this for giving you a headache? haha...)**

**JUNE 16: NEW PICTURES IN PHOTO ALBUM! BE WARNED, THEY ARE huge!!**

Hey there everyone! Thanks to those of you who are faithful readers of my site! I'm not sure how many of you still do. I have one request. SIGN MY GUESTBOOK! I may not be battling cancer literally, but I still have to worry about it. I really love reading what people write to me. Thanks...it really means the world.

Well, since school is out, there hasn't really been a whole lot going on in my life. I think this summer is just going to be pretty relaxed. Last year we pretty much learned the hard way to enjoy life and to stop running, running, running.

All I've really been up to is babysitting, DRIVING Mitch and Jarod to little league, and going to baseball games at school. I've also been working with my sheep. He's growing pretty fast!

Um, I do have a lot of things going on this summer with
4-H and FFA. We just recently had a workshop for 4-H camp which was pretty fun. I get to be a couselor with Sarah. The theme of camp this year is The Reniassance. Could it be any harder!? On the 21st of June, I'm helping with the cloverbud/explorer day camp. I also have an FFA officer's meeting that day. Then, on the 25th of June is the dairy breakfast at Lindstrom Equipment. I have to be there when it starts to help my FFA park cars. Then I have to help the Buffalo County 4-H Youth Leader's Council scoop ice cream for the ice cream eating contest! It should be pretty fun. There are other things in July, but I don't know what. I'll keep you all posted.

I guess thats about all I know for now. One of my internet friends, Chris, had a link on her site. It was amazing! Just go to www.thesurvivormovie.com . It pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole cancer experience. In it, it says that "I have cancer", even though I don't, it is still really good. CHECK IT OUT!!! So until next time...take care and liveSTRONG!

KrIsTiN

The quote from my last entry was from Tommy Boy! Way to go D-R!! You ROCK!! I think that you have gotten most of them! I don't have one for this time...so oh well, I'll have one ready for next time!

Sunday, May 29, 2005 6:38 PM CDT

**JUNE 6th: One year ago today I was under the knife of Dr. Schives getting my main tumor out. Pathology report: 99 percent dead! WOOHOO!!**

**Update, June 1, 2005. My x-rays were clear yesterday!! Thank God! And, schools out for summer! Yes!**

Well, I'm truly sorry for not updating in so long, but I've been really busy! Little league pracitce has officially begun, and that's just the tip of the ice burg in the Schamaun household!

Well, ok. I finally picked up my sheep for the county fair! He fit perfectly in Tippy's (our dog we used to have, but died) kennel! We named him Squirtly because that's just what the Schmidtknechts called him, so it just stuck! He is really fun to have around, but it also means that I can't sleep-in in the mornings because I have to feed him!

Softball is finally over! They played their first tournament game at Melrose-Mindoro and they won! It was their first tournament win in a long time! Then, we had to play Independence-Gilmanton and we lost, 4-1. It was a really fun season, even though I couldn't play! On Tuesday, we had a softball party at Mr. Sedlmayr's house, so that was fun!

Um, oh yea! We bought a used Ford Taurus. It's a "family" car according to my parents. I get in trouble when I call in my car because I didn't pay for it and I don't pay the insurance on it. So thats really exciting.

Yesterday, our Senior High Marching Band, which is the entire band, went to Valleyfair to march around the park. After we marched, we got to go on rides all day! It was really fun, even though Heidi and I skipped the "big ones" like Wild Thing and Steel Venom! Just a little afraid of heights over here! But it was really fun!

I can't believe that I'm already half done with my high school experience! Where has the time gone! Oh wait, I forgot! I spent a lot of it at St. Mary's on the 2nd or 3rd floor in the Francis Building! Oh well, at least I have the rest of my year to really enjoy!

I'm still feeling really good, so I'm sure that I'm still worrying about nothing, but thats what we thought when I had a little pain in my knee! Ok, so mabye you shouldn't think of it like that, but I'm pretty sure that there's nothing to worry about.

Right now, there is a race on; it's the Coca-Cola 600, and it takes forever. I took a break from watching it to type an update, so be thankful! Mom's making us milkshakes, so we're gonna have a fun, action packed night! I suppose that thats all there is really going on here, so I'm gonna get back to the race! Go Jamie Go!!!

KrIsTiN

PS: The quote from last entry was from "The Hot Chick" which no one got! I can't believe it! Oh, well. Maybe someone will get this next one! It's from an older movie, but oh well. Okay, here it is: "Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug!" I love this movie, and its really funny!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 9:31 PM CDT

Well, oh my goody goody gumdrops! It certainly has been a LLLOOONNNGGG time since my last update, but when you hear this coming from a previous cancer patient, this is a VERY good, excuse me, GREAT thing! I don't even know where to begin!

Well, I'm still busy with those darn softball games!! They are unrelenting. (does unrelenting even make sense in that sentence?!) They never stop! We had four, 4, this week! Monday and Tuesday were against Eleva-Strum, who is 1-13 thanks to us. I'll give E-S some credit though; they did play reall well on Tuesday. Softball is really the highlight of my week nowadays...

I still haven't picked up my sheep for the county fair. He weighed 47 pounds at weigh-in, so that was good since the target weight is 40-50. My dad made a fence for him already; we just have to make the gate "sheep-proof."

We also recently met with the Make-A-Wish people. They asked a lot of questions. They also brought my brothers and I some cool presents. They brought me some golf balls and tees, Jarod a card game called Phase 10, and Mitch a dart board. That was really unexpected! They are going to set up a meeting with JAMIE MCMURRAY #42, who happens to be like the best driver in NASCAR!! My brothers would probably beg to differ, so don't ask them!

I GOT MY DRIVER'S LISENCE!!!! Yes, you should all stay off the roads now. No, I'm kidding, I think that I'm a really good driver! I was able to finish the coursework, so I got my lisence! I'm really excited about that! The farthest I've driven by myself so far is from Buena Vista to school for Jarod's play, which was really cute!

I'm the Vice President of our FFA chapter for the 2005-2006 school year, so thats really exciting too!

Tonight, I was inducted in the our school's chapter of the National Honor Society. I was told about a month ago that I was eligible because of my GPA which is about 3.8. So I applied, and just about a week and a half ago, I found out that I was accepted! They only picked 5 kids from my class to be in it, and there were a lot of people who applied, so I was really excited!

As the school year draws to a close, I think back and think about all the good times. When I went back to school between treatments I think about how understanding my teachers were and how easily my friends and classmates welcomed me back every time. I think about how Heidi's face lit up when I turned the corner to go to my locker and she saw me and how amazing that felt to see her so happy to see little ol' me. I think about how amazing Heidi especially was when it came to being my friend and keeping me up to date with school happenings and how she emailed me almost every single day. How she would call from time to time and I would be happy no matter how sick and tired I was. She was great through all of that junk and I don't think I'll ever be able to repay her for everyting she has done for me in the last year especially. I am so "heidi-dependent." This is one little tiny tribute to my bestest friend and it isn't even the tip of the iceberg in repaying her. Thank you very much Heidi.

Well, I think that that is about it. I don't really have any other news. Sorry that this is so long, but I wanted to put that little thing for Heidi in here because she deserved it...

Stop in and sign the guestbook if you have the time. Now get back to whatever it is that your supposed to be doing right now!! Andale...

-->**KrIsTiN**<--

P.S. The answer last week was How To Lose a Guy In Ten Days. Now, this next one is only appropriate because its like me and Heidi's favorite movie to quote..."tres points señor?" and "AHH...Stinko de Mayo!" Theres two of them this time because I couldn't decide and these are about the only two that were appropriate for this...have fun!

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 9:38 PM CDT

!!!**UPDATE MAY 2ND, 2005**!!!

NEW PICTURES IN PHOTO ALBUM OF PROM! THANKS TO HEIDI, YOU ARE ALL ABLE TO SEE THE PICUTERS!! SORRY THEY'RE A LITTLE BIG, BUT I THINK THAT YOU GUYS PROBABLY DON'T CARE. ANY TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE THEM NORMAL SIZED!?

April 27, 2005
Well, I'm sure you'll all be glad to know that I've been one busy little girl with a one very fake knee...<--I have absolutely no idea where I even got that one from; oh well.

First of all, I'm still very busy with all those darn softball games. They are extremely fun to go to, even though I can' play anymore. They've lost the last few games. They played Blair-Taylor the other night and it was FREEZING. What happened to all that warm weather we were having like two weeks ago!? It can come out now; I give up because I have NO idea where it is hiding.

I got confirmed one week ago. It was really fun, but the mass was really long....like 2 hours! Nancy was my sponsor and mom sponsored Whitney. My saint's name was Pharaildis, the patron saint of childhood diseases. It was a pretty fun time.

PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM!! The theme was "Mardi Gras Madness." I had an absolute blast! Let me assure you, this year was much more fun than last year was. All the girls met at my house to get ready, and then we went up to Buena Vista for pictures. It was only like 40 degrees out, but we all still looked pretty good if I do say so myself! Then, we went out to eat at Garfield's in Eau Claire. It was so fun because you can draw on the tablecloths with crayons! Then we went back to the dance and we took like a bajillion more pictures. Alex and Jhad are the queen and king. Afterwards was the After-Prom party. That was pretty fun. We had a hypnotist come and that was hilarious! Then, me and Katie Noll played poker; we ended up losing. Then, Alyssa, Brittany, and I had our characture drawn. I got to keep it. I also won a 20$ gift certificate to the Oakwood Mall...I think I can put that to good use! Oh, by the way, we don't have a picture program on our computer, so I can't get any pictures on here right now. If I can get one of my friends to scan a couple of them, I'll put em on here...be patient my little darlings...be patient.

I got my sheep for the county fair this year. I'm buying a really tame one from the Schimdknechts this year. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with that little critter!

Yesterday and today I had appointments in Rochester. The news is not good. I don't have to go back there for two months. :( The news about me was GREAT! Everything is still looking good; CLEAR SCANS!!! Haha...I had you guys going there for like one second didn't I?! I stopped by the hospital and saw JoHannah for the first time since NOVEMBER! I really think that I'm going through withdrawl! I actually miss the people over there!! I didn't think I would, but I do!!

Also, I had to get glasses because I was becoming near-sighted. I think its near-sighted...its the one where you can only see things close up. Things far away were blurry.

We had our last concert of the year on Monday. The school year is FINALLY coming to an end. We only have like one month left...:(...yea right more like :) :) :)!!

I can't think of anything else to update you guys on without you guys actually like living my life!! Keep the messages coming!

--->**KrIsTiN**<---

PS "(gasp) Our love fern! You let it die! Are you gonna let us die!? You should think about that!!" This one's a little harder so I'll give you a hint. Its from a chick flick with the number 10 in the title and its from the "guys poker nite" scene. GOOD LUCK!! If you can guess this, I will um, give you a big round of applause and thats about it...haha...

Saturday, April 16, 2005 8:12 PM CDT

Well, well, well. What have we here? Another update in less than two weeks!? I simply cannot believe it!<--Ha ha, that was my measly attempt at humor. I am extremely tired, and its only quarter after eight!

We got back from state forensics tonight at about 5:15. I did very well considering that the last time I looked at my pieces was about three weeks ago. (Shh, don't tell Mrs. G or Mrs. K!) We had so much fun down in Madison; however, the bus rides sucked! 3 1/2 hours on a school bus is not the way to travel. But anyway, we got down there and then we got ready for our round. The rounds were at UW-Madison; boy is that a big campus! We did our rounds and we got our scoring sheets back! 21 baby!! 21 out of 25, so I can't really complain. I think that I did really good. Then we went back to our hotel and had some pizza. We partied until like 1 or 2 in the morning, and then me and my friends crashed into bed...it was really fun! We went shopping today, and then we headed home at about 1:15.

When I got back, mom, Heidi, her mom, and I went to Pepin. What for you ask? Well, I'll tell you. We went to get a sunless tan. Its really weird. You go in this little room, and the just spray it on. It was really cold. I'm not tan yet though; it doesn't show up for about 6 hours. So tomorrow when I wake up, I should be nice and tan. So yippee skippee!

The softball team in 2-1 now. We beat Whitehall on Tuesday. They have their first home game on Monday, so I'm looking forward to that.

I haven't had any medical appointments since March. I'm still not used to going, like, every week. I love this freedom I have now! I'm not sure, but I think I may have an appointment in Rochester coming up pretty soon. I don't know. I'm still really paranoid that my cancer is going to show up on my next scans, but I'm sure that I'm worried about nothing. So yea...

SIGN MY GUESTBOOK. I MAY NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT I STILL LIKE TO SEE THAT PEOPLE SIGN AND VISIT MY PAGE. EVEN IF ALL YOUR MESSAGE SAYS IS "HI." I WILL BE EXTATIC TO SEE IT!! Sorry if that sounded urgent. Did it? I just love to get messages, but I don't get very many very often! When I do get one, I get VERY excited! "So go ahead, punk, make my day."

-->**KrIsTiN**<--

PS: If you can tell me who said that last quote that I put in here, I'll give you all the money I have in my front pocket. (I don't even have a front pocket, but maybe you won't read this part!? But seriously, you'll be my friend forever!) Hahaha!

Friday, April 8, 2005 3:58 PM CDT

Well, where does a girl even begin to update on everything that has happened since I last updated?! I surely do not know, but I'll give it a shot.

On the last day in March, I had a check up in Wabasha. Everything was good..apparently I'm paranoid, which I guess is normal for a girl in remission...and I was glad to hear that it was only me being paranoid that it was back. Thank the Lord that it isn't!

The softball team has had two games so far. I'm the bookkeeper, so I get to go to every single game, which is great. The first game was on the 5th against Eau Claire Immanuel and we lost because of one bad inning. Then on the 7th, we played Melrose-Mindoro and we kicked butt! The score was 15-7! So that was really fun. My best friend is the starting varsity pitcher, and my other best friends are the starting 3rd base-woman(haha...lol) and the starting shortstop! So I was really happy to see them win!

On the 4th, we had a Jazz concert at C-FC. We did really awesome! I love playing there becuase it's in an actual auditorium and we sound so much better in there. Might I also add that we were better than them. I only say that because they are some of our biggest rivals. But overall it was fun. We also are done with solo and ensemble. I got a first on my solo and a starred first on our woodwind choir, so we are going to state for that.

Tonight I am going to a movie with Whitney and Alyssa. I think we are going to see "Guess Who" and then we are going to go to Perkins. So that should be fun! Then, tomorrow, Whitney, my mom, my aunt Nancy, and me are to Rochester to drop off all of our stuff for the Ronald McDonald House. Then I think we may also go shopping, but we'll see.

We already have all of our plans made for prom on the 23rd. We are going to eat at Garfield's in Eau Claire and I'm really looking forward to it. Mainly, I just want to show off my dress because it is so pretty.

Our trip to Kentucky for Easter was really fun. Everyone was really happy to see us. Aunt Alice made really good ham on Easter day! We also went to a Methodist church, which was a fun expierence since we are Catholic. We had a really good time, even though my great grandma's house is really small. And yes, the Easter Bunny did find us there...lol...

My report card was really good. It was all A's and like 2 B's so I can't complain! I also made high honors with that, so I was pretty happy for that. This year for FFA, I am applying for my Greenhand Degree since I missed it last year. I am also running for office for FFA next year. So that's exciting. Also, I am thinking about running for Student Council next year, but we'll see how that goes.

There is just one more thing that I want to put on here. Caitlin, from Ohio, had surgery on her lungs to remove some spots. When pathology came back, they were all benign! I was so relived to hear that! So congrats to her! Also, Kristina, from Michigan, is finished with her chemo, so I am really happy for her. Just a few more of God's wonderful miracles. He sure does work in mysterious ways! I've read it on other sites, and now I am going to put it on here also: Although cancer sucks, I don't think that I would want to take it back becuase my family, friends, and I have all become SO much stronger because of it! What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger! God brought me to it, He saw me through it! Take care!

-->*KrIsTiN*<--

Monday, March 21, 2005 4:45 PM CST

Ahh, the blissful first day of spring. How wonderful it is to be in the season of new beginnings. Yes, it truly is a season of new beginnings for me anyway. Not really, just in the sense that I get to be free of hospital stays and blood checks, and MRI's and all that grand junk. Right. So for that I'm thankful. VERY THANKFUL!!

Well, I don't really know what I should write on here this time. Hmm... Well, on March 11, it was one year since diagnosis. What an anniversary to be celebrating, huh? Yea, I guess I was kind of happy to be able to celebrate that anniversary. On March 17, it was one year since my first chemo. I really hate to think back to that day. I was terrified. But here I am now, a year later, and feeling great. I was glad to see the anniversaries come and go, but with them, is the feeling of anxiety. Anxiety that my cancer is going to come back because I haven't had any chemo in 4 months, and that every little pain that I have anywhere on my body is the cancer coming back. Living like this just isn't right!

Um, ho, hum. Me and Whitney's confirmation project turned out really well. We had a great response; you should see the floor in my basement! It is packed with things for the Ronald McDonald House. We are going to be taking it over sometime after Easter. I'll be getting confirmed on April 20th, 2005 in Independence, I guess I'm kind of excited for that.

I should probably mention that my Mom and Dad made it back from Las Vegas just fine. Mom's worst fear (the plane crashing) didn't come true, so she was fine. They really enjoyed the race, although I'm not sure that Las Vegas is for them. They did end up hitting a jackpot at the casino on Tuesday morning right before they were leaving the hotel, but sorry, I'm not allowed to say how much. They had a great time and they deserved it!

For Easter, we are going to go down to my relatives house in Kentucky. We haven't been down there in over a year. They all really want to see us, so we decided to go and spend Easter with them, so it should be fun. We are going to leave sometime on Thursday and will be coming back on Monday. I think.

School is moving along just fine and dandy. The end of the quarter is coming up on Thursday, so it'll be report card time. We're practicing really hard for solo ensemble in band. Also, prom is coming up. For those of you that haven't seen my dress, I put a picture of it in the photo album. It kind of reminds me of Cinderella's a little bit. Today I found out that I made it to the State Competition in Forensics. So I'm super stoked for that! We get to go down to Madison and spend the night up there, so that's really exciting!

Well, I suppose that this journal is long enough, huh? I'll let you all get back to your web surfing now. Thanks for stopping by; now, just let me know you were here by putting a little message in the guestbook. Hug me some while your at it. Also, keep myself as well as all my internet friends in your prayers. I hope that you and your's have a wonderful Easter!Take care!

-->KrIsTiN<--

PS: Congrats to Kristina from Michigan for finishing chemo! Way to go! Also, I believe that my favorite little kindergartener, Sara McQuiston, from my little town of Alma, has finished up her treatments as well, so thats really great! I am really excited for both of them!

Monday, March 7, 2005 4:16 PM CST

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!

My parents are leaving for Las Vegas on Wednesday, March 9. I hope they have a good time because they deserve some time off. They really deserve like a whole year off because they spent their last year doing things they probably never imagined they'd have to do in an entire lifetime. So give 'em some credit and wish them a happy trip in the guestbook. They're not just going out to Las Vegas to gamble, though I think it might be in the plans somewhere. They're actually going out for the NASCAR race...yes, I am EXTREMELY jealous, but they DID promise to bring me back some Jamie McMurray stuff, so I suppose I'm not too mad...

Well, on Thursday, it'll be a year since diagnosis. While I will say that cancer does indeed suck, I think that I have become a stronger person because of it. In high school, everything revolves around sports. But now that I can't even run ever again, its like wow! There are so many other worth while things out there. Like raising awareness of childhood cancer and supporting the research for it. Wouldn't it be great to find a cure!? I go to a lot of websites, and I think that the number of deaths caused by cancer is WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY too high.

But, I decided that there is no better time to recognize the MANY people that have helped me in great ways this past year. First of all there is my family: Mom, Dad, Mitch, and Jarod. There is no way in hell I could have done this without them. Mitch even stayed with me in the hospital for two days! So instead of always asking about me (don't worry, I DO appreciate you thoughts), ask how they are as well. They've put up with a lot of whining out of me for a long time. Then of course, there is my whole entire family: Grandma, Grandpa, Nancy, Joe, Matt, Katie, Jenny, Mike, Tanya, Bruce, Lori, Grandma R, Sharl, Jeff, Debbie, Mike, Tammy, Nancy, Jess, Abby, Maddie, Wayne, and Alice. I'm sorry if I've forgotten anyone...it is an extremely long list, after all. Especially Grandma S., Grandma R., Nancy, and Mike for staying up in the hospital with me. Mary Glover aslo stayed with me while I was in the hospital, and I'm so thankful that my mom has a friend like her. All of my friends: Heidi, Alyssa, Whitney, Brittany, Sarah, and Hannah. They were great throughout all of this, and I would have been lost without them. Ho hum, who else. Everyone who let my brothers stay with them while my parents and I were in Rochester. The Glass's especially...I think they stayed there a TON of the time. The Anibas's for coming to visit me and for carting my brothers around to little league all summer. I'm sure I'll think of someone I've fogotten once I get this done...

Thanks to everyone who worked/donated/did stuff at my benefit. Thanks to Thrivent Financial for matching the money raised at the benefit. Sorry I couldn't be there.

A GI-NORMOUS THANKS TO: Dr. Arndt, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Kahn, Dr. Rodriguez, Donna Betcher: my nurse practioner, Julie and Denise: the oncology nurses, Kelly McManus: my social worker, Norma and Micelle and the rest of the girls up on east 9, all the nurses I've ever had on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Francis building in St. Mary's. JoHannah and Val: the child life specialists, I'm sorry to my chaplain for I've lost her name, Dr. Schives and Dr. Moir and Dr. Rodeberg for doing my surgeries, and everyone else that made my time in Rochester just a little bit easier and for SAVING MY LIFE. I owe you guys a ton!

Well, I think that I should probably hit the road now as this entry is super long, and maybe even boring, but there isn't much happening in my life at the moment. So I'll just ask you to sign the guestbook and let me know you dropped by. Also keep the following children/teens in your prayers:
-Sara McQuiston
-Josh Olson
-Leigh Elliot
-Kristina D'agostino
-Caitlin Shoup
-Kurt Kruger

Most of the above people are people I have come to know through the internet...it is such a powerful thing, as is prayer. So say a little prayer for them tonight.

So NOW I bid you farewell all you little internet junkies. haha...just kidding. Take care and LIVESTRONG!!

-->KrIsTiN<--

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 3:44 PM CST

Well hello there all my loyal followers! I just thought you would all like to know how my appointments went on Monday. Well, everything is still looking good. I had some blood drawn, then I got a chest x-ray. Then, my mom and I went to Barnes and Noble to get a couple books. I didn't really enjoy any of it because I was worrying myself sick...literally! We went up to the 9th floor early so they could maybe get us in early. Well, we were sitting there waiting, and Dr. Ardnt came out. She wanted me to go talk to a girl about getting a feeding tube put in. She figured I was a perfect advocate of the tube because I hated the idea, but once I started getting the nourishment I needed, I felt like 110etter. So I went and talked to her. Then, we had to wait like a little bit more. When I finally got into a room for my appointment, all Dr. Arndt had to say was that everything was looking good. My x-ray was clear and my blood work was perfect! So then, almost instantly, I felt better.

When we left the hospital, we headed to St. Mary's. Don't worry, it was only for a visit. There weren't many nurses that I knew up there, so I was just going to look for JoHannah. She's a Child LIfe Specialist and just about the coolest person I know. We found Val, another Child LIfe Specialist, and we asked her where JoHannah was. The news that followed was disappoining. Her meeting or whatever she had that day had been rescheduled for earlier, so we missed her! We'll just hve to wait to see her in April.

Then it was time to go PROM DRESS SHOPPING!!! We went to a bunch of stores. Most of the ones that I liked were blue. Eventually, we made our way to BRIDES, ETC. and we found the perfect dress. The price tag wasn't as perfect, but I volunteered to pay for some of it, and mom caved. So, the dress I got is light blue, and VERY POOFY! It kind of reminds me of Cinderella's ball gown. Very Pretty. So now I'm excited for prom.

Anyways, I think I wrote enough for this update, and I guess I don't really know much else, so I'll go now. We're going to Winona tonight, and hopefully were going to have pizza at Sammy's. YUMM!! :-) Love ya and LIVESTRONG!

-->KrIsTiN<--

Update 2/27/05: Don't worry, nothing's wrong. Just put a picture of my Prom Dress in the photo album since some of you asked for one. Happy Now!?

Monday, February 14, 2005 12:44 AM CST

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Ah, yes, it's the stupid holiday that the card, candy, and flower companies invented to make a TON of money...haha...

Um, well, let's see. Not a whole lot has happened since my last update. Actually nothing at all has happened. Um, I have appointments in Rochester on the 21st of February. It should go smoothly. I'm actually looking forward to it because I will get to go to St. Mary's and visit JoHannah, and the nurses..so it should be fun. After my appointments, we are going prom dress shopping. Me and my mom should have fun...but I don't know about my dad...haha...he did go with us last year when we went, so we'll see about this year.

Um, for confirmation, we have to do a service project we wouldn't normally do. Me and Whitney are doing a collection of items from the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester wish list. So far we have a ton of stuff. It's going reall well and we're getting a ton of support. People are SO generous! Thanks to everyone who has helped. If you would like to help, leave a message in my guestbook and I'll post the list on here. Basically, they need the same things that you use in your own home: kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items, etc.

I guess thats about all I know for now, so I'll be going. On March 10, it'll be one year since diagnosis...so I don't know if it'll be a good day, or a bad day...good as in I'm still here and I won my battle, bad as in a semi trailer full of horrible memories...I'll take that any day though! Take care and LIVESTRONG!

Kristin

P.S. I ordered 10 youth and 10 adult LIVESTRONG bracelets. After I give them to the people I ordered them for, I should still have some of each left. I'll let you know exactly how many later. It'll be first come first serve, and they'll be a dollar each. Also, you can go to www.laf.org to order some for yourself, or many bike stores have them in stock.

Wednesday, February 2, 2005 9:24 PM CST

Hola! Como estas? Bien? Bien. Yo estoy muy feliz! (For all you non-Spanish speakers, I said: Hello. How are you all? Good? Good. I am very happy.) I am happy because I had my chest x-ray, blood draw and check-up in Wabasha today. Everything went fine. The x-ray was clear and my blood counts were normal. So now I can sleep tonight. Last night, I was so worried about it that I had to sleep on the couch. I watched TV until I fell asleep. It's terrible thinking that every ache and pain is the cancer returning, so at least until the end of February, I can sleep in peace. Yeah, right.

Well. Now that thats taken care of. What have I been up to. Well, I went driving to LaCrosse on Saturday and that was fun. I also went on Monday to Winona and I learned how to parallel park. I don't really know what my parents were so worried about. Haha! I did just fine.

I got my report card for the first quarter, second quarter, and first semester. Here's the list:
Class 1st Q 2nd Q 1st S
History B A A-
Biology A A A
English C B B
Geometry B A A-
Phy-Ed I didn't get a grade because i was never there
Band A A A
Spanish 2 B A A-

Pretty darn good if I say so myself. Especially considering so far this year I've missed 37 1/2 days! So all in all, I'm pretty proud!

Well, thats about all I have to report..I can't think of anything else to tell you all. Take care and LIVESTRONG!

Adios Amigos!
-->Kristin<--

Saturday, January 29, 2005 3:27 PM CST

Hey anyone who actually reads my journal!

I don't know why I still write in here...I don't think many people actually check it out anymore. LoL! I don't really blame them...it's not like I update it either, so who am I to talk!?

Well, nothing really exciting to report on my side of the computer. Um, the Big Band Dance is coming up, and I'm really looking forward to that. Ya'll should come! It's gonna be a blast!

We (Heidi, Alyssa, Hannah, Brittany, and I) went bowling last night in Wabasha. That was a lot of fun. I bowled the WORST game of my life (I got a whopping 63). We got free pizza though, and it was fun to just hang out with my friends. It was cosmic bowling, and my hair turned bright yellow under the black lights...it was awesome!!

Um, we STILL don't know when my appointments in Wabasha are going to be...so I still can't tell you if its still all good or not, but I still feel grrreat, so I'm sure it is!

Before I go(we're going to church), please keep Leigh(from Georgia), Kristina (from Michigan), Sara (Alma, Wisconsin), Josh (Taylor, Wisconsin), and Kurt (from Iowa) in your prayers. They're all fighters, and need all the prayers they can get! Take care, and LIVESTRONG!

-->KrIsTiN<--






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Friday, January 21, 2005 2:36 PM CST

SOME SNOW STORM, HUH!? Actually, it really isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I suspect it can only get worse. Awww poop. I really dislike snow now that I can't go out and play in it like I used to.

Um, school's going well. I'm offically caught up on all of my homework and incompletes, so that a weight off my shoulders. Jazz band is going really well, as is my solo for solo and ensamble. Otherwise I'm not doing much else besides going to Jarod's tournaments. So far, his team has gotten second in one, and first in the other. THey have another one tomorrow, but the way it looks with all this snow, it just might get cancelled.

Tonight, I'm hopefully going to go bowling at Wabasha, and then tomorrow I'm going to the Mall of America with Heidi, weather permitting. Also this month, I will have a CT scan, blood draw, and a check up in Wabasha, and then next month I'll have the same things in Rochester. Those will be a reilef to have done. Sitting here and thinking every ache and pain is the cancer returning is pure hell, but other than that, I'm just gald to be back to a normal life.

Well, I must be going now as I have some dishes to do before mom gets home(see I told you I was normal!). Take care and LIVESTRONG!!

--Kristin






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Wednesday, January 12, 2005 10:44 AM CST

Hey everybody!
I am still doing really good. Schools been good. We are working on Jazz Band and getting ready for the Big Band Dance, which I love. I've also been busy with pep bands and everything else I do at school.

Even though most of you probably already know, I'm going to post this again. I AM IN REMISSION as of December 22nd, 2004. So I have just been really really REALLY happy lately. I have to go to Wabasha at the end of this month for a CT scan, blood work, and a check up with Dr. Taylor, who found my cancer. Then in February, I have to go to Rochester for the same things, but also to bug the nurses over at St. Mary's. So, I'm actually looking forward to it...

Just this past week, I came across two girls who have osteosarcoma, so I've been emailing them a lot recently. If you would like to check out their websites, they are,
-Leigh: www2.caringbridge.org/ga/leigh_elliot
-Kristina: www2.caringbridge.org/mi/rosey
They are fighters, so keep them in your prayers. Also, keep Sara McQuiston and Josh Olsen in your prayers as well.

Thats about all I know, so I'll update again later this month. LIVESTRONG!!

-Kristin






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Wednesday, 8:10 PM CDT

Hey everyone!!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I decided to just forget about everything that happened in 2004 for a few days...but I'm back to reality now and glad to be here, seeing as how todays a snow day! For those of you who don't know yet, (you slackers who haven't checked out my page. Haha, I'm just kidding)as of December 22, 2004, I am in REMISSION! That's the best word a cancer patient can hear! I got my port-a-cath out on December 28, 2004, and everything went well. I was only in the hospital for three hours. So now, I will go to Wabasha at the end of this month, and to Rochester at the end of February for x-rays, scans, and blood draws, just to make sure that everything is still okie dokie. I've been feeling really great, so I'm sure it is.

Please keep Sara McQuiston, a kindergartener at Alma and Josh Olsen(my aunt and uncle's nephew) from Taylor, WI in your prayers.

Kristin

Friday, October 8, 2004 10:43 AM CDT

Hi! This is Kristin's mom. Her blood counts were too low on Friday so she didn't get admitted. She got to go to the football game and see the Rivermen win!

Today is Monday and her blood counts were good enough to get admitted so here we are at St. Mary's. This will be a five day chemo.

After this treatment, there are 3 left! Boy, are we looking forward to the end!!! Just in time for Kristin's 16th birthday!

Sue

Friday, October 1, 2004 12:11 AM CDT

Its october and i only have 5 treatments left, so thats good. I have to go in today for methotrexate, and i should be out by wednesday. i'im feeling really good right now, and school's going really well also. we had jazz band rehersal yesterday and that was really fun. Tomorrow heidi and alyssa are coming down here to work on a bio project about evolution...so that should be a bucket of fun...NOT. thats it for now, but i'll write more some other time.

Friday, September 24, 2004 12:20 PM CDT

Kristin came home yesterday (Sept. 23rd) She made it to school for a couple of hours. She also got to play in the pep band at the volleyball game last night.

Tonight is Homecoming for Alma! I spent Tuesday night with Kristin. I asked the doctor on Wednesday morning if she go out for a couple hours on a pass to shop for shoes. The doctor agreed. She picked out some really cute shoes. So she is ready to go! We'll take lots of pictures!!!

Tomorrow Kristin and I are going to Kristin's Aunt Sharl's house. We are looking forward to that as she is having a jewelry party. girl stuff!! Then on Sunday we are going to the farm (grandparents) and grilling a turkey. The whole Schamaun family will probably be there. Looking forward to that too. Kristin will have to spend time doing homework too!!

Kristin goes back next Friday (Oct. 1st). She has 5 treatments left.

Sue

Friday, September 17, 2004

Hi!

Kristin went on home on Sunday, September 12th. She stayed home Monday but went back to school on Tuesday. She has good days and so-so days. She has 5 rounds of chemo left. We are counting down!!!

Tonight Alma plays C-FC at home in football and Kristin is excited she gets to go. Also, she has four friends spending the night because they have to watch a video for a certain class. I'm sure they'll have alot of fun!

Sue

Sunday, August 8, 2004 10:35 AM CDT

I came in on Friday for treatment, and i'll prolly get out on monday or tuesday. Then i'll come back in on friday again for treatment, and then i'll have about two weeks off. me and mom went school schopping on tuesday this past week before i came in, and that was fun. on our way home we stopped at sammy's in winona and picked up pizza for supper and that was really good. thats about it for now...i'll check back some other time...cya

kristin

Friday, July 30, 2004 11:05 AM CDT

Hey everyone...evrything is still going good. We haven't been able to get on the internet at home because our computer has a virus on it, so thats why there haven't been very many updates this summer. I'm feeling a lot better, my knee is coming along, i'm still a little sore from my lung surgery, i'm starting to walk a little bit without the walker. School will be starting in about a month, and i'm hoping to be there.

Thank you to everyone for all the cards and gifts. It is greatly appreciated.

kristin

Sunday, July 11, 2004 4:25 PM CDT

This is Kristin's mom. Kristin is back in the hospital for a round of chemo. She has been pretty tired and has slept alot. Her Grandma spent the night with her in the hospital last night so Mark and I could go to Buffalo City today to see her brothers, Mitch and Jarod, play in a baseball tournament. It rained this morning so they cancelled the games.

Kristin had lung surgery on July 2nd and they removed tumors on both lungs. The surgeon, Dr. Moirs, told us that the tumors were dead and some of the tumors were hard to find because they were so dead they were nothing but scar tissue! That was great news! That means the chemo is working.

Tomorrow they are putting Kristin under and they are going to bend her knee. Doesn't sound like fun and Kristin is not looking forward to it!

We are hoping to bring Kristin home on Tuesday. She will be back here on Friday and if her blood work checks out, she'll start chemo again!

Kristin is looking forward to her friends spending the night with her in the hospital. They should be able to do that very soon!!!

kristin

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 1:56 PM CDT

I'm going home today. I've had 5 days of chemo. Dr. Hartman came in this morning and took my stitches out. That hurt! Now I have to keep working on bending my leg so Dr. Shives is impressed next week. He wants me to be able to bend it at a 90 degree angle!

I come back on July 1st for a chest ct scan and some blood work. If everything comes out they way they want it, they will schedule surgery for my lungs.

I will be home now so stop in and visit!!!

Saturday, June 19, 2004 6:10 PM CDT

I came to Mayo on Wednesday but my liver enzymes were too high so they didn't admit me. I came back on Friday and got admitted. They are doing physical therapy on my leg. We found out that lung surgery may be in two weeks.

The chemo I'm getting now has to be given for 5 days. I had my first round last night. The anti-nausea medication they gave me last night made me loopy!

I'm not sure when I'm coming home. Dad stayed over last night. Mom is staying tonight. I beat her in a game of Sorry! Now I'm making a Father's Day plaque.

All for now!

kristin

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 2:10 PM CDT

This is the 5th day after surgery. This morning they took off the partial cast. That hurt. Now they have a nylon type stocking on my leg which should keep the swelling down. Physical therapy has been in twice and I've used the walker to walk to the door and back. They have started to try bending my leg.

I'm bored so come see me in the hospital. I have been getting a fever off and on so I should be in here until Thursday or Friday.

I have to come back on the 16th for another round of chemo.

kristin

Thursday, June 3, 2004 5:11 PM CDT

I had surgery today at 8:45 and everything went well. They expected the procedure to take 4 hours, but i was back in my room by 11:45. The procedure itself took 1 1/2 hours, so that was good. My leg is in a partial cast that will come off this weekend, and then i can starrt bending my knee again. my leg hurts like heck right now, but they've got me on some good pain killers. other than that, i'm just tired.

the surgery went like this. They cut out the part of the bone that had the tumor and replaced it with a titanium rod and then I had a partial knee replacement. I still have my own kneecap. Most people have to wait until they are old to have a knee replaced and I've done it at 15. ha! ha! The surgeon told us that the preliminary report on the tumor is that it appears that the chemo killed most of it. But they are sending it to pathology and the official results won't be back for another week or two.

I'll update again later!

kristin

Thursday, May 27, 2004 7:46 PM CDT

Hey everyone. Today was a pretty long day. I didn't sleep very well last night, so i was pretty pooped today. Today my levels were at .28, so i should be good to go tomorrow...then i'll have the whole weekend off. YAY!! then i have to come over on wednesday for a pre-surgery check up thing, and then i'll come over early on thursday morning for SURGERY! i think i'm excited...yea, i'm pretty sure i am. anyway, thats about all i know, so i'll check ya later...

kristin

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 7:15 PM CDT

okay-this one's gonna be short and sweet cuz i'm really tired. i got admitted last night, and they started my treatment early this morning...all my results came back good. all the tumors are shrinking and i'll actually have surgery on June 3rd. I'm still feeling good. i was a little nauseated this morning, but thats past now, so thats good. anyway, i don't know much else, so i'll go now...check ya later...

kristin

Thursday, May 20, 2004 1:01 PM CDT

Okay, I'll probably get out of here tomorrow, and the doctor said that we can take my feeding tube out for the weekend for all the graduation parties, so that was good. my methotrexate level was at .28 this morning, and it has to be below .10, so by tomorrow, it should be down there. I'll have to come back on Monday morning for a bone scan, MRI, x-rays, and a whole bunch of other tests and then depending on my liver enzymes, I may get admitted again for this same round again, so whatever. Thats about it for today, cya later...

kristin

Thursday, May 13, 2004 6:24 PM CDT

Hey guys!! I'm finally home!! It feels soooo good to sleep in my own bed!! Its actually just good to be home. Everything is going well this week...my blood counts are back up and I'm feeling really good. I have tons of energy. Anyway, I'll go back on Monday for treatment (groan), and then I go back a week later, and then I'll have my scans, and then it'll be time to schedule surgery. I think I'm excited. After surgery, if everything goes well, I only will have 12 more treatments left. I think that is what i counted. Its all downhill after that...so that kinda got my spirits up. Anyway...thats about it for today...check ya later...

kristin

Monday, May 10, 2004 11:38 AM CDT

hey everybody...it's me again. Sorry it took so long to get any updates on here, but i was not feeling good before i got admitted on tuesday, and it only took until monday to get me feeling better. so, i get to go home today, and thats about all i know. not much happens here in the hospital...boring boring boring...lol...anyway, i'll write more when i know something...

kristin

Sunday, May 9, 2004 1:33 PM CDT

Hi! This is Kristin's mom. Kristin got admitted on Tuesday, May 4th with a fever. She has fought a fever on and off until yesterday. She is finally rid of it and her blood counts are also coming up. She had a platelet transfusion on Wednesday and a red blood cell transfusion on Thursday. On Wednesday Sheila Litscher visited Kristin and brought treats! Kristin ate Kraft sticks and cheese and some chex mix. On Thursday Mary Ruff visited and Kristin, Mary and I had a competition with townhouse crackers and cheese in a can. We had to each make a design and then present it to each other and then of course eat our designs! I think I won! On Saturday, Heidi Wieland, Alyssa Brakke and Whitney Hawes came to visit in the afternoon. Kristin really enjoyed that visit! Today is Mother's Day and her doctor said she gained 1 pound and since her blood counts are on their way up, she can go home tomorrow! Kristin's dad (Mark), Uncle Mike, and Aunt Tanya are on their way here and we are going to go outside! Gotta go!

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 9:18 AM CDT

Okay, I did update my site yesterday, but I think it got screwed up, so I'll write exactly what I did yesterday, and if its just my computer, then you'll just have to read it again. This last weekend was, as you all know, prom. I slept most of Saturday morning, and got up at about one to start getting ready. I took a shower, went and had my hair and make-up done, and then went back home. When I got home, I ate a couple pieces of pizza, and then put my dress on. Then Tony came to pick me up, we took some pictures, and we went back to his house to meet Heidi, JJ, Sarah, and John. We took about a million more pictures, and then we ate dinner. After that, we headed to school, where we proceeded to take even more pictures. Tony was crowned prom king, and we all had a good time. Afterwards, I went home, ate some more pizza, and went to bed. I slept most of the morning, and then I got up to go hold the couch down for the rest of the day. Then I came back here on Monday, and now the doctors said that I can possibly go home today, but the big team of doctors hasn't come through yet. So I'll go now, and hopefully this one works. Check ya later...

kristin

Saturday, March 27, 2004 5:21 PM CST

Hey everyone...sorry the updates are coming later rather than sooner, but hey-at least they're coming. Today was a boring day at the hospital, but i ate a lot. I ate a donut, mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC, spaghettios, and a milky way. Nancy, Joe, and Jenny came over to see me and take my mom home. They brought me the spaghettios and some gatorade, so that was good. Early this morning, i broke my fever, but now I have a small one again. But nothing so serious that they're worried. So thats about it for today...I'll check back here tomorrow...

kristin

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 11:19 AM CDT

Hey everyone. Sorry this is a little late, but I was so tired yesterday because the nurses kept waking me up on Monday night, so yesterday was just a lay around day. But I am feeling a lot better than I did at this time last treatment, so thats good. My Grandma has been staying with me all week, and she'll stay until Friday. My Mom and Dad and Jarod are coming over tonight, so thats good. Hopefully I'll get out of here on Friday, so if not, early Saturday morning. But I should be out in time for Prom. Everybody over here already knows about prom and they're all asking me about it. Its kinda wierd, but what can you do? News travels like wildfire over here...lol...but anyways, thats it for today, so I'll check back here soon...later.

Kristin

Sunday, April 18, 2004 8:36 PM CDT

Okay, so I'll go back tomorrow, and hopefully I'll be outta there by prom. If I drink more liquids than I did last time, I'll be fine. Today, Nancy, Abby, and Maddie came over and that was a good time. We watched the race, and that was about it. Sorry this is so short, but I have to get up at 5 a.m. tomorrow to be in Rochester by 7, so I'm gonna go to bed shortly.

Kristin

Saturday, April 17, 2004 7:42 PM CDT

MY LIVER ENZYMES ARE TOO HIGH!! I went back to the Mayo Clinic on Friday to get my blood drawn, and when the labs came back, my liver enzymes were still too high to admit me to the hospital for treatment, so I came home for the weekend. I've been eating a lot better. Today I went to the farm and rode the four wheeler and did some other stuff. It was fun. Thats it for now because the day wiped me out. I am super tired...so I'll check back some other time.

Kristin

Thursday, April 15, 2004 8:29 PM CDT

Hey everyone, sorry that I'm slipping with the updates, but I promise that while I'm in the hospital, they'll come more frequently. Anyway, I was supposed to go back for treatment on Wednesday, April 14, but the enzymes in my liver were too high to start it again, so they had me come home (thank god) until Friday. So I'll go in tomorrow until next week for another dose of the same one I got last time. I was happy that it happened like that because this way I'll be good to go for prom. So, i got to go to school today (woo hoo) and then me and mom drove to eleva strum for the softball game. They played awesome, but we left in the fourth inning anyway because we were creaming them, and it was super windy. Anyway, thats it for today, but I'll check back tomorrow after I'm admitted.

Kristin

Sunday, April 11, 2004 5:49 PM CDT

Happy Easter! Today, Mike and Tanya, Bruce and Lori, Grandma and Grandpa, and Mom, Dad, Mitch, and Jarod came to visit. We ordered pizza from Pizza Hut and then everybody went home. It was a lot of fun. I will more than likely go home tomorrow, just in time to turn around and come back on Wednesday. I ate two whole breadsticks today, which is an accomplishment for me. So, thats it for now...i'll check bak with you all later...

kristin

Friday, April 9, 2004 5:15 PM CDT

hey guys...since you want an update, here it is. Its goin to be short and sweet...i haven't eaten much in the last two days, but thats typical. i don't really have much of an appetite, but it'll come. I'm basically just sitting here and watching tv, so i'm having LOADS of fun...cough cough...anyways, thats about it for now, so i'll check w/ ya'll later

kristin

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 8:53 PM CDT

Okay--i think i figured out what was wrong..in my past journal entries, one of the them is out of place...but everything else is fine...so i just thought i would update it with a little more information this time...i will actually start my chemo at about 9:15 and it will run for about 4 hours...um...they're putting me on some meds right now for side efects...so i'll check back with you all later...

luv ya,
kristin

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 3:33 PM CDT

Okay, I dont know what is up, but all the guest book things are up to date...but the journal i added last night isn't there, so this is it. I added one picture from the softball game last night. So everybody can rest at ease now...I'm in the hospital right now, and all they've done is fluids, so yea...sign my guestbook or email me if you get the chance...

kristin

Saturday, March 27, 2004 5:21 PM CST

Hey everyone...sorry the updates are coming later rather than sooner, but hey-at least they're coming. Today was a boring day at the hospital, but i ate a lot. I ate a donut, mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC, spaghettios, and a milky way. Nancy, Joe, and Jenny came over to see me and take my mom home. They brought me the spaghettios and some gatorade, so that was good. Early this morning, i broke my fever, but now I have a small one again. But nothing so serious that they're worried. So thats about it for today...I'll check back here tomorrow...

kristin

Monday, April 5, 2004 9:59 PM CDT

Hey guys--

I know its a little late, but I had a Jazz Band concert at C-FC tonight, which rocked!! It was soo much fun. Then we came home, and dad put some hamburgers on the grill, which were also awesome. Then, i showed off my softball uniform, and those, by the way, also rock! So, overall, today was an awesome day. I spent most of the day thinking about what it would be like to go back to the medieval times, (thanks Jordan...lol). and if you think about it, it would be pretty aweseome. Anyways, tomorrow, i have to go to school, and then i get to go to the softball game vs. Whitehall at the beach...it should be a good time. And thats about it for today...and don't worry, there are more pictures coming...mom tried to take some at the jazz band concert, but they didn't turn out so well, so we'll take some at the softball game tomorrow, and try to put them up tomorrow night. I go back to Rochester on Wednesday for treatment, and boy am I looking forward to that..cough, cough. I think that this is about enough for tonight, so i'll check with ya'll tomorrow!!

kristin

Sunday, April 4, 2004 8:06 PM CDT

Hey guys! Sorry i haven't updated in awhile. I've been a little busy. The last few days have been great. I'm feeling good and eating like crazy. I have tons of energy. Today Sharl and Jeff Gearing came to visit for a little while,and that was fun. Yesterday, i cut all my hair off because it was beginning to be a pain in the butt. but now i have a wig and i got it cut and i guess it looks okay. Everyone says it does. It had to be cut to have bangs, and i'm not used to them yet, so it will take a little while. but its better than going around without hair at all. So thats about all thats new. I'll check back later...

kristin

Thursday, April 1, 2004 8:07 PM CST

So, there still isn't much to say except that i'm eating like crazy and i'm going to school for full days. I'm looking forward to a jazz band concert at C-FC on Monday, and a softball game on tuesday...those should be very fun. i go back on wednesday, and i'm not looking forward to that. So thats about it for today, but i'll check with ya all tomorrow...cya

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:31 PM CST

Hey guys! Today i went back to school for the whole day, and i had a ton of energy. I'm feeling like i did before i started all this. I'm catching up with all my homework in school. I'm eating normally, except some things still dont sound good. Thats about it, there's not really much more to say. I go back for treatment on the 7th. I'm just glad to be home and feeling good. I'll check back tomorrow....oh and i'm going to add some pictures tonight as well. Todd Anibas, Dale Kircher, and Scott Hayes came by when they were done with work for a little while and Dale brought me a Jamie McMurray shirt from the race at Bristol, so of course mom wanted pictures for the site, so look for those later tonight...not sure when i'll put them up.

kristin

Monday, March 29, 2004 1:11 PM CST

Guys!!! i'm coming home from the hospital today. I'm feeling really great. My blood count is back up to normal, so they're letting me go. They've got me on my last antibiotic right now, and then me and Grandma are waiting for my Grandpa to finish his test, and we will be on our way home from Rochester! So I'll be back at home. Thats really all I have to say for now, so I'll check back with you all later.

kristin

Sunday, March 28, 2004 8:20 PM CST

okay, this journal isn't going to be much different than the last. Today, Heidi and Holly came over for the race. Mom's boss, Dave who lives in rochester, came for a while. And Grandma and Grandpa S. came over today cuz Grandpa had to stay the night for some test in the morning, so Grandma is going to spend the night with me, so it should be interesting. Today i ate a lot again...was really wide awake, and wasn't tired at all...until now...its been a long day, so i'll go now. I was told today thought, that i could go home tomorrow if my counts go up they way they have been, but if not, i'll be home on tuesday. So i'll cya all then i guess...

kristin

Saturday, March 27, 2004 5:21 PM CST

Hey everyone...sorry the updates are coming later rather than sooner, but hey-at least they're coming. Today was a boring day at the hospital, but i ate a lot. I ate a donut, mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC, spaghettios, and a milky way. Nancy, Joe, and Jenny came over to see me and take my mom home. They brought me the spaghettios and some gatorade, so that was good. Early this morning, i broke my fever, but now I have a small one again. But nothing so serious that they're worried. So thats about it for today...I'll check back here tomorrow...

kristin

Friday, March 26, 2004 5:27 PM CST

okay, i'm gonna make this one short and sweet...i'm back in the hospital because i had a fever...but the doctors got me taken care of, so i'm alright now. I ate a milkshake for lunch, but i couldn't keep it down, so that wasn't too pleasant, but o well...anyways, thats it for now because i'm really REALLY tired...i'll check back here later...

kristin

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:53 PM CST

I guess I'm supposed to update this page everyday, so here it is, even if it is kind of late. Today i went to school again, but i still can't seem to make it through a full day, so i came home at noon. I ate some more today, but it didn't go as well as yesterday. I felt a little sick all day. Then, at about six, i got up and sat out on the deck. Heidi Stewart came by to give me a present. It was a really cool volleyball that was yellow w/ a smiley face on it! But, thats about it for today, so i'll check back tomorrow...cya later.

Tuesday, March 23, 2004 2:47 PM CST

Okay...here i am again...anyway, my check up went well. I basically heard what everybody's been telling me: "EAT!!" So dad brought me home and made me spaghettios and i ate some. They were actually good. I finally get to take my magnesium pill once a day, but the chalky one is still twice, and the i get a GCFS (?) shot nightly...i really love that! anyways, everyone at mayo is real nice, especially Donna and Dr. Anderson (see, i am writing good stuff about mayo in here:)) And thats about it for now. Oh, and we bought a digital camera a couple days ago, but don't look for pics anytime soon, but eventually, i'll put some up...check w/ ya all later!

Monday, March 22, 2004 8:42 PM CST

Hey guys!! Today, I feel great...okay not great, but a lot better than before...i went to school for a couple hours this morning, and then i came home in the afternoon. And believe it or not, i ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some soup! Tomorrow, i have a check up appointment w/ the doctors, so this is it for tonight...i'll check back tomorrow w/ another update...

Sunday, March 21, 2004 12:03 AM CST

I came home on Friday, but I don't feel all that great. I haven't eaten much in the last 3 days. I ate some teddy grahams, and some ham...it was alright...i'll probably be coming back to school on Wednesday, if i'm feeling better than this. So i'm gonna go now, cuz i'm still extremely tired, and my aunt and uncle came over, so i'll check w/ ya all later.

Thursday, March 18, 2004 8:09 PM

Hey guys! Today, I got my second (and last!!) round of chemo...and i'm feeling a little sick to my stomach, but its alright. Anyways, today, Whitney, Heidi, Alyssa, Brittany, Sarah, and Hannah came over to visit me. They had tons of presents for me and I was very happy to see them. I'm exhausted from my chemo, so i'm gonna leave it at that for today. I may update it tomorrow, but I will more than likely be leaving the hospital tomorrow. I'm so excited...and I can't wait to go home. I'll check w/ everybody tomorrow hopefully. Keep the prayers cominig my way!!

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 3:10 PM

So, today was my very first day of chemo. Surprisingly, it went well. I am feeling a little tired, but nothing else. I'm extremely bored, so look for an update every day I'm in the hospital. I doubt that I will update it while I'm at home. Today, I found out that I may be able to participate in the Make a Wish Program. In that program, I can wish for anything because it's for people who are sick like I am. So that made me feel a little better. By 4:30 i should be off the drugs, but i'll still be getting fluid, so i'll be using the bathroom about every two hours. That isn't the greatest thing in the world...lol. But anyway...feel free to sign the guestbook, but just to warn you, i probably won't have any pics in the gallery becuase i don't have a digital camera. So check back tomorrow...love ya all. --kristin

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