Welcome to Georgia's Journey

Georgia Lily Lucas was born at home on October 6th, 2008 4:15am, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was diagnosed with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) on April 1, 2009.

On April 3rd Georgia was taken home, to be near her sisters and the rest of her family and friends. Nearly three weeks later, on April 21, 2009, she died peacefully -- in the loving arms of her mother and in the same room in which she was born.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Good News

I was going to post something about a lesson I learned the other day but instead I thought that I would share some great news. Today, my cousin Nicki got the 'all normal' from her last scan meaning she is cancer free and in her words "It's over." Congratulations on a victory well fought Nicki! They are going to have a big "Got Well" party on July 1st as well as celebrate her 21st birthday. I'm thinking that they may have a house full.

Mike and I have also decided to take off on our own. We haven't been out, just the two of us, for more than a night since before Calla was born and she is now 5. So, where do you think a couple should go for some quiet time to reflect and heal? Nope, not some mountain resort somewhere or a tropical beach. We're on our way to Vegas! I know, I know it seems rather inappropriate but we've always wanted to go. We're not gamblers at all but are very interested in the shows and all of the attractions.

We ended up picking a package through West Jet which includes two tickets to a show so we're guaranteed to see at least one. We are going to be staying at the Mirage. We just picked it without knowing anything about it. After everything was booked I looked up Top 10 things to do in Vegas and one of them was the Atrium at the Mirage. Why am I now surprised to be staying at a hotel full of beautiful tropical birds?! We don't leave until mid July and are very excited.

Just to make things a little bit better the weather finally started to cooperate today. We hit 29 degrees and it was sunny all day. I think that I can actually see some lettuce growing in my garden! As for the birds, I am almost ready to agree that the ones that I saw that day might have been Blue-headed Vireos. I had seen pictures of them before and they didn't look quite right but since looking at more images I think that we may have a winner.

One last good thing: As of today the Strongs down in California have raised over twenty thousand dollars for the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation. Check it out at sponsoramile.com

Love to you all,

Kristen

12 comments:

  1. WE will be in Vegas for my sister-in-laws wedding mid July as well! Have a great time!

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  2. there is nothing strange or odd about Vegas at all Kristen! We are in the same situation as you, haven't ever been away and our oldest is 6 1/2, so we too have decided to head to vegas in October for our 10th anniversary! You and Mike will have a wonderful time! You deserve it! You enjoy those birds!
    Lisa P

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  3. When we went to Vegas last year it was the first time we had gone away as well. Gambling is not my thing either. We went to the Beatles show, Mamma Mia, and a Cirque de Soleil. All really awsome. You guys will have a wonderful time, it's almost impossible not to!
    Jen

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  4. It's great to hear that you and Mike are going to Vegas! We haven't been to Vegas but we've been to a Cirque du Soleil show in Disney World. It is worth the money to see one of their shows! You and Mike will have a great time!

    Gerry (Morgan & Avery's mom)

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  5. That's great to hear. The time alone away is so necessary and so worth it! You will have a great time together!

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  6. I'm so happy to hear that you and Mike are going for a trip alone. You deserve it!!! Ken and I went away in January and I was so worried about leaving the boys. One of my friends told me that it is good (and important) for your marriage and she was so right. It was great for Ken and I to just connect again. When we returned home our kids were fine, of course, and we had no problem getting back into routine. They didn't hold it against us for leaving them.

    You'll LOVE Vegas.. even if you don't gamble. Just visiting all the hotels is interesting enough. Make sure you go downtown to the old Vegas strip where they have a video canopy over the main street (you can take a bus there). Wear comfortable shoes - lots of walking. If you can do it...see Cirque du Soleil..It's amazing!

    Congratulations Nicki!!!

    Oh, and I agree with your comments about the turnout at the Cancer walk. And way to go, Grandma!!!!

    Lorna

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  7. Have a awesome time you guys eat dinner "hot" drink things "cold" and just spend time together. It is so important to reconnect! I think so many people forget you were married first... and that the two of you are just as important as the kids. You come back refreshed.
    Love yous lots!
    Vanessa

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  8. Congrats to Nicki, what wonderful news! I know your family would have been waiting for this news and will celebrate well and truly on the 1st!

    Vegas will be great! It will be a great time for you and Mike to reconnect as a couple and some much needed 'time away'. Bruce and I haven't left the girls yet but one day it will happen I hope! We saw Cirque de Soleil "0" (the water show) and sat in the 'splash seats' and it was amazing. We both said it was well worth the money and we would have paid it just to see the set-one minute they are diving from 15 floors up and as the person enters the water someone else is running across it-amazing!

    Hope you are having a good day and congrats again to Nicki-and Happy 21st too!

    Love Em

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  9. Couldn't agree more ... Cirque de Soleil "O". A must see! I treated myself to it while on business trip over my birthday. Someone told me it's "better entertainment than rink side seats at 7th game Stanley Cup ...(and he was a hockey fan). He didn't lie - worth every penny! We bought seats same day and sat back row of floor section, directly below where the show begins - in the crowd. "Look UP!" Splash seats are fun too from what I could tell, but you probably get better perspective sitting a little bit back, to capture everything.
    On the opposite extreme - countless free entertainment ... remember the Fountains Of Bellagio featured at tail end of "Ocean's Eleven" to the tune of "Claire du Lune"? Magnificent!
    So much to see! Have a great time!
    Glen

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  10. Make sure to hit the half price ticket stands. You go the morning of and get cheap tickets to amazing shows. You can even buy cheap meal tickets from the same place.
    Have fun!!
    Vegas is one of my top five places to visit!
    Tina

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  11. Vegas is the exact opposite of reality....I felt like a child the first time I went; I always had a deliciously naughty feeling and kept waiting for my mum to poke her head around the corner to tell me to behave. We stayed at The Mirage the first time we went...it is right in the heart of all "The Strip" action. The pool is beautiful and I spent every morning sitting there by myself enjoying the sights and sounds(and the occasional margarita of course). Cirque de Soleil's "LOVE" plays there and it literally brought tears to my eyes. The rollercoaster on top of New York New York also brought tears to my eyes but tears of pure laughter and unadulterated joy. Enjoy yourselves, enjoy each other and laugh laugh laugh!

    Sarah

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