JAK CHAT

by Just Add Kids Founder,  Paula Herrmann My how the time flies. A little over a year ago, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. A spring and summer journey bounced between the hospital and residential rehab facility, he was finally brought home for Labor Day weekend. He successfully licked the cancer. Unreal. Yet, numerous seemingly minor (compared to the cancer) issues continued to surface. His quality of life sucked. Mostly exhausted, on oxygen 24/7, in pain due to degenerative disc issue that no surgeon would touch, my dad's body finally had it. He died on Monday, May 23rd at 2:18pm. Myself, my mom, two of my children, my siblings, and a number of other family members and friends, were there when he passed. I'm a lucky gal. I had. My siblings had. My mom had. My hubs had. My kids had. Many had a great relationship with my dad. He was a great guy. Although the last year of his life was not a pleasant one for him, it sure was a gift to us. Knowing that we di...

With Miracle Whip: The Sandwich Generation by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann That's the life I'm being served up, at this time. That of the "sandwich generation".  I've recently stepped into the role of caring for my aging parents while supporting my own children. Wowza, did that happen fast! Thank God I have siblings that are pitching in. To recap... (Read more....) 2 weeks ago ..."Then finally, on the path to back surgery, my dad's health has significantly diminished. Not sure what exactly has happened here. But he surely isn't the same man he was only a short month ago. So with this intro, I've gotta run. It's back to my parents place to help my mom navigate through this strange, unwanted new world as we work with professionals to figure out....what the heck is going on?"    Last week ..."Above was the introduction to last week's JAK Happenings weekly e-newsletter. That next day, Friday, May 1st, my dad was taken to the...

Pink Optimism by JAK’s guest mom blogger from Racine, Hope Bosak Last week I bought a cozy, fleecy, pinky, jacket for my soon to be five year old daughter. It had a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon adorning the front. Now it wasn't cheap, and I don't have money to burn, but after what we've been through, I felt this jacket was made for her. What other four year old is so observant of that pink ribbon, that she would proudly wear it on her jacket? Her face beamed when I surprised her with it! One and a half years ago (April Fools Day, 2010), I was shockingly diagnosed with Stage 2 ,Grade 3 Breast Cancer Read More.... As a wife, mother of a ten and a three year old, and a licensed In-Home Family Child Care Provider  for the past 15 years, this was not part of our plan. Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer will tell you; when you hear those words” Yes, you do have cancer”, your life is immediately, and forever, changed.  You adapt to your NEW NORMAL, as it is current...