Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of Sam and it’s almost like I don’t recognize him.
In my mind, he looks like this.
A little boy with a bowling ball for a head. There were times we’d worry that he would actually never develop a neck.
But I must have blinked or something, because now he looks like this.
His face thinned out and his features turning sharper. He looks so old. I’ve learned from his sister, though, that even though he looks to me like he is so grown up at four, he’ll keep growing and before long I’ll be looking back wistfully at the little four year old I once knew… who is now a teenage boy.
Um, now that I think about it, a teenage boy does not seem that appealing. I’d like to keep my sweet four year old, if that’s cool. Remind me again where the pause button is?
So, I’m sure for the last 21 days you’ve been all “It’s September, when is Emily going to start talking about ovaries??” Well, fortunately for you, that time has come.
In case you don’t know what I’m talking about and think I’ve completely lost it, September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a cause that is important to me and Jenny, and we like to talk about it – a lot – because we want everyone to be aware and know the signs and symptoms of this craptastic disease.
In case you were wondering, the awareness color for ovarian cancer is teal. I currently have my nails painted teal, which is great because as I was doing a little teal shopping online this week I discovered that it’s ALSO the color for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder awareness. SO convenient that I can support two causes that impact me at once!
But seriously, though, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – know the signs and symptoms!
Signs & Symptoms
• Bloating
• Pelvic and/or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)
Risk Factors
• Increasing age, with highest occurrence in women over 50
• Family or personal history of ovarian, breast, endometrial, or colon cancer
• Uninterrupted ovulation (having no pregnancies, infertility, low parity)
• Presence of gene mutations, especially BRCA 1 or BRCA 2
Prevention & Risk Reduction
• Use of oral contraceptives for more than five years can reduce your risk by approximately 50%
• Multiple pregnancies, having first full-term pregnancy before the age of 25
• Breastfeeding
Until next September (or the next time I harp at you, whichever comes first), I will leave you with this – a bit of wisdom from one of America’s great music legends… Debbie Gibson. You’re welcome. (And if you’d like to join me in my minivan today, we can rock out to Electric Youth together.) (nope, not even kidding.)
Exciting news – Disney on Ice Treasure Trove is coming to Dayton… and we’re giving away tickets!
Show Blurb
Discover endless riches when Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove comes to your hometown! Disney On Ice sets the gold standard with its newest skating spectacular. Get tangled up in Disney’s 50 th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses –Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White. Ahoy, Mateys! Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook & his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Neverland! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ Tick-Tock! Tick-Tock! Don’t be late to a very important date with Alice & the Madhatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army Of Cards. Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.
My family and I have seen other Disney on Ice shows (oh my lord my kids were so little. and cute.), and they are just amazing. I cannot wait to see this one! Treasure Trove will be in Dayton at the Nutter Center October 18-21 and in Cincinnati at the US Bank Arena October 24-27.
We’re giving away a four pack of tickets (more on that for a minute) – but everyone can get free tickets (and do some good) by taking part in the Royal Princess Dress Drive hosted by Clothes that Work. Clothes that Work is a Dayton-area non-profit that provides interview clothing and image coaching to men, women and teens. They’re asking Dayton-area residents to help local high school girls attend their school proms by donating a new or gently used formal dress, which will then be distributed to the girls in March. For each dress donated, the donor will receive one free ticket voucher to Disney on Ice presents Treasure Trove opening night performance on Thursday, October 18th. The Royal Princess Dress Drive will be held this Saturday, September 22, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Clothes that Work (1133 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd, Ste. 392, Dayton).
We hope you’ll participate in the Dress Drive – if you’re like us, you’ve got a couple bridesmaids dresses laying around that could be put to good use! To enter our giveaway, leave a comment on this post about your prom experience! The giveaway will close on Sunday, September 23 and a winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!
