CHOC Children's Mental Health Center

Recently I was blessed to be able to go to a press conference at CHOC 

for the new pediatric mental health center they're building.

I was particularly excited to be asked to attend 

because of the mental health issues I struggled with as a child. 

I inherited anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder from my parents,

and was always trying to hide it and control it.

Mental health awareness was not big in those days.

When I grew up and got the courage to receive treatment,
I decided that it would not be a shameful thing.
I set about sharing my story in an attempt to reduce the stigma of mental illness 
and encourage others to seek treatment for their own benefit and those around them.
Each life is so valuable, and so is each person's gifts they have to share with the world.
If we could be as proactive at treating mental illness as we are at treating physical illness, 
think of the lives we could save and the good that would come out of them!

The CHOC Children's Mental Health Center is coming to fruition 

because of the efforts of many dedicated individuals, including Pastor Rick and Kay Warren. 

They lost their son to his own struggles with depression and were anxious that other children 

would have better resources than were available to them in Orange County.

One in five children experience a diagnosable mental health condition during childhood, 

yet there are no psychiatric inpatient beds for patients under 12 

and insufficient inpatient beds for adolescents in Orange County hospitals.

The center will cost $11 million to build and $16 million to keep it running.

Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, managing partner, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, 

has donated a $5 million lead gift to help establish CHOC Children's Mental Health Inpatient Center!

The center will house 18 beds in a secure environment with an outdoor area as well.

Plans are for construction to be completed in late 2017.

CHOC Children's President and CEO Kimberly Chavalas Cripe 

wants to make this center a model for other hospitals all over to duplicate.

"We want to promote honest dialog about children suffering from mental illness, 

helping to remove the social stigma. By inspiring others to share their stories, 

we hope to help them to heal and help others on their paths toward recovery and healing. 

We know our plans are ambitious, but they are critical and life-saving. 

The vision begins with establishing a caring home at CHOC Children's 

for children and their families to turn to for help," Cripe said.

To learn more about ways to give to CHOC Children's mental health campaign, 

call the CHOC Children's Foundation at 714-509-8690 or visit www.choc.org/mentalhealthgiving.

Skoy Cloth - Earth Friendly Cleaning

I am all about saving the planet...if it's easy.

Enter Skoy Cloths!

I was introduced to Skoy Cloths a few years ago and have been hooked!

They are easy to use and so cost effective!

Cleaning is an inevitable part of life, and the kitchen always has something to be wiped or scrubbed!

The usual sponges get stinky so fast and get food particles stuck in their grooves.

They gross me out and I was thrilled to find a better alternative in Skoy Cloths!

Skoy cloths can tackle big messes; each one absorbs 15 times its own weight!

Just wet it down, wring it out, and clean that mess up!

And when it gets dirty or stinky, just throw it in the wash!

Skoy cloths are dishwasher and washer/dryer safe!

You can also microwave your cloths to keep them germ-free!

Each skoy cloth saves 15 rolls of paper towels!!

I can attest to this, as I have been using my same 4 pack for years!!

And when they finally start to fall apart, you can feel comfortable tossing them

as Skoy cloths are also biodegradable and natural!

You can get your own Skoy products on their website or on Amazon.com!

They have Skoy cloths and scrubbers and a magnetic rail to hang your cloths on.

Check out all their patterns and colors!

And now for the best part...you can win your own 4 pack!

Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Hooves - Petting Zoo and Pony Rides

One of our favorite memories is when the Happy Hooves ponies came to Kelsey's party!

It was her wish to have a pony party, and we couldn't have asked for sweeter ponies!

I searched for ponies in Orange County and found Happy Hooves!

They are a family fun business and offer a petting farm and/or pony rides.

 The ponies are perfect for girls or boys and are a great party attraction.

The kids all lined up and waited to ride over and over again!

Check out Happy Hooves for your next party!

Let them know I sent you!

PETTING FARM Animals May Include: Miniature pot belly pig, Goats, a Duck, Assorted Chickens, Bunnies and other seasonal baby farm animals. 1 Hour of petting ............................. $225.00 2 Hours of petting ........................... $275.00 Add a mini cow................ additional $50.00

PONY RIDES Includes: 1 pony that is hand led and rides given to all the young guests. (weight restrictions apply) Available themes include: Cowboy, Cowgirl, Princess (colors available to match your party) 1 Hour, 1 Pony ......................................... $225.00 1 Hour, 2 Ponies ..................................... $275.00 2 Hours, 1 Pony ...................................... $275.00 2 Hours, 2 Ponies .................................. $300.00 ** Add a pony for an addition $50 per hour

PETTING FARM & PONY COMBO 1 Hour Zoo & 1 Pony ....................... $300.00 1 Hour Zoo & 2 Ponies ................... $350.00 2 Hour Zoo & 1 Pony ...................... $350.00 2 Hour Zoo & 2 Ponies ................... $375.00 Add a Mini cow .................additional $25.00

For those guests above the weight restrictions, they are allowed to hand lead the pony instead of ride.

We Don't Have to Agree to be Kind

I am a person with strong convictions.

I am friends with people who have their own strong convictions.

Sometimes we agree...

and sometimes we don't.

I always find it interesting that when people don't agree,

they feel it necessary to try to convince others to see their viewpoint.

Often with angry words and accusations.

I wonder if anyone has ever been convinced in this manner.

I suspect not.

I have watched with sadness as people on both sides of an issue 

feel it necessary to bash each other and belittle their opinions.

It's a waste of time and only creates more communities of hate rather than unify us in love.

"Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

Dr. Martin Luther King

As the political and social views fluctuate please remember:

1. Be Kind.

2. Be Respectful

3. Be Loving

We don't have to agree on ANYTHING...to be KIND to one another.

Please share the below images if you believe we can be kind even when we don't agree.

I love you my friends...

no matter what you believe.

XOXO

Jaime

It Never Ends... Mastectomy and Chemo Take 3

The last few months have been a blur of chemo, 

doctor appointments, scans and surgery!

My breast lumps responded well to the chemo cocktail of Taxol, Herceptin and Perjeta

 and shrunk so fast that I was ready for surgery in no time!

Surgery was scheduled for 4 weeks after chemo ended.

The decision was made to do a unilateral mastectomy and reconstruction,

which means they would only remove one breast, the right one.

The left breast could be done later, since it didn't have cancer.

Every surgery carries risk, and since my body was immunocompromised from a year of chemo,

they thought it would be too risky to do both.

If I got an infection, the implant would have to be removed and could not be replaced.

I don't remember going to sleep before surgery and before I knew it, 

I was waking up in a completely different hospital gown in the recovery room!

I had a 2 inch incision in my armpit from the lymph node biopsy

and 3 drains coming out of incisions on the side of my breast.

There was also the breast incision that spanned the bottom of my breast.

The drains had to be emptied 3 times a day 

and the fluids measured to make sure there wasn't too much leakage. 

As soon as the draining became minimal, the drains could be removed.

It took over a week and was miserable.

The drains would get tugged on and hurt as they were sewn into my skin.

The biopsy incision itchy and uncomfortable.

No deodorant was allowed for several weeks as everything healed and it smelled weird.

The recovery was longer than I expected and tested my patience and good humor.

At last I was able to go without pain pills and was able to return to work!

I was so happy to be back in the wonderful environment of my school,

surrounded by the love and support of the kids, parents and teachers!

And then I saw my oncologist.

Although my scans showed no cancer, they can't detect everything.

She was starting me on chemo again.

I was so sad.

I was ready to be strong and healthy and have an amazing summer 

and another surgery so my breasts would match!

I was not ready to lose my hair and break out in chemo acne and ache and be tired!

I came home from that appointment and sat down and cried.

And cried.

My husband found me sitting on the toilet bawling.

Pretty pathetic.

And then that night as I lay awake, I received a message from my Heavenly Father.

He told me that this was an answer to my prayers.

I wanted a summer to have fun with my kids and this chemo would give it to me.

This chemo would prevent me from having surgery and having more recovery time!

This was the mild chemo that I worked through in the spring, and I could drive!

This chemo would allow me to have a summer so different from the last one.

I began to feel better about the whole thing.

But as I write this, I feel awful.

I'm nauseous and tired.

And I still resent the chemo.

I forget just how lucky I really am!

My chemo is working!

Not everyone's cancer responds well to their treatment 

and they have to undergo so much more than I do.

Although never ending, my treatments are always effective.

I am alive.

And that's all that matters.

Be brave.

Be kind.

Life is beautiful.

And we are blessed.

XOXO

Jaime