Introduction

It starts with the title. I've been given a lot of lemons. There are times when I feel a whole truck load has been dropped off at my house. I've had to make a lot of lemonade. I feel like I am constantly making the best of things.  Porcupine because advocating for my son has resulted in me becoming outright prickly to get things accomplished. Professionals talk a good talk. If I am not careful I can head down a path that I don't want to be on. It can be distracting from my goal. It becomes a matter of focus.

I'm in my early 40's. I have two children.  I have had three.  I've been married to my husband for 25 years.  Although my husband and I have stayed married our relationship, for many, many reasons has been up and down and very rocky.  At times, I'll admit almost at complete meltdown almost beyond repair.  We've lived apart for periods of time throughout our relationship, but have managed many times to pull it together.  We have had more than our fair share of heartbreak, heartache, and tragedy together and it hasn't always made us stronger... but we are working on it.  

In 1993, our first child was born healthy and suffered an illness shortly after birth.  This illness forever changed the course of our lives.  Our son F had encephalitis as a newborn resulting in severe brain damage and disabilities. In 1995, our second child, Cienna, was born healthy and shortly after her birth, three weeks to be exact, she was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma.  A rare children's cancer of the eye.  She would only live to the age of three years and eighteen days.   

Losing Cienna to cancer was and still is my greatest tragedy.  I think I can speak for my son and husband and say it was for them as well.  Cienna was our joy.  She helped put F's disabilities into perspective.  Losing her caused all three of us to lose a part of ourselves.  It would be a long time before we stopped just going through the motions of life. 

Then after two years of grief, we stepped back into living again.  It began on February 22, 2000, when our daughter, C, was born.  From the very first day she came into our lives she was a ball of energy, vibrant, and full of life... and HEALTHY! LIfe has been a whirlwind journey ever since.