Friday, July 31, 2009

Hannah is now counting down the days until Grandma and Grandpa's house. We leave on Tuesday for Indiana. Looking forward to seeing everyone there, to the hot dog stand, the new Olive Garden, Roma's pizza, fishing, the water park, campfires, etc. etc.

I few things to update on-Auctions for Sarah-we did fairly well between the auctions and the donations. So far, we have raised $700, which I have already forwarded to Sarah's family. I am still awaiting payments on some auctions, so I hope they will come in and raise our totals a bit. THANK YOU to all of you that bid on the auctions and donated money. Sarah's mom is so appreciative of everything from all of you.

Backing up a bit-Hannah was in the summer play again this year-Beauty Lou and the Country Beast. What a difference from last year. Last year Hannah took a while to warm up to the play and the people. She had one of the assistants with her the entire time. I had to go each day at lunch to eat with her because she had such a hard time socializing with the other kids, even her friends. One year later, although she was reluctant walking in on the first day, she jumped right in. No longer did she need Marissa, the wonderful young girl there by her side 24/7. She was able to function independently, and she was having fun! She did mention to me that she ate lunch by herself (because she just couldn't go over by her friends that were already sitting together) but she was happy to go back each day for practice. She had a speaking part this year (two lines I think). Even Marissa noticed how different Hannah was this year, so great to see! Here are a few pictures of Hannah in the play as one of the "country folk."

This week has been a bit of a tough week. we have all been sick, it started with Dave so we're blaming it on him (ha ha). Then it moved to Hannah, and this week Colby and I both got it. Starts with a sore throat and fever, eventually turns into a cold. So, on top of not feeling well, we had a death in the family. Chester, Hannah's hamster died this week. I went in to wake up Hannah and noticed Chester "climbing up" the side of the cage, but not moving. Poor thing didn't live that long here. We wrapped him in newspaper, carried him (crying) out into the front yard, and buried him (after kissing the package) with a few words of what a good life he had here with us. He really was a good pet, he was friendly and we had a lot of fun with him for the short period of time he was here with us. THANK GOODNESS it wasn't little Tod, that's what I kept thinking!



Hannah also got to throw out the first pitch at the North Fork Ospreys game yesterday. It's a team of college students that are invited to play from all over for the summer in this league. These players are from division I, II and II schools. It's quite an operation! We thought it was very nice of them to call and ask, and Hannah, already having experience from her Hofstra debut, was ready to go! She kept saying that she was too nervous to do it. She said she was nervous because they were all BOYS! One of the "boys" lead her out to throw the pitch and she threw a stinger, right to the catcher! It was great! The players were very nice, each coming out to give Hannah a high "5" after her pitch and signing a ball for during the game. She also got it signed by Ozz, the Osprey team mascot, which completed the team for her!

To round out the week, Hannah went to horseback riding today, while Colby stayed at home with a fever. Hannah was riding a horse today that was quite a bit bigger than the pony she usually rides. She was trotting along when she started to tilt a bit to the side and I could tell she was losing her balance. She slipped off the side of the saddle, almost in slow motion. The horse was very good, and stopped right away, but Hannah just wasn't strong enough to pull herself back up. She let go and fell to the ground. She wasn't hurt, but she was upset. She ran out crying. She was finally coaxed back in by the instructor, got back up on the horse (as they say) and trotted around again. She wasn't hurt at all, just mad and upset. We told her she is now an official horseback rider. You have to fall off before you can join that club!

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Kim

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Just a reminder that our Auctions for Sarah are coming to a close this evening (most of them). Thank you to all of you for your donations, and your ebay bids. Every little bit helps this family.

Please remember there are 3 ways to donate:

1. Bid on an ebay auction. To find the ebay auctions, please click on this link: Sarah's Ebay Auctions. I have 66 auctions listed, and 36 of those have bids, so I’m hoping they ALL have at least a minimum bid by tonight.
2. Donate money via paypal to email address kprokop@optonline.net
3. Donate money by sending a check made out to Kim Prokop to me at:
Kim Prokop
1556 Grand Avenue
Mattituck, NY 11952

Thank you for your participation and your generosity. I will be posting our final monies raised after all transactions are complete! Please stop by and check it out!


Kim

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Hannah the Swimmer!!

Hannah the actress (I've yet to update on that from last week) decided that she wanted to become Hannah the swimmer with all of her friends. This was a real leap for her, so I went with it and immediately contacted the director of North Fork Swim Club. Hannah went for a tryout and there was an opening on the Snappers. They have to be able to stay afloat, but the purpose of the team at this level is to teach them all of the different strokes, and how to swim better.

She did great at the try outs, although she cried when she didn't know one of the strokes. Tonight she started out strong, completed the warm up, did great with the kick board laps. But when they started the actual swimming, she did one lap, then out of the pool crying. She said she was too tired, and it is still new for her, so she is still a bit intimidated.

The coaches are great, and helped her through. Then our friend Marissa (the most wonderful teenager we met through "Hannah the actress") showed up. She is one of the coaches-and one of Hannah's favorite people. She helped Hannah through and Hannah made it through her first official practice. I think it will continue to get better for her as she gets used to the practices and becomes familiar with it.

It's progress for her. A year ago she wouldn't have even walked in the door to the pool area. Now, with only a little coaxing, she is there and participating. Awesome!

Our ebay Auctions for Sarah are doing well so far. Now I can't stop! I'm continuing to scour my house for more things to list, and listed quite a few more tonight. Thanks for stopping by the auctions to take a look, the link to all of the listings is HERE. Please check back in past postings here for information on other ways to simply donate instead of bidding on ebay. Thank you!!

Kim








Sunday, July 19, 2009

It's here! It's here!


TIME FOR AUCTIONS FOR SARAH!
To find the ebay auctions, please click on this link: Sarah's Ebay Auctions

This link will bring up all of our Auctions for Sarah listings.

Our ebay fundraiser for Sarah and her family started this evening. We currently have 57 Auctions online! Whew! Thank you to all of you who donated from near and far.

The auctions will be posted for only ONE WEEK, ending on Sunday, July 26th. Please go by and check them out, there are many things of all values, small and large to bid on.

If ebay is not your cup of tea, but you still would like to donate to Sarah to help pay for her medical expenses, you can send me money directly via PAYPAL through email kprokop@optonline.net. Any amount is so appreciated. You can also send me money directly via the mail at:

Kim Prokop

1556 Grand Avenue

Mattituck NY 11952

Please make all checks out to me, I plan to put everything together into one check to send to Sarah.

If you believe in signs, today was one big sign. The priest spoke this morning at mass about giving to those less fortunate. He reminded us "not to hoard what we have, but to help others in need, as we too will be helped in our time of need." I know we have certainly been lifted up several times in our time of need with Hannah, and we are hoping to pull together now to lift another little girl really in need. What a sign!

Thank you to those who have already donated, everything is appreciated!

More tomorrow on "Hannah the actress," our "visitors from Texas," "Hannah the Traveler," and "Hannah the Swimmer." Soon to be followed by "Mom the dead woman!"

Kim

Sunday, July 12th 2009

We are enjoying summer here, even though the weather hasn't been great. I started not one, but two, new jobs a couple weeks ago-waitressing, so it's been interesting. I tell you I have a new respect for the people who wait tables-it's tiring! I've been a bit slow keeping up with my emails, I have 80 unread emails right now...yep!

Hannah has been busy swimming, and doing lots of crafts around the house. She has been working with perler beads, which you make then iron together. I will have to take a photo of the girls with all their designs, they have MANY. It's addicting, I've done some too.

She had a few doctor's appointments last week. We met with the orthopedist who thinks (like her oncologist) that her foot pain may be from her osteoporosis combined with weakness in her feet. They both recommended physical therapy, so we are coordinating that now.

Hannah also had tutoring for math two days a week. Her teacher is really making it fun for her, so it hasn't been too bad. Hannah declared the first day that she wasn't going into the school, but it's been ok so far.

Colby finished her lacrosse camp last week, and really liked it. There were a couple days that she had lacrosse all morning, then basketball at night, so she was pretty tired. Ahh to be young again, she took it all in stride.

We are on the countdown now for the Auctions for Sarah. Hannah is still pulling things out of her room to put on auction, she is keeping me busy. The ebay auctions are starting next Sunday, July 19th. Thank you to those whom have already delivered items to us for sale, emailed items and plan to list yourself. I am still accepting items, both in person and online, please please consider including something for sale to help Sarah and her family. You can contact me at kprokop@optonline.net or 631-298-3580 if you need directions for drop off.

If you are listing your own Auctions for Sarah on ebay, please email me, I have the text to include for your auction so that it can be identified as one of our group auctions. Thank you!

Give from your house, Give from your heart...LET'S HELP SARAH!

Kim

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Recap of Information:

The sale is now scheduled for the week of July 19th on ebay. When listing your auctions, please plan to start them on Sunday, July 19th for 7 days, ending on Sunday, July 26. Of course you can use the Buy it Now option also.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry. I can list your items for you. There are two ways we can list your items on ebay.

1. You can drop off your items at my house, and I will take it from there. Please drop them off here as soon as possible, so I can get started on all the auction listings. I have 17 things I am listing myself, and have started some of them, using the same template for all.

2. If you do not live in town (or you do and want me to list your items, but you can package and mail them yourself) here is what I need for your ebay listing:

1. a picture/pictures of your item via email
2. a description of your item including these:
is it new or used
if used, what condition is it in-as accurate as possible
what is the item (clothing-size, etc, camera, tickets to a game, etc.) Please be specific and as descriptive as possible.
3. I will then take the information and list it on ebay
4. Once the item is sold, I will contact you to advise you to send it, with an address.

Money is always good too, you can send a check to me, made payable to Kim Prokop so that I can cash it and send it with the rest of the money for Sarah. Even easier, consider sending money to me directly via paypal, it's FREE. My paypal address is my email-kprokop@optonline.net

More information:

Through all of my web site connections to other kids with cancer, I have come across the most adorable little girl-Sarah- and her family. You can read Sarah's story HERE. This little girl has Familial Mediterranean Fever a rare incurable life threatening disease. I was just drawn to Sarah and her family, and read all of their blog updates. Sarah has suffered so much in her young age. Her family lives in upstate New York, in a very remote area. Neighbors and supporters are few and far between. Their only fundraiser organized by friends and family brought in minimal amounts.

Sarah's health care costs are numerous, and are rising. Her father's wages are already garnished, so the pay he does bring home is not nearly enough to cover her medical costs. Recently, the family was struggling to even buy the simple necessities, including Tylenol for Sarah. Sarah has not been able to go to the doctor lately, again due to costs. My heart really goes out to them. Cancer is not the only thing-by far-that our kids suffer with. No one deserves or should ever be in this position.

Here is where the CALL FOR HELP comes in. I have decided to put together an online fundraiser for Sarah and her family through ebay. I have been scouring my house for things I can sell on ebay to bring in money for their family. Some of my things are new, some are not, but ebay is good for both. This is like an online yard sale!

I would like to ask that you all do the same-look through things you would like to offer up for sale. Possibly you have season tickets to a Mets/Yankees or Red Sox (oh my) game that you donate to be listed. Perhaps you have other things like:
  • clothes
  • games
  • artwork
  • collectibles
  • your house...just kidding, you know you can sell anything on ebay these days

Do you sell something for a living like Mary Kay, Isagenix, Arbonne, or ??? Everyone surely has something they can donate to this very worthy cause. Can your company help, will they match any funds donated?

Here is how it will work:
  1. Please look around your house and collect the items you would like to donate for the ebay sale
  2. You may list the item(s) yourself on ebay, or send me a photo(s) and a description and I would be happy to list them for you. If you would like me to list something, please email me directly and I will provide you with a list of description items I need for the ebay listing.
  3. Donate monies raised to Sarah and her family. This can be done directly via paypal at NO COST. Old fashioned checks are always good too.
There are a few other details such as how we get the money to the family, when will our ebay sales will start and end, etc. Since this post is very long already, I will be posting again very soon with some more of the details. But for now...go look around your house...PLEASE!

That's it! I know the economy is still not great for many of us, but I am hoping that we all can come together to help a family in true need. We may not be able to give cash (but if you can, that would be GREAT too!) but, if you can find just a few items around your house, even ONE item in your home that could be donated to help another family, that is our purpose. Please look around now!

The ebay auction will be starting within 2-3 weeks (hopefully) so let's get started! Please email me with any questions. Sarah's mom Kim is fully aware of the fundraiser but I'm not sure if she is still online again-not enough money to keep their online service, so please contact me instead.




Sunday, July 5, 2009

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
Our weekend was enjoyable, but pretty uneventful. Colby and Hannah both had friends over, here are some pictures of us at the beach one night. For some reason, everything not bolted down or too heavy went right into the water! We searched for beach glass and shells and just roamed up and down the beach.





We are busy preparing for the Auctions for Sarah. Colby and Hannah both selected items of their own to put on ebay for the sale. Please consider donating some goods....or making a cash donation...to help Sarah and her family. Our ebay sale is the week of July 19th, and will be here very soon. Thank you to those whom have already delivered items to us for sale, and if you have items you would like to include, please feel free to drop them off. I do need some time to prepare the auctions for listing on ebay, so please drop them by as soon as you have some time. You can contact me at kprokop@optonline.net or 631-298-3580 if you need directions

If you are listing your own Auctions for Sarah on ebay, please email me, I have the text to include for your auction so that it can be identified as one of our group auctions. Thank you!

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Recap of Information:

The sale is now scheduled for the week of July 19th on ebay. When listing your auctions, please plan to start them on Sunday, July 19th for 7 days, ending on Sunday, July 26. Of course you can use the Buy it Now option also.


If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry. I can list your items for you. There are two ways we can list your items on ebay.

1. You can drop off your items at my house, and I will take it from there. Please drop them off here as soon as possible, so I can get started on all the auction listings. I have 17 things I am listing myself, and have started some of them, using the same template for all.

2. If you do not live in town (or you do and want me to list your items, but you can package and mail them yourself) here is what I need for your ebay listing:

1. a picture/pictures of your item via email
2. a description of your item including these:
is it new or used
if used, what condition is it in-as accurate as possible
what is the item (clothing-size, etc, camera, tickets to a game, etc.) Please be specific and as descriptive as possible.
3. I will then take the information and list it on ebay
4. Once the item is sold, I will contact you to advise you to send it, with an address.

Money is always good too, you can send a check to me, made payable to Kim Prokop so that I can cash it and send it with the rest of the money for Sarah. Even easier, consider sending money to me directly via paypal, it's FREE. My paypal address is my email-kprokop@optonline.net

Recap of information:

Through all of my web site connections to other kids with cancer, I have come across the most adorable little girl-Sarah- and her family. You can read Sarah's story HERE. This little girl has Familial Mediterranean Fever a rare incurable life threatening disease. I was just drawn to Sarah and her family, and read all of their blog updates. Sarah has suffered so much in her young age. Her family lives in upstate New York, in a very remote area. Neighbors and supporters are few and far between. Their only fundraiser organized by friends and family brought in minimal amounts.

Sarah's health care costs are numerous, and are rising. Her father's wages are already garnished, so the pay he does bring home is not nearly enough to cover her medical costs. Recently, the family was struggling to even buy the simple necessities, including Tylenol for Sarah. Sarah has not been able to go to the doctor lately, again due to costs. My heart really goes out to them. Cancer is not the only thing-by far-that our kids suffer with. No one deserves or should ever be in this position.

Here is where the CALL FOR HELP comes in. I have decided to put together an online fundraiser for Sarah and her family through ebay. I have been scouring my house for things I can sell on ebay to bring in money for their family. Some of my things are new, some are not, but ebay is good for both. This is like an online yard sale!

I would like to ask that you all do the same-look through things you would like to offer up for sale. Possibly you have season tickets to a Mets/Yankees or Red Sox (oh my) game that you donate to be listed. Perhaps you have other things like:
  • clothes
  • games
  • artwork
  • collectibles
  • your house...just kidding, you know you can sell anything on ebay these days

Do you sell something for a living like Mary Kay, Isagenix, Arbonne, or ??? Everyone surely has something they can donate to this very worthy cause. Can your company help, will they match any funds donated?

Here is how it will work:
  1. Please look around your house and collect the items you would like to donate for the ebay sale
  2. You may list the item(s) yourself on ebay, or send me a photo(s) and a description and I would be happy to list them for you. If you would like me to list something, please email me directly and I will provide you with a list of description items I need for the ebay listing.
  3. Donate monies raised to Sarah and her family. This can be done directly via paypal at NO COST. Old fashioned checks are always good too.
There are a few other details such as how we get the money to the family, when will our ebay sales will start and end, etc. Since this post is very long already, I will be posting again very soon with some more of the details. But for now...go look around your house...PLEASE!

That's it! I know the economy is still not great for many of us, but I am hoping that we all can come together to help a family in true need. We may not be able to give cash (but if you can, that would be GREAT too!) but, if you can find just a few items around your house, even ONE item in your home that could be donated to help another family, that is our purpose. Please look around now!

The ebay auction will be starting within 2-3 weeks (hopefully) so let's get started! Please email me with any questions. Sarah's mom Kim is fully aware of the fundraiser but I'm not sure if she is still online again-not enough money to keep their online service, so please contact me instead.

Give from your house, Give from your heart...LET'S HELP SARAH!

Kim


Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Our fourth day of SUMMER vacation and it's been 50/50 with rain, ugh! Colby is now officially out of the elementary school, she had her "moving up" ceremony last week from 6th grade. There is moving up for everything now. We didn't have that when I was growing up, we just went from one grade to the next and saved it all for the big hurrah in 12th grade.
Hannah started with tennis lessons this week. She wouldn't go on the court when we first got there, and was hiding off to the side. One of her good friends was in the class, but she still wouldn't go in. Her words to me were "I'm not good in groups." I don't know if she got that from me, or if she surmised that by herself. After a bit of trying to convince her to go in, I finally was quiet. Just quiet, letting her take it all in. I walked out in the court myself, got a ball and waited for her to come in. She did, then eventually went into the mix. She came off the court saying IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! She really enjoyed it. It's a good thing because it continues for the week.

Thank you all for your tremendous response to my post regarding the ebay auctions to help Sarah and her family. I am going to list the information for the EBAY Auctions for Sarah fundraiser at the end of my posts now as a reminder. I will list any updates first, then repeat the information again in detail so you don't have to pull up old entries for the information.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
New Information:

The sale is now scheduled for the week of July 19th on ebay. When listing your auctions, please plan to start them on Sunday, July 19th for 7 days, ending on Sunday, July 26. Of course you can use the Buy it Now option also.

I am working on text that we can all use in our auctions so that it is easily recognized as one of Sarah's auctions. If you plan on listing your own auctions, please contact me for the text.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry. I can list your items for you. There are two ways we can list your items on ebay.

1. You can drop off your items at my house, and I will take it from there. Please drop them off here as soon as possible, so I can get started on all the auction listings. I have 17 things I am listing myself, and have started some of them, using the same template for all.

2. If you do not live in town (or you do and want me to list your items, but you can package and mail them yourself) here is what I need for your ebay listing:

1. a picture/pictures of your item via email
2. a description of your item including these:
is it new or used
if used, what condition is it in-as accurate as possible
what is the item (clothing-size, etc, camera, tickets to a game, etc.) Please be specific and as descriptive as possible.
3. I will then take the information and list it on ebay
4. Once the item is sold, I will contact you to advise you to send it, with an address.

Money is always good too, you can send a check to me, made payable to Kim Prokop so that I can cash it and send it with the rest of the money for Sarah. Even easier, consider sending money to me directly via paypal, it's FREE. My paypal address is my email-kprokop@optonline.net

Recap of information:

Through all of my web site connections to other kids with cancer, I have come across the most adorable little girl-Sarah- and her family. You can read Sarah's story HERE. This little girl has Familial Mediterranean Fever a rare incurable life threatening disease. I was just drawn to Sarah and her family, and read all of their blog updates. Sarah has suffered so much in her young age. Her family lives in upstate New York, in a very remote area. Neighbors and supporters are few and far between. Their only fundraiser organized by friends and family brought in minimal amounts.

Sarah's health care costs are numerous, and are rising. Her father's wages are already garnished, so the pay he does bring home is not nearly enough to cover her medical costs. Recently, the family was struggling to even buy the simple necessities, including Tylenol for Sarah. Sarah has not been able to go to the doctor lately, again due to costs. My heart really goes out to them. Cancer is not the only thing-by far-that our kids suffer with. No one deserves or should ever be in this position.

Here is where the CALL FOR HELP comes in. I have decided to put together an online fundraiser for Sarah and her family through ebay. I have been scouring my house for things I can sell on ebay to bring in money for their family. Some of my things are new, some are not, but ebay is good for both. This is like an online yard sale!

I would like to ask that you all do the same-look through things you would like to offer up for sale. Possibly you have season tickets to a Mets/Yankees or Red Sox (oh my) game that you donate to be listed. Perhaps you have other things like:
  • clothes
  • games
  • artwork
  • collectibles
  • your house...just kidding, you know you can sell anything on ebay these days

Do you sell something for a living like Mary Kay, Isagenix, Arbonne, or ??? Everyone surely has something they can donate to this very worthy cause. Can your company help, will they match any funds donated?

Here is how it will work:
  1. Please look around your house and collect the items you would like to donate for the ebay sale
  2. You may list the item(s) yourself on ebay, or send me a photo(s) and a description and I would be happy to list them for you. If you would like me to list something, please email me directly and I will provide you with a list of description items I need for the ebay listing.
  3. Donate monies raised to Sarah and her family. This can be done directly via paypal at NO COST. Old fashioned checks are always good too.
There are a few other details such as how we get the money to the family, when will our ebay sales will start and end, etc. Since this post is very long already, I will be posting again very soon with some more of the details. But for now...go look around your house...PLEASE!

That's it! I know the economy is still not great for many of us, but I am hoping that we all can come together to help a family in true need. We may not be able to give cash (but if you can, that would be GREAT too!) but, if you can find just a few items around your house, even ONE item in your home that could be donated to help another family, that is our purpose. Please look around now!

The ebay auction will be starting within 2-3 weeks (hopefully) so let's get started! Please email me with any questions. Sarah's mom Kim is fully aware of the fundraiser but I'm not sure if she is still online again-not enough money to keep their online service, so please contact me instead.

Give from your house, Give from your heart...LET'S HELP SARAH!

Kim