My Pole Dancing Adventure (Cycle 4 completed!)

I'm "put a fork in it" kind of done! Please, let the results in the next couple weeks show that I only need 4 more treatments. I usually walk in by 8:30ish and hooked up by 10 to be out around 3:30. Today I had to go to a different clinic so everything I knew as normal was twisted around. It's alright, I'm one that has learned to roll with the punches. Today I did! My friend Janet took me, sat with me, brought me lunch and delivered me back to my doorstep! She was wonderful company and I'm grateful she came along. The only time she saw my horns come out was when I was still sitting in the waiting room at 11:30 (appointment at 10) and my treatment is not a measly 2 hour adventure. Finally we went back and the nurses served me a lovely cocktail, actually 7 of them, via my port hole. Usually I get one of those fancy machines that beep when I get an air bubble or run out of liquid...but today I had to learn to dance my way to the bathroom with a different "non machine" pole.

Who would of thought pole dancing through a crowd of mostly older cancer patients would be that fun while doped up on benadryl?!?!

Oh my, Janet got to see me floating too. I'm bracing myself for the "stories". :)

B.K.

Before kids!

These memories make me smile! This was taken at Max's Aunt Angie's house in Wisconsin. She took the pic and I worked my editing magic 8 years later to hang it on my wall. ;)

I no longer have frames full of strangers hanging on my wall. Finally I printed and hung them just in time to stare at them tomorrow after chemo. Tomorrow completes Cycle 4! I have testing these next two Mondays and will know if I have an additional 2 or 4 cycles (4-8 treatments) to go. Please keep me in your prayers.

Do not be afraid!

Checked out another camping area

All I ever want to do when I feel good is get out of the house and spend time with my family. Friday Max had off and we wanted to go check out campgrounds at First Landing State Park. Last summer we camped out at Pocahontas State Park and was really impressed so we cruised over to the Beach to enjoyed scoping out another camping option.

I'm allergic to the sun, Kalee is not...so she gave me her dress to cover my neck. I need one of those big ol' Lands End floppy hats...or a sombrero. He knows what lives in there...and is trying to evict him.

Fresh air! She loves the ocean, hates the sand. My true California girl. ;)

Daddy found them a puddle. ;)

Learning about all the cool shells and egg casings that get washed up on shore.


I must say, these state parks always have some kind of fun educational stuff going on. We will definitely camp at that park too. It got my approval when I saw the electric/water hookups and the bath houses. :) That just might be our next family vacation.

What makes my kid different then any other?

As a chemo patient it is recommended I don't use razors. He found my electric shaver (Max's old one) charging and decided to flip up the mustache part and attempt hair art. That quickly earned him a spot on the bathroom counter. I couldn't hold the laughter...that alone was enough punishment for him. ;)

Tomorrows soccer team pictures will never let me forget this.

Commissary Trip

A trip to the commissary was a MUST today otherwise we would be eating ketchup covered rice and pretzels a la pickle juice. :)

Me being the independent Navy wife that can do anything (with updated restrictions), I planned my day. I met a friend at the Y and let the kiddos to play in the kiddie pool. Almost thought I would have to unwillingly go swimming due to a fearless 3 year old of mine, but instead I just have a sore throat from yelling. After an hour of that cat and mouse game I pulled them out, showered them and ventured on to my next task of grocery shopping.

I strolled into the commissary and bribed the kids with a special treat from the produce section as I normally do. I got smart and decided I would make them use the restroom before we made it to that third isle that somehow triggers the bladder. Everyone used the restroom and I was ready to tackle my grocery list.

Kalee choose cherries for her special treat. Bear, pluots. Great start if you ask me. By the time I finished the produce section my cart was almost full. I'm amazed at the amount of fresh produce my family consumes. I started my way down the dreaded isles. I try to shop the whole store only once a month and stay around the exterior of the store (produce, meat/poultry/fish, eggs, dairy, bread) to fill in. It helps me avoid the boxed, artificial, preservative filled stuff (not that we completely omit it from our diet but it helps). It was a struggle to push the already heavy cart. The kids started to "nut-uh, uh-huh, hut-uh, uh-huh...." and I blurted "If you want to eat at all this week you two better knock it off because I'm ready to leave...". A little old lady giggled from behind me "You are goooooood, Mom!" Then my phone rings, Max was on his way off the ship and was going to meet me. FANTASTIC! He saved the day! I used to be able to shop, flip through coupons, use my arm to ricochet items the kids intended to sneak in the basket, make sure Kalee got all the items on her grocery list, sing to the store music and convince Bear that it was in fact not an accomplishment if he jumped off the top of the cart. Today my friends, I am humbling myself by saying I don't have the energy to do it all by myself right now...BUT, will again one day. No, no ER trip to report either. :)

Two overflowing carts (one mostly produce), 19 boxes of cereal (at $0.75-$1.25 a box w/ coupon I had to replenish my back stock), 36 coupons (because I make every dollar stretch) and 3 hours later...... I walked out realizing Max should have eaten lunch first. :)

**Eating prior to shopping is a requirement in this house. It helps keep the grocery bill down**

Birthday Fun!

As promised, pic's of my Birthday at the beach!

Elizabeth made me this super cool coupon organizer. A woman after my own heart that likes to make her money stretch too!

Exciting moment #1. As I pulled in she informed me her keys were locked in the van...soo the pop a lock dude came to her rescue.

Holla!

I deserved parking lot entertainer of they year award...cuz who else would carry around a orange triangle with Kanji writing (from Japan) in the trunk of their car.

Pop a lock dude made the alarm go off and made this lil man jump.

Have a party in my tummy picnic in my trunk. So yummy, so yummy!

Along with balloons and the super cool coupon organizer, Elizabeth also brought me a little cake and the kids cupcakes...that we enjoyed in the parking lot. :)

Emilito, havin fun!

Sam (Elizabeth's younger sister that is super sweet too) and Kalee.

I promise I blocked myself up. See the white caking up in the crook of my arm?

Baby girl

Obviously not too thrilled with the sand load in her pants...

So her mom that was loaded up with half a gallon of Baby SPF 50, had to give her a little lesson about the pocket in girls bathing suits.

Gavin-man! After praying for this lil guy for so long he has a very special place in my heart.

Havin' fun in the sun! It warms my heart to see them smile.

I can eat him up.

...but decided not to because he ate the sand...ICK!

Hide, hide him in the sand.

No wonder you had a load in your pants!
My lil man Bear!

Gavin's turn.

Not too interested in tasting the salt.
You got me....

...and I got you...

Playin!

Digging!

Goofing around...

is what we do best!

This is as close to bottoms up I get...

on a special day I will never forget! Thanks Liz, Sam, Kalee, Bear, Emilito and Gavin!

And thanks to everyone that sent me a special something. ;)

Cycle 4- Day 1

My seventh treatment today. I can not express how much I like my Oncologist! You can tell he loves what he does and I love seeing him smile and listening to him crack jokes.

To give you a short story and catch you up with my medical stuff:
Have been having pelvic pain. Because of my 1st experience of an orange sized ovarian cyst with 2 daughter cysts attached, my Oncologist wanted it investigated. GYN ordered me an ultrasound and they discovered I have Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS). Basically, I have varicose veins in my lower abdominal area and am not a candidate for 2 of the 3 treatments until after chemo. As for now it's physical therapy (not too sure what that is going to consist of) Praise God it's not another cyst though! When the Oncologist herd the verdict, with a smile he informed me (I will spare you his exact words that took me by surprise and put me in pure laughter) Hello married one, the treatment plan would involve your room and your husband...

Yesterday was my 27th birthday.

To some readers I'm old...to others I'm young...to me, I thank God for another day. ;) Had so much fun that I am still pooped out today!

Working on uploading pics...check back tomorrow.

Errrr! Lil' stinker!

Max: "Bear! How many times do I have to tell you?"
Bear : "Four or five times...that's a lot, huh? I like making messes."
Max: "I like spanking you 5 times too."
Bear: "No, I don't like that. I'll go clean it up... yes ma'am, no, I mean, yes sir."

I just shook my head, tried to avoid laughing because it struck me funny and told Max they were all his! My Mother-in-law lives 600 miles away...but I see her every day in these kiddos. Kalee gives me her faces, and Bear gives me her mouth. Thanks Paula. :)

I am grateful....

-for the cool breeze that blew through my hair bandanna and the shaded trees while the kids played at the park this afternoon.

-for having fun dressing up with my children to get free food at Chick-fil-A.

-because my husband looks deep into my eyes when he says "I love you" and I know he means it with all his heart.

-for having children that are so interested in reading books.

-because I have sight and am able to see (and clean up) the lovely toothpaste artwork on my bathroom floor.

I am grateful! :)

Cow Appreciation Day 2009

The kids and I went for lunch....and all 4 of us went for dinner. :) Things we do for free food. Never too much Chick-Fil-A!

Daddy's altered red, white and "moo" shirt.

A scary lookin' Momma cow.

Eatin his 'chikin' and saving the cows.

Cross eyed cow girl.

Mmmmm. Always eating.

Because we were a herd of cows, the kids got a stuffed cow each and we got a bigger stuffed cow and freebie coupons for the family. Just want I always wanted, more stuffed...cownimals. Errrr!

Quote of the day:

"Mom, you look like a cow!"

-Kalee

Dental Fun

Today we went to the dentist.


Kalee had to get her back 4 teeth sealed. My baby girl is an absolute perfect patient. She didn't squirm, shriek, or shed a tear. I was sooo proud of her.


Bear got 2 fillings. My baby boy is the pediatric dentists worst nightmare. He was great during pictures and loved sniffing the orange nose (N2O), but that "pineapple gel" (orajel) didn't numb enough for the "squirt" (Novocain shot). From then on it was a 4 adult.... nightmare, for a lack of better words.


Funny enough, both smiled and said thank you on the way out....go figure.

My lil Sneak!

It's a great day!

Well, other than Max and Bear's lovely case of poison ivy...that may explain half a dozen patches on my body as well. I had no choice but to hurry up and get better to work on uninfecting us. ;)

We had a "mandatory relaxing" weekend. Strangely enough, I'm ready for those to be over with so we can continue our fun-days out and about.

On today's agenda: brainstorm ways to out smart a 3 year old at the dinner table. Last night Bear didn't want to eat what we prepared for him (we do not cater to picky eaters) and used the lame excuse "I not hungry". I said "No problem, but you better not be hungry in a few minutes when Daddy pulls out that cheesecake pie for dessert". Bear replied in his matter of fact voice, "I... no... like... pie." and somehow managed to slip away from the table and put his plate in the sink while Max and I were in conversation.

Little sneak! He knew the right moment too. Yeah, you better believe he didn't get pie!

Eeks!

What do Epsom salt, un-distilled apple cider vinegar, cranberry juice, activa yogurt, lemon, peppermint, and prune juice all have in common?

That should explain how I feel.

Tomorrow will be better. :)