Peanut Fest

Saturday we decided to get some fresh air and check out Peanut Fest with one of our friends Bill. It was nice, but not as peanutish as I expected. They did hand out peanuts and let us sample a variety of weird flavored peanuts and butters but nothing knocked my socks off. I'm still Trader Joe's biggest fan when it comes to peanut butter. Peanuts are good but almonds are better. :)

Kalee decided to hand salute a craft while eating peanuts.

Pino and the peanut mobile.

The back of my hat said "Queen Mommy" and NO I am absolutely NOT endorsing what was behind me. I'm just to lazy to edit it.

Bill caught me!

Heads Up and Sit Down

Day 2 of rising before the sun. I must say there is something I absolutely love about the crisp, fresh, mornings of fall. As I departed my residence for my CT Scan, I couldn't help but admire the dark clouds floating across the morning glow. God's beauty! I walked towards the hospital, the flag whipped and the metal clips had a familiar clank against the metal pole. The clanking noise I remember from my school days.

My CT Scan was what I expected...minus the "heads up, I'm going to pass out" part. For some odd reason after the IV, I got that unforgettable feeling. She left the room to fix my contrast cocktail and I scooched my rear end from the lab chair to the floor. I was alone in the room and I didn't want it to turn out like it did that one time...that I passed out and had a seizure while getting blood drawn (my MIL saved my arm form being a pin cushion because the phlebotomist was shocked). Hello?! Have the past 6 months not been enough for me to get over that passing out stuff? I no longer require a complete horizontal position for needle pokes. Must have been the combination of watching her mess with the IV and maybe low blood sugar because I'm hungry 30 seconds after I wake and couldn't eat prior to the test. And how do I think I'm going to find my way through nursing school? Please tell me I'll get over it! Who knows. Two minutes after I elevated my feet I was fine.

Kalee and I had a fantastic Mommy-Daughter day. We had to run some errands and she was such the perfect child. We even browsed clearance racks at the Navy Exchange while sipping on hot chocolate. It was so nice to spend more then just a quick trip to Wal-Mart with her. My baby girl has turned into a little lady!

Why Lumber Funk?

Sometimes I wonder why? Other times I get stumped with timing. Occasionally the crazy "it's for a reason" thought crosses my mind. More times than not I can easily complain about how I feel. But no matter what, nothing in my life can compare to the horrible death Jesus died on that cross for me. Amazing!

To answer to the most common question...I'm feelin' alive my friends!

Today was such a beautiful day. After the husband finished his mid-term, he was quick to enjoy the cool breeze that carried the smell of his chainsaw exhaust. Just call him lumberjack. I was able to do some reflecting on life while listening...which led me to being soooo thankful for the providential relationships in my life. The first, I was 6.

Testing this week, and more next week...but I'm planning on testing Dr. Oz's 'reduce underarm funk' suggestion tomorrow. :)

12...The Magic Number...12!

Praise God!
Six cycles, treatment number 12.... COMPLETE!

I'm scheduled to see my doctor two weeks from today as long as my test results are in when I call the day before. Do not be afraid. Talked to my nurse about my port that lives on my starboard side. I'll see her monthly to get it flushed. :) Maybe in time I'll gain enough guts to honorably discharge it next year. I guess the test results will be a large determining factor for that. Time will tell.

Off to shower, get in comfy pajamas, brush the chemo slime taste out of my mouth, drug up on more anti-nausea stuff and sleep.

Do not be afraid! ;)

30 and Random Updates

No I didn't forget about updating you crazy addicts. :) As therapeutic as blogging is, I have been trying to keep up with everything else in life. It seems as if my mind moves faster then my body these days.

I got my teeth cleaned today. If you only know what kind of ordeal that was...my goodness. First of I had to schedule it at the perfect time in my chemo cycle because of my blood count. Once I got my appointment when I needed it to be, she wouldn't touch me unless I was premedicated because of my medi-port. I know my mouth harbors bacteria but my port is under my skin...even if I licked it (for the record I just tried and was unsuccessful) I don't see how it could get infected. Ok, ok, after she explained it to me...and talked to the other staff I got 4 huge horse pills of Amoxicillin and had to use a medicated pre-rinse. She then looked in my mouth and said "wow". My heart rate increased. I wondered if the nasty, what some call 'metallic' slime in my mouth after chemo was causing issues with my teeth. She said " Your gums look great and it looks like I cleaned your teeth yesterday!" What a sigh of relief because it's been about 7 months. All that craziness and she didn't have to dig into my gums or stir things up. Oh well...at this point what is a dose of Amoxicillin going to hurt? I can hold bigger and bader legal drugs...what a lovely thing to be proud of.

So, the love of my life turned 30 this past weekend. To think, I remember when he was just a friend at 16. I will say, salt and pepper colored hair doesn't look bad on him. ;) He requested me to make him a German chocolate cake with banana pudding filling and coconut pecan icing. Interesting combination I know but he got what he wanted. He also reminded me as I was serving it that we didn't get a picture of it. Bummer!

This is my 'on' chemo week and the completion of my 6th cycle (12th treatment) on Thursday. I think I have it all figured out now. :) Today and tomorrow are kitchen days. Made beans in the crock today (I tend to burn them on the stove) for home made bean and cheese burritos to freeze. I have a chicken in the crock tonight to put together Brunswick stew tomorrow and I'm getting up early to make homemade Belgan waffles and pancakes to freeze as well. I'll get laundry done, meals planned for the next month, patches sewn on both the kids AWANAS vests, upstairs vacuumed, and I'll put Kalee up to cleaning the bathrooms. Yes, that is an important part of our eclectic curriculum. :) Next week I get another CT scan and the following week I get another PET scan. The results of those will tell us if a.) I'm finished but will be closely monitored, b.) I have a couple more cycles to go, or c.) I get to meet yet another specialist to address my spleen. Whatever it is, I know God will continue to have His hand in it.

I hope to one day learn how to brown potatoes rather than brown my pan.

I know how much a new windshield replacement will set one back....
that story to come soon. :)

Mom's Visit

Kalee and her Nana.

Me and my Mommy.

This is what I get when I say "smile".

The ONLY non-goofy faced picture Bear took. :)

Pretending like I belong in the kitchen.

But she does!

Kalee and Nana making Pizzelle's. YUM!

My excuse: I have been....

...visiting with my Mommy! :)

My Mom came out to visit from California last Thursday and went home and probably needs a vacation today. :) She did so much while she was here. Yes, my Mom wore an ironed apron while cooking meals to eat and freeze, straightened out the linen closet, kept up on laundry, cleaned my house, ironed sheets (yes, I promise she did)...and completed Birthday and Christmas shopping... and wrapped it all too. Oh my goodness I'm still stuck on the laundry part. At one time in my life I had all towels folded identically alternating colors and facing the same direction. Recently I'm thankful to have children that participate in putting them away...and today, it is once again organized where I can find things. :) I didn't know I had so many pillowcases! I'm thinking about labeling the shelves so the kiddos know where things are supposed to go. I know, that was funny wasn't it? She gave me an awesome massage and while she was here even learned how to crochet from Kalee and I. For the record, I think she is way better better at crocheting than using her hot glue gun to sew. ;D

After we dropped her off at the airport and Kalee cried the entire way home, I ate some of Mom's leftover macaroni and cheese with tomatoes (my Grandmothers recipe). Nothing is better than the cooking you were raised on. She also made pizzelles with anise, little cheddar meat loaves, beef and barley soup, and my Aunt Viv's chocolate eclairs. I'm thankful to have her cooking in my freezer. :) Bear woke up from nap asking "Why Nana have to go home, I miss her?" Max told me his break is over (even though school work replaced his break) and Kalee has asked for us to fly to California at least half a dozen times.

I got what I wanted... my Mommy. I'm such a big baby... a very grateful one. :)

Yes, I will post pictures...soon.