I literaly have a PITA......the nerve endings in the butt coming from my back are on fire and causing a lot of sciattica. I missed Lynn's going away party last nite and felt bad I couldn't go...but low and behold- Lynn came over after chemo today with her famous ham sandwiches made with pastry puff dough and rollie polllies! Not only did I get some good food I can eat - but I got Lynn to myself for an hour! (except for Mollie Jo who adored Lynn.) Lynn gave me her "sercret" recipes...but she just cooks with a little of this and that method...I don't think mine will turn out the same way. We sure will miss Lynn with her sense of humor AND all the wonderful things she cooks and bakes.
Linda went with me to Chemo today and we read our trashy magazines. I brought in the homemade caramel corn mix for the nurses and gave Linda a big container to take to the lake- also gave Lynn her own stash of the mix. That stuff with the cashews in it is so addicting!
I am wearing a new bright pink shirt today.... it says "Fight Like a Girl" with the b/c sign and boxing gloves! I love it - Denise found it and sent it. The people at the cancer center get a hoot out of Linda and I when we come in dressed in pink- with pink bracelets and me with my big pink polka dot bag with all my "babies" and pink blankie Shea made me! Whatever it takes people.....
I am hoping to find that you tube video Tia talked about. Don't think I have ever seen a you tube video- I am so behind the times...
xoxo,
HTFM
Friday, July 16, 2010
Go to YouTube for Dance Video
Well, it looked like it would work for a minute there but I guess you need to go to YouTube for the video. When I clicked play from the blog you couldn't hear the sound of the music and you REALLY want to hear the music on this one. I'm pretty sure the file is just too big.
Just go to "So You Think You Can Dance FIX YOU" and its the 2nd one under chiclou that has the best quality. Enjoy...
Helene - we REALLY missed you last night at Lynn's going away dinner.
Just go to "So You Think You Can Dance FIX YOU" and its the 2nd one under chiclou that has the best quality. Enjoy...
Helene - we REALLY missed you last night at Lynn's going away dinner.
Thinking of you - through dance
I'm not sure if this will work right the first time but will try to figure it out. I don't know how many of you watch the show "So You Think You Can Dance", but its one that I actually record and watch on occasion. This last week one of the dances was to the song "Fix You" by Coldplay. The choreographer did this thinking of his mother who just had a major surgery. I, on the other hand, thought of Helene the Fighting Machine through every step they took. So I wanted to share it with you all.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Feeling kinda okay
I guess my new normal is how I feel today. Tired- but not overly, no nauseousness and a little itchy. I wish I could feel this good everyday! The neuropathy in my feet is getting worse- which is not a good sign for continuing chemo. It feels like my feet are always falling asleep. If the neuropathy gets too bad- it could become irreversible. I see the dr. again July 30.
I actually did some cardio the last 2 days, but took today off from exercising so I could rest up to go to work this afternoon. I only have this week and next at COD and then I am off until the 3rd week of Aug.
Linda surprised me last night and brought over dinner! She made this summer salad with chicken, lettuce (she said it was argula???) strawberries, homemade dressing and cashews. Then, like she doesn't have anything else to do...she made desert. There is enough salad leftover for me to eat before I go to work. YUM!!
It is just so difficult to figure out a short vacation for this summer. With treatment, football, Rob working part of the time and Mollie Jo- it would take a lot just to get away. Plus, Tyler does not want to hang with us- he wants to hang with his friends that include girls. I am just not ready for all this social stuff with him.
This is just one thing I can not even believe: I had a lot of dental work done- major bucks that we are paying off a little at a time. This has been ongoing for the last 5 years- with implants, surgery, caps, et. (many many caps) I got a call from the dentist's office and the woman who runs the office said that Dr. Crombie won't be sending me any more bills- that my balance is zero! I was totally dumbfounded! We owe over $2000. !!!!!! I guess the dentist (who I really like) found out I had cancer and 2 weeks ago the office sent me flowers out of the blue! Then this phone call....I just teared right up. Talk about a random act of kindness. How do you thank someone for doing that? I know we have payed out thousands of $$$, but then to do this? SO....if you need a good dentist, let me know. He is a regular dentist, but does alot of cosmetic dentistry and is a little anal about how the caps look- which is great for the patient.
Linda is taking me to chemo Friday am- then she is off to MI. I bought us "treats" and the rag magazines to read....until I fall alseep after the drugs hit me.
xoxo,
HTFM
I actually did some cardio the last 2 days, but took today off from exercising so I could rest up to go to work this afternoon. I only have this week and next at COD and then I am off until the 3rd week of Aug.
Linda surprised me last night and brought over dinner! She made this summer salad with chicken, lettuce (she said it was argula???) strawberries, homemade dressing and cashews. Then, like she doesn't have anything else to do...she made desert. There is enough salad leftover for me to eat before I go to work. YUM!!
It is just so difficult to figure out a short vacation for this summer. With treatment, football, Rob working part of the time and Mollie Jo- it would take a lot just to get away. Plus, Tyler does not want to hang with us- he wants to hang with his friends that include girls. I am just not ready for all this social stuff with him.
This is just one thing I can not even believe: I had a lot of dental work done- major bucks that we are paying off a little at a time. This has been ongoing for the last 5 years- with implants, surgery, caps, et. (many many caps) I got a call from the dentist's office and the woman who runs the office said that Dr. Crombie won't be sending me any more bills- that my balance is zero! I was totally dumbfounded! We owe over $2000. !!!!!! I guess the dentist (who I really like) found out I had cancer and 2 weeks ago the office sent me flowers out of the blue! Then this phone call....I just teared right up. Talk about a random act of kindness. How do you thank someone for doing that? I know we have payed out thousands of $$$, but then to do this? SO....if you need a good dentist, let me know. He is a regular dentist, but does alot of cosmetic dentistry and is a little anal about how the caps look- which is great for the patient.
Linda is taking me to chemo Friday am- then she is off to MI. I bought us "treats" and the rag magazines to read....until I fall alseep after the drugs hit me.
xoxo,
HTFM
Friday, July 9, 2010
Chemo Factory Day
I had an early chemo appt- 8:30. Tyler and Rob came with me, then Rob took Tyler to Linda's to cut her grass and Rob came back to the Cancer Center. Denise arrived with these delish turtle brownies, then Rob had to go pick up Tyler so Denise drove me home. I am lucky that they built the Cancer Center so close- less than 5 minutes away if you catch the light. Who knows how long if you catch the train.....
I made a decision not to work all 3 of my "good" days next semester at COD. I think it will be too much and I don't want to rest all the time just to work. This was difficult for me to make this decision as I really enjoy what I do and I like my students. Sooo...this gives me more time to help out Jean-Marie with her charity shop. Remember to save your stuff! If you absolutely need to get it out of your home, call me and Tyler and I will pick it up. Jean-Marie is currently in negotiations for 2 sites so we may be able to drop stuff off soon.
Yesterday Tyler and I went to "Early Childhood Class"- also known as Puppy Kindergarten! What a hoot- we have homework.... Mollie Jo is responding-as puppy treats (thanks to Sharon!) are a motivator. Hopefully this is the first step in getting her trained to be a therapy dog at Edward's. That is down the road but it is good to have goals.
Mollie Jo and I are home alone as the boys went to a bb tournament in Orland Park. I must have been sound asleep when they left, becasue Mollie was next to me on the couch in the sunroom napping with me.
Keep up the positive karma, mojo, prayers- whatever ya got going!
xoxo,
HTFM
I made a decision not to work all 3 of my "good" days next semester at COD. I think it will be too much and I don't want to rest all the time just to work. This was difficult for me to make this decision as I really enjoy what I do and I like my students. Sooo...this gives me more time to help out Jean-Marie with her charity shop. Remember to save your stuff! If you absolutely need to get it out of your home, call me and Tyler and I will pick it up. Jean-Marie is currently in negotiations for 2 sites so we may be able to drop stuff off soon.
Yesterday Tyler and I went to "Early Childhood Class"- also known as Puppy Kindergarten! What a hoot- we have homework.... Mollie Jo is responding-as puppy treats (thanks to Sharon!) are a motivator. Hopefully this is the first step in getting her trained to be a therapy dog at Edward's. That is down the road but it is good to have goals.
Mollie Jo and I are home alone as the boys went to a bb tournament in Orland Park. I must have been sound asleep when they left, becasue Mollie was next to me on the couch in the sunroom napping with me.
Keep up the positive karma, mojo, prayers- whatever ya got going!
xoxo,
HTFM
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Over Did It
I think I over did it this weekend..... I so want to be "normal" but I think I need to remember that I have this nasty disease and can't do what I want to. I am paying for it now. Thankfully, Tyler got up at 6 am with Mollie Jo...of course I came downstairs at 10 am and he had his 6 ft 1 inch body stuck in a love seat, there was Mollie running in circles and a little pile of poop on the floor while he snored away. Too cute except for the poop!
I did have fun at 2 bbq's- one on Saturday and one Monday. I think the Monday one put me over the edge- energy wise. I had fun shopping with a friend- "Retail Therapy"- I recommend it! Denise came over with a frozen 2 lb meatloaf- my boys do like their meat! It is really helpful to have meals in the freezer. Leanne offered Tim (who is a chef) to cook for us Monday- but we went to Liz's for a bbq. I talked to my brother Billy- which was nice getting caught up with him and what his kids are up to. Linda is in MI but keeps checking in. I am glad she got it in her head that she could go away and not have to be there for my chemo appts. i appreciate all she does- but she needs a life!
Going to work this afternoon- hoping the pain meds take hold soon. Since I overslept- I took my meds late. On Fri. at the dr. appt- we discussed pain management. I am worried that I will become addicted- however, Dr. Kash isn't. He said he does not worry about his cancer patients and esp. with me as I am trying not to take the drugs. I take 2 oxycontin a day (with a vicodin chaser or dialudid) and can't imagine how people take up to 50 of these pills a day. I don;t really think the radiation was a true success....I still have a lot of back pain where the tumor is near the spinal nerves.....
Many thanks go out to Laura- as she is helping me keep track of all the medical bills! What a huge relief for me. She came over yesterday and had figured out what we had paid, what we need to pay and where I am with my lifetime $. Our insurance only has a 2 million lifetime cap- which is not alot when I am looking at long term treatment. We are at about $225,000 right now. I am hoping that Obama's lift of the liftime cap happens sooner than 2014. We may have to have some lemonaqde stands or bakesales....... The hospital charges about $45,000 per month for chemo treatment! After our ppo deductions it is about $25,000 which is what they count for the cap. A lot depends on the new contract that they are working on in
Rob's district....they still have not finished it.
Sorry I am going on and on.....Billy said that this is probably therapeutic for me to write things out- and he is right.
xoxo,
HTFM
I did have fun at 2 bbq's- one on Saturday and one Monday. I think the Monday one put me over the edge- energy wise. I had fun shopping with a friend- "Retail Therapy"- I recommend it! Denise came over with a frozen 2 lb meatloaf- my boys do like their meat! It is really helpful to have meals in the freezer. Leanne offered Tim (who is a chef) to cook for us Monday- but we went to Liz's for a bbq. I talked to my brother Billy- which was nice getting caught up with him and what his kids are up to. Linda is in MI but keeps checking in. I am glad she got it in her head that she could go away and not have to be there for my chemo appts. i appreciate all she does- but she needs a life!
Going to work this afternoon- hoping the pain meds take hold soon. Since I overslept- I took my meds late. On Fri. at the dr. appt- we discussed pain management. I am worried that I will become addicted- however, Dr. Kash isn't. He said he does not worry about his cancer patients and esp. with me as I am trying not to take the drugs. I take 2 oxycontin a day (with a vicodin chaser or dialudid) and can't imagine how people take up to 50 of these pills a day. I don;t really think the radiation was a true success....I still have a lot of back pain where the tumor is near the spinal nerves.....
Many thanks go out to Laura- as she is helping me keep track of all the medical bills! What a huge relief for me. She came over yesterday and had figured out what we had paid, what we need to pay and where I am with my lifetime $. Our insurance only has a 2 million lifetime cap- which is not alot when I am looking at long term treatment. We are at about $225,000 right now. I am hoping that Obama's lift of the liftime cap happens sooner than 2014. We may have to have some lemonaqde stands or bakesales....... The hospital charges about $45,000 per month for chemo treatment! After our ppo deductions it is about $25,000 which is what they count for the cap. A lot depends on the new contract that they are working on in
Rob's district....they still have not finished it.
Sorry I am going on and on.....Billy said that this is probably therapeutic for me to write things out- and he is right.
xoxo,
HTFM
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