I am so tired of feeling tired. I was exhausted the day after Christmas. Worked a little too hard I guess - cooking, cleaning, wrapping, decorating, and more cooking. Julian III tried to help as much as possible - but you know how it is - nobody does it like I do. Friday and Saturday I could barely walk. Feeling much better today. Actually took the dogs for a walk yesterday. Just take each day at a time - nurture my soul, my spirit, and my body! I just keep telling myself only 2 more infusions - in February I will be done! PARTY! PARTY!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Four Down and Two To Go
Well, lets see 4+2=6, so I have 4 down and two to go. See, all you need to know you learn in Kindergarten. Yesterday's treatment went very well. Arrived at 9:15, finished by 1:00 pm. I even was able to get some shopping down and was back home by 4:30 pm.
Monday I helped Santa Claus at Wellspring Women's Center. We passed out Christmas Stockings and Gingerbread cookies to over 100 children. Laura Allen took pictures as the children sat on Santa's lap, whispering in his ear their special Christmas wish. The cookies were a big hit - donated by Ettore's - pink gingerbread girls and blue for the boys! For some children the smiles came easily - for others it it appeared as though the smile was lost somewhere! A lost smile - can you imagine being a child and not being able to remember how to smile! Let's hope as we continue to support Wellspring that we can bring those smiles back. Looking into their eyes, I cannot help but wonder what the future holds for them! How fortunate we are - Pray for the families of Wellsping and that child who has lost their smile!
Merry Christmas! God's Blessings Be With You!
Monday I helped Santa Claus at Wellspring Women's Center. We passed out Christmas Stockings and Gingerbread cookies to over 100 children. Laura Allen took pictures as the children sat on Santa's lap, whispering in his ear their special Christmas wish. The cookies were a big hit - donated by Ettore's - pink gingerbread girls and blue for the boys! For some children the smiles came easily - for others it it appeared as though the smile was lost somewhere! A lost smile - can you imagine being a child and not being able to remember how to smile! Let's hope as we continue to support Wellspring that we can bring those smiles back. Looking into their eyes, I cannot help but wonder what the future holds for them! How fortunate we are - Pray for the families of Wellsping and that child who has lost their smile!
Merry Christmas! God's Blessings Be With You!
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Third Day is a Charm
The third day following chemo is like venturing into an unknown territory. The 3 day regimen of steroids is over, one's energy level begins to drop, and the joints begin to ache. During the steroid time I try to accomplish as much as possible. Sunday, worked in the classroom following Mass from 11:00 - 7:00! Lesson plans done, new calendar, homework packet, etc. Normally, (if there is anything normal about all this) my third day falls on Sunday - so it is my day of rest. However, due to change in infusion to Monday - Thursday was my day of rest!
Yesterday I could not keep my eyes open. I slept most of the day. Thank you Mary H. and Katie F. taking over in the classroom! Next infusion during Christmas break! Thank goodness!
The Kindergarten students came up with some great suggestions on how to keep "Peace" in our classroom.
1. be kind
2. PRAY
3. listen
4. share
5. follow the rules (grown ups have to follow laws)
6. be quiet
7. be a good student
8. no fighting
9. go to Mass
10. respect
11. good manners
12. smile
13. sing
14. LOVE
15. love your family
Well, I once read "All You Need to Know You Learn in Kindergarten!" Open your ears world! It is not that simple - yet, it is not that difficult!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these." Matthew 19:14
Yesterday I could not keep my eyes open. I slept most of the day. Thank you Mary H. and Katie F. taking over in the classroom! Next infusion during Christmas break! Thank goodness!
The Kindergarten students came up with some great suggestions on how to keep "Peace" in our classroom.
1. be kind
2. PRAY
3. listen
4. share
5. follow the rules (grown ups have to follow laws)
6. be quiet
7. be a good student
8. no fighting
9. go to Mass
10. respect
11. good manners
12. smile
13. sing
14. LOVE
15. love your family
Well, I once read "All You Need to Know You Learn in Kindergarten!" Open your ears world! It is not that simple - yet, it is not that difficult!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these." Matthew 19:14
Monday, December 1, 2008
Chemo
Arrived at Kaiser at 9:30 am and the oncology department was packed due to Thanksgiving holiday. One patient in particular caught my eye. A lovely young woman, early 20's accompanied by her father both smiling and waiting patiently. Many elderly patients, men and women - 70's, 80's my how stressful it much be at that age! It like we belong to a "Members Only Chemo Club"! The conversation is light and cheerful. No one wants to be chairperson! We just want to share about our families, pets, occupations, and tips on dealing with treatment!
My infusion went very well. My nurses were wonderful! One is a Wellspring volunteer and the other a very faith filled woman from St Mel's. My what a small world. We chatted away and the 3 hours of treatment went very quickly.
One of the patients sitting across from me was a retired Kindergarten teacher. She taught in the Rio Linda School District for 28 years. She still misses teaching every year when September rolls around! We just love those Kinders!
Thank you God for a very pleasant day. Each step I take in this journey is a lesson in patience!
Happy Advent - Hope - Patience - Peace - Love - Joy
My infusion went very well. My nurses were wonderful! One is a Wellspring volunteer and the other a very faith filled woman from St Mel's. My what a small world. We chatted away and the 3 hours of treatment went very quickly.
One of the patients sitting across from me was a retired Kindergarten teacher. She taught in the Rio Linda School District for 28 years. She still misses teaching every year when September rolls around! We just love those Kinders!
Thank you God for a very pleasant day. Each step I take in this journey is a lesson in patience!
Happy Advent - Hope - Patience - Peace - Love - Joy
Third chemo infusion today! Third times a charm as they say and only 3 more to go! I just hope this one goes as well as the last one. I am sure it will, as it is the first day of Advent - a time for patience, hope, love, joy, and peace!
Patience! I sometimes have difficulty with waiting! Waiting in line, being put on hold, waiting for test results, waiting for the internet to boot up, waiting, waiting, waiting! Waiting for my next chemo treatment! I just want to get it over with! Let's just do the next three infusions this week! Put that poison in me, lets get all this over with sooner than later. Hopefully, in the near future they will discover a way to cure Cancer with out chemo. Lets pray the next generation can just take a pill, or remove whatever it is in our environment that is causing this epidemic of breast cancer! Thank God for my surgeon (Dr. Bodai), his wonderful and very funny assistant (Terese Nakata), my oncologist (Dr. Hui) and all the nurses in the infusion room at Kaiser. Yes, God has blessed me with the best treatment and a good prognosis.
I think this will be the week I let the children draw on my bald head! They have been patient enough - asking nearly every day if today is the day. Washable markers only please! Maybe I can hang up my hat for awhile, we have some wonderful artists in Kindergarten. Maybe I can be the next "Bald Lisa"!
Not being in the classroom is what troubles me most. Today is a very special day - we bless the Advent wreath and light one purple candle. The children so enjoy this time of year! Waiting for Santa but most important waiting for the birth of baby Jesus. I am so excited! I purchased a new Nativity scene for the children. Of course, baby Jesus will not be present until after December 25! They always ask why and I say "Be patient he has even been born yet!" Yes the wonderful life of a Kindergarten teacher.
I love my job!
Patience! I sometimes have difficulty with waiting! Waiting in line, being put on hold, waiting for test results, waiting for the internet to boot up, waiting, waiting, waiting! Waiting for my next chemo treatment! I just want to get it over with! Let's just do the next three infusions this week! Put that poison in me, lets get all this over with sooner than later. Hopefully, in the near future they will discover a way to cure Cancer with out chemo. Lets pray the next generation can just take a pill, or remove whatever it is in our environment that is causing this epidemic of breast cancer! Thank God for my surgeon (Dr. Bodai), his wonderful and very funny assistant (Terese Nakata), my oncologist (Dr. Hui) and all the nurses in the infusion room at Kaiser. Yes, God has blessed me with the best treatment and a good prognosis.
I think this will be the week I let the children draw on my bald head! They have been patient enough - asking nearly every day if today is the day. Washable markers only please! Maybe I can hang up my hat for awhile, we have some wonderful artists in Kindergarten. Maybe I can be the next "Bald Lisa"!
Not being in the classroom is what troubles me most. Today is a very special day - we bless the Advent wreath and light one purple candle. The children so enjoy this time of year! Waiting for Santa but most important waiting for the birth of baby Jesus. I am so excited! I purchased a new Nativity scene for the children. Of course, baby Jesus will not be present until after December 25! They always ask why and I say "Be patient he has even been born yet!" Yes the wonderful life of a Kindergarten teacher.
I love my job!
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