Everything 50's

I hate to wish my life away, but I am very ready for 2016 to end!  While there were several good things that happened in 2016, mostly I am ready to put it behind me.  April 6, 2016 basically changed my life.  What I thought was a routine colonoscopy ended with a cancer diagnosis and began a whole new life routine for me, my husband, and many who worried about me.  Surgery - which was scary on its own, six months of chemo for a total of 12 treatments - that many thought I couldn't complete because of their toxicity, and the side effects that linger long after the chemo is done.  It has been one hell of a ride.  I finished my last chemo treatment on November 1, 2016 and rang the bell, although I was still wearing the chemo pump, so it was a little less sweet than it should have been. Since that time, I have anxiously waited my first CEA check which was scheduled for December 13. My  CEA  level when I was first diagnosed was 4.6.  From my unde...

I have been wondering what to write about next and rather than stress about it, I just decided that something would come to me eventually.  Today it did.  I was watching a clip of an Ellen Degeneres show and it was about a quarterback and his friend and how the qb won the title of Homecoming King but knelt down and gave the crown to his friend.  I guess some have said he did it because his friend has Cerebral Palsy, but the qb stated he did it because he truly thought his friend would win and that he deserved it because he exuded happiness and made those around him happy. His final words were that he hoped if others had the chance to make someone's day by doing something kind, that they would do it. I sat and thought about this and it made me think of whether I do things to make others happy very often and unfortunately I thought- no I don't.  Here I am a recipient of kindness almost on a daily basis from my friends, and even from people whom I know albeit not too ...

Labor Day is usually anything but labor for the average person since many places take the day as a holiday and send their workers home to have a cookout. If you are a mom though and your kids are going to be home for the weekend, labor is an act of love. I have spent the last several days of my week preparing for the arrival of my daughter, her boyfriend-Jeremy, my son and his fiance-Mindi. I first worked on a prepared a menu for every meal we would eat in and also plans for if we ate out somewhere. Grocery shopping was necessary and using my list went smoothly. Cleaning the house was next on the list. We needed to spruce up the upstairs bedrooms, change sheets and bedding, and make sure the cobwebs were dusted out. Since we have a bedroom on the first floor, our trips upstairs are few and far between. I also knew the weather was supposed to be great so I needed to clean the dust, pollen and dirt as well as a petrified toad out of the screened in porch. Next up was preparing as ...

August 30, 2016 Yesterday I met a couple good friends for lunch and a movie in Greenwood. Honestly it was the first day I felt pretty good after last week's chemo.  Seems to take a day or two longer each treatment to feel better. Five more MAX...right? So, back to yesterday.  I decided that after fighting my really thinning hair to make it look decent enough for public, I might see about a wig.  I googled Bloomington wigs and came up with a place called Wig Wam.  I thought it was truly not a REAL wig place, but I followed directions and sure enough--a real wig store.  I was very nervous going in, but the lady who waited on me was kind and told me to just look around until I found something I wanted to try on.  I could hear her behind a partition talking to another "customer," so I looked.  I picked out a blond, a red, a brown and a longer than I have ever had hair wig.  I went behind the partition and there was a chair and a large mi...

August 16 So how could I NOT do a blog or at least say a little bit about my youngest getting engaged!??  He took his girlfriend to Mackinaw Island to celebrate her first "quarter" of PA school ending and he will come back with a FIANCE!!!  happy dance happy dance!!!  I have only ever prayed that my kids would meet someone that makes them happy, and I knew if they did I would love the person.  I can't describe how much happiness I feel for these two kids!  They are BOTH wise beyond their years, humble about their GOD-given talents, and hard workers.  They are also both darn cute if I do say so myself. I think their relationship was made in heaven because both of their mothers prayed for them to find the right one.  I think we are both pretty pleased!!!  I can honestly say that Mindi becoming part of our family through a wedding will be in law only because in my heart she has already become one of us!!  Now, don't ask me for any wedding det...

August 8, 2016 Today is Tuesday and it is my typical chemo day.  I thought I would outline everything that goes on so you all know what someone going through chemo deals with on chemo day! Today I miss my daughter as she has brought me to the past  4 chemo treatments.  I so appreciate her because she drove 2.5 hours to our house--and then another 45 min to an hour to take me to treatments every other week. What a sweetheart and a trouper!!  Today Brian brought me...love him too but not the same as having my sweet daughter with me! Number 6  --this is a big treatment because not only is it HALFWAY to the number 12 goal, it is also the number that many say is ENOUGH of this type of treatment.  There are clinical trials that are trying to find the data to say 6 is just as good as 12.  I am so grateful to be at number 6 today! 6:15 a.m  -- Hubby wakes me up. 6:20 a.m.-- My alarm goes off so I get up and hop in the shower---it will be my last...