Monday, November 30, 2009
cyber-knife Monday
After arriving at 5:30 am, I'll be going back to sleep, they'll be up with worry. I know this is hard on all of us, not just me.
I'll catch up with all of you in a few days.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
my Christmas present has arrived!
I've been shopping for a china cabinet or a sideboard for months now and just wasn't finding the right piece.
This week I found it! A sideboard large enough with enough room to store my china, sterling and linens. And although I won't have the "display" space of a china cabinet, I will have a surface to use as a server, for desserts and whatever else I need to put out.
showing gratitude
Thanks Melissa! That last one, #20, is especially true today, with unemployment and recession in our midst. So as I vacuum and dust my house this morning, getting ready for family to visit, I'll be counting my blessings, and enjoying every minute!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
redecorating... done!
With an extra place for guests to sleep over, just in case everyone decides to come all at once.
Friday, November 20, 2009
simple gift tags...
Take a trip to Hobby Lobby, my fave craft store, and pick up some blank tags or paper, a cute stamp and a punch.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
the planner in me is relieved
I have a date set for my thoracic surgery... November 30. It's a good date, I think... after Thanksgiving but enough before Christmas that I'll be okay.
I now have 10 days to decorate for Christmas... but not really because tomorrow I'm painting my husband's office, so that leaves 9 days, but not really because next Tuesday I have to pick up my Mom at the airport and have the family over for dinner, so that leaves 8... (I already took the day off for Thanksgiving), but somehow it will all come together and be festive and beautiful.
The "roller coaster" is riding level, not up or down, but straight ahead. Somehow I feel blessed.
Monday, November 16, 2009
a busy weekend
We painted and moved her guest room, and touched up the "blue bauble" walls in the soon-to-be nursery. Here's the new guest room:
I'll keep you posted on the progress!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
my emotions are on a roller coaster
One moment I'm up and positive and normal... the next I'm on the brink of sadness and tears.
It's the evil C, damn it. It makes everything up in the air. No planning, just yet, because you don't know what you'll be doing next month. Getting ready for Christmas, planning a baby shower...
or recuperating from surgery.
So it's day by day, and I want to make the most of each day.
Now I know where the "livestrong" slogan came from... with cancer you must be strong and live your life... no sadness, just strength and hope.
And I do have strength and hope... so I'll be okay. Just a low point on the roller coaster... but it goes back up again, right?!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
a little golf humor...
My husband could win a trivia contest with all the useless information that he seems to know. But on the other hand, "attention to detail" is not one of his strong suits. I am a detail oriented person, but "trivia" knowledge is something I don't retain. I guess it's a matter of what's important to us? A man/woman thing? Right brain/left brain?
What do you think?
All I know is... we make a good team... filling in for each others shortcomings, so it works. It's worked for over 31 years.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
people in our lives...
I met my friend Carolyn through my golf group. She's a great golfer and a fun person to be around. She's an upbeat and positive person, a friend that I look forward to seeing every week.
We have a lot in common... and even though I'm 9 years older, it doesn't feel like it. We both have wonderful husbands (who golf of course!), we both have 3 beautiful daughters, come from the Northeast, are avid tennis players and golf gal pals,
and... both of us have had Cancer.
She had breast, I've had sarcoma. A few weeks back she found out that she's had a recurrence, lung nodules showing up for the 2nd time. She's currently undergoing Chemo and she's doing great. Hopefully this will be the treatment to make them disappear for good.
Well... I had my follow up CT scan this past week, to follow nodules they've seen in my lung. After 6 months they've continued to grow and they're now at a size they want to do something about it, coincidentally the same operation that Carolyn had last year. My Oncologist even referred me to her same surgeon.
A "blessing" of a sort to have someone close to you, be able to advise you through an experience they have also shared. Believe me, I wouldn't wish the big C on anyone, but I am grateful for this person in my life to guide me through what to expect. It's a comfort knowing she's been through it and came back strong as ever.
We'll both be back from this strong as ever!
We didn't know we had so much in common when we met, but now I know, we met for a reason. God puts people in our lives... we're here for each other... to comfort, support and help each other.
I have a wonderful supportive family, a caring group of friends, and a loving God who I prayerfully ask to see us both through this round.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
a sad story and a reminder
I hadn't checked on Noah in awhile and wanted to see how he is doing. If you don't know his story, here it is for you to read:
Noah's Road
My heart aches for this family. Such an impatient, unthinking act by their caregiver with such permanent consequences.
Caring for a baby is a huge responsibility. They are totally dependent on you.
I've had a baby with colic, our first baby. They cry and you can't do anything to comfort them... you hold them and walk them and put them back to bed still crying and you feel a bit helpless. But they will be fine, the pain will pass and they will grow out of it.
Never shake a baby
This post linked from Noah's Road offers suggestions to parents about a crying baby:
http://www.dontshake.org/pdf/What-Is-All-That-Crying-About.pdf
Praying for Noah