I've been found!

Yesterday, one of my new students "found" me on the Internet and was SO excited to show everyone my picture from when I was young... She found the "headshot" from Batboy, that was from about 8 years ago. The picture is the one on the main page of this blog. One of the other kids (who should receive extra credit) said I look better now. This new student also found this blog and I think that as a 5th grader it was "too much reading." Oh well...

I had two doctor's appointments yesterday. First, I saw Dr. Markowitz, my Oncologist, who I hadn't seen since about this time last year. I have since gained almost 20 pounds! I have to lose it. Not only is the extra weight unsightly, uncomfortable and unhealthy, it may cause the cancer to re-occur. Medication, menopause, whatever, this cannot continue. Today begins the BIG CHANGE. No more junk, or fast food. No more cokes during the week - I'll allow one per day on the weekend - I know I have to be able to stick to it!!! I know myself and I know I LOVE my Coca Cola. I will make ahead breakfast and lunch to take with me to school... Now, I intend to make these meals as tasty and gourmet as possible so I won't feel deprived, but I will know what is in them and be sure of the nutrition and calories. Dr. Markowitz also said that I should start doing some weight training especially with my right arm! He said the latest studies on lymphodema have indicated that weight training and exercise are actually good for me and will, done correctly, reduce the likelihood of lymphodema. I am all for this, and will do some research on the subject. Otherwise, everything looks good and I'm healing well. I do have a few odd places where I'm tender - partly because I'm starting to get feeling back.

Second appointment was with Dr. Siller, an orthopedic surgeon. He said that my ankle and knee are healing well and I should continue to exercise them. Walking is the answer. If I have pain, pull back. Continue to wear the braces as long as I have pain and he envisions that I will be better in 6-9 weeks. This is good news. He didn't want to see me again. He said that unless something gets worse, I shouldn't need to come back.

Turns out that right after I left L.A. my sister, Becka, decided that my crutches were so fashionable she needed her own. She has sprained her ankle pretty badly and is maneuvering the stairs in her house on her butt... I KNOW that I am a role model, but this is ridiculous. I hope she heals quickly, since her life is very busy (she is a definite type A)and she is in the process of doing job interviews.

New year, old me

Had a great time in LA playing with my nieces and hanging with family. Jade (8 year old niece) kept asking "What do you want to do?" Often the answer was: "Exactly what I'm doing now, visiting with people I love!" Somehow this wasn't totally satisfying her... We did do other things: went to Getty Villa, made videos, decorated my luggage, made smencils (smelly pencils), danced, read, ate, drank, practiced knitting and telling time, visited with old friends and sang. The only way it could have been better is if Chris had been there.

I managed to hurt myself a bit too much over the holiday. I cut my finger pretty badly before I left. Not bad enough for stitches, but bad. I lost a filling. And THEN I fell down the stairs at Becka's and sprained my ankle and knee. Yeah, I know... I am now in the too familiar state of quasi-invalid. I hate it. The knee and ankle a getting better every day. I now can move my knee pretty normally (although it does hurt) and the ankle isn't really swollen anymore. Maybe subconciously I wasn't getting enough attention??