New Name?

My dear friend Joel suggested it might be time to re-name the blog. I suppose I should continue with writing here...

Anyhoo. I'm looking for suggestions. Please leave a comment with your ideas - the ones you are willing to share.

Brief update: Things are going well here in Bradenton. Mum is getting packed. I'm resting and reading. We have been to the pool a few times, after dark of course. I got a new swimsuit that accommodates the foob and doesn't look too weird. We had the inaugural swim last night and it did OK. There's a weird balloon thing that happens at the base of the straps though... Swimming has made me mindful of the knee and ankle issues and seems to exercise them in a way that they do not like- much. My sister, Becka, told me that her ankle was talking back to her after she spent time at the beach. The next day mine started making itself known. Coincidence?

Haven't had any arm/hand swelling. I had a little pain, but I iced it and that seems to have done it. I received my new CUSTOM sleeve in the mail and tried it on. Woo. It took both of us, Mum and I to get it on! I understand it will stretch a bit, and I'm glad I don't have to wear it all the time like some people do.

I was able to see my massage therapist from when I was here in Bradenton getting my chemo. Katrina really helped me through the rough stuff. Funny thing, I didn't recognize her. I guess I was really not too "present" during that time. She gave me an excellent massage and I hope to go back to her before we leave. Actually, I MUST. Turns out we got so involved talking and so forth that I left without leaving her a gratuity. I gotta go back and make it right.

Chris sent me pictures of our house which is finally getting painted! The floors got stained today!!! The photos of the floor after it was sanded are really interesting because the floorboards (original to the house circa 1890) warped in the flood from Hurricane Ike and so the sanding looks all striped. The outer edges of the boards cupped up. What shows in the pictures is the stain down the middle of each board. I hope it will be done before we head that way. It will be so wonderful to be back in a restored house!

Greetings from Florida!

I am in Florida at my Mum's condo and we are packing... Actually, she is packing and I'm "encouraging." There really isn't much I can do since she has all those tiny decisions to make about whether each object is going with her to Galveston, into storage or to Goodwill. I guess I'm really here for moral support and/or nagging. She has made a lot of headway and there are boxes EVERYWHERE. She also is pretty realistic about it. Whatever doesn't get packed by her, the movers will do. I have taken over the floor plan. We have a mostly to scale plan of the dollhouse and are trying to figure out what furniture will fit. The answer: not much - the place is TINY.

I've been lounging and decompressing since I've been here. Since school ended, I've been to the CEDFA(Council for Educators in Fine Arts - I think)conference, been to two different trainings, moved out of my house and into the dollhouse, celebrated Chris' graduation, gone to see a lymph specialist, gotten measured for garments... It is nice to just stop and breathe. I actually read a book! Mum has a couple of Carl Hiaasen novels that I haven't read so I just finished Tourist Season last night, or should I say this morning? As a teacher I guilt myself out of reading for pleasure. My thought process goes something like this: If I'm driving I can listen to books chosen for pleasure, but if I can actually put on the eyeglasses and read, I feel I should be grading papers or reading one of the "young adult" novels that I have class sets of. The list of books is HUGE. There are nearly 70 novels that I haven't read and should- and these are books we own! This looming list makes me much more empathetic with my students - if I'm not interested in reading it, why should they be? I try to give them choices, but the challenge is I have to read lots of books first to give them options.

Well, I wore my new glove and my "loaner" sleeve on the plane and followed directions to keep it on for a few hours afterwards. I didn't get any swelling, just a weird tingling/burning sensation in my arm, so I guess it worked. I have asked my Mum to keep me away from the hot tub, because although I love it, I understand that the heat can cause me to swell. There are lots of things I shouldn't do, like getting sunburned, mosquito bitten, scratched or cut. So far I only have swelling (edema) in my chest below the scar and on the back of my hand. I would like to keep it that way. I MUST be really careful because once any body part starts having swelling, the body part will swell (and have pain)for the rest of my life. Lymphedema is not reversible. There are worse things than not being able to enjoy a hot tub. I should be grateful that I am still here to make the choice! I am. Grateful, I mean.

My mammogram came back clean. I had it done on the 2 year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. Yay me! The technician gave me congratulatory hug! She also offered to track down Dr. Leonard, who was on vacation, and have him read my mammogram. Now Dr. Leonard has been very good to me(he has done my biopsies and all the other major stuff, as well as my recent ultrasound) and is the big expert, but I didn't think it necessary. Nice of her to offer - she wanted me to feel secure!

While I was in Austin for CEDFA, I was able to go see my brother Steve's new house. It is very nice, it has 3 bedrooms, two stories and a nice yard. It is a big space, but Steve is a big guy and has lots of books. It won't be long before he has it filled. He is really enjoying his first house, planning how to decorate and so on. We also went out to dinner - Cuban of course!

Well, gonna go and shower so we can go to the grocery store. Gotta get back on the eating plan. Later.

It is OFFICIALLY summer

Friday was the last day of my 2009-2010 contract and I locked my classroom up for summer. I had an appointment with the lymphedema therapist, Vickie, so I wasn't able to go to the staff get-together. I wish I had. I really LIKE the people I work with and would have enjoyed the opportunity to hang with them.

About the Lymphedema- yep, I have it. I already had lymphedema in my chest, but now I have some in my right hand and arm. It is NOT reversible, but may be controlled with therapy (massage- not the feel-good kind) and use of a compression garment. I will need a custom made lymphedema sleeve that I hope to get measured for this week and a glove which can be off-the-shelf. I just have to work all this into my busy summer schedule which is as follows:

Saturday (yesterday) 7:45 a.m. took Chris, Pat and Carolyn (his parents) to Moody Gardens convention center for Chris' medical school graduation. Then attended and hob nobbed at the Dean's reception at 12:30. Back to our house for a party/open house. We had more people in our house that we ever had before. It was odd because most of our belongings are not here now and we had lots of folding chairs. It felt like a different place. Guests included Lori, Paul, Ashley and Emily (Chris' sister and family; Pat and Carolyn (his parents); Will Godwin (a high school bud of Chris')and his family (Olga, Max and Clem); Michael and Donna (Chris' brother and wife); Patrick and Lauren (another brother and wife); Cynthia and Lee Onxley (across the street neighbors); and Sherri (neighbor.) We had Subway sandwiches, WAY too much sweet stuff, fruit and veggies. It would have been a wonderful day except that Chris has been "suffering some intestinal distress." Yes, that is a euphemism for "cannot be far from the toilet." Poor guy, he really wasn't able to enjoy himself. He was not the only one graduating who had some additional requirements to complete, either.

Tomorrow we move out of our house and into the dollhouse we rented for Mum while they paint and refinish our floors. About time! We also have to take Haas to stay with Michael and Donna (in N Houston) while this is getting done. I have to get measured for the new garment, get the car washed/detailed and pack. I have a training on Tuesday and also a lympedema appointment. Wednesday I have a mammogram and leave to go to a conference in Austin. I'll be there through Friday. I have more training next Monday and leave on the 15th to go help Mum move...

Over Memorial Day weekend I went to Ft. Worth to see my friends Judd and Louise. We had a marvelous time. Lou was celebrating her 60th birthday and it was wonderful to see them and celebrate. We figured out that we have known each other since the mid 1980's! I also got to visit with their kids, Nick and Jessie, who I haven't seen since they were small. Jessie is 29! Time. Also staying with Judd and Lou were some of their friends from Louisiana, Jimmy and Lorna, and I feel like I made a couple of new friends... I had a GREAT time.

This seems also to be a time for loss. Tom Enger, a guy I've known since I was 18, died leaving behind a lot of people who loved him. I can so easily picture him with his son Paul (a toddler at the time) hanging out in the green room at UTEP...

Oh yeah. Wednesday is the 2 year anniversary of my Breast Cancer diagnosis. I am celebrating by getting a mammogram!

Busy time of year...

Only 9 days of school left this year!!! Wow. Testing went well for the most part. I administered the re-take orally and that gave me WAAAY too much knowledge of what my kids were really doing. As I walked around, I DID NOT say anything, because it is against the law, but WOW they have no clue... Most of this group will be in summer school, sadly. We are moving into the hectic final days with field trips, talent show, graduations, field day, exams, end of year awards, report cards and banquets. Whew.

I passed my English Language Arts high school certification! I was kind of worried, mainly because there is a lot of literature I haven't read (or can't remember) that was referenced on the test and I wasn't motivated enough to study- at all. Since I teach Language Arts all day every day, I was betting that I would do OK, although the farther I got from the test date the more I doubted myself. I scored 283 out of 300. Yay me. Now all I have to do is pay the money to become officially certified... This summer I will attend a training and become AP(advanced placement) certified (endorsed?) I don't believe there is a test...

My friend Louise is celebrating her 60th birthday this coming weekend and I'm going to the par-tay! I haven't seen Louise and Judd (her husband) in years and I am truly excited about the weekend. I'm going to drive up to Ft. Worth on Saturday for the Sunday party!!! It will probably be odd, since I know none of her local friends, but I can't wait to see them!

Eating plan is going pretty well. I am newly motivated since I have now lost 23 pounds. Chris has done much better than I. I guess the massive cheating is obvious in my numbers... I just crave dairy and bread, neither of which is on this plan. He is down by about 30 pounds!!! He says he feels better for it.

The house is getting very bare now. Yolanda and Kevin have done a good job moving all the stuff so we can have the floors refinished. The less we have in the house the more I am motivated to simplify and pare down our belongings. We have come a long way from when Chris and I lived in 700+ square feet in NY! We have acquired way too much STUFF.

Health update: Hand swelling is not so pronounced as before, but still present. Right arm has been having some weird sensations. Am I getting back feeling in my arm and that's why? Whatever is happening, it is not pleasant and makes my arm feel raw, like someone has scraped my skin. Ankle and knee are still a little problematic and give me an ache every now and then, but not constantly, so that's an improvement.

Big changes

13 days of school left. My kids do the TAKS re-test this week and I'm a little tense and stressed.

Hand is still a little swollen. I guess I'll have to have it looked into. Maybe get one of those gloves... Knee and ankle are much better, I hardly know there was a problem. Stairs remind me though.

Saturday was the memorial get-together for Sandra Raftis. It was wonderful and sad and beautiful. So many people loved her and shared memories. It was held at the Strand Theatre where Sandra had done so much work over the years and her spirit was very present.

Tomorrow Yolanda and Kevin (our handi-couple) will start packing up the house. They are also in charge of all the repairs and painting, so we are finally getting to the part where our house may soon be back to "normal." They'll start the painting and refinishing of the floors by the 8th of June, so we need everything out. Things are ramping up for a busy few weeks!

Swelling!

I'm not too happy today, since I have been having a pain in my right hand for a few weeks now and it has started swelling. I talked to the nurse at Dr. Markowitz' office and they want to see me if it continues, to treat me for lymphedema(accumulation of lymphatic fluids due to the compromise of my lymph system!) Arrgh. I have been elevating it and putting heat on it, but it is still swelling. Specifically it is on the back of my hand, between the first two knuckles. It feels like I just had an IV taken out - that's the kind of pain. I hope, hope, hope it isn't lymphedema because that is NOT reversible. I just don't know what could be causing the pain and swelling. I haven't been as careful as I should be with my arm and hand, but now...

Gonna go vote now. I REALLY hope that the proposed $53 million dollar stadium for GISD is voted down. They couldn't maintain the old one... They are cutting jobs, losing students and they want a new stadium and the bond debt WHY? Oh, well, gonna do my civic duty.

A week of passings

This past week two passings: Sandra Raftis, a beautiful, talented actor/director and elegant gracious woman left us. She had lung cancer and leaves the Galveston theatre community with a big hole. I had the honor of working with her and she was a giving actor and excellent director. Her spirit was so alive, so creative, intelligent, calming, kind... I wish I had the words to describe her. I suppose it is a testimony to her that she was so hard to describe. I wish I had known she was ill...
Sunil Rajan, a good friend of Chris' died today. He had been dealing with tumors in his head for quite a long time, and they finally got him. He was a really talented sound designer and all around good guy. Chris and he became quite close when they toured with "Carousel." I am so glad that Chris was able to see him one last time when he was in NYC...

My doctor's appointment on Friday went well, and Dr. Markowitz was glad to see that I've lost 15 pounds. He asked me if it was on "purpose?" DUH, like I just lost weight accidentally???!! My hair is thinning due to the Arimidex, but it is not all that noticeable to anyone but me, so we won't do anything about it just yet. The Arimidex is supposed to keep me cancer free and it seems to be doing that, so I'll deal with the thin hair. Since my hair is curlier than before the chemo, it really doesn't show, but I am so used to having a LOT of hair that it is weird. Other than some tenderness over my mastectomy site, I am good to go for another 3 months. Yay, me!

Chris comes home tonight after going to LA to take his Clinical Science exam. He feels pretty good about it and is really grateful for the prayers on his behalf. He was also able to spend some time getting to know the nieces, Sage and Jade. They are now very different from the babies he knew before. He hadn't been able to go with me the last couple of times I went to LA, and was missing out on seeing these two beautiful girls grow up. They are amazing. My sister, Becka and her husband James, are doing an excellent job raising them.

Only 23 days of school left this year! Wow.