In the news…

images

Readers! Below is the link to the article that was written by Jackie Tyson in regards to me and Team Hotel Yorba raising money for the 24 Hours of Booty race in October. How cool is that!?! Pretty cool if you ask me!

Team Hotel Yorba Captain 10-year Survivor, Amputee Pedals to Put Cancer in its Place

There is also a chance it may be printed in a local Sandy Springs newspaper.  If so I will make sure to take some pictures and show you guys! Ha! How crazy!

My Man, The Boy and a rabbit.

My Man, The Boy and a rabbit.

Last night The Boys and I got all dressed up (nice shirts at least) and went to dinner at The King and Duke. We really needed to get out and have a fun dinner as a family. It had been a rough week for all of us and we need to spend some quality time with each other. We had to drive through terrible rainstorms and flooded streets to get down to Buckhead where the restaurant is located. It is crazy how much those people pay in property taxes (we are taking $10K-20K here people) and their streets flood at a drop of rain. The Boy was freaking out, the flooding was so bad. His class has been learning about floods and scary weather at school and at one point he was like “Turn Around!” We stayed the course and had a yummy dinner. Glad we were not in a tiny sports car.

Turns out The Boy is a big shellfish fan, he ate half of my dinner. Next time we are skipping the fancy burger and he and I will just share. The Boy did not have any iPad or iTouch with him so we all had to talk to each other. NO! Yep, it’s true. We did. And we had fun time too.

Me and The Boy

Me and The Boy

Working Hard

Working Hard

It was supposed to rain here all day today but the sun came out along with the humidity. Last week when my dad was in town he bought six bags of mulch for me. There is a yet another part of our backyard that the trees have grown over and no grass or moss will grow. the area and trees are really pretty but the dirt pile and trail with all the roots showing is not. So me and The Boy ripped into the six bags and started laying it out.

Does not cover much.

Does not cover much.

We soon discovered that six bags does not cover much ground. Looks like I will need to get at least another 25 bags to cover the area and small trail. It has been a week since Poopy passed away and Turbo seems to be doing ok. She is getting along with the other two hens and I think they still look at her as the head hen. She has been roosting more on the outside roosting bar which is nice to see.

IMG_4874

The Boy and I checked on her last night hoping to find her roosting with Terry Pete and Zazzles for bed but she was in the nesting box. I ended up putting her up on the bar to roost. I am hoping if I do this enough times she will catch on and do it on her own. Since it is so sticky and gross out today I thought they would like some cool watermelon to snack on. They seemed to enjoy it.

Yummy!

Yummy!

Kitty Cam-Petting Panny

Kitty Cam-Petting Panny

The rest of the day was all about watching football and napping. My body is tired and sore and after a big day of racing around Friday I needed the extra sleep. I hope you all have a nice weekend. Be Safe! Be Sassy!

Weekend update…

Kitty Cam…Bath time.

IMG_4866

IMG_4867 IMG_4868 IMG_4869

Readers! How has your weekend been? Mine has been pretty good other than the passing of Poppy. I have had two good days. The pain level has been low and the energy level high. I am not sure what to think of it and do all I can do not to think about it. It is hard not to though.

Saturday morning I took Timber to the vet to get more heart worm pills (holy $$$, who knew?) and a mani/pedi. He was pretty nervous being there. I have never seen him so nervous before. He did not want to go back with the very nice and happy vet tech. He came back with his paws looking fantastic! However, I was informed that he had gained weight and has been gaining weight since we adopted him! Oh No! Right now he weights 89 pounds. I will admit that we haven’t been playing as much ball as we did in the past. I have been tired this summer and it has been hot. My Man had been taking him running but recently Timber doesn’t want to go. Like he lays down in the middle of the road refusing to run or refuses to leave the house if I don’t go with him. Well, while on our way back home I informed him it had to stop. He had to start running again. We can’t have him become a fatty. It just isn’t healthy for him. With the weather getting cooler soon (I hope) I am planning on more games of catch and walks and runs with My Man.

Just need the fire pit now.

Just need the fire pit now.

Later The Boy, who was feeling blue because of Poppy, and I went to Target. That place will cheer anyone up! I needed to get some household items and wanted to get out of the house since I had energy and the sun was out. I found four outdoor chairs that were on clearance for $11.00 each. I had to buy them, just had too! I have been wanting to set up a fire pit area by The Majestic. The chairs would workout perfectly. Now I just need to fire a low-cost, high quality fire pit. Oh Pickles.

Of course since it was Saturday, there was college football to watch, a house to clean and laundry to do. RTR!! and don’t talk to me about MSU… that is Alabama and Michigan State.

More Chickens?

My Father-in-law, Bob, asked if we were planning on getting anymore chickens now that Poppy has passed. Well, I had been thinking about once I saw her health start to decline. I don’t have plans to get anymore chickens for a while. I think we all need time, especially The Girls. They all (Turbo) need time to get use to all the changes. It has been a big year for all three. Terry Pete and Zazzles, being born, leaving the only home they knew, meeting two new hens and then losing a friend. And poor Turbo. Poppy was her snuggle buddy for a long time. I wonder if she is sleeping alone in the nesting boxes or did she try to jump up on the roosting bars and sleep with Terry Pete and Zazzles. Poor thing.

Small but big enough.

Small but big enough.

I think that next Spring I will look into getting two more hens. I would like to get two baby chicks that are big enough to know that they are hens (opposed to roosters) but still need to live inside with a heating lamp, some fluff and food and water. I want to be able to really bond with them before I would move them into The Majestic. I would probably introduce them the same way I did Terrance Peterson and Zazzles. It seemed to work out ok. I told The Boy my plan and told him he could name one. That made him smile.

Today there is more football to watch and a garden to start cleaning up if it doesn’t rain. If it does rain then and I have the energy (I have been up since three and have been writing this post since 4am) I may do more cleaning and organizing. I am pretty sure there will be a nap somewhere in there and of course more laundry. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday! Take Care and Be Safe!

 

 

Say goodbye…

…and there it goes…

IMG_4843 IMG_4844

Look at those roots!

Look at those roots!

IMG_4846 IMG_4848

Maybe I will stop here.

Maybe I will stop here.

IMG_4850

All gone!

All gone…almost.

Readers, my hair is gone…well almost. I have some fuzz left. Yesterday while I was in the shower washing my hair a small clump came out and I was freaked out. I knew that I was going to have to shave it because I did not want to have that happen again. No waking up with my hair all over my pillow. That would be too much. I will probably use a razor this weekend to get the rest. That picture will not be posted. You wouldn’t think that a little fuzz would make such a difference but it does. Shaving it wasn’t as big deal this time however, it still sucked. My hair was so soft! Hopefully when it grows back, it will be just as soft. Who knows what it will look like next time.

So soft.

So soft.

Me and Simon

Me and Simon rest in on the couch.

Such a good boy.

Such a good boy.

Shout Out

By Eve Sch

By Eve Schaub

Panny can't wait to try it!

Panny can’t wait to try them!

Stephen and Eve S.- Thank you so much for the syrup and maple cream. Since they live in Vermont I know they will taste great! I can’t wait to try them both this weekend. I am very excited to read Eve’s book. She has been on the Dr. Oz Show and Fox News to name a few shows and has been interviewed my countless of newspapers and magazines. Their whole family went an entire year without any sugar! I can’t even begin to think how hard it was…I will know soon though. If you are interested in lowering your sugar intake or stopping all together, take a look at her book. From what I have seen, read and heard, it is a great read.

Whatcha Reading?

Right now I am on a historical fiction kick. I am reading The White Princess by Philipa Gregory. I also read The Kingsmaker’s Daughter. I have read many of her books in the past that focused on the Tutor Royal Family aka Henry VIII. I like her books. I know there is a lot of fiction in these stories but they are somewhat educational. They have taught me that being King or Queen or a woman back then kinda sucked. You could trust no one if you are the King because everyone wants you dead and your job. Being a woman just sucked. You are property of your husband and your father before that. If they could only see us now.

The book that kicked off my historical fiction kick was Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough. It takes place in the 1920’s-30’s in Australia and it about two sets of twin female siblings. So four sisters growing up after WWI and the different paths they each take. It was good but I am not sure if the characters are anything like the women of the the time. These women were written as very strong, outgoing, outspoken women and I am just not sure if the women back then were like any of the sisters. Falling in love in one day? Getting married a week later? Telling your husband you are leaving him to live with another man? Telling a man off in public? Marry a gay man so he will fund your medical education? Sure things like that happen now but in the ’20s? I am not sure. Oh! and their father is a man of the Church so, I am just not buying it. That being said, I would recommend it. If anyone reads it or has read it, let me know what you think.

I also read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (I wrote about it before). I think I have read all her books to date and this one did not disappoint. It takes place in Australia present day. It focuses on three women and a death/murder in the town, so there is a little mystery. Read it.

Readers, thank you for all the writing suggestions. I will keep them in mind as I think of topics to write about. Have a wonderful Friday! Be Good and Be Safe!

Updates! Updates! Updates!

IMG_4705

Panny hiding from the vet in her carrier.

 

IMG_4709

Nail trim

IMG_4708

Patchwork Panny!

Patchwork Panny!

 

August 3, 2014

Readers, I writing this post (at home on Word) in hopes I can post it while at work tomorrow since our internet at Hotel Yorba is still not working (using a flash drive). I wont get all into all the details but hopefully by the 11th of August our internet will be up and running again. There are a lot of things going on here and I feel lost not being able to blog about them and share it all with you. There are also picture I want to post, so those will be randomly posted too! I have decided to write a brief explanation and hopefully I will be able to share it with you all soon.

Zazzles and Terrance Peterson

I am proud to announce that Zazzles and Terry Pete have laid their fist eggs! Woot Woot! How awesome is that? The eggs are small and light brown. I am guessing has they grow their eggs will grow along with them. I am so proud of my girls. It was The Boy who went up to the Majestic for a visit while I was out doing errands today. He didn’t see Zazzles in the run so he opened the door to the nesting boxes and there she was! Just chilling out doing her thing. Once I got home he told me about what he saw and then ran back up to the coop and came down with three eggs. One was Turbo’s and then there were two tiny ones. Very excited for my young hens. Proud Chicken Mama!

The Elephant in the Room

Had to move to the special toothbrush and toothpaste.

Had to move to the special toothbrush and toothpaste.

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you know that my doctor’s appointment on the 31st did not go as we hoped it would. Long story short, the chemo I was on wasn’t working. My pain in/on my ribs was getting worse and I had been in a pretty shitty mood for the last two weeks. When we left that hospital I was scheduled to check into the hospital on the 4th of August to start the chemo I did last summer. You remember, I was in the hospital for 5 days, lost my hair and was a mess. Dr. Read did suggest I try to get a second opinion but in the meantime try the big guns chemo but even though it had worked in the past, there was no guarantee it would work again. My Man and I were very bummed out. I went home and went to bed depressed.

My sarcoma girls reached out to me and all suggested I meet with a Doctor who use to be at Emory Winship center but who moved to Duke Hospital (to do sarcoma research) and then moved to Northside’s Cancer Hospital here in the ATL. She is very well-known in the Sarcoma world (around the world) and basically saved one of the sarcoma woman’s life after all the other doctors gave up on her. The ladies really wanted me to meet with her. Since she was in the ATL, I figured I would try to meet with her before I try to go to NYC.

Fast forward to Friday around 11am. I wrote Dr. Read that I would like to meet with this new doctor, we will call her Dr. D., for a seconded opinion. Within 30 minutes I talked to Dr. Read on the phone and he told me Dr. D wanted to meet with me that day. She is working on phase 3 of a clinical chemo drug for sarcomas and thought I would be perfect for the trial. The Boy and me met with her (had to cancel my nail appointment :)) and I really liked her and what she had to say about the trail and Phase 1 and 2.

So this is how things stand now. On Tuesday I will go in and give my written consent to participate in the trail. I will have a few tests done and then will be put in the system to see if I am randomly picked for the trail drug. If I am (she will be told) I will go the infusion center (sometime after the 11th of August) and have it given to me. It is out-patient deal. I will go in after a week or so to have blood work done and then after three weeks go back in for another infusion.  Phase 3 of a drug trail means they have had success with Phase 1 and 2 and are ready to bring it up in front of the FDA to get it on the market. They have been working on this drug for like 10 years.

If I do not get picked for the trail drug I will get a cocktail of chemo drugs that Dr. D. has already picked out for me. I will go in one day the first week and get one of the drugs. Then the second week I will get a mix of two drugs and the third week I will get off to either sleep, puke or work! Like with the trail drug I will be monitored. So either way, I will be getting chemo, a chemo the doctor thinks will work. She also mentioned getting me into a trail for a pill that they are working on to fight the growth of sarcoma cells in the first place. That would be great. Because we know that some chemo works for me, however new tumors keep coming back. That is what we need to fix.

She also discussed my pain issues with me. She wrote me a new prescription for a drug to take. She asked me to keep a pain diary and monitor my pain level and how much of the drug I am taking. I got the new pills on (Sunday) and am feeling better.  Of course I also went to Target to get a nice journal and new writing pens! Love an excuse to go to Target. (The Boy also needed new underwear!) I am still juicing and have stopped eating read meat, pork and chicken. I spent 30 minutes chopping up all my veggies and fruit for this coming week.  I feel I need to do my part in this fight of mine and I honestly believe it helps. I felt so good on Saturday after My Man and I made the decision to work with Dr. D. I woke up in less pain. Like the tumors know I am pissed and are going to fight! Little T wants to get better and is ready to work with me!

My parents were a little scared at the change of doctors but when they looked her up and read all about her they called and was like “She is famous for her work in the sarcoma world!” She is a sarcoma rock star. They are feeling much better about the new plan.

I feel good about this decision. The way that it all panned out, the speed that I was able to get in and meet with her; I feel it is meant to be. That this is a door God has put out in front of me and has given me a choice to open it. And I think opening the door was the right choice.

Shout Outs!

Everyone has been so supportive and caring on FB, via text, comments and email. I am not a telephone person, so I apologies for those of you who try to call but I was not in the mind-set to talk to anyone about anything and most of the time I was in bed sleeping!

There are a hand full of you out there that have helped me so much. I hope you know who you are and how much you mean to me. You are my rocks, you make me laugh, smile and give me strength. Thank you soooo much!!! And Karen, thank you for that e-mail and phone number. I owe you on….big time.

Readers! Not sure when I will be able to post again but the flash drive thing seems to be working. I hope you all have a great Monday morning!

Picture Time!

Reader’s!!! How the heck are all y’all? I am doing good. I am loving the weather that the ATL has been having the past few days. It looks like it will continue through the weekend too! We are having friends coming into town tonight and still have a lot of cleaning to do. I am feeling kinda tired right now but I am going to have to get passed it and vacuum!

Mustache Boy

Mustache Boy

This morning I was up and out early. I stopped by Dunkin Donuts to grad 50 donut holes for The Boys class. I then went to Home Depot to get more plants for around the pool and more cucumbers (I have a fear none of the other 5000 I have bought will grow!) then to Trader Joes to buy food for tomorrows party. I headed home and cleaned bathrooms. I really wanted to go to sleep! Instead I went back out and hung out with The Boy’s class and gave them donuts holes after they were done with their lunch for The Boy’s birthday. Their classroom had already been broken down. His teacher was so excited today was the last day. I bet she was!!!

Car full of balloons!

Car full of balloons!

After the school, I went to the $$ store and bought nine balloons for The Boy’s big day. Buying the balloons at the $$ store is the best deal! All the balloons are $1! You can’t beat it! Then it was time for my workout with SK. I was tired and my knee hurt but I made it through.

So soft!

So soft!

When I was leaving Austin bright and early at 6:30am last Saturday my Guru, Judi, came down to say goodbye. She was wearing these super cute PJ’s and I asked where she had got them. When I got back home I went straight to the website and order myself a pair (not the same pattern). They came today and I soooo wanted to put them on and climb into bed! Instead I put the in the washing machine and am typing away to y’all.

BFF's

BFF’s

IMG_4098

Timber and Panny

I love that picture of Timber and Panny. We were just hanging out in the screen in porch watching the baseball game. The weather was so nice, the toads were talking and the lights! Oh I love the lights!

My Man and his dog

My Man and his dog

IMG_4113

The rest of the day will be filled with cleaning and laundry. Our friends won’t get in till around midnight so I guessing I will be taking a nap at some point tonight. I hope y’all have a wonderful and safe holiday. If you see a service man or woman this weekend or have a grandparent or uncle or aunt or parent, go up to them or give them a call and say Thank You. If not for them, who know where we would all be!

 

Oh Pollen….How I hate you…..

Good Day Readers! 

Spring has sprung and so have my sinus headaches! Ugh. I am a mess. The pressure around my nose and eyes is killing me.  It poured down rain yesterday. You would think that the rain would have helped but it didn’t. As soon as the rain washed it away, more came.

So gross.

So gross.

Pollen after a day of pouring rain.

Pollen after a day of pouring rain.

Turbo…She is a mess

Poor Turbo! On Saturday I notice she had some black goo on her face, comb and neck. I was able to touch it and it is sticky. I tried to wipe it off with a wet wash cloth but it would not come off. She does not seem to be in pain but it looks terrible and I would love to help her get rid of it.

Black stuff on Turbo.

Black stuff on Turbo.

IMG_3849 IMG_3845

Panny, Simon and Timber

The three fur kids inside Hotel Yorba are all doing well. Timber has been going into work with me. He loves to ride in the car and go on walks at the office. His official position at the office is guard dog. He does a good job. Whenever anyone knocks on the door, Timber lets the person behind the door know that there will be no messing with us inside.

IMG_3838

Don't mind me...

Don’t mind me…

Panny and Simon are doing well. They can’t wait till the pollen is all gone so they can spend more time out on the screened in porch.

What?

GRRRRR.....

GRRRRR…..

This morning when I went out to let The Girls out of their coop I noticed that something had dug in my spinach and arugula planter. What? I am guessing that it is a chipmunk or squirrel eating up my lettuces. I am not sure how to stop it from happening again. Ideas?

And then there is my hair…

My hair is a mess. The color still has the red tint to it. I have been washing it hoping it will fade. Over the last few days it has gotten curler and curler. I have no idea what is going on with it. I am just waiting and waiting and waiting for it to grow out. Pickles.

IMG_3860

What?

What?

IMG_3854

The Boy is on Spring Break this week. He is going to camp at LifeTime and is having a great time. Tomorrow night we are heading to a Braves game. My Man was able to get free tickets for his companies box at Turner Field. They will be playing the Mets. Should be a fun time!

Are you on your Spring Break? Did you go anywhere? Or have a Staycation?