Brrrrr…..It be Cold!!

It took 9 years but his first "real" winter coat.

It took 9 years but his first “real” winter coat.

Brrrrr!!!! It’s cold here in ATL Readers! What’s up with that? The last two mornings The Boy has stated he wants to move to Miami. The ATL is too cold for him. The water in The Girls coop has been frozen the last two mornings and even the door to the nesting boxes takes some real effort to open. Now, I have seen the pictures from western NY and that is why I will now shut up about how cold it is here. But really, why to people live up there???

Me and Calanit

Me and Calanit

The ladies

The ladies

Monday night I got to go out with the ladies for dinner. We celebrated three birthdays, drank wine and had some yummy food. First of all, it was nice to feel up to going out at all. But most of all it was nice to meet and talk about other things than cancer. It was nice to be reminded that I was a mother whose kid isn’t the only one who drives her crazy or a working woman who has concerns about her job. You know Normal stuff. Thanks ladies.

Timber Update

Timber continued to have problems over the weekend and into Monday and Tuesday, although it seemed he was doing a little better. I ended up taking him to the vets office on Tuesday after I picked up The Boy from bus stop. The Vet said he saw a lot of dogs come in with issues like Timber was able to give him some med’s and very bland food. On Tuesday night My Man got up with Timber two times to let him out of the house, so no mess ups in the kitchen. Since the med’s and the bland diet he has been feeling much better. He is back to sleeping through the night. I think he is ready for his trip to the beach! Woot! Woot! Puppy!

Labs Update

I went in for labs yesterday and am happy to say everything is up! Now, not everything is back to normal but since I have had gone through three rounds of chemo they were not expected to be. I am feeling much better. It is like night and day. I think back about how I felt last Wednesday and compare to now and it is mind-blowing. Chemo is some really rough stuff. What it does to your body and mind is so hard to begin to explain it. I guess you must have been through to even begin to imagine.

I will check into the hospital on Dec. 2 for my 4th round of treatment. My Man and I talked about and we both think it is best that I go into the hospital. The treatment will take almost half the time since I will have the chemo every 12 hours instead of once a day. We are mainly concerned about The Boy. He is not happy that I will be going in for treatment. One night he laid in bed with me and just cried on my shoulder. I tried to explain the reasons why I am going to go in but to a 9-year-old all he hears is mom won’t be here. Poor boy.

I will be MIA for a week…do not worry! I will try to post with pictures of turkey and a happy puppy playing at the beach before my hospital visit. I wish y’all (who celebrate, I know we have a least one Canadian out there) a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family and give them a little extra love next week. Enjoy the food and drink. Enjoy the Football….RTR!!!! Enjoy yourself!

 

Chemo Free…for awhile.

Timber and I on our way to work!

Timber and I on our way to work!

Readers! Happy Sunday! The sun is out here in a chilly ATL. I won’t complain about the cold, I know it is snowing in other parts of the country so I will keep my mouth shut. How are y’all feeling? Me? So much better. Life is so much better when you are not on chemo. My Man and two friends who had seen me on Wednesday said I looked liked new person on Friday. I felt like a new person! It is amazing what a few days can do to a person. We went to see Dr. D on Thursday and where I felt better, I was still feeling kinda run down. My labs showed it. My white blood cell count was low and my hemoglobin was 8.4. I knew in my heart that it would not go up in a week and agreed to a blood transfusion. I was not going to make that mistake again. We are going out-of-town for Thanksgiving and I did not want to mess up our travel plans and I have a very busy week next week at work. So, I spent my Saturday at Northside Hospital.

Saturday and the hospital.

Saturday and the hospital.

Remote, ice water and hot coco.

Remote, ice water and hot coco.

Didn't think ahead and got my IV in my right arm. Shit.

Didn’t think ahead and got my IV in my right arm. Shit.

Thank you for those who donate.

Thank you for those who donate.

My RN, Georgia, and was pleasant to work with. Readers, why does everything in the hospital have to take so dam long? I was planning on going to Target when I was done because it has been over a week since I had been there, and they miss me. But no. No Target for me. I got to Northside at 10am and did not get home till 4pm. 4pm!!! WTH? Thank God I had a TV but still. My butt was numb by the time I got out of there.

When I got home My Man had lunch/dinner in the oven for me. So nice. He even roasted me carrots (which were very yummy). Today I feel very good. The transfusion worked. I will be heading back to the Dr. on Thursday to get labs done. Fingers crossed that they have improved.

Poor Puppy

Poor Puppy

Readers, Puppy is not feeling well. The last two mornings we have woken up with the smell of shit in the air. Not Good. I can’t begin to describe what we woke up to. Let’s just say after Saturday morning, My Man and I have changed our Christmas gift plans and will be giving each other new carpet in the rec room. Merry Christmas to us.

Last night we made a point to shut the doors to the carpeted rooms downstairs. Good thing we did. When I walked into the kitchen I was overtaken with the smell of shit. OMG. I can’t believe what I saw on the floor. I almost took a picture. I kid you not. I was like “I need to put this on the blog”. Don’t worry, I talked myself out of it. You’re welcome. It was 7:45am and I will admit that I did not want to deal with this. I had just taken two pills for nausea for goodness sake!  So I called up to My Man (who was sleeping in bed) to tell him what I had found. In my defense, I did clean up a little of it but I soon escaped to the bathroom and let My Man clean it up. Yep, I totally bailed and left it up to My Man to clean the poo. He also cleaned up the rec. room mess that day before but I was getting ready to leave for my day at the hospital so I really couldn’t help.

On Monday I am going to try to get him into vet. I hope he doesn’t have a repeat performance tonight. He is going on vacation to the beach and I know he wants to feel his best (and we can’t have an explosion at the rental). Please send some good vibes to Timbers belly.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday Readers. Be good and hug those you love.

Weekend update…

Kitty Cam…Bath time.

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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!

 

 

Hair, Hair Everywhere!

Readers, painkillers, when used as instructed by your doctor, can be a marvelous thing. On Tuesday I was able to finally pick up my main pain controller. I had been having to lower my dosage for the past few days due to the fact that I was running out of pills. I got a new prescription last Friday but was not able to get it filled till Tuesday. I was a painful few days. I was a mess. My pain level went from a 3 to 4 up to a 7 or 8. And when I coughed or got the hiccups… sweet son of pickle! It hurt so bad, like being stabbed over and over again in the ribs. Ugh. It sucked!

Now I am not saying life is perfect now, there is still some pain. I got a “booster” shot Wednesday morning. It effects my bone marrow by making it grow and get stronger since it is being depleted from the chemo. This is a good thing but it is such a big boost, it can hurt. Like right now. I am at a pain level of around a 4 or 5 but in the center of my chest there is a pain that throbs and is spreading to my other joints. It is kind of hard to explain and I fear I am not doing a good job at it. Sorry Readers. Anyway, when Candy called me last night (she calls almost every night) she warmed me that this could happen and that I could feel it in my chest area along with other parts. I tell, you if it is not one thing, it is another!

The Boy

A few posts ago I wrote how The Boy got in trouble and was being punished. Can I say that it has been a great week with him! I mean wow! He has been really good at home. Who knows how he is being at school but here he has been great. He gets home, gets a snack and works on the homework he did not do on the bus.

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Then we have 20 minute reading time (part of homework). I set out snacks and we both sit at the table and read for 20 minutes together. He is reading a book sores and read through book one pretty quick. He is reading all the time now. One of his punishments is an 8pm bedtime (instead of 9pm) and he gets to stay up till 8:15 reading in bed if we say it is ok. He has his watch that his grandparents gave him and shuts everything off then his time is up. After reading we usually go out to feed the girls and have a talk. We talk about all kinds of things.

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Like body hair!! It is a growing Readers! Not only is it growing in his pits, but it is on his legs and toes and other areas too! Woot! We discussed why we have hair and how back in the day people were covered with lots of hair as a form of protection and warmth. How over the generations we humans don’t need as much as we use too and therefore we are not as hairy as we use to be.

How you doin'

How you doin’

Another topic we discussed is 4th grade dating. DATING!! Wait? What? That is what I said to him when he brought it up. He said it was like a rule that you waited mid year to date in the 4th and 5th grades. Everyone knows about it. You know about this, right Readers? Where the hell have I been? I asked him where he would go (pizza place), how would get there (walk), all kinds of details. Needless to say, it was a long conversation and some guidelines (you date when we say you can), rules (you do not make the girl walk or pay) and suggestions (maybe a day movie first) were discussed. Very entertaining.

Thank you Heidi!!

Thank you Heidi!!

Wait. What???

Wait. What???

Refuses to look at me.

Refuses to look at me.

Have a great weekend Readers! Be good to yourself and others!

My LT (little tumors)

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It’s Monday Reader’s! How are you doing? I woke up an empty nester! The Boy is at sleep away camp. My Man and I dropped him off yesterday at Camp Winnataska in Alabama. Four of his friends from school are also going so we feel much better knowing his best buddies will be there with him. I think he was excited but also a bit nervous. He told me he is just going to think about like he is spending the night at a friend’s house. We wrote him letters also with his grandparents so he will get mail each day. I also purchased him some goodies that he will get throughout the week.IMG_4391 IMG_4379On Saturday we celebrated Timber’s “Gotcha Day”. I can’t believe it has been one year since he has come into our lives. He has brought such joy to our house. We went out to lunch and then to his best friend, Rebel’s, house. Rebel’s mom bought Timber a beer made esp. for dogs. How nice!! She also got him a yummy cookie.IMG_4376

Yummy!

Yummy!

Whatcha Reading?

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The Son by Jo Nesbo- I finished listening to this one a few weeks ago and like with his Henry Hole series, I loved it. Jo Nesbo is a fantastic writing and I suggested anyone who enjoys crime/mystery books check him out.

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Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds by Dr. Kelly Turner- I started reading this after I saw an interview Kris Carr did with her.

n her New York Times bestseller, Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds, Dr. Kelly A. Turner, founder of the Radical Remission Project, uncovers nine factors that can lead to a spontaneous remission from cancer—even after conventional medicine has failed.

While getting her Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkley, Dr. Turner, a researcher, lecturer, and counselor in integrative oncology, was shocked to discover that no one was studying episodes of radical (or unexpected) remission—when people recover against all odds without the help of conventional medicine, or after conventional medicine has failed.  She was so fascinated by this kind of remission that she embarked on a ten month trip around the world, traveling to ten different countries to interview fifty holistic healers and twenty radical remission cancer survivors about their healing practices and techniques. Her research continued by interviewing over 100 Radical Remission survivors and studying over 1000 of these cases.  Her evidence presents nine common themes that she believes may help even terminal patients turn their lives around.–Amazon.com

So far I have read the first three chapters and am hooked. The stories of the survivors are very uplifting and encouraging. I am using what I am learning in my own fight to get my LT’s (Little Tumors) healthy again. I have decided not to hate them. Not to want to kill them. They are just blood cells who minding their own business, working hard for me and the bam! They get sick. I know the feeling and I want to help them get better. I want the big LT to lose some weight cause he is really hurting my ribcage. So I am going to be positive, tell them I will help them get better. Watch what I put in my body, how I treat it and to breathe. Most people don’t really breath. I don’t need the negative energy in my mind and body right now. Who wants to go around being angry all the time? I know there are some out there who think the chemo, radiation and drugs have all gone to my head and maybe they have but this feels right for me. Of course when I told My Man about LT he said he would just be happy to kill the little fuckers. Oh Well!

 Whatcha Reading?

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

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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

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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!

 

Lights! Puppies! Shout Outs!

Happy Wednesday Reader’s!

Only two more days till Friday and a three-day weekend! Woot! Woot! Are you doing anything special for Memorial Day? Our very good friends/The Boy’s God Parents are doing down in Friday and will be staying the weekend with us. The Boy’s big day is on Saturday and we are having people over to Hotel Yorba for swimming and grilling. It should be a lot of fun with good weather (fingers crossed) and good food.

Gift from Nana Pete & Papa!

Gift from Nana Pete & Papa!

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The Boy got a gift and some $$$ form his Nana Pete and Papa today in the mail. He has been working on his legos ever since! Loves working on them. The $$$ will go into his college fund because nothing is as fun as a good college education!

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Lights!

Lights!

O Tuesday we hung lights in the screened in porch. I have been wanting to do it for years and finally decided to just buy the damn things. It got a bit crazy but we got them up and I love them! Makes the porch come alive! My Man did most of the work and he did a good job.

We are heading down to the Braves games in a bit. It should be a good game, they have won the last two games in the series. Let’s go number three!! Go Braves!

Pet Cam

Passed out Puppy

Passed out Puppy

Kobie- Timber's new buddy!

Kobie- Timber’s new buddy!

Isn’t Kobie a cutie!?! I love to watch his little legs run!

Shout Out!

I want to give a shout out to my Uncle Roone. He is done with round 2 of chemo and is starting to feel the oh so wonderful side effects of the crap (good crap cause it will save your life but crap just the same). Hang in there!!

Also to Tammy R.! I know she should be getting new boobies soon (so jealous). Let us know how you are doing Tammy! And I want to see how our hair is growing in!!

Be Good Y’all!