It's such a relief to know that I do not have breast cancer. I find myself tearing up at anything that has to do with breast cancer on the television. But for the grace of God....
Thank you Lord for my life, my health, my family, my friends, my job, and the many accoutrements that go hand in hand with my quiet and wonderful existence. I have so many gifts that may seem small and petty to others but I hold them dear to me. My few close friends are simply divine people that I wouldn't change for the world. I am in remission from my multiple sclerosis and I have less than a month left of school until I can revel in summer vacation.
I walked again last night but not tonight. Today was more of a low-key sleep the day away kind of dealio. I was so tired and had no gumption to do much. I see more movement on the horizon for tomorrow. I'll be going over to my Mom's house and we're going all out with some barbecued chicken, spare ribs and some sides from a local BBQ place. I'm looking forward to that.
Happy Memorial Day to you and yours and to all our military personnel, past and present, especially my brother and sister.
Weebs
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
All clear
The gammagram wasn't horrible but it took a loooong time. Regardless, I am cancer-free! Now this girl has some diabetes to whoop over these next few months.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers,
Weebs
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers,
Weebs
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
One more day...
One more day until the gammagram and finally some news. I either get to stop worrying or I turn myself into a whirling dervish who is on a one-way path to getting better. In the meantime I have walked the last two evenings to get some movement going with this body and to help deal with the feelings of nervousness.
I need to stop bullshitting myself about this whole bit with my diabetes. My glucose numbers are all out of whack because I am only taking one Metformin pill a day instead of the four I was taking because of all my bowel explosion issues. I am still taking Glipizide and my Victoza shot but it seems that all I eat is carbs, carbs, and more carbs. I have at least got myself to the point where I am taking my blood sugar numbers once a day; all this after months of hardly any readings.
It's time to start really thinking about what I am eating and exercising regularly again. I feel better when I eat better and I move more, yet I am a slack ass and I don't do it nearly enough. Time to pull out my Geneen Roth books, dust them off, and find those pages that ring true for me.
How is it that we as women often sabotage ourselves as if we don't deserve to be fit and healthy? We put ourselves last on the list and I don't even have a family of my own to take care of, no hubby anymore or kiddos, so what the heck is my reason for acting so piss poor lately? Why do I let myself fall apart and gel into this giant body?
It's time to focus on me more and getting healthier. I can win the fight against diabetes and I can get it under control again. I have summer vacation coming up and I will have all sorts of time to take care of me in many different ways.
Wishing you health and happiness, Weebs
I need to stop bullshitting myself about this whole bit with my diabetes. My glucose numbers are all out of whack because I am only taking one Metformin pill a day instead of the four I was taking because of all my bowel explosion issues. I am still taking Glipizide and my Victoza shot but it seems that all I eat is carbs, carbs, and more carbs. I have at least got myself to the point where I am taking my blood sugar numbers once a day; all this after months of hardly any readings.
It's time to start really thinking about what I am eating and exercising regularly again. I feel better when I eat better and I move more, yet I am a slack ass and I don't do it nearly enough. Time to pull out my Geneen Roth books, dust them off, and find those pages that ring true for me.
How is it that we as women often sabotage ourselves as if we don't deserve to be fit and healthy? We put ourselves last on the list and I don't even have a family of my own to take care of, no hubby anymore or kiddos, so what the heck is my reason for acting so piss poor lately? Why do I let myself fall apart and gel into this giant body?
It's time to focus on me more and getting healthier. I can win the fight against diabetes and I can get it under control again. I have summer vacation coming up and I will have all sorts of time to take care of me in many different ways.
Wishing you health and happiness, Weebs
Monday, May 23, 2011
Gammagram scheduled
The gammagram has been scheduled for this Wednesday afternoon. It's great that it's coming up so soon because I am going just a wee bit crazy with the voices in my head. The biggest let-down is that my insurance won't pay for the procedure so I am paying $402.10 out of my own pocket, but thankfully I can submit that to my flex plan.
I was so wound up this evening that I took a walk to get some of my nervousness out. It actually worked and has calmed me down some. Yippee!!
If I have cancer then I am jumping on the bandwagon and dealing with it immediately. I have no plans for waiting and seeing; I want it gone and whatever needs to be done will be done.
It is almost summer vacation and there is exactly one month left of school with students. Will I spend it working on getting healthier and dealing with my diabetes or will I be getting treatments to deal with breast cancer?
I guess that answer will be coming soon.
I was so wound up this evening that I took a walk to get some of my nervousness out. It actually worked and has calmed me down some. Yippee!!
If I have cancer then I am jumping on the bandwagon and dealing with it immediately. I have no plans for waiting and seeing; I want it gone and whatever needs to be done will be done.
It is almost summer vacation and there is exactly one month left of school with students. Will I spend it working on getting healthier and dealing with my diabetes or will I be getting treatments to deal with breast cancer?
I guess that answer will be coming soon.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
New news update
I made it to my Friday follow-up appointment and had a repeat mammogram and ultrasound on my left breast. After comparing all three films (Friday's, the previous Friday's and my last mammo several years ago) the doctor decided that something was there but we're not sure what it is yet.
It could be nothing, it could be something.
So, we're not watching and waiting for a year and we're not running to the doctor's office yet. Instead the mammo place is sending the results to my gynecologist's office and then they are supposed to set up an appointment for a gammagram.
A gammagram is kind of like a mammogram but you get to sit down the whole time and they don't squish you anywhere near as much as in a mammogram. What happens is they inject some dye into your arm and it travels throughout your body. For some reason, the dye pools into any cancerous areas in your breast(s) and it shows up as dark spots. This is supposed to be a quick (an hour or less), easy, and less painful way to get a diagnosis or an all-clear.
Results are given to you that day, according to the pamphlet that they gave me.
I am now waiting for that next appointment to be set up. Am I a little nervous? Sure I am, but I figure that if, and that's a big if, this is cancer then this is the best time to have it. It's the end of the school year in another month and then on to summer vacation so I wouldn't need to miss work.
If it's an all-clear then woohoo to that.
As always, I do promise to keep you updated when I have more news. Thanks for reading and for your support. :)
It could be nothing, it could be something.
So, we're not watching and waiting for a year and we're not running to the doctor's office yet. Instead the mammo place is sending the results to my gynecologist's office and then they are supposed to set up an appointment for a gammagram.
A gammagram is kind of like a mammogram but you get to sit down the whole time and they don't squish you anywhere near as much as in a mammogram. What happens is they inject some dye into your arm and it travels throughout your body. For some reason, the dye pools into any cancerous areas in your breast(s) and it shows up as dark spots. This is supposed to be a quick (an hour or less), easy, and less painful way to get a diagnosis or an all-clear.
Results are given to you that day, according to the pamphlet that they gave me.
I am now waiting for that next appointment to be set up. Am I a little nervous? Sure I am, but I figure that if, and that's a big if, this is cancer then this is the best time to have it. It's the end of the school year in another month and then on to summer vacation so I wouldn't need to miss work.
If it's an all-clear then woohoo to that.
As always, I do promise to keep you updated when I have more news. Thanks for reading and for your support. :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
New news
My mom had some major surgery on Monday and is now home and recovering wonderfully. I'm very pleased for that bit of goodness in my life.
I'm also delighted that my back has *finally* stopped acting up after a few weeks of miserableness after the MS Walk back on May 1st.
I am almost to the point of where I actually miss my students as I have been out of the classroom since last Friday, working on scoring state math tests for the week. I won't be back in again until next Monday and then we have two four day weeks in a row thanks to the observance of Memorial Day. I love short weeks now that testing is over.
I do have to go back in for more mammography films on Friday. I went in last Friday and have been waiting to hear about the results. They had to get my films from another place from about 7 years ago so I'm not sure if there have been changes since then or what the dealio is. I'm not going to worry too much about it until the new films are done and I have more information. No sense getting myself all tied up in knots, right?
What will be, will be and I promise to update you once I know anything.
This past Saturday I spent 12 hours card making and being a Stampin' Up! vendor at a scrapbooking event. It was good but such a long day for me as we arrived around 7:40 and didn't leave until after 9 in the evening.
What have I been doing for myself lately?
1.) Painting my fingernails all sorts of wonderfully, bright colors.
2.) Sleeping in an extra 5 minutes in the morning.
3.) Putting myself on a spending hiatus from Stampin' Up!
4.) And generally being my positive and happy self
Time to go do my nails... I'll write again soon.
I'm also delighted that my back has *finally* stopped acting up after a few weeks of miserableness after the MS Walk back on May 1st.
I am almost to the point of where I actually miss my students as I have been out of the classroom since last Friday, working on scoring state math tests for the week. I won't be back in again until next Monday and then we have two four day weeks in a row thanks to the observance of Memorial Day. I love short weeks now that testing is over.
I do have to go back in for more mammography films on Friday. I went in last Friday and have been waiting to hear about the results. They had to get my films from another place from about 7 years ago so I'm not sure if there have been changes since then or what the dealio is. I'm not going to worry too much about it until the new films are done and I have more information. No sense getting myself all tied up in knots, right?
What will be, will be and I promise to update you once I know anything.
This past Saturday I spent 12 hours card making and being a Stampin' Up! vendor at a scrapbooking event. It was good but such a long day for me as we arrived around 7:40 and didn't leave until after 9 in the evening.
What have I been doing for myself lately?
1.) Painting my fingernails all sorts of wonderfully, bright colors.
2.) Sleeping in an extra 5 minutes in the morning.
3.) Putting myself on a spending hiatus from Stampin' Up!
4.) And generally being my positive and happy self
Time to go do my nails... I'll write again soon.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
To the few, the remaining readers of this blog with the dwindling number of posts, I wish those of you who deserve it a wonderful Mother's Day. That goes for all fur-baby and human baby mothers, those who nurture and support others' children, and to those single Dads who have to act as both Mom and Dad. I salute you! :)
I am a fur-baby mom but my kitty boy is such an important part of my life. Then I am also a "sorta-mom" to all the kiddos in my classes when they need to talk or spout off or let me into their lives. I am blessed to have such a fantastic occupation where I have the ability to remain a teacher, a guide, a helper, a listener, and sometimes I have the opportunity to make their day with a helpful or supportive comment.
My students have completed the ELA portion of their state tests followed by this week's two days of math. Then I will be out of the class on Friday for training and then out all next week for scoring. That will be a surreal period of time to be away from my kiddos for so long. May the force be with their long-term substitute!
The MS Walk totals are still being added up but for right now I am still the number one fundraiser for individuals for our walk. Our team is still in fourth place overall and I remain psyched and proud of all of our walkers. It was another fabulous experience and so much fun to bring people in my life to meet up with others from different areas.
Wishing you glorious weather for the days ahead. Weebs :)
I am a fur-baby mom but my kitty boy is such an important part of my life. Then I am also a "sorta-mom" to all the kiddos in my classes when they need to talk or spout off or let me into their lives. I am blessed to have such a fantastic occupation where I have the ability to remain a teacher, a guide, a helper, a listener, and sometimes I have the opportunity to make their day with a helpful or supportive comment.
My students have completed the ELA portion of their state tests followed by this week's two days of math. Then I will be out of the class on Friday for training and then out all next week for scoring. That will be a surreal period of time to be away from my kiddos for so long. May the force be with their long-term substitute!
The MS Walk totals are still being added up but for right now I am still the number one fundraiser for individuals for our walk. Our team is still in fourth place overall and I remain psyched and proud of all of our walkers. It was another fabulous experience and so much fun to bring people in my life to meet up with others from different areas.
Wishing you glorious weather for the days ahead. Weebs :)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
2011 MS Walk
Our team has successfully completed another MS Walk. If I say so myself, and I am saying so, we had the coolest T-shirts at the walk. I know this because another person even stopped us to tell us that!
I did the 3-mile walk with BJM and another friend. The rest of our merry walkers split up into other groups of people doing either the 3 or 5-mile jaunt. Some of us were even on TV tonight which is just the bomb.
I'm so proud to have so many awesome friends who took time out of a beautiful Sunday morning to come and spend time with me, to walk, and to raise money. I am a lucky, lucky girl!
I know I have once again been remiss at keeping this thing updated. I hope to get back to it fully once summer vacation is here. Unfortunately, that isn't until the end of June. In the meantime I will let you know that I am doing my best to check my blood sugar levels once a day and that the bowel blow-outs have stopped thanks to the discontinuance of a diabetes medication.
The stamping thing is going well and I am having a blast with it. I am making some money through sales to friends and orders from myself. I seem to have a new addiction and it's calorie-free but it does get a bit costly.
Happy May to all!
Weebs
Friday, April 15, 2011
Spring Break, baby
It's finally here: Spring Break! Yippee. The kids were so wound up today that I was looking forward to a break from some of them. Several of them have developed a bad case of spring fever/puberty angst and their mouthiness and disrespect are really ticking me off.
Nevertheless, we're apart for a week and when we return all shall be right within our worlds once again. Or so I hope.
Big news: the new undergarments have arrived and they fit. Huzzah! It's hard for short but large women to purchase panties when everyone seems to make them differently even when they are all supposed to be the same size. I know, I know... Really? We're talking about panties? I suppose I am, so I apologize for that.
On to other things like the fact that BJM stopped by this afternoon to put together another bookshelf for me. That is the beginning of "Clean Your Crap Up Week. This is the week where we are shredding the extraneous papers, recycling the magazines, throwing out the old, dusting off that which remains, and doing some crafting in there also. I am actually looking forward to having a nice, organized apartment again.
I'll be making a trip out to see my mom tomorrow and we'll be doing the church and dinner thing. No plans for Sunday but cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Off to the neuro on Monday and to Tysabri on Tuesday. Monday afternoon I am visiting my upline from Stampin' Up! and then Tuesday night is Team Time so I need to get some cards ready for that. Thursday is card making time with friends as we play with the Big Shot embosser and cutting system. I also plan to try and get an eye doctor visit in there, if at all possible.
There's still plenty of time for cleaning and organizing though. It's a new season and it's time for a literal and figurative breath of fresh air.
Nevertheless, we're apart for a week and when we return all shall be right within our worlds once again. Or so I hope.
Big news: the new undergarments have arrived and they fit. Huzzah! It's hard for short but large women to purchase panties when everyone seems to make them differently even when they are all supposed to be the same size. I know, I know... Really? We're talking about panties? I suppose I am, so I apologize for that.
On to other things like the fact that BJM stopped by this afternoon to put together another bookshelf for me. That is the beginning of "Clean Your Crap Up Week. This is the week where we are shredding the extraneous papers, recycling the magazines, throwing out the old, dusting off that which remains, and doing some crafting in there also. I am actually looking forward to having a nice, organized apartment again.
I'll be making a trip out to see my mom tomorrow and we'll be doing the church and dinner thing. No plans for Sunday but cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Off to the neuro on Monday and to Tysabri on Tuesday. Monday afternoon I am visiting my upline from Stampin' Up! and then Tuesday night is Team Time so I need to get some cards ready for that. Thursday is card making time with friends as we play with the Big Shot embosser and cutting system. I also plan to try and get an eye doctor visit in there, if at all possible.
There's still plenty of time for cleaning and organizing though. It's a new season and it's time for a literal and figurative breath of fresh air.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
What happened to March?
Not only what happened to March, but what the heck happened to me, ye olde trusty blogger? I have to admit folks that I need new topics to write about because my MS is in remission, my diabetes I'm not focusing on much (which reminded me to go take my blood sugar for the first time in ten days!), and school is going okay.
In short, which is what I am for those of you who know me in real life, life is just ducky.
My MS Walk team is getting revved up and ready to go for our May 1st walk. We're a small team compared to some but we're mighty in spirit. Right now we are third for team fundraising and I am first for individual fundraising for the Syracuse, NY walk. I'm just thrilled with that even if I am behind compared to last year's amount. I know the economy is tanking and discretionary spending doesn't necessarily include donations to the NMSS. However, I am thankful to all who have been generous in time, spirit, and donations of goods and cold hard cash.
The diabetes thing is a bit of a problem because even though my A1C is dropping it's not because I have made a concerted effort to change things. Since my Dad's death in November I have been a huge slacker in this area. I rarely check my blood sugar weekly, let alone check it twice a day. I am trying to remember all my meds but often forget my Victoza shot in the morning. My other meds give me the "runs" which are oh so pleasant, especially when you already have some bowel and bladder issues due to MS.
I know this is TMI but I have lost more panties due to sudden explosions than I care to count. I just ordered some new ones online to replace the casualties. Now back to your unregularly scheduled program...
So diabetes is something I need to conquer. I can do it, was doing it, until Dad died. Then some things fell apart, like me, and the diabetes thing got lost in the shuffle. I keep telling myself I'll start to take better care of myself and then I don't. Maybe I need to write more about that. Maybe the blog needs to take a diabetes slant for a bit. I mean, I do fancy my eyesight and all my limbs and such. It would be a tragedy to survive and thrive with MS and then go blind or need something amputated in the future.
I also need to start really exercising again. I have been walking in my little apartment to get prepared for our big walk. Last year there was no turn around sign so we kept on walking extra and I absolutely plan against doing that this year. I know where to look now and plan to do three mile minimum (or less, if I can get away with it). I have people at work that tell me they don't walk and I want to tell them that neither do I on a regular, athletic basis. I know I need to but I just don't. Walking after work puts a real dent in my napping time.
It is Spring now and I am loving that. I drive to work with the sun coming up on the driver's side as I go to school. I sometimes leave in the afternoon and can open the sunroof. Oh what a joy that is! When you live in a place that snows from October/November to April/May, spring is a welcome sight, sound, and smell. There's nothing quite like fresh blades of green grass and flowers poking up through the formerly frozen ground.
Oh, the card making thing is going swimmingly also. Did I tell you I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator? I was thinking about doing it, decided against it, and then completely changed my mind and did it. Just jumped in with both feet, boom. Now I am making a little bit of money doing something fun that I enjoy. Something besides teaching that is.
Speaking/typing of teaching... today is a half day for the kiddos and so is tomorrow for parent-teacher conferences. I'll be working until sometime around 6 tonight but then leaving early Friday. Then, blissfully, I will be off all next week for vacation. I'm not going anywhere, except for my Tysabri appointment and to the neurologist and a few fun side trips mixed in to work on cards and such. Sleeping in, if Edison allows it, will be fabulous.
So, in a nutshell, this nut is doing okay in spite of all the challenges that life has thrown at me for the last year. I hope you're doing well, too.
In short, which is what I am for those of you who know me in real life, life is just ducky.
My MS Walk team is getting revved up and ready to go for our May 1st walk. We're a small team compared to some but we're mighty in spirit. Right now we are third for team fundraising and I am first for individual fundraising for the Syracuse, NY walk. I'm just thrilled with that even if I am behind compared to last year's amount. I know the economy is tanking and discretionary spending doesn't necessarily include donations to the NMSS. However, I am thankful to all who have been generous in time, spirit, and donations of goods and cold hard cash.
The diabetes thing is a bit of a problem because even though my A1C is dropping it's not because I have made a concerted effort to change things. Since my Dad's death in November I have been a huge slacker in this area. I rarely check my blood sugar weekly, let alone check it twice a day. I am trying to remember all my meds but often forget my Victoza shot in the morning. My other meds give me the "runs" which are oh so pleasant, especially when you already have some bowel and bladder issues due to MS.
I know this is TMI but I have lost more panties due to sudden explosions than I care to count. I just ordered some new ones online to replace the casualties. Now back to your unregularly scheduled program...
So diabetes is something I need to conquer. I can do it, was doing it, until Dad died. Then some things fell apart, like me, and the diabetes thing got lost in the shuffle. I keep telling myself I'll start to take better care of myself and then I don't. Maybe I need to write more about that. Maybe the blog needs to take a diabetes slant for a bit. I mean, I do fancy my eyesight and all my limbs and such. It would be a tragedy to survive and thrive with MS and then go blind or need something amputated in the future.
I also need to start really exercising again. I have been walking in my little apartment to get prepared for our big walk. Last year there was no turn around sign so we kept on walking extra and I absolutely plan against doing that this year. I know where to look now and plan to do three mile minimum (or less, if I can get away with it). I have people at work that tell me they don't walk and I want to tell them that neither do I on a regular, athletic basis. I know I need to but I just don't. Walking after work puts a real dent in my napping time.
It is Spring now and I am loving that. I drive to work with the sun coming up on the driver's side as I go to school. I sometimes leave in the afternoon and can open the sunroof. Oh what a joy that is! When you live in a place that snows from October/November to April/May, spring is a welcome sight, sound, and smell. There's nothing quite like fresh blades of green grass and flowers poking up through the formerly frozen ground.
Oh, the card making thing is going swimmingly also. Did I tell you I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator? I was thinking about doing it, decided against it, and then completely changed my mind and did it. Just jumped in with both feet, boom. Now I am making a little bit of money doing something fun that I enjoy. Something besides teaching that is.
Speaking/typing of teaching... today is a half day for the kiddos and so is tomorrow for parent-teacher conferences. I'll be working until sometime around 6 tonight but then leaving early Friday. Then, blissfully, I will be off all next week for vacation. I'm not going anywhere, except for my Tysabri appointment and to the neurologist and a few fun side trips mixed in to work on cards and such. Sleeping in, if Edison allows it, will be fabulous.
So, in a nutshell, this nut is doing okay in spite of all the challenges that life has thrown at me for the last year. I hope you're doing well, too.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)