So I lied! I guess I have some things to blog about and perhaps they are more/less vents.
Claire goes to kindergarten this fall. I really would have loved her to stay at Jackson, but under the circumstances, she may go to Brown.
I went and visited Brown Friday. I wanted to go before her case conference regarding her IEP (individualized education plan). This way the visit would be fresh in my mind and I would have the questions to ask at the meeting.
I left there with mixed emotions. Not because it was yet another realization that my daughter has special needs. It was not that at all. Just the opposite really. I asked about how the kids get into the gen ed kindy classroom. I was told they don't start inclusion until first grade. As soon as she told me that, I wanted to cry! I didn't even want to be there anymore. Now why, would they not start in kindy when there are several good reasons to start at that age. First it is the first interaction with your peers. There is no reason Claire should not be able to spend some time in there. Even if it a few minutes a week to begin with. So.... a good friend of mine and I are going over things tomorrow to prepare us for the meeting Monday. Let me just say that I trust her with all my heart and she knows Claire very well. In fact, if she hadn't told me she thought Claire was capable of spending time in the gen ed kindy classroom, I wouldn't have thought anything of it.
I am also going to talk to a teacher that teaches at Brownstown elementary and see what their special ed program is like. It just shouldn't be this hard to get the best education for your child no matter what. I am just sick at my stomach thinking about this meeting Monday. The special ed director should be there and I have a feeling I am going to have alot of questions.
So pray for me! I need patience and I need strength. I can picture myself in this meeting with my blood pressure rising! And I swear to you, if they don't come up with a plan that we are happy with. I will fight tooth and nail to get her what I feel is the best thing for her.

I do believe this will be the last of my blog entries. I will still keep it open, but I doubt I will be entering much anymore.
Tuesday I got my port out. What a wonderful milestone for me. I would say one less reminder of my cancer, but I cant. Cancer will always be a part of my life. But just in a different form. I continue to Co facilitate the support group meetings. I also try to talk with other Lymphoma patients. Esp the ones going through treatment now.
So here is wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and wonderful Christmas and New Year!
Blessings as always!

Wow. It certainly has been awhile since I have posted anything. I don't even know if anyone still reads this blog! It has been a good year. All summer I reminisced on where I was last summer at this time. Last year just plain sucked! There is no other words for it, well, there is, but I will keep it clean.
I still sometimes wonder what my purpose in life is. But then I look at my daughter and I know. I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with her, but sometimes I miss the adult interaction. And there really aren't any neighbor kids around for her to play with. I really miss having the Preston's across the street! She played so well with their kids. At least she has preschool.
Our support group is doing great! We did lose another member last week. He was such a sweet, dear man. He will be greatly missed. I sure hope his wife feels comfortable coming back. She did tell Beth and I at his celebration of life that it would be awhile. But we are having Jan Grimm Lucas come speak to our group in January. She lives in Ogilvilee and wrote a book called, "my beautiful Leukemia." She had leukemia and had to have a stem cell transplant. She is in remission and doing great! I am so excited to have her come speak!
Like I said this year has been good. Unfortunately there have been several deaths due to that horrible disease called cancer. My heart breaks every time someone is diagnosed and when someone passes. I just don't wish what I went through on anyone. It takes a toll emotionally and physically.
I go back in December for my scan, blood work etc....Hoping we talk about getting my port out when we see each other in December.
So that is it for now.
Blessings always!

I know it has been awhile since I have blogged. Guess my life is calmer than last year! Ha!
Things are going well. Still trying to build up more strength. Seems like if I catch a cold or something else it takes me a bit longer to bounce back. But I know that will not always be the case. I have been exercising and trying to get my strength back that way. I have almost lost the 10 pounds I wanted to lose, now to get 10 more off and I will be happy.
Met with my oncologist last Thursday and everything looked good. Still have my bloodwork done every 3 months, port flushed every month and scans every 6 months. Hopefully after December we will go to annual scans! Yeah! And who knows when the port will come out. My veins are still pretty messed up. I felt bad, last Monday when I had my scan, the ER nurse could not access my port. It did enough to get the dye in. But I was thinking in my mind, "I never have issues with the nurses at the Cancer Ctr." Bite my tongue! When I went in Thursday for blood work etc... they had to find a vein.
Our support group is going great! Every month we have new folks coming. We did lose a member of our group a couple of months ago. The only down side of a group like ours. I am continually please at how tight our group has become in such a short time. One members Leukemia came back. This woman made up orange bracelets with his name on it to remember to pray for him. What a thoughtful idea! And I am proud to say that we are going to have a Light the Night walk here in Seymour September 12th. It is to benefit Leukemia/Lymphoma society. So excited to be able to have this walk. Not an easy task. They only allow walks in areas where they think they will be successful. With our group being so big, they figured we would have the support of the community.
Dennis is doing well. He got a promotion at work. He has lost weight as well and looks even hotter!
Claire is almost done with extended school. She has one more year of preschool and then off to kindergarten! I cannot even imagine! Her speech is really coming along. Her ST told me the other day that she does almost better in a group setting. If there are 2 other girls in there, she will say more. She said she knows as much language with her signs as they do.
Well friends, all for now.
Blessings

I have had a couple good weeks working out with my personal trainer. She is so awesome! Last week I left there with my legs feeling like Jell-o! This week not so bad! Last week I did some exercises on the ball. This week she has me doing some Pilate's. I really wish everyone could work with a trainer. I don't think people realize how weak they are in their core. This is when they go and do something they shouldn't have and injure themselves. I am glad we are starting at the core because in the end it will give me more stamina to do more cardio. Anyway, I love my trainer.
Last week's support group meeting went really well. We had the hospital psychologist and she was an absolute hoot! It was a lighter meeting believe it or not, and I think we all needed that. One member found out she is in remission so that is good news! So fulfilling when at least one person every month thanks us for this group.
Looks like it will be another beautiful week. Going to get out and continue my walking and I decided to write everything down that I am eating.
We have Kids Fest Saturday and a wedding that afternoon.
Blessings on your week!

It was a good week. The weather was fabulous and I got alot of walking in. It was my second time working with a personal trainer. Now, I am sure there are alot of things you can think about when you hear the word personal trainer. Let me see! Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper! I am not quite there yet! It was nice because the first time we sat down and talked about what my goals, etc were. My main goal is to build up my core muscles to give me the strength to do more. With 3 surgeries and having my stomach opened up each time, I am not sure how much muscle was cut into. I would be lying if I didn't want to lose 10 pounds, but right now if I can maintain and not gain while I build up my core muscles, I will be happy! The weight I have gained did not go where I wanted it to! Ha! So I am not real happy with my body right now.

Easter was nice. We went to mass, where the music was beautiful, and then to the Pines for lunch. I ate mostly veggies since I weigh in tomorrow! So we will see! We went for a walk around the neighborhood and ran into several people who we stopped and talked to. This is why we don't walk around the neighborhood! There is a young lady doing a paper on Down syndrome and wanted to know if we had any reference books. Of course we do! So we dropped those off at their house too.

Yesterday we had Claire's pictures taken. We had originally cancelled because it had rained in the a.m. and we figured the grass outside would be wet and we knew the Forestry would be muddy. But we ended up taking some here at home, inside and out. It was fun! Claire was worn out afterwards. We are going to get family photos taken at the forestry when the weather gets nicer.

I was hoping for a week without appts or meetings, but not so lucky. I go get my teeth cleaned Tuesday which is fine. Just nice to have to not plan on those things. I think I had enough of them last year!

Blessings!

I had my visit with Dr O last week. All my levels look good. She kept saying I looked great and strong. I am feeling stronger every day. I am actually finally getting comfortable with my body again. I know that may sound odd, but I had lost so much weight so fast, that it was hard on me to accept too. I knew I looked like a "cancer patient." We have agreed to scans every 6 months for the next 2 years. And I will see her every 3 months for blood work. So it goes.
I met with a personal trainer Monday. I am so excited to get started! She is going to be so awesome and so good for me. I am so excited to build up my core muscles. I know this will give me strength and give me energy in return.
I am loving my hair. It is wavy. It is longer too. I am on a mission to go Organic now. I am slowly going to do it with all our household items as well. My first goal was to get new deodorant. Dr Windley told my sister that deodorants with aluminum clog up the pores and this would not be good for those that have had lymphoma. So I got some Tom of Maine deodorant. Now I am after Organic shampoo. Can't imagine what all this stuff I do is doing to my body!
Looking forward to Dennis coming home tonight. He has been gone all week to a training class in Kansas City, MO. It was nice for him to be able to spend some time with his younger sister Karen, who lives an hour away from there. But Claire and I have missed him terribly.
Saturday we are going to Story Inn for Beth Anne's birthday. We are meeting Beth and Tony as well. Then Saturday night I have a house warming party to go to in Hope. A classmate of mine moved from VA and lives in Hope now. She is part of the group of us that go out every month.
Not much else going on.
Blessings on your weekend!