Short Hair

I stopped wearing a hat last weekend and I didn't have one on today.  I am much more comfortable without the wig or hat.  My hair is still very short.  I don't think it looks hideous, but I also know I have had more attractive looks.  I have had a lot of wonderful people tell me that my hair looks good.  I have been through a lot to get where I am.  I am proud of the hair I have and I am happy to show it off!  Okay, now to get to the purpose of this story.  Ken and I went to Walmart today. I am walking along and I noticed a woman I know.  We are walking toward one another and she is looking at me with a strange look on her face.  So,I say hi.  She still looks at me odd and then finally acknowledges me.  I don't think she had seen me without a wig or hat and I looked different to her.  By the look on her face I don't think she liked my look.  I pondered on it several times during the day.  It kind of bothered me at first that she was so obvious in her dislike of the way I looked.  Who cares.  The people that I value and that value me would never look at me that way.  They celebrate my new hair, it's color, and new texture.  So, it is important to surround yourself with supportive people.  Attitude is everything!
We went over to Jane's house for lupper today.  Lupper is the meal between lunch and supper.  Jane loves to cook and we love to eat!  So, as we chatted,I was so sad when I realized that Jane and Cleo have to go to work tomorrow. 

Relaxing Days

Ken and I have chilled out this weekend.  We went to see Something Borrowed.  Funny!  We have spent the weekend reconnecting and enjoying each other.  He cooked out on the grill - yummy.  We celebrated his birthday a few days early Saturday evening with family.  No fuss no muss get together.  Pizza, cake, and ice cream cups. 
The heat yesterday and today is really bothering me.  I am so tired.  My nails are in such sad shape splitting and peeling.  My son-in-law, Duane, recommended I get 400 IU vitamin E.  I got it and I will be taking it.  He also indicated it works slowly.  So, once again patience!
About 2 weeks ago I started taking all my pills at night.  I haven't forgot to take them yet.  I really like taking them at night better.  Issue solved.

The Year is Now Over

Wow!  It is finally Friday.  This has been such a busy week.  Thursday was an emotional day saying good-bye to my kiddos.  It is hard after you have spent so much time with them over the past year.  Today we had a great workshop that validated how I implemented our new school wide conscious discipline.  Then we had a fantastic luncheon to send Margaret off into retirement!  I wish her well.  Then I worked at getting all the items inventoried, lockers cleaned out, flat surfaces cleaned off, and walls cleaned.  What a day!  I  finished and went home about 5:30.  Glad to have it done.  I plan to do some work in my room this summer.  It won't be long and I will be back up there.
I am very tired tonight.  Our new cleaning lady started today.  I think she did a good job.  Yeah!  Summer Vacation starts tomorrow!  We will celebrate Ken's birthday early tomorrow.  I guess I better get a cake made.
Oh it seems as from the time I got home at 5:30 and when we went to dinner around 6:45 my brakeline broke.  I will have to get it fixed tomorrow.  Rats!

We're Safe

Today was park day.  Thank you for all the prayers.  We went and had a fantastic day!  The weather held off and it was a cool day.  The kids all had fun.  We had snacks, bubbles, and extra drinks.
It was old man night tonight, so Ken's dad was at our house when the storms came through.  Ken's sister came over and waited out the storms with us.  We ate, talked, and heard some tales of ornery pranks that Ken's dad was involved in years ago.  He is definitely a character.  We lost power for an hour or two, but have it back now.  Thank you out to Janet, Madison, Kayla, Vicki, Duane, and Haley for checking on us.  We were blessed and are all safe.  My mom is on a cruise, I hope she doesn't hear about the weather here.  I don't want her to worry about us when she should be enjoying her trip.
The city, however, didn't fair as well.  The city had a water main break that will leave Shawnee without water for 12 to 24 hours while repairs are made.  I am going in to take a shower.  Ken was called back out to the mall to deal with the water issue out there.  No school tomorrow!  Not happy about that.

New Look

It is Monday morning about an hour before I usually get up.  Okay, this must mean that I am either so excited about the last week of school, I am so stressed about the last week of school, or I am so sad about the last week of school.  Hmm!  Not real sure, but I will get back to that later.  It doesn't seem like I've had much of a weekend.  I will do things differently next year.  I make these memory books for each child in my room.  I worked most of the day Saturday and Sunday on getting these completed.  I try to collect a weekly handwriting sample, artwork, a hand print, special activities, and I sprinkle in photos of class events.  All of this is put into a 2" 3-ring binder for a kindergarten keepsake.  I enjoy doing it, but I haven't kept on top of it this year.  So next year, I don't plan on this being an issue!
I quit early on Saturday so I could get ready for a graduation party for our niece, Kara.  She will graduate from high school on Tuesday.   She is such a poised, put together, knows where she is going young lady.  If she was the norm instead of the exception I would say we have nothing to worry about for our future.  She is an exceptional young lady and I am proud to know and love her!  I went to her celebration without a hat!  I didn't plan to, I am just tired of wearing them.  It was a safe place with mainly family there.
So, I went to church (another safe place) without a hat and I got encouragement again from two of my biggest encouragers Laura and Ann.  Marguerite also gave me a big love the hair at church.  So, I am now going hatless!  It feels good doesn't look so good.  I am choosing to show off how far I have come and I am proud of each little strand of hair I have!  Life is grand!
My energy is still low, I am moving slow, but I am feeling better.  Strep throat really set me back a bit.  I wonder how long it will take to recover from the cure.  My nails are so thin and tear easily.  The layers just flake off.  Not so good.  Outwardly things are good, but sometimes inwardly seems a little rocky. 
We are suppose to go to the park tomorrow.  I am worried about the weather.  I love park day, I hope we get to go.  If you are talking to the man upstairs ask him to hold off on the rain please!  We can keep them busy, but the exercise, fresh air, and fun is a nice close for the year.  We will be cleaning tables with shaving cream, which is always fun this week. 
I have clothes in the dryer, I need to go shower, and Ken is turning better on the 31st.  I won't say older because he just gets better.  I am so excited about celebrating his birthday, because we've been through so much and this year I will try to make easier for him.  He has been with me for each step of recovery.  I would love to not be a cause of stress for him this year.  I will do my best, however, we don't know the big picture.  It is what it is.

Getting Back On The Bike

Today was extremely hard to go and ride the bike.  It seemed like the 30 minutes took longer than usual.  Okay that sounded odd, but you know what I mean sometimes time seems to be longer than others to you too!  I got on the elliptical for 5 minutes and then rode for 30.  I was glad when it was time to leave.  I am thinking I will add some time to the total work out after  school is out.  I hope to be more dedicated when school is out also.  Time will tell.
Tonight was our last Sorority meeting until after summer.  It was at my sister-in-laws house and Cleo fixed a great dinner for us!  It was good to see everyone.  Next Thursday we will go to dinner and a movie.  Can't wait. 
I am slowly feeling more energetic.  I took my last anti-biotic today.  I have been changing toothbrushes and drinking glasses each time.  I think I have it knocked out.  The other issue I am having leftover from the chemo is weak nails.  About 3 of them are split and torn down past the quick.  They catch on things and it is very annoying! 
5 days of school left and counting!  Next Tuesday is park day.  The weatherman is calling for storms.  Please mention how nice our park day would be if we had good weather when you are talking to the man upstairs.  The kids and I would sure appreciate it!  I got all my report cards finalized last night.  I now have to finish memory books, cum folders, inventory, check out, and closing up my room. This too shall pass!

Exercising Again!

Monday was a field trip day to the zoo.  I was very impressed with the new elephant exhibit.  The new baby elephant is very cute.  We walked, walked up, and we walked down.  I made the decision that I had enough walking in for the day.  Laura, my wonderful walking buddy, tried to talk me in to walking more, but I didn't let her guilt me into it! 
Since I didn't exercise everyday last week it would have been really easy to quit.  But, I didn't.  I have to be an active part of my future, so I am back with the exercise program.  I  got on the elliptical for 5 minutes.  My arms were really killing me after just 2 minutes.  I lasted a full 5 minutes!  Woohoo!  I rode the bike for 30 minutes.  While I was riding, a much younger girl was on the elliptical and she wasn't even holding on!  I couldn't believe she was doing things on her phone.  What coordination!  Oh to be so young and coordinated!  Oopsie!  It passed!
The countdown is on.  Seven days of school.  Two days until report cards have to be completed.  One last field trip on Tuesday.  So much to do.
My throat is feeling a bit better today.  I only have two more pills.  I hope they knock it out completely.  I slept pretty good last night and hope to again tonight.  I want to get my energy level back up before Friday, because I have herceptin on Friday.

Strep Throat

I am still taking the antibiotic for strep throat.  I am very tired and I feel run down.  I am cold.  I have been resting, but I don't feel rested.  I am planning on waking up tomorrow and feeling a lot better.  I only have 9 days left with my kids at school.  We are going to the zoo tomorrow.  I am looking forward to seeing the baby elephant and the new elephant exhibit.
Kevin and Nicole are back from their honeymoon in Mexico.  Now they will start life in the real world together.
I wanted to go to the movie this weekend, but I didn't feel good enough to go.  Maybe I will feel like it next weekend.  I really need to get back into my routine since I have been resting I haven't been doing my walking or riding. 
Rusty is in trouble.  He brought a pillow out from the guest room.  Ken started getting on to him and Rusty acted like he knew he was in trouble and Ken started laughing.  So what good did it do to get on to him?  He is so spoiled!

Medicine Mix Up

Finally able to post, it has been in the read only mode for a few days for repairs.  I have been bothered by a sore throat since Monday.  Last week on Tuesday I got a z-pack for strep and was feeling good.  I was guessing at first my throat was hurting because we turned the air on upstairs, but when I went yesterday and got my throat swabbed again (just to be safe) it turned up strep again.  They were suppose to call in meds to Walmart, but they called it in to another pharmacy that doesn't take our new insurance.  Ken found that out today, but the medicine was going to cost 200 dollars there, so he was able to get it called into Walmart where we still paid 50.  My illnesses are really adding up!  I am really tired of being ill as well as the cost of being ill.  Ken sure takes it in stride.  I am so glad the Lord brought us together!  The Lord is great and knows his stuff!
I hated to be gone from school today, but I am so exhausted.  I am sure my neighbors are glad I am home for the day.  I will feel so much better on Monday when we get to see the new baby at the zoo.  We are on the countdown and it feels like there is so much to do.  I have a bit of a handle on the screening but there are other things I don't seem to have under control yet, but I know from past experiences that I will.  This too shall pass, in time!
Lately when I come home and take off my hat I notice that my hair hurts.  Sounds weird, but it does.  I am of the opinion that it is growing pains.  My hair is growing and it seems to be a bit on the curlier side than the straight side that I am use to.  I have no idea how or what to manage hair that isn't straight.  But that is okay, I do have some hair!  Most of it is gray, well it is if you don't count the really dark strip down the top of my head that seems to be dark like my sister, Mom, and Dad's hair.  They all had dark brown to black hair and I had mousy brown color.  So this is different.  Kind of like a reverse skunk!
Ken got my medicine problems taken care of and brought it home for me to take and I know I am going to start feeling better daily.  I have not exercised for the last 2 days and I am afraid I will loose the momentum I have had going.  I think I will forgive myself for not going and plan to go on Tuesday.  Monday at the zoo I think I will get my walking in.  Maybe I will try to get there to walk or ride this weekend if I feel like it.

Busy Days!

Two very busy days!  Friday was a busy day at school.  Kenny and his wife came by my classroom and I introduced them to the kids as my son Mr. Abel and his wife Mrs. Abel.  They sure took a double take.  There were some puzzled looks and some conversation after they left about why we had the same names.  It was kind of funny and really sad that there isn't the continuity in their families to have people with the same last names that they know of. 

After school there was the rehearsal dinner.  No fuss!  I reserved the place Kevin (our son) and Nicole (our new daughter) went on their first date a couple of months ago and then last week I pre-ordered the menu.  Frateli's did a great job!  Thank you!

 Kevin and Nicole

Now on Saturday morning I don't have a dress, so my mission today is get a dress, shoes, and a pedicure.  The guys are all out golfing so I am on my own.  Well, I can't make a decision so each dress I try on I take a picture and send to Kayla in an e-mail.  After about 5 she takes pity on me and calls and asks "Where are you?"  She comes and brings Haley, Austin, Holly, and Amy.  Now there are enough people to give opinions!  So I retry, they gather more, they encourage me to go hatless,wigless, (not happening) and I continue to try on until we narrow it down to 3 dresses.  2 black and one purple.  Now it is hard to knock one out because they are very close in style and the way I look in them.  So we laborously discuss the merits of each dress, the look and weigh the cost.  Finally, it is narrowed down to the 2 black dresses!  One is plain and a shawl would be a nice addition the other is black with gold trim at the neck, which limits the look.  So difficult!  So we are rediscussing the factors for and against the dresses trying to make a decision and everyone is weighing in with no clear winner. Kayla and then Austin and Holly bring in several scarf/shawls to get a better feel for how it looks.  Austin naturally gravitated in with the scarf/shawls and we were going over the pros and cons of each color and how each looked with the dress when for some reason the sales clerk had a problem with Austin joining us and he had to back out of the dressing room!  The main factor being, I love the first one, since I have been exercising I have clearly gone down a full dress size or a little more (so great!) so I plan to continue exercising so will I exercise my way right out of being able to wear the dress so why spend anymore than I have to.  Another factor being one dress needs nothing else and the other will need a thing called spanks.  Some of you know what I am talking about.  I know you do.  Finally, we (I) came to the conclusion that I would go with the plain black dress.  Next we were off to the shoe department.  I haven't bought heels in a long time.  I also haven't worn them in a long time.  Austin had valuable input from a man's perspective the girl's input was protective with the new hip.  I thank you all, but I went with Austin's because I wanted to turn Ken's head!  I got a peeptoe slingback platform high heel in black patent leather.  Wow what a mouthfull!  I got a pedicure and got home about when Ken did.  I told him to go downstairs because I wanted to make an entrance without him seeing me before hand.  Well, I didn't quite understand what I had gotten myself into with spanks.  If you don't know it is an undergarmet from hell!  If you know what I am talking about that covers it all.  Oh my gosh!  I wasn't sure I was ever going to get it on, but I did!  (Worse than lying down on the bed to zip your pants!!)  Keep in mind it is between 4 and 5.  I was afraid that if I went to the bathroom #1 I wouldn't be able to get them down and worse #2 I wouldn't be able to get them up!  So I didn't go to the bathroom until we got home around midnight.  But I thought ahead and watched how much I drank during the night.

My best friend, Ken, and my flower girl granddaughters Macie Jane and Madison.
The wedding was beautiful!  It was a long night for old folks acting young!

Getting Smarter!

Thursday I got a little smarter. I tried the elliptical first.  I did a whole 5 minutes.  Wasn't to rough as in I was able to stay on without any fear of falling off.  My heart was racing and I was breathing heavy.  My heart rate is higher in 5 minutes on the elliptical than it is in 30 on the treadmill or walking!  My thighs feel it and my arms feel it!  But best of all I am here to enjoy feeling it!  (I know some cheese would make the whining easier!)


The best hat!



Our sorority group had our annual Mother's Day dinner.  I rushed home made a pan of beef enchiladas and banana pudding.  They don't go together but it was a potluck.  We all wore hats and voted on the best hat.  I continue to wear for the most part the Cabellas hat my mom and Haley got me for the Pink out back in Oct.  The winner was a pretty purple hat.  Trina and Cassie were able to join me and we had fun.

Friday was a busy day.  I realized while I was looking at a calendar that we had 15 days of school left.  Now we are down to 14!  Where did the year go?  This is crunch time.  So much to do to finish out the year.  Lots of screening to do, memory books to finish, records to get in order, and lots of fun left to do!  Yikes!  I hope there is enough time!  It is a sad time of year when we have to say good-bye.
The time is really here.  Our son Kevin is marrying the love of his life.  Last night we met at the church for the rehearsal.  There are a lot of people involved in this wedding.  Then we went to the place they had their first date.  A little Italian place called Frateli's.  Wonderful pizza!  They did a super job for such a large group.
Well, all the men in the wedding party have gone off to play golf.  My husband included.  He hasn't played since the last wedding, so it has been quite a while and he was not elated about going to play.  Happy to be with the menfolk, but not comfortable with his level of play.
I am on a mission that will start in about 1 hour.  A dress finding mission.  (Stores don't open until an hour from now.)  I have looked earlier but was unsuccessful, so I am going to try again.  Then I hope to get a pedicure.  I need to be ready by 5 because all the men will be here for a toast before we go to the church.

Busy Day

The medicine is kicking in and I am feeling better.  I have had a busy day.  I have been to the beauty shop, exercising, dinner at church, grocery shopping, and wedding dress shopping.  
I talked to a friend who is the queen of the elliptical and she said there was an easier machine.  So I decided to try it.  I actually stayed on for 3 full minutes without falling off!  It was a little easier than the other one I tried, but my heart was beating really fast and I was out of breath.  I am going to try the elliptical before I ride or walk.  My goal will be 5 minutes! 

Poo!

Oh Poo!  I was kind of worried about my throat continuing to hurt so I called and got in to see my family doctor Monday afternoon.  I left school and they got me in pretty quick.  They did a throat swab, which almost made me gag!  I got in to see the doctor and the results were negative on strep.  It is probably just allergies, take an antihistamine.  Okay, so I was being over cautious, but at least I don't have to worry or wonder.  She was very happy when I told her about my new exercise routine.  Yeah for me!
I had a hard time going this morning after a long night.  I didn't sleep very good.  Finally got it together and arrived at school about 10 minutes behind schedule.  I got home to find a message on the machine from my doctor's office telling me I do have strep and they have called in a prescription to my pharmacy.  Poo!  I went to the pharmacy and found out they don't take our new insurance.  Double Poo!  Now, I am weighing the pros and cons of going to Walmart or paying for it and going home.  Big Surprise!  I decided to pay for the medicine, so I didn't have to go to Walmart. 
I am home, I have taken my antibiotic, and I have cancelled old man night.  I don't want to expose Ken's dad to strep and get him sick.  He has a hard time breathing sometimes and I want to keep him well.  We enjoy him so much, he is a character!

My Throat Hurts!

I got my herceptin treatment on Friday and I went home to rest.  I signed up to participate in the Relay for Life event before I realized it was a treatment day.  So, we went at 6:00 for the birthday party with the opening ceremony at 7:00.  I walked 2 laps and was totally exhausted!  I was surprised I was so exhausted.  I thought all my exercising would have made a difference.  5 weeks is a long time, I thought.  I will continue exercising, because I am taking an active part in my life.
While I was out on the track walking my throat started hurting.  It looks a little red.  I hope it isn't strep.
Saturday we went to OKC to pick up my machine from being cleaned and drive across town to trade it in.  Oh my new machine is so cool!  I couldn't wait to get home to use it.  I needed to get a couple of shower gifts made for a shower Sunday afternoon.  I enjoyed sewing so much!
The youth in our church did the service today.  They did a wonderful job.  The music was beautiful and the sermon was heartfelt.  One of the songs was "This Little Light of Mine".  It happened to be the last song at my brother-in-law, T.J.'s memorial service.  The song took me back and it took all my composure to keep from sobbing.  I miss him a lot and often see of things he would enjoy.  He was a kind man and a true example of someone who loved life and the Lord.  He was my hero.  I miss him.
My throat is still hurting, but I am beginning to think it is drainage because my nose has started running and I have a cough.  Maybe in time it will just go away.  I went to school to get a few things organized for tomorrow.  All the copiers were not working again!  How frustrating that is.  I hope they will get fixed early tomorrow.  Four weeks of school left.  It is exciting and scarey.