Fun in Texas

I am back from Texas.  I went down on Tuesday after my eye doctor appointment.  I went to my daughter, Kayla's house.  Nothing special was going on, our schedules finally meshed and we got a couple of days together.  It was great to see the grandchildren.  I got to their house for lunch and then we went to tour a preschool for Zachary.  He was at ease and very comfortable from the moment we went in.  It looks like it will be a great place for him.  Kayla is going to go back to work part time. 
Kayla had corned beef and cabbage going in the crock pot and dinner was a breeze and yummy.  Steve has margarita making down to a science!  Then Kayla was off to tennis and Madison was off to soccer practice.  I picked Madison up because she wanted me to see her practice, so that left Steve  on KP duty.  Then the kids swam and Steve and I had some time to catch up.  I got to put the kids to be, kisses and hugs all around.  Loved it! 
When the sun was up so was Macie Jane.  She snuck down and got in bed with me.  We got some snuggle time in.  Precious!  We all got up and got ready for a walk.  Kayla was helping me stay with my routine.  I wore my compression sleeve for the first time.  It is not overly uncomfortable.  So off we went with Zachary in the stroller, the girls on scooters, and Kayla and I walking.  The walking trails in her neighborhood are so well planned.  We walked most of it in the shade, walked around a pond and playground area, and back home again.  We were hot!  Kayla made fruit smoothies and into the pool we went!  Oh how refreshing!  We played with the kids and swam and talked and laughed.  I enjoyed being with the so much.  We had been in the pool for awhile when I asked Kayla where the pool boy was to bring us some drinks.  She had us covered.  Popsicles for drinks brought poolside! 
When we got out Kayla talked me into product.  Way cool!  My hair laid down, it was frizzy!  I didn't know that, I have never had frizzy hair before.  Anyone who knows me knows I am not a product type of girl, but I may get some.  Madison and I worked on my folders for school.  I sure am glad I had her help.
My sister came over for dinner.  We tried to get Austin to come over, but we were unable to get an answer.  Kayla fixed manicotti.  Another yummy dinner.  Janet left, played a game with the kids, kids went to bed, Kayla and I shared info on digital scrapbooking, school, and vacation pics, and we looked up and it was midnight. 
Repeat of yesterday, then after the swim we went to Bed Bath and Beyond.  I got fat straws and a dish drying mat.  Out for a quick lunch and all to soon it was time for me to go.  I loaded up and got kisses and hugs all around.  I miss them all, but I am glad to be home. 

Commitment

Okay, I have to be at the Lymphedema Clinic by 9:00.  I hustle around make lists, go over the directions with Ken, and I am ready to go about 7:50.  I head out get my diet coke and I am on my way to OKC.  I do pretty good, I am driving along, exit off 235 onto Memorial, I start feeling pretty good thinking I don't have to call them and tell them why I am running late (I had to the last two visits).  Then I check the direction and I think north is not the right way and I look at the street sign and I am not on Memorial.  Crap!  So, I get turned around and back on Memorial and I sign in at 9:02.  Close enough!  My appointment didn't go well.  My back is still puffy and some of the measurements on the upper part of my arm are larger.  The therapist gave me some more exercises to do. (Yeah!)  I left there and went to the medical store to pick up the compression sleeve.  (Yeah again!)  I also checked out if the insurance company will cover a compression bra.  The answer was NO.  They run about 250.00 and there is nothing comparable in the private sector.  (Yeah again)
I went on to do errands.  I went to the fabric store, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and Panera Bread.  Then I headed for home.  I went to the post office, the bank, and delivered an order to the store.
I am still having a time getting my head around the idea of the size of commitment I am in for.  I have to make some changes.  I need to give up diet coke, spend 10 minutes daily doing stretching exercises, spend 30 minutes daily manually move fluid daily, and wear a compression sleeve daily.  I am over being pissed about the cure causing all these changes, because it did the cure.  I know that I am lucky that we have this knowledge to make my life better, BUT . . .I don't want to make this big commitment.  I need Lola (the Garmin) to tell me to rethink, rethink like she tells me recalculating!  I will adjust my thinking.  I need to soon.  I can do it.  (Soon, I hope!)

It Is Hot!

Saturday I spent the day working at school.   I was able to get some organization done, but the room is not ready.  It is an exciting time.  I enjoyed meeting all the 4 year olds that were in summer school.  It is a random sampling of the kids we will have. No big problems were discovered during summer school.  Two weeks left and I have to report.  Summer went fast.  I did enjoy all of it, except the heat. 
Ken and I went out to the new bowling alley.  Cassie and Trina and their families were out there bowling and invited us.  I wasn't sure it would be a good idea for me to try so soon, so we didn't bowl.  We watched them bowl and it was fun.  It was the first time we had been there. 
Today we went to church and the guest speaker was good.  Church was so very hot I was close to passing out.  When we left church the heat outside just slapped us in the face.
I went to school to gather things for the next week.  I am going to go to Texas to see my daughter and her family.  I am looking forward to seeing them.  My room doesn't have air at school so I was still hot.  I only stayed a couple of hours.  Ken then went to the grocery store and I caught up with my sister and mother.
In the morning I will go back to the lymphedma therapist.  I think she will measure my arms.  I will then go pick up my compression sleeve and zip by Hobby Lobby and possibly Michael's.  I might stop at Panera Bread too.  Then around the corner there is a pretty good quilt shop.  We will see how much energy I end up with.
Last week we received 3 attempted deliveries from the post office.  As soon as I got one picked up we received another.  The first one was a box of checks and the second some material from Carol, a friend in Arkansas, thank you.  That was so nice of you to think of me.  I was very excited to open it and go through all the fat quarters!  I hope to get back from OKC to get by the post office.  I hope this one is the software I ordered.

Computer Issues

Ok, I will try this again.  I signed in and tried to post earlier in the week and had issues - I lost part of it, but recreated and went on then I lost the whole thing and I decided that was enough!  I am just now getting back to posting.  I was very frustrated. 
Today was the last day of summer school.  We had a pretty good turn out.  6 - 25 minute classes in the morning and 6 - 25 minutes in the afternoon.  They actually turned out to be 20 minutes because we had 5 minute travel time included in the 25 minutes.  About 8 to each group.  So whatever your lesson was you did the lesson 12 times.  We fed the morning group and then dismissed them as the afternoon group was arriving.  We were on our toes every minute.  It went pretty smooth and it was good.  Now there is exactly 2 weeks before our school year begins.
I got a call from the medical supply company that I did not have to have a pre-authorization from the insurance to get the compression sleeve.  So, on Monday my plan will be to pick it up after my therapy appointment (if I can find the place again).  I am finding it inconvenient to manually move the fluid around.  The therapist indicated I needed to quite drinking so much diet coke.  I drank the last one that was at the house yesterday.  I guess I won't buy any when we grocery shop. Hmmm!  I am not sure about this.  I think I will get measured again on Monday.  Hmmm!
I talked to a teacher in a neighboring district that has gone through cancer Wednesday night.  She gave me a few pointers on nails, that I will try, to keep them from splitting and flaking.  She looks great.  She has colored her hair oh and she now has curly as well.  She looks great.  Maybe in time I will too! 
I have a daughter, Haley, in India. I pray that her work there goes well and she gets home safely after learning and enjoying some time there.  I look forward to her e-mails. 
I will not be able to get into school next week because they will be waxing our floors.  I will be working at school this weekend.  I feel like a big boulder is coming at me and it feels like it is getting bigger and faster!  I know that this too shall pass, but, there is so much to do before it does!  Oh and the bad news is the air in my classroom quit working this week.  I reported it and the maintenance people came out and decided that it wasn't something they could fix, so they will call in someone else Monday.  Great!  I hope it can be fixed in the next two weeks.  I am starting to get excited about the coming school year. 
Ken got the pan poured out of concrete for the shower floor last weekend.  I am hopeful we will get the shower back up and running soon.  I am ready to have all the conveniences upstairs. 

Summer School

Sunday we went to church and saw the wonderful things that went on during VBS.  Then I went to school.  I got my lesson plans done for the week and straightened up the front half of my room.  We spent the evening relaxing.
Today was the first day of summer school.  It was a long day.  We started at 8:15 and went until 2:45 with kids.  6 sessions in the morning and 6 sessions in the afternoon.  It went pretty smooth.  The kids were great!  These kids will be in kindergarten next year, possibly my class.  There are four more days, we'll see if it continues.  I hope I am able to sleep good tonight, I am really tired. 
Karri, another teacher came up after school and we talked material, patterns, and sewing.  She is going to buy material this weekend for me to sew her bedding for her nursery.  I will enjoy doing that for her.  She has two boys and is having a girl.  After I got done with Karri I left school.  Go home or go to workout.  Big question.  Well, I went and rode the bike for 40 minutes.  I actually felt better after I rode the bike.
I am so over the heat of summer.  I am looking forward to fall.  I hope we have a fall.  I am experiencing some problems with headaches in the last week or more.  I think it could be due to the heat.  I am moving around a bit better.  I started taking the naproxen last Wednesday and I am starting to move with less stiffness.  I think I will call the orthopedic Dr. for a prescription.

Sewing Is Good For Me

Friday I spent the day at school.  Unfortunately, several friends were also at school and we all played show and tell.  Oh it was fun!  Debbie and I exchanged help.  We each had something the other needed on the computer.  Thanks so much!  I miss my friends when I don't see them.  But, I did start getting things under control.  Charme' and Laura helped me with some moving of furniture and stuff.  They are so good to me, thank you both.  I quit early so Ken and I could go see Harry Potter.  I really enjoyed it, but it was sad knowing it is the last one.  I was really tired when I got in bed, but then I remembered I needed to manually move the fluids from left to right.  I am so grateful that I get to do this.
Today was a busy day again.  Sorority breakfast at Cracker Barrel this morning.  I haven't seen most of the girls during the summer, so my hair was a real surprise to a lot of them.  Kay and Diana know my mom and they agree that I am really looking like my mom.  My mom hasn't seen it , but she will in a couple of weeks.  I can brush it or not and it looks the same.  Still, no product on it.  (Too girly!)  I gave the president, Cleo, the scrapbook for the last year.  It is such a relief to have that finished.  We had a great turnout.  Then I went to get the oil changed before an 11:30 social meeting.  The social committee for sorority met and we planned the socials for the year.  It was a good meeting and we got a lot done. 
I came home and finished an order for burp cloths.  Got that delivered and decided I needed to enjoy my sewing room  a little bit.  I did a little cleaning up and I got sidetracked by some material leftover from a quilt made for Virginia's grandson.  Several pieces with fire engines and the like on them.  They were just yelling at me to make a quilt out of them, so I did!  I finished up the quilt top this afternoon.  I didn't clean to much in my sewing room, but I feel better, I enjoyed myself.
Ken worked on the shower upstairs while I was gone this morning.  While I was sewing he put together a fantastic dinner.  Spinach and cheese ravioli, chicken parmesan, and garlic bread.  Oh it smelled so good and tasted better. Yummy!   I am so blessed that he is such a fantastic cook.  I am tired, but I still get to manually move fluids from left to right!

Lakeshore

Wednesday I did the manual fluid movement around my body from the left to the right.  It sure doesn't feel as good as when she does it.  I had to do it to understand it better.  I start at the top and open and drain lymph nodes then I gently but firmly move fluid with a massage.  I have to rub certain areas of my skin toward the good lymph nodes.  Then I have to rub another lymph node group and massage areas on the left to the right.  After I have done my chest area over to my right armpit, my breast down across my stomach to the groin area, and my finger, hand, and arm up to my shoulder hollow I have to go back and rub the lymph node in those area to drain them again.  Then Ken can start on my back with the same procedure.

Today I had another appointment and my therapist did the whole process for me, so I don't have to worry about it tonight.  Melissa went with me today. (Thank you for navigating and waiting with such patience.)  We went to Panera to eat lunch.  Enjoyable.  Then we went over to Lakeshore.  We both got some treasures.  I am excited about the things I got.  We went together and got a cool gift to go in the basket for the new teacher in our building.  Then we went to a medical supply place to get my compression sleeve.  The insurance company has to pre authorize me getting this before they will pay 90%.  So now I wait.  I will need two of these a year.  So I want to get all my ducks in order.  I will go back a week from Monday.  She will measure me again.  I guess she will be happy if I am less swollen than my last measurements.  She is also suggesting that I might need to get a compression bra.  She thinks they run around 500, she isn't sure if insurance covers it.  I am not convinced that that will be happening!

 

On Monday, I will start teaching summer school.  This is how my room looks!  I have a lot of work to do this weekend.  I have several containers that I haven't looked in since they were packed for the move.  Which brings up the question, Do I really need the stuff in them?  So tomorrow I will be at school getting my room ready.  I hope I can do this in one day.  I need to get my room ready, lesson plans made, and activities ready!  Busy day!

Tired

Not only will the compression sleeve be a daily reminder that I have my life, but there is more.  Ken and I went back to the Lymphadema Clinic to learn about manual fluid compression.  It is about a half hour process that I need to go through each day to keep fluid from building up inside.  I have to reroute the fluid from the left to the lymph nodes on the right.  I also need to cut back on diet cokes.  I think I will try to cut them out when the case is gone here at the house.  I have trouble with moderation I am more an all or nothing.  If I can't drink as much as I want I would rather just not.  That is pretty much the highlight of my week and it is only Tuesday!  I get to go back to the clinic again on Thursday.  Agh!
The rain was nice to  today.  I am tired tonight.  It was a lot of information to take in today. 

Reunion Is Over

Friday night was fun for Ken. He was able to see classmates that he lost contact with over the years. I knew a few people, but it was all about him. He enjoyed himself.
Saturday we spent some time messing around with breakfast and the farmer's market and a movie. We went to see Zookeeper. Funny! Kevin James is good and so believable. Then we went to the big event for the reunion. Dance out at the Elks. It was another loud get together. I found a cool spot and a half way comfy chair and a diet coke. Ken found more people he had lost contact with over the years. I realized there were people that graduated with Ken that I never gave a second thought about-hmm did he/she graduate with Ken? I did enjoy the karaoke. Some people in his class are very courageous and I can admire that about them. I didn't grow up in one place and I missed out on the connectivity of the group. I just guessed there was a reason you lost contact! Kind of sad. I remember feeling like a fish out of water at my last hs reunion. Ken didn't at his. He is not usually a small talk person and feels uncomfortable. All anyone had to do was ask about family and he was off and talking. He is so proud of each one of our children and their accomplishments, I am glad he didn't have a button up shirt on!
We were out late, but we were up for church. We wanted to say good-bye to the Searls. They are moving to FL. I will miss him. He has been so thoughtful. Then we did nothing! I feel like such a slug!
Today is different. I will get stuff done today,(as soon as I figure out what I need to do).

Compression Sleevs

It is another beautiful hot day.  We slept in until 8 ish today.  That was needed since Ken was up at 5 each morning last week.  I did not get up with him and sometimes didn't know he was gone until it was light out.  We went out to eat, went to the farmer's market, and went to about 3 places trying to find a compression sleeve.  Good breakfast, corn on the cob, and check the internet were the results of our wanderings. 
Last night we went to Red Lobster for dinner (thanks Kayla & Steve) and then to a mixer at Knuckles for Ken's class reunion.  It was a very good turn out, which meant it was packed and hot.  Ken saw lots of people he had lost contact with.  I got a drink then tried to find a cool place to sit.  I knew a few people and enjoyed talking and catching up.
I have been pondering the information I got on Thursday.  I am furious that the treatment to save me from cancer took away my lymph nodes and now I have to deal with lymphadema the rest of my life.  That daily I have to change what I do and have a reminder that I am different.  Pity party!  Enough time spent on that!  Then I decided to make a choice.  The choice is I do have the rest of my life to make small changes in how much I choose to lift and carry, wearing a compression sleeve, exercising, and eating healthy.  It is what it is.  Just Deal!

Lymphodema

Last night, we enjoyed kids and grandkids!  Kenny and his 2 boys were by and Trina and Derrick and two of their kids were by and we got pizza and enjoyed the time together.
What  a day.  I went to workout and I was glad when it was over!  Surely, someday it will get easier.  I think I have faced the fact I have to do this or an equivalent for the rest of my life, but I still don't enjoy it!  Then I had to backtrack and call the lymphodema clinic about my appointment.  I wrote down the address and other pertinent information, but it was on the back of an envelope (reusing instead of just throwing it away) and I threw it away.  So, I called and got the address again.  I plugged it into Lola Garmin, (the GPS), and she had me get off at Sooner, took me down ML King, and over to the turnpike.  Crazy.  I laid down and my therapist measured my arm every 2 centimeters from my fingers to my shoulder.  There wasn't much difference up to the elbow then a centimeter or so here and there above the elbow.  That wasn't too bad, but then she looked at my back and said that the left side is fuller, which means fluid is building up.  So, I have a stage 1 lymphodema. I have to appointments next week so I can learn how to move the fluid out.  We will see.
My hair continues to grow, but it doesn't do anything.  It is just straight or curly, but it doesn't part or lay down anywhere.  My hair has come in like Ken's, but my mother is in the mirror when I look there.  I feel like the exercise is doing me good, but my stomach seems to be growing and when I look at myself sideways my pants seem to slope down in the front, and that looks like Ken.  I don't know where I am!  Agh!
I talked to Haley again today.  She is jumping through hoops getting ready to go to India for business.  Big trip.  The heat is really getting to me.  I plan to workout and get some errands done in the morning then maybe I will work at school.  This weekend is Ken's 40th SHS Class Reunion.  We will go to Knuckles tomorrow night and Saturday we go to the Elk's Club.  He is looking forward to it.  I went to his 25th and I didn't know many people.  Maybe I will know more at this one.  So we have a big weekend planned!

4th of July

Okay, quick catch up!  Sunday, we went to outside church.  I made it about 1/3 of the way.  I was so hot I was afraid I would pass out.  I went inside and was so busy I was having the same feelings again.  Good lunch with wonderful food offerings to choose from.  I had my fair share!  I sewed a bit on Sunday and enjoyed it.
Monday, Happy 4th of July America!  We cleaned the house, which means we made more stacks on flat surfaces of stuff that was where we needed other stuff to be!  Then we started cutting and cleaning fruit to put out for the family lunch at 1:00.  The kids and Ken's sister were bringing some things and we were putting it all together.  We had fruit, deviled eggs, chips, broccoli salad (thanks, Trina), sandwiches,macaroni salad, and some desserts!  We were going for a no muss no fuss cool lunch experience.  Ken's brother is in from Alabama.  It was fun to get together.  I got a few pictures and my batteries died with no others in the house.  Shawnee didn't have an official display so we stayed in. 
Tuesday was pretty much a blur for me after I worked out.  I went and had the NVG test.  That is the every three months heart test.  By my calculations I may only have to have one more of these.  Yeah!  They aren't hard, but I am not crazy about the radioactive stuff they put in me.  Then I hung out a bit for results and got to have the herceptin treatment.  I was tired so I headed for fast food and home.  I ate and then rested.  Ken's dad, sister, and brother came over for old man night.  I wasn't at my best.  Thankfully, they understand.
I worked out this morning.  I am more tired today than usual.  I feel off a bit, I kind of have a headache.  I read and finish a book Jane lent to me on Saturday.  It is a Nora Roberts about search and rescue dogs.  It was good and I enjoyed it!  I think I need to go to school and work a bit more on the organizational task.  I have to be able to teach in my room the week of the 18th!  Yikes that is coming faster and faster!

Yesterday was finally Friday. It was a short week, but it seemed long. I went and worked out when it definitely would of been easier not to. I am glad I did. I am sure I feel better because I did! That is my story and I am sticking to it! I did some work at school. I am making some headway in the organization in my room. Then about lunchtime I left and went home to sew for a bit. I love to sew!
Ken got home and I fixed us strawberry banana smoothies. Yummy! He went and worked on the rent house. (It is almost ready to rent. Wish we had a renter.) So, I sewed a bit more. He got home and we went out to Santa Fe for dinner. I really enjoyed the chicken & pasta!
This morning was our sorority monthly garage sale day. Four of us met and ate breakfast downtown. Then we were off. On our way to the third sale as we went through an intersection we were hit broadside by an older lady. My friend, Jane was driving and the lady hit Jane's car right between the front and back doors on the driver's side. Jane and Pat were on that side and my sister-in-law Cleo was behind me on the passenger side. It was a bit scary! We were all okay, thankfully, but the older lady went to the hospital. God was taking care of us today! Thank you.