Thank you

Thank you for the prayers, friends.

My friend will be dearly missed by so many. Her memorial service is tomorrow in CA.

Please continue to pray about the family situation that is going on. It's sad, but hopefully what is happening now will help rectify some problems that have been building for several years. It's hard to walk through it though.

Otherwise, things are going pretty well here! I'm off work this week, so Patrick and I are getting to spend a lot of time together before I start school on Tuesday.

Sadness

An online friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer less than 50 days ago, and passed away yesterday afternoon. I am absolutely stunned, and my heart is just broken. She was happily married, with three children...16, 13, and 5. Her little daughter had just started Kindergarten, and will now grow up without her mommy.

If you are the praying type...please remember that family.

Also, we've just been made aware of a family situation that needs immediate attention. I can't share more publicly, because I have no idea who reads my blog...but God knows what is going on...would you please say prayers on our behalf, too?

Friend Makin' Monday - It's Back!!!

Amber, over at Silver Lining has resurrected the super-fun Friend Makin' Monday blog party!

She wants to hear what we're up to, TODAY:

Today...I went to work and put finishing touches on packets for preschool parents.
Today...I led an age-level meeting to make sure the teachers in my group were ready for tonight.
Today...I came home, and Mr. Wonderful had cooked lunch, and had it hot and waiting for me!
Today...I felt cute in my clothes.
Today...it is hot and humid. 91 degrees, but feels like 101.
Today...I snuggled two of my dogs while I surfed the 'net.
Today...I will go back to work, and speak to new preschool parents. For about an hour. Even though it's my 9th year, I'm a little nervous!
Today...I will remember that I get to go to work tomorrow night, and do it all over again! Maybe I won't be nervous tomorrow.

Come play along!

Getting to Know You Sunday

It's Sunday, which means it's time again for Keely's weekly blog carnival called Getting to Know You. Here are this week's questions...and my answers!


1. If you could host a Reality TV show, which one would it be? Well, I'd love to travel the world, so I think The Amazing Race would be fun!

2. Do you put your seatbelt on before or after you start the car? I turn on my car first to get the air going, then I put on my seat belt.

3. Shave or hair removal cream? Shave

4. What's your favorite feature in a house? Well, I live in kind of a cookie cutter subdivision home, but I adore older homes with quirky characteristics and built in features.

5. What is your favorite "Fall" scent? Pumpkin pie scented things

6. What tv show are you looking forward to seeing the most this Fall?? The Biggest Loser

7. Personal Shopper or Personal Chef? Um both! But I'll go with chef.

8. What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of "Fall"? Leaves. I absolutely adore Fall...the cooler weather, the crispness to the air...and the changing of the leaves. LOVE it.

A work week

So I just finished a week of pre-planning at preschool. All of my co-workers were super helpful, and I'd done enough set-up in July that I didn't overdo it. Still, I am EXHAUSTED now from it. I plan to do NOTHING but recuperate this weekend.

Some of my fatigue is the good kind though. The "I'm back into my routine" tired. Some of the "I love what I do, and I'm renewed and ready to get started" tired. But throw in some "I just had major surgery 3 weeks ago" tired? And I'm reaaaaaaaaaallly tired! LOL!

There was a HUGE influx of twos this year, and we went from having five classes of twos (2 on MWF and 3 on TTh) to having seven! (2 on MWF and 5 on TTh) Being the age-level coordinator, training the "newbies" is up to me...so I've been really busy with that too. Getting their curriculum ready, explaining things to them, giving them pointers for their rooms etc. I hope it's a great year!

It's getting ready to storm here, and I love a good storm...so I'm off to enjoy it!

Oh wow!

Today's been quite a day!

First, I had another post-op appointment. Things are going well...my doctor was pleased with my recovery so far! The pathology report showed a two conditions, neither of which I need to worry about now, but make me VERY glad that I decided to have the surgery when I did. I've been cleared for walking (for exercise), which excites me!

Patrick and I stopped on our way home from the doctor, and took a walk! It was so wonderful to be outdoors again (versus in bed, on the couch, etc.) It felt good to notice the beautiful creation all around us...yellow butterflies on red flowers, tiny fish swimming in the stream next to the trail, vines on the trees, blue tailed lizards, etc. I took a picture with Patrick's phone...just to remind me of how glorious it was. We walked 1.6 miles in 40 minutes, which is REALLY slow, but not bad for my first time out.



This afternoon in the mail, Shannon received an invitation to apply for a full-ride scholarship to a very prestigious prep school located out of state. Whoa! We've always told her to follow her dreams, and to shoot for the moon...so, she's going for it. Can you imagine? Eeep!

Lucky Sunday

Being only 2-1/2 weeks post-op, my gosh it barely takes anything at all to wear me out. We drove Shannon to youth group and then ran some errands. Patrick ran into a gas station to buy us a soda. He got the urge to buy a scratcher ticket...and won $50! Woot! So, we decided to spend it on a hamburgers and ice cream date. Fun!

So, two hours later we picked up Shan and came home...I'm beat! Sheesh!

Slowly, slowly, slowly.

First day back to work

So, I work at my church, in our preschool. There are about 40 of us that work there...all of us mothers. Neither my own mother, nor my husband needed to worry that I'd overdo it today. All morning I heard strains of...

"Cindy should you be carrying that?" "Cindy, are you allowed to do that?" "Cindy, go sit down!" "Cindy, why are you walking around again?" Ha!

It is nice to be so loved and looked after. I love my job.

Post Op...and back to work!

So yesterday was 2 weeks since surgery, and tomorrow I go back to work. Thank God it's only half days. (It's not time for the kids yet...this is our pre-planning time.) I'm positive I'm not ready for full days. I've been going out on "mini errands" every day for the past week. Sometimes walking around where we're going, and other times just waiting in the car...but every time we get home, I need to lie down for a few hours.

Before surgery, P and I went in and put up all my bulletin boards...which involves lifting, crawling, etc. So that's good.

I've made a big list of "running around" stuff for my aide to do. She's great, so I know that's fine...but it's hard for me to hand off what I perceive to be MY stuff.

Waistbands are still NOT my friends, so I went today and got three dresses. Between those and the 2 pair of pants I can tolerate, at least I have something different to wear each day.

I had my urology post-op today, and so far everything looks good. Do you want specifics? or just to know things seem to be ok? LOL! Whenever I start talking about this stuff, I kinda feel like everybody goes "Oh good...bladder news!" Hahahahaha!

My first speed bump

Well...today wasn't really a fun day. Nothing went wrong, I didn't get hurt, or have a complication...but I think maybe it was my first major hormone "event" since my surgery.

When I woke up, I already felt anxious...and from there, I moved into fear and weepiness. It kind of stunk. Patrick snuggled me (gently from the side, lol) and reassured me that everything was ok. Intellectually, I know that I'm only 11 days post-op, so I'm still weak and have a long way to go. LOTS of things are "messed up" inside me...and my body is totally in shock. It's natural that there are going to be days that I don't feel *awesome,* but it's still not fun when it happens.

I perked up some later this afternoon, so we actually went out (to Greek food) for dinner. We planned to just go order and either bring it back home, or kinda do a "car picnic," but once we got to the restaurant, it was pretty empty, and I was feeling OK, so we ate there. It was nice to get a change of scenery, and the food was delicious.

I hope tomorrow is a good day, and then Monday? Shannon goes back to school!

Can't sleep

I'm not sure if it's all the meds, or all the naps...or a combination of both, but I can't sleep tonight. I had kind of a rough day, pain-wise today...and I think that might be part of it too, even though my pain is just like a 2 or 3 right now.

I tried to just stay in bed, but I've been there a lot this past week, lol. That's right! It has already been a week (and a day) since my surgery! Overall, I think I am doing very well. It is hard to "take it easy," but I am SO blessed by how Patrick, Shannon, and our friends have been taking care of me. Through no organized pla, we received a week's worth of dinners from our friends. And it was neat too, because it was very "random" friends that felt moved to share. One of Shannon's friend's family, our across the street neighbors, two girl scout friends, a past pre-school family, my BFF, and my aide from school each contribted a meal. I've also received several cards, and a bouquet of flowers. Isn't that beautiful?

To receive the kindness of others is such a blessing. Sometimes it can be difficult to accept, but really...its just amazing. I decided that in lieu of sleeping tonight, I would sit and reflect on the kindesses being shown to me and my family...and write thank you cards. Feels good.

Hey, my Droid posts are getting longer! :-)

Vote for Reagan!!!

Shannon's BFF, Reagan, has created this video to enter a contest for our local Christian radio station. The contest is based on number of views...so I'm asking you to watch the video, and then possibly share and re-post. Reagan is a beautiful girl that loves Christ, and lives to share The Word. If she wins, not only will get get to "open" at a Christian band concert, but there is a cash prize both for Reagan, and for her church.

Please, listen and share.

A low day

Another droid post...

Overall...I'm improving every day. But today, I'm just feeling low. I've slept more than I've been awake, I keep trying to get a little headache, and my head just feels kind of...swimmy. I know its all part of the healing process...so I'm trying to be patient. I just keep counting my blessings.