Mom and Dad are safely home...and sound asleep. They seem to have had a great time. Dad's next chemo (but the first of a new type) is on Wednesday.
Tonight, Shannon and I are baking cookies and watching The Goonies for the first time ever! I don't know how I never saw it...but somehow I never did. It's funny so far! We've got a fire in the fireplace, and are just enjoying not having to get ready for school tomorrow! I might have to bust out my coloring books...the ultimate relaxation for me!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Counting our blessings
When a lot of stuff starts happening, my tendency is to try to keep it to myself until it resolves. You know what happens then? NO blogging. Dumb.
We found out about 2-1/2 weeks ago that my dad's chemo hasn't been helping. His tumors are larger, and have even spread. He has been referred to palliative care, which isn't hospice, but is much more focused on keeping him comfortable, and less worried about him becoming hooked on painkillers, etc. He will begin a new chemo regimen next week to see if will slow down his cancer's growth.
Realizing that things are moving kind of fast, my brother and sister in law booked a trip for my mom and dad to go with them to Hawaii...leaving on 11/9. This is a bucket list item for my dad. He had a real hard time on the long flight there, and actually had to be hospitalized the first 3 days of their trip. But the last 5 days have been wonderful for them. My dad got to spend time at the ocean, see the Hawaiian sights, and fly in a helicopter over beautiful waterfalls, etc.
Meanwhile at home, we've had major construction work going on, to make the house more comfortable for Dad. We've had a window to the backyard replaced with french doors, and a stamped concrete patio poured outside it, so he has a nice easy way to enjoy the outdoors. We've had their tub removed and a shower installed. The edge of the tub was too high for dad to step over comfortably. We had the end of our driveway smoothed out so it won't be so painful for Dad to ride over it.
And then besides that, we're going to school, of course. We're sliding into finals time...but first...we are off ALL of next week. I feel like I'm getting a cold, so I'm definitely glad that I've got some time to rest and recover.
We found out about 2-1/2 weeks ago that my dad's chemo hasn't been helping. His tumors are larger, and have even spread. He has been referred to palliative care, which isn't hospice, but is much more focused on keeping him comfortable, and less worried about him becoming hooked on painkillers, etc. He will begin a new chemo regimen next week to see if will slow down his cancer's growth.
Realizing that things are moving kind of fast, my brother and sister in law booked a trip for my mom and dad to go with them to Hawaii...leaving on 11/9. This is a bucket list item for my dad. He had a real hard time on the long flight there, and actually had to be hospitalized the first 3 days of their trip. But the last 5 days have been wonderful for them. My dad got to spend time at the ocean, see the Hawaiian sights, and fly in a helicopter over beautiful waterfalls, etc.
Meanwhile at home, we've had major construction work going on, to make the house more comfortable for Dad. We've had a window to the backyard replaced with french doors, and a stamped concrete patio poured outside it, so he has a nice easy way to enjoy the outdoors. We've had their tub removed and a shower installed. The edge of the tub was too high for dad to step over comfortably. We had the end of our driveway smoothed out so it won't be so painful for Dad to ride over it.
And then besides that, we're going to school, of course. We're sliding into finals time...but first...we are off ALL of next week. I feel like I'm getting a cold, so I'm definitely glad that I've got some time to rest and recover.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
I love Fall
I tolerate summer for two reasons. The first is that I have no choice, lol. The second is that it leads me to Fall and Winter, my absolute favorite seasons of the year.
Here in Georgia, one of the first signals that Fall is "falling" is that the humidity drops dramatically seemingly overnight. (Aaahhhhh....) When that happens, I finally feel like I can breathe. Typically this happens around the 1st week of October, but then we get a "wonderful" Indian Summer where temps shoot back up into the 80s and I am sad, lol. Now as we are sliding into November it feels as though Autumn is here for real.
When I woke up this morning it was chilly and breezy. I came out to the living room and Patrick had a fire (our first of the season) going in the fireplace, and was cooking a stew/soup at the stove. (Could the day be MORE perfect???) Looking at the forecast for the week ahead, I see our first dips below freezing in store. Love love LOVE!!!!
I'm sitting at the kitchen table working on my English paper and enjoying a cup of pumpkin spice coffee with caramel creamer. I glance to my right and see the autumn leaves falling in the breeze. I am thankful.
Here in Georgia, one of the first signals that Fall is "falling" is that the humidity drops dramatically seemingly overnight. (Aaahhhhh....) When that happens, I finally feel like I can breathe. Typically this happens around the 1st week of October, but then we get a "wonderful" Indian Summer where temps shoot back up into the 80s and I am sad, lol. Now as we are sliding into November it feels as though Autumn is here for real.
When I woke up this morning it was chilly and breezy. I came out to the living room and Patrick had a fire (our first of the season) going in the fireplace, and was cooking a stew/soup at the stove. (Could the day be MORE perfect???) Looking at the forecast for the week ahead, I see our first dips below freezing in store. Love love LOVE!!!!
I'm sitting at the kitchen table working on my English paper and enjoying a cup of pumpkin spice coffee with caramel creamer. I glance to my right and see the autumn leaves falling in the breeze. I am thankful.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Setting up to fail?
Is it foolish to begin a weight loss journey just as we're coming into the holidays? Am I just setting myself up for failure and stress? On one hand...it's certainly not going to hurt me to make good food choices and perhaps work out, lol. On the other hand...really?!? LOL!
I kind of feel like it's one of those things that if I wait until the right time I'll never do it. Sigh.
Why can't I just be thin?
I kind of feel like it's one of those things that if I wait until the right time I'll never do it. Sigh.
Why can't I just be thin?
A weekend of highs and lows
Yep, I'm a week behind. That's me!
Last Friday I headed up to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for a weekend of girlie-time with one of my very bestest friends in the world. We had each made a list of three things we wanted to do, and set ourselves to doing them! I wanted to go to the Christmas store, eat at the Pancake Pantry, and stay up late chatting. She wanted to go up in to the mountains to see the leaves (we *kinda* did that...the traffic was SO heavy that we sort of counted the visible mountains from Gatlinburg as going "up into the mountains."), eat at Mellow Mushroom, and walk around Gatlinburg/PF window shopping. It was DEElightful to spend time with my girlie. I needed it. Oh oh oh! We rode this thing called the SkyLift up to the top of a mountain...and I literally almost dropped my purse. OMG. That would have sucked!!! But I caught it *just* in time. Shew.
In sad news, just as I was pulling into the Smokies, Patrick called to tell me that his mom had passed away. We knew it was coming, and it is very sad. But honestly? We are relieved that she is finally at peace. The poor woman was miserable for the vast majority of her life. THAT is the saddest part. Patrick is of course grieving the loss of his mother...but he encouraged me to go on with my girlie weekend. I had major guilt, but we talked many times throughout the weekend, and he was doing ok. The hardest part for him is getting his head around the fact that she is gone. She had, among other things, dementia...so he has been "losing her" for a really long time. There really was some relief to knowing she is free at last.
I really want to get back to blogging. Anybody still around to read?
Last Friday I headed up to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for a weekend of girlie-time with one of my very bestest friends in the world. We had each made a list of three things we wanted to do, and set ourselves to doing them! I wanted to go to the Christmas store, eat at the Pancake Pantry, and stay up late chatting. She wanted to go up in to the mountains to see the leaves (we *kinda* did that...the traffic was SO heavy that we sort of counted the visible mountains from Gatlinburg as going "up into the mountains."), eat at Mellow Mushroom, and walk around Gatlinburg/PF window shopping. It was DEElightful to spend time with my girlie. I needed it. Oh oh oh! We rode this thing called the SkyLift up to the top of a mountain...and I literally almost dropped my purse. OMG. That would have sucked!!! But I caught it *just* in time. Shew.
In sad news, just as I was pulling into the Smokies, Patrick called to tell me that his mom had passed away. We knew it was coming, and it is very sad. But honestly? We are relieved that she is finally at peace. The poor woman was miserable for the vast majority of her life. THAT is the saddest part. Patrick is of course grieving the loss of his mother...but he encouraged me to go on with my girlie weekend. I had major guilt, but we talked many times throughout the weekend, and he was doing ok. The hardest part for him is getting his head around the fact that she is gone. She had, among other things, dementia...so he has been "losing her" for a really long time. There really was some relief to knowing she is free at last.
I really want to get back to blogging. Anybody still around to read?
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Missed the goal
Well October 15th has come and gone. That was the day by which we wanted to have walked 300 miles. We didn't make it. We walked 140 miles...and you know what? That's awesome. We fell short of our goal, but we started college, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, and life happened. But I"m proud of what we accomplished!
In school news, I'm BEAT. Midterms were last week, and I got A's. This week I had a test in every class (again!) and gave an oral presentation in Anatomy & Physiology today.
You know what I need? A girls weekend...and that's exactly what I'm going to have! First thing tomorrow morning I'm headed out for a weekend of fun and relaxing with my best girl, Tricia. I can't wait.
In school news, I'm BEAT. Midterms were last week, and I got A's. This week I had a test in every class (again!) and gave an oral presentation in Anatomy & Physiology today.
You know what I need? A girls weekend...and that's exactly what I'm going to have! First thing tomorrow morning I'm headed out for a weekend of fun and relaxing with my best girl, Tricia. I can't wait.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Forgotten Blog
Being the awesome blogger that I am, I figured that I should maybe post something!
Hi to anyone who happens to read this! Hope you're having a marvelous day.
Something amazing is happening right now...Patrick and I are ALONE in our home. This has not happened in TWO years since my parents moved in. But tonight, my mom is in CA, my dad is staying at my brother's house, and Shannon is at Girl Scout Camporee. Holy cow!
Another amazing happening of the evening, is that Louis, Shannon's pet praying mantis (yes really), laid an egg nest today! Apparently she is a LOUISE!!!! Wow! Did you know a praying mantid's egg case can hold 400 babies? Eep! Science is so awesome.
Not sure I mentioned this...but it's noteworthy. The sale of my parents' house fell through. That's the suckage. So many things were riding on that sale...but no.
Also, I'm having some financial aid issues....blarg. I'm breathing deep, having faith, and keeping on keeping on.
Let's see...what else? I helped name a friend's kitten today. Volunteered for Shannon's theatre group and sold tickets tonight. Aaaand, I have midterms next week. On the agenda for tomorrow? Church and studying!!!
All in all, life's good...just a few bumps in the road.
Hi to anyone who happens to read this! Hope you're having a marvelous day.
Something amazing is happening right now...Patrick and I are ALONE in our home. This has not happened in TWO years since my parents moved in. But tonight, my mom is in CA, my dad is staying at my brother's house, and Shannon is at Girl Scout Camporee. Holy cow!
Another amazing happening of the evening, is that Louis, Shannon's pet praying mantis (yes really), laid an egg nest today! Apparently she is a LOUISE!!!! Wow! Did you know a praying mantid's egg case can hold 400 babies? Eep! Science is so awesome.
Not sure I mentioned this...but it's noteworthy. The sale of my parents' house fell through. That's the suckage. So many things were riding on that sale...but no.
Also, I'm having some financial aid issues....blarg. I'm breathing deep, having faith, and keeping on keeping on.
Let's see...what else? I helped name a friend's kitten today. Volunteered for Shannon's theatre group and sold tickets tonight. Aaaand, I have midterms next week. On the agenda for tomorrow? Church and studying!!!
All in all, life's good...just a few bumps in the road.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
