So, yesterday, I was busy. I got caught up on paperwork all day. Mine, Neely's, PTA Councils until I had to get ready for my procedure. I was not worried. I was like go in, come out and back to life. Well, not exactly.....
So, everything went well, I woke up after the procedure, got dressed, vaguely remember them telling me it went well - banded two medium and one large. No complications. The nurse told me again, no drinking, no signing documents, just an easy night at home. Oh, and eating may be hard but just for a couple days. Soft mushy food would be best. (I made Beef Stew in the Crockpot. Bad choice.)
We get to the car and I think I owe my Mom a million dollars because I think she paid for parking and my trip through McDonalds. I never go to McDonalds, but I wanted a milkshake and fries. The milkshake was DELICIOUS. Like better than anything I had ever had in my life. AMAZING. Better than people, money, God, anything. Clearly, a lot of drugs were involved.
Get home, and my milkshake was gone. I was so sad. Like super, super sad. Like I wanted to cry sad. The French fires hurt going down - first sign that had been delusional about this procedure.
I am now just tired. I say good night to the boys. I wake up in the night and say, "OMG my throat hurts and my lower rib cage aches like a mother. Second sign that I had been delusional this about procedure.
I get up in the morning and take my phone and start texting and, while I am thinking I am going downstairs, I run into my clothes in my walk in closet. Third sign that I had been delusional....well you get it.....
So, I start to the switch the day all around WITHOUT me in it. Boys walk to school (who knows where I would have taken them!), Mom picks them up and takes them to their doctor's appointment (write SIMPLY worded letter to doc about the switch), I cancel on my parents helping them with there bills (probably be in foreclosure if I did that!), and get Grant to take Nolan to soccer practice and where I am meeting another PTA member to sign checks with me (or him). He was not thrilled with this, but when I looked at him he was like, "You just let me know and I will do it." with a "there is nothing in the world because you are the love of my life and I would do anything for you" tone. Bettter.
Just when I think, I got this, I know this, "This don't have me"..........It has me and owns me. FINE. Hail to it, but I'll be back, maybe even tomorrow!!!!!!
Happy Wednesday, Ang
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Update.....
So, as most of you know from my last post, I have to have "surgery". Lets remember that I am now an old car jalopy and I need to be patched from time to time. I have enlarged veins at the end of my esophagus cause by the slowing of my liver (from chemo), so they have to go down my throat, band them off (like lamb tails which my grandparents would appreciate), two by two by two. Every six weeks, I will do it again, to inspect the last two and band off the next two. Yes, this will be a grind, but still better than chemo. Depending on how many, we could be doing this until April. Up side, best sleep I get. Good thing morphine is a restricted substance because I am tellin' you, OMG, AWESOME! Anyhoo........so, I get the news that I am a lifer of blood thinners, I have to have this "therapy", I can never really be free of the doc for more than 30 days, I morn that, and then, well then......I live........I start my shots again. I am on a new medication that slows my heart rate and my pulse. The first day they both race......I contact my docs. "Lay down....they will correct they say." I do. It does. But then I sleep until noon and can't stay awake driving. Yeah, "This ain't gonna work." I say. So, I decide to take it at night. Better. Wow. Being on Beta Blockers and Blood thinners is a trip. No need for morphine, but I prefer to not be responsible for people on it, y'know?!?!?!?! They are now fighting on who can monitor it best......Ct of Epi? Let the games begin.....
Couple things I need to mention.....I will be fine. Cancer is at bay. Jalopy still going. Yes, I have issues. Yes, I go bike rides with my boys that any human should survive and I can't see when I get home. Mason parks my bike while I lay on the floor with my legs up until sight comes back and I feel, well, normal. I do not know why. I do not care. I am not going to bother the docs. I am, shall we say, terminal. Why bother them.
My Mom is like, "Have you told all your doctors that you are going on a Mexican Cruise with me and your aunt on November 1st?" "Nope." "I think you should." "Yep." "So, are you going to." "Yes." "When?" "After my procedure on Tuesday." Awkward silence.
I have to give it to my parents. They have to do this as I am an adult. They have no say, they have to power. That has to SUCK. Sometimes after my Mom has lectured me she says, "So, what are you going to do?" I respond with, "Somehow, I have managed to get this far, I will do what I need to." Honestly, I would kill me if I were my Mom. Bless her.
So, this week, I am going to get ready for my cruise. Tuesday, I am going in for my first banding. The rest of the week is normal except for the Memorial on Friday because, surprise surprise, other stuff happens in life.......
Love and understanding....Ang
Couple things I need to mention.....I will be fine. Cancer is at bay. Jalopy still going. Yes, I have issues. Yes, I go bike rides with my boys that any human should survive and I can't see when I get home. Mason parks my bike while I lay on the floor with my legs up until sight comes back and I feel, well, normal. I do not know why. I do not care. I am not going to bother the docs. I am, shall we say, terminal. Why bother them.
My Mom is like, "Have you told all your doctors that you are going on a Mexican Cruise with me and your aunt on November 1st?" "Nope." "I think you should." "Yep." "So, are you going to." "Yes." "When?" "After my procedure on Tuesday." Awkward silence.
I have to give it to my parents. They have to do this as I am an adult. They have no say, they have to power. That has to SUCK. Sometimes after my Mom has lectured me she says, "So, what are you going to do?" I respond with, "Somehow, I have managed to get this far, I will do what I need to." Honestly, I would kill me if I were my Mom. Bless her.
So, this week, I am going to get ready for my cruise. Tuesday, I am going in for my first banding. The rest of the week is normal except for the Memorial on Friday because, surprise surprise, other stuff happens in life.......
Love and understanding....Ang
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Cancer is a funny thing....
I had a scan on Wednesday with my normal reader who has been with me the ENTIRE time (except the last scan). He has not always liked me, but we have come to a shall I say friendship? He does his best all the time - once I challenged him, but we got through it. Kudos to him. As most of you know, I do not look for a fight, but I do not back down to one either. In the end, he is my guy. I choose him. So, I went to my scan on Wednesday knowing he was working. I got my results. I am still on cancer watch, but Dr. Rogers' is not convinced that the microscopic change is worth anything in my left lung. I concur. We can ablate it. I have done that before. I love that doc. I just really do not want to go back to chemo. Sad thing is, I love those nurses. I see them from time to time or on Facebook. Thank God for Facebook. It is hard to go back to the treatment center. The smell gets me. Purell makes me vomit. Literally, instantaneously. I use a brand at, you guessed it, Fred Meyer. Germ X or something like that.
But.......last time, I convinced Dr. Kaplan to let me try to be off of blood thinners. He reluctantly agreed and with a two month scan he thought it was a good trial. I was changed from two shots in my tummy to one baby aspirin everyday. I LOVED IT. My lower stomach was always bruised, I was tender and tired. Six years of shots to my tummy - twice a day.
Results - my cancer is still on watch. Maybe a millimeter growth on an old spot, but not sure because lungs are fluid and moving. No PET Scan for me - I am 24 (?) over the limit. And, truly, I am okay with all of it. If it grows, I think we all know it is cancer. Hopefully, we can ablate it, which is so much better than chemo. Result, I am still on watch, but I got another curve ball....
Because of all of my chemo, and I am assuming life, my liver has slowed. I have mentioned this before. It still functions fine, it is just slow. I think I would be too after 90 hits of chemo and life. Let's face it. I am lucky to have my feet hit the floor everyday.
Because of the slowed liver function, I have enlarged veins at the bottom of my esophagus, called varices. Another doc has been watching those for 3 or 4 years...maybe six, I don't know. Okay, so here is the bad part.....because I stopped the blood thinners, I have a blood clot that is complicating the varices. This is to the point that Hank is not happy and concerned. You have to understand, I have been with Hank for eight years thinking I was going to die after one year. He never said that, but he did say to me at the beginning, "You will die and die soon without treatment." Again, he refused to give me odds, but he did say they were against me. To his credit, he believed and therefore, I did. So, when he gets all emotional and such, which literally does not happen ever, you seriously pay attention. I am serious, his concerned, worried, happy, and pensive look are literally the same, unless you really know him. Hint: For patients that have him, if he calls another doc on the phone in the room that you are in, things are bad.
Don't get me wrong - I adore him. We have a real relationship beyond cancer. He has helped me see my boys grow up and is happy to see them when I bring them which is RARE. In fact, the entire building loves my boys. PET/CT save rice crispy treats for them when I come in. Angie and Anthony at the front desk - LOVE THEM. They know all their sports and want to know how they are doing. I am so lucky. I got into the cancer center and it is like Norm going into Cheers. Literally how lucky am I?!?!?!?!?!
Anyway, it has been super sad for me. I was under the false allusion that I was done. But, you see, Hank told me I had a chronic condition - which means forever. Apparently, I didn't hear that, or I did not want to. I had actually played with the idea that I would take my boys across the US like our friends in Australia did and teach them about US history. Sad part - I just realized that I will never not be in the presence of a doctor for less than a month. What was I thinking? I am not normal. Why did I think I could escape?
So, here I sit. I was at bible study today and everyone had such normal prayer requests. I did not want to go but they asked me twice and they are part of my tribe, so I blurted out all of it. I am such a Debbie Downer. I am always the one that is well, sad. I wish I was the praise and the light. I get that I should be thankful, but wow, this is a journey.
So, I have to start my shots again. Check. I have this new medication. Check. And I have to see my other Dr. on Tuesday. Check. Probably surgery. Whatever. Check.
Next scan in two month - Dec 16th to be exact. They are following me.....and I could not be more grateful.
Love, Ang
P.S. I am sorry I did not blog earlier, I was numb......
But.......last time, I convinced Dr. Kaplan to let me try to be off of blood thinners. He reluctantly agreed and with a two month scan he thought it was a good trial. I was changed from two shots in my tummy to one baby aspirin everyday. I LOVED IT. My lower stomach was always bruised, I was tender and tired. Six years of shots to my tummy - twice a day.
Results - my cancer is still on watch. Maybe a millimeter growth on an old spot, but not sure because lungs are fluid and moving. No PET Scan for me - I am 24 (?) over the limit. And, truly, I am okay with all of it. If it grows, I think we all know it is cancer. Hopefully, we can ablate it, which is so much better than chemo. Result, I am still on watch, but I got another curve ball....
Because of all of my chemo, and I am assuming life, my liver has slowed. I have mentioned this before. It still functions fine, it is just slow. I think I would be too after 90 hits of chemo and life. Let's face it. I am lucky to have my feet hit the floor everyday.
Because of the slowed liver function, I have enlarged veins at the bottom of my esophagus, called varices. Another doc has been watching those for 3 or 4 years...maybe six, I don't know. Okay, so here is the bad part.....because I stopped the blood thinners, I have a blood clot that is complicating the varices. This is to the point that Hank is not happy and concerned. You have to understand, I have been with Hank for eight years thinking I was going to die after one year. He never said that, but he did say to me at the beginning, "You will die and die soon without treatment." Again, he refused to give me odds, but he did say they were against me. To his credit, he believed and therefore, I did. So, when he gets all emotional and such, which literally does not happen ever, you seriously pay attention. I am serious, his concerned, worried, happy, and pensive look are literally the same, unless you really know him. Hint: For patients that have him, if he calls another doc on the phone in the room that you are in, things are bad.
Don't get me wrong - I adore him. We have a real relationship beyond cancer. He has helped me see my boys grow up and is happy to see them when I bring them which is RARE. In fact, the entire building loves my boys. PET/CT save rice crispy treats for them when I come in. Angie and Anthony at the front desk - LOVE THEM. They know all their sports and want to know how they are doing. I am so lucky. I got into the cancer center and it is like Norm going into Cheers. Literally how lucky am I?!?!?!?!?!
Anyway, it has been super sad for me. I was under the false allusion that I was done. But, you see, Hank told me I had a chronic condition - which means forever. Apparently, I didn't hear that, or I did not want to. I had actually played with the idea that I would take my boys across the US like our friends in Australia did and teach them about US history. Sad part - I just realized that I will never not be in the presence of a doctor for less than a month. What was I thinking? I am not normal. Why did I think I could escape?
So, here I sit. I was at bible study today and everyone had such normal prayer requests. I did not want to go but they asked me twice and they are part of my tribe, so I blurted out all of it. I am such a Debbie Downer. I am always the one that is well, sad. I wish I was the praise and the light. I get that I should be thankful, but wow, this is a journey.
So, I have to start my shots again. Check. I have this new medication. Check. And I have to see my other Dr. on Tuesday. Check. Probably surgery. Whatever. Check.
Next scan in two month - Dec 16th to be exact. They are following me.....and I could not be more grateful.
Love, Ang
P.S. I am sorry I did not blog earlier, I was numb......
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
What Cancer Prepared me for......
So, we are a month into school and, as usual, I am beyond busy. This is the PTA's time to raise money, raise awareness, and, well, raise the dead. I have had a BBQ for 1000 which I ran out of food for except hot dogs and grilled onions, a book fair that looked like a war, and I am in the middle of a Fall Fundraiser (which by the way you can contribute to....it is the BEST....MIXED BAGS! OMG! I was such a skeptic and now a fan! Check it out at
http://www.mixedbagdesigns.com/Retail-Home?fundraiserid=18600
Anyhoo, I digress...... but do I? This is my life now. As soon as the Fall Fundraiser is done, I am on to Box Tops even though Heather is doing it for me......then Spirit wear.....but I am doing Spirit wear for the Kinder school now.....my life is a....well.....blur. I find it funny when my friends say things like, "We are fundraising for a sign!" I am like, "We are fundraising so kids can go to Waskowitz. So that they have Scholastic Magazine. So that they can have a Science Night. So that they can have a shirt for their team." I have been up against PTAs with a budget of 150,000. We are at 20,000 of which I do 10,000 in coupons and trade. Do not get me wrong. I love my school - we just do things... well, differently. We also go with the program. Our parents rarely complain - we just, well, do it. I LOVE that.
Anyway, on to me, I am so boring, which I love, but I don't. I was suppose to have a scan on Friday, but I could not do it. Alana, my cousin, is having a candle party and I wanted to go. I know that sounds crazy, but one of my best friends wants to go with me. I never see Sherry and if I have a scan I will probably not go on Friday night. PLUS, Alana has offered to take my kids with her kids and hubby to dinner.....HUGE FOR MY KIDS. They LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, their cousins Nick and Joey and would do ANYTHING to go to dinner with them. So, my scan is on the 7th. Yes, am I worried. Yes, am I freaked out. Yes, I am a freak, but y'all knew that before. I am just trying to maintain. The last four weeks have included all that I mention but also two boys fevers of 103 plus, Grant's two colds and my "not feeling so good".
But here is the thing I want to say......this maybe be hard for some, so stay with me......maybe I was suppose to get terminal cancer. I don't get the term remission. Apparently, mine was too advanced and it is more likely than not to kill me. That said, I have to say it has calmed me a bit. I have perspective that I would have never had. Parenting alone gives you that, but maybe I needed more. Okay, so this is a shout out to my college roommates. They know me the best and have all the secrets of why I cannot ever run for public office, but did they even think I would be okay with having a small vacuum by my DRYER because there was so much sand from "Fishing at the river" that it went through the washing and ending up clogging the dryer. Okay, so the worst part of this is that I ACCEPTING THE SAND WAS CLEAN IN THE DRYER. Okay, so my college roommates are seeing my head spin around on my neck.....yeah, I agree. It has been an adjustment. I should send a picture, but I am not that good.
When I was first diagnosed, I was so mad at God for giving me kids that I cursed him. I was like, "Why give them to me and then make me die." Now, I know the answer. It was to make me fight. And now, that I have a whole "new level of chaos, dirt and paint touch up", I am ready for the journey, but the paint still bugs me......
I am proud of me, but it has been a journey. We all are. Bless everyone of us in our journey.
Happy Tuesday, Ang
http://www.mixedbagdesigns.com/Retail-Home?fundraiserid=18600
Anyhoo, I digress...... but do I? This is my life now. As soon as the Fall Fundraiser is done, I am on to Box Tops even though Heather is doing it for me......then Spirit wear.....but I am doing Spirit wear for the Kinder school now.....my life is a....well.....blur. I find it funny when my friends say things like, "We are fundraising for a sign!" I am like, "We are fundraising so kids can go to Waskowitz. So that they have Scholastic Magazine. So that they can have a Science Night. So that they can have a shirt for their team." I have been up against PTAs with a budget of 150,000. We are at 20,000 of which I do 10,000 in coupons and trade. Do not get me wrong. I love my school - we just do things... well, differently. We also go with the program. Our parents rarely complain - we just, well, do it. I LOVE that.
Anyway, on to me, I am so boring, which I love, but I don't. I was suppose to have a scan on Friday, but I could not do it. Alana, my cousin, is having a candle party and I wanted to go. I know that sounds crazy, but one of my best friends wants to go with me. I never see Sherry and if I have a scan I will probably not go on Friday night. PLUS, Alana has offered to take my kids with her kids and hubby to dinner.....HUGE FOR MY KIDS. They LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, their cousins Nick and Joey and would do ANYTHING to go to dinner with them. So, my scan is on the 7th. Yes, am I worried. Yes, am I freaked out. Yes, I am a freak, but y'all knew that before. I am just trying to maintain. The last four weeks have included all that I mention but also two boys fevers of 103 plus, Grant's two colds and my "not feeling so good".
But here is the thing I want to say......this maybe be hard for some, so stay with me......maybe I was suppose to get terminal cancer. I don't get the term remission. Apparently, mine was too advanced and it is more likely than not to kill me. That said, I have to say it has calmed me a bit. I have perspective that I would have never had. Parenting alone gives you that, but maybe I needed more. Okay, so this is a shout out to my college roommates. They know me the best and have all the secrets of why I cannot ever run for public office, but did they even think I would be okay with having a small vacuum by my DRYER because there was so much sand from "Fishing at the river" that it went through the washing and ending up clogging the dryer. Okay, so the worst part of this is that I ACCEPTING THE SAND WAS CLEAN IN THE DRYER. Okay, so my college roommates are seeing my head spin around on my neck.....yeah, I agree. It has been an adjustment. I should send a picture, but I am not that good.
When I was first diagnosed, I was so mad at God for giving me kids that I cursed him. I was like, "Why give them to me and then make me die." Now, I know the answer. It was to make me fight. And now, that I have a whole "new level of chaos, dirt and paint touch up", I am ready for the journey, but the paint still bugs me......
I am proud of me, but it has been a journey. We all are. Bless everyone of us in our journey.
Happy Tuesday, Ang
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
School is about to start......
So, the excitement of school is beginning. Heck, I am excited! I excite easily, but the new principle at my school said to me (while I was organizing stuff for the new year), "Hey, do you want to say something in front of all the teachers?" They were in an all staff meeting and they were going to give me a microphone. I had my baseball cap on, flip flops, but I was pretty sure I showered, so I said, "Heck, yeah!" Bethany Larsen - you should be cracking up right now!!!!! So should you Patrick Regnart!!!! I gave them a brief intro to PTA, thanked them for taking my children soon, and told them about the free gift with membership to the PTA. Forms to enroll were "right next to the sign in sheet". "Sign in sheet?!??!?!" teachers proclaimed. I said, "Yes. Well. Okay. I am not your supervisor, but there is a sign in sheet at the front desk you may want to SIGN IN ON....and sign up for you PTA membership at the same time......" The new principle was AWESOME and said, "Okay, I do not know what I missed, but yes, she is correct, sign in at the front desk." I am starting to love her......and yes, it is because she said I was right! Last time she gives me a microphone.....
Anyhoo.....I should give you the good, bad, and the ugly of the summer. Good - our Four Corners Trip. Amazing actually. I love our family and I feel so blessed to be part of it EVERYDAY.
Bad....when I threw all the boys in the neighborhood out of my house because they were bored. I was cleaning house, they were in my way, and (imagine) they did not want to help?!?!? I stuck them in the garage to see if they could find inspiration from the street hockey equipment, scooters, bikes, sand toys, etc, etc. etc. When I went out to get a mop, they were all propped up against the freezer and said, "There just is not much to do." So, as I read in a David Sidaris book, I kicked them out of the house and said, "FIGURE IT OUT." Thirty minutes later, I put out two fishing poles (one in a horrible line mess), a net, and a tackle box. Remember, I am locked IN THE HOUSE. I have disengaged the garage door and they keep asking to come in which I ignore. Kyle says, "I know how to use those (fishing poles)! Let's go." Boys follow. Remember, I live next to a river that has salmon and a bike trail. I have a huge play structure in my backyard. There is a tree house in my neighbors yard that is FOR US. HOLY COW! Anyhoo......all four left for four hours. When they came back, they were covered in sand, wet, laughing and talking about fishing. One of them even quoted, "Best day ever" and two others agreed. Yes, I worry about them in the river - but honestly it is too low to care this year. Yes, I worry, about them being gone so long, but I can hear their squeals from my office window. Yes, I worry, but not enough for them not to live. This is a young boys play land.....I will not take it away. No devices, no TV, no nothing, but life. Pretty cool.
Ugly....there really is none. I need to get to the gym. I need to get back to my program. I miss my friends, bible study, etc. I miss my life sans boys. I have gained weight. I have dealt with family issues, whatever, that is life. I believe that they blood clots are back in my lungs, which they probably are not, but the mind is a powerful thing. But the ugliest was when Grant took Mason to work for a half day to do my PTA copies and then a Mariners Game and Nolan was at Camp Barachach all day and I did not know what do do with myself. That was sad. I had to research it. I settled on making breakfast, watching a movie everyone else would not want to watch, and scrap booking (FINALLY) the last eight pages of Nolan's 2013. But you know the beauty?!?! The beauty was that I was not the first on call. The boys were with people that could care for them without me and for the first time in months, I relaxed. IT WAS AMAZING AND WORTH THE UGLY!!!! And, I finished Nolan's 2013 - yeah me!
Happy summer, happy school year, happy Wednesday, Ang
Anyhoo.....I should give you the good, bad, and the ugly of the summer. Good - our Four Corners Trip. Amazing actually. I love our family and I feel so blessed to be part of it EVERYDAY.
Bad....when I threw all the boys in the neighborhood out of my house because they were bored. I was cleaning house, they were in my way, and (imagine) they did not want to help?!?!? I stuck them in the garage to see if they could find inspiration from the street hockey equipment, scooters, bikes, sand toys, etc, etc. etc. When I went out to get a mop, they were all propped up against the freezer and said, "There just is not much to do." So, as I read in a David Sidaris book, I kicked them out of the house and said, "FIGURE IT OUT." Thirty minutes later, I put out two fishing poles (one in a horrible line mess), a net, and a tackle box. Remember, I am locked IN THE HOUSE. I have disengaged the garage door and they keep asking to come in which I ignore. Kyle says, "I know how to use those (fishing poles)! Let's go." Boys follow. Remember, I live next to a river that has salmon and a bike trail. I have a huge play structure in my backyard. There is a tree house in my neighbors yard that is FOR US. HOLY COW! Anyhoo......all four left for four hours. When they came back, they were covered in sand, wet, laughing and talking about fishing. One of them even quoted, "Best day ever" and two others agreed. Yes, I worry about them in the river - but honestly it is too low to care this year. Yes, I worry, about them being gone so long, but I can hear their squeals from my office window. Yes, I worry, but not enough for them not to live. This is a young boys play land.....I will not take it away. No devices, no TV, no nothing, but life. Pretty cool.
Ugly....there really is none. I need to get to the gym. I need to get back to my program. I miss my friends, bible study, etc. I miss my life sans boys. I have gained weight. I have dealt with family issues, whatever, that is life. I believe that they blood clots are back in my lungs, which they probably are not, but the mind is a powerful thing. But the ugliest was when Grant took Mason to work for a half day to do my PTA copies and then a Mariners Game and Nolan was at Camp Barachach all day and I did not know what do do with myself. That was sad. I had to research it. I settled on making breakfast, watching a movie everyone else would not want to watch, and scrap booking (FINALLY) the last eight pages of Nolan's 2013. But you know the beauty?!?! The beauty was that I was not the first on call. The boys were with people that could care for them without me and for the first time in months, I relaxed. IT WAS AMAZING AND WORTH THE UGLY!!!! And, I finished Nolan's 2013 - yeah me!
Happy summer, happy school year, happy Wednesday, Ang
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Scan results.....
It is FINE. Nothing to worry about and only to ponder. I am back on "WATCH". I have three old sites in my lungs that apparently look "plumper". Okay, stay with me.....this is in the beauty of the art of survival.
Fact: Three tiny old spots look "plumper".
Fact: I have a different Radiologist reading my scan. (I ask every time I get one.)
Fact: I have been on WATCH before and it has meant squat every time.
Fact: There is a level of error here because we can only do a CT scan. Remember, PET scans are reduced to 3 in a lifetime. I have had 24. I am a little over, y'think?!?!?!
Fact: If I breathe different in the scan, I can have different results. What do ya think the chances of that happening are?!?!?!?!?!
Do I like being on WATCH? No. I also learned that I was having fluid back up into my stomach from my liver. Okay...okay...I need to do my Milk Thistle, my exercising (My Health App looks PATHETIC!) , and stop eating bread and eggs fried in bacon grease. GOTCHA! Summer is bad. I am awful in the summer. Need school to start so I have a schedule and stop eating bacon!
So, Hank gave me two choices: 1. Run around and freak out and get a PET - which would be hard with insurance. 2. Have another CT in 8 weeks. Number two PLEASE! I have been down this road before. When I was looking at my scan while waiting for Hank, I came up with I have no cancer, but I am pretty sure I have scoliosis. Clearly, not a doctor, but I am pretty sure that was a curved spine. Anyway, since I was only eight weeks from a scan, I asked if I could forgo and try a different blood thinner than my shots twice a day. OMG! He agreed and said, "Okay, take an aspirin everyday and then we will see what the scan says." I practically fell over (hard to do on a table), because I have been taking two shots for six years and now I am on a aspirin. I have paid $4000 a year for those shots and now I can try pennies a day on an aspirin?!??!?!??! It is like a pay raise - BRING ON WATCH! The good is balanced by the bad and the ugly is balanced by the beautiful color of money!!!!!!!!
Next scan October 2nd.
Happy Sunday, Ang
Fact: Three tiny old spots look "plumper".
Fact: I have a different Radiologist reading my scan. (I ask every time I get one.)
Fact: I have been on WATCH before and it has meant squat every time.
Fact: There is a level of error here because we can only do a CT scan. Remember, PET scans are reduced to 3 in a lifetime. I have had 24. I am a little over, y'think?!?!?!
Fact: If I breathe different in the scan, I can have different results. What do ya think the chances of that happening are?!?!?!?!?!
Do I like being on WATCH? No. I also learned that I was having fluid back up into my stomach from my liver. Okay...okay...I need to do my Milk Thistle, my exercising (My Health App looks PATHETIC!) , and stop eating bread and eggs fried in bacon grease. GOTCHA! Summer is bad. I am awful in the summer. Need school to start so I have a schedule and stop eating bacon!
So, Hank gave me two choices: 1. Run around and freak out and get a PET - which would be hard with insurance. 2. Have another CT in 8 weeks. Number two PLEASE! I have been down this road before. When I was looking at my scan while waiting for Hank, I came up with I have no cancer, but I am pretty sure I have scoliosis. Clearly, not a doctor, but I am pretty sure that was a curved spine. Anyway, since I was only eight weeks from a scan, I asked if I could forgo and try a different blood thinner than my shots twice a day. OMG! He agreed and said, "Okay, take an aspirin everyday and then we will see what the scan says." I practically fell over (hard to do on a table), because I have been taking two shots for six years and now I am on a aspirin. I have paid $4000 a year for those shots and now I can try pennies a day on an aspirin?!??!?!??! It is like a pay raise - BRING ON WATCH! The good is balanced by the bad and the ugly is balanced by the beautiful color of money!!!!!!!!
Next scan October 2nd.
Happy Sunday, Ang
Monday, August 10, 2015
So this is what summer is....
The last few weeks have been filled with great stuff. Mason went to his first overnight adventure camp. He dumped me like a hot potato....just the Mom. He was very respectful and kind but he really was ready. He grew that week. Like really grew! We went to the San Juans. San Juan Island and Lopez with all of Grant's old coworkers (that camp). The picture is from Lopez. My big blunder was tracking the weather on Vashon Island. For those of you that do not know, Vashon is really South from the San Juans. Luckily, I sent the boys with enough clothes, but I am now the proud owner of a Friday Harbor Whale Museum Jacket. Stylin! Right now, I am sitting at the pool with what I kindly refer to as my Village: Mason, Nolan, Kyle and Hunter. Hey are running past playing something between tag and hide and go seek and soaking (sp). Pretty sure someone should be disciplining them...
One thing that Grant and I did was go up to Kelowna and spend three nights with Rob, Jen, and the girls. It was Rob's first of six sessions of chemo for stage three rectal cancer. Chemo was actually postponed because of a schedule mess up but it gave us a day to play. I shopped with Jen and Nadia and we got our toes done. The boys got haircuts. And we ate amazing burgers and drank beer the night before chemo. The next day everything went as well as it could.
Robin did amazing....wait, boys were disciplined! Whew, I can stop hidding by the tennis courts.....okay back to Robin, did great and still stubborn which is an asset. When Grant and I left the next day, I had pretty toes, a new flashy Orange purse, and a lot of weight off my heart. He is going to be okay. They are going to be okay. Five treatments to go. Exhale.
All my love, Ang
One thing that Grant and I did was go up to Kelowna and spend three nights with Rob, Jen, and the girls. It was Rob's first of six sessions of chemo for stage three rectal cancer. Chemo was actually postponed because of a schedule mess up but it gave us a day to play. I shopped with Jen and Nadia and we got our toes done. The boys got haircuts. And we ate amazing burgers and drank beer the night before chemo. The next day everything went as well as it could.
Robin did amazing....wait, boys were disciplined! Whew, I can stop hidding by the tennis courts.....okay back to Robin, did great and still stubborn which is an asset. When Grant and I left the next day, I had pretty toes, a new flashy Orange purse, and a lot of weight off my heart. He is going to be okay. They are going to be okay. Five treatments to go. Exhale.
All my love, Ang
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
My Grandma's Service
My Grandma's Service was today. We did lunch at the Falls Terrace in Olympia. It was a restaurant she liked and she loved doing lunch. The following was the "program" that I made for it.
Myrtle
Virginia Randolph
January 20, 1919 - May 17, 2015
January 20, 1919 - May 17, 2015
Raised in Ewan, Washington, Virginia loved basketball
and graduated at the top of her class; however, she regularly received below
average marks for “Deportment”, something she embraced with both hands. She was the first of five children of Hollis
Dickerson and Lady Faye Smith. She is
survived by her son, Keith Clarno married to Sharon Clarno of Federal Way. She had one granddaughter, Angela Clarno
married to Grant Hainsworth of Kent, WA who brought her great joy with two
great grandsons, Mason (10) and Nolan (8).
She was hard working, fierce, and always willing to help those she loved.
Other
facts:
Her lasting love was Floyd Randolph, her third husband,
who nicknamed her “Toughy”.
She had another son.
William Cary Clarno unfortunately died within two weeks of birth. While she rarely spoke of him, in her final
years she referred to her “boys”.
She “Lettered” in High School Basketball.
Two prize possessions – her Bible and her Crossword
Dictionary.
Famous
Virginia Quotes:
“Thing.”
“Thing” was put in the place of all words she could not remember. When she started to lose her memory, she
never said “thing” again.
“Good ol’ days?!?!
What were those?!?!? Think of
life without plastic!?!?! Really, think of life without plastic?!?!?!”
“So, if you think you should do something that sounds
like a great opportunity and someone else says that is ‘stupid’ and you listen
to them, who is really stupid?”
“Thing.”
She will be missed, but never forgotten.
*********
Everyone had beautiful stories about her, and they were genuine. The most touching part was at dessert when both my boys ordered and finished a piece of carrot cake. There was plenty on the menu, but that was her favorite that we brought to her each birthday and they remembered.
Maybe I did something right, or maybe it was Grandma.
Happy Tuesday, Ang
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Nolan, we are not blending!
The family and I just went on a trip to four corners. For those of you who know four corners, you get it. For those of you who don't, it is this ridiculous trip to a place where four states come together. I was there when I was young, like under 15, and it was like a crooked sign in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND YOU TOOK A PICTURE. See below.....
Grant has never been to the Southwest. This is a bit of an issue with him. I have been to the Southwest a ton. This is not an issue with me. I love the Southwest. And so goes the story.....
When I got sick, I never thought I would see the Southwest with Grant or my kids. I didn't think much of it, because I knew Grant was interested and I knew he would take them. With my good fortune, Grant and I decided to go, but it all depended on our friend in Kelowna that was fighting cancer. Although I had planned the trip; all the reservations in place; we did not pull the trigger until we knew he did not need us. We really did not know we were going until June 18th. We left the 20th. So, for most of you, you were like, "Wha? She is out of town? Where is she?" I apologize for that, but in the end, maybe I do not. We had an awesome trip and that is what life is all about, right?!?!?!?!
Kids got out of school on Thursday at noon. We left on Saturday at 9:00am. We stopped in Mountain Home Idaho for the night and dinner. Nolan was in heaven because they served popcorn BEFORE dinner. There was a pool and it as 95 degrees. We landed in Moab, UT the next three nights. We did Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. It was HOT.....highlights were the woman at the local history museum. Could not have someone more excited about Moab history....I LOVED her. We also 4 wheeled out of Canyonlands. Okay, so, I am going to say something I will probably get a cross eyed look when I do, but Grant is GREAT at starting the 4 by trip, but when things get rough, he gets nervous to the point of bailing. He is a Toronto City boy. I am not. So, when we get "stuck", I take over. I love and trust my Grant, but I know when I have to literally take the wheel. The boys get this about us. I love that. Maybe someday they will respect their wife to take over the wheel as mine does. It really is an honor. My friend is Rick, who told me years ago, "Ang, you are lucky you have him and that he lets you do what you do." When he said this, I stared at him and I think he thought he might die, but it was true. Grant gives me a very long leash. A padded room if you will. I get to do 98% of what I want and when he says no, I am fine. Truly. I could have married no one else. So, as we were staring at the rock that had fallen over the trail, he said, "I am sorry. We should have checked with the ranger station." At the same time, I said, "I just need to see if there are tire tracks on the other side of the rock. If so, we can probably do it." There were and we did. The boys, as usual, were like,"Mom, should we be doing this?!?!?!" I responded with, "This truck was ACTUALLY DESIGNED to do this, if not now, when?!?!??!" Exhale. We made it. The road was washed out, we were in the thick of it, but we made and that is all that mattered. We did it - together.
We left Moab and when to Mesa Verde and Four Corners on our way to the Hopi reservation. I have been to Mesa Verde with my parents and all I remembered was going by latter into a kiva. We got to Mesa Verde at 10am and all the tours were BOOKED until 3pm. There was one place could go that had no restrictions and my only question was, "Can they take a latter down into a Kiva?" Grant looked at me, like, "Wha?" But, when I was young, I went down into a kiva via latter and I was never the same. I wanted the same for my boys - all three of them. "Yes. Yes, there is. Absolutely." We went there. I took pictures of up and down. Grant is claustrophobic, so he came out quickly, but it was done and we did it. We got to Four Corners which is now a "Navajo Park" so you get to park for $20 and then go to a monument, to stand in line to take a picture that is SURROUNDED by Navajo vendors. So, I am okay with all this. I acknowledge all of them, we talk about it, and we moved on or purchased. I hope that I am training my boys in the respect that they need. Time will tell. At the end, Mason purchased some Horsehair pottery and Nolan purchased a Navajo Spear. I was proud of both of them on how they treated the vendors and their products. We got pictures and then we left - without fry bread which was a faux pas we will learn about later.....
It was a big day....we breezed by Chinle and the canyon there, which is not visited by many, but HOLY COW it is beautiful! We got there at dusk and the lighting storms had started. It was amazing. However, the amazingness of it all was dampered by Mason saying we were all going to die...... Sometimes he is such a buzz kill!....
So we go on to the drive to the Hopi Reservation. Have to say, there are not a lot of directions. There is a P.O. Box on the confirmation and, FYI, none of us look HOPI. SHOCKER. Grant was like, "Ang, it HAS to be on this road....it is the only road." And it was, but four miles after I thought. We check in. At check in they tell us that it is illegal to have alcoholic beverages in the room of the hotel. I am thinking we are going to die over two beers and a couple stupid coolers. Apparently, my face say it all and she smiled and said, "Just keep them in your car." Fair enough. So, we unpack, and I tell Grant to put the beers in the car even after his analysis of "How are they going to know...." We settled in and decided to go to the restaurant for some ice cream. As we sit down, Nolan says to me (mind you this is the ONLY restaurant for miles), "Mummy, you look stressed. Do you need a.......wait for it......no seriously...this is unbelievable.........martini or margarita?!?!?!?!?!
The woman in the booth right next to us BUSTED up laughing. Before I can say, "Nolan this I a dry campus." I come out with, "Nolan! We are not blending!!! All the other tables start laughing also. Before he things he is a regular comedian, I shut him down. "Nolan, we will talk about it later...." Everyone is SUPER welcoming, especially since we are clearly alcoholics ....
SIDE NOTE - I am volunteering at the library at school this year and we have some canned and dried food for people to take. We also, however, ran out of plastic bags, so I went through them with my boys before I took them to school......There was Fred Meyer, Safeway, but also there were a fair amount of "Total Wine", "Black Cat Fireworks" and even a one from KFC. I guess we really also drinkers that have a horrible diet and blow crap up.
We spent the night and woke up our Hopi Guide after checking out the museum, met up with our Hopi guide, Gary. SO COOL. We learned a lot about the culture, history, and current challenges for the Hopis. One thing they are awful at is negotiating their goods, "I usually sell this for $40, but I will give it to you for $20." Where is the pause? Maybe I want to give you $40. Even Gary was like, "Well, I told you x, but just give me y." So, I just told him, "I am not paying you less that z." Business classes....white man business classes. I may just make that my mission in life! Gary thought I was hilarious, but said it probably was a good idea.
Wrapped that up and went to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It was well, grand. I have never seen it from the top. Every time we went it was winter and it was fogged in - no lie - three times.
We then ended our trip in Zion. AMAZING three days. The best hike was the River Walk at the end of the road. You walk for a mile and then river is your path. When it is 108 degrees, walking in a shady canyon in cool water rocks! Best hike ever.
We ended out trip taking a vacation from our vacation and just hangin' out by the pool one day, being lazy, and then the trip back, popcorn at dinner in Mountain Home, ID, and home.
The boys did great, Grant drove most of the way, and everything went according to plan. Road trips are in Grant and my blood - nothing like a good road trip!
Happy Sunday, Ang
Grant has never been to the Southwest. This is a bit of an issue with him. I have been to the Southwest a ton. This is not an issue with me. I love the Southwest. And so goes the story.....
When I got sick, I never thought I would see the Southwest with Grant or my kids. I didn't think much of it, because I knew Grant was interested and I knew he would take them. With my good fortune, Grant and I decided to go, but it all depended on our friend in Kelowna that was fighting cancer. Although I had planned the trip; all the reservations in place; we did not pull the trigger until we knew he did not need us. We really did not know we were going until June 18th. We left the 20th. So, for most of you, you were like, "Wha? She is out of town? Where is she?" I apologize for that, but in the end, maybe I do not. We had an awesome trip and that is what life is all about, right?!?!?!?!
Kids got out of school on Thursday at noon. We left on Saturday at 9:00am. We stopped in Mountain Home Idaho for the night and dinner. Nolan was in heaven because they served popcorn BEFORE dinner. There was a pool and it as 95 degrees. We landed in Moab, UT the next three nights. We did Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. It was HOT.....highlights were the woman at the local history museum. Could not have someone more excited about Moab history....I LOVED her. We also 4 wheeled out of Canyonlands. Okay, so, I am going to say something I will probably get a cross eyed look when I do, but Grant is GREAT at starting the 4 by trip, but when things get rough, he gets nervous to the point of bailing. He is a Toronto City boy. I am not. So, when we get "stuck", I take over. I love and trust my Grant, but I know when I have to literally take the wheel. The boys get this about us. I love that. Maybe someday they will respect their wife to take over the wheel as mine does. It really is an honor. My friend is Rick, who told me years ago, "Ang, you are lucky you have him and that he lets you do what you do." When he said this, I stared at him and I think he thought he might die, but it was true. Grant gives me a very long leash. A padded room if you will. I get to do 98% of what I want and when he says no, I am fine. Truly. I could have married no one else. So, as we were staring at the rock that had fallen over the trail, he said, "I am sorry. We should have checked with the ranger station." At the same time, I said, "I just need to see if there are tire tracks on the other side of the rock. If so, we can probably do it." There were and we did. The boys, as usual, were like,"Mom, should we be doing this?!?!?!" I responded with, "This truck was ACTUALLY DESIGNED to do this, if not now, when?!?!??!" Exhale. We made it. The road was washed out, we were in the thick of it, but we made and that is all that mattered. We did it - together.
We left Moab and when to Mesa Verde and Four Corners on our way to the Hopi reservation. I have been to Mesa Verde with my parents and all I remembered was going by latter into a kiva. We got to Mesa Verde at 10am and all the tours were BOOKED until 3pm. There was one place could go that had no restrictions and my only question was, "Can they take a latter down into a Kiva?" Grant looked at me, like, "Wha?" But, when I was young, I went down into a kiva via latter and I was never the same. I wanted the same for my boys - all three of them. "Yes. Yes, there is. Absolutely." We went there. I took pictures of up and down. Grant is claustrophobic, so he came out quickly, but it was done and we did it. We got to Four Corners which is now a "Navajo Park" so you get to park for $20 and then go to a monument, to stand in line to take a picture that is SURROUNDED by Navajo vendors. So, I am okay with all this. I acknowledge all of them, we talk about it, and we moved on or purchased. I hope that I am training my boys in the respect that they need. Time will tell. At the end, Mason purchased some Horsehair pottery and Nolan purchased a Navajo Spear. I was proud of both of them on how they treated the vendors and their products. We got pictures and then we left - without fry bread which was a faux pas we will learn about later.....
It was a big day....we breezed by Chinle and the canyon there, which is not visited by many, but HOLY COW it is beautiful! We got there at dusk and the lighting storms had started. It was amazing. However, the amazingness of it all was dampered by Mason saying we were all going to die...... Sometimes he is such a buzz kill!....
So we go on to the drive to the Hopi Reservation. Have to say, there are not a lot of directions. There is a P.O. Box on the confirmation and, FYI, none of us look HOPI. SHOCKER. Grant was like, "Ang, it HAS to be on this road....it is the only road." And it was, but four miles after I thought. We check in. At check in they tell us that it is illegal to have alcoholic beverages in the room of the hotel. I am thinking we are going to die over two beers and a couple stupid coolers. Apparently, my face say it all and she smiled and said, "Just keep them in your car." Fair enough. So, we unpack, and I tell Grant to put the beers in the car even after his analysis of "How are they going to know...." We settled in and decided to go to the restaurant for some ice cream. As we sit down, Nolan says to me (mind you this is the ONLY restaurant for miles), "Mummy, you look stressed. Do you need a.......wait for it......no seriously...this is unbelievable.........martini or margarita?!?!?!?!?!
The woman in the booth right next to us BUSTED up laughing. Before I can say, "Nolan this I a dry campus." I come out with, "Nolan! We are not blending!!! All the other tables start laughing also. Before he things he is a regular comedian, I shut him down. "Nolan, we will talk about it later...." Everyone is SUPER welcoming, especially since we are clearly alcoholics ....
SIDE NOTE - I am volunteering at the library at school this year and we have some canned and dried food for people to take. We also, however, ran out of plastic bags, so I went through them with my boys before I took them to school......There was Fred Meyer, Safeway, but also there were a fair amount of "Total Wine", "Black Cat Fireworks" and even a one from KFC. I guess we really also drinkers that have a horrible diet and blow crap up.
We spent the night and woke up our Hopi Guide after checking out the museum, met up with our Hopi guide, Gary. SO COOL. We learned a lot about the culture, history, and current challenges for the Hopis. One thing they are awful at is negotiating their goods, "I usually sell this for $40, but I will give it to you for $20." Where is the pause? Maybe I want to give you $40. Even Gary was like, "Well, I told you x, but just give me y." So, I just told him, "I am not paying you less that z." Business classes....white man business classes. I may just make that my mission in life! Gary thought I was hilarious, but said it probably was a good idea.
Wrapped that up and went to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It was well, grand. I have never seen it from the top. Every time we went it was winter and it was fogged in - no lie - three times.
We then ended our trip in Zion. AMAZING three days. The best hike was the River Walk at the end of the road. You walk for a mile and then river is your path. When it is 108 degrees, walking in a shady canyon in cool water rocks! Best hike ever.
We ended out trip taking a vacation from our vacation and just hangin' out by the pool one day, being lazy, and then the trip back, popcorn at dinner in Mountain Home, ID, and home.
The boys did great, Grant drove most of the way, and everything went according to plan. Road trips are in Grant and my blood - nothing like a good road trip!
Happy Sunday, Ang
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Mosquito and other things.....
As a child, I was mosquito bait. As an adult, the same. Then cancer hit.....chemo takes care of that. I have not had a mosquito bite in eight years. Then, on July 4th, we were blowing up stuff outside and I was like, "What are those annoying little bugs? OUCH!" Apparently, chemo wears off in TWO YEARS. That they need to bottle.
Times has been flying by...lots of things have happened, but there are two notable stories that you may enjoy. One Today......
Parental Joy(?)
I emailed the following to the teachers and staff that were involved with Mason this year. He had a big year of growth emotionally and I thought they should know....
In September of 2014, a boy named Mason stared the 4th grade in Mrs. Swenning's class. This year, like all the others, Mason's Mom warned Mrs. Swenning that his tenderness is his best, and most challenging, quality. Pleasing his teachers and his parents is his goal and in that order - anything less turns to tears.
Mason was not afraid of computers, he loved them, and learn to hunt and peck the year before with testing. His access was more limited than he would like, but those were Mom's rules. He met a woman named Ms. Thompson who showed him more about the Internet he had ever known which he told him Mom all about.....all the time. Ms. Thompson this, Ms. Thompson that and, "MOM! Mrs. Swenning said we are doing Hack-a-thon!" Hack-a-thon would become an entire being in our house, Ms. Kelley would ask if Mason could skip a doctor's appointment (Mason would NEVER think to ask this) because "Hack-a-thon" was there that day. The Doctor's office was like, "That sounds fun - sure!" (No fee. No penalty. WHO DOES THAT?!?!?!?!) But it was the joy on Mason's face when his Mom told him he could go back to class that took her breath away. What just happened?
Mason's was voted onto Student Council and by some small miracle, he went to his Mom and asked if he could spend $10 of his own money on a "Team Tonya" shirt. "You (the Mom) took her to chemo. The least I can do is wear a T-shirt. ( Mom bought not only a t-shirt for him, but for herself also.) He learned about hunger in our own back yard and while he complained in the fall about being tired at NW Harvest, he and all the other students, did not complain once on June 10th when they went again (although some water breaks were quite long....). Wow, what happened?
Mason was Captain of the 4th Grade Boy's Track Team. Mr. Furukawa talked to him and later to his Mom about his sensitivity and how, as a leader, you have keep it together and NO TEARS. Choir was running at the same time and then baseball started. Last year was the first year that the players pitched to each other. Mason was a mess. Yet this year.......oh my gosh, this year, he was relaxed and confident like a version of him his Mom always knew was there, but never saw. He allowed one man on base each inning (they only have three), struck out the others and it was a shut out game 13-0. The parents all congratulated him and ask his Mom, "What happened?!?!?!"
But here is the kicker....the one that made me share this will all of you. Mason came home and got the Surface (Santa brought the family a Surface 2 which he told me was not as good as the Surface Pro that he had at school), and started typing away. Then the questions....
"Mom, can you take me to school early on a regular basis?"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Sure, I can." (I have no idea what he is doing. I thought it was homework.)
"Can you take me to performances?"
"Sure." (Starting to clue in.)
"Can you carry instruments?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Mason I am quite sure."
pause.....pause......pause
"Mason?"
"Mom, this is just REALLY important and you have to be sure that you can do all this and I have to be sure you can too!"
pause........pause.......pause
"Mason, I will get you to all of it."
"Sure?"
"Sure."
The DRUM Application was then "keyboarded" entirely by him, printed by him (and HP), attached to the application with arguments about why he should be chosen to join DRUM, and slipped into his backpack.
"Would you like me to check it?"
"Nope, I got it."
What just happened???????
Neely did.
There is nothing I can do to thank you enough. You can helped create a beautiful boy that is growing up to be a responsible, caring, beautiful young adult.
Forever your fan,
Mason's Mom
Times has been flying by...lots of things have happened, but there are two notable stories that you may enjoy. One Today......
Parental Joy(?)
I emailed the following to the teachers and staff that were involved with Mason this year. He had a big year of growth emotionally and I thought they should know....
********
In September of 2014, a boy named Mason stared the 4th grade in Mrs. Swenning's class. This year, like all the others, Mason's Mom warned Mrs. Swenning that his tenderness is his best, and most challenging, quality. Pleasing his teachers and his parents is his goal and in that order - anything less turns to tears.
Mason was not afraid of computers, he loved them, and learn to hunt and peck the year before with testing. His access was more limited than he would like, but those were Mom's rules. He met a woman named Ms. Thompson who showed him more about the Internet he had ever known which he told him Mom all about.....all the time. Ms. Thompson this, Ms. Thompson that and, "MOM! Mrs. Swenning said we are doing Hack-a-thon!" Hack-a-thon would become an entire being in our house, Ms. Kelley would ask if Mason could skip a doctor's appointment (Mason would NEVER think to ask this) because "Hack-a-thon" was there that day. The Doctor's office was like, "That sounds fun - sure!" (No fee. No penalty. WHO DOES THAT?!?!?!?!) But it was the joy on Mason's face when his Mom told him he could go back to class that took her breath away. What just happened?
Mason's was voted onto Student Council and by some small miracle, he went to his Mom and asked if he could spend $10 of his own money on a "Team Tonya" shirt. "You (the Mom) took her to chemo. The least I can do is wear a T-shirt. ( Mom bought not only a t-shirt for him, but for herself also.) He learned about hunger in our own back yard and while he complained in the fall about being tired at NW Harvest, he and all the other students, did not complain once on June 10th when they went again (although some water breaks were quite long....). Wow, what happened?
Mason was Captain of the 4th Grade Boy's Track Team. Mr. Furukawa talked to him and later to his Mom about his sensitivity and how, as a leader, you have keep it together and NO TEARS. Choir was running at the same time and then baseball started. Last year was the first year that the players pitched to each other. Mason was a mess. Yet this year.......oh my gosh, this year, he was relaxed and confident like a version of him his Mom always knew was there, but never saw. He allowed one man on base each inning (they only have three), struck out the others and it was a shut out game 13-0. The parents all congratulated him and ask his Mom, "What happened?!?!?!"
But here is the kicker....the one that made me share this will all of you. Mason came home and got the Surface (Santa brought the family a Surface 2 which he told me was not as good as the Surface Pro that he had at school), and started typing away. Then the questions....
"Mom, can you take me to school early on a regular basis?"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Sure, I can." (I have no idea what he is doing. I thought it was homework.)
"Can you take me to performances?"
"Sure." (Starting to clue in.)
"Can you carry instruments?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Mason I am quite sure."
pause.....pause......pause
"Mason?"
"Mom, this is just REALLY important and you have to be sure that you can do all this and I have to be sure you can too!"
pause........pause.......pause
"Mason, I will get you to all of it."
"Sure?"
"Sure."
The DRUM Application was then "keyboarded" entirely by him, printed by him (and HP), attached to the application with arguments about why he should be chosen to join DRUM, and slipped into his backpack.
"Would you like me to check it?"
"Nope, I got it."
What just happened???????
Neely did.
There is nothing I can do to thank you enough. You can helped create a beautiful boy that is growing up to be a responsible, caring, beautiful young adult.
Forever your fan,
Mason's Mom
********
Awesome, right?!?!?! The clouds parted, the sun came down and the angels were singing. RIGHT after I hit send, Nolan came into my office and proclaimed,
"Mummy! I am going to write a petition to stop all homework. It hurts the environment because we have to cut down trees and trees make air. It also makes you sit a lot and that causes cancer. I am going to talk to Mr. Regnart about it tomorrow!"
Angels stopped singing. Sun went away. Clouds rolled over and I think it even started raining.
My head went to my keyboard and said, "Of course you are Nolan......"
Story Two Tomorrow - "Nolan, we are not blending!"
Happy Wednesday! Ang
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