Merry Christmas

The Heartbreak of Newton

Everyone's heart grew heavier with the news of the shooting in a peaceful town, much like Anytown, USA. Ordinary people instantly became heroes and innocent children instantly became Angels. There is no other place for those who lost their lives...than Heaven. If this tragedy didn't make you hug your children tighter or call those you love and tell them you love them, nothing will. A Nation instantly adopted a town and prayed, morned and struggled with the why's. To me, this is not an issue of gun control. Except I would agree that assult weapons DO NOT need to be in the hands of the average citizen. But I do see it as a need for better screening for mental health care. Maybe more trust should be put into the observatons of teachers at school. We see at a very early age those children who struggle with demons. But there is not place to start the process of extended mental health care. I would hope that the the loss we as a Nation endured with this shooting, the Twin Tower attack, the Oklahoma City attack and the many other invasions of peace and loss of life would spark you to appreciate your life and those you love more. We need to live each day as if it were our last without loosing site of a wonderful future.

12-12-12

If there was anything magical about this date, I felt it! There is no better place to have a birthday than at Middle School. IF the students like you, you will get birthday wishes all day. I received wishes all day Wednesday, all day Thursday and all day Friday! They knew they had heard it on the announcements. I think they forgot what day they heard it, or for some, Friday was the first chance they had to see me. Regardless, it will go down as one of the best birthdays I have ever had. My dear friends Bethany, Lisa and Megan decorated the library with streamers and balloons so it was VERY FESTIVE!! It was a GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!

Not for the weak...

I'm giving you fair warning that this post will discuss my bodily functions... Okay, so your reading on....you're the kind of person that would stop and watch a train wreck also! Lol! Friday was treatment day. I was the youngest patient there. Not sure what I should make of that! But I felt healthier than allllll of them! There is an unspoken bond we all share. Lots of small talk...several patients enjoyed the cooking shows for hours on end! I did catch a green bean recipe that looked yummy! Just before the Benadryl hit and I slept for 3 hours. I learned this time that some of the meds have side effects that the Benadryl helps discourage. I don't know what they are, but I did notice my arms had lots of dark brown blotches appear, but left awhile later, so I'm thanking the Benadryl for that. I truly felt great last night. The side effects of the shots were gone and so for the first time in WEEKS I walked without any pain in my bones. I felt great, I felt my age instead of previewing that of a 90 years old! Darcee and I headed to college station and enjoyed some Christmas shopping. Even hitting some great bargains! Whhhoooohooo!! I finally fell asleep a little after 3 a.m. I slept sound and felt great when I woke up around 8 a.m. The dogs enjoyed a walk before I headed off to HEB. Groceries put away, soup in the crock pot, laundry going...and it hit me! A HOT FLASH. These are not just run of the mill hot flashes. These last forever and make my bald head sweat! Lol...the good part is when the Ac kicks in and the sweat cools fast!! Needless to say the AC got turned down to 67 again. It must be my magic number. My hot flashes really zap my energy. So it wasn't much longer and I was worn out. Since 2 p.m. I've been laying in bed. Done some online shopping and lots of solitaire. I recently read that a lot of chemo patients play solitaire for hours. It has our mind concentrating on one thing vs. when the chemo brain kicks in and I think of a million things but can't concentrate on doing more than one at a time. I've become a list maker! My last round of treatment and this round have played a number on my intestines. I pass gas all the time. Sometimes not knowing its coming. Sometimes it's a machine gun going off. Sometimes silent and deadly. Two days after my last treatment I'd pass gas - or did I? I ended up changing my underwear 3 times that day. Lol! I went to school that Monday and felt terrrrrrible. Luckily it wasn't the meds, I ended up being sick with a bug that ruined most of my thanksgiving day break. BUT, timing is everything....I had the luxury of having time off and not missing work! It's wonderful how HIS plan works out sometimes! Anyway on that Monday I had to tell Mrs Still I couldn't make it all day. And explain that my gas was a challenge and I didn't bring extra underwear to school. She swears I'm the only one who can make cancer funny! At our first faculty meeting before school started, Mrs Still allowed me to tell my BMS Family that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Starting off my story, I made it a point to tell the males at our campus to be the extra set of hands and be aware of changes in their wife/partners breasts. Before they meander to their dander, do a little breast maintenance. We would call it foreplay, they can call it inspecting! Either way, be AWARE! I had them in giggles! I remember then Peggy saying only Tackett can make cancer funny. Well, what doesn't kill us we should get to say NA NA NA NA BOO BOO to! Cancer won't kill me! It'll be some driver in Brenham who shouldn't have had their license renewed or is not patient with the road construction! YIKES! Well, gotta go gas urge coming, tummy tightening, feels .......wet!