Sunday, December 28, 2008

Going The Distance

For my birthday, I got an early gift from my sister... and ipod shuffle.
Yes!! Score!!
I can not tell you how excited I was.
Today the first of many training runs, targeted to prepare for Sarasota in February. And Yes, the shuffle was there. It worked GREAT!

My accomplice, K and I have been training longer than today but now we are working on mileage rather than time. Today was 3 miles. It was the longest I ran since my surgery and it went really well. The first time was only 20 minutes because I had a side ache, but this time the ache wasn't as bad and went away completely. Believe me after the first 20 minutes I was doing great. Not fast as before but I felt great!

I love that I have someone to train with. K has been doing really well. She sticks it out, with minimal walk breaks.

It is so hard training by yourself. Time DRAGS. My sister does really well by herself, but she does more outdoor training. Even in this yucky Wisconsin weather. I don't like cold. I do miss running on my country roads by my house.

It is now 6 weeks away. Hmm. I wonder if I should start tanning? You don't want a sunburn right?

6 weeks.

No turning back. No reason not to complete this.
Goin' the Distance.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Fortune cookie came true!!

First I just want to thank everyone for those great comments and wishes... I really appreciated all of your thoughts and prayers... I have such great friends and family.

I can't tell you how greatful I am. My Christmas came early.
I just came from my doctors appt where he told me my report came back 'normal'. Yay!!

And I am finally losing some of those extra lbs I got stuck with after the Half marathon in September. Double Yay!!

Have a great Holiday Everyone!!
Now time for a celebratory chips and french onion dip....
: )

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

I saw 81 out of 239 Movies.

So...SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total: 6

(X) The Princess Bride
( ) Anchorman
(X) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 11

( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 13

(X) Harry Potter 1
( ) Harry Potter 2
( ) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 16

(X) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
(x) The Grinch
(X) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(x) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 22

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
(x) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG
Total so far: 29

( ) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
(x) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 33

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
(x) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
(x) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 37

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
(x) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
( ) Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 43

(x) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( )Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total so far: 50

(x) Independence Day
(x) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(X) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far:57

( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She's All That
(x) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 62

( ) X-Men
( ) X-2
( ) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
(x) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
Total so far: 70

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
(x) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far:73

( ) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
( ) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
( ) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 75

( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History
( ) Three
Total so Far: 76

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 78

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
( ) Hook
( ) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
Total so far: 78

( ) Kill Bill vol 1
( ) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 78

( ) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
( ) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
( ) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
( ) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
( ) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 78 / Yes, I have never seen a Star Wars Movie, that I can recall. My kids love the movies, but I just don't quite get it.

(X) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
(x) Hannibal

Total so far: 81

Then you Put your total in the subject line of the blog and re post it.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Ovary Removed.

Yesterday I enjoyed the 'cleansing kit' that the Dr wanted me prep with.
Ok, Not so much.

My Mom thankfully took the kids overnight, since we were supposed to be getting some icy roads this am and we both didn't want her driving all the way to our house with bad roads if she didn't have to.

I tried to get to bed early, but I kept tossing and turning. I didn't sleep really well at all. I had to be at the Hospital at 6 am. I was afraid I was going to not hear the alarm. We had to stop by the gas station and we were worried about the roads. The temp this am was in the single digits. One bank's sign said 2 degrees. But the roads were great.

I got checked in and prepped for surgery. My anesthesiologist was a fellow Tri Club member, but I wasn't about to say anything to him about who I was. I don't remember ever meeting him personally. I think he talked at one of our meetings, but that was a long time ago.

I was wheeled into a cold Operating Room, switched beds and they wasted NO TIME knocking me out. He said he put some anti-nausea med in my IV, and that was pretty much all I remember till I woke up in Recovery.

I think I was a bit dehydrated, from yesterday, but I was a bit nauseous. Phospho-soda prep is disgusting! Even poor Zeb felt so bad for me he had a hard time eating his lunch.

After recovery, they tried giving me hot cocoa and toast, but I had to switch to water, my throat just didn't want solids yet. I had a hard time trying to swallow the toast and the cocoa was too sweet.

I kept trying to sleep, but my pulse kept dipping below 40, which triggers an alarm on the monitor. The nurse told me to keep wiggling my toes when that happened, but it wasn't helping.

I was so tired, that I couldn't ask the doctor why I have 4 holes instead of one. Three by my hips, evenly spaced and one under my belly button. He did say everything went really well and we will get results from pathology within a week. I am glad he took the ovary.

I spent most of the day with some form of nausea. I woke up about 6pm and was insanely hungry, but that was a mistake. About an hour later more nausea again, finally had to visit the throne. I feel a bit better now.

My mom was a saint and came over with supper for the boys and got everything ready for them when they got home. Zeb walked in the door saying "Oh, What's that smell? It smells good in here!"
Duner was trying to rest for work tonight so she ran and got me my pain medication. Thanks Mom!
Now I have a bit of heart burn, but not nauseous. I am supposed to stop by Zeb's school for a special 'cuddle up to read' activity. I had forgotten I signed up for that before this surgery came up.
I hate to disappoint Zeb, but we will have to see. Walking is a bit slow right now. I feel bad for missing this weeks running (sorry Katie) , but I may be able to join again soon! I still have a half marathon I am going to do.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Just Me Being Real

Ok.
So here is another reason I have not blogged much lately. Bear with me.

I am trying not to let my anxiety get out of control. I have learned I like to sleep to avoid anxiety.

Back in September I had my lovely 'yearly exam' with my Obgyn. I have an AWESOME Doctor. I wish he delivered my first two kids, he never acts like I am 'just a patient'. Always takes his time, no matter how far behind he may be.

Anyway....
I described some symptoms to him, thinking he was just going to reassure me and tell me it was probably just A,B or C... but he ordered some tests just to be sure. I had some labs and an ultrasound. He had also found a small lump, just under my armpit and ordered an ultrasound for that as well as a mammogram.

Nothing was found on the Mammogram or ultrasound for the 'lump', but he still wants me to visit a breast surgeon anyway.
And I will, but first the OTHER ultrasound showed something funny with my left ovary. I had been having pain on my left side and some bloating. He said we needed to follow up in November with a 2nd ultrasound and see from there.

Well... I haven't had much pain except one stabbing pain on Halloween, but otherwise NOTHING. So I almost canceled my follow appointment. We have a $3000 deductible with Duners new insurance and I didn't really want the bill, but I kept forgetting to cancel it early enough so I showed up for it because I was afraid I would get charged if I didn't.

Ok.

So I have the ultrasound and wait to see the Dr immediately after, only thinking of all the stuff I could be doing at home if I didn't have the appt. I was fully expecting him to say... "Well, Looks like it got back to normal", but he didn't.

He said "Do you see the right ovary? See those circles in it? Those are normal. That side looks good. BUT, Do you see all the 'Free Fluid' , Do you see how the left side is dark and had those wavy lines though it? That is not normal. I would like to do a lapraotomy to see and possibly remove your ovary if needed. It could just be benign. But I want make sure."

Blink. Blink.
Ok.
That was NOT go home your fine.... oh and Thanks for the $.

That was We ARE NOT DONE HERE.
*Gulp*

So, my family history is... Grandma Margaret (My Mom's Mom) died from Ovarian Cancer. My Mom had 'precancerous cells' and mastectomy.

Not the best appointment.But because he is SUCH AN AWESOME DOCTOR, he is bumping his patients for me to get this done before the end of the year, because I have to switch to a new OBGYN, thanks to insurance and a $6000 deductible if I stay with him, because he is out of network.

If you have ever checked out the symptoms of ovarian cancer you would guess 80% of people have it.
  • Ongoing cramps or pain in your belly.
  • Ongoing pain in your pelvis or lower back.
  • Abnormal discharge.
  • Nausea or loss of appetite, or you cannot eat normally.
  • Ongoing bloating or intestinal gas that is not relieved by home treatment measures.
  • Bigger belly size or a lump that can be felt in your belly.
  • Decreased energy level.
  • A change in your bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea.
  • A change in your bladder habits, such as urinary frequency or urgency.
  • Weight loss
Bloating?
Cramping?
Nausea?

I won't go into detail about how many or which ones I have but it is hard to calm yourself down sometimes when you learn that if you have a family history of it your 3x more likely to get it. Another website said Breast and Ovarian Cancers can be related (!!!)?? Great.

Then one website says "Ovarian cancer does not cause many symptoms in its early stages. This is why most cases are not found until the cancer has spread. Most women do have symptoms in the 6 to 12 months before ovarian cancer is found."

Lovely. So until next week Monday I am trying not to research anything more online... trying to keep my focus on the upcoming Half Marathon I have in February that I am training for. I truly do not have time for any type of cancer or complication. Thanks to the Surgery, I will be out of training for one full week, but I hope to be getting back after that.

So please, I will accept any good thoughts, prayers, wishes or whatever you can send my way... I go in early Monday Morning to have the surgery. It is outpatient surgery, so I will be home pretty quickly.

Duner will be with me during the surgery, and my Mom will be sending the kids off to school for that morning for us... so Wish me Luck!
So I have been MIA lately. Not intentionally.
I have not exactly been a slacker.
My middle Child had a birthday shortly after Thanksgiving. He is now 11. We had German Chocolate Cake and went out to eat at Golden Corral. He got one of the many Lego sets that he doesn't know I bought for Christmas for him from one of the Black Friday purchases I got from my shopping expo with my Sis. We hit 7 stores by 8am.

Today we had a nice snowstorm that kept the kiddos home from school for the day. I was glad. I did not want to have to drive the kids to school today. I had stopped at the store and picked up some ingredients to make cookies 'just incase' the snow day happened. So we made Merry Berry Cheese bars, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Gingerbread cookies, Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Mint Cookies. I had Zeb and Reece for the first hour, then later I had Zeb and Brock helping to cut out some sugar cookies. My favorite part of this pic is what Brock's Shirt says, as he is cutting out sugar cookies...

It Says 'Tough Guys Wear Pink'.

Obviously, he NEVER wears that to school.