Melanoma Know More and My Little High School

Yes, today we met at school about a possible partnership with Melanoma Know More which includes education, awareness, No-Tanning pledges, and more...We are applying for a grant to build a shade structure for our students and community to use. Very exciting stuff! Lots of great ideas were bounced around with those who met today, and I'm looking forward to this, and hoping it works out!

What Was I Thinking???

Remind me next time I register for 3 classes in one term, to NOT DO THAT!!!!

Literally spending every free moment working on (or putting off) multiple assignments. Will be another busy week this week. Crazy busy.

So far I've scored well on all things. Not pleased with a paper I submitted last night, as well as a podcast...hoping that they are good enough. Finally just said, "I'm done, and I'm turning it in and not going to worry about it." Whew.

Big exam this coming Saturday. YIKES!!!  Haven't taken one of those in about 20+ years. It's over 12 chapters from a super boring book on direct reading instruction.

Brrr....baby it's cold in here!

 

Yes, I awoke this morning around 3am and thought, "Man I'm cold..." It just wasn't right. So, I got up, went downstairs, and yes, the thermostat read 65 degrees. So I woke up hubby and he tried to get the furnace going, but no luck.  Thankfully, the repairman was here by noon (down to 50 degrees by then- mind you, it's subzero outside and has been for 2 days) and the blower on the furnace had to be replaced. But, it's done, and we are in business!  Whew!

My beautiful little Christmas cactus has bloomed!! Yea!!!

A few days ago, when it was warmer!!!!

Date Night

So one of the Christmas gifts for hubby was that I promised (in writing!) to secure a date night at least once a month. We have never done this. Yes, I know, I know. We should have. We didn't. So, better late than never??? We have been married almost 17 years. JoJo was born 9 months and 2 days after our wedding, so we've really not had much time without a child in our marriage. The kids are older now and we can go do things for a while without a babysitter, so I thought this would be a cute idea.

Saturday night was our first venture out. We'd been invited to an appreciation type dinner from the Andy Caress Foundation, since we'd volunteered this past year.  We went, had fun, met some people, connected with others because of melanoma. It was fun, great cake (yum!) and good food.  Very odd, though, sitting there. Most of the folks there were family or friends or the family. We did not know Andy, but were connected just through the volunteering. Difficult to sit there, too, two of us with Stage 1 diagnoses; and Andy's gone. He was in his early 20's.  His family is so generous and great to work with. I can only imagine that Andy was just like them. They have raised and donated over $100k to MD Anderson in Houston.    I hope we can continue to work with them for many years to raise awareness for melanoma.    

Happy New Year!

I have read all of the blogs that I follow and most of them that deal with melanoma have summarized the past year and set the tone for a healthy 2014.  I had intentions of posting holiday photos and writing, as I haven't written in quite a while.

A lot has been going on. Today is the last day of Christmas break. Yes, we had a full two weeks off of school (yay!) and have managed to stay very busy! It was nice to stay up late and sleep in, and Monday's alarm will come way too early!  We had great news right as break began- JoJo got the part of Fiona in the spring musical, Shrek: The Musical. So, we are super excited about that.  And, all we've been watching and listening to would be the DVD and the soundtrack. Raye got a bb gun from Santa, and has been out in the back yard practicing her marksmanship...she is pretty good. Of course, the gun is camo, so that makes it that much better...

Fiona ears...the real deal is in April!

Go Cards!!

All the grandkids together...and smiling!

 

 

I have used a great deal of time over break to work on the Master's classes...what a headache that has been. And, I was hoping to get ahead...yeah, not so much. Will try to do more this weekend. It's just a lot to keep up with.

 

Had my 3 month check today with derm. For the first time ever, no cutting! Whew. But, she took a ridiculously long time checking the lymph nodes. Then said that she didn't like the way they felt. The word she used was "grainy." Wants me to follow up with my family doctor if he's "good". I explained that he isn't very pro-active...she didn't like that. So, I called my oncologist and Miriam said that my family doctor would send me there anyhoo, so why don't I just "scoot on over here around 1 today so you don't have to worry about this?" So, Raye and I went on over (we had 2:30 hair appointments, so  had to leave straight from there to make that appt...didn't really want her to have to go with, but she is a trooper). Dr. said he's not real worried about it, nothing really jumps out at him, and my melanoma was a stage one. Not likely that it's in my nodes. But, he then says, "Why don't I just follow you for a while?" Come back in about 4 weeks.  OK.  Geez.

 

 

So, we wait and watch. 

 



Ah...a few minutes to write!

Yes, it's morning, on a weekday, and I'm writing! Unfortunately, JoJo started barfing around 3am this morning, so we are staying home from school. That is a whole other fiasco, as there is no sub for me. That means others have to take my students. No one likes to do this, but we at pitch in when it needs to be done. I'm trying to not worry about it. JoJo has not missed a day in 2 years. She frets about missing and is already worrying about what she is missing. But, it is what it is. Raye decided she didn't want a free day, and wanted to go. So, I drove her over (about a 25 min. drive) and I'll go pick her up later today.  She is too funny.

We have been so busy. Classes wrapped up this past Saturday, so I have a little free time until they begin again in December. Mom and dad's 50th anniversary is this weekend, we are driving north to meet my brother and his family for dinner out. They didn't want a party or gifts, but I managed to write a letter to ask as many friends and family as I could, to send a card this week. I hope that is a nice surprise for them.

 

Nature Trail at school

 



In the melanoma world, I'm trying to decide if I'll do the Thanksgiving Day race downtown. I wouldn't hesitate if it were a 5k. It's a 10k. I've done it before, but just not feeling it right now. The 4 of us originally were going to, but Hubby's knee is hurting and so is Raye's. Not sure if they can last 6 miles. Melanoma Know More has a team, we were going to walk with them. I still can. All my friends have other plans that day. Not sure if I want to walk by myself.

 

Our school may be in the running for a sun shade structure. This would be super-cool. More to follow on that.

 

The man I know from our town, alumni from the school where I teach, has stage 4 melanoma and is under hospice care. So sad. He is about 5 years older than me; has 2 sons. It just doesn't make sense and it's not fair. 

 

Definitely puts things in perspective for the rest of us, huh?

Punt Pass and Kick- 3rd place at Sectional  with mom and Grandpa (dad taking photo!)

Fall Fun!

My 3 Girls

Horsin' Around

Band Buddies...





Weary...

It's been such a crazy couple of weeks, with all the school stuff and kids' activities. We are worn down at the crazy place (aka school) because of politics, low morale, high expectations, ridiculous requirements, and overall over-stressed people.  It's so sad to see such great folks just plain ole worn out.

Had my 3 month check with the derm, and only had to have one mole biopsied, which is good. Also, it's been 3 days and I haven't had a call from them, so that is good.

The temps are set to fall tomorrow, and leaves are turning, so that's good.

It's already dark right now....I don't like that!

Headed downstairs for a glass of wine.