I woke up today with purpose and feel great after a one hour cardio boot camp work out with my Diva friends. For some reason, today I am especially grateful for my freedom and lucky to be an American. This is one classification I do not mind. I am an American. Say it out loud. Do you feel pride? If you are missing the point, think back to the Statue of Liberty. The following statement makes me think most of us have forgotten how our country was born and grew up. "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
I am taking in all the sunshine, fresh air and gifts of freedom that I have been afforded by those that came before me. Today I feel like I am waking up from a long winter sleep. Our weather has treated us like we truly have cold weather in Texas. For many years, I have never worn a coat, gloves and hat so much in one season.
I am also grateful for my health. I am still waiting on genetic test results, which will not be ready until early April. Instead of wallowing in the world of "what if", I am living every day to the fullest, like it will be the last one I get. Too often, we say we live life this way, but I think I am truly seeing how to do this...finally.
Item #414: Smile at four people today. Sing in your car so loud the car next to you can hear. Stand in the sunshine for four minutes and enjoy the way it feels on your face.
I love your guts!
Happy 2014! I know this is a little late. The last couple of months I have been a bit busy living life. Kids growing, learning how to be better humans, doing good deeds and working.
Today, it was icy out just in time for rush hour traffic and the school delayed opening AFTER I dropped the kids at school. Then announced they were going to be closed when I got out of my physical therapy appointment. Luckily, I had no urgent meetings to attend this morning, so I carefully made it to the school to check them out and take them home.
Now that we are all safe, warm and playing games, I am the only one that still has to work. Between conference calls I am working on this post, so this one will take me more time than normal.
Health update: January mammogram was all clear...YAY! I need to make an appointment to see my GI doctor for a three month follow up. I met with my oncologist a couple of weeks ago and she said I need to get serious about scheduling surgery to remove my ovary and uterus. Begrudgingly I agreed and will connect with my GYN to get this booked (maybe for late February). And then, I was told to continue my work out schedule of 240 minutes of exercise per week. The minimum for me is 130, but I know to make a big difference in my health, I need to keep gradually increasing the minutes. Oh, and the physical therapy that I am doing is for acute lymphedema on the left arm. I am experiencing tightness and slight swelling on an intermittent basis. The therapy is helping, along with consistent exercise and lots of water.
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| Christmas Eve 2013 |
Spring: I expect to continue to have a full schedule of things to do through the Spring time. Both kids are still in martial arts. Brett has been doing black belt training for a while now and Madison just started her black belt training this week (yesterday). She is excited to be in black belt classes. Both kids will also be playing soccer. The season opens on March 1 and will go through the beginning of May. Lastly, Madison is singing with kids in the church choir and she LOVES it a lot. Her debut of singing with choir was on Christmas Eve early evening mass. We enjoy hearing her and she loves to sing and dress up. FYI, she will be singing at the 11am mass on Sunday, February 2 and then again on March 2. Join us at St. John Vianney in Round Rock.
When I find it hard to muster up the fuel and fire inside me to keep going forward, I focus on things I can do and control instead of the things I cannot. For instance, I focus on the fact that I am able to exercise and walk without pain.
Today, I challenge you to delight and surprise someone, with a phone call, an email or a hug.
I love your guts!
Today, I am reminded that we are who we are today because someone believed and encouraged us to dream big and think big. All to often we are going at lightning speed and do not always hear what we say to those we love and others around us. Be the dream maker and encourage someone to follow their dreams or aspirations. You have no idea what your words will mean to someone who needs that last bit of encouragement to push forward.
Some people think they are doing as much as they can do and no longer aspire to do more because they do not want to put in the work or think that their efforts will go unnoticed. Whatever the case, your words can make a difference to others...and even yourself.
It is easier to smile than it is to frown. Be a light for someone today!
I love your guts!
Well I am still up and about and working out. I feel like I have not slowed down too much. However, I do notice that it is easy for me to fall asleep at the end of the day. I am not sure this is normal but when I close my eyes, I tell myself that it will only be for a couple of minutes. Then three hours later, I open my eyes and I am shocked. My feet and fingers get cold or sometimes I am cold all over. Perhaps I need a penguin pelt coat to keep me warm. Just joking, I would rather have a down sweater or pants. Maybe that would keep me awake. Oh wait. Nope. Those type of clothing items would put me right to sleep. My thought is that my body may be producing iron on its own, but maybe not at the levels it should be at this time. Self diagnosis: do lab work and consult with Dr. R to make sure we agree that I should take iron supplements for a while longer. However, he is the one that went to medical school and can best tell me how we proceed. Prognosis to be determined after my visit with him on the morning of December 6.
I am feeling stronger, physically. Working out 2 hours a week with my friends, also known as Divas, from work that are survivors and advocates for breast cancer, has been a tremendous boost for my fitness.
And, I feel great when my home is cleaned. My treat to me, once a month to make sure we do not live in a pig sty. Oh speaking of sty. There is also something going on with my eye. A couple of weeks ago, my allergies were flared up. My eyes were itchy, I was coughing and then it passed. My left eye felt like there was something in there but after looking in the mirror, there was a bubble formed on the white of my eye. Like a perfect round bubble the size of a tiny pebble. I did not aspirate the pocket of fluid because again, I am not a medical professional...when it comes to poking at my eyes. After putting it off for a week, I finally went to see my eye doctor yesterday afternoon. He indicated that it is not anything to be concerned about but if I wanted a referral to have it aspirated, just let him know. Since I declined a referral, I did take the sample he gave me to use in the mean time. Oh yeah, and he found another pocket beginning to form in my other eye. Jeeze, can I get a break? I pray that this fluid resolves itself so I do not need to get a referral to have it aspirated.
I think this is enough for now. I shake my head and know that I can only take care of today. Tomorrow will take care of itself and welcome me with open arms to surprise and delight me. Or at least that is my wish.
I love your guts!
