My December Daily Album...

Many scrappers do this... totally not my idea... but I decided to do it before the big "C" news came out, so I had my scrapbook ready.  It's been fun - and it helps me to remember to capture a silly picture for everyday during December...I thought I would share some of the nuttiness that keeps our house going...

GiGi has been getting the girls off of the bus everyday, and they LOVE the new Dutchtown library...so these masks were an after-school craft project at the library...

Ashley's in-laws sent me this DEE-licious cookie bouquet - how cute are the feet!?!  I was lucky to snap a picture before the cookie monsters tore into the BIG TOES!

The girls are having a ton of fun with the hats from Karen, Teri and Paula...

And I think this is Avery in her "Marilyn Manson" makeup phase... She got a REAL makeup kit from Zia for her birthday and apparently, she's got a thing for pale skin and STATEMENT lips...oh...and posing!

and if you hadn't noticed by now...of the two girls...Avery might be....ummmm....the crazier one...  Shane was sitting at the dining room table working and Avery climbed up his back, swung her legs around to his chest and put that little butt right on his neck - then demanded that he get up and "see how tall she was"

At least I was laughing!!!! and I could still bite those little toes!

Hope you are laughing your way through December too!

Choosing a "Sitter"

Monday was Day One of Chemo, so Ashley put out a call for "sitters" for Tuesday and Wednesday...This is a warning to all patients everywhere...choose carefully!!!

Tuesday, Karen Tabor's number came up!  I am amazed by how many precious friends I have made in the four years since moving here from New Orleans.  As a Katrina transplant, it was iffy at first.  There was the whole stigma, but scrapbookers are different... a crazy creative welcoming group of women... and they took me in!

Karen is one of those women and when she arrived for duty she was loaded down with gifts from Paula and Teri for my birthday and "chemo necessities".  I was queen for the day with all of the wonderful presents!  And since Karen has had her share of "sitting" with the ill, she came prepared with a needlepoint project in hand.  While I slept, she watched tv quietly and worked on her project.  When I woke, she offered to make me some lunch and freshen my drink.  When you think of the caring loving person to care for you when you are in need, Karen is the friend you need. 

Karen was even in charge of my birthday dinner on Wednesday night.  She had already brought my favorite Royal Standard torte on Monday, so I really just wanted some Chicken Salad from Calvin's.  I was just hoping that I would have the taste buds to enjoy it.  Karen not only delivered Chicken Salad, but a delicious raspberry cake!  Thanks Karen - you are truly a precious friend!  Here's a picture of Karen, Teri and Paula from this summer....  thanks to all three of you for my wonderful goodies!

Just so you know that I'm normal...

And by normal...I know that leaves PLENTY of room for interpretation...but I wanted you to know that today I had an all out cry fest...

I cried A LOT....I asked "Why Me" A LOT...I even maybe screamed a little (remind me to tell the neighbors it's cancer, not time for the padded cell)...  and I didn't want to call anyone and cry to anyone because everyone has busy lives and don't need to hear a blabbering idiot on the other end of the line...

But three things happened, my mom came by to put food in the fridge and finish some laundry (lifesaver) and while she was here, she rubbed my neck which is so stiff from the protein shot and she rubbed my hair like she did when I was a little girl and she kissed me and hugged me and told me it was OK to cry anytime...then Shane came home after getting an SOS text from me and quietly laid beside me and worked from home while I rested and lastly, and really the most comforting for today was a card from a friend Vivian...a quiet friend...and the card stated on the outside:

"Why? Somewhere in your heart, you're probably asking this question."

And that card from Vivian plus some TLC from Shane and my mom was the perfect answer for today's outburst.  That card told me that is is OK to yell and scream and ask Why? sometimes...As long as we wash away those tears with hope for the next day.  Looking forward to laughs tomorrow - hopefully you are too!

Facebook + Birthday + Cancer = SUPERSTARDOM!

I thought I got a lot of birthday wishes last year - but this year is like.....Super Schazaam Birthday Wishes!!!  So, mark your calendars early - because I want JUST as many wishes next year!  No slacking off because I will have beaten cancer and sent it crying home back to momma'!

Monday was Chemo...Today I was back to the doctor for a Neulasta shot - this lovely shot is a protein absorbed into bone marrow to stimulate production of new white blood cells - sounds good, huh?  more white blood cells = better ability to fight infection... here's the BUT, because there is always a BUT with Cancer....it makes your bones hurt - like everywhere!!!  Very weird feeling I have to tell you.  So that's all for the science lesson today... just want to make sure if your boss sees you reading this, you can show her that you were learning about Chemotherapy....BONUS!

The birthday post may have to be divided into two posts... I'll probably need a nap in between and the bigger problem is that I had the thingy to get the pics from today off of my camera in my hand 10 minutes ago and now it has completely disappeared...I'm gonna have to call the authorities...Nevermind that I just tried to take a pill in front of Shane that he HAD JUST GIVEN my five minutes before.  And as he was gently telling me that he just gave me THAT pill, I'm seriously looking at him as if he were from outer space....  Thank goodness he can keep track of the chemo accessory drugs...

So...We've been partying...and please interpret that VERY LIGHTLY since Sunday night.   Ironman...pictured with me here...

Managed to get all of these girls from New Orleans on a Sunday night for my birthday...I know he's the Ironman, but I'm just gonna' throw in the "cancer" may have helped....   This is the most modgepodged group of girls...Some of us are friends because are husbands are best friends (Andy and JCrazy....don't worry - we all call her that and she knows it)...Meredith - AKA high powered attorney looking who could be looking for some fun - if he meets my approval - we worked at Applebee's together...we've come a long way baby!.  Then Jen who quietly knocked on my college dorm room door one night and asked if she could move in...Thank GOD she did! 

Rachel saved me from my first job, helped me decide to go back to school for accounting - my first degree was in math...I'm sure you can imagine the job opportunities...and we have been blissfully happy CPA's ever since...clients are reading this...so I won't talk about the early years...Then you got the sisters, Ash and Jen  -who I thought were the only people coming for the soiree' so I wasn't even going to put on makeup - imagine the horror! and lastly, a wonderful friend that I have met since moving to Baton Rouge, Melanie.  It was like a clown car at the circus - every time the door opened a new surprise walked in!  Ironman (with the help of Ashley) planned a perfect birthday!

(from l to r: Meredith, Jen, Melanie, Andy, Jen, Rachel, Me (squatting but now I realize I was standing next to Ashley, so squatting was just self torture) , Ash and JCrazy...

and the only way I survived teaching at Delgado was through the silly things Freda and I did to make it through the bureaucracy...She snuck out before the group photo...She says it was her parents...but I'm just sayin' I think she left my party for a man.... 

And here are Morgan, Avery and Hannah helping my blow out the candles to my 29th birthday cake!

I love being 29!!!!   More to come very soon....  Gotta find that damn camera thingy....

Chemo Shmemo.....

I'm saying that now...but the side effects haven't kicked in...and the FIVE steroid pills I'll be taking for the next four days are a big concern!

So here's me at the start of Chemo Day (I opened and closed the room Baby!!!)

I would have preferred if the medi port had had more time to heal, but nope, just got right into it.  PS - There was a prominent Baton Rouge businessman having his first chemo today too - and HE needed the numbing cream - No numbing cream for this girl!  Men SO couldn't have babies!!! (His wife agreed - hehe)

Naturally, we chose the corner office with the window...SWEET!  And my Ironman sat in that uncomfortable chair for over 7 hours today.  Don't call him IronMan for nothing!

So remember the prominent businessman?  He and Shane are acquaintances through Shaw.  So he asks Shane if I ever get jealous over the cellphone...like his wife does....

Big Mistake!  He opened the door, so me and his wife (who is Judge - it's not like she sits home eating bon bons!!!) go off about the texting, emailing and phone calls.  And as if the Shaw gods were listening, not five minutes later...these were delivered....

from SHAW!!!!!!   I promise not to complain about the Blackberry for at least a week :)

This is me at the END of CHEMO - day ONE!!!!  Everyone else in the room was bundled in blankets - I simply put that blanket on for the picture.  The steroid caused a MAJOR hot flash that lasted about 3 hours - the corner "office" needed extra a/c!  Don't worry - I had a tank top on - I wasn't sitting there in my bra - but since most people weren't born near my decade they probably wouldn't have noticed if it had been a bra!

Lastly, maybe the biggest disappointment...Mary Bird has Wi-Fi - but Facebook is blocked.  They are going to have to make some accommodations for the "corner office"!!!

I'm going to have Shaw call them and take care of everything!

Some people just aren't right....

I won't say who...but I'll show you this...

and then I'll show you these...the person not pictured here (but pictured in the pre-lunch wig par-tay) was probably the picture taker....just a thought....

this is my Chris Owens look, and I swear Ashley can rock the "hooker" look....

and just in case I find myself at Jazz Fest, I'm wearing the dreads....

I can't show you my REAL wig until it is highlighted and cut so that it looks like Rockstar hair!  Who would have guessed - if the wig is real hair, it can be cut and highlighted.....Yes....hello....My Wig needs an appointment today...NoNo...not me...just my wig....

FOXY!!!!!!

We talked to the girls tonight about my Cancer.  They know the word now...but they were mostly interested in my Mommy's "Hannah Montana" wig...My friend Karen tracked down the info from the American Cancer Society and Ashley  - with camera in hand - went there today....  All I'm sayin' is HOTTTT!!!!  Do you think I should go with the curly brunette?  She looks kinda wild and crazy!!!  It could be my new persona...

I'm going to have to search the Internet on how all the "cool girls" tie their scarves....  But remember, Tuesday is TURBAN TUESDAY!!!!

Now this girl is pretty - in an "I could use a nose job sort of way"....  They need to be careful with the models - that dent had to hurt!

Now I like this sassy thing... All we need are a few highlights and a flat iron and I'm gonna look like Jennifer Aniston...right?

But seriously, if I find a black Elvira wig - done!!!