Cancer retaliation...

Sometimes I have such big plans but cancer just doesn't play along...I am taking an online art class and my plans for Saturday included lots of "art"...I even put up a second table in my scrapbook room...at the end of Saturday my accomplishments included a destroyed scrapbook room, one layout and two barely started canvases...pathetic...

my scrapbook room is in serious need of an intervention!!!  I'm so lucky we "trashed" the idea of a guest room in lieu of a scrapbook room! 

I found a new thrift store really close to my house and I scored a pair of orange and gold earrings for 75cents!!  You can see one of the earrings on the left side of the layouts - SWEET!!!  And below, my little girls on canvas....in need of major creativity boost..."and miles to go before I sleep"

But at least I didn't choose to maul myself...Shane did the Warrior Dash on Saturday along with 7,000 other freaks in New Orleans...I stopped listening to the list of "stupid human tricks" when Shane described the 3 foot trench covered in barbered wire that each willing participant had to navigate...REALLY???  I'm going to have to face the life insurance clause that says, " We don't insure crazy people" one day...

I went to bed Saturday night feeling deflated (not really, I'm very marshmallowy right now due to steroids), but I was in pain from the Neulesta shot and figured I wasn't going to make it to NOLA for Sunday's parades...But I woke up Sunday morning and said, "screw cancer" and we packed up the car...didn't hurt that I made sure I had Loritab and Phenergan "to go"...

Sunday was beautiful...I'm so glad I didn't miss...I even found a comfy spot to snooze after sampling the above mentioned "to go box"... I couldn't miss these smiling faces...

Now...here's where is gets ugly...Monday...Cancer Retaliates!!!  Oh brother...pain, nausea, fever...luckily Shane was home half day and our babysitter was available for the rest...God love Adriana!!  Still glad I went yesterday...wonderful memories in exchange for one nasty cancer day...and I am marking them down BABY!!

Generosity...

Dutchtown High School had a blood drive this week.  Jen's students were so sweet coming back from donating and saying, "It's for your sister, Sciortino"...although they totally played the "I'm weak and need to rest" after donating...seriously??  Do they think we never went to high school and donated blood simply so we could pull the "I donated blood card" all day??  Some things never change...

Now here's the amazing part...Jennifer Lofton the blood drive coordinator at DHS, Sherry Braud at OLOL Blood Center, Science Teacher Bobbie Keller and Asst Principal Caren Kavanaugh decided to donate half of the units to me now, and if no one else in the DHS community needs them by the end of the year, the other half will be credited to me also.

Why is this so incredible?  The OLOL Blood Bank sends me a generous check for these donations.  And although we have incredible insurance, there are always, the co-pays, the 20/80 "pays", the "oh, that was Out of Network payments"...you know, health insurance mumbo jumbo...So COMPLETELY GENEROUS!!!  I am overwhelmed that DHS and the OLOL Blood Bank is helping me this way.

Having cancer has been a continuous humbling journey in realizing just how generous people can be...and I will be sure to make "paying it forward" a major part of our lifestyle for the rest of our lives...

Ashley and Jen are still training for a half marathon in Nashville as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program.  Thanks to family, friends and clients, Ashley has met her goal and Jen is well on her way.  Please visit Jen's Team In Training page here to check on her progress...

I can't believe I'm almost finished "chemo week".  The nausea didn't really kick in until today - very thankful for that.  I'm pretty sure I'm riding the high of the PET Scan news...nothing can stop me now!!!

Partying like it's 1999!!

In 1999, I was closing out year two of being married to my best friend - we were footloose and worry free...fast forward 13 years and two princesses later and we were blindsided by this nasty cancer business...but the PET Scan results are in....

on Monday, we found out that 75% of my cancer is GONE PECAN.  The new PET scan was not nearly as Chernobylish at the first one...there is still some slight glowing, but not like before...

so I only have to endure two last chemos (one of which was Monday, so only one to go) and then two treatments of Rituxan which is a drug that fights the protein created by lymphoma (if you are a medical profession and I totally botched that Rituxan explanation - just work with me...)   Good news for the girls is that my hair will start growing back during Rituxan - good news for me...Rituxan is not chemo, therefore I should feel human again!!

So 11 1/2 weeks to go...then hopefully my medi-port can be removed (you think the surgeon could remove a few other things while he is removing the port...you know...my double chin...the genetic round cheeks...just little things like that?)

I have so many plans... and NONE of them involve the worrying and anxiety that plagued my life pre-cancer...seriously...after cancer - what really matters - I'll tell you what really matters...

that Ironman and I enjoy a fabulous life together raising our two beautiful girls...because really...THAT is what matters???

PS - here's how excited Shane and the girls are...

Ok - just kidding - those were taken at Nick's birthday party before we got the news - but I'm sure that's what they WANTED to do after the heard the good news (especially Shane)! 

Thank you for all of the prayers, well wishes, messages and emails.  Please don't stop now...I need every one - I treasure every one!!!  They are saved in my "Kick It" folder and I will save them forever!

Chemo "Porn"

Well I get the results of my PET Scan tomorrow before chemo.  If the cancer is reduced by 75% or more, then I'll only have 2 more treatments.  If I didn't reach the 75% mark...that means more chemo...honestly, I don't have a good feeling about it...I mean I know I can kick this cancer crap, but I have a feeling it's going to take a few more treatments...

So instead of blubbering in a tissue all day if the news is less than stellar, I bought out the home decor magazine section...

Mt friend Jen B sent me "Ready Made" and "Traditional Home" is my first mag with Coke Rewards points.  Too bad the other three aren't on the Coke Rewards list - does anyone have some pull there??  anyone?

We had an amazingly busy weekend.  Saturday was Nick's 3rd bday party, followed by the Caesar parade in Metairie and then today I took the girls to see Pinkalicious.  Mommy's back is DONE - but I loved every minute of it.  Especially the extra special smiles on the girls' faces!  I have plenty of pics to post, but here's a few from Pinkalicious...

Ooohh - and I found this adorable purse at the shop at the Manship Theater

and how cute is this Studebaker?  and how about that license plate - LOVE IT!!

What a wonderful weekend.  I laid with Morgan tonight as she went to sleep and happy tears were rolling down my face.  Even though cancer stinks, I'm so fortunate to make such special memories with Shane and the girls.  No one can take those away from us...Now remember this is Chemo Week - so this may be the last post for a few days.  Sleep tends to take priority over extra curricular activities - but I promise to be back soon - so in the meantime - get a few extra laughs in for me!!

Happy Mail...

Since this whole Cancer Scandal went public, I have been the recipient of some pretty snazzy swag...It's almost as good at Ed McMahon (RIP) and the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes...almost...

I just love this card...

This from a woman who has 4 children, a husband who resembles the children in needs (her words, not mine) and a job...see - even more ridiculous when you realize how busy she is...it might also be the monkey...I'm a sucker for a cute monkey...

And then this arrived today...

Ok, so first a little history...Facebook...it brings people together who have barely thought of each other for the last umpteen years...some of them make you want to hit "unfriend", but others are really fantastic and it almost makes you want to kiss Mark Zuckerberg (ok - so there are probably thousands of girls who wouldn't mind kissing the zillionaire, but that has no bearing on my story here...focus people!)

Alright...back to the task at hand...I reconnected with a friend from both high school and college on Facebook and I realize now just how witty she is...almost every post has me laughing out loud...so today I get this odd shaped envelope...I open it and find the Potato Masher with a note that reads:

"I was praying for you , trying to visualize the cancer being driven out of your body, and as I prayed your family's initials just sort of popped into my head Shane, Morgan, Heather and Avery, SMHA, rearranged to get MASH."

So she sent me this cute little MASHer so I can visualize us MASHing out cancer - and it will be pretty handy for mashing bananas for banana bread since she knows Avery LOVES banana bread (and she even included a banana bread recipe)...maybe the monkey will come over with his bananas and make us some bread...now THAT's a good idea...the only person who will hate that is my sister Jen because she hates banana anything - no wonder we aren't BLOOD related...who doesn't love banana bread?!?

so anyway, moral of the story...well there isn't one, but I do appreciate every card, email, MASHer, Coke Reward code and all of the other things that have appeared on my doorstep...It's nice to be loved :)

A burst of creativity from Inspire!

Last Friday night my friend Paula and I went to Inspire's "Cupcake and Make 'n Take" party.  We had so much fun!!!  Inspire is the cutest scrapbook store in Thibodeaux.  I was so lucky because Paula drove me in her fancy new car and I didn't have to worry about falling asleep on the drive home...safety first!  We made some seriously cute projects and the cupcakes were YUMMY - but the displays were even better...you know it's all about the presentation!

Now don't be sad because you missed out on these cupcakes... just make sure you don't miss Inspire's NEXT party...

Here are two of the projects.  I'm not finished the third one yet, but as soon as I do, I'll post it...I know that you are DYING to see it...just humor me...

The frame is my favorite - how cute is the little girl on the frame?...just as sweet and cute as my two little gremlins princesses...and you may be wondering WHY we decorated a coffee cup...we're scrapbookers, silly...we will decorate anything that stands still...but seriously I'm about to start an online art class, so I plan to keep my special pencils, pens and paint brushes in my cup...you'll be happy to know that I won't be re-using it for my morning coffee...I'm all about reduce/reuse/recycle, but that's just gross!



And believe it or not, that creative energy carried over to Saturday...and around here energy is at an all time LOW, so that was pretty amazing...soooo amazing that I finished this layout of Ashley and her family at Christmas...

And then I pooped out...but beware...there is so much creative energy just WAITING TO COME AND PLAY...as soon as I kick this cancer thing, I'm going on a creative high!!!!  You better not stay idle around me...or I'll incorprate you into my next piece of "art" (art used VERY loosely)...

hoping you find a few moments of creativity this weekend!!

Saving the World…One Coke Reward Point at a time…

So my sister Jen teaches English at Dutchtown High School…and I am slated to go talk to her Allied Health English classes about my cancer hell battle…so they “know” me…sort of…

Last week, as a way to throw a little cheer my way, Jen offered bonus points in exchange for Coke Rewards points…If you missed the post discussing my recent “attraction” to Coke Rewards point, click here…

Each student was able to bring in 10 codes for 1 bonus point or 20 codes for 2 bonus points…Holy Guacamole!!! There are some serious Coke drinkers at Dutchtown High…or at least people as addicted to collecting the reward points as me! Funny but true…one student’s mom is crazy about collecting the codes but has tired of entering them in…so her son SOLD caps to other students – FREE ENTERPRISE BABY!!!! We’re talkin’ the American Dream!!! And I can totally understand that Mom tiring of entering the caps…Coke makes you work for your codes!!!  Here is the loot...

So here’s my idea…apparently high school (and I imagine college students) will do just about anything for a bonus point…so here is a way to improve life on campus and the community…just use the Coke Reward points for things that will improve human life…

A quick perusal of the Coke Rewards catalog reveals the following “prizes”

7pc Stainless Cookware Set…teach a man to cook…
Restaurant Gift Cards…Hunger problem solved
Hotel Gift Card…shelter for the poor
Coke Hats and Shoe Gift Certificates…outfit the cold and needy
FTD Gift Card…to cheer the sad and woeful

The possibilities are endless…but I think we seriously need to harness this opportunity…teenagers with their parent’s money equals good for the community (you like how a slipped a little math lesson in there?)…

So I’m sure that Jen didn’t intend for me to do anything except enjoy the Coke Rewards points…but I aim to please…and my mission here is to improve our community…One Coke Reward Point at a time…

PS – Once I have gathered enough points for the home magazines, I plan to donate the extra points to my girl’s school. Just wanted you to know I’m not a willy nilly point collector – I’m a hoarder with a purpose!!

PPS - When Avery saw a recent medicine box she asked, "Why are there a grandma and grandpa on the box?"  I looked at the box - which does NOT have grandparents on it and asked her, "Why do you think they are grandparents?"  She looked at the box again and said, "Oh, I guess they are just bald like you!"  That's my girl....sad that the chemo patients on the front of the box are mistaken for grandparents...why couldn't they use the fun loving friends from the front of the Kashi box?  Now they look like they are having fun!!

but I guess when the pharmaceutical company is trying to sell nausea medicine, it's better to put cancer patients on the box...so long "good friends"...