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"...

Well it's a Pillow Pet, Silly...

So Ironman took the girls to Best Buy this weekend to buy some anti-virus software and what did they come home with??  Why, a Pillow Pet naturally...so here is what I am wondering...when I think of the regular inventory of a Best Buy store...why does a Pillow Pet not seem to fit?

Music, DVD players, Computer games...yes...Pillow Pet...um...no...

But I have to say that I am thankful for the Pillow Pet...You see Morgan went to the doctor on Monday and was diagnosed with not only strep, but the flu too...ahhh...just what a cancer mom wants to hear...

So GiGi cancelled her piano and voice lessons and came home for nurse duty...first order of business??...send me to GiGi's house away from germs...well GiGi has those big luxurious pillows that most people like, but I on the other hand prefer an almost non-existent pillow...you know...the cheap "2 for $5" kind...I get a crick in my neck when I try to use the fancy pillows...but I look around and what do I see???  Avery's Pillow Pet....Come on...sing it with me.."It's a Pillow.  It's a Pet.  It's a Pillow Pet"...So me and the Pillow Pet slept at GiGi's house last night and took a four hour nap today...we're pretty tight now...

I'm at GiGi's again tonight, but I did go home for my own pillows...honestly...Avery wanted her Pillow Pet back...what's a girl to do???

Fruit...the way nature intended it...

COVERED in CHOCOLATE!!!

My ex-step-brother Jason and his wife Ami sent this awesome fruit bouquet!!  Don't act like you've never heard of an "ex-step-brother"...I mean really...my family tree coupled with Shane's goes a little Jerry Springer...but he's awesome...and since he lives in Colorado he sends me wonderful, "keep kicking ass" type emails - which I read with tears in my eyes and save in a special place for when I need to recharge my "kick- assedness"...don't doubt me - it's a word...

The fruit bouquet people have finally shown me how to keep a cut banana from browning...hello...dip it in chocolate...voila...totally preserved!!  Now why didn't I thinik of that before??  And i'm not talking about a single dunk, we are talking triple dunked chocolate - sorry if your mouth is watering...I would share, but the girls have become pretty territorial about the fruit...

I'm having fun with a new photo site called Picnik.  I love the "polariod picture" style...but not as much as I love the fruit!!!  I'm feeling a little burst of creative energy - so I have to run up to the scrap room and get started before I fall asleep instead!!!  Thanks Jay and Ami - I miss you!!

The week is looking up...

The #2 man in my life is Dr. Spell...Yesterday he gave me new antibiotics, new nausea meds, new steroids and new cough syrup...the bag of tricks is empty!!  But I was able to get a break from the coughing last night and I slept most of the day.  Life is good!!

Hopefully by the 5th chemo on Feb 28, I'll be back to full fighting mode!  I know my last post was very honest - painfully so, but I realized that I needed each and every one of your comments, Facebook posts and emails.  I was constantly reminded that I'm not in this fight alone - and being surrounded with love - from far and near is essential right now.  It makes each hour a little easier.

Look at my strong girls at the Kids Race for the New Orleans marathon...They were all about the medals!!!

The girls can't wait until I can register for the race too!  They are ready for all four of us to do a race as a family.  They don't know just how happy that will make me!