What things have I missed blogging about recently??

There are a couple of problems with me blogging. Well at least when you're entire blog is just an ongoing self-centered dialog of one person's relatively uneventful and monotonous life. See my blog STARTED as an informative blog about my upcoming surgeries with lots of detail, my experiences etc. I did throw in some personal non-related stories - but mostly it was useful. Now... not so much.

The Problems:

*Does anyone even read this thing? I mean I guess I could consider it a journal and just be okay that *I* can look back and remember the fun things I've done. BUT there is some comfort knowing that others appreciate my narcissistic self proclamations and stories.

*Even if they read it, do they care? When I was younger I wanted to be famous. I thought I was special. I wanted to be a writer, an entertainer. Not really an actress/singer/model fame - but a fame because of me fame. I find myself amusing and insightful. I enjoy writing and talking (I may be a bit of a loudmouth). I read other bloggers who have become famous and I admire them so much. I thought I had that charisma. I am starting to think it's just me who thinks that.

So to my few blog followers. Leave me a message. Even if it is just to say "hi." Help feed my narcissistic self please. Kthanksloveyou!!

Some things I've missed and not blogged about. Not going to do it now either really... but here are some links with pictures.

Two weeks ago today on July 11, 2009 Josh's sister got married. Here is her rehearsal from that Friday night. And then here are the wedding pictures and the reception pictures. Taking wedding photos is HARD to do. I don't have another wedding for a while to practice with, but hopefully I'll start figuring out how to use this camera. *sigh*

What else have I missed?

Well - my grandparents anniversary (july 9), my parents anniversary (july 18), and Josh's littlest sister's 9th birthday (july 14) - which we celebrated at his middle sister's wedding on the 11th.

Ummmm... lots of dinners at Jason and Kandice's new house. Wings with friends. Tuesday night Zumba classes.

Oh, and my final appointment with the plastic surgeon until April 20TEN. Lol. It seems so far away. He said all looks well, blah blah blah. Mammogram next April. Ugh. And unless I have questions or issues, he'll see me then. It seems so weird that pre-surgery this was such a big deal. And although it's still a big deal (I still sometimes find clothes I used to wear that I haven't since and it's like "whoa") it doesn't even really feel like I had surgery. I mean I recovered so quickly with such little pain... I expected more pain as a reminder. Nope.

Although - there is a little pain currently. My boobs are sore. But more like period sore than any other pain. So that's excellent.

Okay, off to get ready for a bike race today. Wish Josh luck!!

*hugs and kisses*

mj

I love my Mom

Like a lot.  Like, my mom MAY be the coolest, smartest, best person in the world.  I tell her this often.  We aren't the sentimental sappy family usually.  So typing out some long winded "why I love my mom" just isn't appropriate.  She's just awesome.  Mmmmm, kay?

I mean let's look at this logically.  She obviously is MY mother, and I am pretty amazing.  Therefor, it just makes sense that she would be equally amazing if she raised me right??

Will.I.Am has this song out called "I got it from my Mama."  That is where I got it from obviously.  Make sense?  Good.  Moving on.

I was going to make this post a funny picture tribute to my mom.  BUT, the scanner I was going to use here isn't working.  Boo.  Guess I'll have to save that idea for her birthday.  

Here are some pictures from the last couple days though.

Here she is washing the dog of unknown animal poop.  Lol. 

Out to dinner at chinese restaurant.

"Little" brother, mom and I in the car (I hate the day I get my hair cut.  They put product in, but then I play with it a LOT and then it looks all nasty greasy.  Oh wait - this is about my mom.) Mom and her "babies."

So it's like almost tomorrow which means like almost Mother's Day.  I actually hate this day.  I love my mom and all, but it's so annoying because I feel like THIS day is the one I have to be extra super awesome.  Can't I just be mediocre awesome every other day and just spread it all out??  

*sigh*

Oh, and a shoutout to my other mom.  That would be my grandmother (mom's mom).  She is another outstandingly great lady who made me the person I am today.  Meme - I adore you.  Even when I'm telling you how cranky and mean you are being.  I know the cancer sucks and is painful, but no need to make everyone miserable.  *kisses* I'm a good granddaughter, just brutally honest.  And all those sex talks are for your own good too.  Wouldn't want you dying without knowledge of lesbians, blow jobs, viagra and sex toys.  Oh, and I will be flashing the new boobs to you tomorrow.  You'd seen the old ones enough times.

Upcoming posts on this blog will be about the family, how my brother will be great in college for puke and rally, my awesome haircut, my okay color, and other adventures from the past week/weekend.

Give your moms and other female loved ones that have experienced the torture - I mean wonder - of having kids some extra love tomorrow.

I will leave you with a parting shot I took on Thursday of my mom and I.

*hugs and kisses*

mj

Cancer sucks: Part 2

I'll start with yesterday.  I posted yesterday, but not about yesterday.  I wasn't ready to deal with yesterday yet.  I'm still not sure I'm ready to deal with yesterday, but I'm going to try.

I got up early to just relax for a little.  I was supposed to meet Meme and Pap at 12:45 to go with them to Meme's doctor's appointment with the radiologist.  Meme called though and asked me to head to their house because she was unstable and Pap didn't think he could get her down their front porch stairs.

When I get there I call her oncologist to reschedule an appointment from Friday to next week.  She is so worn out that the trip to the hospital twice in a week would be too much.

Now there is a hospital closer, but she has been going to a hospital about 45 mins away for her treatments.  

Yesterday's weather was beautiful, but I ended up in the backseat of Meme and Pap's car that was about 90 million degrees.  Meme is always cold and so it wasn't even like I could get some air.  I took this picture on the way down to the hospital.  It is the Hadany Sculpture that is at the one entrance to the local mall.

It's kind of odd.  I tried to catch it when it looked like a ribbon, but no such luck.  And here I am getting off track.  Back to the topic.

So we finally got the the hospital.  We ended up at Geisinger in Danville, PA which is about 45 ish minutes from Meme and Pap's house.  Now this place is a MADHOUSE where you do drop off.  We had to wait in a line of cars, then there were no wheelchairs.  I finally snagged a wheelchair, got Meme out of the car and then Pap had to go park down this BIG hill and walk back up.  NOT convenient at all.  

We got in and headed down to the radiation area.  Now this was just a check up, not treatment.  Once in with the doctor I had to play my mom (who is awesome and I don't know how she does it and I love her even more after spending a couple days in just a little part of her shoes).  I had to sit through all the questions and answer them.  I had to help Meme undress.  I then had to explain to the doctor that although he is doing a GREAT job, we would like to move her treatments to a closer hospital.  He was totally understanding which I was thankful for.

He then hit me with the bomb.  Now I've known since last Friday when my mom called that they were stopping chemo and only doing radiation as pain management.  That basically she is dying (nothing is helping reduce the cancer) a slow and painful death and they are just trying to help that.  Okay.  I KNOW this.

But the doctor asked Meme while we were there "do you understand this won't cure you?"  She is in denial at times (this one of them) and she said she didn't really understand.  He explained to her again that the lymphoma is all over and chemo isn't helping.  His only job is to help her pain.  He doesn't know how long she has, but the lymphoma will kill her in some way shape or form.

Her PET scans were on the computer screen.  He went through them.  The lymphoma is literally everywhere.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing. 

We worked out all the paper work for her transfer and I held it all together.  We rode home with a lot of silence.  I snapped a picture of the towers that we pass on the way to the hospital.  They are the same towers I passed several times the week after Meme had her first chemo and ended up hospitalized for a week.  The towers themselves aren't a bad thing, I think it's just steam, but it somehow reminds me of bad things to come.

See, they just look like towers.  But not in my head.  

So when we got back to their house, I helped pap get some things together for Meme and sat with her while he ran to the store.  I then helped her get ready for a nap and headed home.  I numbly drove home.  Stopped at McDonald's for some gross comfort fast food (I haven't had fast food in over a month - and I don't know when I will eat it again.  Ugh.  The filet o fish swam in my stomach all night.) and went "home." 

I took the dog for a walk, I kept moving around.  I was okay. 

I walked down this little bit of a hill (aka the driveway).

Then down the big part of the driveway.

This tree looked cool right?

Ugh.  This is a long way back up.  It really is.  It doesn't look steep I guess.  But it is.

See.  I'm smiling.  I'm okay.  I made it down the hill and back up the hill.  I can survive.  I am okay.

 Josh called.  I was not okay.  I bawled my ever loving eyes out.  Why is this happening??  Why is she in so much pain??  WHY does she have to DIE like this??  I've been weepy and crying since.  When I call my mom she cries.  This is not fair.   

Lately I've "met" some new friends that are suffering from a myriad of medical issues.  They are strong and nice girls.  They are supportive and kind.  They have been there for me when I went through a minor surgery.  They have going through life threatening events and yet THEY ask ME how my day is going because I'm having a rough week.  

There are so many amazing people out there suffering and it just isn't fair.  I love my grandmother and I love my grandfather.  I love my mom, my dad, my brother, my family and my friends.  I love my husband.  I am angry and sad with the world right now because things just don't seem fair.  I will get through this because I have the support I need.  I will help others get through their life trials because I will be the support they need. 

Here is a picture of my grandparents.

*hugs and kisses*

mj