Wow, a year later!

Not much new to report about my arm, but had a bunch of thoughts that I want to start putting down somewhere, so here seemed like a good place!

Last week was a crazy busy week. I am soccer conveynor for the under 9 age group, and I had to get all the team uniforms out to the coaches. We were also still waiting for schedules, which was an added stress. AND we were dealing with regular activities, including cubs and newspapers. The newspapers were late in getting delivered to us on Thursday (lets be fair, when are they delivered on time?! Maybe it would be better for everybody if I adjusted my level of expectation to embrace a late delivery time?) and Adam needed to have a first aid kit and a survival kit ready for inspection at cubs. We delivered the papers and picked up Chez Ronnie's on the way home. Got the kids eating (T-15 minutes until departure for cubs!) and grabbed the contents for the survival kit. Didn't have aluminum foil or waterproof matches, though I did have a flint to include. They wanted string....that would just tangle up unless I put it in something. I spied a kinderegg plastic egg and repurposed that. Yes, I was *that mom* the one who was doing my child's assignment. Deal with it. He checked it all out and gave me grief about us not having the proper matches. BUT. I need to pause here and talk about the kindereggs. I am kicking myself for having recycled these in the past. These little guys are gold! I have previously used film canisters to store dryer lint for campfires, raisins for lunchboxes, etc. The film canisters have become a rarity with the onset of digital cameras, but these little eggs almost do the job better! While I have not yet tried them for the raisins, I am planning on suggesting them as sewing kits for the cubs. I can't get scissors into them, but the kids are carrying a multi-tool. I figure that a package of dollar store spools, loaded by my sewing machine with thread, one in each egg, a needle or two in a piece of felt, and a couple buttons, and they will have an adorable sewing kit! The bonus is that they will get to eat the chocolate egg first! LOL! I may just be the most popular craft lady THAT day!

Keeping on the Sunny Side

Somebody
mentioned this song today, and I started thinking about all the applications. Why don't we sing these kinds of songs anymore?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOpGuHNwOXo

how much longer until sunshine?

Maybe the doctor would write me a prescription to send me someplace sandy and warm? I hate all this grey weather. My arm is doing well, but I have a bad case of the uglies. I am seeing a new doctor tomorrow that my family dr has referred me to, a psycho-therapist, i believe, so that he can look at my meds and make some adjustments. Everything seems so disconnected, out of joint. I thought I would be feeling so much better with my arm back in use. But instead, I am feeling so overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done. I AM getting what needs to be done, done. But it doesn't feel good enough, fast enough, something. Time to start doing those charts, and crossing things off as they get done, so that I can see what I HAVE accomplished, instead of focusing on what I still need to do!
Adam is starting a new program at Queens University tomorrow. Its thru the psych department, but it is a much more thorough testing than he has ever had. I am not expecting a different diagnosis than ADHD, but perhaps we will learn different coping skills. I really hate how the meds slow him down so much, at times he is almost zombie like. There should be a middle ground for him, something that slows him down so that he can focus, but allows him to keep his personality. Again, he will do better when the weather changes, as he will be able to get out and run more.

PHYSIO and MASSAGE too much in one day!

I had both a physio appt and a massage appt same day same place on Thurs. Given that I am still achy today, I am guessing that both on the same day is not a good thing. Lots of mobility in arm now. More exercises, still no weight bearing. Found out about a Tai Chi class that is especially for people regaining health, everything is paced slower and only to ability. Movements are adjusted to suit. And when instructor decided that you are ready to join the regular class, they gently push you out of the nest. Its not yoga, but it may be a good substitute.
Had Emily in to talk to the nurse practioner, and we are gong to get her a counsellor to talk to. Emily feels that she is stressed. I believe that she needs some help finding the language that she needs to express her concerns and disappointments. I think it would be better for everybody if we taught how to talk about and handle stress to children, so that they have those skills when they grow up.

the slow and painful slog back to wellness

you probably thought that you were going to read about my physio and such. ha! not even close!

was to see the chiro today for the first time in a couple weeks, and to start getting my alignment taken care of. the chiro has been down in some warm climate and that just makes me grumpy. but she has brought back an unexpected souvenier and is so ill that she can't even get out of bed. so they cancelled this week's appts. too bad as i was going to start accupuncture on thurs.

so, for a change, i was up and dressed and ready for to go when the kids were picked up for school. most days, since getting sick, i have just headed back to bed. i confess to spending some time reading, but actually have put in some time cleaning. yes, its true, i am doing housework! worse, i am bragging about it! now you all know just how big a sloth i have been! lol.

i have decided that for my emotional wellbeing, i must attain a noticeable goal. its not enough for me to state that i actually worked for 40 minutes straight, which is a new best for me (post infection, etc). instead, i have a very clean window in my bedroom. i can look at it and see that i have actually done something. the rest of the time was spent in unnoticeable gains, as things have gotten very very bad while i have been sick. i have two bags of trash out, and a bag of clothes ready and growing for pick up on friday. yesterday i cleaned the ceiling fans. two bright and shiny achievements (or does it count as five, as i cleaned one window and three ceiling fans yesterday and one window today?). and i am not all out of breath and sweaty, which must mean that i am gaining strength. and mobility, as my arm really isn't causing me distress. if i think about it hard enough, my arm doesn't move like it should yet, and is noticeablly weak. but considering that it hasn;t been used properly since last march, that i am able to use it at all is celebration to me!

i now need to take a break. hey, maybe ryan and i should go for a walk on this beautiful sunny day! or is that pushing it?
isn't it amazing how energy inspires energy?

Much Kewlness!

So I had enough on the ball the other day to remember to take a memory stick with me to the doctor.
In xray2, if you look about half way down, on the side away from my body, you will see a small circular dark shape, that is the original biopsy site. Overtop it, sort of rugged white, like a mountain,maybe, is the new bone growth, growing over the hole in the bone from the tumour as well as the biopsy. growth is healthy looking, and growing faster since he put the rod in. he suggests that the body feels that its safe to heal now that the rod is stabilizing things. this is all from the ortho surgeon.
the oncologist says that she is going to continue to monitor me, with mri's every 6 mths, but she is pleased, and really doesn't expect to see anything happening. if something does show up, it will be treated as a metastitized cancer, though. this means that they will do treatment, but won;t be so quick to cut out the cancerous parts. they would just try to slow the disease. but we are not going there. i am going to continue to do what i am doing, 4 packets of immunocal a day, vitamins, and a positive outlook.

Ultrasound tomorrow

No brainer at this point, just a 6 mth follow up.

Adam saw his specialist doctor today, and we got started in helping him to work through some of his issues. His temper has been increasing, and he isn't able to talk about it on his own. He will be seeing her again in a couple weeks.

Emily got player of the week at basketball. And the girls had an amazing game!