It seems impossible but I actually feel energized today! Maybe it's the upcoming holidays which are spurring me on. Let this serve as an official warning to all the dust bunnies who have had a lot of freedom the last few months. Bold and brazen, they have attached themselves to most stationary objects and under the beds. Vacuum and dust cloth in hand, I am in hot pursuit of anything that even faintly resembles dust or clutter. Well, we'll see how long this mood lasts - and I'm going to start as soon as I have a little nap. All this typing has tired me out.
Happy Birthday to young Ted. How well I remember the day you were born!
Had a lovely visit yesterday from Joe and Agnes Rose who came by for a quick lunch. It is so much fun to hear the words that are now spilling out of Agnes. She cracks me up. I have been chilly lately so I put an extremely colorful afghan that my mother made on my bed to snuggle under. It is a mixture of all the left over wools she had on hand and it is just a riot of color. Of course, Agnes noticed this almost immediately and loves it. I think it may find its way to her house in the near future as I still haven't finished the one I started last winter. I have all the squares done but haven't put them together yet. I just keep carrying them around with great plans (like the dust bunny caper described above) to sew them together. I keep looking at my mother's and Aunt Lou's work and can't figure out how they put together the squares without having the seams show. My seams might as well be in neon colors!
Back to the cleaning!
As always, love from me to you!
November 20, 2009
November 18, 2009
Hello Again
It is hard to believe that more than a month has passed since I last wrote to you. I'll make it short as you probably already know the story! On October 27, which was Agnes Rose's second birthday, I was rushed to the hospital by Karen and Joe and diagnosed with renal sepsis. I was in North Shore in Manhasset for a week and gravely ill. I have been home for several weeks now and finally beginning to feel like my old self. It was really a rough time but, thank God, I am doing fine.
So, here we are ready to face the holidays again! I can't believe Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow and I am ever thankful that Joe will do the cooking here. I will put the turkey in the oven and make the stuffing and gravy. Joe, Karen and Kate will handle the rest. Bill, Joan, Chrissie, Jennifer and Anthony are joining us this year so we will be 11 - and we are extra thankful to have both Jennifer and Karen expecting new additions to the family - Karen in December and Jennifer in March. As I said, we have much to be thankful for this year!
I will try to be more faithful to keeping you up to date. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
As always, love from me to you!
So, here we are ready to face the holidays again! I can't believe Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow and I am ever thankful that Joe will do the cooking here. I will put the turkey in the oven and make the stuffing and gravy. Joe, Karen and Kate will handle the rest. Bill, Joan, Chrissie, Jennifer and Anthony are joining us this year so we will be 11 - and we are extra thankful to have both Jennifer and Karen expecting new additions to the family - Karen in December and Jennifer in March. As I said, we have much to be thankful for this year!
I will try to be more faithful to keeping you up to date. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
As always, love from me to you!
October 15, 2009
Yoga - Week 2
Well, Miss Brodie, Rita and I made it to week 2 of our yoga class. I think we all did better this week - less cracking sounds emanating from our bones. Problem is feeling so relaxed in the middle of the day all you want to do is float home and into a lavender scented bed. This yoga business is really good for your head as well as your body. I find myself less tense and actually breathing a little better. Could also be that the heat and humidity has gone away!
I enjoyed going to Agnes' music class this week. It is quite joyous to see all these little babies bouncing and laughing to the musical sounds. I think the oldest was about 3 and the youngest was a sleeping sibling about 3 months old! He slept through it all. Agnes definitely is the leader of the pack in this group - dancing and spinning and playing the drums. Every once in a while she would remember that I was there along with Mama and she would dash over and give me a hug and a kiss and then get right back into the theme of it all. Great program and a good way to meet other kids the same age. The program is in Port Washington. Karen and I got chatting with another Mama whose little girl was Agnes' age....turns out she is from Milwaukee and knows PW WI very well. Small town, small world! This might turn into a nice friendship for Agnes - and Mama and Papa, too.
Well, time for a yoga induced snooze. I should do the dishes and unload the dishwasher but it won't run anywhere before I wake up! Agnes is sleeping and grandpa should be home soon (surely as soon as I nod off!)
As always, love from me to you!
I enjoyed going to Agnes' music class this week. It is quite joyous to see all these little babies bouncing and laughing to the musical sounds. I think the oldest was about 3 and the youngest was a sleeping sibling about 3 months old! He slept through it all. Agnes definitely is the leader of the pack in this group - dancing and spinning and playing the drums. Every once in a while she would remember that I was there along with Mama and she would dash over and give me a hug and a kiss and then get right back into the theme of it all. Great program and a good way to meet other kids the same age. The program is in Port Washington. Karen and I got chatting with another Mama whose little girl was Agnes' age....turns out she is from Milwaukee and knows PW WI very well. Small town, small world! This might turn into a nice friendship for Agnes - and Mama and Papa, too.
Well, time for a yoga induced snooze. I should do the dishes and unload the dishwasher but it won't run anywhere before I wake up! Agnes is sleeping and grandpa should be home soon (surely as soon as I nod off!)
As always, love from me to you!
October 08, 2009
Yoga and a Hug and a Squeeze
Very pleased with myself today.....I started a yoga class! Granted it is a modified yoga class where we do many stretches and relaxation techniques in a chair but there is some balance and stretching that just uses the chair as a balance technique. My friends Miss Jean Brodie aka Pat and Rita are also taking this class. It is amazing how wonderful you feel even after one class - although I did have a nap with Agnes when I got home. It wasn't so much that it makes you tired as it makes you relax. It also felt good to be one of the youngest in the class - I think it made me feel good, I'm not sure as some of these other ladies had a few years on me but were very flexible and spry! (Spry, isn't that such a good word!)
Tonight I am meeting Miss Jean Brodie and Crone Janice for dinner at an Irish pub. I'm sure it will be as relaxing as the yoga - but not as quiet! I'll soon have to put some make up on the perk up.
I have been teaching Agnes the song "Bushel and a Peck" and she sings along in her own fashion giving hugs and squeezes and just loves "barrel full of cheese." I would love a barrel full of cheese, too!
As always, love from me to you!
Tonight I am meeting Miss Jean Brodie and Crone Janice for dinner at an Irish pub. I'm sure it will be as relaxing as the yoga - but not as quiet! I'll soon have to put some make up on the perk up.
I have been teaching Agnes the song "Bushel and a Peck" and she sings along in her own fashion giving hugs and squeezes and just loves "barrel full of cheese." I would love a barrel full of cheese, too!
As always, love from me to you!
October 05, 2009
One Year
Jack and I made our pilgrimage into Manhattan today to have my monthly check up at MSKCC. Everything is A-0K - might need a little jump in the thyroid juice (which would help lose weight and lessen fatigue) but we have to wait for blood test results....have to take potassium pill every other day to keep it normal. All is all, a very good appointment. Saw Dr. Lung O himself this time but not BP. I don't know how I keep missing her. Also got a flu shot - the regular flu not not the Swine Flu. That hasn't come in yet.
Agnes was waiting for us when we came in which is always uplifting. She and I both went in for naps although she is still asleep and the phone rang with 3 different calls so I finally just gave up. Usually the calls are for Jack but these were for me so I can't complain! I'll just sleep better tonight!
It is hard to believe this but it is true. Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of being told the lung cancer was back and there was a growth in the pancreatic tail. Oh how much has changed in a year thanks to all the prayers, medication and good karma being sent my way. The year flew by and I am ever so grateful that I will live to see another - and another grandchild as well. Life is sweet - each day that unfolds has a miracle in it. Look and listen, you will find one in your's as well.
As always, love from me to you!
Agnes was waiting for us when we came in which is always uplifting. She and I both went in for naps although she is still asleep and the phone rang with 3 different calls so I finally just gave up. Usually the calls are for Jack but these were for me so I can't complain! I'll just sleep better tonight!
It is hard to believe this but it is true. Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of being told the lung cancer was back and there was a growth in the pancreatic tail. Oh how much has changed in a year thanks to all the prayers, medication and good karma being sent my way. The year flew by and I am ever so grateful that I will live to see another - and another grandchild as well. Life is sweet - each day that unfolds has a miracle in it. Look and listen, you will find one in your's as well.
As always, love from me to you!
October 02, 2009
Hope, Faith, Miracles
To help avoid dry skin caused by the chemo, I use Philosophy skin products. Not only do they work and smell good and clean, each box or jar has a philosophic statement on it. This one is on my face cream:
Where there is hope there can be faith. Where there is faith, miracles can occur.
I just loved this and wanted to share it with you. How can you feel bad when you pick up a jar that says something like this on it?
I know I have not been very faithful to my entries but I promise once Karen, Joe and Agnes move into their own nest, I will get back to writing. It is hard to sit and write when there is so much excitement swirling about. Agnes grows more adorable every day. Karen is in the beautiful bloom of her pregnancy. Joe is working hard to get their house in shape - painting, fixing this and that, waiting for window guys and sprinkler guys. Jack in and out with his odds and ends. Who has time to write when life is happening all around you?
Our cat is a rather peaceful feline who would rather sit on the roof or in a tree than run about. The cat next door is a bully who sneaks up on our Callie whenever she is on the ground and attacks. The bully is a fixed male as Callie has also been neutered so we can't figure out what the fighting is about. The bully also attacks the two black cats from across the street. Yesterday, Jack heard a lot of cat howling and screeching outside the bedroom window. He opened it up and stuck his head out to see what was happening and to rescue Callie if need be. Well, it was Bully and one of the black cats facing off. They hissed and they growled and they screeched - and then a mouse came walking along, took one look at them, walked between them and disappeared into the bushes. The two cats (both male) looked at one another and at the mouse and then at one another again, turned and went their separate ways. Jack was laughing so hard he almost fell out the window. Male cats are not hunters, not domestic and not in the wild. It is the female who goes out to hunt. Interesting bit of trivia.
Enough cat tails!
Keep praying.
As always, love from me to you!
Where there is hope there can be faith. Where there is faith, miracles can occur.
I just loved this and wanted to share it with you. How can you feel bad when you pick up a jar that says something like this on it?
I know I have not been very faithful to my entries but I promise once Karen, Joe and Agnes move into their own nest, I will get back to writing. It is hard to sit and write when there is so much excitement swirling about. Agnes grows more adorable every day. Karen is in the beautiful bloom of her pregnancy. Joe is working hard to get their house in shape - painting, fixing this and that, waiting for window guys and sprinkler guys. Jack in and out with his odds and ends. Who has time to write when life is happening all around you?
Our cat is a rather peaceful feline who would rather sit on the roof or in a tree than run about. The cat next door is a bully who sneaks up on our Callie whenever she is on the ground and attacks. The bully is a fixed male as Callie has also been neutered so we can't figure out what the fighting is about. The bully also attacks the two black cats from across the street. Yesterday, Jack heard a lot of cat howling and screeching outside the bedroom window. He opened it up and stuck his head out to see what was happening and to rescue Callie if need be. Well, it was Bully and one of the black cats facing off. They hissed and they growled and they screeched - and then a mouse came walking along, took one look at them, walked between them and disappeared into the bushes. The two cats (both male) looked at one another and at the mouse and then at one another again, turned and went their separate ways. Jack was laughing so hard he almost fell out the window. Male cats are not hunters, not domestic and not in the wild. It is the female who goes out to hunt. Interesting bit of trivia.
Enough cat tails!
Keep praying.
As always, love from me to you!
September 17, 2009
Dropping in to say Hello
Thought I would drop by and say hello! My mood has lifted as my sugar has gone down. I guess I really did overdose on Gatorade! The sugar level could be a bit lower and I'll be keeping an eye on it and seeing an endocrinologist if it doesn't go down a tad more. At least we are almost normal - not where it was two weeks ago! Yikes!
Karen, Joe and Agnes are in Port Washington, Wisconsin this week and the house is very quiet. It is preparing us for their move next month to Port Washington, New York. I just love the irony in this since Joe is from Port Washington, Wisconsin! That's where his wonderful family resides. I hope they are enjoying their visit with Agnes Rose as she doesn't get to see her Grandma and Grandpa DeMerit and all her cousins, aunts and uncles as much as she should. Maybe now that there are two houses with doors and arms wide open, more of them will visit the Big Apple next summer. Actually, you could say three houses if you count Hampton Bays - well, maybe two and 1/2 houses. . . . Incidentally, Juan (if you are reading this,) the Big Duck is waiting for you to visit.
I am happy to see the cooler weather start but am not looking forward to a snowy or icy winter. Cold is one thing, wet and dangerous is another.
Progress on the cancer front - I only have to go to MSKCC once this month - well, actually it is early in Oct but it is just one visit not two. No big tests this month just an EKG.
Hope you are all well and still praying for me. I still walk on egg shells!
As always, love from me to you!
Karen, Joe and Agnes are in Port Washington, Wisconsin this week and the house is very quiet. It is preparing us for their move next month to Port Washington, New York. I just love the irony in this since Joe is from Port Washington, Wisconsin! That's where his wonderful family resides. I hope they are enjoying their visit with Agnes Rose as she doesn't get to see her Grandma and Grandpa DeMerit and all her cousins, aunts and uncles as much as she should. Maybe now that there are two houses with doors and arms wide open, more of them will visit the Big Apple next summer. Actually, you could say three houses if you count Hampton Bays - well, maybe two and 1/2 houses. . . . Incidentally, Juan (if you are reading this,) the Big Duck is waiting for you to visit.
I am happy to see the cooler weather start but am not looking forward to a snowy or icy winter. Cold is one thing, wet and dangerous is another.
Progress on the cancer front - I only have to go to MSKCC once this month - well, actually it is early in Oct but it is just one visit not two. No big tests this month just an EKG.
Hope you are all well and still praying for me. I still walk on egg shells!
As always, love from me to you!
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