Effing ruined it.

And there it was, plain as day.

"Now! More Fruit"

Really!?

Grosssssssss effing chunks!!!!!

I'm switching to beer.

Big Week For My Mom

In the last two weeks I have learned more medical mumbo jumbo than I care to share but I wanted to keep my notes straight, so here I am. Writing about it. To get you up to speed - Mom was diagnosed with Stage III-IV ovarian cancer last Wednesday and the following day admitted to NIMC (Centegra in McHenry, IL) for precautionary reasons due to an abnormal chest CT scan.

As it turns out, mom has a medium sized blood clot on her right lung and a few smaller ones throughout and was immediately put on Heparin blood thinner IV to combat the clots. Between that moment and now, mom has been resting safe in the hospital and has had several tests, scans, and more done. She feels good, her vitals always come back great and has tried many of the items from the hospital menu. She's taking a liking to jello for whatever reason, and plans to make large amounts of it when she gets home. Not only that, Mom has had so many visitors sometimes I think she need a personal assistant to keep track of everything!

Over the course of the week, they took mom off the Heparin IV and switched her to a pill form of blood thinner medication called coumadin. She'll be taking this when she goes home to keep the blood from getting too thick or too thin. Plus, it's a common precautionary to prescribe coumadin when you are getting chemo b/c the port could (possibly) cause a clot. So mom's not that odd for being on this medication. Blood clots are also a side effect of the cancer, not everyone gets them...and we are glad they caught them before it got worse.

Also, since she's been in the hospital, Mom got her power port for chemo on Monday 9/20/10. The port surgery went well and it's on her right side by her collar bone, and today (9/24/09) around 11:30am Central time, started her first chemo treatment. Starting with the pre-meds and then the chemo. Dad said it looks like water...and Mom says she can't feel anything from it right now as it's going in.

Along with the many tests (the jury out on a few still) there has been some good news this week too. They have confirmed that it hasn't spread to the brain! Second, that the shady scaring on her lungs has also been confirmed that it's unrelated. And third, that her blood thinner medication seems to be working (with her off the IV). Good news and good vibes as we finish off the first week and start a new one. Keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers.

The plan is for Mom to go home from the hospital tomorrow (Saturday) and Jan and Hub are visiting on Sunday for dinner. As I finish up this post, Mom is in the home stretch of her first chemo treatment, each session is about 4 hours long.

Hallmark Channel Locator

Well, the news has hit my family hard about my mom being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. With no tests available to detect Ovarian Cancer and my mom barely having any symptoms to boot, she started feeling like crap in mid July....August was test after test...and September 15th she was diagnosed. (That's the shortest version ever.)



The turbulance of this news has really kicked us all in the butt, however, we are strong! My mom is driven and my Dad - well let's just say if we're picking teams - you want my Dad on your team. No questions asked. Please visit our Family Blog to keep up with news related to our Mom. Not much at this blog yet, as it was just started a few days ago. Just to recap though - Mom's currently in the hospital on blood thinner medication because they found one medium and a few smaller blood clots in her lungs and she is being monitored while on blood thinner medication and getting other stuff done. She received her power port for chemo on Monday and is scheduled to start chemo on Friday of this week. She is in good spirits, eating well and has been "booked" solid with visitors since she went into the hospital last Thursday. Mom's popular.



And we've talked a lot. And Skyped. How awesome to be sitting there (me on the hospital tray table via the laptop during visiting hours.) Thanks to my dad for setting this up!



So for Mother's Day earlier this year, I got Mom a subscription to Martha Stewart's Living magazine and she said she just loves getting the mag. My mom, I should tell you....is a decorating genius. She's got the eye as they say. She'd be neck and neck in a Martha showdown if there ever was one. So when I told her that Martha had just taken over the Hallmark Channel as her own with tons of new shows...my Mom was thrilled! She's totally into it.



"Oooo I love watching her show" my mom said as her voice lit up! I said, "well...now there will be many shows all day similar to the Martha Stewart Living radio channel."



We laughed and she said she can't wait to check it out.



Anyways, I found the TV listing for Hallmark Channel in Woodstock, Il. Here it is:





60098 Search Results for Cable Providers


Comcast McHenry-New - Mchenry - Digital


Hallmark Channel 131



Hallmark Channel HD 321





It's the little things.

War Paint

Don't worry.
My toes match.
But more importantly.
This is war.

Lens: Roboto Glitter
Flash: Off
Film: BlacKeys B+W

We ignored the sign.

/csa week 3 - Jason says...

"Good Haul This Week!!"

"Onions can make even heirs and widows weep."
Benjamin Franklin

Peaches-Papa's Orchard

Cantelopes-Papa's Orchard

Okra-Mose Hostetler

Tomatoes-New Morning and Locust Brook Farms

Onions-Jubilee Organic Farm

Cherry Tomatoes-Hare's Valley Growers

/csa week 2

This Week's Delivery Saturday August 28, 2010

Store In the Fridge:

Bell Peppers- Hot Pepper Bob

Japanese Eggplant- Northern Neck Fruits and Vegetables




Store In a Cool Dry Place:

Pluots -Papas Orchard

Nectarines-Papas Orchard

Shallots- Hares Valley Growers

Brandywine Tomatoes-Locust Brook Farm

Big fan of the Japanese Eggplant! Yum!!

bookshelf arrangement is an art form.

I just found a blog dedicated solely to capturing the essence of beautiful bookshelves. It's been stated "bookshelf arrangement is an art form. Part design resource, part shelter for the shelf-less, it’s an eye vacation for a lazy afternoon." There is something about a bookshelf that is seductive and all consuming.



And then I ran across this photo... titled "End Of An Era"... it made me think there are whimpering bookshelves all around the world who are worried about the future.