The Purse Snatcher

The purse snatcher


I couldn’t believe it when I went to get my purse and it was just gone! How in the world does your purse just disappear? This isn’t the first time I have had my purse stolen but I must say the strangest. I think the last time someone got away with my purse with all its contents was in Junior High School. During PE I had not put a lock on my locker and I will never forget the heartache it caused. I had everything I owned in that purse, important things like my makeup, you get the picture.

This time was hard, not to mention having to cancel two checking accounts, debit cards, credit cards, you know all that stuff but I really need my medical card and my punch card to Aunt Annie’s pretzel stand at the mall. Not to mention the appointment cards for upcoming Dr. appointments. Where do you start?? Then it started to sink in, my journal, my guess sunglasses and my lipstick! Then I have to remember and tell myself it’s just stuff and can for the most part all be replaced. The timing was just really bad.

In my past post I talked about chemo brain. When I sat down and tried to retrace my footsteps and remember where I last saw my purse it almost drove me crazy, I started thinking maybe there was something wrong with my brain. It’s just too strange that a purse would just disappear from my own living room. I knew I was OK when I saw my cell phone, I remembered getting it out of my purse that evening. Then the creepy part sets in! With the heat and humidly I often leave the front door open, and while I slept in my living room someone came into my house, how creepy is that! We’ve lived in this house for twenty three years and I feel very safe here, I’m really trusting, sometimes too trusting.

As I put this all behind me I pray that whoever has my things can’t cause anymore damage to my life and credit. One of my FB post mentioned that it must be someone I know, I have a real hard time thinking that? Everyone I know has at least seen or heard about what I have had to endure this past year and it would be a truly sad day when someone would have no more compassion then that. I have forgiven this person and I pray for them that they can find peace in their heart.

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen


And never been kissed!!!!!

Meghan Ryan was born on September 23rd and when she came into the world she surprised us all. See we had been told during her mommy’s ultra sound that she was a boy. So this boy baby that we were ready for was going to be named Coty? We were excited when Miss Megan arrived; she was baby number three in her family and would end up being the middle child.

When I was going through chemo and my hair was gone Meg didn’t want to come to see me because she didn’t want to see me bald. Her mom made her come over and she was happy she did, having a bald grandma is really not that bad. She was happy my head was nice and round.

Meg is beautiful on the inside and out, she’s every ones friend and a very kind hearted Christian girl. I love watching her dance and perform; she is full of energy and makes me laugh. She does impressions of her family and friends and will someday probable be famous and what beauty, how could she have made it to sixteen without being kissed?

My birthday wish for my granddaughter Megan is a year full of blessings to many to count a good cheer season lots of fun and friends and maybe even that first kiss.

I love you Meghan Ryan

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

Happy Birthday Amy Jo! Your How Old?

No way! It’s hard to believe that 37 years ago today she entered this world. I was living in a little town by the name of Worms Germany and when I went into labor I had to travel about an hour away to the town of Heidelberg. Because Germany is hours ahead of Seattle time my family at home said she was born on September 19, but where we were it was already September 20th and so her birthday was September 20th 1974. She would also share her Birthday with one of her grandmothers so that made her day even more special.

I was a young mom, just a month away from 19 and in a strange country. I was pretty brave or I guess at that age kind of stupid. I put her in a backpack and away we went. We were on the move everyday taking in as much of this fascinating place as possible.

My little girl is now all grown up and is a mommy herself. She works hard and has climbed to top at the company she works for.

While I was going through treatment for BC she stayed close to me at the same time taking care of her husband that in the past years was diagnosed with a heart problem. I could see the strain on her face but she stayed selfless and strong for the entire family.

My Birthday Wish for Amy is to have a wonderful year full of Happiness and countless Blessings!

Oh Yeah and that the Auburn Trojans win every game they play!

Happy Birthday Amy Jo from ChoCoMo! I love You!

Steroids and Blue Jeans

Steroids and Blue Jeans


Today I went shopping for some blue jeans. I love my jeans and have more than any one girl needs. This is the problem at hand. None of them fit me. Not one pair. I had refused to buy any new ones because this would mean I would need to purchase a larger size. Not part of my plan.

While I was doing chemo the new protocol is a medication that keeps you from being sick. Don’t get me wrong I am so happy that the nausea was mild and I didn’t have to live in the bathroom the entire time I was being treated. I always thought that chemo would be like on the movies when the sick person was so sick and weak from vomiting they would be on deaths door. Not at all was it like that, I was really sick but just didn’t have to worry about not eating because of this medication. The medicine was expensive; some don’t get it because their insurance company doesn’t cover it. I was fortunate and did receive this medication that is a steroid. Not only did I take this one but I also had to take prednisone because I was so allergic to the treatment. One of the kids ask me why I didn't get big muscles from the steroids, not the right kind of steroids. These steroids made me so hungry that I would eat and then be sick from the food and them just want to eat more. It wasn't fun, chemo recall was something I had been warned about. What happens is you eat one of your favorite foods and then it makes you feel sick. Then every time you try to eat that particular food it makes you feel ill again. I lost the desire for some of my favorite foods.

When I was first diagnosed my first thought was to find something good in the situation? I thought I would for sure lose a bunch of weight, that would be positive. Not so! It seemed so cruel, I was bald, pale, and fat with scares on my boob. I reminded myself of Uncle Fester, you know who I'm talking about.

During treatment I gained sixty pounds, what! I couldn’t believe it! It seemed like I just woke up one morning and it was there?

I have gotten back on an exercise routine and went to visit a nutritionist I’ve lost seventeen pounds and everyone of them were harder to lose than any routine I have ever been on before. My stamina is not at all what it used to be and I find myself getting pooped out really easy. Some days I have to make myself move.

Today I decided to embrace the body that I have now and continue to work on being healthy and feeling good. I know it’s only a matter of time before I will be back in my old jeans but for now I purchased two new pairs of blue jeans. I give thanks today that I am alive and well and able to wear my bigger blue Jeans.

The Not So Glamorous Day

Almost ten years ago my younger sister was diagnosed with colon cancer. She was in for the fight of her life. I won’t go into detail but it was scary and painful for her and she suffered immensely. She was only thirty nine and much too young to have to endure this.

A few years later my father was also diagnosed with colon cancer, he too suffered and with much prayer and faith he was able to fight this.

This wasn’t good news for me and my other siblings. We were instructed to make sure we all had colonoscopies to make sure we were all fine. Colon cancer seems to run in families, but not always. It can strike anyone. Most of the time it happens to older people but not always, just this year I lost a friend that was my age to colon cancer.

What exactly is a colonoscopy? This is what I found.

Colonoscopy is a procedure used to see inside the colon and rectum. Colonoscopy can detect inflamed tissue, ulcers, and abnormal growths. The procedure is used to look for early signs of colorectal cancer and can help doctors diagnose unexplained changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, bleeding from the anus, and weight loss

OK, so I didn’t have any of this so what’s the big deal? So this is the big deal! If you don’t have any of this stuff going on by the age of fifty we need to have this procedure done. Seems as we age little polyps can grow on the colon wall. These can also be removed during the colonoscopy procedure. If left to grow, over the years these little growths turn into cancer.

I had never had this procedure and have to say it didn’t sound like something that I was looking forward to doing. But as you know I have learned my lesson about procrastination and how important early detection is when it comes to any cancer.

I made the appointment and made sure it was a few months into the future so that I would have some strength back and maybe find away to get out of having to do it. Maybe something more important would come up and I could cancel and just do this later, much later. But that didn’t happen.

A few days before my appointment I was instructed to go on a low fiber diet. This was easy enough, then the day before I was able to eat breakfast and then just clear liquids. At 5:00 in the evening I started drinking the solution to cleanse my colon. Every fifteen minutes I had to consume 8oz’s of this stuff. It had a lemon flavor and wasn’t really that bad. There was four liters in all to get down and at one point it looked impossible, but I did it! Oh yea, and I did spend most of the evening in the restroom.

My appointment was at 9:00 and after being checked in and an IV in place they gave me a sedation and the next thing I knew I was awake and only twenty minutes later. My sister had brought me and once I was dressed we were on our way home. I hadn’t had any food for twenty four hours so that was all I had on my mind.

If you’re reading this and your far from “fifty” file this away and remember to get yours when the time comes.

If you are “fifty” or more and you haven’t yet had yours, don’t put it off, days come and go and before we know it years have gone by.

As for me my results were good, I did have one polyp and it was a tiny one. They removed it and sent me on my way. Most people only have to do this test every ten years. I will have to schedule this procedure every five years because of the history of my family.

Time Flies

Wow! An entire year has come and gone and I have to say it’s a year of life to remember or try to forget, one of the two. I feel like my body has been pushed to the limit and is still trying to find its way back to normal. Whatever normal is? I do know that with every day that passes I am starting to feel stronger. It’s a strange thing, my body has been so sick for so long. My spirit and soul has also struggled. I’m not sure if I will ever be myself again but I can be the new and better me and this is what I will strive for.


It was in the early morning hours of Labor Day September 5th 2010 that I discovered the ugly lump and little did I know my life would never be the same. I have learned some really important lessons along the way.

 Never skip your mammogram. Make sure to make it to your yearly appointment.

 Make sure to schedule that fun fun thing called a pap smear.

 Have your yearly physical and make sure it includes blood work to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, and vitamin D Levels.

 Don’t forget that when you turn 50 to schedule that so looked forward to colonoscopy. (This is the one I would like to skip but know how important early detection is).

 Check your body for moles and other funny looking thing that may appear on your skin. Then make your appointment with the dermatologist.

 Don’t procrastinate!

I have taken care of everything on my check list and all has checked out good. With every test I take I get a little anxious waiting for the test results. When the results are in it’s a wonderful feeling to know that all is well.

Time seems to fly and we all get busy. I had let myself go for almost four years without having a mammogram! What was I thinking? Early detection is the key; I met ladies during radiation that didn’t have to experience chemo and only had to do radiation for treatment. Because my tumor had grown to the size it was I had to do the chemo. That’s hard to live with.

Tomorrow morning I will start a cleanse and spend the day preparing for my colonoscopy that is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Not what I consider a fun day but I know I will feel so much better when the result are in and I have peace of mind and know that all is well.

Dancing Chickens

The Dancing Chickens


At one of our recent outdoor gatherings my son-in-law decided to treat us with what he called Beer Can Chicken. This chicken was moist and juicy and I loved watching it cook. He rubbed the chickens with seasoning and then placed them on open beer cans with half the can full of beer and some garlic cloves floating inside. It took a couple hours for them to cook but it was so worth the wait. You can even do this in the oven so you can enjoy this recipe all year long.

The day of this gathering my grandkids danced around the backyard and were full of their wonderful energy.

I couldn’t help thinking how the chickens looked like they were dancing too so I have changed the name of the recipe form Beer Can Chickens to Dancing Chickens.