One week & one day after surgery -- :+_)

Let me just say that I am glad that it is this week and not last week.  It was a rough one!  The first few days of my hospital stay were mostly filled with sleep and pain meds.  I am told that I can quite funny under certain drugs – if you get my drift!  I can be funny without them, so you can imagine how I was under them!

Anyway, I am feeling better, not quite as sore or as touchy as I was at first.  I still get very tired TOO easily!  I am told this will get better each day—but will take quite some time to recover from this type of extensive stomach surgery.  I am hoping to find some energy and feel painless very soon because I am starting to get bored, impatient and a bit cantankerous at not being able to get things done.  I am told that is also normal!  Ha! Ha!  I am normal again!

The good news is that even though the ovary was ‘cancerous’, that it did not spread to any other part of my internal organs.  My doctor recommends chemotherapy to be on the safe side, which I will have to deal with because the results could have been much worse!  She said that I will lose my hair with this type of chemo, so, does anyone know a good wig maker for redheads!

Remember to live, do not simply exist!

Learn something new each day!

Love for all it is worth!

Moreover, laugh until you cry!

Always, Connie

Surgery just around the corner...

Well, my surgery date is only a few days away now.  Am I nervous? Scared?   Worried? Terrified?  HELL -- YES, I am!  I keep reminding myself that I am a strong, resourceful, brave, real redhead, but now and then, I forget and need to be reminded.  So, remind me if I need it!  Give me that kick in the butt that I may need to get through all this stuff.   Thanks!
As long as I stay busy, I am fine, but when my body slows down, my mind works in overdrive!  I am trying to remain calm and positive—and during most days -- I do fine at keeping up with that mantra – but at night, when all is quiet, it is very hard to remain brave and upbeat. Anyway, the closer I get though, the more I fear I will worry and fret, but with family and friends on my side, I am sure I will do fine.  Thanks everyone!
I have a pre-surgery test (colonoscopy) on Monday and then surgery on Tuesday, June 21^st.  I am not sure what time as of yet, but I will find out within the next day or so.  It is has been a busy week, as my Dad was in the hospital from last Saturday until yesterday afternoon for some various problems.  Thankfully (oh, I am SO-SO- SO thankful), he is doing better and at home now.

Other than that, life is going slowly… one day at a time… as the saying goes!  Wish me well, keep good thoughts for me and help us all to stay strong and hang in there!
Live, love, laugh, learn and fight like hell to go on -- one day at a time!

Connie

Surgery date, good thoughts etc.

Well, I had my hospital appointments yesterday. The good news is that my heart, lungs, blood pressure are all great, so that will be a huge help during surgery and my recovery. I met the doctor, she is very nice and I am glad to have a woman taking care of my "lady" parts. :+_) -- That is not to say that it is any less scary, but a little load off my mind. I need to have a test done prior to my surgery, which is on June 21^{st –} not sure of time yet though. This test is a colonoscopy ($8000 test, I am told that insurance does not cover), which I am told is no big deal to have especially since I will be asleep the whole time. Great, another nap! Anyway, this surgery is a serious one and I do need all the good thoughts possible out there from you and from above too. Send me messages, keep my spirits soaring, I need all the strength that I can get at this point.

The bad part of this whole deal is that my insurance (Such as it is!) covers very little of the cost of any of this…and NONE of the hospital stay, so further in debt I go. However, since this is serious business I cannot put it off and will do what I must to recover, remain strong, keep my sense of humor and get on with a life that I want…which includes being around for a very long time, so wish me luck!

 

Thanks, Connie

Live, love, laugh, learn and fight like hell to go on!

Hospital Stay…

I am going in for surgery soon on some lady parts (what are the odds that it would turn out to be the only one left in there) that are causing problems with my delicate tummy area. Next Monday is my initial appointment with the doctor and the pre-surgery appointment, so I am sure the surgery will be sometime that same week. I will be in the hospital they tell me a week give or take a day or so... In addition, off work for at least two months and off classes at AU for a least a month until I feel like going back to my homework schedule. I hate pain and being unable to take care of myself, so wish me patience and bravery!

 

So, wish me luck! I hate to think the "C" word, but with my history, I must at least let it enter my mind. As you can well tell, it sticks in the mind once it is there and it is hard not to worry!

 

Send your prayers and just think good thoughts for me. Live, laugh, learn, and love always!

Connie

EDU-651 Collaboration and Learning in a Virtual Environment

Wow, I never knew that there were so many ways, websites and programs that can be used to learn from the Internet. I was totally awed and confused at the lists that I examined in my first and second week of this class. The first week, I learned that out of the TOP 100 Learning TOOLs that I have used (or are acquainted with) ONLY 15 of them (Skype, Facebook, Blogger, Google Search, Gmail, Google Earth, Desktop Office Suite, PowerPoint, Word Processing Software, Blackboard, iGoogle, Google Chrome, Outlook E-Mail, Android Phones and Apps, and Blogging tools). WOW, I have so much to learn!

The second week of this class, I learned about blogging, twitter, and wikis. The first two items, I have had some experience with in order to stay in contact with friends, family, etc. The one that TRULY confuses me (from head to toe) the most is the "WIKI" part of this assignment. I am still trying to figure it out by doing some research and thinking at/away from my computer screen. So, wish me luck!

Other than that, life has been the same … just one day at a time, school, homework, family and work. It is May already, June and another birthday are just around the corner. Where does time go?

Remember to live, do not simply exist!

Love for all it is worth!

Moreover, laugh until you cry!

Always, Connie

Ya gotta love modern technology.... :+(

Well, modern technology has struck again.  The night before last, I lost my Internet connection.  Tech support for my wireless modem is a laugh, $69 for information to fix the problem.  Hey, I say, no way!  I called my IP and they found the problem in with Verizon, so I shall just wait and see what happens.  The problem is somewhere in the phone lines outside the building.  So, since they cannot get it fixed until at least Monday, I have no DSL (just dial-up which is very slow -- too slow for classroom work), I decided to drop the class that I was presently taking and pick it up again in a few weeks. 

At the same time, I am ready for a break since the past few weeks have been very stressful for me.  I am going to enjoy these two weeks off.  I am going to do some things I have not been able to get finished and to get caught up on some other things as well.  I need to get another printer, so that is on my mind to do this weekend. I am also having supper with my kids tonight at Olive Garden; I cannot wait!  YUMMY!   I have wanted to go there for a long time..  Well, stay safe….

Remember to live, love, laugh and learn!   CONNIE

Update... March all ready! Wow... where does time go?

Well, I finished my first Master's degree class!  I enjoyed it a great deal, especially the slide presentation work.  Who knew that I could be so creative!  Now, I am beginning my second class,Technology for Teaching and Learning. I feel somewhat behind at the moment since I have never actually taught previously in a classroom, although I am told that this is not unusual.  (I think that sentence is bad English, shame on me!)

Other than that, my mom was hospitalized recently with double pneumonia.  I was in a panic, but she is doing better now and at home resting.  I am off work this week in order to help my parents out, and get caught up on all that I delayed last week.  I am doing all right on that deal, but boy, am I bushed!  Life goes on...

Remember, live, laugh and love always -- learn too.   Connie V.