Almost one month since surgery—and I am still hangin’ in there!

Well, I am feeling a bit better each day.  My main problem is NOT doing too much at this point.  I have never been one to sit or stand still for very long, needless to say, I am up and down a lot.  Another thing is doing things that I should not do just yet at this point in my recovery, such as laundry, running sweeper, and lifting.  I try to gauge it to a point of not doing it all at once, but at times, I admit that I truly do OVER DO it.  One way or another, my healing body tells me, “Knock it off, you are doing too much!”

Next week, I get the port inserted into me near my collarbone, which will go down into my heart; this port will be used to administer the chemotherapy to my body.  I am nervous about this process (scared as all get out to be honest), but I am brave and unworried.  If you believe that one, can I sell you some swamplands?  A week or two later, the chemo will begin!  The closer that I get to this ‘necessary’ part of my recovery, the more terrified that I get about the possible side effects that may happen to my body (nausea, tiredness, infection, loss of hair, heart problems, etc.), not to mention what it will do emotionally/mentally to my heart, mind and soul.  It is natural to be afraid, but damn this is happening to me and that is just something that I am having a hard time dealing with… I mean I have been down this cancer road before a long time ago with a few scares thrown in between for good measure, but I was a lot younger and stronger back then, now I am not so sure how much more this body of mind, not to mention my mind can take… send strength, please!

Everyone tells me that I am STRONG and it will be all right, but hearing and believing are too different things.  Believe me; I appreciate the words and love of my family and friends as this point. One part of me is very positive (I am not sure, if that is the common sense part of me or the strong-will redhead that I am deep inside!), and I can believe their words, but the other part of me is just too worried to be positive especially during those quiet times of rest and trying to sleep.  Does that make sense? 

On another note, I start back to school today.  I have been on medical leave since the end of April.  I am in my Master’s Program for Online Teaching.  So, wish me luck that I can get back into the swing of things and concentrate enough to keep my good grades and my place on the dean’s list at AU.  So, all for now and on that note I should put on my study hat and get to it!  Love and hugs to all my supporters… do stay in touch!

Remember to live, do not simply exist!

Learn something new each day!

Listen, especially to the silent things people do not or cannot say!

Love for all it is worth!

Moreover, laugh until you cry!

Always, Connie

Two weeks after surgery – my check-up is today!

It is time for my two-week check-up today. It is hard to believe how time flies, even when you are recovering from something as serious as stomach surgery.  I get my staples out today, believe me, I am more than ready for that to happen—I think.  I wonder if it will hurt, pain is not my friend.  Have you ever heard that redheads (real, of course) suffer pain more so than blonde-haired people, etc.?  It is in a book called, “The Roots of Desire” – the myth, meaning, and sexual power of red hair by Marion Roach.  It is an interesting book.  I digress, my appointment is soon, so I must get things in gear, so I shall return and tell you how it all went for me.

Later in the evening—8 o’clock  Well, my checkup went well, I traded in my hardware for sani-strips/tape.  So far, things are going well, with me still having to take it easy, no lifting, no major housework (yeah me!), and me behaving myself and doing mostly resting and recuperating.  How does that sound? My chemotherapy will begin after another two weeks when I go back to my doctor for my next check-up.  Then, the fun begins!  For the next 20 weeks or so, I am the prisoner of the chemo-monster.  Anyway, I know that being funny may not work for some people in regards to the big “C”, but for me—it is a necessity for me to survive and learn to live with what is happening to my mind, body and soul.  So, wish me luck!  Until next time, enjoy your summer, stay cool and stay in touch with me by becoming my FOLLOWER on this blog.  The directions on how to do this are as follows:

The instructions are as follows:

• Go to my blog page -- http://connieval52geminiblog.blogspot.com/
• Click on Google 'follow' link right hand side, has little pictures of people's faces underneath it.
• It will bring up a window asking you to sign in with another already established account like Twitter, Yahoo or Google. If you have one of those, you can use those details to sign in.
• If you do not have one of those accounts, you can create a new one. That option is down the bottom of the pop up window you are in -- Do not be scared to create a new account. It means nothing & you never have to use it. Just fill in the details & you will be away laughing.
• If you want to leave comments on any blogs in future, you use these details to do so. I appreciate any comments, well wishes, etc.

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

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