Weekend Adventures!

Hi everyone! My doctor wants me to get regular exercise in the form of getting out of the house and walking so I ventured out some yesterday and today! Here is what my weekend looked like...

Early Saturday morning I got up and typed up an entry for the blog, then hit some button and lost it. So as I do this one, I am saving it every few seconds!

Grandma Pat wanted to see Kaeli at dance class, so we headed out at about 8:30 am. Watching Kaeli for the first 1/2 of her class was pure torture for her mother! She did not stop talking, was talking over the teacher, telling stories about her week, etc. The teacher had to say, "Kaeli, listen." several times. Then when the teacher asked the kids to put there hands up, Kaeli would put hers down, teacher said put them down, Kaeli's went up! I was dying. I wanted to reach through the mirrored glass and tell her to shape up! Luckily, Kaeli decided she had to go pottie, so I got my chance. In the bathroom, I did a little necessary threatening and the rest of the class was a joy to watch. It is such a blessing to have Dunkin D's next to the dance studio! Kaeli will do anything for munchkins! Kaeli has already started learning her routine for June's recital. I was very impressed!

Next, we headed to the beauty salon for Kaeli to get her long locks trimmed. She has informed us that she wants to grow her hair to her "butt". We are trying to avoid that, so it was time to lose a few inches! All turned out well and K loves her new do.

Then we were off to B.J.'s to do some necessary and much over due grocery shopping. It used to take me for ever to do my shopping before this surgery, now it takes forever and a day. Slow, slow, slow is what I am! I tire out quickly. Walking is actually easier for me than just standing. Since they cut through all my ab muscles, stabilizing myself takes a lot of effort! (sorry for the visual to all of you who are squeamish) I fared pretty well. Then we headed off to Roots, the health food store in Leominster for some gluten free food. I am still waiting to find out if I have celiac disease. A few of my doctors think I may not and that all the pain I have been suffering from these past 4 years may have been thanks to the carcinoid not celiac. Until then I want to be safe, not sorry. So I am sticking to a gluten free diet. Finally we got home around 1:00. I could barely stand after such a physical morning, so I went up to my room and took a nap! I am on a toddler schedule. Life is much more enjoyable when I have an afternoon nap!

I couldn't believe it when my mom woke me up to tell me that it was 5:30 and my Aunt Fran, Uncle Dave and cousin Dave were here. I guess I really did wear myself out! It was great to see my relatives! My uncle Dave has the best sense of humor. I know he must have been a big class clown! He had me exercising my tummy muscles with laughter. He recently had shoulder surgery and showed us his impressive (tiny) scar, he had to admit I have him beat with the zipper I have down my belly. (I actually feel like a Build a Bear. Only they open in the back. If I need to have surgery for carcinoid again in the future, they will go through the same incision.) My mom, aunt and uncle were sharing stories from their trip to Ireland a few years ago. The driving, the roads, no road signs. We were all laughing. It was a great time.

Believe it or not, I was still exhausted and was hoping to go to be early. So once dinner was over, Kaeli settle in with gramma, medicine taken, I got into bed at 9pm. Hoping to fall asleep, but it was a no go. Too long a nap I guess. So I call my brother Dan and chatted with him for a while, talked to Steph in Vegas, went on FB and looked at all Mia's new pictures-so cute! Gave myself another shot and finally found that I was ready to doze. I have a new night time routine. One that I cherish. I am only able to have it because of this situation, so I am receiving blessings from this whole thing... I having been getting at least one card or letter in the mail a day since I went into the hospital. I love it! I know I am being spoiled and I do so love it! (thank you, thank you to all of you for each and every thing you do for me, whether it be prayers, note, posts, food, thoughts, calls, they all mean so much!) back to what I do.. I do not open the cards or letters until bedtime. It is the last thing I do before I fall asleep, I read in peace and quite and fully get to enjoy my notes.

So after I read letters, I finally fell asleep around midnight!

I really miss school, my friends and the kids, but yesterday made me realize that I am not physically ready to go back! I do plan on going back in March. My doctor says I will be ready by then. I meet with my oncologist on Tuesday. There will be tests and other things I'll need to do before I return to work. I will probably be making frequent trips into Boston to Dana Farber.

So my body is feeling different everyday. I have different pains and muscle aches and am still taking my pain killers. The doctor/nurses still want to know about all the gas! I was telling Dan last night that my intestines are like a New York city nightclub at midnight. It is completely full, no one is leaving and everyone is slam dancing, rocking the place. Every thing building up but not yet going anywhere. Kurt however insists that it does go somewhere in the middle of the night when I sleep. Fine with me, I feel better in the morning. :-)

I have more to tell you! Today's adventure includes Kaeli riding an elephant with Uncle Mike, Caden and Delaney. Holding a python and having Lucky the dog visit. However it is time for me to spend some quality time with Keali before she goes to bed. I am not even going to proof read this! Ugh... my inner control freak is not happy about that!!!!!! I will continue this tonight or tomorrow!

PLEASE, I DO NOT HAVE EVERY ONE'S E-MAIL. IF YOU THINK THAT I DO NOT HAVE YOURS, PLEASE SEND IT TO ME AT MYBABYKEG@YAHOO.COM!!!! At some point, I want to contact each and every person who has taken the time to reach out to me and give me comfort during this crazy time in my life. So send me your e-mail, phone numbers or address. Something that will allow me to respond to you! Thank you, thank you for reading this and keeping up with me! I feel so NOT alone! With love, Theresa