Sunday, December 27, 2009

Feeling like myself again...

Is it just me, or is anyone else happy that the holidays are almost over. I am not a scrouge or a grinch but I just seem to get so much more enjoyment out of the more typical, mundane times of year. There just seems to be so much pressure for the perfect holiday. I guess I don't like having all of my time, money and energy sucked out of me for 2 or 3 days. I like to spread it out over the whole year.
I have been feeling well and continuing to get my eneregy back. I am happy to announce that I have secured a job and will hopefully be returning to work on January the 4th. It is a cancer treatment center. Gasp! The type of place I swore I would never work. Lesson learned, never say never. My heart was softened last month and I had a strong feeling that this was where I needed to be. I hope that I am able to be a light and a source of encouragement to my patients. Not by telling them what I went through or that I even had cancer. But just by being empathetic, sympathetic, and dropping some hints on how to get through the process a little easier if I can. I am a FIRM believer that when I am a nurse, I am a nurse and when I am a patient I am a patient. I try as hard as I can to not let the two mix. I wouldn't want my nurse breaking down when I get bad news. I can get the warm fuzzies from else where. I need my medical team to be strong, alert and focused. I feel that my patients deserve the same. Not to say I would never share my story but I think it would be far and few in between.
The best part about this new job is hopefully I will be able to move out of my parents house soon. I love them, but I'm almost 27, and it's time to go.
I am so happy Project 365 will be done is a few days. I'm thinking this year I will do a few pictures a month. It's not as hard to do as it was a few months ago but I definitely need a break from the daily pictures. I am however, so thankful that I discovered this. I have one of the hardest/best years of my life documented. This project forced me to think about the "everyday". I have memories and stories captured that I will be able to look back on for years to come.
Dec 26- My Christmas presents. I love them all but I am especially excited about my Best Buy giftcard (for a computer) and a new lomography camera (supersampler) from sister.


Dec 25- Ohhh Christmas Tree.

Dec 24- Allison had a New Year's Eve fish fry. Her guests had a great time and made the reindeer do bad things.


Dec 23- Will and I at Pappa's.

Dec 22- Santa Paws is ready for Christmas.


Dec 21- Kim gets the award for coming to visit me the most!

Dec 20- Dog sitting Darla. I had to get a picture of them being nice to each other, this was a rare occurence with the not niceness coming from my child.

Dec 19- I really enjoyed going to Kentucky to be Randi's maid of honor and finally getting to meet her wonderful family. We met almost 7 years ago through a program called chemo angels. We have come from pen pals to dear friends. I'm so fortunate to have her in my life.


Dec 18- Another pic from the tea. The food was amazing.


Dec 17- In Kentucky with Randi at my first high tea. The hats were provided by the tea place.


Dec 16- On the way to the airport. I'm not sure how this happened but this light was swinging from the post into the street. Had to take a pic.


Dec 15- Sister is home for the holidays.

Dec 14- I am a little preoccupied with my hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Can you blame me? I missed them.


Dec 13- Anything and everything chocolate. I am not a big chocolate fan but I do like small amounts every now and then.


Dec 12-House of Pies has a place in my heart forever.

Dec 11- Celebrating Laura's graduation from college.


Dec 10- Will took me to the Rothco (spelling?) chapel in Houston. It was very pretty and peaceful but the mesquitos joined us.


Dec 9- I made scallops, green beans and potatoes for dinner. The scallops are on top mixed greens with avocado.


Dec 8- My supplies for my CVC line (IV line used for chemo). I had the line removed a few months ago but I can't seem to be able to throw my supplies away. I guess I will tuck them away until I'm ready to part with them.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Jingle all the way...

Dec 7- Tonight I made chicken Parmesan (for Dad), eggplant Parmesan (for me) and whole wheat pasta with a veggie sauce. Mom is out of town so I'm in charge of food.

Dec 6- Mas hair.



Nov 5- I was supposed to be house sitting for Allison, but because of the snow her flight was canceled. She asked me to stay, we invited a few people over and hung out all weekend. Good times.


Nov 4- It snowed it Houston!



Nov 3- Toby eating a piece of reindeer corn (red, white, green candy corn) like he hasn't eaten in days.


Nov 2- My dad won Yard of the Month for the neighborhood.



Dec 1- I had my chest cracked open in July, no crying. 3 tries to start and IV and having to drink barium for my Cat scan, brought me to tears. Strange.



Nov 30- Simple Christmas cards this year. Simple and to the point. I will save the more extravagant ones (picture, year in review) for when I have a family.




Nov 29- My new obsession-Veggie Delight on wheat from Subway.


Nov 28-I am in charge of making care packages for the college students at church. I hope they like them.


Nov 27-Black Friday madness. I so enjoyed myself, made up for not being able to go last year.


Nov 26-Happy Thanksgiving! YUM! Fried turkey is delicious. It took us 3 hours to cook it when it should have only taken 30 minutes, but that's ok and we know better for the next time.


Nov 25- Very thankful that I feel go enough to workout.


Nov. 24- Thank you Frank for introducing me to the House of Pie.






Nov 23- My first professional football game with April. Texans lost, but still a good game.


Nov 22- So happy I finally have things to write down in my planner.


Nov 21- (With the doctor's permission) I removed my own stitches from my arms. I am awesome.



Nov 20- I love pomegranates. I normally eat as many as I can in the fall but this year I haven't felt like it. Maybe too messy.



Nov 19- Keymo


Nov 18- Visiting with Mrs. Green my first grade teacher. I am so thankful that I still keep in contact with many of my teachers from grade school.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

So thankful...

Happy Thanksgiving!


Of course I am thankful for the obvious...health, family, etc., but here are the little things that have made the past few weeks so great....

So thankful for
-Being able to enjoy food again: tastes, textures and smells

-My eyebrows and eyelashes returning

-My new found love of lomography

-Chihuahuas

-New friends

-Discovering Houston

-Reindeer corn

-Car insurance

-Being a girl

Just a few things that have rocked my socks off these past few weeks. I'm so thankful for my little treasures. I always want to be able to enjoy my small blessings.


Have a wonderful Turkey Day!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Catching up

Nov 1- So happy I finally have things to write in my planner.
Nov 17- LOVE orzo so I made it again and added chicken and green beans.


Nov 16- Learning to make different recipes. Orzo with tomatoes, spinach and parmesean.


Nov 15- Guess who's next! I caught the bouqet.


Nov 14- Wedding Day! Congratulations Michelle and Brandon. I remember when they started dating in high school. It's so great to see them still together.


Nov 13- Rehearsal dinner at Macaroni Grill.

Nov 12- Bridal party Mani/Pedis.


Nov 11- My portfolio for job interviews.


Nov 10- The first biopsy came back as normal skin, the biopsy wasn't deep enough. So I had to get 2 more biopsies taken. (Everything came back benign)


Nov 9- Hair!


Nov 8- The sweet neighbor boy made us candy apples.


Nov 7- I really like this dress so I took a picture in it.


Nov 6- Allison and I from the night before.


Nov 5- Happy 27th Birthday Ally Cat.


Nov 4- In the middle of making a wall hanging for Allison's birthday. It includes a picture of he mother in Italy.


Nov 3-Making a scrapbook for Camille with our pictures from my trip to Madison.



Nov 2- Yummy cheeseburgers with Frank.