Gonna try this again!

I know I have been a horrible blogger the last few months....just haven't been in the mood I guess.  Part of the problem has been our internet issues at our house.  We have time limits with the cell phone based internet card that we use and it seems that we meet our allotted amount with just the email checking etc that we do each month.  I cannot access blogs from work.  Blogging just went to the wayside.
But I have a lot to talk about this month, several big things going on that I just have to share with the world!
Savana is turning 16 in a couple of weeks..so hard to believe that tiny, tow headed baby is going to be driving all by herself on March 12th!
Both kids are taking vocal solos to contest this year.  So March is very busy with concerts and Saturday contests at School of the Osage and another school in Jefferson City hosts the Districts.  I will email all the dates as soon as I am sure of all the details.  Savana is very good at keeping me in the loop.  Lee not so much!
Last week I had a surgery on my tear ducts in both eyes, to try to open them back up.  My last radioactive iodine treatment scarred and collapsed the tear ducts.  So far, my new stents are not helping too much, but the Dr asssures me that I have to be patient to allow all the swelling to go down.  I can't see swelling anymore but he thinks that the inside of my nose is irritated from the stents. 
March is also busy with Dr appointments and scans.  They are having me starting low iodine diet on March 11th,  scans and possible treatment scheduled for the last week of March.  Savana is bummed because this is the 2nd time that I have been low iodine for her birthday celebration.  Means no cake or icecream for me.  Those who know Savana can understand how sad this makes her.  She is all in for a party!  Don't worry, the party happens no matter what...but she is already working on a way to include a low iodine dessert.  Gotta love her!
Savana and I have been volunteering at "Thrifty Threads", a local shop whose proceeds go to support Wonderland Camp.  They provide jobs for handicapped individuals also.  The owner has converted her attic space into a wonderland of formal wear.  She bought and was donated hundreds of dresses and suits.  It will be a rental/loaner program so kids can check out an outfit for prom.  All they have to do is have it cleaned before they return it.  Absolutely beautiful dresses!  We have now organized, sized and set everything up for prom season!  Huge job but really fun too.
I am totally rambling here but these snowy cold days tend to give me time to reflect on my life.  Teenagers are a trial for parents but I have to say that I have the greatest kids.  I woke up this morning to a birthday present from my crew...They bought a gorgeous frame and Savana thought long and hard to pick out the pictures.  Shelby has already gone to work and both kids are still sleeping since there is no school today.  I am sitting here with my coffee and enjoying the silence of the house.  Really, for the first time in years, I feel calm and centered. 
I am going to try to be a better blogger but no promises here!  Hope everyone is staying warm and cozy.  There went another snow plow!  Love Kristi

Sabra Done, School Starting!

I ended up working more than 6 weeks at Camp Sabra, putting in some tremendously long hours to cover the clinic.  All very rewarding but I did sigh with relief when I turned my keys in yesterday.  Today, I went right back into school responsibilities and will leave for a conference in Portland on Thursday morning.  Our family enjoyed a float/camping trip the first week of July.  Since then, the temperatures have been so hot that we prefer to be inside for all activities as much as possible.  I really did enjoy camp and have signed up for all 8 weeks next summer.  Knowing this far ahead, I can arrange Dr appointments and vacations around camp dates.  I don't have a lot of news...kids have been working all summer and it feels that the days have just flown by.  Hopefully this weekend away will get me geared up for August back to school insanity!  I am going to stop by Erin and Aarons on Sunday evening when I get back from Portland.  Can not miss the opportunity for some Raena lovin!

Camp Sabra Nursing

I have spent the last 3 days working at Camp Sabra.  This camp is directly across the cove from Uncle Ron and Aunt Carols house.  All my life here in Missouri, I have looked across at that beautiful piece of property, as a youngster I could hear the kids laughing and swimming.  I always wished that I could join them!  Well, I waited too long to join in on the fun, but I am now going to work several weeks in the Infirmary.  I will work 2 sessions of 14 days, 12 hours each day.  I am working my hiney sp? off!!!!  The clinic is severely understaffed this summer.  Most of the time, they have two parents that are Nurses or EMTs that work while their child is at camp.  It offsets some of the cost of this very expensive, elite camp.  But this year there are 4 weeks where the Clinic Manager is by herself.  So they have hired me to get all the medications delivered to all the children in the morning, lunch and evening.  Then Misty (the Manager) handles the bedtime meds as she stays at camp all summer. Between the 2 of us (there are supposed to be 4 nursing staff), we handle all the kids that meander in for all sorts of medical issues.  Most of the time, there is a volunteer physician staying at the camp.  When a medical issue is more serious or needs a Dr. order for medication, we just call him and he buzzes over from his cabin with a golf cart!  It is a very well run facility but amazingly, they are not using the clinic computer very much at all.   I love to piddle with Excel and Misty is excited that I am working on a way to label the medications more easily than just writing it all by hand.

The campers take day trips all over Missouri and also take several 3-5 day adventures like floating, camping in the open air and some of the older groups spend 2 of their weeks in Colorado.  The frequent traveling makes medication administration very interesting.  I spend a lot of time making sure all the kids have their meds packed up and ready for the trips, it also requires instructing the counselors in correct medication administration including the emergency meds like epipens etc.

The camp is staffed with counselors from all over the world, and several of the 300 campers are International also.  The language barriers often make diagnosing a little difficult but the Dr that has been there this week is fluent in many languages.  He is actually not Jewish himself.  He is from India but has lived in St Louis for his adult life.  His boys are also at camp while he is working.  He makes sure to get some fishing and relaxing done so that his time at camp is more like a mini vacation.

Well, my long day is making bed sound very nice.  So I am off to bed, Good Night!

A weight is lifted off my shoulders....

It was a good day....got the lab results and saw 2 docs. They agree that I am "stable" at this time. The iodine treatment did not kill off the cancer (bummer) but the suppression therapy has lowered the "cancer level" and they are happy that I am responding to it at this time. Now, they will just keep knocking it down as long as they can with the suppression therapy...so labwork regularly and docs every 3 months. The rest of the summer is mine! I do feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Savana and I celebrated with brunch at IHOP and a little shopping!

I splurged on a couple of boxes of tile and went to work on my bar area.  Tiled the floor and the wall below the bar.  Really snazzied (my own word, I know) it up and it fits better with the living room colors.  Drop by sometime and check out my project!!!

Garage Sale Time

Again I say, I have been such a bad Blogger!  But now I have a couple of weeks off from work and have been cleaning like a mad woman.  Only 2 rooms left to dig out garage sale items!

Rocky Mount Garage Sale-Multi Family!!!! Friday (1st) and Saturday(2nd) Opens from 0700 till ?.
If you want to come by and check things out, 9.5 miles down Hwy Y, cream house on right. If coming from Lake Ozark, take Hwy W until it meets Y, then left 1/2 mile.


If anyone wants to add some things to the sale, just bring them by.  Please make sure their price is marked or let me know what you want a sign to say....Thanks!

The longest week ever is almost done....in the past 9 days I have completed the following...

Starting with last Saturday - Thyroid Conference and Lee prom.  Sunday Lake Area Chorale concert.  Monday work, then another Chorale concert that night. Tuesday work and play practice from 6-9.  Wednesday was a conference in Columbia, visit to Dr Zitch for check up on swallowing, then play practice from 6-9.  Thursday was a repeat of Tuesday.  Friday was work and first night of "Henry".  Saturday was cleaning of fish tank (5 hours, ugh!), mowing front yard, then "Henry" again.  Sunday was cleaning of back storage room (really packed and desperately needed a complete gutting) then Chorale concert.  Monday will be work and our final Chorale concert in the evening.  WHEW!

Now I am thinking about the last 3 1/2 weeks of school.  Savana is done on May 21st.  Lee is done on the 15th.  I really cannot believe how fast this school year has gone.  I am talking with Camp Sabra, and plan to get a few weeks of work in their clinic over the summer.  They are always short on nurse coverage and were very excited that I might be able to give them a hand.  Also, they were so glad that I lived close!

Dr Zitch feels that my swallowing problems are coming from an under production of the mucus portion of the saliva in my mouth.  The stupid radioactive iodine did its number on my saliva glands.  Basically, I just need to always keep a drink with me when I plan on eating.  Dry foods really get stuck easily and will need that added moisture to go down.  He did set me up for a "swallow study" to be sure that the muscles and nerves are working like they should.  I really feel that the saliva thing is the main issue.

I want to say thank you so much to the family and friends that ventured out to the performances this last week.  Again, your support means so much to me and the family...Love ya all!

A whole month of activities...scrunched into one blog....

In the last week, we have experienced two proms.  Savana went to the School of the Osage Punga celebration.  It is an annual event that all the high school students are invited to attend.  Formal of course!  So we ran Savana up to Aunt Kims before the big night to get some great pictures of her in her amazingly beautiful dress.  Plus some great close ups!

Tonight was Lee's Junior prom event.  He and his friend Sarah decked out to the max and met Aunt Kim at the Wilmore Lodge for some great pictures to document the event appropriately.  Lee and his best friend Cliff had to be sure the event was attended as a double date as they are rarely apart from each other....best buds I tell you!

                        My favorite "sassy" picture...Love the facial expressions.  Cracks me up!

Before all the picture taking today, Mom and Dad, Kim and I attended a Thyroid Survivor Convention that was being held right here at Lake of the Ozarks.  I had been invited to speak on a "survivor panel" to share my journey through these last couple of years and provide support to others as they work their way through the life changes that any cancer diagnosis will inevitably bring along.   The event was a success and everyone that attended went away from the program having learned something new.

As my kids experience their milestone events, I have also felt that today was a milestone event for me.  Connecting with others that "understand" what your struggles and pressures have been like is very comforting and also lets you know that you are not alone...which I never have really felt since I have the best support group right here within my amazing family.  Love you Mom, Dad and Kim for taking your beautiful Saturday and spending it with me!