Last Week of September 2018

No pictures this week.  Arghh.

Pretty uneventful week.  Worked at church on Monday.  Bible Study on Wednesday.  Debbie Sieger and I went to garage sales on Friday - found a few things - spent a total of $7!!!

Friday night, Amanda arrived around 8:30 pm. to spend the night with us.  We enjoyed having a visit with her and having her here with us.  We had a couple of hours to visit Saturday morning before her college friend, Katie, came by to join Amanda for the rest of the trip to Springfield for their annual college friends weekend.

Saturday morning, we drove to Overland Park, making a few errand stops before having lunch at Culvers.  We then went to Peyton's volleyball game.  She did great serving - 5 serves in a row and also a point where she had 3 serves in a row.  We took the kids to Twisters for ice cream between volleyball and baseball.  Garrison was on fire at his baseball game, getting a double and a triple and also catching a pop fly in the field.  They both did so well!  We went to a fish fry fundraiser at the Windsor Christian Church where David Mills preaches.

Amanda came back to Clinton on Sunday and had an early lunch with us before she drove to Lexington to have pictures with the Todds.

Not a very eventful week.   We are blessed

Week of September 16, 2018

Not much happened this week.  I stayed home most of the week to try to give the radiation burns an opportunity to heal, and it worked.  They are feeling much better - not completely healed yet, but getting close.  Nothing raw anymore - and not too sore.  Yay!

On Wednesday, I went to Bible Study, ran some errands and went to visit a friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Friday, Amanda and Chad were given tickets to see Billy Joel at Kauffman Stadium (see last two pictures), so we were the real winners getting to stay with Peyton and Garrison.  We took them out to dinner at Salty Iguana and shopped at Justice afterward.  It was so much fun helping Peyton try on clothes and watching her "shop".  She's a hoot.  She found a few things.  Grandpa and Garrison stayed in the car until Garrison needed to use the restroom.  We came home and started baths and getting ready for bed - some ice cream too for a snack.  Fun times.  We spent the night.

Saturday morning, we attempted to go to The Shack for breakfast, but there was an hour and a half wait, so we went to Big Biscuit instead and had a great meal before all of us going to Peyton's volleyball game.  Her team won the match - 2 out of 3 - for the first time this season.  They were so thrilled.  Then we drove home after picking up a few bargains at Hyvee and Price Chopper.

Sunday, I played the gathering music at the first church service and the offertory - also playing the hymns with Sam.  Fixed a bacon wrapped pork loin, baked potatoes, green beans, hot bread and chocolate pudding for dessert for lunch.  Laid back afternoon of watching the Chiefs and the Fed Ex Cup golf tournament on TV.

God is good, and we are blessed.

Mid September 2018

It was my first week of no radiation - no daily trips to Overland Park - but - I had a lot of pain from the radiation burns.  Very red and angry - did a lot of sitting!  I don't sit well.  Toward the end of the week, the pain was less and the redness started to leave.  Probably have a couple more weeks before it is healed completely - two places that are just raw.  Fatigue is a real thing too - so tired.  But - this too shall pass.  I still feel blessed and grateful.  It could be so much worse.

On Tuesday, I ventured out of the house to attend our monthly "old" sorority, Beta Sigma Phi luncheon held at Meadowlake Country Club this month.  We had a nice crowd.  Shirley Lowe brought me a bouquet of pink roses for completion of cancer treatment.  Later in the day, Kristi Kenney sent me a beautiful fall bouquet for the same reason.  So nice to have "old", long-time friends for support and love.  We had a great time visiting and laughing.

Wednesday, I went to Bible Study, my first of this year.  Afterward, I had coffee with Deb and David Mills and caught up with them.  Stopped by Debbie Sieger's house to visit with her a bit.  Ron and I had taco salads for lunch.

Friday, I helped Debbie with her garage sale, checking people out from 8-12:30 p.m. - I came home after lunch to take a nap before I drove to Overland Park to spend Friday night and Saturday with Amanda and the kids.  Chad came to Clinton to spend the night in anticipation of the Boy Scout Golf Tournament the next day.

Peyton and Garrison each had a friend spend the night Friday night.  We took Kate with us to dinner at Zaxby's - the kids' choice since Zaxby's was giving 10% of the profits to their school that day.  We had fun there.  Garrison's friend, Zack, came over shortly after we got home from dinner.  It was fun listening to them talk to each other and giggle.  The boys were wild!

Saturday morning, both kids went home, and then we went to Garrison's soccer match at 9 a.m.  It was so HOT and HUMID.  Miserable.  You can tell by Garrison's picture above how we all felt!  He played well, and we enjoyed seeing him and his team win.  He scored a goal.

We went to Olive Garden for lunch and enjoyed it very much.  Then we went to Silas and Maddy's for ice cream before going home and getting ready for Peyton's volleyball game at 2 p.m.  She played well, but their team only had 5 players, and they lost all 3 games.  After the game I drove home.

On Sunday, we went to church, and then Mark and Mary joined us for lunch and the Chief's game.  It was so nice to see them and have them to visit with us for a few hours.  I fixed fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, 7-layer salad and hot bread.  They brought dessert - a delicious chocolate pie which they had Smith's Restaurant in Clinton make.  It was sooooooo good.  We had our dessert at half time of the Chief's game.  Family time is the best.

We are blessed - God is good!

Rang the Bell-Radiation is Completed September 7, 2018

Labor Day Sunday, we went to church and then to Supper Club at the Wallaces.   Labor Day, Ron played golf with Dennis, Mike and John.

On Tuesday, 9/4, I drove to radiation and after my treatment went to Amanda's to rest until I picked the kids up from school.  At 5, I took Peyton to piano lessons - again in the pouring rain.  After piano, she and I had dinner at Freddy's - new tradition?  Then we met the rest of the family at the baseball field for Garrison's game - oops - the rain had other ideas.  We sat through two showers and the kids on the field twice before the game was cancelled.  Bummer.  Garrison was soaked!  So was Chad.

Wednesday, I took the kids to school late then went to radiation before I drove home.

Ron took me to radiation on Thursday, then we came home in time for him to go to Rotary and I went to a luncheon Debbie Sieger hosted for her high school friends who were visiting and a few of her Clinton friends at Meadowlake.  It was fun and good.  She had balloons for my chair in honor of me finishing radiation the next day.

Friday, Ron and I drove to Overland Park for my final radiation treatment - cancer treatments are completed.   I am considered cancer free at this time and in remission.  Won't be considered cured until 5 years have passed being cancer free.  It's a good feeling.  They gave me a card signed by all the staff at the radiation therapy center and I rang the bell, signaling completing.  I am happy to be done, but I am very burned and sore.  I have prescription burn cream which is helping.  They feel I will be healed up in 4-5 days and completely healed with peeling etc. gone in 2-3 weeks.  I am tired and fatigued, and they feel that will last for a few months considering all my body has been through with chemo and radiation for the past 6 months.  But I praise God for being merciful to me during the treatments, etc.  I am so grateful and feel blessed.

We picked the kids up at school Friday afternoon.  Our plans changed due to continuing rain - Boy Scout Golf Tournament was cancelled, so we had planned to just go home.  However, the kids were disappointed I wasn't going to say, so I stayed - Ron couldn't stay because he didn't have his medicine and CPAP machine, so he went back to Clinton.  Amanda fixed spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner, and then they all took me out to celebrate to Dairy Queen for dessert!!!

Saturday morning, we all went to Peyton's volleyball game, followed by sitting in the rain at Garrison's soccer match.  His baseball game scheduled for 3 pm. was cancelled, so we all had lunch at Big Whiskey's, and then we drove home.

Church on Sunday, baked a cake for Ron to take to work tomorrow, and now resting until we go to The Ammons for a Chief's party at 3 p.m.

Back to normal life tomorrow - working at church at 8 a.m. - no more treatments and not another doctor's appointment until October 11.  I have another doctor's appointment on October 25 - but at least not daily anymore!

God is good - we are blessed.

Last Week of August 2018

Monday morning, I drove to Overland Park for my radiation treatment.  I rested at Amanda's in the afternoon, then I picked up Peyton and Garrison after school as walkers - they were excited to see me.  I took them to McDonald's for happy meals, as Garrison was supposed to have soccer practice at 5:30 p.m. and needed to be fed beforehand.   Amanda and I took Peyton to her Girl Scout meeting and Garrison to soccer practice, ran an errand, went back to get her and then took her to gymnastics.  I was excited to get to watch her during gymnastics class through the glass.  She is so strong and is doing so well at gymnastics.  Chad picked Garrison up from soccer practice.

Tuesday morning, the kids chose to stay home later than usual so I could take them to school - that way they didn't have to go to Y-Care before school.  I went to radiation, then I picked up Mary at the hotel where she and Mark were staying for him to work.  We went to lunch at Cheddars and had a nice visit.  We got an iced tea from Starbucks, and then I took Mary back to the hotel where we exchanged our magazines.  So nice to get to see her but missed Mark.  He was working.  I went back to Amanda's to rest, then I picked up Peyton at school at 5 p.m. to take her to piano lessons.  On the way, a big storm hit the area with lightening, thunder and torrential rain, but with the help of MAPS on the phone, we made it to piano lessons.  We were a little early, so we sat in the car until the rain let up a little bit and walked in with an umbrella.  It was an adventure.  I loved getting to listen to Peyton during her piano lesson - she is doing so well and improving every week.

Plan was for Peyton and me to have dinner together and then go to Garrison's baseball game, meeting everyone else there, however, the rain caused his game to be cancelled.  Peyton chose Freddy's for dinner.  We had fun!  Afterwards, she said, "Grammy we should do this more often, just the two of us".  Warmed my heart.

Wednesday morning the kids got dressed up for school pictures and posed before I took them to school late again.  Then I sent to radiation and back to Clinton.

On Thursday, Deb Mills took me to radiation in the pouring rain.  The treatments are causing my skin to have a lot of pain and is really red and sore.  Fatigue is really setting in too.

Friday was our 45th Wedding Anniversary.  We celebrated by going to radiation - woo hoo - then to get a shot in my knee - woo hoo again - then had lunch at Jess and Jim's (Ron's choice).

On Saturday, Ron painted the little area between the front bedroom, living room and bathroom to match the living room.  We grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and polish sausages for lunch with potato salad and peanut butter pie.

The Todds joined the Brookside Country Club and spent Saturday there, going to the carnival and swimming.  Garrison enjoyed riding the mechanical bull - 5 times - and Peyton really liked having a diving board at the pool.  They had bounce houses, carnival food and face painting, etc.  They had a really good time.

On Sunday, we went to church and took care of donut time.  I fixed a chicken casserole for lunch and we had corn on the cob and garlic bread sticks.  We did some things around the house and now are resting for the afternoon.

Only 4 more radiation treatments left - feeling grateful and blessed.