Tomorrow is Mother's Day. A special day for families to be together to celebrate Mother. My mother has been deceased since 1986. She died at age 80. She was 39 when I was born. I never had sibligs but always gathered friends at our home. My parents were fun to be around. My dad was quite a tease, always with a smile on his face, or a joke to get his point across. So friends always felt welcome. My mother always offered friends something to eat or drink. She would have a snack ready when I got home from school. She was always there for me. Listening and sensing whether I had a good or bad day that needed to be talked about.
I realize that I had very "special parents", loving, strict, interested in my activities, encouraging, and trusting. When Cal and I became parents we both brought the childhood experieces we had growing up. The Poppink family had similar values as the Morlock family. So the blending of our parenting skills seemed to fit together quite well. Our sons are now husbands and fathers. I love watching them interact and play with their young children. Tess, Mia, Cal and Nora are blessed children with loving parents and grandparents. We all love them so much. We will continue the lessons we have learned from our own parents. Guiding our grandchildren with lessons learned from home.
Mother's Day is a day to celebrate family!! Happy Mother's Day!!
Martha
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
May 5, 2011
All went well with treatment this week.... #6 with 5 more to go.
I will be very happy when chemo is behind me. Again, I will give myself Neupogen shots for 3 days. I don't feel so energetic after the shots, but they boost the white cells so very necessary.
This past Sunday was May 1st or May Day. My mother started the tradition with me of making paper baskets or cones then filling them with popcorn, wrapped candy, and fresh flowers. We then went to friends homes, placed the basket at the door, rang the door bell, and ran, we might get a kiss if they caught us. Sometimes you wanted to get caught.....
My neighbor, Nancy Ankin and I continued the tradition with our children.
Eric, now a husband and father has remembered the fun we had when they were young and continues to bring a bouquet of flowers to our house on May Day. He surprized me again this year!!! I'll get you next year, Eric!!
I will be very happy when chemo is behind me. Again, I will give myself Neupogen shots for 3 days. I don't feel so energetic after the shots, but they boost the white cells so very necessary.
This past Sunday was May 1st or May Day. My mother started the tradition with me of making paper baskets or cones then filling them with popcorn, wrapped candy, and fresh flowers. We then went to friends homes, placed the basket at the door, rang the door bell, and ran, we might get a kiss if they caught us. Sometimes you wanted to get caught.....
My neighbor, Nancy Ankin and I continued the tradition with our children.
Eric, now a husband and father has remembered the fun we had when they were young and continues to bring a bouquet of flowers to our house on May Day. He surprized me again this year!!! I'll get you next year, Eric!!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Concert today
Our Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and Chorus had our Spring Concert this afternoon. We celebrateed our 30th Anniversary. I have played with the orchestra for 30 years. I play the cello, I started in 4th grade..... how many years is that anyway??? The concert theme was "Let's Dance". Our friends Ed and Michelle Stuck danced The Lover's Waltz, they celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow so it was a special dance show for them. We had cloggers, tango, folk dance, and tap dance to "Singing in the Rain" with the choir. A fun concert. I had enough stamina to do it too.
This Tuesday I have my 6th treatment. I have an appointment with the surgeon the week after so I will know more about what my choices will be. Not so sure of reconstructive surgery, Iwill weigh the pluses and minuses. It means another surgery which I could even wait until I have more time to think about it.
Because of the surgery I will not be able to travel east to niece Allison's wedding in Vermont in July. Our grand daughters have been asked to be flower girls, I hope they take good pictures/videos.
More later this week. Martha
This Tuesday I have my 6th treatment. I have an appointment with the surgeon the week after so I will know more about what my choices will be. Not so sure of reconstructive surgery, Iwill weigh the pluses and minuses. It means another surgery which I could even wait until I have more time to think about it.
Because of the surgery I will not be able to travel east to niece Allison's wedding in Vermont in July. Our grand daughters have been asked to be flower girls, I hope they take good pictures/videos.
More later this week. Martha
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Chemo treatment # 7 today
I had my 7th treatment today. My friend, Jean Lash went with me. Joe had a day off so he did errands today. It wasn't nice enough to play golf which he does on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the "guys" at the country club. Jean and I had a nice time catching up, having great conversation about being grandmothers, teacher methods, art center advocates, etc. Thank you Jean for being a terrific friend. I sure do enjoy being with you.
Todays treatment went right on time. I gave the nurse a verbal "blue ribbon" for getting me thru in about 2 and a half hours. In the past it has taken longer for the pharmacy to get the drugs to the treatment center, or they are checking with the doctor to see if he wants to hold treatment, etc. I gave myself 3 shots to get ready for today, and probably will continue for the remainder of the chemo treatments.
My son, Andy and grandson Cal, were here for Easter weekend. Cal had fun playing with his cousins. Andy's god parents, Dave and Linda Newton, and Scott Melcher and girlfriend were all here for Easter dinner. Holly was such a great help in the kitchen and putting the house back together...thank you Holly. I do love to hear the laughter of children playing. They laugh from the center of their being, unaffected with pure joy.... sure is a blessing to be a part of their growing up.
Andy brought an early birthday/mother's day gift... an Ipad.
I am having a great time using it for email, ebooks, youtube,games, etc.
I ordered a book,"Emperor of all Malades" the history of cancer. It is very interesting just how the treatments were developed, who and how the American Cancer Society began, etc. Then listened to Dvorak-New World Symphony and love 2nd movement Adagio. Thank you Andy, Laura, Cal and Nora.
Our Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and Chorus has our Spring concert this Sunday..."Let's Dance". My friends Ed and Michelle Stuck are dancing "Lovers Waltz" on their 30 wedding anniversary. If you live in the area think about coming- 4p.m. at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts.
More later of Martha's Musings
Todays treatment went right on time. I gave the nurse a verbal "blue ribbon" for getting me thru in about 2 and a half hours. In the past it has taken longer for the pharmacy to get the drugs to the treatment center, or they are checking with the doctor to see if he wants to hold treatment, etc. I gave myself 3 shots to get ready for today, and probably will continue for the remainder of the chemo treatments.
My son, Andy and grandson Cal, were here for Easter weekend. Cal had fun playing with his cousins. Andy's god parents, Dave and Linda Newton, and Scott Melcher and girlfriend were all here for Easter dinner. Holly was such a great help in the kitchen and putting the house back together...thank you Holly. I do love to hear the laughter of children playing. They laugh from the center of their being, unaffected with pure joy.... sure is a blessing to be a part of their growing up.
Andy brought an early birthday/mother's day gift... an Ipad.
I am having a great time using it for email, ebooks, youtube,games, etc.
I ordered a book,"Emperor of all Malades" the history of cancer. It is very interesting just how the treatments were developed, who and how the American Cancer Society began, etc. Then listened to Dvorak-New World Symphony and love 2nd movement Adagio. Thank you Andy, Laura, Cal and Nora.
Our Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and Chorus has our Spring concert this Sunday..."Let's Dance". My friends Ed and Michelle Stuck are dancing "Lovers Waltz" on their 30 wedding anniversary. If you live in the area think about coming- 4p.m. at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts.
More later of Martha's Musings
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Staying on Track
I was in good shape for chemotherapy today.... white blood cells up, no shingles so I now have 7 more chemo treatments to go, final one is scheduled for June 7th. I saw the doctor who said it is time to talk to the surgeon and radiologist. Those appointments have been made for middle of May and beginning of June.
I am very excited for Easter as son Andy and grandson Cal will be here. Cal will have fun playing with his cousins Tess and Mia.
I haven't seen them since Christmas. We Skype weekly but there is nothing like being together. Laura and Nora will come home this summer. We will miss them this weekend. Katie, Sam and family will be in Alabama for Easter but Scott and girlfriend Letha will be with us for Easter dinner.
The weather this spring has been extreme, snow on Monday, and a severe thunderstorm coming thru now as I enter this blog. Everyone is so ready
for Sunshine and warmer temperatures. I'm signing off and heading for the basement big boomers going on. My family lost our home in a tornado in 1965 so I don't hesitate to go to a safe place. Martha
I am very excited for Easter as son Andy and grandson Cal will be here. Cal will have fun playing with his cousins Tess and Mia.
I haven't seen them since Christmas. We Skype weekly but there is nothing like being together. Laura and Nora will come home this summer. We will miss them this weekend. Katie, Sam and family will be in Alabama for Easter but Scott and girlfriend Letha will be with us for Easter dinner.
The weather this spring has been extreme, snow on Monday, and a severe thunderstorm coming thru now as I enter this blog. Everyone is so ready
for Sunshine and warmer temperatures. I'm signing off and heading for the basement big boomers going on. My family lost our home in a tornado in 1965 so I don't hesitate to go to a safe place. Martha
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Back on track
I received my treatment today....... back on track.
My white cell count was down again but at a level that they could still
give me the chemo. I will give myself shots again this week so that my white cell count will be stronger. I am already half way thru the chemo with 8 more treatments to go. I should be done with chemo the first of June.
We have enjoyed all the phone calls, cards, food, prayers,flowers, visits and thoughtfulness from family, friends, neighbors, church family, art center community. Thank you everyone!
We had a great time Skyping our family in California on Monday. Cal and Nora are just so much fun to sing, and talk with,and just see how they are growing. Andy celebrated his 38th birthday on April 10. Can't believe he is 38 and Kevin is 40. Kevin's youngest was practicing her cartwheels today, one after another.... so cute. Katie will graduate from flight school on May 19th and then her family will all be living in the Destin, Fl area. Scott is in the area so we see him occasionally.
Joe is celebrating a special birthday on April 18th. What to get him?
He wants a Mustang GT, Golf GPS, Trip, most of all, good health for all of us.
Martha
My white cell count was down again but at a level that they could still
give me the chemo. I will give myself shots again this week so that my white cell count will be stronger. I am already half way thru the chemo with 8 more treatments to go. I should be done with chemo the first of June.
We have enjoyed all the phone calls, cards, food, prayers,flowers, visits and thoughtfulness from family, friends, neighbors, church family, art center community. Thank you everyone!
We had a great time Skyping our family in California on Monday. Cal and Nora are just so much fun to sing, and talk with,and just see how they are growing. Andy celebrated his 38th birthday on April 10. Can't believe he is 38 and Kevin is 40. Kevin's youngest was practicing her cartwheels today, one after another.... so cute. Katie will graduate from flight school on May 19th and then her family will all be living in the Destin, Fl area. Scott is in the area so we see him occasionally.
Joe is celebrating a special birthday on April 18th. What to get him?
He wants a Mustang GT, Golf GPS, Trip, most of all, good health for all of us.
Martha
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
No Chemo - shingles
No Chemo today, week 2. The Neupogen shots last week put my white cell count way up so I was ready for chemo today. When I showed the nurse the red rash on my chest, and some other symptoms..... she had me see the doctor. They think I have shingles..... chicken pox virus that is dorment when the immune system is compromised. I had chicken pox when I was young, shingles about 10 years ago, and the shingles shot last year.
So another week without chemo and a prescription to treat the shingles.
As a healthy active person that has taken good care of my body, I am very disappointed that my body is complicating the treatment. I am a bit surprised that I am experiencing these setbacks. The chemo is very strong stuff that does things like this so the doctor was very careful not to put me in a further compromised situation by getting the treatment today.
Lets hope that I can continue next week.
Martha
So another week without chemo and a prescription to treat the shingles.
As a healthy active person that has taken good care of my body, I am very disappointed that my body is complicating the treatment. I am a bit surprised that I am experiencing these setbacks. The chemo is very strong stuff that does things like this so the doctor was very careful not to put me in a further compromised situation by getting the treatment today.
Lets hope that I can continue next week.
Martha
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