Fall

I am not exactly sure where the summer went this year. My summer was cut short with doctor visits, hospital visits, tests and sleepless nights. August and September have been somewhat of a blur. One of my favorite times of the year is fall. I hate hot weather and like it when it is about 70 to 75 out. The last several years we have had such great fall weather. One of my favorite places is Northern Wisconsin. The photos above were taken in the Upper Peninsula during the fall season. My brother, Gary, is an awesome amateur photographer (I think he has a job with National Geographic but he says no LOL). He periodically sends me photos of the north woods and places he has visited. The photo on the upper right- hand side of my blog was also taken by him up at Lake Superior. I have always been interested in taking photos and my last birthday my family surprised me with a new Canon Rebel camera. I love this camera. It takes the greatest photos. I haven't had much time to play around with it (gee, I wonder why haha) and for now I just have it on automatic focus when I snap photos. I am hoping to get out shortly and take some fall photos in the area.

4 Weeks Post Op Surgery

Today is my 4-week post op anniversary! Surgery was what I considered my biggest hurdle in all of this craziness. Next hurdle is the chemotherapy treatments.

I post and lurk on the Susan G. Komen website message boards and one of the questions that comes up quite frequently is "when do you consider yourself a breast cancer survivor?" Is it the day you are diagnosed? the day your cancer is removed? or the day you are done with treatments?
For me, I would consider myself a survivor the day of my surgery. My cancer was removed, I had no lymph node involvement and I now am taking precautionary measures with chemotherapy. I am a survivor! I am returning to what is now my "normal" routine. I have a few weeks before chemotherapy and then I will have another routine to get used to. For now I am enjoying these several weeks of normalcy.


I decided not to go to the wig place I was going to check out. I have already heard 2 bad reviews of the place so I already have an opinion formed before even going there. I HAVE made an appointment at another wig salon in two weeks. I actually found this place through the Small Stones store at Froedert hospital. The owner herself is a breast cancer survivor and has a store in Menomonee Falls. I talked with her on the phone and met her business partner at the hospital the other day. I liked both of them, so I am going to go and visit them in two weeks. Redhead? Blonde? Hmmmm,,,,,, I may surprise you!! LOL

Boxhorn Gun Club, Muskego, Wisconsin, 3rd Annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fundraiser


$10,200.00 !!!!!!!!!



~ A special thank you from me!~

My niece Melissa and me

Owner Debbie Schim, Maria, Sandy and Karen

Me, John, Natalie

Owner Rick Schim and Dan

Another Day Off!

Wow, my boss is nice! (that would be my husband for those of you who don't know LOL) He gave me another day off (actually not because I needed it, but our business sucks right now, and he will be in the store today, so no need for both of us to be there).
I am off to get my hair cut and colored, for maybe the last time :(. I did pretty much all my to-do things from yesterday except one and that was wig shopping. Ok, I will admit it had pretty low priority on my list. I am dreading it and just put it off. My hair stylist is right down the street from this place, so I may stop in today, depends on my mood!

I will post later about the Boxhorn Gun Club Breast Cancer Shoot with some photos. The fundraiser was a huge success! Despite the weather, the economy, the Packer and Brewer games, and less shooters than last year, the club raised more money than last year!!!! $10,200.00 !!!!!!

Don't forget to order a copy of "Churched." (see my post from yesterday)

Busy Day!

I have the day off from work, and I need to take advantage of that so I have several things I need to do today.

1. Grocery store.

2. Buy the book "Churched" My niece's husband is a Christian author and has just released a new book. It is already #687 on the Amazon list. (Congrats Matthew!!!). Check it out on Amazon.com. Matthew has written quite a few books, and according to my niece Jessica this is THE one you want to read. (to get to his blog, check out the link on the side of my page).

Here is a brief description of the book:

Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite A Holy Mess

He spent his childhood trapped within the confines of countless bizarre, strict rules. And lived to tell about it.

In this first-hand account, author Matthew Paul Turner shares amusing–sometimes cringe-worthy–and poignant stories about growing up in a fundamentalist household, where even well-intentioned contemporary Christian music was proclaimed to be “of the devil.”

3. Homecoming dress. The dress sewing is a bit frustrating. I think I have the right size now. Because of Natalie's broad shoulders from swimming and the skinniness of the rest of her body, we have had a bit of a time getting the dress to fit right. I am going to baste the whole thing together today, cross my fingers and hope it fits when she tries it on next. It has to be done by next weekend!!! AHHHHHH!! I am surprising Natalie's best friend KT and making one for her also (shhhhhh, she doesn't know it, and Lisa you can't be mad at me, KT is like my second daughter. LOL). Her dress is all cut out and the top basted together. I will work on that today as well. I will surprise her this week when she comes over! I need to have her try it on as well, as her and Natalie are a bit different in size. Call me crazy, I know. The girls are dressing in theme and both wanted these sequin dresses. What can I say??? It's a mom thing. They will look adorable.

4. Wig shopping. Uggghhhhh! Need I say more? This is not exactly what I would like to do, but I guess it needs to be done. I actually have 3 places that were recommended to me, and I would like to check this place out to find the right place to go. I am just going to stop in and and get a feel for the place before I start looking. I have heard some mixed reviews about this particular store, so I am stopping in today to see what I think about it.

5. Catch up on the Young and the Restless. No explanation needed.

6. Read. I need to get my book club book done by next week. It will be a scramble to get it done. I can't seem to stay awake while reading. I am not sure if the book is boring or I am just too tired to read. :)

7. Vaccum the lower level. Dog hair everywhere! It drives me crazy!

8. Cook? hahaha I have not made a meal since my surgery. Today is the first day we have no meals coming in (ok, I don't want you all showing up at my door with a meal today feeling sorry for us LOLOL). I actually have burgers on the grill planned. I think I can handle that.

Time to get moving!!! Enjoy your day!!

Thought for the Day

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill~

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!

Typically I hate Mondays!!!!! But this particular Monday I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am now officially drain free and feeling like a new woman!!

Today, I met with Ann, the oncology nurse, who went over the nitty gritty about chemotherapy drugs and what to expect. My first chemo treatment will be October 29th.

The new Cancer Center is beautiful inside. There is a huge amount of glass in the building overlooking the Froedert grounds. It is very nice! They have nice sitting areas, a nice little restaurant with organic food, and they even have their own separate lab facility. I was quite impressed.

I am trying to get back into my medical transcription work, slowly but surely. I have been doing a little each day. I have a wonderful boss who basically said I can work whenever. She has been so wonderful with all the days I have had to take off lately. Next week John is on his hunting trip, so I will be back to work full time, I think. I will admit, I am enjoying not having to go in to the office every day. Napping has been nice! I can nap at my desk at work, so that may be an option for me. LOL