The Funk

I have been in one. Too tired to pick my head up off the pillow. Too overwhelmed with living everyday, to blog about it.I did take pictures. I did participate in events. I was not depressed. I was just exhausted, so I took lots of naps.

On the positive side, I finished my radiation treatments on Monday, February 25th (Doug's 64th birthday). I had joined weight watchers on January 2, 2013 and as of February 25th I had lost a total of 18 pounds.Five days later on Saturday, March 2, Emilie's due date, and Dr. Seuss' Birthday, Abigail Rose Tomaro arrived. The family , minus Emilie and Abigail, gathered at Houlihan's in Bridgewater to celebrate Doug's 64th birthday and Pop's 91st birthday. I slept over at Samantha's that night so Matt could be with Emilie and Abigail. Monday, March 4th (officially named ONWARD DAY by Doug Rex), Abigail Rose came home from the hospital!

March 5 - out to dinner with Lynne and Shiela and weight watchers , down 20.6.pounds ; March 6 - Dinner and Kismet at Pop's;  March 7 - Kamryn's 5th Birthday; March 8 - Angela has pneumonia, I babysit Abigail from 5:30 -  9pm; Sunday, March 10 - SPRING ahead.
March 11-17th included, Daddy's actual 91st birthday, weight watchers (-22.4 lbs), Lynee Ewen had a hysterectomy, Angela and Natalie's science project, chicken eggs, did not hatch, Angela had a card class, Sheila and I went but we had to leave early because Kellen was in the emergency room in PA. and we needed to go babysit Kamryn. (kellen was dehydrated and had been sick for over a week), Oh yes, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day.
March 18 - 31, - Visit chairlift showroom, removed wallpaper from bedroom walls, weight watchers
- 23.8lbs; Dentist for me, Caro diagnosed with celiac disease (no gluten); Kellen's 2nd birthday; Combined party for Kamryn and Kellen, Tim interviews for job in Maryland, weight watchers -24.2 lbs.; one month visit to radiologist/oncologist; Pop admitted to hospital with internal bleeding; Easter!

Just writing it all down makes me want a nap:) So, this is basically caught up. When life happens , it happens hard and fast and you just have to hang on.

Meet Abigail Rose Tomaro, born on her due date and Dr. Seuss' birthday, Saturday, March 2, 2013.
She arrived at 9:11am, weighed 7. lbs, and was 19.5 inches long. She was born at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.

My fourth Grandchild!

 

Pop celebrates his 91st birthday early at Houlihans, on March 2, 2013 (The day his fourth Great Grandchild was born.

Samantha finally gets to hold her new sister! She was not allowed into the hospital for a sibling visit because we were still in the middle of the flu epidemic.

Pop Meets Abigail at Perkins  for breakfast.

 

 

Kamryn's 5th birthday and Kellen's 2nd birthday Party, Saturday, March 23, 2013.

 

Caroline with all of her niece's and nephew at Kamryn and Kellen's Birthday party.

 

The Rex family on March 23, 2013.

 

Kamryn gets her chance to hold Abigail Rose!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sad

Adrienne Dupuis of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts passed away today at the age of 81 years 11months. She had been ill and declining for awhile. She was my birthmother! I met her three times. The first time was after our baby Adam died. We started looking for medical information. We searched through Catholic Charities and found her. She graciously agreed to meet me. Doug, Tim, Emilie and I camped our way to Biddeford, Maine where we met Adrienne and some of her 10 brothers and sisters.(Caroline was conceived on that trip)
The second time I met Adrienne was at my half-brother's wedding in Massachusetts. My family was invited to attend the ceremony and the reception. We were honored to be included and marvelled at how much I looked like everyone.
The third time was a couple of years ago. We just went up to visit Adrienne. Doug and I drove to Massachusetts and stayed at an inn at the cape. Adrienne lived in Buzzards Bay, near Dana (her son), Kim his wife and Courtney their daughter. We enjoyed a long weekend with them, taking Adrienne out for breakfast and having dinner at Dana and Kim's. Dana, retired from the airforce, became a paid fireman and plays in a band. He drove us onto the airforce base and we saw air force one, which has another name when the president isn't on board. He then continued with a complete tour of the cape. It was quite beautiful. We enjoyed their hospitality and their kind welcome.
A few days ago, Dana phoned with the news that Adrienne was not doing well and it looked like she might not recover. We received another phone call from him today, telling us that she had passed away. It was very sad news.
Adrienne will be creamated and internment will be postponed until the spring. It was a relief to me, as I am in the middle of my radiation treatments and could only go up there for a weekend. Dana will let us know when the arrangements are made.
Thank you Adrienne for the gift of life. Rest in peace.

Happy Ground Hog Day

And a good day it was! In true Preschool Tradition I whipped up cookie Monster cookie dough in two colors-  natural and dark. Then I cut out groundhogs. The natural ones got the eyeball and the dark ones were the shadow.
Preschool Teacher Breakfast at Perkins was today.......so everyone got ground hog cookies!
The Groundhog did not see his shadow so in six weeks we will have Spring.

Pat England, Barbara O'Steen, Nancy Avery, Pat Rex, Mary Stockton And our adopted Mascot: Doug Rex

 

 

 

 

Then my wonderful Daughter-in-law asked my son if he had called his Mother. That led to him calling and asking us if we wanted to meet halfway for dinner. Caroline tagged along and we met Tim, Robyn, Kamryn and Kellen in Flemington at the Country Griddle. So I got to celebrate Groundhog Day twice.

 

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!

Can you see what I see?

Look closely. I spotted this from across the street on Raritan Avenue. I had just finished getting home from radiation and the weather was so warm that I took myself around the lake. (My Weight Watcher Active Link......moniters my physical activity, loved this)
What did  I see?

I think this is a very cold blue heron who wishes he was in Florida right about now. He  stood perfectly still and let me get to the bank right in front of him. Only his head moved. We should all have such perfect balance.I am fascinated with how close I can get to photograph things, the closer the better.

Winter beauty!

Better Late Than Never!

THE ANNUAL HAPPY NEW YEAR...........BABY!

Okay! It is January 19th, but what is a Grandma to do when her own children do not honor the long established tradition of the Annual New Year Baby picture shoot........she goes there and does it herself!

And we do it with sass and attitude! Samantha, Kellen and Kamryn are willing participants in the fun.
(There will be a new baby next year  to take over the tradition, Abigail Rose, be ready!)

Caroline was asked to babysit the Rex children, so Samantha and I hitched a ride. We had not seen Kamryn and Kellen since Christmas Eve. We made cupcakes that Sam brought  and they each cracked an egg, added cake mix and stirred. While Kellen was napping, the girls iced the cupcakes. I am pretty sure most of the icing made it into their mouths and not onto the cupcakes.

We got it in the bowl! Good, because Grandma only brought three eggs.

Everybody gets a turn

Oh? Is that blue icing in my mouth? I wonder how it got there?

This part is not easy! I have to concentrate!

Stay Calm and Radiate!

Today is day 4 of radiation. Only 28 more days to go. Last week, starting was more emotional than I thought it would be, just talking to me made me tear up and I was in an I don't care funk. (On a positive note, I did start weight watcher's and lost 2.8 pounds my first week)
I am starting this week resigned to my fate. Angela says that I just haven't wrapped my head around the idea that the Doctor cut out the cancer, I am cancer free, and the radiation is preventative! Remember, those of you who have given birth, when you didn't care who looked? Well, it is getting to be that way with my breasts! Drop the sheet, sure!
Doug has been very supportive and has been driving me to my appointments. I have not had any adverse reaction to the radiation yet. Apparently you don't typically get any reaction before 14 treatments!
This radiation does not affect my interaction with people. I will still be able to hold Emilie's new baby and I can still hug and kiss my other grandchildren.
Today we leave the house at 11:30 for my 12:30 appointment in New Brunswick. When we get there we valet park and go down to G2 in the basement, where radiation is located. I go to the desk, state my name, they find and give me my medical band (which I turn in after every treatment) and then I wait for my turn. When my name is called I go through locked doors and change from the waist up, lock my clothes in a locker and proceed to the next waiting area. My turn begins with me entering a room with a thick steel door. I sit on a table that has my body form on it and take off the sheet. Two  techs then line me up with the machine. I usually line up nicely, so they say!
Zap for 10 minutes and then I repeat everything backwards and go home. Only 2 1/2 hours out of each day. A small price to go on living!

LIVE!

This is my first official post of the New Year, 2013!

No resolutions this year, just my word for the year! A word that will evolve and lead my actions in this new year. I do not just want to survive! I want to Live!

LIVE

 I am going to live with intention! 

I want to walk to the Edge!

Listen - Laugh - Play

Choose with No Regret

Appreciate My Friends

Continue to Learn 

LOVE

Do what I love

LIVE

as if this is all there is!

Saturday, January 5, 2013 - Sue Daniel  (79) on the right of me  (61) at the first Breakfast of 2013 at Perkins restaurant, Route 22, Greenbrook, New Jersey. Also in attendance: Doug Rex, Caroline Rex, Nancy Avery, Mary Stockton, Barbara O'Steen, and Pat England.