Big Week

Hello.  Some of you may not care at all and some of you may care a little:).  I just wanted to share…

I and Teal Diva had a big week this week.  I was in a fashion show called Cure By Design.  It was at the Ritz Carlton and from what I heard guests had to walk the red carpet.  Out of all of the survivors of cancer in Charlotte, I was chosen to participate in this and so it was kind of a big deal to me.   This was the inaugural event for Charlotte and is put on through the American Cancer Society.  Here is a link to all the pictures:  http://www.efphotography.com/Events/Cure-by-Design/22095472_dJdWrm#!i=1763443617&k=WSBQNWB.  

The 2^nd big thing is that I was asked by HERA Foundation to be apart of the Survivor Heroes.  WOW, what an honor.  So here is the link to that article as well www.herafoundation.org.  The article is located in the top right of the web-site.  

Teal Diva is also set to release a 15 minute video sharing what Teal Diva is, how it began and how climbing Mt Kilimanjaro was similar to undergoing treatment for cancer.  This should be out in just a few weeks…DON’T YOU WORRY…I will be blasting it everywhere.

JJ and I were doing yard work and as I was pulling weeds, I came across a little nest.  I was freaked out at first because I wasn't really sure what in the world it was...but look at the miracle we found...

I think it is a miracle because it isn't often you get to hold baby wild bunnies.  

I checked...momma bunny moved them.

Happy Easter!!...a little early.

What is this?

I know the photography is not that great on these, but I felt kind of weird taking pictures of my neighbors house and so I really did it very quickly as I drove by.

Seriously?  What do people think?  What in the world is this?  And why?

A lesson learned

When I was a little girl...like 3 or 4...maybe younger, my dad had taken us (my brother, step sister and step mom) to an RV Park so we could play in the pool/lake and possibly even stay the night.  We didn't have video games and television was kind of boring when there wasn't cartoons on.  So this was a treat.

It was a really popular place to go.  This particular day, we had spent the day swimming and had just finished eating supper which was grilled hamburgers and hotdogs from a charcoal grill.  We were waiting our 30 minutes before swimming again...so we wouldn't get cramps...not sure if that is true or not.  My dad asked me to get his cigarettes from the car.

He told me..."now you go to the car and come right back"  "ok".  He made sure to also mention that he had just poured out the hot ashes from the grill..."don't you step in'em."  "ok!".  And off I ran, excited my dad had asked me to do something instead of asking my brother or step sister.  You know when you are young, sometimes that kind of stuff really matters.  Well, as I approached the car, I noticed a big pile of gravel.  Hmmm?  I remember thinking, 'wonder if this is like jumping in leaves'?  That big ol' pile of gravel looked so enticing.  But wait...I am supposed to stay away from the charcoal...but charcoal is black and this is grey and dusty...

The above picture is the actual spot (or close enough) where I jumped up and down in HOT ASHES causing Third Degree burns on the bottoms of my feet.  You might be asking...well, why in the world did you not jump out?  Well, I was 3 or 4 years old...#1 and #2, you know how when you touch something hot in the oven or on the stove and for some reason, you know it's hot but you keep touching it until your brain says 'let go dummy'?.  Well, my dad and step mom heard my bloodcurdling screams, came and yanked me off of the hot ashes.  They rushed me to the emergency room.  I don't remember much other than the events leading up to it.  I have been told I SCREAMED bloody murder the entire way to the hospital.  I do remember  having to wear casts on my feet.  I had to be carried everywhere I went.  I remember having to go in and get my feet scraped.

Last year, I asked my dad to take me through Lake Myers.  It was the 1st time I had been back since the accident.  I took a few pictures.  It was different than I remembered...only slightly.  I kept my shoes on.  Stayed away from any grills. I don't remember much about my childhood but I will NEVER forget this story.    You may think I am crazy for sharing this story, but it was really traumatic.  For me to step foot back on this property...I feel like took guts on my part.  It was like facing a fear.  I am glad I did it.  We laugh about the incident now...but I will NEVER forget it.

10 down

Ok I am 10 pounds down.  How am I doing it?  Well, I lost the 1st 10 by cutting back portions and running 3 times a week.  I read and try to follow the items talked about in this blog:  http://www.thelondoner.me/2012/01/anti-diet.html.  I run about 2 miles but constantly try to increase my time.  I am a VERY slow runner.

Now, I am alternating workouts.  I still run but I have added a little Winsor Pilates to the end of my run.  The pilates I find most helpful is the Ab workout.  My doc tells me I will have to work really hard to get my tummy back to the way I want it and even still...it may never get back there.  I have also found a few workouts on Pinterest that I am trying out and I kind of like them...I am not the best at them but it is better than sitting on the couch...I guess.

Here are the workouts I am doing on Pinterest (I think I have properly attached the blog for each)...

And...

And...

http://fittipdaily.com/get-rid-of-your-armpit-fat-6662/

Happy workouts to you!!!!

I have 30 pounds to go...eek.

The Abyss

Recently, a friend sent me an email that said, 'I have signed us up for this class called Intimacy After Cancer'.  I didn't really think anything beyond the e-mail.  She reminded us of the class and I showed up.  I had no idea what was in store for me.

Growing up, I went to a private, Christian school.  I don't remember ever attending a health class.  I find myself more often than not confused when it comes to the human body especially the female body.  A lot of times, I get really weirded out by things and embarrassed almost.  I also block out a lot of what is said.  A lot of times that has to do with me not understanding what is being said.  Because of this, I usually try and have JJ or his mom with me at almost all of my appointments.  Cancer has changed a lot of things about me.  One major thing...because I was thrust into menopause, my sex drive has been affected.  I know...I know...TMI.  And I am in no way shape or form comfortable talking about sex...with anyone.  In an effort to help us out, my doctor referred me to a Pelvic Floor Specialist.  I wasn't really sure what a Pelvic Floor Specialist was...or is...but I have heard lots of great things about her...so I was excited to give it a try.  Mostly what I have heard is that "she does wonders" but I still wasn't really sure what that meant.  At any rate, I had heard she would be one of the presenters at this Intimacy After Cancer thing.  And I was intrigued to learn more about her and her practice. 

As we were sitting there waiting for people to arrive, a woman walked in and sat a few boxes near me.  I couldn't help but look to try and figure out what they were.  I noticed the boxes said...Dilators.  I was recently told what a dilator was...it is the medical form of a vibrator.  My facial expressions hold true to my inner reaction...to which I thought...OMGEE...is there gonna be a demonstration?...what in the world have you girls gotten me into?  As that was going on, one of the presenters had started talking.  I wasn't really looking at her, but her voice was so familiar.  Not a good familiar.  I kept thinking where do I know that voice?  OK, then it hit me...this lady (who is a sex therapist) sounds JUST LIKE Abby Lee Miller from Dance Moms.

Yikes!!  I couldn't talk to her if I tried...especially about sex.

Well, then the power point begins...presented by...yes, the Pelvic Floor Specialist.  I was NOT mentally prepared for anything I saw or heard. 

We saw things and heard words/explanations similar to:

I took notes on things I didn't understand.  When I was explaining everything to JJ, I used phrases like VAGINAL ABYSS.

It was fabulous entertainment for those around me and for JJ when I got home and told him all about it.  Especially when a picture similar to the one below came on the screen.  All I kept thinking...'she does wonders'.  I almost had an anxiety attack.

 Let's just say, I now know the function of a Pelvic Floor Specialist.  Stay tuned for a report on my first Pelvic Floor Specialist appointment...which I just received the reminder call that it is tomorrow at 4:00.