New Year, New Me

Have you heard of the Seven Challenge?  Have you taken it? How are you doing?

For those who may not know the challenge is to do one of the workouts for 7 minutes just once a day.  In all there are several different challenges.  The app is free and it comes with one challenge.  Every other month another challenge opens up for free or you can buy them for $1.99.

So the idea is to move just 7 minutes every day.  If you do more, great!  If you do a lot more, fantastic! But for now, just move 7 minutes.  I'm doing the 7 minute stretch and some days I will do it twice, but the goal is to do as many as you can can. So Far I've done it every day for a week!  Go ME!

What are you doing to move more this new year?

New Year, New Me.

New Year, new Me.  Time to get rid of all those pounds I gained over all those sick weeks when all I did was sleep, eat, cough and craft.  Time to get back on track.  Like so many of you right?  Here is one of go to breakfast's that fill me up.

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Muffins

I love these easy to make muffins that are packed with wonderful goodness! They fill me up and help me to stay trim. I also love how easy they are.  I have a small 6 cup muffin tin that fits perfectly in my toaster oven so I make 6 at a time for Hubby and me.

Here is what you do

6 eggs
2 slices bacon
Heavy Cream
Cheese of your choice ( I like cheddar cheese sliced thin)

Spray the muffin tin with spray and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook the bacon anyway you want to and drain on a paper towel, and then break it up into small pieces.
Scramble the eggs in a bowl with the heavy cream and a little bit of water.
Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin and place your cheese of choice into the mixture. Evenly place the bacon bits into the mixture as well.

Bake for 12-17 minutes (again I used a toaster oven so if you use the big oven, watch them). It's done when a tooth pick comes out clean.

Let cool a few minutes and for the eggs to settle and then take them out and place them on a plate.

Each muffin has 1 carb. But more importantly, it's So good!

What are you doing in the new year?

So how am I doing 2 1/2 weeks later???

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since Harvesting my own stem cells and some have been asking how I was doing. I'm still in remission, I still smile at that fact!

For a 2 1/2 week old, I'm doing well. I say that because my immune system is only 21/2 weeks old since I had to grow it from scratch for Harvesting.  I try to rest a lot and am working part time (mostly from home).  I enjoy working but I find that it takes a lot to get ready to leave the house so working from home allows me to stay in my pj's and not worry about make up. That saves me time and energy that I can then use sitting at the computer working.

My RSV (baby cold) is better but I do have a "Baker's Cyst" behind my left knee so my left leg is swollen and often hurts like mad.  Tylenol is my new friend and I have a cane that helps me walk.  Working with dogs is fun because they have a new thing to get use to.  They adapt to the cane easily.

Here is a photo of me as a baby about a few months old.  I am more bald now as I was back then!! It was cute then, not so much now. These photos are really old and not very well cared for but they are still photos of me.

Here I am with my mother a young bald baby!

And one more of me in the high chair at one year old, see, still not much hair!! I hope it doesn't take as long as back then to grow hair this time around. I was told once that I was about 2 1/2 before I got my first hair cut.

In the mean time if we go out, I wear my hot red hair.

Around the house I wear a hat to keep my head warm (plus you can't sleep in a wig)

But I have as much hair now as I did at 2 weeks of age.  It's a reminder to myself that I am very much starting over again.

I debated over posting this photo for a long time. It's not easy for me to look at myself in the mirror or take a photo of myself and then post it.  But I do post it.

I post this photo for 2 reasons,.
(1)  I want to show Cancer that it didn't win! I did. It may knock me down but I will stand up again and carry on. God has given me the strenght to stand up and carry on.
And
(2) For anyone that has to have this happen to them, I want you to know - it's OK. You are more than what is on your head.  You will find out just how strong you are and you will learn that Cancer is not for wimps.   Stand in the mirror and remind yourself that you are more than your hair and you are stronger than you believe you are.  You Are A Winner.

So How Am I??   I Am Perfect!! I am just what God wants me to be!! How Are You?

Before - Before the After

Here is my BEFORE photo.  This is my real hair. It's grown a lot over the last few months and this is my real color. I can't color my hair for a while so this is my real color. Still deciding if it's blond with lots of gray or gray with a bit of blond.  Or Brown with gray, maybe gray with brown???Anyhow, this is it.

SPOILER ALERT - This is a medical post, I know that some of you don't really like the idea of medical posts and I fully understand. So run to another blog and my feelings are not hurt at all. In fact, I would love to run away from this as well but unfortunately I have to live it. 

Just to remind you I have a blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. It's not curable but treatable.  So far I've had 16 weeks of chemo (35 pills once a week, and a shot in the stomach once a week).  Then I had  8 more weeks of chemo again (shot in the stomach once a week, and a different chemo pill every day) and lots and lots of steroid drugs. I've gained a lot of weight!   My hair got very thin, and some parts fell out so I was wearing a wig for a bit, then I had super short hair that felt like straw and looked like it too.

Then I rested and tested to see where I was.  I am in remission!  

I call it my before photo because in a few weeks I will have an AFTER look.

You see we are moving forward with Stem Cells Harvesting.  It's a bit complicated but it involves a lot of steps for me.

I had a lot of tests to make sure that there is no issue with past chemo and that I am healthy enough for Harvesting.

Soon I will begin the process of Harvesting my own Stem Cells.  Each case and each person's walk is different.

 For me that includes:

More Chemo

  I will loose all the hair you see in the above photo. It's only one day of Chemo but I've been told it is very strong and that I WILL lose my hair.  

Then I will have 2 days of rest, followed by a shot a day of a growth hormone for between 9-13 days that will force my body to grow more stem cells than it needs, forcing those cells to spill out of the bones and into my blood stream. I will also have blood tests every other day to see if they can figure out how many stem cells I am growing.

I will then have surgery to put 2 new ports in my chest that will be used instead of the veins in my arms which are not good for this procedure.

Then I'll be hooked up to a machine and the stems cells will be pulled out of my blood and the blood returned to me.  5 hours a day for maybe 2 days (but it could be 3 days)

Finally, surgery to get the 2 new ports out of my chest and then it's done!! Then I rest up, recover, take a maintenance dose of chemo drugs and live my life normally.  

 In all it's about 14 days from Chemo to the end of Harvesting. Sounds scary doesn't it? Yes it does but I'm the girl that has had 4 Bone Marrow Biopsys so I am not scared.  I 've been working on building up my stamina, staying healthy, and strong. More Importantly, I've Got God On My Side.  I've done all I can do, now it's in His Hands. And His Hands are Gentle, Loving, Trusting, and He only Wants the Best for me.   It's going to be a gruelling couple of weeks so if you don't see me much, this is why.

I start with the Chemo on Monday 1/13/14 and the Harvesting will be sometimes between 1/22/14 and 1/24/14. In between, I'm pretty much stuck at home and can only go out for doctor's appointments. 

  I'll post an AFTER photo when I feel strong about that.  

Keep us in your prayers, OK?

Better Late than Never, Right?

Yesterday I told you that I have been getting head aches. Not the usual kind that goes with seasonal allergies. No, not those.  Those are mild compared to what my head has been going through.

The verdict is still out if they are Migraine or Tension head aches and I'm still trying to figure out the trigger as this is new to me. I need more information before my doctor will add another prescriptin med to my pile.  But in both cases Exercise is suppose to be "helpful".

I've gotten lazy about exercise as of late but after spending a afternoon and evening praying for my head to stop pounding and my eyes to stop tearing and burning, I got my "Scottish Up" and decided to fight back. I sure don't want this to continue!!!

Kristie Alley started "100 Days Of Dance" to promote a fun way to get into shape.  Her 100 days are done but since there are still 100 days left in 2012 I'm jumping on board!  I started with music from my iPhone and a stepper and set the timer for 30 minutes.  That's the joy of this challenge. It's dancing for 30 minutes every day. Any kind of dance!  I have some dancing DVD's that go in the Wii, some music on the iPhone, a Zumba video and even a belly dancing DVD and a hip scarf to go with it.

So for the next 100 days, I'm dancing.  The idea is to re leash some endorphins that promote health.  I'm willing to try it. Anyone want to join me?

Do the twist, how about Disco, remember the Hustle?  I will list the dances I do on Monday for the week past. Want to join? I've even put a ticker on the side bar to show my progress. Come on now - no one has to see, I'm not taking a video or anything, but lets get moving. Get your Scottish Up!

Reflection on Reaching A Goal: Part Two

There was lots to learn as I worked towards 2400 miles of  moving. After all some days all I did was  2 miles while other days I was able to log in 10 miles! Walking with Becke, the wonder dog, gave me lots of time to think and pray.

1. I've learned that if I'm sick, I need to stop and rest.

2. I've learned it was OK to stop for a day and rest, but made sure I got going again as soon as I could. 

3. I've learned that I get bored easily so I had to mix up what I did and that it was OK to do that.

4. I learned that it felt good to give away nice clothes that no longer fit.

5. I've learned that I still don't like shopping for clothes even if they are a size 4.

6. I've learned that no matter how long I stretch, I will never be 5 feet 7. (now I never was before but a girl can dream can't I?)

7. I've learned that I need a place to track my progress and to be accountable to someone. The blog was perfect for this! I had the tracker and every Monday was check in day.

8. I learned that it was OK to take a day off, to do nothing, and not feel the tiniest bit guilty for it. The next day, I just continued on. It's the continuing on that's important.

9. I learned to look at both the big picture and the small picture at the same time. The big picture was 400 miles, the small picture was just what I could to towards that today.

10. I learned to be honest about why I was not working towards the goal on those days when I did nothing. Was I taking the day off because I was truly sick, because my body has given out for the day, or because I wanted a "vacation" or was I just being lazy?  

The lessons learned were that sometimes I just needed a day off, but it was harder to get back into it (sort of like some Mondays). It means to look at the big picture and what small steps are needed towards that end. It means that guilt can be a good thing but some things are not worth feeling guilty over, let some things go!  It means to pick myself up, dust myself off and keep going. It means that accountability  is a good thing. It means that somethings will never change and that we cannot do the impossible, but more importantly, to know when and what is impossible. It means that there are some gifts that I was not given and no matter how much I want that gift, it is not my gift to have. Let it go! It means that for me, having more ways to get something done, is better for me. I will most likely not give up. It means I am not 100% perfect, but I am still alive and breathing and a better person.

So what if I put all I learned towards a new 2012 goal? What could I accomplish? What goal would I pick?

What would you pick as a 2012 goal?

I'll keep you all posted.

As to my reward for all the hard work, I'll keep you posted on that too.

Reflection on Reaching A Goal - Part One

The first week of January 2011 I joined several others who had one goal - Move the equivalent of 400 miles during the entire year. Once I met that goal, I kept going. Why did I do that? Why keep going? I felt at first that if 400 was good, 800 was better and in some ways I am competitive. So I kept going. I learned a few things along the way and wanted to share what I learned. OK, I learned more than a few things along the way, hence the "Part One" in this blog title.

1. I learned that I like cheer leaders! Many of you encouraged me on by telling how good I was doing and I am thankful for your encouragement. It really meant a lot to have an cheerleader or two jumping up and down for me. I really did picture some of you waving pompoms and yelling "Way to Go Lynn Marie, now give me 10 more."Thank you.

2. I learned that I am stronger than I was before. I can now carry the 40 pound bags of water softener salt. I could not do that at the start of this experience.

3.  I learned that I can reach for a goal, one day at a time.

4. I learned that I like exercising for the most part. It feels good to push myself.

5. I learned that 2400 miles is not reached by blinking my eyes (picture "I Dream of Jennie" here) but by getting off the couch. It's reached one mile at a time.

6. I learned that I really do have the time to get it done. It became important enough to make me get up and move. Or even move while watching TV.

7. I learned that I don't need a gym membership, fancy clothes, or a partner to reach a goal. So much for all those commercials telling me I do need them!

8. I learned that my arms "wings" will need more work-even after all this time I still have them. But more importantly, I'm OK with that!  Gives me another goal.

9. I've learned that sometimes I had to get up early to exercise and that was OK.  I was still able to do my job at home or work and the mere act of exercising woke me up.

10. I've learned that if 10 pound weights hurt my arthritic hands, lift 8 pounds, it's OK. It's more important to lift 8 pounds, or 5 pounds rather than not lift at all. 

What does this mean? Pick a project, any project. Maybe it's calling people who need someone to talk to. Maybe it's cooking meals for people who are sick, or just had a baby. Pick a project - look around, there are lots to pick from.  

To me it means that I can do something today! It may not be what I did yesterday, or the day before, but now is not the time to give up. It means that changing what I do does not mean that I stop doing something. It means that I don't need a lot of money, or a fancy car, or special clothes to get something done. It means that if I still have a job to do, that's OK - I have another goal! I learned that I really do have the time to do something, if I want to. It means that I really do like doing something, it feels good. It means that somethings take time to do and that is OK, I can do it one day at a time.  It means that I am stronger than I think I am and really can do things that once I felt was not for me. And it means that I like the pat on the back and the cheer leading but it's no substitute for just getting things done.  

More later.  

Weekend Review: The First Fall Monday!

Fall showed up with 70 and 80's degrees Summer temps. Well, this is fall in New England. One day it's 80's and the next 50's! This is when some people get really sick because how does one dress when the temps are all over the place.  Since it is fall, I did fall things, like put out a fall garden flag.

I planted some Fall Mums - just look at the leaves all over the ground! Oh My! I see raking in my future.

Put up the drive way markers for the snow plow---last year the ground froze before we got them in!  Not this year!

And pulled out my fall clothes - that is what was made me the saddest.

I really don't like the heavy material. It hurts my body because I have Fibromyalgia. The weight become so heavy trying to keep me warm with so many layers that I do suffer more in the cold weather.  I did keep some short sleeves and shorts out for because the weather for this week says we have a few days in the 80's coming up. Want to be able to wear the summer outfits for a bit longer.

If you read my blog last week, you know that Hubby was away then and I lost the TV remote. I was looking for sympathy but none of my fb friends gave me any. They laughed at me.  You can read the story here.
Hubby went to the men's retreat and this time he took care of me so that I couldn't loose the remote.

He attached a long line to it so that I could not loose it this time. It made me laugh every time I used it. How funny was this! What a man!  So instead, I lost the Internet and somehow got hacked and my email account sent all sorts of email off to people on my email list... Oh my, he had to fix that when he got home.  I'm so sorry to those of you that got an email from me over the weekend. I didn't send them!! Hubby is wondering what will happen next time he leaves, one never knows!

I also took photos of the changing colors, we are mostly green here but there are pops of colors here and there.

I also took photos of the best yellow lab ever sleeping on our floor.

I was really tired on Friday and so I took the day to take it easy, I only counted my walking and some painting that I really wanted to do but my energy ran out and I stopped. By Saturday, I was all better and jumped back into the grove and later that day when I added up all my miles for the week, I discovered that I did 68 miles!! Well no wonder, I felt really, really tired! I have only 146 miles to go! Yippee!!!

How was your weekend?

Weekend Review: Heat!

WOW! What a difference a day makes!  I really wanted to put on my flip flops and enjoy the last weekend of Summer, instead I put on the heat and curled up under a blanket (electric throw) on the couch.  The temps went down so low, we had a light frost here!  

Hubby was away for a few days helping out at the Ladies Retreat (in the kitchen feeding them all) so I was left to entertain myself. I really like those days because I can eat (or not), clean early (or not) and watch what I like on TV (which is lots of HGTV-BTW)

Well you know what they say about the best laid plans right.......

Friday night I wanted to watch something on channel 5 so I put the TV on channel 5 to watch the show and then for some reason, because this type "A" person had too many irons in the fire, doing too many things at once, I lost the remote and was stuck with channel 5 (which was football, both collage and pro from 7:30pm on....). So I had sports to watch in the living room once the other projects were done. OK we have more than one TV but without the remote I couldn't find a way to turn OFF the TV. Our TV doesn't have a power button, it's all remote controlled. What's a girl to do??? I FaceBooked my dilemma and only received laughs from my "Friends". When they found out that hubby was away at camp, they then FaceBooked back and forth camp songs!! Hey, what about some sympathy here!! None...I was told to simply unplug the TV.  Some Friends!! I love them all and it was funny. I even told hubby who laughed as well - for quite some time.

As for projects, I turned this Microwave cabinet 

Into this with left over paint

Took the  Ice Box  from the above picture and added some details and got this.

Fall table cloths added to the tea cart, gives a new look as well

Washing the floor, moving funiture and putting the room back together, makes our dinning area look ready for fall.

Bird seed on the floor by the freezer will go into the feeders soon.

So even though I wanted summer heat, I got home oiled heat and lots done while Hubby was away.  He goes away later for hunting season, wonder what I'll do then?????

On my personal challenge, I'm up to 2186!  I was able to get in the equivalent of 73 miles this week!  Remember, it's not just walking...bike riding, painting, weights, step aerobics and Zumba all counts.  I'm getting there! How was your weekend?

Weekend Review: The end of August!

Welcome to the last full week of August! Can you believe that we are in the dog days of Summer? Wow the time goes by fast the older I get!  I hope you all are having a great week and that your weekend was fabulous! 

Friday was the funeral for our friend Duane. It was bittersweet as we know he is in Heaven and has received his reward and yet we miss him. We miss his smile and his laugh. It was nice to hear some of the funny stories from his co-workers. That is a part of him we didn't get to see, him at work. His wife gave a beautiful tribute to her Husband. What an example she was standing there talking about her love. When she got up, there was not a dry eye in the building.  How she managed to stand there without falling apart still amazes me. She did cry a little, but composed herself and went on. What a strong, remarkable Christian woman she is!

Saturday the plans were to do a painting project. A big project but Becke, the wonder dog had other plans and got sick all over the living room! And by all over the living room, I mean a total of 8 spots of really huge...well you know! So the entire carpet had to be cleaned. That took a while so instead I painted our small island. Thanks to Tammy from Country Girl at Home I found the same paint and glaze that she used on her large loft project and painted the island instead. I took everything out to the back deck including a fan and went to work.  Here are the photos:

Before

During with the fan going and Becke looking on safe inside.

Back in the kitchen.

 What do you think? I like the Darker red and it goes with the rugs and floor as well. Thank you Tammy for sharing your ideas with all of us.

Sunday was quiet, watch the dog for any further problems, which happily there were none. So she started on boiled hamburger and rice,  watch the grand girls and go to church. 

My personal challenge is plugging along and I am up to a total of 1930 miles with only 470 to go.  So how was your weekend? Do you have plans for this last full week of August.

Weekend Review: Party Time!!

This was our first weekend with Hubby retired! We have not gone to many BBQ's, showers, weddings, birthday parties or much else as a couple in years because of his work/sleeping schedule so being able to go to a BBQ together on a Saturday, like normal people was a real treat. This was also a "Surprise-This-is-NOT-a Retirement-Party" Party.

Dessert was a giant Regular flavor Whoppie pie cake, a German Chocolate Whoppie pie cake and a cake of donuts!! Yes, we ate them and they were wonderful and funny.

Some wonderful funny gifts made everyone laugh and great stories were told. It was thrown by great friends and included both friends and family.

He gave a wonderful little speech about how blessed we are with such great friends and family who would throw a Non Party, Party.

He's right, we are blessed to have such wonderful people in our life to share our milestones with.  

Even I got a gift of this beautiful flower vase with flowers, a card, a tiara and a coffee mug that I'll share later this week because you are tired of retirement stories by now.  

Oh on my personal challenge, I still got in just a bit over 66 miles so my new total for the year was 1802 miles! I celebrated with a small slice of both cakes!  I plan on working it off over the next few days!!!

Weekend Review: Personal challenge

I downloaded this Sunday afternoon and it's for forecast for Today. We are in the upper right hand corner so we are suppose to be in the 70's and 80's. Looks like the middle part of the country is still very hot, so I sure hope you all are staying safe and cool. Staying cool must be your personal challenge! Be safe out there. How are you staying cool?

Since it was very hot up here I took it easy and didn't push myself too much in my 2400 mile challenge.  I only rode the bike once all week and did most of my workouts early in the morning. In all I still managed to log in 66.75 miles.

walking - 14.6 miles

stationary bike - 4.15 miles

weights - 5 miles

Ab exercise - 16 miles

Step/Zumba - 27 miles

My YTD today - 1671.39, leaving 729 to go by the end of year. Do you think I will make it?  

We ate a lot of  salads which I love but we did go out for soft serve ice cream a few times. No, it is not low carb, but oh boy were they good!!

Weekend Review: Harry Potter and Grand Children.

We started our weekend standing in line waiting for the start of the last Harry Potter Film. It was wonderful! Children holding their books, all dressed up in house colors and robes with wands in hand and me in my house scarf and just as excited!  The theater was packed and we were near the front so we were able to get seats that allowed Hubby to stretch out his legs. Those in the back of the line were not so lucky.  The movie did not disappoint, just in case you were wondering if it was worth the cost of tickets. As always, the book is better but they did a great job of taking the book and bringing it alive.  Now if only the movie theater could make the 3D glasses less ugly, that would be great!

I mean, how big can they make them! And they don't fold either so you can't put them in your purse (as if you would want to).

Saturday, I began cleaning and re-organizing the kitchen cabinets.  I didn't take the before picture of the first one I did because I forgot until I was putting it back together that I didn't take a before shot. So here is the after of the first cabinet I did.

I went "shopping in the other cabinets" and found I had 3 Italian Seasonings, 3 cans of mixed vegetables, and 2 bags of nuts, and many more items that I don't need to buy for a long time! I was able to fill the cabinet above with items from the other ones that I emptied out and re-organized. 

Before, the baking cabinet was filled with extra items that I didn't know I had and it was hard to find anything.

After, it's easy to find what I'm looking for and I combined many of the spices into one container.

This was just packed and a mess to find anything! I really hated to get in there to find stuff and it was because of this cabinet, that all got cleaned out.

Now, I can find what I want and considering how much I took out and placed in the other cabinets - I have lots more room for future shopping (or canned items).

Sunday we had Church and then off to watch the grand daughters who are just pure joy! What fun we had playing with play dough, playing  tag and hide and seek. They are so cute and so much fun.  The baby didn't cry much at all this time! Getting better every time!  Love them to pieces. While I was with the girls, Hubby got to Skype with our Daughter In Law (DIL) and youngest grand son! So a win for both of us. 

Oh and I did the math on my Personal Challenge.  70.64 miles this week for a YTD total of 1604.64!

How was your weekend!