Good Friday morning.
NOT RANDOMNESS - The Facts About Ovarian Cancer (First Posted in 2011)
My Mom has ovarian cancer.
She asked me to talk about it on the blog to help raise awareness, and, of course, I agreed.
Mom's story began one year, four months ago. She went for her regular check-up, and the doctor discovered a tumor. She had not been sick prior to going to the doctor. Except for a few "things" most women experience from time to time (fatigue and bloating), she had no clue she would walk into the doctor's office for a check-up and walk out of the same office diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Today, I'm going to give you some of the facts regarding ovarian cancer.
Each year, about 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While it is the ninth most common cancer (other than skin cancer) in women, ovarian cancer is the fifth highest cause of cancer death in women. Most women who develop ovarian cancer are older than 60. It is found more often in white than African-American women.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague or like other conditions. This may make it hard to diagnose. It often has spread to other parts of the body when it is found.
Because of this, it is nicknamed is "The Silent Cancer."
I want to give you a complete list of the symptoms, although you may have one or more of them at a time.
General abdominal discomfort or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
Bloating and/or a feeling of fullness, even after a light meal
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation or frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Loss of appetite
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Unusual fatigue
Back pain
Pain during sex
Menstrual changes
These symptoms do not always mean you have ovarian cancer. However, it is a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider if they are new symptoms, last more than a few weeks and/or occur numerous times a month.
As I stated before, my Mom had no idea anything was wrong.
Needless to say, she is an advocate of regular check-ups, early detection and awareness... and as her family, we have become advocates, too.
Mom's Personal Story
In May of 2011, Mom went for her regular check-up. At that time, her doctor discovered the cancer. As I stated before, my Mom was not sick. She was living an active life. She was not in pain. She had bloating and she was more tired than usual, but neither of those "symptoms" raised red flags.
And that is how ovarian cancer works. By the time you have "unusual" symptoms or pain, the cancer has usually spread.
She had exploratory surgery a couple of weeks later, and the cancer was officially diagnosed. She had Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.
After she recovered from the surgery (five to six weeks), she began chemo treatments. The treatments were scheduled three weeks apart, and except for one of the six treatments, Mom stayed right on schedule.
Except for the cancer, her health was excellent.
She finished her last chemo treatment in November of 2011... and she checked out "cancer-free."
However, with ovarian cancer, it is important to have three-month check-ups for two years after treatment. This cancer reoccurs often, and early detection is vitally important.
Nine months from the end of her first round of chemo, Mom had her third three-month check-up. A pet scan revealed the cancer had returned, and within two weeks, she had a new port put in and began another round of six chemo treatments. This set of treatments is scheduled to finish the week after Christmas... and then she'll begin her three-month check-ups to make sure the cancer doesn't return over the next two years.
Many of the women who have treatments the same day as my Mom are having their second, third, etc. set of chemo treatments for ovarian cancer.
Skip Ahead from 2011 to 2016...
In February of 2016, Mom had her last chemo treatment. After 75+ rounds of chemo, there were no other options for her other than clinical trials. (She researched the trials, and after much thought, consideration and prayer, decided not to pursue further treatments.)
In April of 2016, Mom's doctor told her she probably had about six months to live. She eventually told me and my sister, but asked us not to tell anyone else. It would be God's decision when her life would end, and not a timeline given to her by a doctor.
The cancer continued to spread throughout her abdomen and lymph nodes...
And she continued to set goals.
She wanted to celebrate Easter with her family.
She wanted to have another birthday.
She wanted to meet her great-grandson, Sawyer, born July 31, 2016.
She wanted to take another fall trip.
She wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family.
She wanted to attend every celebration and event in between along the way...
And she did.
Up until eight days before her death, Mom was driving her car and taking care of her 95 year-old mother (MamMa).
When people saw her, she was well-dressed, accessorized and wearing make-up. I heard people say time and time again, "You look so good."
The picture at the top of the page was taken only two weeks before her death during our Thanksgiving celebration at Palisades in Oneonta. Her mother, kids, grandkids, spouses and two great-grandchildren were in attendance.
The union of two, Harold and Tootsie, has grown to 18... and is still growing as we speak. (Great-grandchild number THREE will be here in a few more days.)
Mom died Monday, December 5, 2016 after a five year, seven month battle with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer...
Which, by the way, she won.
I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, phone calls, cards and texts over the last few days. It has been greatly appreciated.
I would also ask you to continue to pray for my grandmother and all of the grandkids as they begin living life without "Grandmother." She had a daily relationship with her family, and they are most certainly going to miss her earthly presence.
That being said, they also know and are happy she is spending Christmas 2016 with Granddaddy this year.
It has been a long time.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Firstborn Daughter of Harold and Tootsie Smith
Showing posts with label What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer. Show all posts
Friday, December 9, 2016
Monday, October 1, 2012
Mindless Monday, Over-the-Moon Banana Pudding, Blog Linkage, Fun Fall Rides, What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer
Good Monday morning!
I hope you and yours had a great weekend... and an even better week ahead.
It's the first day of October. The first day of my favorite month. And today's high is only 74 degrees. It's a great start.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Roxie went to homecoming with a friend this past weekend. Our homecoming is this week, but Austin goes to a different school, so Roxie wore high, high heels, a pretty yellow dress and a lovely wrist corsage a little early this year... and she looked wonderful.
If you told me I had to wear 3" heels walking up and down stadium bleachers for three hours any given Friday night, I would vehemently disagree with you. (That's only one of the differences between a 16 year-old and a 51 year-old chick.)
She almost looks 16 in this picture, doesn't she? Heavy, heavy sigh.
The black and yellow worked for these two. They looked great. Austin and Roxie.
RANDOMNESS #2 - You'll be happy to know, Mikie took me to breakfast Saturday morning (Another Broken Egg), and then bought me a little gray pumpkin at Leafs N Petals... with only minor prompting on my part.
Now all I need is a few burlap bows and one more giant mum. Dark purple, I think. (And the sooner, the better.)
RANDOMNESS #3 - Someone loaned me Southern Living's Tailgating Cookbook this past weekend. If I was going to buy one new cookbook this year, I think this would be my pick.
I'm going to share The 10 Commandments of College Football Fandom with you this morning... as pointed out in the beginning of this cookbook.
1. Thou shalt wear team colors.
2. Thou shalt mind your manners, and act with class.
3. Thou shalt be respectful to visiting teams.
4. Thou shalt know - and sing - your team's fight song from beginning to end.
5. Thou shalt support the coach.
6. Thou shalt set up a tailgate no fewer than three hours before kickoff (six if it's a night game).
7. Thou shalt stay through the fourth quarter - rain or shine.
8. Thou shalt theme your tailgate food around the visiting rival.
9. Thou shalt respect the solemnity of game day by planning weddings, births and other life events around the football schedule.
10. Thou shalt not covet other teams' bowl games, national championships or Heisman Trophy wins. There's always next year.
Number 9 is my favorite. Especially since I had not one, but TWO, football season babies. (What was I thinking?)
RANDOMNESS #4 - We celebrated yet another birthday this past Sunday. Josh's birthday is actually October 4 (Thursday), but I was on a roll, and I don't like to celebrate the birthday AFTER the fact if I can possibly help it.
Josh got exactly what he wanted... CDs, DVDs, a new reel and money. It isn't hard to shop for Josh. Never has been.
And then Grandma gave him a little surprise. Homemade biscuits...
And pear preserves. His new favorite.
Grandpa, Josh and Grandma.
The past few years, Josh's birthday cake of choice has been a Cream Cheese Pound Cake FRESH out of the oven... so the vanilla ice cream could melt all over it.
As I stated on numerous occasions, this caused me great discomfort, because I do not like baking a dessert which must be served immediately upon the arrival of the guests. What if I leave something out of the recipe? What if I cook it too long? What if I don't cook it long enough? What if it falls and looks hideous?
It's a lot of pressure.
So imagine my delight when Josh walked by while I was thumbing through the Southern Living's Tailgating Cookbook and saw the Over-the-Moon Banana Pudding... made with Moon Pies instead Vanilla Wafers... and said, "That looks great. Can you make it for my birthday?"
"Yes. Yes, I can!"
And I did. And it was good. And you'll find the recipe later in the post.
In case you don't want to count all of the candles... there are 19 total. (How did that even happen?)
Josh, Brad and Stephanie.
I love this guy, but the photobombing has got to stop. (I may have to shoot him with an airsoft gun the next time he jumps in front of a picture. That would be fun, AND it would teach him a valuable lesson!)
This is how the above picture was supposed to look. Josh and Katie.
And here's a picture of our family photobomber. Except for this one little annoying habit, this kid is perfect. And I'm his Aunt. I should know. Josh and Zac.
Josh and Austin.
I know I said there wouldn't be many of pictures of Roxie this post, but you have to admit this is a good one. Roxie and Josh.
RANDOMNESS #5 - What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer - Today I'm going to share the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer with you one more time, a reader's comment and the website addresses of two fine organizations which are helping earn money for Ovarian Cancer Research.
General abdominal discomfort or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
Bloating and/or a feeling of fullness, even after a light meal
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation or frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Loss of appetite
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Unusual fatigue
Back pain
Pain during sex
Menstrual changes
These symptoms do not always mean you have ovarian cancer. But it is a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider if they are new symptoms, last more than a few weeks and/or occur more than 12 times a month.
My cousin, Myra, talked about the importance of REGULAR CHECK-UPS.
"In regard to your blog comments about ovarian cancer, I would like to add one thing about regular check-ups and early detection. If you have a close relative who has been diagnosed, you should mention this to your doctor. I did so at my appointment a few months ago, and he sent me to Radiology for an ultra sound. It was negative!! I don't know how often he will want me to do this, but he told me you can never be too cautious. The same applies if you have a close relative who has breast cancer. DO NOT fail to get mammograms!"
Since Mom has been diagnosed, there are two organizations I have become familiar with in the Birmingham area.
1. The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation is multi-faceted with its primary purpose of finding an early detection diagnostic test. They also vow to reach out to our community through awareness, education and support.
You can learn more about this organization at www.thinkoflaura.org.
2. The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer by raising awareness and promoting education about ovarian cancer. They also raise money through various events that help fund research.
You can learn more about this organization at www.nlovca.org.
Both of these websites have opportunities to help listed each and every month. Please... visit them often.
Mom goes for her second (out of six) chemo treatments this Wednesday. Although she has already been through this, because the doctors are using a different chemo drug, the side effects are not exactly the same as before.
In fact, there are many unknowns as she enters the beginning of this round of treatments. And it is frightening... and discouraging... and very, very difficult.
Remember...
Early detection is vital.
NEVER skipping annual check-ups is vital.
Having conversations with your doctor about any of the above-mentioned symptoms is vital.
Talking to your friends and your daughters and your granddaughters is vital.
Participating in awareness programs is vital.
But most of all, NOT BEING SILENT is vital.
Blog Linkage - Please go to www.kellehampton.com (AGAIN), and read Friday's post entitled "Falling Into October." I love how she brings Fall to Southern Florida.
I just know we would be best friends in real life.
Over-the-Moon Banana Pudding
This particular recipe came from the Vanderbilt section of the Tailgating Cookbook. And it is good.
You will need the following:
2 (4.6 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding
4 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
8 Chocolate Moon Pies (cut into eighths)
3 to 4 bananas (sliced)
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping
1. Prepare the pudding according to package instructions.
2. Whisk in sour cream.
3. Pour half of pudding into a 2-quart baking dish.
4. Layer about 40 Chocolate Moon Pie wedges over pudding.
5. Top with bananas and remaining half of pudding.
6. Top with whipped topping.
7. Arrange remaining sandwich wedges around outer edge of dish. Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight.
Easy and very, very good.
I went to bed knowing Josh's birthday dessert was in the refrigerator ready to go for the next day's festivities! YEA!
NOTE - The original recipe calls for Cook and Serve Pudding. Josh's pudding didn't set as hard as I would have liked, so from now on, I am going to use the Instant Pudding.
As you can tell, in the middle of preparing the banana pudding I opted for more bananas than the recipe called for. (As far as I'm concerned, you can never have too many bananas or Chocolate Moon Pies in any banana pudding.)
Fun Fall Rides
I got this idea last year after reading Stephanie Nielson's blog. She's been doing this for years with her family, and she calls them Fall Colors Rides. Of course, she lives in Utah, so she gets to start her tradition a little earlier than we Alabamians, but Mike, Austin, Melia and I enjoyed it very much last year. (Josh and Roxie were good for one outing, but bowed out of the last four... and that's okay.)
We're going on our FIRST official 2012 Fun Fall Ride this Sunday afternoon. We're going to Trussville... my hometown. We are going to meander through the streets, walk along creeks and take pictures anywhere and everywhere.
At the end of the ride, I think we might stop at Gigi's Cupcakes. Yes. I think that will most definitely happen.
I haven't planned all of the Rides, but I don't think it will be hard.
Except for the price of gas (which is a major consideration when planning these Rides), it is a pretty inexpensive seasonal tradition.
Have a lovely, gray Monday. I'll be back Friday with anything and everything. It's Homecoming Week in our community, so I know I'll have some pictures of all of the Homecoming Prep!
Take care, and I'll talk to you in a few days.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
I hope you and yours had a great weekend... and an even better week ahead.
It's the first day of October. The first day of my favorite month. And today's high is only 74 degrees. It's a great start.
RANDOMNESS #1 - Roxie went to homecoming with a friend this past weekend. Our homecoming is this week, but Austin goes to a different school, so Roxie wore high, high heels, a pretty yellow dress and a lovely wrist corsage a little early this year... and she looked wonderful.
If you told me I had to wear 3" heels walking up and down stadium bleachers for three hours any given Friday night, I would vehemently disagree with you. (That's only one of the differences between a 16 year-old and a 51 year-old chick.)
She almost looks 16 in this picture, doesn't she? Heavy, heavy sigh.
The black and yellow worked for these two. They looked great. Austin and Roxie.
RANDOMNESS #2 - You'll be happy to know, Mikie took me to breakfast Saturday morning (Another Broken Egg), and then bought me a little gray pumpkin at Leafs N Petals... with only minor prompting on my part.
Now all I need is a few burlap bows and one more giant mum. Dark purple, I think. (And the sooner, the better.)
RANDOMNESS #3 - Someone loaned me Southern Living's Tailgating Cookbook this past weekend. If I was going to buy one new cookbook this year, I think this would be my pick.
I'm going to share The 10 Commandments of College Football Fandom with you this morning... as pointed out in the beginning of this cookbook.
1. Thou shalt wear team colors.
2. Thou shalt mind your manners, and act with class.
3. Thou shalt be respectful to visiting teams.
4. Thou shalt know - and sing - your team's fight song from beginning to end.
5. Thou shalt support the coach.
6. Thou shalt set up a tailgate no fewer than three hours before kickoff (six if it's a night game).
7. Thou shalt stay through the fourth quarter - rain or shine.
8. Thou shalt theme your tailgate food around the visiting rival.
9. Thou shalt respect the solemnity of game day by planning weddings, births and other life events around the football schedule.
10. Thou shalt not covet other teams' bowl games, national championships or Heisman Trophy wins. There's always next year.
Number 9 is my favorite. Especially since I had not one, but TWO, football season babies. (What was I thinking?)
RANDOMNESS #4 - We celebrated yet another birthday this past Sunday. Josh's birthday is actually October 4 (Thursday), but I was on a roll, and I don't like to celebrate the birthday AFTER the fact if I can possibly help it.
Josh got exactly what he wanted... CDs, DVDs, a new reel and money. It isn't hard to shop for Josh. Never has been.
And then Grandma gave him a little surprise. Homemade biscuits...
And pear preserves. His new favorite.
Grandpa, Josh and Grandma.
The past few years, Josh's birthday cake of choice has been a Cream Cheese Pound Cake FRESH out of the oven... so the vanilla ice cream could melt all over it.
As I stated on numerous occasions, this caused me great discomfort, because I do not like baking a dessert which must be served immediately upon the arrival of the guests. What if I leave something out of the recipe? What if I cook it too long? What if I don't cook it long enough? What if it falls and looks hideous?
It's a lot of pressure.
So imagine my delight when Josh walked by while I was thumbing through the Southern Living's Tailgating Cookbook and saw the Over-the-Moon Banana Pudding... made with Moon Pies instead Vanilla Wafers... and said, "That looks great. Can you make it for my birthday?"
"Yes. Yes, I can!"
And I did. And it was good. And you'll find the recipe later in the post.
In case you don't want to count all of the candles... there are 19 total. (How did that even happen?)
Josh, Brad and Stephanie.
I love this guy, but the photobombing has got to stop. (I may have to shoot him with an airsoft gun the next time he jumps in front of a picture. That would be fun, AND it would teach him a valuable lesson!)
This is how the above picture was supposed to look. Josh and Katie.
And here's a picture of our family photobomber. Except for this one little annoying habit, this kid is perfect. And I'm his Aunt. I should know. Josh and Zac.
Josh and Austin.
I know I said there wouldn't be many of pictures of Roxie this post, but you have to admit this is a good one. Roxie and Josh.
RANDOMNESS #5 - What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer - Today I'm going to share the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer with you one more time, a reader's comment and the website addresses of two fine organizations which are helping earn money for Ovarian Cancer Research.
General abdominal discomfort or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
Bloating and/or a feeling of fullness, even after a light meal
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation or frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Loss of appetite
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Unusual fatigue
Back pain
Pain during sex
Menstrual changes
These symptoms do not always mean you have ovarian cancer. But it is a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider if they are new symptoms, last more than a few weeks and/or occur more than 12 times a month.
My cousin, Myra, talked about the importance of REGULAR CHECK-UPS.
"In regard to your blog comments about ovarian cancer, I would like to add one thing about regular check-ups and early detection. If you have a close relative who has been diagnosed, you should mention this to your doctor. I did so at my appointment a few months ago, and he sent me to Radiology for an ultra sound. It was negative!! I don't know how often he will want me to do this, but he told me you can never be too cautious. The same applies if you have a close relative who has breast cancer. DO NOT fail to get mammograms!"
Since Mom has been diagnosed, there are two organizations I have become familiar with in the Birmingham area.
1. The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation is multi-faceted with its primary purpose of finding an early detection diagnostic test. They also vow to reach out to our community through awareness, education and support.
You can learn more about this organization at www.thinkoflaura.org.
2. The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer by raising awareness and promoting education about ovarian cancer. They also raise money through various events that help fund research.
You can learn more about this organization at www.nlovca.org.
Both of these websites have opportunities to help listed each and every month. Please... visit them often.
Mom goes for her second (out of six) chemo treatments this Wednesday. Although she has already been through this, because the doctors are using a different chemo drug, the side effects are not exactly the same as before.
In fact, there are many unknowns as she enters the beginning of this round of treatments. And it is frightening... and discouraging... and very, very difficult.
Remember...
Early detection is vital.
NEVER skipping annual check-ups is vital.
Having conversations with your doctor about any of the above-mentioned symptoms is vital.
Talking to your friends and your daughters and your granddaughters is vital.
Participating in awareness programs is vital.
But most of all, NOT BEING SILENT is vital.
Blog Linkage - Please go to www.kellehampton.com (AGAIN), and read Friday's post entitled "Falling Into October." I love how she brings Fall to Southern Florida.
I just know we would be best friends in real life.
Over-the-Moon Banana Pudding
This particular recipe came from the Vanderbilt section of the Tailgating Cookbook. And it is good.
You will need the following:
2 (4.6 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding
4 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
8 Chocolate Moon Pies (cut into eighths)
3 to 4 bananas (sliced)
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping
1. Prepare the pudding according to package instructions.
2. Whisk in sour cream.
3. Pour half of pudding into a 2-quart baking dish.
4. Layer about 40 Chocolate Moon Pie wedges over pudding.
5. Top with bananas and remaining half of pudding.
6. Top with whipped topping.
7. Arrange remaining sandwich wedges around outer edge of dish. Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight.
Easy and very, very good.
I went to bed knowing Josh's birthday dessert was in the refrigerator ready to go for the next day's festivities! YEA!
NOTE - The original recipe calls for Cook and Serve Pudding. Josh's pudding didn't set as hard as I would have liked, so from now on, I am going to use the Instant Pudding.
As you can tell, in the middle of preparing the banana pudding I opted for more bananas than the recipe called for. (As far as I'm concerned, you can never have too many bananas or Chocolate Moon Pies in any banana pudding.)
Fun Fall Rides
I got this idea last year after reading Stephanie Nielson's blog. She's been doing this for years with her family, and she calls them Fall Colors Rides. Of course, she lives in Utah, so she gets to start her tradition a little earlier than we Alabamians, but Mike, Austin, Melia and I enjoyed it very much last year. (Josh and Roxie were good for one outing, but bowed out of the last four... and that's okay.)
We're going on our FIRST official 2012 Fun Fall Ride this Sunday afternoon. We're going to Trussville... my hometown. We are going to meander through the streets, walk along creeks and take pictures anywhere and everywhere.
At the end of the ride, I think we might stop at Gigi's Cupcakes. Yes. I think that will most definitely happen.
I haven't planned all of the Rides, but I don't think it will be hard.
Except for the price of gas (which is a major consideration when planning these Rides), it is a pretty inexpensive seasonal tradition.
Have a lovely, gray Monday. I'll be back Friday with anything and everything. It's Homecoming Week in our community, so I know I'll have some pictures of all of the Homecoming Prep!
Take care, and I'll talk to you in a few days.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
Monday, September 24, 2012
Mindless Monday, Easy Caramel Frosting, A Different Taco Soup, What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer
Good Monday morning!
Today is the second official day of FALL. I love that about today! And in honor of all things FALL, I want to share some pictures I took Friday afternoon when Mikie surprised me with a late lunch date. That's right. He surprised me. And I made him stop by Leaf N Petals in Mountain Brook because I've been wanting to soak up all of their "pumpkin glory."
This is my "new" favorite pumpkin. It's gray. And I need one badly.
Someone call Mikie and tell him to read today's post.
I wish the front of my house looked like this, but since it doesn't, I'll just keep driving past my favorite nurseries during the months of September and October... and covet.
I have so many things to talk about, so let's get started!
RANDOMNESS #1 - Roxie had an all day volleyball tournament Saturday. Her team played at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. They won each and every game until the 3:30 championship game.
And that's when things kind of changed.
They played well, but Clay-Chalkville took home the First Place Trophy... and Gardendale gladly took home the Second Place Trophy.
These are our JV Volleyball Chicks after their first victory at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. We had no idea it was going to be such a long (but fun) day.
In middle school, all of the volleyball players rubbed the bottom of their shoes during the game.
Do not ask me why. I do not know.
In high school, you rarely see a player rub the bottom of their shoe. RARELY.
Except for Roxie. She does it before each and every serve.
I think it's her "thing."
Kaitlyn's feet NEVER touch the ground.
I think that's her "thing."
Roxie and Hailey.
Laci, Mary Allison and Taylor. We call them "The Fan Club."
Is it just me, or do these look like a big ol' pile of white pumpkins?
Roxie and Kaitlyn with The Fan Club.
Two of my favorite volleyball chicks... Roxie and Kennedy.
Who am I kidding? I like them all.
That's not a bad lookin' trophy. Not bad at all!
RANDOMNESS #2 - Roxie doesn't eat many sweets. Other than a bite of vanilla ice cream, an occasional Kit Kat bar and lots and lots of caramel, having a "sweet tooth" as an adult will not be a problem for her.
When it came time to decide what kind of cake I needed for Roxie's Sweet 16, it was an easy decision. Caramel.
When it came time to decide how to decorate the cake, it was much, much harder.
But then it hit me!
Although Roxie's birthday is officially September 25 (Tuesday), we had her family party on September 23. The first official day of Fall.
So I made Roxie an Autumnal Sweet 16 Birthday Cake.
Yes, I did.
And the first thing she said when she saw it...
"This cake would be perfect for your birthday, Mom."
So it took a little explaining, but she grew to understand the significance of having an Autumnal Sweet 16 Birthday Cake on the official first day of Fall.
And it was caramel, so she was happy.
RANDOMNESS #3 - Roxie's family birthday party was a lot of fun. I'm going to let the pics tell the story.
All that was missing from Roxie's cap collection was a blue cap. Melia took care of that!
And one of Grandmother's gifts was a new scarf for Roxie in beautiful autumnal colors. I would take it in a heartbeat, but unfortunately, The Chick likes the scarf.
Aunt Bev added a little Gigi's to her gift. We still haven't eaten this Auburn cupcake because we are almost positive it will leave us with blue teeth. Almost positive.
Remember the days of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and Scavenger Hunts? When you turn 16, the entertainment includes letting the birthday girl (or guy) take guests on a little drive around the neighborhood... with a parent in the backseat.
Personally, I miss "Pin the Tail on the Donkey."
I love autumn light. Austin, Roxie and Melia.
The babies of the family. Roxie and Zac.
Aunt Bev, Roxie and Uncle Tommy.
Grandma, Roxie and Grandpa.
She's a Daddy's Girl... which is a very good thing.
Believe it or not, I have more pictures... but no more time. (I'll definitely have them in Friday's post.)
RANDOMNESS #4 - What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer - I left you Friday with some facts about Ovarian Cancer. Today, I will continue telling Mom's story.
In May of 2011, Mom went for her regular check-up. It was at that time her doctor discovered the cancer. As I stated before, my Mom was not sick. She was living an active life. She was not in pain. She had bloating and she was more tired than usual, but neither of those "symptoms" raised red flags.
And that is how ovarian cancer works. By the time you have "unusual" symptoms or pain, the cancer has usually spread.
She had exploratory surgery a couple of weeks later, and the cancer was officially diagnosed. She had Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.
After she recovered from the surgery (five to six weeks), she began chemo treatments. The treatments were scheduled three weeks apart, and except for one of the six treatments, Mom stayed right on schedule.
Except for the cancer, her health was excellent.
She finished her last chemo treatment in November of 2011... and she checked out "cancer-free."
However, with ovarian cancer, it is important to have three-month check-ups for two years after treatment. This cancer reoccurs often, and early detection is vitally important.
Nine months from the end of her first round of chemo, Mom had her third three-month check-up. A pet scan revealed the cancer had returned, and within two weeks, she had a new port put in and began another round of six chemo treatments. This set of treatments is scheduled to finish the week after Christmas... and then she'll begin her three-month check-ups to make sure the cancer doesn't return over the next two years.
Many of the women who have treatments the same day as my Mom are having their second, third, etc. set of chemo treatments for ovarian cancer.
On Friday, I will be sharing the name of the tests used to scan for this cancer, readers' comments and suggestions and websites of two of the organizations in our area raising money and awareness for ovarian cancer.
And maybe, just maybe, because my Mom and others like her are not being quiet, ovarian cancer will not continue to be known as the "silent cancer."
Feel free to share any comments, stories or suggestions in the Comment Section below, via e-mail (mfaulkner1306@charter.net) or message me on Facebook (between now and Friday).
Easy Caramel Frosting
This is NOT from Pinterest. I repeat... This is NOT from Pinterest.
I found it on the Internet, and my family liked it. (Five Stars!)
You will need the following:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat.
2. Add brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil.
3. Stir constantly to dissolve sugar.
4. Remove from heat. Cool.
5. Beat confectioners' sugar into milk mixture until smooth.
This is the icing I used on Roxie's cake. It is thick and sweet and easy to work with. I've made it twice so far, and it is wonderful!
A Different Taco Soup
I posted a Taco Soup recipe on the blog YEARS ago, but I tried a new recipe last week that only has one or two little variations from my old recipe. Again, this received Five Stars from The Faulkner Five.
You will need the following:
2 pounds ground chuck
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups water
1 can (16 ounces) mild chili beans (undrained)
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn (drained)
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomato with green chilies
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
1. In a Dutch oven, brown ground chuck. Drain.
2. Add taco seasoning and mix well.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
That's it. It is a very hearty, filling, delicious soup!
I realize today's post is a little "Roxie Heavy," but Friday's post will be much better... because I'll be getting ready for Josh's birthday!
Poor Austin!
Have the most wonderful Monday ever. I'll be back FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 with more, more, more.
Take care, and I'll talk to you Friday.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting and Fall-Personified Belinda
Today is the second official day of FALL. I love that about today! And in honor of all things FALL, I want to share some pictures I took Friday afternoon when Mikie surprised me with a late lunch date. That's right. He surprised me. And I made him stop by Leaf N Petals in Mountain Brook because I've been wanting to soak up all of their "pumpkin glory."
This is my "new" favorite pumpkin. It's gray. And I need one badly.
Someone call Mikie and tell him to read today's post.
I wish the front of my house looked like this, but since it doesn't, I'll just keep driving past my favorite nurseries during the months of September and October... and covet.
I have so many things to talk about, so let's get started!
RANDOMNESS #1 - Roxie had an all day volleyball tournament Saturday. Her team played at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. They won each and every game until the 3:30 championship game.
And that's when things kind of changed.
They played well, but Clay-Chalkville took home the First Place Trophy... and Gardendale gladly took home the Second Place Trophy.
These are our JV Volleyball Chicks after their first victory at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. We had no idea it was going to be such a long (but fun) day.
In middle school, all of the volleyball players rubbed the bottom of their shoes during the game.
Do not ask me why. I do not know.
In high school, you rarely see a player rub the bottom of their shoe. RARELY.
Except for Roxie. She does it before each and every serve.
I think it's her "thing."
Kaitlyn's feet NEVER touch the ground.
I think that's her "thing."
Roxie and Hailey.
Laci, Mary Allison and Taylor. We call them "The Fan Club."
Is it just me, or do these look like a big ol' pile of white pumpkins?
Roxie and Kaitlyn with The Fan Club.
Two of my favorite volleyball chicks... Roxie and Kennedy.
Who am I kidding? I like them all.
That's not a bad lookin' trophy. Not bad at all!
RANDOMNESS #2 - Roxie doesn't eat many sweets. Other than a bite of vanilla ice cream, an occasional Kit Kat bar and lots and lots of caramel, having a "sweet tooth" as an adult will not be a problem for her.
When it came time to decide what kind of cake I needed for Roxie's Sweet 16, it was an easy decision. Caramel.
When it came time to decide how to decorate the cake, it was much, much harder.
But then it hit me!
Although Roxie's birthday is officially September 25 (Tuesday), we had her family party on September 23. The first official day of Fall.
So I made Roxie an Autumnal Sweet 16 Birthday Cake.
Yes, I did.
And the first thing she said when she saw it...
"This cake would be perfect for your birthday, Mom."
So it took a little explaining, but she grew to understand the significance of having an Autumnal Sweet 16 Birthday Cake on the official first day of Fall.
And it was caramel, so she was happy.
RANDOMNESS #3 - Roxie's family birthday party was a lot of fun. I'm going to let the pics tell the story.
All that was missing from Roxie's cap collection was a blue cap. Melia took care of that!
And one of Grandmother's gifts was a new scarf for Roxie in beautiful autumnal colors. I would take it in a heartbeat, but unfortunately, The Chick likes the scarf.
Aunt Bev added a little Gigi's to her gift. We still haven't eaten this Auburn cupcake because we are almost positive it will leave us with blue teeth. Almost positive.
Remember the days of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and Scavenger Hunts? When you turn 16, the entertainment includes letting the birthday girl (or guy) take guests on a little drive around the neighborhood... with a parent in the backseat.
Personally, I miss "Pin the Tail on the Donkey."
I love autumn light. Austin, Roxie and Melia.
The babies of the family. Roxie and Zac.
Aunt Bev, Roxie and Uncle Tommy.
Grandma, Roxie and Grandpa.
She's a Daddy's Girl... which is a very good thing.
Believe it or not, I have more pictures... but no more time. (I'll definitely have them in Friday's post.)
RANDOMNESS #4 - What I Have Learned About Ovarian Cancer - I left you Friday with some facts about Ovarian Cancer. Today, I will continue telling Mom's story.
In May of 2011, Mom went for her regular check-up. It was at that time her doctor discovered the cancer. As I stated before, my Mom was not sick. She was living an active life. She was not in pain. She had bloating and she was more tired than usual, but neither of those "symptoms" raised red flags.
And that is how ovarian cancer works. By the time you have "unusual" symptoms or pain, the cancer has usually spread.
She had exploratory surgery a couple of weeks later, and the cancer was officially diagnosed. She had Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.
After she recovered from the surgery (five to six weeks), she began chemo treatments. The treatments were scheduled three weeks apart, and except for one of the six treatments, Mom stayed right on schedule.
Except for the cancer, her health was excellent.
She finished her last chemo treatment in November of 2011... and she checked out "cancer-free."
However, with ovarian cancer, it is important to have three-month check-ups for two years after treatment. This cancer reoccurs often, and early detection is vitally important.
Nine months from the end of her first round of chemo, Mom had her third three-month check-up. A pet scan revealed the cancer had returned, and within two weeks, she had a new port put in and began another round of six chemo treatments. This set of treatments is scheduled to finish the week after Christmas... and then she'll begin her three-month check-ups to make sure the cancer doesn't return over the next two years.
Many of the women who have treatments the same day as my Mom are having their second, third, etc. set of chemo treatments for ovarian cancer.
On Friday, I will be sharing the name of the tests used to scan for this cancer, readers' comments and suggestions and websites of two of the organizations in our area raising money and awareness for ovarian cancer.
And maybe, just maybe, because my Mom and others like her are not being quiet, ovarian cancer will not continue to be known as the "silent cancer."
Feel free to share any comments, stories or suggestions in the Comment Section below, via e-mail (mfaulkner1306@charter.net) or message me on Facebook (between now and Friday).
Easy Caramel Frosting
This is NOT from Pinterest. I repeat... This is NOT from Pinterest.
I found it on the Internet, and my family liked it. (Five Stars!)
You will need the following:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat.
2. Add brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil.
3. Stir constantly to dissolve sugar.
4. Remove from heat. Cool.
5. Beat confectioners' sugar into milk mixture until smooth.
This is the icing I used on Roxie's cake. It is thick and sweet and easy to work with. I've made it twice so far, and it is wonderful!
A Different Taco Soup
I posted a Taco Soup recipe on the blog YEARS ago, but I tried a new recipe last week that only has one or two little variations from my old recipe. Again, this received Five Stars from The Faulkner Five.
You will need the following:
2 pounds ground chuck
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups water
1 can (16 ounces) mild chili beans (undrained)
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn (drained)
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomato with green chilies
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
1. In a Dutch oven, brown ground chuck. Drain.
2. Add taco seasoning and mix well.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
That's it. It is a very hearty, filling, delicious soup!
I realize today's post is a little "Roxie Heavy," but Friday's post will be much better... because I'll be getting ready for Josh's birthday!
Poor Austin!
Have the most wonderful Monday ever. I'll be back FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 with more, more, more.
Take care, and I'll talk to you Friday.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting and Fall-Personified Belinda
Friday, September 21, 2012
Weekend Happenings, Quotable Quotes, Plastic Pumpkin Chia Pets and Blog Linkage
Good Friday morning!
And a wonderful Friday morning it is!
That's right. I'm kinda happy today. (But what else is new, right?)
RANDOMNESS #1 - I'm going to give you a very good "Stocking Stuffers for Manly Men" list I copied from Pinterest. It had some items I had never thought of before.
1. Jerky
2. Car air fresheners
3. Fishing bait
4. Fishing hooks
5. Nuts
6. Fishing line
7. Bullets
8. Hunting gloves
9. Ear buds
10. Hunting magazine
11. Hunting movie
12. Key chain
13. Window/leather wipes for the car
14. Pocket knife
15. Knife sharpener
16. Mini flashlight
17. Gum/mints
18. Hand sanitizer (for the tackle box)
19. Wool socks
20. Extra cell phone charger
21. Love letter (No matter how manly he is, he still needs to know how much you love him!)
You could also use this list and give your guy a "gift a day" counting down the days until his actual birthday.
RANDOMNESS #2 - Hoards of you have been asking, "Is the mum still alive?" "How is the mum?" "Can we see a recent picture of the mum?"
And to all the dozens, nay hundreds, of questions, I say, "So far, so good!"
RANDOMNESS #3 - Also, many of you have asked for an Exercise Jar Report. Just to review... I put two quarters in the jar every time I attend a Body Pump class and one quarter goes into the jar every time I walk two miles.
Today, it looks like this.
Believe it or not, this is around $49 worth of quarters... and it will probably be late 2013 or early 2014 before I have filled it to the top.
And that means my massage is not gonna happen anytime soon. Heavy, heavy sigh.
RANDOMNESS #4 - Be sure to watch The Pioneer Woman's cooking show tomorrow morning on the Food Network. It airs at 9:00 a.m. CST.
It is good TV!
RANDOMNESS #5 - These are some of my new favorite things this week...
I think I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE these smoothies. The chocolate/banana is really my favorite, but someone else must like them, too... because they are never in the case when I am at the grocery store.
If you happen to know the person who orders food for the grocery store, please tell them, "ALWAYS, ALWAYS order more chocolate items than fruit items." I would think that was a given, but obviously not.
These are Roxie's Shoes of Many Colors. Aren't they cute? The Chick has style (which she didn't get from her Mom).
They'll be relieved to know they made the cut this Friday.
RANDOMNESS #6 - What I've Learned About Ovarian Cancer - This is going to be our topic for the remainder of the September posts.
My Mom has ovarian cancer.
She asked me to talk about it on the blog to help raise awareness, and, of course, I agreed.
Mom's story began one year, four months ago. She went for her regular check-up, and the doctor discovered a tumor. She had not been sick prior to going to the doctor. Except for a few "things" most women experience from time to time (fatigue and bloating), she had no clue she would walk into the doctor's office for a check-up and walk out of the same office diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Today, I'm going to give you some of the facts regarding ovarian cancer.
Each year, about 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While it is the ninth most common cancer (other than skin cancer) in women, ovarian cancer is the fifth highest cause of cancer death in women. Most women who develop ovarian cancer are older than 60. It is found more often in white than African-American women.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague or like other conditions. This may make it hard to diagnose. It often has spread to other parts of the body when it is found.
Because of this, it's nickname is "The Silent Cancer."
I want to give you a complete list of the symptoms, although you may have one or more of them at a time.
General abdominal discomfort or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
Bloating and/or a feeling of fullness, even after a light meal
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation or frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Loss of appetite
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Unusual fatigue
Back pain
Pain during sex
Menstrual changes
These symptoms do not always mean you have ovarian cancer. But it is a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider if they are new symptoms, last more than a few weeks and/or occur more than 12 times a month.
As I stated before, my Mom had no idea anything was wrong.
Needless to say, she is an advocate of regular check-ups, early detection and awareness... and as her family, we have become advocates, too.
This picture was taken during the Annual MotherWalk 5K Ovarian Cancer Event last May (in Crestline). We were 13 strong at this walk. Next May, we hope to have many more walking for Team Tootsie!
I'll be back Monday with Mom's story and more details about ovarian cancer.
And I hope you'll visit A Simple Life again to learn more about this cancer. Awareness is SO important in finding a cure.
And we really want to find a cure!
Quotable Quotes - I saw this on Facebook, and I liked it.
"Excuse our mess. The children are making memories."
It doesn't apply to me now (I cannot blame small children for messes), but boy, did it apply to me way back when!
Blog Linkage - Such good linkage today. You can thank me later.
1. Go to www.kellehampton.com and read her September 17 post entitled "Our Weekend: It was shiny." You can read the entire post, but focus on the Pet Store Scavenger Hunt Kelle prepared for her daughter, Lainey. (It was an afternoon date for them.) So smart. So fun. If you have a four year-old child, do this today, please.
2. Go to "eighteen25" under My Blog List and read today's post entitled "Please Welcome: Jamilyn from I {heart} Nap Time." She has a very cute and doable candy corn dessert recipe for the month of October.
Plastic Pumpkin Chia Pets
Surprise! Another Pinterest idea. This Mom had a great way of using inexpensive plastic pumpkin buckets.
Grow some fall herbs.
They start their fall herb windowsill “garden” each September. Using the plastic pumpkin heads as planters, you can watch them "grow" hair as the herbs get bigger and bigger.
Later, depending on the herbs you choose to plant, you can plan a recipe with your child and use the FRESH herbs you have grown.
This tradition includes gardening, decorating for Fall AND cooking.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Weekend Happenings
My friend, Cam, mentioned Taco Soup yesterday, so it is on my brain. And yes, we will be eating Taco Soup tonight... on the deck... with lit candles!
Can you say VOLLEYBALL? Yep. The Chick has a tournament Saturday, so she will be doing athletic stuff all day long.
Mikie and I will be sitting on bleachers, cheering her on. It's what we do best, I think.
Josh has plans to watch a lot of football Saturday, and I think we're all going to get together around 6:00 p.m. tomorrow night and do the Auburn thing! War Eagle!
Austin is working at JSU (internship) all day Saturday. Good news... He loves it. Bad news... We only get to see him on Sundays during football season. (Not unlike his Marching Southerner time at JSU.)
But as long as he's happy, Momma's happy.
We're celebrating Roxie's 16th Birthday with family Sunday afternoon. She has requested a Caramel Cake, so expect pictures and a recipe Monday morning.
I also have a little surprise for her up my sleeve Sunday evening. Roxie doesn't like surprises, and because I know this about her, I have made certain it is a completely painless surprise.
She will love it, or my name isn't The Enchanting Belinda!
Please, please have a fantastic Fall weekend... full of family, fun and frivolity. (I rarely get to use "frivolity" in a sentence. It IS a good day.)
I'll be back Monday with Mindless Monday, pics from volleyball AND family AND birthday celebrations... and so much more.
And because no September OR October post is complete without a few volleyball action pics, I have added them to the bottom of today's post for your enjoyment!
This is why I love driving The Big Gold Van. Roxie sits beside me in the front, and the back is full of beautiful Volleyball Chicks. (Kelci, Kaitlyn, Shelby, Alex and Taylor.)
It's a good thing.
MINE! MINE! MINE!
The Jumping Serve is a thing of beauty, and Kaitlyn has perfected it!
Personally, I would never dive for a volleyball. If the other team is too lazy to hit it high enough for me to return it over the net, I would NOT play with them.
However, The Chick is fearless, and diving is one of her specialties.
I so admire her!
Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting and Forever Autumnal Belinda
And a wonderful Friday morning it is!
That's right. I'm kinda happy today. (But what else is new, right?)
RANDOMNESS #1 - I'm going to give you a very good "Stocking Stuffers for Manly Men" list I copied from Pinterest. It had some items I had never thought of before.
1. Jerky
2. Car air fresheners
3. Fishing bait
4. Fishing hooks
5. Nuts
6. Fishing line
7. Bullets
8. Hunting gloves
9. Ear buds
10. Hunting magazine
11. Hunting movie
12. Key chain
13. Window/leather wipes for the car
14. Pocket knife
15. Knife sharpener
16. Mini flashlight
17. Gum/mints
18. Hand sanitizer (for the tackle box)
19. Wool socks
20. Extra cell phone charger
21. Love letter (No matter how manly he is, he still needs to know how much you love him!)
You could also use this list and give your guy a "gift a day" counting down the days until his actual birthday.
RANDOMNESS #2 - Hoards of you have been asking, "Is the mum still alive?" "How is the mum?" "Can we see a recent picture of the mum?"
And to all the dozens, nay hundreds, of questions, I say, "So far, so good!"
RANDOMNESS #3 - Also, many of you have asked for an Exercise Jar Report. Just to review... I put two quarters in the jar every time I attend a Body Pump class and one quarter goes into the jar every time I walk two miles.
Today, it looks like this.
Believe it or not, this is around $49 worth of quarters... and it will probably be late 2013 or early 2014 before I have filled it to the top.
And that means my massage is not gonna happen anytime soon. Heavy, heavy sigh.
RANDOMNESS #4 - Be sure to watch The Pioneer Woman's cooking show tomorrow morning on the Food Network. It airs at 9:00 a.m. CST.
It is good TV!
RANDOMNESS #5 - These are some of my new favorite things this week...
I think I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE these smoothies. The chocolate/banana is really my favorite, but someone else must like them, too... because they are never in the case when I am at the grocery store.
If you happen to know the person who orders food for the grocery store, please tell them, "ALWAYS, ALWAYS order more chocolate items than fruit items." I would think that was a given, but obviously not.
These are Roxie's Shoes of Many Colors. Aren't they cute? The Chick has style (which she didn't get from her Mom).
They'll be relieved to know they made the cut this Friday.
RANDOMNESS #6 - What I've Learned About Ovarian Cancer - This is going to be our topic for the remainder of the September posts.
My Mom has ovarian cancer.
She asked me to talk about it on the blog to help raise awareness, and, of course, I agreed.
Mom's story began one year, four months ago. She went for her regular check-up, and the doctor discovered a tumor. She had not been sick prior to going to the doctor. Except for a few "things" most women experience from time to time (fatigue and bloating), she had no clue she would walk into the doctor's office for a check-up and walk out of the same office diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Today, I'm going to give you some of the facts regarding ovarian cancer.
Each year, about 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While it is the ninth most common cancer (other than skin cancer) in women, ovarian cancer is the fifth highest cause of cancer death in women. Most women who develop ovarian cancer are older than 60. It is found more often in white than African-American women.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague or like other conditions. This may make it hard to diagnose. It often has spread to other parts of the body when it is found.
Because of this, it's nickname is "The Silent Cancer."
I want to give you a complete list of the symptoms, although you may have one or more of them at a time.
General abdominal discomfort or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
Bloating and/or a feeling of fullness, even after a light meal
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation or frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Loss of appetite
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Unusual fatigue
Back pain
Pain during sex
Menstrual changes
These symptoms do not always mean you have ovarian cancer. But it is a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider if they are new symptoms, last more than a few weeks and/or occur more than 12 times a month.
As I stated before, my Mom had no idea anything was wrong.
Needless to say, she is an advocate of regular check-ups, early detection and awareness... and as her family, we have become advocates, too.
This picture was taken during the Annual MotherWalk 5K Ovarian Cancer Event last May (in Crestline). We were 13 strong at this walk. Next May, we hope to have many more walking for Team Tootsie!
I'll be back Monday with Mom's story and more details about ovarian cancer.
And I hope you'll visit A Simple Life again to learn more about this cancer. Awareness is SO important in finding a cure.
And we really want to find a cure!
Quotable Quotes - I saw this on Facebook, and I liked it.
"Excuse our mess. The children are making memories."
It doesn't apply to me now (I cannot blame small children for messes), but boy, did it apply to me way back when!
Blog Linkage - Such good linkage today. You can thank me later.
1. Go to www.kellehampton.com and read her September 17 post entitled "Our Weekend: It was shiny." You can read the entire post, but focus on the Pet Store Scavenger Hunt Kelle prepared for her daughter, Lainey. (It was an afternoon date for them.) So smart. So fun. If you have a four year-old child, do this today, please.
2. Go to "eighteen25" under My Blog List and read today's post entitled "Please Welcome: Jamilyn from I {heart} Nap Time." She has a very cute and doable candy corn dessert recipe for the month of October.
Plastic Pumpkin Chia Pets
Surprise! Another Pinterest idea. This Mom had a great way of using inexpensive plastic pumpkin buckets.
Grow some fall herbs.
They start their fall herb windowsill “garden” each September. Using the plastic pumpkin heads as planters, you can watch them "grow" hair as the herbs get bigger and bigger.
Later, depending on the herbs you choose to plant, you can plan a recipe with your child and use the FRESH herbs you have grown.
This tradition includes gardening, decorating for Fall AND cooking.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Weekend Happenings
My friend, Cam, mentioned Taco Soup yesterday, so it is on my brain. And yes, we will be eating Taco Soup tonight... on the deck... with lit candles!
Can you say VOLLEYBALL? Yep. The Chick has a tournament Saturday, so she will be doing athletic stuff all day long.
Mikie and I will be sitting on bleachers, cheering her on. It's what we do best, I think.
Josh has plans to watch a lot of football Saturday, and I think we're all going to get together around 6:00 p.m. tomorrow night and do the Auburn thing! War Eagle!
Austin is working at JSU (internship) all day Saturday. Good news... He loves it. Bad news... We only get to see him on Sundays during football season. (Not unlike his Marching Southerner time at JSU.)
But as long as he's happy, Momma's happy.
We're celebrating Roxie's 16th Birthday with family Sunday afternoon. She has requested a Caramel Cake, so expect pictures and a recipe Monday morning.
I also have a little surprise for her up my sleeve Sunday evening. Roxie doesn't like surprises, and because I know this about her, I have made certain it is a completely painless surprise.
She will love it, or my name isn't The Enchanting Belinda!
Please, please have a fantastic Fall weekend... full of family, fun and frivolity. (I rarely get to use "frivolity" in a sentence. It IS a good day.)
I'll be back Monday with Mindless Monday, pics from volleyball AND family AND birthday celebrations... and so much more.
And because no September OR October post is complete without a few volleyball action pics, I have added them to the bottom of today's post for your enjoyment!
This is why I love driving The Big Gold Van. Roxie sits beside me in the front, and the back is full of beautiful Volleyball Chicks. (Kelci, Kaitlyn, Shelby, Alex and Taylor.)
It's a good thing.
MINE! MINE! MINE!
The Jumping Serve is a thing of beauty, and Kaitlyn has perfected it!
Personally, I would never dive for a volleyball. If the other team is too lazy to hit it high enough for me to return it over the net, I would NOT play with them.
However, The Chick is fearless, and diving is one of her specialties.
I so admire her!
Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting and Forever Autumnal Belinda
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)