I've been extremely preoccupied with work and things in my life lately. All things good, but it has left me too busy to blog about nonsense unimportant things, even though I love blogging about those every day events that bring me happiness.
Mom and Dad have been here which has been super fun, even though mom has been complaining that she hasn't seen me much. Hey, someone has to make the money for us to take all of the vacations we have planned in 2017.
The next one being Disneyland starting at 5pm today. Mom, Dad and I will be driving 4 hours to Indio, CA where we will stay in a hotel all together on this lovely Valentines day. I bought mom and dad some anti-snoring strips while shopping for last minute items this afternoon. It's going to be such a romantic Valentines night; NOT.
I did get a cute Winnie the Pooh text message that said, U R luv'd from Kirt. Yep that's as romantic as it's getting today. We all think of LOVE as romantic, but there is so much more to it than romance and there are so many people that this little heart of mine LOVES. How grateful I am for all of the love in my life and a day that I can wear my red pants and feel like I'm in the Valentines Spirit.
And don't you think that my parents have just been sitting around here basking in the sun for the past week, because you know that hasn't happened one bit. I'm so excited to show you the finished product of my entertainment center and mud-room, but that will have to wait until they are completely finished, which will be oh so soon.
We will be in Disneyland with all of my brothers families for 8 days. Oh, wow it's going to be fun. Sadly my sisters will not be joining us this time.
Procrastinators side note: Disney tickets went up in price on Sunday. And I'm waiting for my works website to update the prices so I can pay more for my niece and nephews tickets. Thankfully we get a pretty good discount from gate prices.
Another side note, my cousin Misty and her family will also be at Disneyland starting Sunday. It's going to be such fun.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Patient and Provider
Saturday I worked at urgent care. My first patient was visiting from out of town and came in with an ear infection. During our visit she told me she had cancer. She was my age. I told her that I had cancer too. We talked about our treatments and our "new normal." At the end of the visit she asked if she could hug me and thanked me for being there. In that moment with tears in both of our eyes, I was so grateful for both being a cancer patient, yet also a provider. I had so much more a sense of what she was experiencing on a daily basis.
Today I saw Dr. D's NP Kim, while having my infusion. Mom is in town and came with me. We were talking to Kim about how it seems so strange that so many people my age or older are there with their aged parents. But I'm the patient and my mom is accompanying me.
The NP told us something that she doesn't share often. 3 years ago she was in school and being treated for cancer. She has been in exactly the same position as I am. And here she was being my provider. I'm sure neither one of these experiences were just a coincidence, but the Lord showing all of us that He is aware of us and allowing us to be an instrument in His hands.
These experiences makes things feel so real when I'm both the patient and the provider. But it makes me grateful and thankful that I can put on my stethoscope and forget my troubles while treating others with a similar diagnosis that I have.
Kim told me that they only have 1 other patient that is on the same treatment I'm on. We are so hoping that this works and that other patients will benefit from this treatment because I gave it a try. Last month I didn't ask what my CA-125 was because I was in Charlotte when Dr. D called and I didn't want to ruin my vacation if it was elevated. I'm happy that today I asked and that it had come down to 88 from 134 in December. Tomorrow I will find out what it is today. Let's hope for even lower numbers.
Today I saw Dr. D's NP Kim, while having my infusion. Mom is in town and came with me. We were talking to Kim about how it seems so strange that so many people my age or older are there with their aged parents. But I'm the patient and my mom is accompanying me.
The NP told us something that she doesn't share often. 3 years ago she was in school and being treated for cancer. She has been in exactly the same position as I am. And here she was being my provider. I'm sure neither one of these experiences were just a coincidence, but the Lord showing all of us that He is aware of us and allowing us to be an instrument in His hands.
These experiences makes things feel so real when I'm both the patient and the provider. But it makes me grateful and thankful that I can put on my stethoscope and forget my troubles while treating others with a similar diagnosis that I have.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Vacation Plans
I can't believe I did it...I bought a plane ticket to Australia. I have been talking about going to Australia since my dear sister/friend (yes she's like a sister and my mom considers her like a daughter) Pam moved there with her family over 2 years ago. Pam's husband is in the military and is on assignment there until June before they move back to the states. We've talked about me coming there since before they moved there and she visited Idaho just after I finished my first round of chemo. I've hesitated because of cancer and the not knowing. I think a lot of the hesitation however has been because of the 15 hours in the air (without stopping). I mean what does one do for 15 hours on a plane? Hopefully 8 of it will be spent sleeping. I'm positive Ambien will be used for some assistance since I don't sleep at all while sitting up and I didn't book a first class ticket.
This brings me to one of the most exciting purchases this week. I've been watching plane tickets since before Christmas. I've often found tickets around 1,500-2000. 2 days ago I found a flight on Delta, (so I can get sky miles 17,581 to be exact) from Boise to Sydney and then from Bali to Boise for only 1113. Mom is coming with me and yes I booked her flight before mine. A month ago flights were 1000 more flying from Boise. Since these were so cheap I bought mom's ticket, but they were still higher than I'd seen them from Phoenix. I checked yesterday morning and no change. However, right before I went to bed last night I checked again. I actually thought it was a mistake and checked again because I've never seen flights less than 1000. My flight was only 981. Hello, that's crazy cheap. I love traveling, but I hate paying high prices for flights. On Delta I can typically get a flight with sky miles, which I typically give away and not use for 25,000 miles across the country. (My flight to Charlotte I used FF miles). That means I will almost gain another free flight by flying to Australia. So really it's like I got the flight for 500.
Enough about my frugalness. So now about the trip. We will be meeting up in LA and then fly to Sydney on April 17. A childhood friend lives in Sydney. She is going to be our tour guide for about 6 days. Another childhood friend lives in Brisbane and goes to Sydney for business often. We are hoping he is there when we are so we can see him. We will then fly to Melbourne and stay with Pam for about 5 days. Pam and her darling 2 children and her husband had planned on going to Bali and invited us to go with them. 2 continents in one trip; lucky me!
We will be in Bali from April 29-May 9. Pam's husband has already booked 3 different resorts that we will stay at in different areas of Bali. These are 5 star resorts, 2 of which are on the beach. Everything in Bali is very well priced, thank goodness, because Australia isn't cheap. We will then fly to Korea for a 9 hour layover. I've heard the Korea airport is pretty amazing. We have contemplated leaving the airport for the day. I have a childhood friend who is serving in the military there and may be able to be our tour guide for the day. We will then fly to Seattle. Mom will fly to Boise and I will have an 18 hour layover spending it with Aubrey. I could have flown home 2 hours later, but of course I can't go to Seattle without a visit with Aubrey. I'm pretty sure once I get home I will want to sleep for at least a day or 2.
I know nothing about Bali or Australia, but I've been to the library and have some books to read on my drive to Disneyland 12 days. Yep, I'm always planning a vacation or on vacation. I feel like I should make a paper chain to countdown the days. Only 71 day to go!
I believe this quote is the theme of my life. I'll save my shoe story for another post...
This brings me to one of the most exciting purchases this week. I've been watching plane tickets since before Christmas. I've often found tickets around 1,500-2000. 2 days ago I found a flight on Delta, (so I can get sky miles 17,581 to be exact) from Boise to Sydney and then from Bali to Boise for only 1113. Mom is coming with me and yes I booked her flight before mine. A month ago flights were 1000 more flying from Boise. Since these were so cheap I bought mom's ticket, but they were still higher than I'd seen them from Phoenix. I checked yesterday morning and no change. However, right before I went to bed last night I checked again. I actually thought it was a mistake and checked again because I've never seen flights less than 1000. My flight was only 981. Hello, that's crazy cheap. I love traveling, but I hate paying high prices for flights. On Delta I can typically get a flight with sky miles, which I typically give away and not use for 25,000 miles across the country. (My flight to Charlotte I used FF miles). That means I will almost gain another free flight by flying to Australia. So really it's like I got the flight for 500.
Enough about my frugalness. So now about the trip. We will be meeting up in LA and then fly to Sydney on April 17. A childhood friend lives in Sydney. She is going to be our tour guide for about 6 days. Another childhood friend lives in Brisbane and goes to Sydney for business often. We are hoping he is there when we are so we can see him. We will then fly to Melbourne and stay with Pam for about 5 days. Pam and her darling 2 children and her husband had planned on going to Bali and invited us to go with them. 2 continents in one trip; lucky me!
We will be in Bali from April 29-May 9. Pam's husband has already booked 3 different resorts that we will stay at in different areas of Bali. These are 5 star resorts, 2 of which are on the beach. Everything in Bali is very well priced, thank goodness, because Australia isn't cheap. We will then fly to Korea for a 9 hour layover. I've heard the Korea airport is pretty amazing. We have contemplated leaving the airport for the day. I have a childhood friend who is serving in the military there and may be able to be our tour guide for the day. We will then fly to Seattle. Mom will fly to Boise and I will have an 18 hour layover spending it with Aubrey. I could have flown home 2 hours later, but of course I can't go to Seattle without a visit with Aubrey. I'm pretty sure once I get home I will want to sleep for at least a day or 2.
I know nothing about Bali or Australia, but I've been to the library and have some books to read on my drive to Disneyland 12 days. Yep, I'm always planning a vacation or on vacation. I feel like I should make a paper chain to countdown the days. Only 71 day to go!
I believe this quote is the theme of my life. I'll save my shoe story for another post...
Sunday, January 29, 2017
God's Hand
LDS.org has a suggestion for the New Year: Sunday Journaling: A new tradition for the new year. I love this suggestion and want to implement it in 2017. I love this thought, "The Sabbath day is all about remembering—remembering
the Savior, remembering our promises, remembering who we are and why
we’re here. What better way to remember on the Sabbath day than to cast
our minds over the past week and make note of all the impressions and
blessings we’ve been given? And since Sunday is a day to slow down
and focus on activities that help us grow spiritually, it’s a day we
can actually find time to reflect and record our thoughts when
Monday–Saturday prove too hectic."
There is a cute sign that says, "How has God reached out to me this week?" I love this question and how it gets me thinking of all of the ways he has reached out to me. One of those ways is through my calling in Young Womens.
It has taken me a year to completely fall in love with my calling in church. I love that I get to teach these special 12 and 13 year old young women about our Savior, His love for them and how to become closer to him. Today our lesson was on coming to know Jesus Christ and not just knowing about Him. I was humbled as I listened to these girls tell me how they know Jesus Christ. I feel such that I am an instrument in Gods hands in teaching these sweet girls and in helping them build their foundation on Christ.
There is a cute sign that says, "How has God reached out to me this week?" I love this question and how it gets me thinking of all of the ways he has reached out to me. One of those ways is through my calling in Young Womens.
It has taken me a year to completely fall in love with my calling in church. I love that I get to teach these special 12 and 13 year old young women about our Savior, His love for them and how to become closer to him. Today our lesson was on coming to know Jesus Christ and not just knowing about Him. I was humbled as I listened to these girls tell me how they know Jesus Christ. I feel such that I am an instrument in Gods hands in teaching these sweet girls and in helping them build their foundation on Christ.
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