Over the course of several days, we have been busy. Playing...climbing...

Swimming...

Floating...

Doing Dishes...or not!

And ending it all with a delicious homemade soup made in the Vitamix. Tortilla Soup. A great way for me to get my veggies. Oh so good. Not to mention a nice way to warm up after being out in the ChiLLy wind.

I like days like these. Damon gets to burn off energy, have fun, and I get to eat healthy! Damon had his last swimming lesson at current level today. He starts his next level on 23 March. He is already looking forward to them.

As for me, I am already looking forward to my next meal made in my new Vitamix!!! lovin it.

confessions

My guys. I look at those faces and can't believe what I did today! I feel terrible.

I cheated. I cheated. And when john finds out he is going to be SO disappointed in me. As he should be. But

before I tell him I have to confess something else....


I enjoyed every second of it. And I mean enjoyed!!! It was so good. And once I got a  taste of it, I only

wanted more. I wanted it to last and last.

I have another confession.....

Damon was with me. I cheated right in front of my son!!! I feel so bad. I'm such a bad mom. A bad wife.

I didn't even cheat with a tall, dark, handsome, muscular guy half my age...no....

I'll tell you the facts.

I was walking through the Dimond mall with Damon, when we came around a corner and there it was.

The smell was soooo overwhelmingly delicious.

I walked by looking longing at the object of my lust. I proceeded to the comic book store with Damon all the while doing the self talk.
don't do it Dani, you'll be sorry. You will disappoint John and feel guilty for hours or even days to come.

Damon and I returned down the hall of the mall, and coming around a corner there it was again!!!!!

Ok, I decided to just give in to my desires. My opening line?

Maybe I please have a pretzel dog??? with cheese? And cinnamon nuggets for my son?

It was fresh out of the oven and HOT. Oh so HOT. I took it with me to the truck, got Damon situated and started my "dog". Oh that first bite was sooo delicious.

I enjoyed every single bite of that pretzel dog. From Auntie Annes. Interestingly enough my friend Anna introduced me to them when we went to Vegas last April.
Mmmmmm mmmm good. I have been drooling for one for months. I basically gave up meat and dairy months ago and Hot dogs before that. So it was a big breakdown for me to do this.

I did enjoy every bit of that dog, but I also feel terrible now. Mentally, emotionally. I came home and made soup in my Vitamix with all sorts of veggies. Maybe by tomorrow I will feel better.

 In other news, the day before my devastating choice was good. I was going to post pics, but the blog isn't let me add more now for some reason. will post tomorrow.

I hope none of you have to go through the feelings I did today. Don't make a choice like I did. You can exhibit better self control, as I am going to work on tomorrow.

love to all of you!!!
Dani

Lost Thoughts, have u seen them?

Is anyone else out there at all like me? Do you ever get a good idea and think it's so great that you won't forget what it is so you don't write it down..then later can't remember it??? For me I get these ideas when I'm driving or out somewhere and don't have the resources TO write it down. Later, I can't even recall what the heck I had in mind. The ideas are usually for my blog. Darn it all!!! This is what I'm going through right now. Yesterday I had this wonderful idea for a blog entry...did I write it down or voice it out loud to my husband?

NO

So now all I can do is write about how I HAD this idea and now am writing about how I forgot it. hmmmm

Something is wrong with this picture. And if any of you have this same problem then I can no longer blame my forgetfullness on "chemo brain" which I haven't too much as I just learned about this term the last month of treatment. I didn't feel it was right to blame it when I hadn't even known about it.

Like when I found out I could have gone to DMV and requested a "handicap" sticker for my car for parking. It was the last month of treatment and I didn't feel it would be right/fair to get one at that point in the game. Though that month following my last treament would have been GREAT to park so close. I know better now. IF and I mean IF I go back for more torture....I WILL be getting a "handicap" parking tag!!! Especially if it's winter. The cold air does numbing things to my face, and pokey prickly things to my hands after a treatment.

Well, this entry wasn't really about treatment, but hey. I wanted to add a few pics from recently so here are a few.



This white boy can dance!



And Dance!



And give affection....



Great Strides : Great Strokes

For me, Great Strides in gaining energy. I am starting to feel more like me again. Some mornings I get up and just start doing housework. I get a lot done too, just in the morning. It amazes me. It feels good. It makes me sweat. It makes me feel productive. It makes me feel better. Then later, it makes me feel tired again!! lol

For Damon, Great Strokes in swimming lessons. Something finally clicked with him in todays lesson when he was swimming. He actually did what the teacher has been trying to get him to do with his arms. Either hold them out in front and kick to the side, or use them to swim forward. He was previously going into doggy paddle mode as a sort of sink or swim mode. Now he is getting it!!! It's fun to watch him. He is making so much progress.

For John, Great effort in the gym. He has been so dedicated the last few weeks to going every day! I'm proud of him cus there are days I bow out. Like today, Damon is tired and I don't feel like going anywhere else. Although I did my walking workout, 3 miles already today so I don't feel too guilty.

This is what my energy got from me today:

Cleaned three bathrooms not including bathtubs
Did a load of laundry
Folded previous days laundry and put it away
Did Dishes
Did 3 miles walking video
Made smoothies
Played with Damon in his room.
there might be more but I can't remember. lol

tomorrow we head to Elmendorf, I meet with Surgery to discuss what we will do with my abdominal hernias. Hopefully getting them fixed asap.

Blessings to all of you!!!

Sacrifice

Curious........Todays lesson in Relief Society was about sacrifice, which made me think of my last post regarding taking things for granted.
The question was raised, would we give up our "things" in order to follow Christ? What would we be willing to give up in the name of family, for family time, or in order to help family or friends?

I started thinking about myself of course and how we left Kodiak and all my great friends there in order to be closer to my health care and not have to travel every other week, leaving my family behind. Of course now that I am well (for the time being) I wish we were still in Kodiak! I do feel like we sacrificed a lot to be here in Palmer now. John's job for instance..because we are on  a humanitarian transfer his job is an unbudgeted poistion and there isn't much for him to do. I worried about that....that he would not have anything to do and get bored. He said it didn' matter as long as we were able to have easy access to my doctor and treatment and not have to leave him and Damon every other wk.

But John being the man that he is (sacrificing, generous, loving),  was ok with all that. Even leaving behind the best fishing ever and some of the best memories we have made so far in our short marriage.

And I know that the sacrifices were necessary and that John would do it all over again....except for the stress.

Today I am so grateful for friends put in my life at certain times for certain reasons, family willing to sacrifice money and time to help my family, John my husband who is always there for me and willing to do what I need him to do. I am grateful for two of the best kids ever!!!!! I am grateful for heavenly father working the medicine in my body, and for giving me more time with these friends and family. I am grateful for the new friends I am making (even if slowly) here in Palmer. I am grateful for each and every one of you who read my blog and pray for me and support me.

I think I could give up what I have to follow my saviour (as long as I can take John and Damon with), haha. I could leave the TV, cable, movies, computer. I am sure I won't have to give up all that but sacrifice does come in many forms...

What are some sacrifices some of you have had to make that benefited you in the long run?

HAppy Valentines Day tomorrow everyone!!!

If  you are anything like me, you sometimes take everyday things for granted. Or big things. Goofy moments with your children!

                                                     Happy moments with your children!

  

Your Husband!

Not that I EVER take my husband for granted and I am sorry If you do.....haha

The power to be a superhero by putting on the underwear!

Relaxation time.

the love of family!!!!

A Good bed to sleep on.

and.....

A GREAT couch to sit on.

I will confess though...even since my diagnosis, I DO still take some of these things for granted. It's unfortunate but true. It's something I am working on. I should never get too comfortable in my comfort!

Before, I always took my health for granted. It's no guarantee I realize now. Even though I thought I was "healthy", eating what I thought was health food, exercising, etc...I was so far from healthy I didn't even have a clue. Now I have a clue and still I take things for granted, but less and less I take my health for granted.

The one thing I am the most guilty of taking for granted is ....

my

Husband!!!

Thats right. John! I bet none of you have that problem. Lucky! ha. When I stop and think about it I do realize all that he does for me just because he loves me. But usually I just float through my days, not really giving it much thought. Shame on me. I am trying to be more conscious of who is around me, what they are doing, and why they are doing it. for example, John comes home from work and  most days whips out the vacuum cleaner and starts at it. I usually take it as, he must think I don't do enough during the day so he has to pick up he slack. 

The hard cold truth is...he says he is doing it to help me out. 

And I appreciate that, really I do.

Even if I don't show it all the time.

Showing....that's very difficult for me when it comes to ANYONE but my two children. Showing them is easy. Hugs, kisses, tickles, playtime, reading, walks, etc...Showing others is not so easy for me.

So as my days go by and I find myself taking things and people for granted, I am going to stop and reflect on ways to be grateful and show it. I am going to embrace the little things!

Will you do the same?

Let's not take a single moment or day for granted. Let's love each moment, each silly thing our kids do, each kind deed our spouses or family do, our ability to choose healthy foods, exercise, time to read, naps, walks, nice sunny weather!

Ok, well we don't choose the weather, but we can choose what to do with our time when it's nice out.

Take nothing for granted, or at least try.

I'm trying...everyday is a learning experience!

One I am grateful for.

Blessings to each of you... my family, friends!

A Birthday pre-blog

Damon's Fourth Birthday, which happened before I started my blog. (I think) I guess I could look it up. (but why would I want to do that?)

Birthday Breakfast

Birthday Boy loves his breakfast

the SuperHero of the house!

Oh, here is the superhero of the house...and his cake.

And the Superhero's friends

and his Big Sister!

this was a fun day for all. We went swimming at the pool on Base before all coming here to the house for Ironman cake and fun with friends. There were balloons for everyone!

I've since been informed that the fifth birthday will be a superhero one also, but with multiple Hero's. We'll see about that.

And to think, I thought I was Hero Enough! What's a mother to do.

Keep on lovin'

Keep on playin'

Keep on teachin'

Keep on plannin'

I love Damon with all my heart!!!!