DC fun

It's been a while since I've posted. I was dealing with writer's block and an extremely busy life for a week or two. I'm back to reality and hopefully will post more regularly now.

This weekend, Debra, Sofie and I headed to DC for a fun weekend away. We started by visiting a former preschool classmate of Sofie, Alex and his family. It was great seeing them. Sofie and Alex played as if it had been no time at all since they'd seen each other, when in fact it had been 2 years. We stayed longer than anticipated and ended up having dinner with the family. All that meant that we were really late checking in to our DC hotel. That didn't really matter since we weren't really on a schedule.

We woke up Sunday morning, got ready and walked to the zoo. It was already hot and sticky by the time we arrived. Sofie complained about walking and she really wanted to get to the Reptile Discovery Center to view all the snakes. When we finally made it to the snakes, she was one happy child. The girls loves snakes! We kept walking through the zoo and got to the end, hoping to find a taxi waiting for us. No such luck, that particular exit isn't conducive to taxi's passing by, so we had to call one since I knew I was unable to walk anymore. My feet and legs were killing me and I just wanted to get to the hotel and rest! After waiting more than 1/2 hour for a taxi, we get back to the hotel, eat lunch and get ready to go poolside. It was crowded and this white girl needed some shade, so i swam with Sofie then laid in a chair UNDER my towel!! I know, freakish, but hey it's better than being sunburned.

Sofie had a great time in the pool, as she always does. She played by herself then met a girl her age dressed in an almost identical swimsuit! They played and laughed and jumped and had tons of fun. The really cool part is the little girl lives in Chapel Hill, so there are possibilities for future playdates!

On Sunday evening, while Sofie was still playing in the pool, a huge thunderstorm loomed in the heavens. We were going to go out to dinner and explore more of DC, but that didn't happen. Instead, we had room service and Sofie watched a movie. The next morning we got up, packed, ate breakfast and headed south. After driving through DC to get to proper highway, we headed for home. I had the bright idea of stopping at IKEA since we don't have one in Durham...or even in NC yet! We finally found IKEA, went inside and Sofie wanted to play in the area were kids hang out while parents shop. She had fun and Debra and I didn't have to hear her complain about how BORING IKEA was...silly child, she'll one day realize just how cool IKEA is.

After exhibiting enormous restraint and only buying a few things, we hopped in the car and headed for home. One quick stop at McDonalds so Sofie could add to her Shrek figurines collection and we're heading home. We finally got home around 6p, exhausted and ready to chill out. It was a fun weekend and now we're planning our trip to the beach the weekend school let's out for the summer. After that, a few more weeks to our CRUISE!!! Woohoo!

Prayer and an ultrasound

I had the most bizarre experience yesterday. Kind of an "only in the south" sort of thing. I was having an ultrasound to see if I had gallstones(I don't by the way!!) and was chatting as I do with the radiology technician. We talked about this and that. Finally, she asked what kind of Cancer I had had. I explained the whole situation in a nutshell. She listened inquisitively. After I finished talking, she said, "I don't usually do this sort of thing, but I really feel like I want to pray for you." I was thinking that was nice and she meant she was going to put me in her prayers, which was very sweet. Uh, no, that wasn't it at ALL! She laid her hands on me and started to pray right there on the examination table!! I was startled at first, but I have to say I felt at ease a few seconds into her prayer. I can honestly say she prayed with only the purest intentions and love. I thanked her, got dressed, left the office and immediately called Sharon. I HAD to tell someone. I can honestly say this has never happened to me before. I thought it was very sweet and sincere. Some may have thought it was out of place, but I kind of liked it.

Weekend Fun

Sofie and I had a fun filled weekend. Saturday night was her downtime of watching the most humanly possible amount of Scooby-Doo she could watch. She and I laid on the couch and cuddled and watched too many episodes of Scooby. After that we watched "Ant Bully." She laughed a lot and nothing makes me happier than to hear her giggle.

Sunday, it was a cool, sunny but blustery day. We decided to go to the NC Museum of Life and Science. (Pictures are the link to the right that says, "A Day at the Museum") I can say I've never spent so much time there. Usually we go for a couple/three hours. We stayed for five...we opened and closed the place! We hadn't walked the newer nature trail that has bears/wolves and lemurs. That was fun and the lemurs cracked me up. We just had a really good day hanging out. One of Sofie's most fun things we did...hanging out in the car in the parking lot with the seats laid back and the sunroof open, just chillin'. We did it to waste time before the museum opened and she enjoyed so much she asked to do it again before we left. Too cute. After the museum, off to Locopops we went. Yummy...Pomegrante Orange for me and Latte for her.

Debra came just before dinner to pick her up so we decided to go to Red Robin for dinner as neither one of us felt like cooking! Sofie refers to it as the place with the TV on the floor. She's just happy they show Tom and Jerry cartoons while we eat. For burgers, this is a pretty good restaurant and VERY family friendly. Unfortunately, I over did it on the onion straws, causing much nausea and other things. I had a Drs appointment scheduled already. She thinks it's either GERD(reflux) or an ulcer. UGH. I just want the nausea to go away. I had enough during chemo and thought I'd be finished post chemo!!

Sofie and I just had a great time this weekend. I love the one on one time we spend together and I know she values the time, too. We continue to spoil her and that will probably come bite us in the ass one day! Oh well...I'm an only child, too. I get it.

Cancer just SUCKS

Yesterday, within the span of one hour, I found out 2 people who's "situations" I've been following had died. I didn't personally know either one of them. One was the brother-in-law of a former co-worker and the other was a long time friend of a chorus buddy. In both cases I felt connected to these individuals, even though we'd never met or even communicated.

The brother-in-law of my friend was the one that hit home the most. He was mid forties, married and two lovely kids. His wife kept a blog that originally just started as a blog about what was going on in their hectic lives. Soon after she began, her husband was diagnosed with lymphoma. That was 3 1/2 years ago. They've had major ups and downs along the way. This last round was the saddest, though. They went through rounds and rounds of chemotherapy and at a point the cancer was "gone" which allowed him to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. In 80% of cases with transplants, the cancer is cured. The process of finding a donor can be harrowing, but they found a 10 out of 10 match in Hong Kong and they were preparing to do the transplant in the next month or so. Unfortunately, he had severe pain one day, went to the hospital only to discover the cancer was back. The doctors gave him a limited amount of time and really just tried to keep him comfortable. So, in a flash he and his families life went from hopeful to devastated. The news was good, then ultimately very bad. This is what I fear for Debra(and even in the back of my mind, me.) Cancer is the ultimate Life Suck. I hate it...a word we don't use in our family except in extreme cases. This qualilfies in my book!

The other person was a dear friend of a dear friend of mine. She'd been battling breast cancer for awhile. Our connection was Polarity. She was a massage therapist who studied Polarity Therapy with the same instructor I had. Just on that connection alone, I'm sure she was a very special person. I'm saddest for my friend Mary who was really close with her and had a long history of friendship that she'll miss.

Sorry this is a downer post...I thought I was past that for awhile. Apparently the universe had other plans. I hope the two people that have passed have found a peaceful place to exist. I'll continue to keep their families in my prayers, as it is always hardest on those who are left behind.

Peace out.