A few posts ago, I intimated how I was struggling with waiting for radiation because, since chemo has been finished, I feel like I'm not doing anything to battle this disease. My precious daughter, Kate, is a great inspiration and motivator. She reminded me that I do have the ability to fight right now by controlling what goes in my body and how hard my body works. Kate has encouraged me to eat super-healthy and to exercise every day. Most days, my eating consists of the following:
Breakfast - either poached egg whites and fresh fruit or lentils with cranberries
Lunch - fresh veggies with hummus, smoothie with protein powder, berries & tons of spinach,
and fresh fruit
Snack - 10 almonds or unlimited vegetables
Supper - a protein (veggie burger, seitan, tofu), and a mound of vegetables so big it topples
off my plate
I said to David last night that if Kate lived with us 365 days a year, I'd weigh 90 pounds! Well, I haven't weighed 90 pounds since I was about 5, so maybe not 90, but w-a-a-a-a-y less!!
Virtually every day I exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes. I have tried some pretty difficult workout DVD's and am able to get through the majority of them now. YAY -- my stamina and cardio fitness are returning!! Yesterday, we went for another walk/run and I clocked a total of 16 minutes running -- my best yet!
Remember the wig I bought (well, Blue Cross bought for me)?? I have virtually never worn it. I don't really like how it looks, and it's hot. On a few occasions, I've felt "obligated" to wear it ... such as Kate's graduation ceremony, where I wanted 100% of the attention to be on Kate, not on me ... but I hated it the entire time. If I was someone who had to have hair on my head, I likely would have taken the wig to my favourite stylist, Natalie, and had her make it look a little more up-to-date. As it is, it sits on my dresser gathering dust.
Initially, when I lost my hair, I only went out in public with my head covered. Admittedly, having never been a hat person, there was a bit of a novelty factor in buying and trying various head coverings. Some of them even looked not too bad! Remember... always the people-pleaser ... I thought I was doing it for other people -- so as not to embarrass them. Very often, I even asked those I was with, "Will it embarrass you if I don't wear my hat?"
Truth of the matter is, I am most comfortable with nothing on my beautiful, bald head. And, if people don't like it, it is their problem to deal with. Right, Char?
There was a time in my life when I was an incredible attention-seeker. I had blue ... like, royal bright blue ... spiky hair and dressed in outrageous clothes. I didn't want to "fit in" -- I wanted to be the "odd one out", enticing stares and whispers. I've outgrown that!! Problem is, for some strange reason, bald women invite double takes ... triple takes, even. Why are people so mesmerized by me? Is it my beauty? my fit, sculpted body? NO!!
My sneaking suspicion is that they are curious, concerned, inquisitive? The occasional person will give me a big smile -- perhaps a comrade, a fellow-survivor -- and I give them an enormous smile in return. What I don't want is sympathy, thank you very much. For as often as I whine and snivel about various aspects of this dreaded disease, I wouldn't trade my situation for ANYTHING!!! Having cancer has brought me tremendous blessings and taught me so many lessons! God works ALL things for good! I have SO many silver linings, I don't have enough fingers and toes to count them all!!
Returning to Work
A visit to my GP in Ashcroft this week brought the exhilarating news that I can return to work in September -- sort of. Paperwork in hand, I marched in ready to plead my case and fight to be able to go back to work at the start of the school year. Dr. Kitshoff listened to my update on the last nine months (she hadn't seen me since sending me off for the first surgeon consultation before my diagnosis), and then proceeded to fill in all the blanks. Unfortunately ... in my opinion ... she only wants me to work part-time in September. Therefore, I will work mornings only for the month and, all things going swell, will be full time by October 1.
Several Hoards of people have asked me, "What's the rush??" In a nutshell ... I need to go back to work! My brain needs the stimulation, my mental health needs the activity, my body is physically ready for the exhausting challenge, and my emotions need precious students to get to know and care for.
I'm even more ecstatic now that I've met with my new principal and learned more about my new position at the high school. In layman's terms, I will be teaching the alternate program -- for kids who struggle to fit in socially, emotionally, and academically. It is not special education, as I have done in the past, but is right up my alley working alongside vulnerable kids.
I've already started planning :)
Come on, September, hurry up and get here!
Just a reminder what my wig looks like :)
Initially, when I lost my hair, I only went out in public with my head covered. Admittedly, having never been a hat person, there was a bit of a novelty factor in buying and trying various head coverings. Some of them even looked not too bad! Remember... always the people-pleaser ... I thought I was doing it for other people -- so as not to embarrass them. Very often, I even asked those I was with, "Will it embarrass you if I don't wear my hat?"
Remember my cut-off T-shirt look? My new Victoria hat from Roberta's Hats.
Truth of the matter is, I am most comfortable with nothing on my beautiful, bald head. And, if people don't like it, it is their problem to deal with. Right, Char?
There was a time in my life when I was an incredible attention-seeker. I had blue ... like, royal bright blue ... spiky hair and dressed in outrageous clothes. I didn't want to "fit in" -- I wanted to be the "odd one out", enticing stares and whispers. I've outgrown that!! Problem is, for some strange reason, bald women invite double takes ... triple takes, even. Why are people so mesmerized by me? Is it my beauty? my fit, sculpted body? NO!!
My sneaking suspicion is that they are curious, concerned, inquisitive? The occasional person will give me a big smile -- perhaps a comrade, a fellow-survivor -- and I give them an enormous smile in return. What I don't want is sympathy, thank you very much. For as often as I whine and snivel about various aspects of this dreaded disease, I wouldn't trade my situation for ANYTHING!!! Having cancer has brought me tremendous blessings and taught me so many lessons! God works ALL things for good! I have SO many silver linings, I don't have enough fingers and toes to count them all!!
Returning to Work
A visit to my GP in Ashcroft this week brought the exhilarating news that I can return to work in September -- sort of. Paperwork in hand, I marched in ready to plead my case and fight to be able to go back to work at the start of the school year. Dr. Kitshoff listened to my update on the last nine months (she hadn't seen me since sending me off for the first surgeon consultation before my diagnosis), and then proceeded to fill in all the blanks. Unfortunately ... in my opinion ... she only wants me to work part-time in September. Therefore, I will work mornings only for the month and, all things going swell, will be full time by October 1.
I'm even more ecstatic now that I've met with my new principal and learned more about my new position at the high school. In layman's terms, I will be teaching the alternate program -- for kids who struggle to fit in socially, emotionally, and academically. It is not special education, as I have done in the past, but is right up my alley working alongside vulnerable kids.
I've already started planning :)
Come on, September, hurry up and get here!
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