Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Updates - Cancer, family, etc.

It has been pretty busy these last few weeks.

CANCER UPDATE
My mother had her lumpectomy to remove the cancer and all tests have come back looking positive towards a full recovery. She had genetic testing and results show she is not carrying the cancer gene which was very good news. She starts radiation treatments tomorrow which will continue for about 6 weeks.

GRANDMOTHER
My grandmother passed away peacefully in her home. Although it is sad for her to be gone, she is in a much better place now. It has been hard the last several years with her not recognizing us due to her Alzheimer's disease. Hopefully she is reunited with the loved ones that passed before her. It was nice to see extended family even though it would have been better under different circumstances.

KIDS
May is always busy with the school year wrapping up. We've had Teacher Appreciation Week and are truly thankful for the wonderful job the teachers do in our school. Collieville Elementary is a great school and my kids love it!

KELLY
Kelly has started practicing with the POM team and absolutely loves it. Right now all she wants to do is dance! I hope the enthusiasm sticks with her.

CARLEIGH
Carleigh wants to play tennis and swim this summer. She is looking forward to having lots of fun!

ME
I am looking forward to spending this summer at home with my wonderful kids. This will be my time to reflect, de-stress and just completely enjoy my break! I can tell I sure need one! I hope you enjoy your summer as well!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Kelly is a Memphis Elite Pom Dancer!

Yeah! I'm so happy for Kelly! She made the Memphis Elite Junior Pom/Dance Team. She is soooo excited! I haven't seen her this excited about an extra-curricular activity in a long time. Of course, that is subject to change at any time, but she really does love the kind of dancing/moving that the pom squad does. AND naturally, she gets all that rhythm and talent from me! Ok, anybody who really knows me and has seen me dance can get off the floor now and quit he-hawing! I have a lot of coordination for sports, but don't ask me to move my hips one way and my shoulders a different way and by the way, where in the world would my mid-section be going while my hips and shoulders are moving in different direction???? Why, I can't even clap to a beat, much less dance to one!

Anyway, back to the point....My understanding is that the owner and coaches of this team are very talented and they win a lot of National Championships for both cheer and dance. Matter of fact, one of the Mem Elite dance teams got their expenses paid to Worlds because they did so well. The dance coach is also the coach for the U of Memphis Dance team as well. Because of this, Kelly will most likely get a chance to perform a half-time show at a U of Memphis Tigers home game at some point and I KNOW she will be very excited about doing that.

My niece, Ashley, wanted to know what Pom is since a lot of schools just have Cheer. Pom is a lot like Cheer, but they do not usually do the "stunts" or gymnastics/back-hand-springs/pyramids, back-tucks, etc. that cheerleaders do. They usually perform with pom-poms (cheerleaders do sometimes when they aren't doing heavy stunting) but POM incorporates more dance moves rather than stunts. They will sometimes do hip-hop and jazz performances and sometimes they will look a lot like cheer performances with just slight differences (like adding dance techniques minus the stunts). I'm not a Pom "guru", that's just what I've gathered from VERY FEW observations. Anyhoo.....I'm just happy because Kelly is happy!!!

Grandmother (Mama Anne)

My Grandmother (Mama Anne to us, Mimi to the other grandchildren) is not doing very well at all. She has had Alzheimer's disease for many, many years but her over-all health has been very good until the last year or so. Really until the last 6 to 9 months ago. My aunt called a couple of weeks ago to tell us that she had basically stopped eating, talking and walking and was just drinking liquids and lying in the bed. Friday she called to say she was even worse, then today she said it was possible that she wouldn't make it through the night.

We went to see her tonight (Saturday) after Kelly's soccer game and it was sad to see her in that condition. She has episodes where she will stop breathing for about 15 to 25 seconds; enough to get you extremely concerned, but then she will start breathing again. She is a fighter so it is possible that she can hang in there for another couple of days, but you hate for her to suffer. We plan to see her again tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Pom

Never thought I would be posting about this, but Kelly has become interested in Pom. She tried out for Collierville Middle school Pom but only 2 5th graders made it (for 6th grade next year). They had 43 or so people try out and 25 girls made it. They are usually the National Champions for Pom (or so I'm told) for that age group. We heard about Memphis Elite in Cordova and she is trying out for them this week. The coaches from Memphis Elite are also the coaches for Collierville Middle School Pom so she should at least be more prepared next year for CMS POM if she makes the Mem Elite team. Of course, all of this costs money, so if she doesn't make it....well, just less money to be spent for our one income family!

Mom's Cancer Update

Mom has been in Houston at MD Anderson since last Monday. She had to be at the hospital at 6:30 this morning (Tuesday) for surgery pre-work and her surgery was scheduled for around noon. The surgery was delayed until around 3:15 and she was starving since she wasn't allowed to have anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before. They performed a lumpectomy and it went well. They tested the lymph nodes and we will know the final results of those later but initial signs look good. She was out of surgery around 5:30 and into the recovery room after that. She was very hard to wake up after surgery; it took quite a bit longer than expected before she "came to" around 7:45. By 9:00 she was able to eat and sit up and watch t.v. but they are keeping her overnight. So all in all, the surgery seems to have been successful. Angela is with her and says that MD Anderson has been just wonderful to them and does an excellent job.

Truman - large paint pony for sale or lease

If any of you know anybody looking to buy or lease (full lease or half lease) a large paint pony for jumpers or hunter/jumpers let me know. My girls aren't riding him enough to keep him and I was layed off from my job. The combination means he needs to go! He is beautiful and sweet so I really don't want to sell him but....tough times call for tough decisions! Let me know if you know of anybody!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Simply Perfect Pancakes
http://www.kingarthurflour.com

I haven't tried these, but they got good reviews so I wanted to keep and share the recipe.


Malt, rather than sugar, is what sweetens most food-service (i.e., restaurant/hotel) pancake mixes. For that typical "diner" taste, try malt in your pancakes instead of sugar.

Our guarantee: These pancakes will go together easily, and make a tender, flavorful pancake.




Ingredients View by: Volume Weight
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
3 tablespoons melted butter or vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar OR 1/4 cup malted milk powder
2 large eggs
10 ounces milk
1 1/2 ounces melted butter or vegetable oil
6 1/2 ounces King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar OR 1/4 cup malted milk powder

Directions
1. Beat the eggs and milk until light and foamy, about 3 minutes at high speed of a stand or hand mixer. Stir in the butter or vegetable oil.

2. Whisk the dry ingredients together to evenly distribute the salt, baking powder and sweetener.

3. Gently and quickly mix into the egg and milk mixture. Let the batter rest for at least 15 minutes, while the griddle is heating; it"ll thicken slightly.

4. Heat a heavy frying pan over medium heat, or set an electric griddle to 350°F. Lightly grease frying pan or griddle. The pan or griddle is ready if a drop of water will skitter across the surface, evaporating immediately.

5. Drop 1/3 cupfuls of batter onto the lightly greased griddle. Bake on one side until bubbles begin to form and break, then turn the pancakes and cook the other side till brown. Turn over only once. Serve immediately.

Recipe summary
Hands-on time:
10 mins.
Baking time:
20 mins.
Total time:
45 mins.
Yield:
2 dozen 3-inch pancakes


Tips from our bakers
To make waffles, substitute 2 tablespoons melted butter or vegetable oil for 2 tablespoons of the milk. Cook waffles as directed with your waffle iron. Hint - if you try to open the iron and it doesn't open easily, the waffle isn't done yet.

For a whole grain breakfast treat, replace 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour with 1/2 cup of ground oats.

A grated apple mixed into the batter will keep the pancakes moist longer if you need to cook them ahead and bring them to the table all at once

For blueberry pancakes, sprinkle fresh or thawed frozen blueberries over the batter after you pour it on the griddle. Mixing frozen blueberries into the batter before scooping will turn it blue and streaky.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size One pancake
Servings Per Batch 24
Amount Per Serving
Calories 50 Calories from Fat 20
Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g
Saturated Fat 1g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 20mg
Sodium 130mg
Total Carbohydrate 7g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 2g
Protein 2g
* The nutrition information provided for each recipe is determined by the ESHA Genesis R&D software program. Substituting any ingredients may change the posted nutrition information.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLEIGH, KELLY & TRUMAN

Carleigh's birthday was Thursday March 5th. She wanted to have a birthday party, but she changed her mind about where she wanted her party every day. Sometimes twice a day. Not to mention that I am a procrastinator and a poor planner most of the time! Therefore, until tonight, we did not have party plans for Carleigh!
We finally settled on a movie for her school friends two weeks from tonight. We've done worse, I'm sure! Now, if we can just get the invitations out within the next couple of days we will be doing good! I did take her out to eat, to a movie and to eat ice cream on her actual birthday so she felt like she had something on her birthday. Also, Greg and took cookies to school for her class and ate with her. So, we aren't ALL bad! :-)

Now...Kelly's birthday is Monday, March 9th. She has several different circles of friends and always wants about 3 different parties. Again, I procrastinate and we eventually have one with just a few friends that is about 2 to 3 weeks late. No parents of the year awards here, but, I think they love us anyway!!

We don't know when our horse's birthday is so the girls decided that it should be between their birthdays. Therefore, today was Truman's birthday. They both had friends over so I think they forgot. I went to the barn to check on him today and told him Happy Birthday, so all is good with all the 'kids'! Truman is such a pretty thing!

Saturday, February 28, 2009

What a Week you would like to forget

Monday, 2/23/09:
(AM) Debbie: Sinus Surgery. Not too bad, just a necessary evil, hopefully with a long-term benefit.

Tuesay, 2/23/09:
(AM) Debbie: Back to the doctor for check-up and "clean-out". The "clean-out" spray is SUPER nasty tasting.

(AM) Mom: Calls to say the results of her biopsy show that she has cancer in her breast. She has an appointment on Friday with her surgeon in Jackson that performed the biopsy.

(all-night) Debbie: became best friends with her toilet (nausea)

Wed/Thurs:
Debbie: ran fever, slept (noisily), couldn't breathe, voice very weak
Mom : Decisions to make...got in touch with MD Anderson, transferred paperwork to MD Anderson

Friday, 2/27/09:
Debbie: more sinus clean out, more fever
Mom : Met with the Surgeon. Angela came from Illinois to go with her. The good news (if there is any such thing with this) is that it is stage 1 with no expected complications in treatment. The surgeon said he wants to do the surgery as soon as possible if he is the one to do it. She has decided to definitely go to MD Anderson for the second opionion and most likely will decide to get treated there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I get one more week off from work then have to go back. I wish I had a few more weeks off so I could help if she is going to Houston, but the timing worked against us. Hopefully we will have some good posts mixed in with the unpleasant cancer posts. Hope everyone else is doing well....until next time....

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sinus Surgery 2/23/09

5:00AM...the dreaded hour. Any AM hour for me is a dreaded hour! However, this particular hour is when I have to be downtown in the hospital for my sinus surgery. :-( I am hoping that I will breathe much better in the long run though, so it will be worth it! I'm hoping that IF I fall asleep that I don't oversleep. I plan on taking a shower around 3:30 so, I don't have much time left. Next post I'll let you know if it was worth it. With my low pain threshold, it may not be!!!

Hope everyone is doing well! Till next time.....

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Debbie "bit the dust" at the Barn

Facebook has been taking all my time these days and it is keeping me from updating this blog!!

We had such a beautiful day today that Kelly and I decided to go to the barn and ride our horse. Kelly did most of the riding and I decided to just get on and do a 'quick ride". Well, a quick ride is what it was all right!! When I got close to the jump I asked Truman to trot. He trotted for a few strides and the closer he got to the jump the faster he decided to go. He quickly moved into a full canter just before the first jump and since I knew I couldn't slow him down at that point I just held on for dear life. A few strides later we were "flying" over the second jump and I was still hanging on for dear life. A few MORE strides later he started making his turn to keep from running into the fence. Well he went right at his full canter speed and I went "RIGHT OFF!"

Luckily, nothing is broken, but I was sore instantly which was not a good sign. My "butt" hurts the worst - if anything else hurts it is over-powered by the butt pain. I have taken the strongest medicine we have in the house and yet the slightest movement is still excruciating. I knew I was too old to take up horseback riding!! I fought the horse and the horse won!! (which is usual!!)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Facebook

Well, I finally joined the facebook world. I'm amazed at how many people are on it! It took a while for me to 'get it', but I can see how it can start to consume a person if you have a lot of people you like to keep up with. It has been pretty cool to connect with people I've lost touch with.

If you haven't signed up, you should give it a try. You might like it!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Acute Wii-itis?

Do you suffer from acute Wii-itis?



I just saw on the news that doctors are seeing more patients lately with injuries from over-zealous Wii use. So, before you spend too many hours each day on the Wii, and before you knock out your sibling or spouse, be aware of the ***dangers***.

Yes, Judy F. that includes you and your family!!! (smile) Mine too!!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Vandy update

This is mostly for Robert and Gloria's benefit, but I also want to share it with others as well. We bought Vandy from Robert and Gloria a little over 14 years ago and we have loved every minute we've had with her. (Well, almost every minute...there was the time --- oh, well, it's not important, now!)

Vandy's health has not been all that great this year. Especially the last 6 months or so. We have now confirmed that she has laryngeal paralysis.(www.marvistavet.com/html/laryngeal_paralysis.html) You can definitely tell she has difficulty with her breathing. She breathes with her entire body and makes wheezing sounds. The specialist I took her to said that as the weather gets warmer, she will have an even harder time with her breathing. He told us she might be fine until April or so, but it would be unlikely that she would make it through the summer heat considering her breathing problems.

That was so sad to hear. She is definitely showing signs of aging, but nothing other than this to indicate she is ready to be put to sleep. We could elect to do surgery for $2,000, but he said this surgery results in pneumonia for a lot of patients and other complications could arise. At 14 going on 15, Greg thinks it is best to let nature take its course. My brain agress, but my heart does not. We are just giving her more loving every day and trying to enjoy every day that we have with her. She has been the sweetest thing and it will be heartbreaking the day we have to say goodbye to her.

Robert and Gloria, if you want us to bring her out to see you, just let us know!

Mom Gets "Rockin" Review

Carleigh, my 7 year old, gave me the following letter Wednesday night.

Dear Mom,
Truman is the best horse. He is my best friend. Thank you for the puzzles. The dog one is cute and (thank you for) the webkinz . I like all of my presents but the one I love most is the Wii. And thank you for letting me and Caroline do WeCarly. You rock!
Love, Carleigh


It is so nice to know that "I rock" as a mom! I guess I better enjoy it now...most people say that teenagers no longer think their parents rock.

Carleigh and her friend from school (Caroline) decided to start a web show similar to the iCarly tv/web show. They were going to call it iRock but Caroline's mom suggested they name it WeCarly because they almost named Caroline "Carly", and they sometimes call her Carly as a nick-name.

So, now you know some of the reasons my 7 year old thinks her mom "rocks". I couldn't be more proud! (smile)

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Christmas 2008 Pics

Everyone had a great Christmas this year! It was so good to see my newest nephew, Will (now about 4 months), and to see Bay, Delia and Jeff again. We rarely see them anymore since they moved to Naples. For the first time in several years all 3 girls and our families were together at my mom's on Christmas day.

My cute nephews, Bay and Will Buckley(Delia's boys)



Ashley, Kelly, Bay, Grandmama, Carleigh

Ashley, Ticky, Bay, Kelly, Carleigh