Knit Kharma

Why the regular person likes the summer I will never know. I guess that is why I am not regular. I do not enjoy the heat. The sun is not my friend - blue eyes and fair skin - nope! The humidity makes it hard for me to breathe. I can not knit because my hands are sweaty. Who says that the summer is a fun time.

Okay, if I lived in the Virgin Islands maybe I would like the warm weather because of the breeze off the ocean. But I was there in March. So I am sure that I have no idea what it is like in July and August. Or maybe somewhere where the humidity would not bother me. Where could that be….
I really don’t know. I love the water; come on I am a pisces, fish need water. However I do not need humidity (only at 100%-than, that is rain, and that is a whole other story).

Chemo and humidity are a definate no-do together and that is what is happening tomorrow. Should-a done chemo in January. Than I would not be dealing with this right now…should-a, could-a, would-a again it sounds like I am whinning; and maybe I am.

On the knitting front I am working on a 1 year old at least UFO un-finished object. It is a mitered square blanket. It was supposed to be a afghan, full sized, but alas not enough yarn was purchased. So it is being finished to the best of my abilities who says “size matters” not I. Maybe some pics will come later….never know. If the heat doesn’t do me in….or is that humidity. say la ve (of course phonetically)

Then I went for a ride on this……….(Pic) to follow soon……..! Hurry up Edie!

CA60s done…check.  Room packed…check.  Washing chair bags…check.  Now summer has officially started at Mrs. Stephenson’s house.  Sarah is at Cedar Point with friends; Sam starts his summer schedule at the pool.  Tim is working in the 99% humidity at the mill and I am going to clean, sew, knit and chemo sounds like a great summer to me!

Okay this is the part of chemo that gets on my nerves…no pun intented, but there was a giggle….  My fingers and toes are feeling like they are asleep.  This my friends gets me buggy.  I have to be careful right now not to pull a hangnail or let my feet get to dry…because if the crack it will take forever for them to heal.  This is where my patients runs thin.  I am not very good at taking my own advise.  I don’t like the little pittley things that any other time of my life would not be an issue.  But, because the word chemo is in my life it is an issue.  I little cut or crack can let in a virus or germ that could result in an abcess or infection that can put a cancer warrior in the hospital. 

So this weekend I have to behave myself….do you know how hard that is for me…the tactile person that I am.  Touch, feel, pick, that is why I like to knit.  I get to feel what is in my hands and when they are tingly it is kinda hard to do that.  Okay cheese with that whine.  Maybe if I got a good night sleep instead of staying up and knitting or reading or cleaning…okay good night.

Kim

Today was the last day for my students of 2008/09!  What a day we had.  Food, picnics, and a talent show….Maybe some day it will show up on teacherTube.  We had a riot with Kimball’s Got Talent.  What an awesome job  Edie and Melissa did on that show!  I had so much fun…but boy did I tucker myself out.  It was soooo worth it though. 

Wonderful day.  I really love my job and I am so thankful that I was able to be back to school this week!  I have to slow down for the next couple of days though. 

I can’t believe it…If the Wings are careful they are going to lose Stanley.  =(

I got ported again today. They took out the failing port and replaced it with a brand spanking new one. So hopefully no more pokes repeatedly to find a vein. Dr. Boutt here in Port Huron is awesome and I trust him. He was a bit suprised that he had to remove one to put one in, but, he was up for the procedure and made it work. That is why I love that doc!

For it being day 7 after chemo I am feeling rather well. Tired yes but not dibilitated. My next chemo is June 25 here in Port Huron and I am not dreading it like a jail sentences…just a rather unpleasant day at the docs no more no less.

I went to the raven to see my “vitamins” and it was a wonderful evening. Then came home and watched the Wings get beat by the Penguins. Tomorrow I am back at school to pack things so they can tile and paint my classroom. Yippee…I love my life…it is always an adventure!

Live, laugh, and love your knitting!
Kim

I know that you all have heard my throw these terms around.  Probably wondering what they mean???  First as you all know every human has cancer cells in their bodies.  Just what flips the switch that tells that cancer to grow is the 64,000 dollar question. 

As every human has cancer cells we also have BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that recognize cancer cells and tells our DNA not to allow those cells to replicate.  My BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have mutations on them.  And because of the mutations that I have my cells are not told “don’t do that” .   So my body is good at making the types of cancers that these genes are somewhat responsible for …breast cancer, ovarian cancer brca1 and pancreatic and some GI cancers, brca2.  Prostate cancer is in there somewhere. 

If you are lucky in the gene lottery you may get one or the other.  Me, I got them both….this my friends is an anomely.  Tim asked the doctor at CTCA how many patients she had seen with both.  Dr. Williams said, “her” nodding to me.  He couldn’t believe that I was the only one she had seen with both.  “I have seen lots of patients with just brca1, or just brca2.  But she is the first who I have seen that has both. 

We Dr. Hanna saw yesterday after school.  Tim posed the same question.  “I can’t believe that Chicago has not seen more patients like Kim”  “What do you mean”  Hanna said.  Tim:  “Well with her gentic make up…both genes? ”   Hanna said “she is the first patient that I have seen with both genes.”  Tim just could not phathom that this was happening. 

Why I am sharing all this with you is because it has finally dawned on me that this is my life.  I am genetically where I am today.  Not because of something I did or did not do.  Not because of some horrible things that I have ate, or have not taken care of my self.  These are the cards I have been dealt.  I have been placed here with all you wonderful, loving, people the way that I am, just to be me.  I will continue to fight this battle because I love my life, my family and the blessing that the Lord has bestowed on me. 

School was awesome today.  I was able to share with my students and see them before they left for summer vacation.  We are doing end of the year things and I am truly at peace to be back in the happy lives.   Plans are being made for next year and I am looking forward to a bright and busy fall.  Tim picked me up from school today and it was wonderful just to ride home with him and just be Tim and Kim the couple. 

I am getting the itch to podcast again.  And I feel an episode brewing.  KnitTherapy is about my life; and there is cancer in that life.  So for a few naysayers who don’t like me taking about my life with cancer….well deal or don’t listen.  I talk about knitTherapy and for me that includes my life.

I have been knitting and sleeping today.  Getting ready to go back for a half days next week.  Gonna knit some more. 

I just want to tell you all that the comments you have left me have been read many many times.  Your precious words and thoughts have given me more strength than you will ever know.  I love you all.

Kim