Happy Birthday Dad, Wedding Planning Craziness, and Countdown til Summer!

Dad with all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren 

minus Zach

This past weekend we celebrated my father's 77th Birthday!  Double sevens.  I told him this is his lucky year.  Sevens are considered lucky.  I started to wonder why?  What makes seven so lucky?  Of course we do have seven days in a week.   There were seven ancient planets; the sun being the greatest and then the moon.  In the book of Genesis, God created the world in seven days.  There are seven colors in a rainbow, and who can forget the Seven Dwarfs?  There are the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  There are even seven continents.  How about 007 representing the secret agent number for James Bond.

 If you are a Harry Potter fan, seven is very lucky.  Besides the fact that author J. K. Rowling wrote seven books in the series, did you know that Ginny Weasley was the seventh child and only daughter?  Harry Potter's birthday is in July, the seventh month.  Wizarding students have to complete seven years of school at Hogwarts.  There are seven secret passages leading out of Hogwarts.  Have you checked out Harry's robe when he plays Quidditch?  There is a number seven on it.  Professor Moody was hidden in a chest that had seven locks on it.  Even Lord Voldemort hid
 six Horcuxes dividing his soul into seven parts, although he made an extra one.  There are seven
maximum games played in the NHL during playoffs.  Same with the MLB and the NBA.  Musically, there are seven notes in the major and minor diatonic scale.  There are so many significant things that deal with seven.  Thanks Wikipedia for helping me share some of them. 

Most importantly this year anyway, is my Dad who turned 77.  He is one heck of a guy.  He loves to go "feed the horses" at the race track.  Golfing is another one of his favorite past times.  Even after a hip replacement and knee surgery he still likes to get out there. Not as often as he used to golf, but enough to still enjoy the game.  Of course if it is 85 degrees out, he is in heaven!  The hotter the better for him.  He has always been in the stands cheering his grandkids in all they participated in; wrestling, softball, baseball, and hockey.  He still comes out and cheers Danielle and Rob on now that they are the coaches.  

As he celebrates more birthdays, Dad has a few things that just get under his skin.  I now know where members of
my family and I get our OCD from!  Every time he sees Danielle has visited yet another Starbucks
establishment to purchase a drink, he goes on a tangent about how he would never pay $3.00 for a cup of coffee.  He tells her how Mr. Starbucks made $9,200. per hour last year.  Why do you want to help him make more money?!  He does like to look up interesting facts on the Internet!  Give him his perked Maxwell House and he is happy as a clam.  In fact, he's even had words with McDonalds workers.  Sometimes he'll go buy him and Mom a sausage Mcmuffin for breakfast, but he will not buy the sausage egg Mcmuffin because they charge almost $1.68 more for
the egg!  He takes them home, fries up his own eggs and
enjoys it that much more because he didn't get "ripped off."  Do not bring up the price of gas right now, either.  He will just shake his head and tell you how we are barely paying $100 for a barrel of petroleum.  In fact, he's been calling Country Fair lately to give them a little bit of hell for raising the prices!  Finally, they gave him the number to the person who sets those prices.  The problem is, this individual will not answer Bob's phone calls.  So he leaves him a voice mail.  Ohhh, how he keeps us laughing! 

He loves his Netflix and his 10 High Whiskey and grapefruit pop.  No one drives safer or better than he does, according to Dad.  The rest of those people that zoom by him when he is going the speed limit are just a bunch of idiots and they need to slow down!

He loves his peanut M&M's, ice cream, and
Dots. He loves to play cards too.  Whenever Mom comes over for a party, she always has bags and dishes.  She loves to cook, but since they moved to an apartment complex just two miles down the road from us, they don't have the room to entertain big groups anymore.  So we usually gather at my home.  Their most recent purchase has been this white cart that they load up and then wheel it into my house.  Of course, I was teasing him about it, and we got him laughing.  That grin is from us and the fun we were having or a little 10 High blush; I'm not sure which.  Either way, we love having them around.  My mom had bought Danielle a cart like this only in purple, when she was in 4th grade and was a walker.  She would load that thing up with her books and saxophone and off she would go.  It was hysterical.  She did not care what other people thought about it! 

Dad is carnivorous.  Mom is always trying to get him to eat more veggies.  The only way he'll eat his broccoli is if she melts cheese over top of it.  One particular vacation we went on when I was a child was down to Virginia Beach.  I remember dad ate about four plates of shrimp!  It looked like a graveyard.  He keeps trying to get me to eat fish.  I'm allergic to halibut and haddock, and just never have become a big fan of it.  Dad enjoys mystery meats on occasion such as the giblets in gravy at Thanksgiving and head cheese from the deli department.  Have you ever seen what that lunch meat looks like?!  UGH.  Mom and Dad loved bringing me braunschweger or kieshka when I was on chemo and would finally get to a point where I would be hungry.  Tomato sandwiches, too.

He has always been a hard worker.  He has had a job since he was 13 years old helping down at the shipping dock.  He was also in the National Guard.   When he was 18 years old, he was hired at Erie City Iron Works.  He worked up to be a welder full time and also held part time jobs welding for other companies.  He was then promoted to a Group Leader in charge of a building on East 12th Street.  When they closed and moved the business to another country so they could pay lower wages, he went back to school to learn about computers.  He hated it!!!  He was in his mid to late 50's I believe, and it was just not his cup of tea.  To this day if you want to get a hold of him, do not text him.  He doesn't know how to answer back nor does he care to learn.  He always tells me, just text your mother.  She'll tell me.   Call him but do not leave a voice mail.  Mom will retrieve it for him; otherwise, he will never get your message!

Dad is set in his ways and is a routine kind of guy.  Every morning he rises at 4:30 a.m and reads the paper from front to back.  Then he works the crossword puzzle.  He still has a part-time job because he always needs to be doing something!  We've been telling him to quit, but he refuses.  So he delivers flowers to local companies as well as to Jamestown, Dunkirk, and sometimes Ohio.  

We love to get him laughing because once you do, he laughs so hard he cries as he tips way back in his chair and his eyes become like slits.   He tells us he hears just fine, but after working all those years in a shop he doesn't always catch what you are saying.  This has brought lots of laughter in a fun kind of way what he deciphers we said vs. what we actually did say.  He's always a good sport about it and we love to reminisce with him about some of those misinterpretations.  We are lucky to have him in our lives and look forward to another fun filled year of memories.  Love you, Dad!

It is wedding craziness at the Chase household! We were hoping to be stuffing and addressing  wedding invitations this past weekend since we had Monday off in remembrance of those who

fought for us.  However, the company we went with had some technical difficulties and still hadn't even sent them out to be printed. . .thankfully, we believe it has been resolved and they were sent to print Monday night.  So we needed to start on the shower favors and get those done in order for the upcoming weekend to be free  to work feverishly on getting them mailed out just in time.  Needless to say, we are all covered in modge podge, fuschia glitter, and glaze, including the animals!  I never realized how messy glitter was until I finished working with it last night.

I put the final coat of glaze on the wine glasses and I must say, I am quite happy with how they turned out.  We ran more errands and picked up more items we needed.  A final meeting with the winery owner is set for tomorrow to go over last minute details for the shower.

Michelle has been busy printing and cutting out Chinese Auction numbers.  She's done a lot of running around with me for supplies.  It's a good thing too.  Add some chemo pills and little over load on things to do, and who knows where I would have ended up.  It's been a great help and she keeps me laughing.  A big thank you to my brother-in-law Scott who has enjoyed some extra time with his son Kian the past several weekends.  It just made it easier to shop, try dresses on, and pick up supplies.   I believe Kian enjoyed himself as well playing with his excavator at home in the garden.  He even wanted to try it out on my Dad's brownies thanks to my brother for giving him the idea!

Rob has had a rough weekend.  He has had a pinched nerve in his back it seems.  We call it the Chase curse.  Grandpa Chase has a bad back, and so do Rob, Tim, and Michelle.  It has been pinching at his tail bone and down his leg.  Even his calf and outside of his foot are numb.  He had been to the chiropractor at least three times this past week.  Thank God his chiropractor is one of his great friends.   This weekend, however, he mowed the lawn and I think that might have done it.  He has  been to the Emergency Room at the suggestion of his chiropractor and got a steroid and an anti-inflammatory shot.  He is also taking pain meds.  This is not a good thing.  He is in a lot of pain.  You know he is hurting when he takes off from school.  He is on the couch laying flat.  Anytime he tries to walk, sit up, or stand he is in pain.  I hope it heals soon.  He is not a happy camper.  I think he may be heading to the E.R. again tomorrow to try and find some relief.   He was hoping to make it to school at least a half day to see his seniors on their last day of school, but I don't see that happening.  Say some prayers for him if you could, please.

I hope everyone gets out and enjoys the beautiful weather!  I was in heaven sitting out in the sun a little at a time each day this weekend!  There is nothing like that sunny feeling.  Ohhh how I have missed it!  I plan to make up for it this summer now that I got the go ahead from my oncologist.  It's been a good week for the most part for me.  I had a bit of a cold/virus but some extra napping is helping me fight it off.  One more glorious thought about the number 7. . . only 7 more school days left!  I love my job, but I am so ready for summer!  Get out there and make someone's day!

 

  

Full-Time Jobs, Bridezilla, Positive Parp Report, Graduation, Softball, and Beast on the Bay!

Yesterday, my dear friend Kathy and I set out for West Penn Hospital to see my oncologist, Dr. Krivak for my three month check up.  Lots had changed since my last visit with him at the end of January.  I was feeling a bit of gloom and doom with a CA125 reading of 196 and lots of spots including on my lymph nodes.  Then he put me on an oral chemo, called Lynparza where he has me popping 16 pills a day- 8 for my Breakfast of Champions and 8 for my evening snack.  My latest CA125 reading is 59 and Dr. Krivak said my spots are shrinking!  They are even gone from my liver.  My Erie oncologist said today I have one spot on my colon that got larger, but I'll go by Dr. Krivak's report.  He's going to continue to keep me on the parp inhibitors for the next four months and he doesn't need to see me until September 18th!  I am looking forward to a summer with oral chemo!!!  Dr. Krivak even said I can tan in the natural sun.  Get that Vitamin D!

The past five summers, I have had to hide under umbrellas and in the shade.  I was nauseated and had no energy.  I slept a lot and I was pumped with steroids too.  So this summer is going to ROCK!  I am going to be able to get so many things accomplished that I have not had the energy to do.  Organization 101 here we come!   I also have a bridal shower and wedding to continue to put together and I am going to exercise.  Granted my joints ache like a 70 or 80 year old at times, but I can walk, ride a bike, swim, and stretch.  So look out as you see me buzzing around the area this summer!  Thank you, Lord, for a summer that I believe I will thoroughly enjoy!

Speaking of summer, my family has started to witness a bit of Bridezilla in our Bride-to-Be, Danielle.   Most of you see her with this big grin on her face like in the photo below with her high school coach.  The rest of us at Cavaliero Drive get to see a crabby young lady who is stressed and grumpy.  Her softball team made a great comeback during the second half of the season.  They tied for 3rd place in the region only to be beat by Fairview when they had to play one another a third time to see who would move on to take that spot in the playoffs.  It was heart breaking.  No one likes to see their season come to an end.

They also played Iroquois.  This is the team Danielle played for in high school for Coach Parker and her dad.  Harbor Creek beat their JV team the week prior twice in a double header.  However, the Varsity game was another story.  I believe it was the first time Iroquois has beat Harbor Creek at the Varsity level in the past two years.  It's always nice to see all of the familiar faces, but no one likes to lose!  Everyone was a good sport and there is still such a fun rivalry between the two schools from when we used to play against one another all the time!  So needless to say, this was a rough week for the softball girls and Bridezilla. . . I mean Danielle.  

She also had to say farewell to her seniors.  This is always tough.  I'm only Coach Mom Chase and usually only make it to the home games.  I greet the team each day at my hall duty post at the end of the school day when they are heading into the locker area to get ready for practice.  I know how much I will miss seeing these girls, so I can only imagine how Coach Dad Chase and grumpy girl. . .I mean Coach Danielle Chase will miss them.  They spend a ton of hours together during the spring.  I always see the girls heading down to her classroom during her Plan period.  They have been excellent role models on and off the field and remarkable students as well.  

SENIOR NIGHT!

Only Coach D. Chase would have such a girly and colorful bulletin board outside of the locker rooms for her players!

Husky Softball Team showing support for Ovarian Cancer Awareness. <3

Thanks for all the memories this year, Lady Huskies!  I look forward to the next several years.  Although we will miss the seniors a ton, we've got some phenomenal talent in the girls that will return next season.  I believe we will be hearing a lot more about them as they grow and play ball together the next several years!  Oh, and what about the ones who will come out next year to tryout as well?!  Ohhhh it's going to be exciting!  Even the softball gods were with us and some how the company that is supposed to be coming to fix the field's drainage problem during one of the biggest weeks in softball had to cancel!  Thank you!  They are actually coming in June and that will work out perfectly.  That was just another thing that was bringing the crankiness out in Miss D. Chase!

Danielle had tryouts on Saturday with her dad for Colorguard at Iroquois.  They had a really nice turn out.  It was a bit of a debacle prior to tryouts because Corey was graduating from Youngstown State

Corey receiving his diploma after 7 years of hard work!

this weekend as well.  First he thought he was graduating on Sunday.  Then he told her Saturday.  As her plate runeth over, she missed the memo.  Somehow, though, she was able to hold tryouts, drive to her old stomping ground, YSU, watch Corey graduate with his PhD in Physical Therapy, celebrate with the Vukovic's and head home that same evening so they could work on their house                                That grin says it all!  Corey has been focused and has waited for this day for a long time.  Not only was he offered one job, where he completed an Internship, but two at another place he completed an Internship in.  Thankfully they were both in Erie, too.  We are very proud of him.   My girl might be a sassy pants right now with all that is on her plate, but I was hoping now that she has an excellent teaching job and is the head softball coach, which are two goals she had listed on a piece of paper she used to keep in her sock drawer since her high school days, they would stay in this area.  She had told Corey when she was hired at Harbor Creek that he would have to find a job in this area!  This just makes it a for sure thing.  Seven miles away is much better than thousands.  We'll take it.

So although my girl is cranky and went to bed at 5 pm last night and then 8 pm tonight, I can see why.  She is on overdrive!  I just need to get her to not bite our heads off.  She has lived with us since she graduated from college.  We have been doing all we can to help them out so they will have a nice start when they begin their life together.  Just do not ask her to cook, clean up after herself, or stop at the store!  Only ten more days and we will be on summer vacation.  Then I am sure she will start to enjoy some of the most exciting days of her life that will be coming up and maybe, just maybe she will appreciate her family again just a little bit more.

Zach was hired at Perseus House Residential a few weeks ago as a full time Behavior Specialist.  He is

Brock Lesnar

really enjoying it so far as he is meeting the clients and staff.  Of course, he has already earned the nickname of Brock.  Apparently, they think he looks like some WWE guy named Brock Lesnar!  Now I do see a little resemblance, but some of the pics of this guy are scary!   The photo on the left I can see a little bit of resemblance.  The hair color, maybe even the hair style a little bit and even the face.

Zach

However, when I saw the picture below, I was afraid, very afraid!  I do not see any resemblance in that one!  It's fun to meet new people and it's even more fun when they tell you they think you resemble someone.  So, the nickname sticks.  Last weekend, he and another staff member took the boys to the YMCA.  The boys wanted the two staff to have a lift off contest.  They told the boys they would only lift 215 lbs since they did not have time to warm up.  Zach beat the guy and benched it 20 times vs. the other guy who only made it to 12.  The boys were definitely impressed.  Then they shot some hoops before heading back.

Yikes!  That is scary!

Zach also continues to work with his buddy Erik.  He is a young man who has autism.  He said there was no way he was quitting that job.  He and Erik have been hanging out for the past two and a half years or so.  Another woman is working with Erik, too, but Zach was adamant that she would not be taking his place with him!  So he puts in a few hours with him as many days or nights he can.  He is fortunate to have found such a great family to work with.

Andrew also works with a terrific family and a young man with autism, named Donovan.  He is hanging out with him on the weekends.  They go to the YMCA or he takes him for walks.  He also really enjoys hanging out with him and working for the family.   Andrew is  also working a physical job, full time for the summer, lugging concrete in a wheelbarrow.  He also just started a job as a Bouncer at a local establishment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  Needless to say, the kids are busy "making bank" as Andrew tells me!

 Lifting, running,  and working out at the gym as well as having a physical job will help both of the boys prepare for BEAST ON THE BAY!   Santa brought the boys a workout shirt and signed them both up for Beast on the Bay.  I am sure you've heard of it if you are from the local area.  This is an extreme obstacle course designed by a Navy Seal along the Peninsula.  I believe it is about 10 miles long.  You can join a team and then you train.  Be sure to train in sand too, because that's what a lot of it is in.  All benefits go to the National Barber Institute.  The boys are on a team called Beauties and Beasts.   This group is lead by Erik's mom, Karen.  Karen's sister Elaine, is also on a team called Krauza's Krazies.  They love to have fun competing against one another.  If you haven't already signed up, you should!  Either of these teams would love to have any of you on their team.  I will be a spectator on September 12th.  I don't think my body needs to go into an acidic mode training that hard.  I have my own fight going on!  So I'll stick to a gentler work out.  I would love to cheer any of you on, though!

Well, enough for tonight.  Have a good week.  I am sure I will have lots more to share next week.  Take care and God bless!

May Brings Moms and Mad Panic Mode!

Have you noticed how everything is starting to bloom? The grass is so much greener and the leaves have popped out on the trees.  Everything looks much prettier with all the color.  The temperatures have been soaring this past week too.  I could do with a little easing into that, however.

This past Wednesday was my student teacher's last day.    The students and I really enjoyed having Miss Boots.  Being typical seventh graders they even came up with some nick names for her.  They called her Miss "Footwear" and Miss "Boots with the Fur!"  It was refreshing to have yet another mature young adult as a student teacher.  She was a wonderful role model for these young adolescents and it made me feel very positive about the type of teachers that are graduating from collegewith an education degree.  She is a go getter and will actually continue on with her education earning a Master's degree in Special Education as a grad assistant.   Her Bachelors degree is in Early Childhood which is from preschool thru Grade 3 and Special Education.  She even had the opportunity to hang out with the Autistic classroom next door to me.  We didn't even scare her away after she came to us from her Kindergarten placement!  That's a big jump in grade levels!!  We will miss having her around these last few weeks left.

Speaking of graduating, my first cousin, Adam, earned his Nursing degree at Cleveland State!  He was already hired to work in one of the hospitals in the Cleveland area.   We are very excited for him.  He plans to work in the nursing field and eventually go on be an anesthesiologist.  Impressive, I know!  Although he is my first cousin, he grew up with my kids.  My Mom and Adam's dad are siblings from a family of six.  My Mom is the second oldest and my Uncle Matt  is the baby of the family.  (he hates it when I call him "Uncle" since we are only seven years apart.)   Julie, Adam's sister, will sometimes work with Corey since they are both Physical Therapists and are employed by the same company.  It certainly is a small world!

My very young first cousins, Adam and Julie

I hope everyone took time to thank that special Mom in their life today and pay some sort of tribute to her whether you were able to spend some much needed time with her or said a special prayer for her if she is no longer with you.  Maybe you didn't have a good relationship with your Mom and had someone else that was there for you.  Whoever that may be, I hope you made her day just a  bit more special.  Maybe you don't have children, but have fur babies.  They count too!!  They are such a big part of our families!  I got to celebrate with my Mom, kids, sister-in-lawMichelle, and the kids' significant others along with Dad, my brother Bob, and nephew Matt.    

The guys made us a delicious breakfast that consisted of egg omelletes with all kinds of veggies, sausage, ham, and bacon if that was something you like.  That was what Rob was working on.  Corey made blueberry pancakes, and I think Zach was just stealing bacon!  That sounds about right!  Danielle had made a bowl of fresh fruit and we had donuts and danishes as well as orange juice and coffee.  It was a breakfast fit for the Queens!  The kids got me a sweet smelling candle and a Fit Bit!  So now I have to get off my butt more and get 10,000 steps in every day.  I only got 4,000 in today, so I've got to get moving as long as my joints aren't aching too much and I'm  not so tired.  I need to push through it regardless of those little parp side effects.  

Me and my Mom <3

Corey, Rob, and Zach preparing breakfast.

Jensen and Andrew enjoying some coffee and giving Sid some attention.

 

Dad pretending to help!

After a delicious breakfast, Danielle and Corey were all about getting to their house to work some more on it and to borrow our lawn mower so the grass could get cut.  They had a really busy week with Corey going to Youngstown State for some study tables in order to prepare more for his boards in July. . . yes I said July. . . the week before the wedding.  No pressure!  hahaha He was also able to pick up his cap and gown for graduation and get fitted for his wedding band for the final time.    Of course, I'm sure he enjoyed some home cooking and the company of his parents.  

Danielle hadn't been over to the house this past week either because they had five double headers!  Her and Rob would come home exhausted at 8 or 9 o'clock every night depending on where they were playing.  I'm sure the team felt the same way.  It was an exciting week, though!  They beat Seneca, Girard, and Fairview, and played  double header JV games  against Iroquois with wins as well.  The only loss this week was to Northwestern, 6-3.  This puts them third in the region at this point. 

 This week should be interesting too.  With only a week left to get any and all games in before playoffs, the higher ups decided this would be the week they would fix the softball field.  This is long overdue.  It has poor drainage issues and the past retired coach would spend hours working on it before games.  Danielle only has her lunch period to work on it.  Let me tell you, she is not making any fashion statements out there in her cleats with a pretty dress on!  She has a full teaching schedule with no time to shop vac puddles and water outta there!  It will be so nice to have a field with no more swim holes in it, but I can't help to think they probably should have asked to get it fixed after the season since it is so late!  Next year it will be nice to not have to cancel games due to the poor drainage on the field, though.  So I guess they'll just have to go with it.  

Poor Sid, our dog, we think was stung by a bee yesterday.  I was out (again) shopping for dresses for all of the upcoming festivities.  Corey noticed Sid's face looked swollen.  Sure enough, it was as if he had stuffed two big rolls inside his mouth and his eyes were tiny slits.  We are pretty sure he tried to eat a bee and got stung.  What a reaction he had.  By the time I got home the swelling was going down nicely, but the poor guy woke me up crying at our door.  So I got up at 2 a.m. and let him out.  We played that game a few times.  Eventually, I was googling what I could do to ease his anxiety and possible pain.  I could not get a good look in his mouth to see where or how many times he might have been stung.  Nor could I see a stinger.  So that left the whole ice idea or baking soda and water.  I didn't even have Benadryll on hand.  I did have some Bach Rescue Remedy drops, though.  So after laying on the floor with him, it said to rub a drop onto his ear and it would calm him down.  Low and behold it worked!  Sid finally fell asleep around 3:30, so then I was able to.  I just slept on the couch to make sure he was okay for the rest of the night.  

After the morning and early evening festivities, I had to  head to school.  I was at the elementary schools attending transition meetings on Friday so I had to finish my lesson plans and complete my Educator Effectiveness binder.  This includes 4 domains regarding a classroom teacher.   It has to do with classroom walkthroughs, a formal observation, a SLO or Student Learning Objective, and 35% of your score is based on how well the students you teach perform on the PSSA's.  I was working on my binder looking for data that showed preparation and planning, my classroom environment,  instruction, and professional development.  Throughout the year, I had been sticking it into a binder, but I needed to label everything and put it into some cohesive manner.  I arrived at school around 2 pm and left at 6:45 pm.   I had been so busy finishing up my SLO collecting my last assessment using the Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment for the past week and a  half, that I was quite behind on this part.  At least it is done and I am ready to meet with Ms. Evans first thing in the morning.  Then I have the last few bridal shower invitations to address, get them mailed out, and I will be in shower mode!  Only 17 more school days to go and 11 weeks until the wedding!  It's getting crazy around here!

One more thing:  I will probably wait to blog next week Monday or Tuesday since I head down to see Dr. Krivak in Pittsburgh on the 18th to hear about my scan I had this past week and my CA125 that will be drawn this Thursday.  Have a great week!  Make each day count!

Preparation, Trepidation, and Motivation!

It is softball season!  My daughter Danielle has played softball for a long time; from her  elementary days all the way up to Division I in college.  She is now coaching her second season as the head coach for the Harbor Creek Huskies, where we both happen to teach.  My husband Rob, is her assistant coach.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog, they have a young team.  Throw in some very rainy weather  and a field that doesn't drain well, and you get a slow start for your season.  They still have one more game to play in order to be half way through the season!  It is going to be a busy May!

This week, the sunshine finally decided to come out for several days and they got a few well
deserved wins under their belt.  They even gave Northwestern a run for their money!
Northwestern is a good team.  They are undefeated so far.  I ended my Friday sitting on the bleachers soaking in some sun and enjoying an awesome game!  It was a close one all the way through and they were tied for several innings.  The Wild cats took the lead in the 7th inning 5-3.  We had one more chance up to bat.  They loaded the bases and gave it their all, but fell short this time.  With more experience playing as a team together, the more they will grow.  I was so proud of them!  I know they have many more wins in them as we begin the second half of the season.  I know those coaches will continue to prepare them for more situations until their response becomes automatic.

Not only are these girls a terrific bunch, they surprised their coaches by ordering these bows to wear in their hair.  That's a photo of Danielle wearing hers.  They are sporting the ovarian cancer teal ribbon!  We were all so touched and love the fact that these girls are behind us!  This week I hope to get a pic of the entire team with their bows in their hair.  When I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Danielle's college softball team wore teal ribbons in my honor at several games.  I still have
the picture they sent me.  I cherish it.

I  ran into some high school friends at the field.  Who would have thought my daughter would be coaching some of my cherished friends children on her team!   I got to meet Michelle's adorable children, Manni and Caesar; my friend Shelly and her husband Mike were there watching one of their twins, Rachel play ball, and Deb was there too watching her daughter play.  Shell walked me out to the parking lot and gave me a beautiful prayer shawl.   No wonder I have been blessed with so much!

The bottom half of the picture is the "before" shot of one of the bedrooms.   The top half is the "after."  It's actually a gray on the walls in the  top pic, but it doesn't look gray in the pic for some reason!  What beautiful floors they found underneath the carpeting!

We have been helping Corey and Danielle paint, tear up carpeting, and tear down wallpaper in their house they just purchased.  The first day I got there, I was going up the sidewalk steps when I felt a zipper feeling on the outside right part of my knee.  Then I went down!  Not wanting to make a scene in their new neighborhood, I just sat on the step waiting for someone to come out looking for me.  I even said hello to a neighbor who was walking his rather large CAT!  Finally, Rob poked his head out to see what I was doing.  So I waved him over and explained.  Then, as another neighbor waved to Rob, I hung onto his forearms and hopped into the house!  How embarrassing!  Ma and Pa came to run me to the ER.   I am 49 years old and I still have my parents coming to my rescue!  I am very
lucky.  Long story short, it's either torn or strained.  I could not put any weight on it.  Seriously?!?!

I used crutches for a week and an immobilizer.  Recently, I had it checked by an orthopedic doctor.  He gave me a cortisone shot and I have been not too happy about that ever since.  Cortisone equals steroids.  I have had a rash and my stomach hurts from the roids.  I haven't been able to sleep well either.  I should have said NO.  The only good part is I can walk!  My friend Kathy brought us a delicious stuffed shell dinner.   That girl is always thinking of others.  My family was  happy about that since it's a busy season around here and that means I wasn't cooking much with crutches.  It is getting better.  I just need these steroids to wear off.  It reminds me too much of regular chemo and that sick feeling you usually have in your stomach.  Ugh.

Speaking of chemo, me and my Parps are doing well otherwise.  I have felt sicker from the steroids, but I know that's why I feel this way.  I have a CT scan tomorrow afternoon and blood work again in another 2 weeks preparing to see Dr. Krivak in Pittsburgh so we can see how I am doing overall with the parp inhibitors.  It has just become another part of my life popping 8 pills two times a day.  I have my phone alarm set and when it goes off I take them.  My family members love to tease me about the parp alarm!  At least I won't forget to take them, right?

ZaCh got hired at Perseus House, a juvenile residential facility where teens have been court ordered to live there and receive rehabilitation, coping skills, etc. to help them make better choices  rather than a life of crime.  He begins tomorrow!  He also plans to continue to work with his buddy Erik, a young man with autism.  So he is going to be a busy boy! We are very proud of him and think this should give him a great experience.

Andrew took his girlfriend Jensen and their friend Tiffany to a Cocktails and Color class for her
birthday.  They seemed to have a really nice time and their pictures  look great!  Andrew is heading for finals week!  He will be busy cramming and hopefully ending the semester on a positive note!  Good luck, Andy Pandy!

Yesterday, my fun sister-in-law, Michelle and I headed out to find a mother-of-the-bride dress, and. . . we found one!  It has been purchased!  I have it hanging on my closet door for these last 11 weeks of motivation.  Thank God for Spanx!  They should help too!  We had a great time trying on all kinds of dresses.

My talented sister-in-law designed the wedding shower invitations for us, as well as the wedding invitations.  We really need to get busy addressing and stuffing envelopes!  I can't believe how it snuck up on us! We just went to  a family friend's shower and had a wonderful time!  I hope ours goes well too.

On a final note, it is teacher appreciation week and nurse's day is this week as well.  If there is a teacher that has made a difference in your life be sure to thank them!  Alex brought me a delicious apple pie on Friday.  It had little apples cut out all over the top for the crust.  Adorable.

The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day!  Get out there and enjoy it!  I plan to try to walk a little out at the peninsula.  Let's see how that shot holds up now!