I'll never capitalize cancer
I have alot going on in my life, more than just cancer and chemo. Sure it's a big part of my life right now, but it's not the most important part of my life. You will never see me spell it with a capital "c".
I'm a Wife and Mom. I love my Family. I have good Friends. We do fun stuff and dumb stuff and sometimes we argue and then we laugh again. We go to work and to the grocery store and we go swimming and have birthday parties and get ready for the first day of school.
I keep saying that I don't want ovarian cancer to define me, but sometimes I just can't help it.
A good friend put it this way for me "cancer may be defining your life for the moment, but it is not your entire life. You seem to just make time for it." That made me feel better.
If you want to see it from the beginning, my cancer story begins in March.
The rest of my story is happening now.
Abby had her first airplane ride, we went skiing, visited with longtime friends, I spent a week in the hospital and all the time kept up with work & school activities.
Advocare has been busy, too. Getting a few fresh new items for Spring, and getting ready for swimsuit weather!
The latest new product is Strawberry Slam! We still have LemonAid, Power Punch and Octane Orange available.
Also, the current special - buy 2 bottles of ThermoPlus for just $54.
All the other stuff? Gotta download some pics, then I'll tell that story.
I guess that's pretty much simplifying things, but really that's how I feel these days. But I have so much that I want to write about that I get stuck and end up just not writing about anything.
I have decided that something is better than nothing. I need to take a clue from one of my favorite bloggers MissNewOrleans - she is great at keeping up to date with just a few lines.
I am back on the air and having a great time! News/Talk radio tha is locally owned and live. Listen in online KSETlive.com.
And the cancer thing is under control. It's still serious, I am in clinical trials at MD Anderson and have to go to Houston for chemotherapy twice a week for six weeks, then I have another CT scan to see if I need to do it again. My CA 125 is down from around 300 to 34, and a tumor that appeared after my surgery has shrunk 50%. I guess all is good, the last time I was in to see my Drs, they all had big grins on their faces and were high fiving me.
That's the short of it.
Advocare still keeps me going. I really can feel the difference if I don't take my CorePlex or have a Spark. And the Meal Replacemet Shakes are always a perfect breakfast. Mornings also include OmegaPlex and Probiotic Restore. Then at lunch I take a couple more Calcium Plus - chemotherapy messes with calcium levels. I have been having some menopausal symptoms since my hysterectomy. Formula W is good for hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Rehydrate, Catalyst and Zzzs before bed for a good night's sleep and no puffiness or leg cramps.
If you are in the Houston area, click here to find out about this fantastic Advocare meeting in Baytown.
This is where I will be Saturday afternoon - finding out about new products and events to close out the year and start a new one. A perfect time to learn how to help folks with New Year's resolutions and shedding those winter pounds. Or, finding ways to earn additional income and pay for travel & gift expenses.
I am so excited about the direction that Advocare is going and I want to go right along too.
Time to take care of some business.
I just found out about a special conference call where we'll hear about the benefits of AdvoCare - especially for Women:
Tuesday August 25th @ 12:00 Noon CST
Dial in:712-775-7100
Access code:462259
This is a special call with a focus on WOMEN. We have just introduced some fantastic new products. You'll hear about those and more with an emphasis on weight loss, energy and female nutritional support! We'll also learn about AdvoCare's financial opportunity.
If you have any questions or miss the call, be sure to contact me.
Dr Judith Smith of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the Advocare Sci/Med Board sent me this article that she had written about nutrition. I am going to share it with you here.
Remember that I mentioned that my blood tests were good this week, I just need to be sure to keep eating and get enough good calories everyday.
Well, I'm not a doctor and I cannot make medical claims, but for me personally, this is what I am doing. In addition to Dr Smith's recommendations, I have been trying real hard to stay away from refined white sugar and red meat. Lots of fish, chicken, raw veggies, fruit, good fats and whole grains. I also have been using Rehydrate to keep my electrolytes balanced. I have been thinking that I will try Excel Gel for my electrolytes after this next round of chemo. Keeping fluids down while I was nauseous was a problem this last time, and maybe the gel will be easier. For good easily digestible protein, I drink a Muscle Gain shake for a snack. Sometime I mix a Peaches & Cream Fiber Drink with Vanilla Muscle gain for added calories and to help keep me regular (still not pooping everyday). The branch chain amino acids in Catalyst feed my lean muscle and keep them tight so I don't get flabby. And this week, I have started adding Post Workout Recovery to my shakes because they are higher in good calories.
The next round of chemo will be easier because now I know that it does get better. That was seriously 4 days of the worst flu type symptoms ever. Now, I am just kinda feeling funky because I haven't eaten much for 4 days. I have kept up with my CorePlex with Iron and OmegaPlex. The Meal Replacement Shakes and Muscle Gain for protein and nutrition have been very easy to keep down as well as the Rehydrate for keeping my electrolytes balanced. I'm drinking Spark again. And even taking Catalyst, because I am losing weight, mostly muscle, pretty quickly. I will have some blood work next week and I will learn more how I am doing then.
I am getting lots of advice about nutrition. Much of it similar - stay away from red meat, dairy & sugar. Raw is best. Stay hydrated. Most appealing to me now is comfort food - homemade soups, pasta, casseroles. Vegetables are good, as well as apples, grapes & watermelon. But sweet is just TOO sweet. I think the Hydrocodone is affecting my sweet taste buds.
Dr Judith Smith at MD Anderson Cancer Center has written an article about Cancer and Nutrition. And this article about integrating nutrional supplements into cancer treatment plans. This is what Dr Smith has to say about the after effects of chemotherapy.
Keeping this blog updated is not easy for me. I love to write, but it comes in spurts. My wonderful husband on the other hand is a fabulous writer - everyday. I have gotten replies to some of the email updates that he has sent out. Interesting to see what he has sent. It's his perspective on this whole thing. He's a journalist, so the facts are of course accurate, but at the same time personal.
This is the email he sent out after my chemo:
Teresa went to the Ben & Julie Rogers Cancer Center in Beaumont on Thursday. Our doctor told us some disturbing news. Teresa has Stage 4 advanced ovarian cancer. He told us the cancer has spread beyond the uterus and is serious. However, it is treatable and the prognosis is still positive. To underscore the diagnosis, they started her on chemo immediately after the consultation so we spent the day with Teresa undergoing an IV drip. We return tomorrow for a bone marrow injection to stimulate good cell production. She will undergo two more 6 - 8 hour IV drips, one every 21 days and then the doctors here and at MD Anderson in Houston will consider doing her hysterectomy. They may decide to further delay it depending on her response to the chemo treatment. Please feel free to call Teresa. Your prayers and stories have done her attitude wonders and we both appreciate you all more than we can say. Abby is fine and just knows mommie is sick but the doctor will make her better. I was doing fine until trying to tell this to family members on the phone but other than that, I'm ok.
I hope to talk to you all soon. Brian
Here's the lastest:
Thanks for all your phone calls and emails... and don't stop... I think messages from all of you have meant the world to her. After her chemo treatment on Thursday, she went through everything we were warned of... Vomiting every waking moment, and horrible weakness and exhaustion. Teresa did have a friend cut her hair on Sunday. She didn't want to go through watching it fall out. And we didn't want Abby to watch that either. Many of you have asked... and yes Abby knows Teresa is sick and that she's going to the doctor to get better. A couple of our good friends here in Beaumont have included Abby in their family for a day or two at a time and it's been very much appreciated. But we're keeping her close most of the time and she's a trooper... just like her mom. I'm fine... just tired... She has answered the phone a couple of times... Our home number is at the bottom of this email. And she does check her email several times a day... I have forwarded all you have sent. It's teresa@getadvocareonline.com That's Get Advocare Online . com For those of you who don't know, she's a distribtor for that line of vitamins and supplements. Her next chemo is scheduled for Thursday, April 23. And then again 3 weeks later. That is when her doctors will decide if it's time for her hysterectomy.
Thanks for your good thoughts and prayers, Brian
See what I mean.
That's my goal. I have realized that for the past week I've been walking aroung in stretch pants and a big shirt - a sure sign that things need to change!
Great weather today, too. So I have no excuse for not at least taking a walk around the block.
Of course Advocare is going to help me do this. I need to be sure that I get good nutrition in my body so that it works more efficiently.
Here's the plan -I do a 10 day Herbal Cleanse and then Lean in 13. Lean In 13 focuses on eating clean protein, from lean meats and Muscle Gain, as well as fruits and vegetables in a "zig zag" kind of combination that helps you burn fat, cut cravings and get over that plateau.
After that I get back to the everyday routine that I learned with Commit2Fit. You know, 5 small meals, lots of water, etc.
I am doing the Citrus Herbal Cleanse. I like the "scrub ya clean" type of fiber. It's Old School, you have to stir it up & drink it fast - not for everyone. Peaches & Cream Herbal Cleanse is smoother and may be a better choice for most.
I have to remember what the Herbal Cleanse is all about - CLEANSE. So the only other supplements I will be taking are OmegaPlex and Catalyst. Of course I also will drink Spark or Slam and have a Meal Replacement Shake for breakfast.
As for what to eat, pretty simple really, just stay away from alot of fat and don't eat anything white (rice, sugar, flour). And drink lots of water.
It's just a couple of weeks, and a great way to get back to healthier eating, drop a few pounds and have more energy.
MyFitnessPal.com is an excellent free website to use to keep track of your daily foods, calories, protein & carbs.
This is a good time to get started. Advocare Success School is coming up Feb 20, I don't want to be wearing stretch pants that weekend.
Advocare is offering up a $500 bonus to everyone who qualifies - no limits. Believe me when I say that it could be easy - but you have to be an Advisor.
Do you know 10 people who are disgusted with their health and want to lose weight and gain more energy? Do you know 3 people who are disgusted with their financial situation and want to earn an additional income every month.
Let's go - we'll do it together. Give me a call and let's get started and put some money in your pocket now.
Look for me under the Advocare tent this Friday December 5 during First Friday in Groves. 
I'll have Holiday specials like hot Apple Cider Spark, Jingle Slam, Coffeccino, and Chocolate Muscle Gain Truffles.
Chocolate Muscle Gain Truffles
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3 tablespoons honey
2-1.46 oz packets Chocolate Muscle Gain
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
Melt butter and honey together in saucepan over low heat. Pour into mixing bowl. Add Muscle Gain powder. Beat thoroughly. Shape into one-inch round balls. Roll into pecans. Place on plate. Chill until ready to serve. Makes 16.
Spirit leaders of Port Neches Groves High School will be welcoming in the Holiday season as they kick off First Friday at 6P. Varsity Cheerleaders are set to show off Indian Spirit as they perform a routine with Cherokee.
Santa Claus will be taking some time off from his workshop at the North Pole to come stroll Lincoln Avenue, visiting with the children and listening to their requests. Be sure to bring your camera to snap a shot with the man in red.
Madnonnie.com is blowing up the big screen and featuring the movie The Polar Express. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Show time is 730P.
LifeShare Blood Center's bloodmobile will be parked at the intersection of Lincoln and Jefferson from 630 – 830P.
First Friday, a merchant sponsored event, is celebrated the first Friday of every month and provides free family entertainment, special sales, food and door prizes. Most stores along Lincoln Avenue will remain open until 9P. and The Courtyard Café buffet line is open from 530 to 8P. Free street entertainment includes contests and music from DJ Donna Marx sponsored by Selman Chiropractic, balloon animals by Sunny the Clown, and face painting by the Jester.
Be sure to join us this Friday 6 - 9P on Lincoln Ave for First Friday in Groves.
It's Black Friday, and the only shopping I'd planned on doing is online.
I have a list of things I want to get done today. So I need to start early with my Spark, Max Energy and a Meal Replacement Shake.
My Little Sidekick has a playdate this afternoon. I'll be on my own once I drop her off. I had fully intended to come straight home to finish my list - and pick up, do laundry, clean the house. But as I was driving past the Mall ...
There was absolutely no parking space at the Mall. But I went across to Michaels to pick up a few things. And my girlfriend had called earlier to let me know that Talbot's was having a BIG sale. So I stopped in there to see what I could find.
Now, I really like Talbot's, especially when they have a sale, but it's tough to find something that looks right on me. Their clothes just are not made for women built like me. I'm kinda long waisted and a little more curvey. And I wasn't really ready for shopping - ponytail, no make up, sneakers. But I do have a Snack Bar & a Jingle Slam. Recharge. I am determined to find everyday wear from someplace other than Academy.
So I pick a few things off the rack - hmm, too big. Next size - still kinda loose. I am down 2 dress sizes?!
I'm really suprised and this is rather significant, because I have not lost alot of weight. I haven't been dieting or exercising like a fiend either. Of course I pay attention to what I eat, and I stay active but it's nothing special.
I believe that being able to trim down is because I've continued with my daily habits that I learned during Commit2Fit. The most important of those habits has been eating 5 small 200 - 300 calorie meals across the day, each including at least 20 grams of protein. The Meal Replacement Shakes for breakfast and an afternoon snack of Vanilla Muscle Gain and Peaches & Cream fiber drink really have been helpful. Of course CorePlex and Probiotic Restore in my MNS are fundamental. But all that protein really has kept my muscles strong and upped my metabolism while the Catalyst has helped me keep the muscle while I burn fat. I'm sure that's why I have lost dress sizes but not really lost weight.
Hey, I don't care what the scale says, 'cuz I am walking out of a clothing store lookin' good in something other than sweatpants.
Of course we all know the products work, you just need to figure out what combination works best for you. Bonus, the money that I make wth the Advocare opportunity is the reason I am able to spend 3 hours shopping in the middle of a weekday afternoon.
Today is a very happy day.
Recently, I put up a post about Advocare Endorser Vince Vance. Since then, this site has been getting alot of hits from folks Googling Vince Vance & the Valiants. So I decided to take a closer look at some of the other sites that Google was bringing up. I discovered that recently they have had a 35th Reunion concert in Dallas, have been to Paris (Paris, Texas), performed at the Empty Stocking Benefit, and Vince Vance has written a children's book.
Rock & Roll Reader has gotten great reviews. I am sure my Little Reader would enjoy it. I definitely will put it on The List.
Wouldn't it be fun to have Vince Vance & the Valiants perform at Success School?
This past weekend I was pretty busy with Advocare business. I set up at a table at a couple of Holiday Market events.
In Kountze for Christmas at Stone Creek Lodge, Friday and Saturday.
Then Sunday for Groves Christmas Tree Trail at Memorable Moments at Maggie's off Hwy 73.
Mostly Moms with hobbies, showing and selling what they have made. I always am amazed at the creativity and diversity. Great Christmas gifts. Also a Travel Agent, Cosmetics Consultant, Food Items, an Author and Me.
And it's interesting that most of these Women are not just selling their arts & crafts for the fun of it. Some of them have other full time jobs as well.
We all take it seriously. This is a real business that supplements the Household income. But the cool thing is it's OUR business. We can make our own rules.
For example, I'm able to bring my Little Associate along with me. She likes being a part of the "Spark Team". Friday she came along and helped me set up, mingled some with other Vendors and their kids, then camped out under a table with her DVD player and some dolls.
Saturday and Sunday while I was out, my Helper stayed home with her Dad. She mentioned that they were going to get a gas card and see a movie, which I later figured out meant they were going to see "Madagascar the Movie".
And it appears that they also found time to be Rock Stars.
Hmm - last week she was a Fairy Princess Mermaid with a pet Unicorn.
Holiday Jingle Slam!
It really is like Christmas - this is the cutest little bundle of energy. It's in a green & red box with little jingle bells ... so festive.
It's so new, I don't even a picture to post.
OK, I'm opening it now ... it smells like a Glade Holiday candle ... and it tastes amazing! Just like Chrismas.
What? You don't know about Slam?
It's 2 oz of portable, pre-mixed, good for you energy without a bunch of sugar and caffeine.
Jingle Slam will be available for a limited time beginning Oct 15. Buy 2 boxes of Jingle Slam and get a FREE Christmas CD from AdvoCare Endorser Michael W. Smith.
I am buying up tons of Jingle Slam - I'll add it to my Holiday punch. And with all the CD's, now my Christmas gift shopping is done.
It's just like Christmas when I come home and see an Advocare box sitting on my doorstep!
Today, I got just a few very important products - a cannister of Cherry Spark, cannister of Chocolate Muscle Gain, a box of Chocolate Meal Replacement Shakes, and my first box of MNS Max 3!
Meal Replacement Shakes and Spark are a given. For us it's just part of our everyday groceries.
Muscle Gain is a product that at first I did not think I would be buying. I saw that it was in the Performance Elite line and figured I needed to be some super workout athlete to need to drink protein shakes. But it has become one of the most important products that we use in our home. That big ol' cannister lasts a long time! We have both Vanilla and Chocolate flavors sitting on the counter next to the blender. I add Vanilla Muscle Gain to pancakes, cookies, oatmeal, mac & cheese, whatever I think needs a good nutritious protein boost. I've mentioned before how great it would have been while I was pregnant. And with 25 grams of easily digestible protein per serving, Muscle Gain has been great for helping to boost my metabolism and get over the weight loss plateau. Vanilla Muscle Gain mixed with Peaches & Cream Fiber Drink is a perfectly balanced low cal snack.
The Chocolate Muscle Gain is a great snack as well. It makes way more sense than mixing up chocolate milk with Hershey's or even Ovaltine. My Husband & I both like Muscle Gain before we go to the gym.
Now, this last box that I am about to open is MNS Max 3. It's very cool looking with 2 weeks worth of convenient, easy to use strip packs.
I usually go back and forth on the different Metabolic Nutrition Systems. During my Commit2Fit program, I learned that I have high sugar cravings, and the MNS Max Apetite Control helps keep that in check. But, alot of times I want more energy. On those days I add ThermoPlus or take MNS Max Energy. I am looking forward to seeing how the new MNS Max 3 sustained release formula works.
The ActoTherm SR provides both an energy component and an apetite suppressant. So altogether in the MNS Max 3 daily packets I get the ActoTherm SR, CorePlex Multi, ProBiotic Restore and now added Calcium Plus, Amplify AT and an additional OmegaPlex. I take all those additional products anyway, so this will be fewer bottles on my shelf.
I'll start on the new MNS Max 3 Friday. This will be a good test drive, because with First Friday in Groves and The Oak Tree Festival in Clear Lake, I have a pretty full weekend ahead of me.
PUSH TO 3 STAR GOLD!
Thursday Oct 2 800P CST
All you need is a phone line and a computer with an Internet connection. This is a fully interactive opportunity for your prospects to see what Advocare is all about; the 4 relationships anyone can have with Advocare, the advantages of being an advisor and how to get paid 5 different ways!
Register here
Even if you do not have internet access, dial in for the audio.
Surfing the internet!
I found a very funny political skit from SNL. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler is Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama was suppose to host Saturday Night Live this past Weekend. He cancelled because of all of the devastation from Hurricane Ike.
I was able to find a good deal on a hotel room in San Antonio. Just 5 blocks from the Alamo! WiFi and laundry facilities!
I think that tomorrow I will see if there is something that I can do that is more constructive. My Little Distraction has kept alot of my attention, but I should be able to find something that she can come along on - handing out ice, cooking up and serving hot meals, something.
I still haven't cleared and organized the closets. Perhaps lack of time is not the reason that it has not been done. D'ya think?
very cool Hurricane tracker
We have been getting several phone calls from Friends & Family asking how we are doing. I see that some have been checking here for an update so I guess I should post something.
It's just quiet busy activity around here. Most of us have got our Hurricane evacuation routine down. I'm not worried. My daughter is kind of excited about it all. No big drama. In her little world she knows there's a storm coming. Everyone is acting a bit different. Eventually we'll be packing up the car to go visiting.
I have a theory about rainy weather and how it affects me. When the low pressure moves in I get an incredible headache and get really sleepy. I don't have time for either, so first thing I do is mix up a double Spark and grab MNS Max Energy and an extra Probiotic Restore. Catalyst is helpful, too. The amino acids give me an energy boost, and I think the L-arginine helps with my headache. I'll mix up a Rehydrate and some Arginine Extreme and put it the fridge for later. I have a Meal Replacement Shake for breakfast.
I filled up at the gas station this morning then went to HEB to get a few things. That was probably the most stressful part of the day. I only needed milk and eggs, and my Sidekick wanted sushi for lunch. So we picked up what we needed then got in an incredibly long check-out line.
Can't they tead? It says EXPRESS CHECK-OUT 20 Items or fewer. OK, now we are getting into naptime, and Wiggles & I both are getting fussy.
It's amazing all the people at the grocery store. I wonder what they're stocking up for? Really - if you think it's going to be that bad, leave town. And if you are leaving town, buy stuff when you get there. I suppose travel snacks and some drinks for the road trip are a good idea, and I guess I could have waited on the milk & eggs.
My favorite Newsman will be staying in Beaumont as long as it is safe. My daughter & I probably will be visiting some friends in Louisiana. I had thought Lake Charles, but now I think we may be going on to Lafayrtte or even Baton Rouge. Our only real concerns are losing electricity, and the horrible traffic along I-10.
I need to throw the laundry in the dryer, take a couple of Nightime Recovery and a Zzz's and get some sleep. I'll get up early with the News and Weather, mix up a Spark and check DOTD traffic cams for my trip to Louisiana.
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