The main reason for my absence is that my mother suddenly developed unilateral cellulitis in the breast that she had cancer in almost exactly five years ago. The scary part of the whole thing is that it looked exactly like inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), which is the most aggressive form of breast cancer there is.
I tried not to freak out, but I did. I don’t want my mother going through breast cancer treatment again. She’s already had a lumpectomy, lymph node dissection, radiation, chemotherapy in addition to multiple biopsies and boob-squishing procedures. Plus, she’s on the most awful follow-up medication on the planet, which makes her walk like she’s 100 years old rather than 60.
Anyway, we are all so so so thankful it was just an infection. I had no idea, really, that cellulitis could be so well-demarcated on one breast and look just like IBC. The only clinical difference, really, was the low-grade fever she had and the fact that the antibiotics are working.
I had a wonderful grandmother (my mother's mother) who developed breast cancer when I was about my DD5’s age, and who died about 5 years later. That was my Grandma Irma and I still miss her so. I have such vivid memories of her. And that was so much of what was with me this last week…My DD5 is so very close with my mother and I couldn’t bear the thought of either of us losing her or her going through what I went through with my own grandmother at such a young age.
What a scare.
Okay, well, onto requests. How's that for an abrupt subject change?
I love hearing about favorite posts and so first I’ll tell you what people are reading most on here:
One of the most read posts is the Guinea Pig Gas Chamber Confession and a related post here. The next most read is I Have Fake Nails and My Children Swear so I had a Brain Surgeon Dinner Party.
I enjoy musing about why people like reading about my role in guinea pig euthanasia, but the fake nails post is particularly kitschy, so I get that one.
I also put up a lame pole for fun (see on right) and although people are reading this page, hardly anyone votes, a testament to its true lameness. I’ll get more creative. I promise.
Okay, so I’ve been reminded that I didn’t finish talking about the California Homeschool Network 2008 Expo, so I will do that briefly.
On Saturday, my two favorite sessions were “The Unradical Unschooler” and “Will the Real Unschooler Please Stand Up?” I think I’ve mentioned that I’m very fascinated by the unschooling concept in general, and these sessions were very cool. I read multiple Radical Unschooling boards regularly, but I’m not 100 percent aligned with the concept and its cultish feel at times. Still, I learn much. For now, I’m still categorizing myself as “relaxed eclectic,” because I’m am a bit of a dork who gets a rush out of buying curriculum type things (although I never use them as the creators intend) and of creating plans and schedules.
I ended up speaking up quite a bit in the “Will the Real Unschooler Please Stand Up?” session, and I was pretty excited that I could answer a lot of the newbie questions (even though I’m not a total unschooler myself). That was fun.
The most terrific part about Saturday was the Grandparents session and the Dad’s session, as my children had three grandparents and their dad present. They all went to the sessions. They found the crowd interesting and entertaining at their respective sessions, but really, the grandparent session seemed to be more about the naysayer types. Our kids are so lucky to have such loving and supportive grandparents who already are so on board with homeschooling.
The brain surgeon liked the dad session, especially because they kept talking about expectations and mentioned a few times how not all kids will grow up to be brain surgeons. You have to love the constant barrage of brain surgeon comments when you actually are one. We also have a scientist friend in our DD1’s playgroup who happens to work on rockets.
One rocket scientist and one brain surgeon, coming up!!!
However, they did mention in the dad meeting that we should have a "Board of Education" meeting (comprised of the two of us) once a month, so we decided that was a great excuse for a dinner date.
We went to a French restaurant, and as president of our private school, I told him what my current (constantly changing) unplan was, he said "okay" and we noshed on viddles.
So Saturday at the conference, we mostly hung out as a big happy family and had fun. I won a few door prizes and a $25 gift certificate to the vendor hall.
I was a bit annoyed because the brain surgeon was sick all weekend. He is always overworked and exhausted, so he is often worn out on weekends off (which really sucks because he only gets one every 12 days). It's not his fault so I know I'm being a major bi-atch to even be annoyed, but it is annoying. ANNOYING.
Sunday, my favorite session was Disney Schooling, although it was challenging watching my three kiddies during the session and listening from the doorway (since said brain surgeon was in bed recovering from work). That was a VERY cool session!!! I’m going to add Disney Schooling to my homeschool adventures (and maybe Hogwart Homeschooling, too!). I’ll keep ya posted.
Gratitude entry for the day:
- I’m SO SO SO grateful that my mother has a breast infection (as hideous and horrible as it is) and not inflammatory breast cancer.
- I’m SO SO SO grateful that my mother has a breast infection (as hideous and horrible as it is) and not inflammatory breast cancer.
- I’m SO SO SO grateful that my mother has a breast infection (as hideous and horrible as it is) and not inflammatory breast cancer.
- I’m SO SO SO grateful that my mother has a breast infection (as hideous and horrible as it is) and not inflammatory breast cancer.
- I’m SO SO SO grateful that my mother has a breast infection (as hideous and horrible as it is) and not inflammatory breast cancer.
That one was worth repeating!
Okay, that’s it for now.
Toodles!
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