...catching up....

as is becoming my habit, here is a catch up post:

home...is wonderful. i miss spending time with my family since i spend so much time away at work, but the time we do have makes me so very happy. i am so very in love with my home life at the moment that sometimes i need to pinch myself and make sure it isn't a dream.

health...is not an issue. i have all my energy back, my hair is coming in CURLY, i have my 3 month check-up in a week or two, and my hormones are starting to come back online (thankfully).

work....is busy! thing are crazy hectic and they keep giving me more to do. i continue to get positive feedback , and the teams keep telling me how well i have integrated into the environment. i recently got things set up so that i can start to work from home a few days a week.....and i will put together a schedule for that with my boss to start once my next quarter at school starts (in october).

school...is frustrating. i am nearing the end of the quarter, and am putting together my final project for the class...so my stress level is up a bit at the moment. 

training...is still fun! i am starting to notice changes all over. my core strength has really increased and i am getting more fit, overall....here are the updated logs:

8.15.2008

3 minute rounds - 30 seconds rest:

3 rounds jumping rope
3 rounds elevated leg medicine ball crunches
2 rounds toe touch crunches
1 round 35lbs db side bends
4 rounds medicine ball slams
1 round leg lifts
5 minutes on the elliptical trainer

8.20.2008

30 minutes "running" on the elliptical trainer

4 minute rounds - 45 seconds rest:
1 round elevated leg medicine ball crunches
1 round leg raises
1 round heavy bag jab-jab-cross-jab

2 minute rounds - 45 seconds rest:
2 rounds heavy bag jab-cross-jab
2 rounds heavy bag 2 left/2 right hooks
1 round medicine ball slams

8.21.2008

100 squats
100 calf raises

8.22.2008 20 minutes "running" on the elliptical trainer 2 minute rounds - 30 seconds rest: 6 rounds heavy bag 1 round leg lifts 1 round crunches 1 round obliques 1 round great salutations 8.25.2008 10 minutes elliptical trainer 4 minutes scorpion tails 4 minutes heavy bag  no power at the gym...got grumpy and left   8.27.2008 23 minutes elliptical trainer 4 minute rounds - 45 seconds rest: 1 round elevated leg crunches 1 round bicycle crunches 2 rounds heavy bag jab-cross-jab 2 rounds heavy bag hooks 1 round heavy bag jab-cross-jab 1 round heavy bag hooks 100 calf raises

....3....2...1....my god, today just kinda sucked

...ever had one of those days where nothing major really bad happened, but a whole bunch of little things just added up to make it feel like the day was just shitty?  well, today is one of those days....

so, i am going to make this quick and then sign out.

8.13.2008

4 minute rounds - 45 seconds rest:
3 rounds jumping rope

2 minute rounds - 45 seconds rest:
4 rounds focus mits
3 rounds heavy bag
3 rounds uppercut bag

...and so we start another week....

up at the crack of dawn....leaving the most beautiful man on the planet fast asleep, snuggled up in our bed (it is HARD to leave in the mornings....i get a bit cranky)...got to work, had a meeting with the cio where i learned that they are guaranteeing my contract through the end of april which is an extension from what i hear 2 weeks ago of a guarantee through the end of the year. it is a happy day.

i also got to train after work...here is the breakdown:

8.11.2008

4 minute rounds - 1 minute rest

4 rounds jumping rope

2 minute rounds - 1 minute rest

3 rounds elevated leg medicine ball crunches

2 rounds toe touch crunches

1 round modified pushups

3 rounds medicine ball slams with an added triceps extension

2 rounds leg lifts

...so much to do, so little time....

i have been working very hard on all levels, so the blog has been severely unattended. so, here is yet another catch-up post...

school:

everything is fine with school...i dropped back to one class this quarter instead of two since it was proving to be too time intensive with my new job. so far so good....the quarter is FLYING by.

work:

things are going great! i get along well with everyone, and from the first week people keep telling me how happy they are that i am there. i have also been asked if i am interested in coming on board full time. it seems that before i started, the only people that thought that an IT specific project manager was needed was the director that i currently work for. now, they have not only found value in what i do, they have made it a point to create a full time slot fora project manager, and they want me to fill it permanently. 

boxing:

here are the workouts up to date...

7.12.2008

two rounds:

10 body rows
50 right toe touch obliques crunches
50 left toe touch obliques crunches

then walking 
then back extensions

7.15.2008 rounds tonight were 3 minutes with 45 seconds rest- 3 rounds jump rope 3 x 15 medicine ball chest passes 3 x 15 medicine ball crunch passes  3 x 8 volley ball leg lifts 3 x 15 trainer resisting leg lifts 3 rounds jab, cross, jab on the bag

7.16.2008 rounds were 3 minutes with 45 seconds of rest in between 3 rounds jump rope 3 rounds racquet ball dribbling 3 rounds double-end bag 3 rounds heavy bag 1 round uppercut bag 2 rounds focus mitts   7.18.2008 3 minute round - 45 sec rest 3 rounds of jumping rope i am fighting a stomach bug, so i wound up having to leave with no more training....but it is back on for monday!!! 7.21.2008 3 minute rounds - 45 seconds rest 3 rounds jumping rope 3 rounds racquet ball dribbling 2 rounds crunches with legs elevated  2 rounds right-left toe touch oblique crunches 6 rounds on the heavy bag 1 round volleyball leg lifts 7.23.2008 all rounds 3 minutes - 45 seconds rest 3 rounds jump rope 3 rounds racquet ball dribbling 3 rounds rounds crunches with legs elevated  3 rounds right-left toe touch oblique crunches 3 rounds back extensions 3 rounds focus mitts 7.30.2008 3 minute rounds 45 seconds rest: 7 rounds of jumping rope 3 minute rounds with 1 minute rest: 3 rounds rounds crunches with legs elevated 1 round right-left toe touch oblique crunches 2 rounds heavy bag - jab/cross/jab 2 rounds heavy bag - hooks 1 round double end bag 8.1.2008 3 minute rounds - 1 minute rest: 3 rounds jumping rope 1 round leg lifts 1 round scorpion tails 2 rounds medicine ball slams 1 round medicine ball russian twists 6 rounds heavy bag 3 rounds focus mitts (...and it felt GOOD  ) 8.4.2008 i am sick today so i went for a light workout...(plus, the gym is closed this week) 3 rounds of: 25 body rows 25 leg elevated crunches 25 left right toe touch oblique crunches 15 leg raises 15 modified pushups then ... 15 neck nods 15 neck nos 30 front leg kicks (right and left) 30 side leg kicks

...so, i am a slacker....

a lot has happened since i last posted....

1. i got a new job....i start working a 3+ month contract up in helena on monday. happily, i am returning to infrastructure project management
   
2. we bought a new (used) vehicle...we picked a 2004 audi a6, and are enjoying it VERY much (especially the gas mileage)
3. i started my summer quarter this past week...it feels great to get back to school!
4. i stared boxing (and i love it)!!!!!

oh, and here are the training logs for this past week:

7.8.2008

boxing

all rounds 2 minutes - 45 seconds rest

warm up - 
3 rounds racquet ball dribbling
20 arm scissors
10 body circles left side
10 body circles right side
10 right side lunges with 10 jabs in the center position between lunges
10 left side lunges with 10 jabs in the center position between lunges
40 calf raises

bag work - 
3 rounds left jabs
3 rounds right crosses
3 rounds moving jab/cross combos
3 rounds left hook
3 rounds right hook
3 rounds moving jab/cross and hook combos

7.9.2008

power walked three miles with the puppy

7.10.2008

still in too much pain to head back to the gym for more boxing (i was hoping to go every tues, thurs and sat), so i will take advantage of my quickly-ending-open schedule to go tomorrow with the man instead, allowing for an extra day of recovery.

today, i walked the dog for just under two miles.

7.11.2008

let me just say that i am amazingly happy at the moment... 

tonight was BOXING 

all rounds were 2 minutes with 30 seconds rest - 

3 rounds jump rope
3 rounds racquet ball dribbling
2 rounds crunches
1 round modified pushups
3 rounds uppercut bag
3 rounds double end bag
2 rounds lower ab work mixed with punching drill (lay on floor, raise legs to 90 degrees, stand up and jab, cross, jab)
2 rounds focus mitts in the ring (it looks like i have a powerful right hook and right uppercut  )

...today's journey...

today, after waking up relatively early i:

1. made breakfast for me and my love
2. called and scheduled a long overdue appointment with a dentist
3. called and made an appointment with the eye doctor
4. went to the eye doctor (just that quickly)
   
5. called and scheduled an appointment for the jeep to have an oil change
6. went to the chiropractor (i am in need of some major adjusting)
7. scheduled another appointment with the chiropractor for wednesday
   
8. AND had an interview for another job (i should know more about starting someplace new in the next 1 to 3 weeks)

i also worked out (as you will see below)...today is a GREAT day!!!

...training update...

6.15.2008
rest day

6.16.2008
3 minutes weighted step-ups
tabata weighted squats
tabata side lunges
tabata scorpion tails - right side
tabata scorpion tails - left side
1 minute standing alternating side leg lifts
1 minute standing alternating front leg lifts

6.17.2008
Rest

6.19.2008
Rest

6.20.2008
jogged (1 mile)

6.21.2008 - 6.24.2008:
fatigue has been kicking my ass by early afternoon each day (which is only a couple of hours after i get up), so i have been taking it easy on myself...so no real training sessions have been taking place.

6.25.2008
walked/jogged 3 miles

6.28.2008

a long walk at pete's hill and then i decided that i should start getting my upper body used to moving and working with weights again (but minimally...i am not supposed to start officially until next thursday)

superset:
1 kb curls
1 kb overhead presses
1 kb overhead triceps extensions
1 kb front lowers (resistance training lowering the kb from overhead down to my curl start position)
REPEAT 25 TIMES

and i have gotten REALLY weak; my arms are burning from just that little bit...and i was using the 18lbs kb (that is the little one)...so, onward and upward from here!

6.30.2008

ab and back 300

50 crunches (legs in the air)
50 toe touch obliques crunches (each side)
50 seated leg scissors
50 seated leg raises
25 parallel bar knee raises
75 back extensions

...for my love....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

...grumpy and (utterly) fatigued

...can't seem to fight the fatigue today...it has rendered me grumpy and difficult...but as rough of a start my training got, it picked up at midpoint, and i finished STRONG, which brings a smirk to my face (as i am still too grumpy to actually smile)...

6.14.2008

100 sit-ups
100 15lb side bends (both sides)
50 18lb kb russian twists
100 back extensions
100 captains of crush (each hand)
50 yesses
30 nos

on a positive note, we took milo to the park today and ran off-leash drills with him...he was WONDERFUL, and is now plum tuckered out!!! cesar milan is right...a tired dog is a well behaved dog.

...whatcha waitin' for....

as i am sitting here listening to my training music mix (and yes, i find motivation from gwen stefani's "what you waiting for?"), i am fully spent. today is a feel good day...maybe because it is friday the 13th (to which i am partial),or maybe because bret and i have been kicking ass around the house and in life in general. i had my interview yesterday with target (i applied for an executive team leader position), only to find out that i am seemingly qualified, but they don't have any local opening. oh well, who knows what will happen...if anything, it is always good to practice my interviewing skills.

so, yesterday was a rest day from training, and after this afternoon, i will only have THREE radiation treatments left...speaking of, i need to hit the shower...so here is today's workout:


6.13.2008

tabata step-ups with 40lb weighted vest
tabata calf raises with 40lb weighted vest
tabata squats
tabata scorpion tails - right side
tabata scorpion tails - left side

25 standing alternating side leg lifts
25 standing alternating front leg lifts

...today is a feel good day....

and the countdown continues...5 TREATMENTS LEFT....if there are no more delays due to a broken machine, this time next week i will be having a VICTORY drink (w00t)...(i am so excited)

so, for today's workout, it is back to core work...thought i'd do something a little different today, so...here we go:

6.11.2008

45 - 26lb kettlebell russian twists
tabata crossover crunches
tabata back raises
tabata neck yesses and nos

40 dip bar abdominal knee raises to finish it all off

now i am off to pick out a winning interview outfit for tomorrow morning...keep your figures crossed that it will produce fruitful results!!!

...my butt will look AMAZING (i have to keep telling myself)

what a lovely, snowy june day in MONTANA! yes, it snowed today...and at the days end, we can see hope in sight for a happy and healthy future. today i had my 7th to last radiation treatment (woo-hoo), scheduled a job interview, and found out what books i will need for my first semester of my IT PM PhD...not to mention a wonderfully fatiguing lower body workout:

6.10.2008

the bottom blaster:

tabata squats
tabata scorpion tails - right side
tabata scorpion tails - left side

1 minute standing alternating side leg lifts
1 minute standing alternating front leg lifts

...coooooore strength...

so, i was at the cancer center today, like i am every week day, and got weighed...down another pound and feeling STRONG(er) than i have in a while. i let them know that my collar bone burn is feeling worse, and come to find out that my reaction to the radiation in that spot is relatively severe (little blisters, consistent pain, etc), so they gave me some more stuff to put on it and reassured me that it should start feeling better after a few more days, which makes me happy because as of right now, it hurts when i work out. on that note, here was today's training session....yesterday, 6.8.2008, was a rest day (and my mom's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM)



6.9.2008
another core day:

3 rounds - 1 minute rest in between
superset:
35 - 26lb kb crunches
35 - back raises
35 - 26lb kb right side side-bends
35 - 26lb kb left side side-bends
35 - captains of crush (both hands)


3 sets of 15 yesses
3 sets of 15 nos

...legs and glutes...(ya-hey)

i was hit hard with fatigue today for the first time during radiation, even after a LONG nights sleep, so i had to shot some espresso before my workout to get some energy. i was aiming for 100 reps of each exercise, but my legs got rubbery at the 80 mark. since this is my first session back starting to rebuild my strength, i will leave it here for today and increase my reps the next leg/glute session (on 6.9).

6.7.2008

legs:

two rounds of -
30 squats
30 right leg scorpion tails
30 left leg scorpion tails
30 right leg calf raises
30 left leg calf raises

one round of -
20 squats
20 right leg scorpion tails
20 left leg scorpion tails
20 right leg calf raises
20 left leg calf raises

...the beginning of bellona

as i promised myself, i am starting to rebuild my strength. today is the first day of a guided plan (with the coaching of my love), to become the warrior goddess that i am fighting to be. though i am not able to start training until 2 weeks after my last radiation treatment, i have decided to take this month i have and build some major core strength....i will be posting my training routines here, as well as keeping updates on my treatment and the side effects...so, here we go!

6.6.2008

3 rounds - 1 minute rest in between
superset:
25 - 26lb kb crunches
25 - back raises
25 - 26lb kb right side side-bends
25 - 26lb kb left side side-bends

3 sets of 10 yesses
3 sets of 10 nos

...radiation update

this is a picture of my radiation burn so far....today was my last treatment of the broader coverage, and now they will do the remaining 10 treatments more focused on the area of the former tumor...and that is it! i spoke with my surgeon today, and he gave me the "all clear", told me i could start training again. my radiologist, however, told me that i should wait until 2 weeks after my last treatment (that will be 7/1)....so, as of tomorrow, i will be starting to rebuild some strength so that i can start back to training on 7/1. i am a happy, happy girl!!!

...progress...

so, we are making progress...after today, i only have 14 more radiation treatments. my skin is just starting to burn and discolor. so far there is no pain or real discomfort, and outside of the stresses of the job situation, i am not feeling the fatigue.

i have continued to lose weight by eating more organic fruits and veggies and moving away from the more processed foods. i am down to a healthy 137 (on the home scale, 141 at the hospital) so...here are some pictures of the regrowth of hair ... enjoy the scowling and growling:

just stopping in to update everyone....

the port-a-cath has been removed, and it was quick and simple (yay!!!)...here it is (they sent it home with me):


and, as promised, here is an updated picture of milo...he is 4 months old!!!

...since it has been so long...

life has been full of crazy shit lately, which has had me running around like mad and in no mood to supply updates and whatnot.

so, (finally) here is what's new:

1. we got a puppy we named milo agathon...he is WONDERFUL



that was him at 6 weeks and then again at 9 weeks or so. he is much bigger now (16 weeks), but i still need to take new photos.

2. we have a new place...we now live in a loft over a restaurant in downtown bozeman...it is very nice, and we are enjoying it very much. official move in date was 3/15...





3. i am DONE with chemo...the last taxol was a bitch...i have never cried so hard and so long from physical pain in my entire life...no pills helped...just had to let it pass...i started rads on 4/23 and will be done on 6/6. so far, so good...that tattooed me with four dots so that they are sure to line me up correctly each time...i am growing fine, fuzzy, light colored hair in the places i was once bald...and they are planning on removing my port-a-cath on 5/12.

4. i am losing my job as of tomorrow...yep, that is right....i am looking for something else, and will post the ups and downs of looking for and landing a new job while being in cancer treatment and having no hair. i am not going to post details about it yet, as i am going to talk to a lawyer first....so stay tuned for more of my exciting employment adventures!

5. i found a mma school that i might start attending once the port-a-cath is removed:
http://web.mac.com/fascinare/Montana_MMA/Montana_MMA_Home.html


6. i start back to school on 7/7 in a PhD program for IT Project Management...so, soon you will all be calling me "doctor"...LOL...i will post more on this as i get into my classes...i am so excited!!!

so, that is my current life in a nut shell...now i am going to go read a bit before napping (we took a nice long walk with the puppy this afternoon up peet's hill...and now i am tuckered out)...

...ah yes...

a month later and finally a new blog. treatment is going well...i am four days into my third taxol treatment, and just getting over the two really harsh, achy side effect days. that being said, i now have the neulasta bone pain days to look forward to, and then smooth sailing until the thursday after next for my fourth treatment. originally, there were to be only four taxol treatments, but since we stopped at three a/c, we are adding a fifth round of taxol so we still get 8 total chemo sessions in. the side effects that i get from the taxol are; joint pain up my spine, in my hips, and in my knees...then i have bone and muscle pain all over my head, my cheeks and my teeth...feels like i have been beaten severely about the head; for some reason, the pain killers don't work on that, but the flexeril knocked my out enough that i was able to sleep through the night....and then after about 24 hours, *poof* it is gone! the neulasta pain is less than it used to be, but still in the same places....i get the shooting pain across my hips, front and back, and then shooting pain up my spine. the oxycodone takes care of that though...i am much happier on this treatment than i was the a/c, even though i no longer have any eyelashes or scarcely any eyebrows...i have even started working out again! i have to modify what i do, and don't have near the strength or energy i used to, but it feels so good to be MOVING AROUND again...and starting to rebuild all that has wasted away.

on a positive note, i finally went shopping and got new bras and underwear that FIT...i've dropped over 2 inches around my ribcage, lost 1 1/2 cup sizes and went down a size in underwear (happy about the underwear and rib cage, not so stoked about the boobs).....

outside of that, life is still great....i am so very much in love and feel happier and more driven than ever.

...update time...

so...only three more treatments to go....and the taxol isn't so bad...outside of the benedryl (which made me loopy as shit and sleep through over half my treatment), i have felt really good. i actually felt like i wasn't doing chemo at all until yesterday when the bone and muscle pain kicked in. i tried my oxy, but that just made me tired....didn't really help with any of the pain. it seems to be easing a little bit, but the shooting pain through my knees and my pelvis is aggravating me.

on a side note....here is the most updated pic of me in my wonderful baldness...they took pictures of my group for the company newsletter...here is one of the three i had to choose from:

side effects from round three

well, this time has been much better, or so it seems so far. i haven't had my neulasta shot yet...i slept through friday and didn't have the order for the emergency room for a saturday shot. monday was a loss, and now it is new years. i will call them tomorrow and see about going in for the shot just in case. side effects have mainly been fatigue, some tummy problems and then the emotional outbursts. i find that i get very weepy and insecure. i also find that i get fed up with having to be taken care of...i don't think it is fair to have to depend on bret for everything...

today i feel pretty good...yesterday i did too...just get tired and need to nap from time to time. one more of these AC treatments to go, and then i am set for the taxol treatments....4 of them...and then chemo is done...and we can start rebuilding. radiation therapy will then have to start...