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Mothers with school aged children

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  • kebab
    kebab Member Posts: 98

    Kite - I hope they find something to make you feel better soon!

    Halloween -- my 12-yo daughter wants to make herself a Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) costume, complete with sequined red shoes (yikes!). We'll see how that goes.  My 9-yo son has no idea yet. His sister wanted to make him a minion costume, but he's not interested. (I'd love for him to be a cowboy -- easy to do with stuff we already have in the house! -- but he's not interested in that either.)

  • raro
    raro Member Posts: 78

    A few years ago, my older son (who has a wild imagination) convinced my younger son (who was about 8 or 9) to go trick or treating as a piece of paper. Seriously. They took a white sheet and drew lines on it, complete with the little cut-out circles on one side. And since my daughter had gotten for me from Ross a 5-foot long wooden pencil (decorative only, because I was a teacher), they went around carrying the stupid pencil with a white lined sheet over him. Of course, everyone assumed he was a ghost, because the lines were hard to see, and after about 5 houses, they came back home and dropped off the pencil because it was so heavy. Then they gave up and told people he was a ghost. 

    My daughter's funnest costume was a hedgehog. Very simple to make...get a pair of sweats and staple straws all over them, and voila, you're done. I think I might have made a hat, too, with a reasonably matching dollar store hat that I stapled straws to. 

    My son just turned 13, which is usually the cut-off time for me. He still desperately wants to go with a bunch of friends. But I don't know. 

  • kjones13
    kjones13 Member Posts: 662

    a piece I paper!? How funny!

    My 10 yr old hasn't decided. My 3 yr old first said sherif Callie (which is a show on Disney jr)...but then I found some really cute frozen stuff at target...so she is going to be Elsa. 

    I always stunk at figuring out a customer. Usually my best friend and I would wait til the last minute and then just find things around the house to throw together. I'll have to find a picture of my favorite.

  • fujiimama
    fujiimama Member Posts: 236


    kite: Hope your pain is getting better.

    Halloween 👻: My youngest 3yo found a knight set at the dollar store. Helmet, shield and sword. So my daughter saw his stuff and asked if there were any girl knights. We told her about Joan of Arc. So she got helmet, breast plate, gauntlets, and of course a sword. Now my oldest while getting stuff at the dollar store decided to be a ninja. He found a samurai sword and nunchuks. I spent less than $10 and they're all happy as clams. Everybody will have to post pictures on Halloween 👻.

  • Kite
    Kite Member Posts: 81

    All of those sounds great! I would love to post our pics. It was actually Halloween 2011 I found my lump. I have been trying to make Halloween a great day again. I had such a beautiful time with my kids that was ended with pure terror. Ick. So yes, please post pics on Halloween. 8))

    Headed to the pain clinic on the 20th to make a decision on what to do. Probably get the nerves numbed up or burned. Still not sure what to do to control it until then. Need extra prayers! 

    Any plans for the weekend? 

  • Kite
    Kite Member Posts: 81

    image

    look who came in my room?! Random! Had to get a pic for my boys. They thought it was great. 

  • kebab
    kebab Member Posts: 98

    How fun! I guess if you have to be stuck in the hospital, a visit from a giant cow makes it better, huh?  lol

    It's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and even though we're transplanted to California, we're celebrating with another family of transplants -- dinner on Sunday. Bring on the turkey and stuffing!!

  • kjones13
    kjones13 Member Posts: 662

    kite--how funny! Didn't know the cow made rounds at the hospital...hope your boys got a kick out of it! I will definitely post pics. 

    Halloween for the last two years has been hard for me too. 2012 started chemo on the 17th so hair was falling out and shaved off by the 31st. Then last year I had mastectomy on the 26th. Could only go around to about 5 houses and then I was done! 

    Kite--I really hope they figure out how to keep you comfortable. When do you get released? I think burning the nerve sounds like a great idea...as far as hopefully not feeling any more pain. I just hate this for you!

    Kebab--yummy! Eat some for me!

  • leftfootforward
    leftfootforward Member Posts: 1,396

    So last night I fell asleep onthe couch at 7:30 pm.  today, I woke up at 8:45 am.  My kids start school at 9:10 am.  I am on the last day of my 14 day Xeloda cycle.  Guess my body is telling me it can't do any more. Pretty awful feeling.  good news is I got the lunches made and kids off to school.  Hoping to find enough energy to take them to a movie tonight.  Ugh. 

  • kjones13
    kjones13 Member Posts: 662

    leftfoot--sounds like you needed that rest! Your poor body. Impressive you got up and made lunches...and then a movie? A little tardiness never hurt anyone. I think all of us mothers probably have at least one similar story. I used to hate the feeling of waking up late and being rushed before work. Now, I don't care. Not even a little bit. I have a blah attitude these days. 

    It has been rough...here on the boards, families I have met through different organizations...so many deaths. I have a friend who is in hospice. 3 kids. I have cried all week. Makes it all to real...then I get mad at myself for waisting my days crying. I think this fall and winter are going to be hard for me. Maybe need some new happy pills.

  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 92

    I got a lotta catchin up to do on this thread! Halloween stuff is at the end. I figure that is fun and some might want to skip ahead. The rest is responding to others posts since my last post 1 month ago. 

    I was in the hospital for a few days (discovered brain mets) for those who don't know. Rads completed and feeling better but still very fatigued and not thinking totally clearly. Had lots of family support so good.

    Kite - so sorry you are in pain. I hope you get relief soon. 

    Diane - so sorry everyone is so sick. That is awful. I hope you are all on the mend now. 

    Kjones and Kebab - the Camp Kesem reunion is this weekend. Parents stay.Let you know how it goes. You know I was nervous about sending her in August. some of the kids parents had died. Finding out the liver mets exploded in late August and ending up in in the hospital in Sept with brain mets, I am so thankful she went. She's going to need more support going forward I think. I think someone is looking out for me. :)

    Kjones - congrats on stable!

    SusaninSF - I totally agree that many others have it worse. I at least got to a live a life. When I hear of young people struck down by illness or dealing with a horrible situation in life  it puts it in perspective for me. 

    Starbrightly - my DD is 11.5. She has been a real trooper during my recent setback. She also met one of the therapists at the hospital and really liked her.  With regard to all that social drama I always remind her that in the Nick show Ned's Declassified, the trio of best friends are two boys and a girl. There are episodes where the girl tries to be more girly and make friends with girls. It's actually a pretty good show with good values. They are old and all in repeats. I think my 23 yr old used to watch them when they were new. She's doing better and was recently invited to a youth group thing on Friday nights. She went and had a great time. Made me really happy.

    Romansma - I love that you had a nice weekend with DH. Excellent. 

    Fugimam-your kids are beautiful. :) Welcome.

    Iamstonger Culberta - welcome to you two too. Hey did you see that. I used all the word 2 in one sentence. :)

    Kite - love that hospital pic. You are so cute and the hair is cute too. I know you might not want to hear that about the hair. :) I hope they get your pain addressed soon. Our family guilty pleasure is Chick-Fil-A.  Chicken sandwiches with extra pickles and if we are really decadent a shake. Funny story, DH thought it was pronounced chicfaluh since he was teenager and one day I said it when we passed one when we were in our 30's. He couldn't believe he had been pronouncing it wrong all those year. Now we all pronounce it the wrong way on purpose. 

    Halloween costumes. The year DD was 9 she was Bacon. Girl loves her bacon. I made it out of foam, spray paint etc. Hard to walk in but it was the bomb. She didn't win a prize at the school party and all the kids were chanting that she was robbed! (But the one that one was pretty amazing and deserved it I thought). I put a lot of effort into it and I'm glad I did cause I couldn't after. It was right before I went Stage IV. For 10 yrs she went as Medusa. Her big sis went as medusa as a kid too. Our family likes all the greek and roman mythology stuff. She picked out cool fabric with swirly greens and brassy dots. When pinned a toga and I put rubber snakes in her hair with bobby pins. Green face paint, glityz brooches, sunglasses,  etc. I'll try and post pics of these.

    This year she is going as Korra from Legend of Korra. (avatar cartoon on nick). I found a description of a way to make it inexpensively with no sewing (I can't sew!) from a blog. I'll post around Halloween.

    If I missed anybody - sorry. Just wanted to catch up with everything on this thread and BCO in general. 

    Annie

  • Kite
    Kite Member Posts: 81

    Thanks Annie! And Wow! On the costumes. That made me laugh, I love it! Also love the Chick-fil-A story. We went there a lot when my kids where toddlers. We called it "Chickalay"

    Had acupuncture and it seems to have helped a little. Recently I have been reading a lot of posts on Facebook and here where women are having similar issues, pain where radiation was. Maybe it is scar tissue and in the process of healing. Have an appointment to discuss numbing the nerves next to the vertaplasty. Anything that will help me besides pain meds is good with me!

    Hope everyone is having a good start to their week! It's my 8th wedding anniversey tomorrow. Wishing hubby and I could spend it together. 8( He did send a package so I'm excited to see what he it is. I bought him two concert t-shirts. One from the Tom Petty show I went to in Tulsa and one from Pearl Jam.( a friend went to that show) He won't be expecting it at all. He's one of those people who has everything and is hard to buy for. 

    Good luck to anyone having scans, test results, chemo appts, and all that fun stuff! 

  • susaninsf
    susaninsf Member Posts: 1,099

    Kite,

    The picture with the cow made me smile and it's been a rough day of scans!  Thanks!

    Hugs, Susan

  • texasrose361
    texasrose361 Member Posts: 895

    kite thats so awesome, weird that the chick-fil-a cow was makkng rounds at a hospital. Hope ur boys get a big lugh out of that pic.

    Now th kids are back in school i have hectic mornings. Any ideas for quick health breakfasts? 

  • PattyPeppermint
    PattyPeppermint Member Posts: 8,950

    quick healthy breakfast - try greens and fruit from a nutribullet. Taste great , great for our bodies for healing and energy, 

  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 92

    rose are the breakfasts for you or the kids?

  • susaninsf
    susaninsf Member Posts: 1,099

    I do oatmeal with blueberries, walnuts, chia seeds, maple syrup and almond milk every morning and a small smoothie with veggies and fruit.  Honestly, I'm pretty sick of smoothies but I never seem to get sick of the oatmeal.

  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 92

    I too love my oatmeal. I make McCann's steel cut from scratch on weekends (about 40 mins) and I make 1.5 X the recipe on the can. I eat it all week unless DD eats it first. I little cinnamon, for kids brown sugar or drizzle of real maple syrup, you could add vanilla and cinnamon when cooking to avoid adding to each serving. In blueblue season I add bb's. Offseason I use frozen wild ones that get microwaved with the oats. Top with a little almond milk. Walnut pieces are great. I also like bananas, apples or pears in season for a change. 

    If the steel cut is too much trouble Quaker Old Fashioned take 3 minutes in the microwave per serving. And you can add the same stuff. 

    Also on Sunday we sometimes make whole wheat pancakes. I usually addd bb's or overripe bananas I froze. You can add walnuts too or just put them on top. I usually use Aunt Jemima whole wheat mix. Not as healthy as from scratch but they seem to taste better and its less work. We  make a huge batch and freeze and DD eats them 1-2 x per week instead of oatmeal or cereal. 

    I also like sesame Ezekiel bread. I keep it in the freezer. I toast one slice at a time. Spread with all natural organic peanut butter or almond butter and I snip some turkish apricots (no sulpher) on top or slice banana. Really good. If you are feeling decadent a little drizzle of honey on the banana is nice. 

    Hope these ideas help. If its the kids, I'll add some more. 

    Last steriod tomorrow. Obviously they are still making me hungry!

  • kebab
    kebab Member Posts: 98

    My daughter (who usually won't eat breakfast) found a recipe in a magazine and has been eating it most days since then -- quick and easy, and I think pretty healthy too.  1 sliced banana, 1 slice of whole wheat bread torn into pieces -- put them both into a mug. Mix together 1 egg, a dash of vanilla and a dash of cinnamon; then toss it all together in the mug and microwave for 2 minutes. Easy peasy banana french toast in a cup.

  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 92

    Kebab - I'm trying that. Sounds great. 

    With little ones it can be tough because lots of things I eat for breakfast they eat for lunch and snacks at school. I like FAGE no fat greek yogurt with berries, almonds  or walnuts and a touch of honey for breakfast in summer, but my daughter will take yogurt and fruit for snacks and lunch to acitivities with an iceblock. 

    We pack PBJ a lot so giving that for breakfast isn't great either although a Nutrigrain waffle with some natural PB or almond butter is easy and quick. Could slcie banana  on it too.

    If she likes cold cereal, Barbara's Puffins are good and Cascadian Farms makes some healthier versions (read less sugar) of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Mini Wheats and other popular type cereals. I'm lucky to have a Trader Joe's near me and they have tons of healthier cold cereals. DD eats the ones I like which are high fiber and low sugar. And that's where I get my almond butter, nuts, dried fruits at like 1/3 the price of a regular super market. 

  • leftfootforward
    leftfootforward Member Posts: 1,396

    My go to in a need of a quick fix is peanut butter on ghram crackers with either strawberries or bananas.  Kids love it. i realize those with peanut allergies can't do this but for others it works great.  No prep time and kids gobble it up. Anything o ghram crackers makes them eat it.

  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 92

    So the Camp Kesem reunion at Columbia was yesterday. DD had a great time seeing the counselors and campers. She really loves it and she actually asked me if she could make an appointment to see the counselor she met at my cancer center. I thought that was good.

    I'm embarrassed to admit that I have lived almost 50 years in the NYC area and never visited Columbia. Beautiful urban campus. I've seen a few building driving or walking past over the years, but can't believe I never went in. 

  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 102

    HI Ladies,

    Love all the great breakfast ideas!  Banana french toast in a cup is on my list!!

    I was dx Stage IV 2 months ago.  As you can imagine that first month was awful-full of scans, fear, scans fear, scans fear as you all know.  Then, I had horrific pain in my spine.  Onc wanted to radiate it.  It was L2 and and seriously, the worst treatment I have had in all my cancer.  I'm sure some of you saw my post on radiation on the spine.  Well, yesterday was the first day I had normal bowel movements and almost no nausea.  THANK GOD!!  In order to celebrate, I have booked a room at Great Wolf Lodge for my boys-7 & 8 and am going with my sister.  Dh is going to stay home with the older boys 17 & 22 (they are my step, but we are VERY close).  Anyway, the most exciting thing is I am totally surprising the boys.  We are just going to get in the car and start driving.  I can't wait to see their surprised faces!!   We are going to miss school and I am so excited to feel better and get to have fun with my kids and my sister as our worlds have been pretty upside down the last two months.  Gotta really take advantage of feeling good!

    For halloween, my boys are Native American Indian (as we are 25%) and a Ninja (ds says he is 75% ninja.......).  

    :) Thanks for being here ladies.

    V

  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 92

    iamstronger - have a great time. That sounds so great. And I love the 75% ninja. :)

  • susaninsf
    susaninsf Member Posts: 1,099

    iamstronger,

    So happy to hear you aren't experiencing any nausea or disruption of your bowel movement!  Also sounds like you are taking back some of the control in your life after those first terrifying months.

    Have a fantastic time with your boys and sister!  Be sure to share a photo!

    Hugs, Susan

  • Kite
    Kite Member Posts: 81

    iamstronger- I had difficulty with my spine Radation on L1. I am glad you are feeling better! Enjoy your trip! 

  • fujiimama
    fujiimama Member Posts: 236


    Halloween door.

    image

    Have a great day.
  • Kite
    Kite Member Posts: 81

    Love the pic Fujimama! 

    I have a question, I see so many posts about people who won't take pain meds or anything because it's not for them. I sometimes feel like a baby since I do take them and I take anxiety meds. This whole situation has me all messed up. Am I really the minority here? I guess I shouldn't feel bad for taking them but sometimes I can't help but think I'm giving in.. Does that make sense? 

  • fujiimama
    fujiimama Member Posts: 236

    image

    image


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    My knight, my maiden, and my "I might be a ninja" kiddos. Took them to our church carnival. Each kid got enough loot to fill 2 gallon Ziploc bags. They have desserts until Christmas.🍭

  • kjones13
    kjones13 Member Posts: 662

    fujii--cute kids! I bet they had a blast! Here is my professional basketball player (with his trusty cat) and my little Elsa! 

    image

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