Life happens

Sometimes I get upset about all this unnecessary tumor business. Other times I just think that all kinds of things happen in life, and this is what happens to me. No big deal. It's good to be alive!

Disturbing News

Last week I blogged after a long time, and here I am again, so soon!

So I was writing after the MRI. I was so confident that everything's great, I almost forgot I was waiting for a call from the hospital. That call arrived yesterday. Dr. Sneed called to let me know the good news and the not-so-good news.

The good news are that the tumor growing around the optical nerve is taking a break, and the decision to not treat it last year was correct.

The less good news is that there's a new tumor developing at another area, at the top of the head. Of course looking back to old MRI's the signs were there. but it was too small to detect. It's now at the size of 8 millimeters. The size and location make it a good candidate to treat with gamma-knife, which is easier on the patient. I already was treated in the past with gamma knife, and those tumors stopped growing. Bottom line, the doctor says, if you get a tumor, get one you can treat with gamma knife.

So the full half of the glass is having the option to treat it at all, and treat it with a relatively patient-friendly and proved to be successful manner. Ain't I'm fortunate?

I'm not sure if I should go around telling people about it. On the one hand, it's not a secret. On the other hand, I don't feel I need this kind of attention. So I'm publishing it here, where no one reads anyways.

So many things are going on since Sunday, I feel I have to list it down.
Ilan left on Sunday to new Orleans, for three days. That night, after all the playdates, games, dinner, fights, showers and the rest of the usual stuff were over, the kids were sleeping and I sat down to watch some tv. That's when I realized Boomer wasn't feeling well. That's why he didn't touch his food! Weak and with a dry nose, so miserable.

Next morning, Boomer's all better! So I didn't have to take him to the vet after all.

Later that morning I got a call. I was offered to teach an after-school art class on wednesdays. Starting this week. ! I accepted the offer, and took a trip to the Community School of Music and Art to get the details, the paperwork and other materials. Still not quite sure what I'll do with Edan and Shira during that time (eventually we decided they'll join the class). And still needs to figure out who'll pick up Ilan from the airport tomorrow. Probably a taxi...

I'm so glad about this opportunity, and hopefully it will lead to more! I met with Bosmat for lunch and it felt likes celebration.

Back home, I got busy with prepring for hosting a WIZO meeting in the evening, plus feeding the kids before we rush to Edan's basketball practice. We left too late, all three of us upset at each other. Shira was complaining her eye hurts.
When we made it to the practice and she was still grumpy and can't do anything but sit on me and whine, I realized she really wasn't feeling good. We quit the practice and headed back to the car. Shira feeling terrible in the back, and Edan in the seat next to me, telling me he thinks he has head lice. So I told him how he had lice when he was three.

Shira went to bed, felt sick but couldn't throw up. Too tired to even brush her teeth. Good night, see you later! I combed Edan's hair and found nothing but dandruff. And what am I going to do if Shira's sick in the morning, on the day I need to go to SF for my MRI?

First things first, the meeting is on its way. The discussions continued until nearly 11pm. No one hardly touched the apple cobbler. As soon as everyone left, Shira sneaked out of bed to tell me she doesn't feel pain in the eye anymore. She spent the rest of the night in my bed.
Edan woke up with a headache and Shira's face looked red. One Tylenol for Edan, and Shira didn't have fever. On another day I'd keep both of them home.

I'm writing this post sitting in SF. Had my scan. No missed calls or messages from school.
I have tons of things to do at home, paperwork and many many unread emails. Should I go to the museum instead? I don't get to visit San Francisco that often.

I wonder who's going to collapse tonight.

Solo Week

Today is going to be my third day of the solo week. It's part of the student teaching experience, a week all by myself with the kids in the classroom.
it's a nightmare.

I hate hearing myself bark, the kids are not respectful (well, not all of them, of course), and by the end of the day I'm miserable.

Have a nice day!

Edan's birthday party

Edan celebrated his 9th birthday on Saturday, by hosting a slumber party for 10 kids! I was a bit nervous beforehand, but it turned out great!

First day of school

Today is the first day of the new school year for Edan (4th grade) and Shira (1st grade). I used my Kleenex well as I saw them go into their classrooms with their teachers.

I too was supposed to start school today, student-teaching. But due to reasons beyond me, I will only start tomorrow.

Kasan art studio

I've been talking about getting back to painting since ever. In the meantime, Ilan is taking action and Shira is inspired too!

New life for this blog

Good news!
There's an iPhone application for blogging (of course; I should have known), so hopefully I'll write updates more often now!

Going to Israel!

In a few hours we'll be on the plane. I'll try to be better about posting during the summer...

oh, and by the way - I had another MRI and there's no change, which is good news. I must be doing something right (Chinese medicine maybe?).

Water Colors

I took a picture of a tree in the park next to our house in September. one of the branches fell down. It was a big branch, and very close to the ground. After a few days they cut down the entire tree, and there was nothing left! I was glad at least I had the photo and decided to make a painting of it when I joined the water color group. I worked on it for a few sessions, and then quit the group because I was too stressed with classes. The painting waited in the garage until recently, when I finally finished it. I now joined another group for doing art, so maybe there will be more paintings!


Here's the progress of the painting:

Purim

It's Friday morning, I'm listening to my Friday music (Ehud Banani) and already made the Challah dough. I still have a loooong list of things to do, why, I didn't even take a shower yet this morning, but this post is sitting in my mind for the last few days, so let's put it out there!

It was Purim this week, on Tuesday. We don't feel the holidays too much here, not like living in Israel. Last week Edan and Shira went to a Purim workshop, where they learned about it, did some crafts and a puppet show, and of course got a "Mishloach Manot" (sending portions?).

On Monday evening we went to a local synagogue, congregation Beth David, to hear the reading of the Megillah, the book of Esther. They did a family light version where between reading (portions of) the book they played "Who Wants To Be A Persian Millionaire" with the characters of the story. We got to use רעשנים (noise makers) every time the name Haman was mentioned. Fun! on our way out the kids got an hamantasch אוזן המן. Just this was worth the whole thing for me, because it solved my dilemma of what filling to use: chocolate or jam; these hamantaschen had both! how brilliant!

On Tuesday morning I made Hamantaschens with the kids in Shira's class. I prepared the dough the night before, using an excellent recipe I got when Edan was in Kindergarten, from Tiran, another Israeli mother. I also told them a light version of the story of Purim.
Later that afternoon I prepared many more Hamantaschens at home; that happens when you double the recipe. Edan and Shira got to the job of distributing them to the neighbors. Shira stopped at the first stop, her friend Sara, and stayed there for dinner and play (they're Persian and she loves the food). Edan visited all of the neighbors, by himself.

I saved some of the cookies for my mindful based stress reduction class I do on Tuesdays (a subject for another post) and found out the instructor is from a Jewish home and was really happy to have them.

Here's the recipe (thanks, Tiran!):

mix
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup butter

add
3 eggs
add
1/2 cup orange juice
4 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

winners' filling:
a little strawberry jam + a few chocolate chips

original recipe says brush with egg, but I didn't.

Comics

I signed up to an online comics maker tool, Pixton. I use pre-made characters, props and sets that I can adjust as I wish. Here's my first try (still didn't quite get over the hypnotherapy deception experience...)

Exciting day!

Today I started teaching an art program in two 1st grade classes! I was nervous and not sure I was prepared, but it was very nice, for me and the children, and made me feel happy and energetic.
This class is not part of the teaching credentials process I've been working on. I decided to add it after giving up full time student-teaching for this semester. I know today was only the first day, but it makes me think of switching to art education. It's more fun and less hours. Of course, there's a lot less positions for art teachers ;)

When I returned home, happy and light hearted, I found my new computer waiting for me in a box at the door! It was a painful process of picking and buying, but here I am, publishing the first blog from my new laptop, a black Sony Vaio.

So, happy birthday to the trees (today was tu-bishvat) and a happy day to me too!

Hypnotherapy

I went to see a hypnotherapist on Thursday, all the way in Castro Valley (50 minutes drive). I left with mixed feelings.

The talk before the hypnosis was interesting, about the body-mind connection, and the subconscious that may have formed wrong ideas in childhood with the intention of protecting me, but it turns out to hurt me instead. The power of thoughts, beliefs etc.

During the hypnosis I could "hear" the my mind chatter, couldn't get rid of it. Some issues came up, nothing in the sort of hidden memories. I did make some new connections and understandings. Yet, it felt somewhat shallow. Perhaps I just expected too much. The therapist also said I resisted, so perhaps I'm just not the type for this kind of treatment.

When it was over, the therapist told me we were more than an hour over time, and asked that I pay for the extra hour. It left me feeling cheated; I knew ahead of time her hourly rate, which isn't cheap, and I knew first meeting was going to be two hours. What I wasn't told is that the meeting may be longer. Since, for obvious reasons, she was the one keeping track of time, I have to wonder...

In any case, my homework assignment is to visualize the tumor dissolving, disappearing and totally gone by my next MRI. Also to relax and make it a top priority.
While I don't visualize myself going to see her again, I think the above ideas are good. In fact, it gives me an idea for a short animation!

School, Neddles and Science

Voices of reason around me suggested I finish the teaching credentials, as planned, since I don't have to go through radiation now. But I feel that with full time student teaching I won't have time for the healing process. Instead, I'm going to try to take a class or two.

Yesterday I saw a Chinese doctor at Five Branches institute, who treated me with acupuncture and herbs. It took a long time to cook the herbs into tea last night, and the taste is (as promised) terrible. I need to drink the poison, sorry, tea, two or three time a day, and see the doctor once or twice a week.

In the afternoon we went to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, which is the new nature museum. It's very impressive! and also very crowded; We didn't know it, but every third Wednesday of the month the entry is free.

We're still enjoying my mom's visit; she's leaving on Sunday. My brother, Michael, will stay until beginning of April; Yay!

Good News!

I'm off the hook!

I saw Dr. Horton, from the laboratory for visual neuroscience and he concluded the tumor is not affecting my eye. yet.

With this new information, both my radiologist, Dr. Sneed and I, and even Ilan, feel it is reasonable to postpone radiation treatment, and in the meantime keep following the tumor with MRIs and periodic eye exams.

I'm planning to explore alternative methods to deal with the recurring tumors, so if you have any suggestions and miracle stories - please share them with me!
My first goal in this era is to confront my tongue. In the Chinese medicine the tongue is believed to reflect a person's health. In my case, oy, the tongue looks very unhealthy.
I also keep experimenting with eating meat (still very difficult) and avoiding stress.


links:
Dr. Horton
Dr. Sneed
I should also mention Dr. McDermott, my responsible neurosurgent.