To Snow Day, or Not to Snow Day?

We get some doozy snow days in Meaford, lake effect snow has been known to surprise us with very deep mornings, wind whipping the icy white in all directions, making conditions unsuitable for school buses to drive our precious children around the scary roads.  

This year we have had just a few so far, the mild winter has afforded many sunny or just wet days for the bus or walking commute.  I have heard complaints from fellow in-town parents that the last couple of snow days were unjustly decided upon, a forecast that was worse than what had actually arrived? or a sunny frozen-rain day that must have caused the back roads to be slippery?  

Easy for some to criticize, but I know there is a lot that goes into the process of calling a snow day, a.k.a. No-Bus Day.  A few years ago when I was coordinating a fund raising event for the girls' school I heavily debated the timing of a February gig, as the entertainment would have to come from the city and the whole thing would be cancelled should the bus kids not be able to make it to town.  It was an early morning of phone calls with the principal, opinions flying back and forth between school board dignitaries and bus line managers - all relying on the weather network if that gives you any indication as to the confusion attributed to a snowy country morning.  

Much of my childhood/teen years were in the country as well, I don't remember having many snow days in Muskoka ha ha NO. They just drove the busses through it.  But the snow belt in which I got my high school education was sure to provide several snow days annually: postponed exams every January, mile-high snowbanks on the highways, and icy wind swirling it all around like some horror movie snow globe set.  I was a town kid then, but I rarely hiked to school on those days, it was an extra day to study, or catch an extra shift at my awesome student job in the local hospital kitchen, or do both of those and then go find some mischief with my friends.  

Now I have the distinct pleasure of watching my teenagers decide how to make the best use of their time on no-bus days.  They are town kids.  They can walk to school. There have only been a couple of days so bad that I wouldn't have allowed them to walk.  Had they wanted to.... this is where things get sticky for me as a parent.  

I fondly remember the days when they would go to school on snow days and have fun with their townie friends, extra gym time and kindergarten crafts! Ah the good old days.  Now I have exhausted teens who NEED to sleep in, stay home and blast their music while calling their friends to come over and take over the kitchen with baking apparatus and sugar everywhere.  They play on their social media, they practice their makeup skills and dye their hair, they mmaaaay clean their rooms if under great duress, or if it happens to be a CLEAR no-bus day like yesterday, then they adore me for taking them to the mall.  To go shopping.  With their friends.  Not with me. LOL

I think I always knew this shift would happen, I just do not recall when it actually did.   

As juniors they always clamoured for a fun snow day at school, but then around grade six they started to want to skip on snow days, we alternated home day with forced school attendance day.  Now this is the second winter I have lost the battle, grade eight and independence reigns.  Extra gym time does not entice a grade eight girl to want to leave her cozy dark bedroom before 10 a.m. without Mom's big snow-day breakfast. No! Apparently none of them do? 

Grade eight is a time of boundary exploration.  They are beginning to make the choices for themselves: spend a free day catching up or getting ahead on school work? Or pushing the deadline and seeing if the teacher will give the town kids the same extension as the country ones get. Haha  All with flawless hairstyles and new clothes and music I might add.

I do not begrudge them this time, they know as well as I do that I love having them home on what feels like a bonus weekend day.  Especially while I am able to be home to enjoy spending this time with them and their friends.  It is true I enjoy making a special breakfast on snow days, there is always a surprise pack of bacon or pancake chocolate chips to pass the morning by.  

Claire has perfected her omelette-making technique. (I still remember my Auntie C teaching me to make omelettes when I was that age, she beat the whites fluffy separate from the yolks and added the filling at the end, like a fancy brunch plate made to order. That is one of my first memories of learning to cook, it sparked my passion for all things kitchen.)

Yesterday we played games as well, early morning chess, Cathedral World, then Cassie's new board game, then a card game, then closed the day with more chess.  It was so fun, we vowed to chess again tonight.  

Thanks to my friend who taught me a few years ago, it has become not only a skill I value having in my back pocket, but it is a character trait I find appealing in myself and in others who possess it.  I think it is fair to call chess a character trait.  I had abandoned it for a few years while busy full-time working and mothering, but now I have dusted off my rooks and game on!  The girls play each other and have started playing with their teacher on breaks at school, fantastic.

   

I daresay there was a bit of school work attempted yesterday, it is speech-writing season after all.  They have chosen their topics now the laborious practice begins.  I have witnessed them working with their friends on snow days as well, on a group project or helping each other catch up.  I think (hope) they are getting the true value of the balance I want for no-bus days.  

Now that they have firmly decided upon their high school, they will be the bus kids indeed, and there will be no need for argument as to whether or not they will go to school on any given snow day.  They have decided to attend West Hill Secondary School a half hour away, wowee!! Daily bus rides will be new to them, especially the fact that they will have to be ready and out the door for 7:30 A.M. every day! (we tend to find 8:59 a.m. to be a stretch, just saying) 

I have a feeling they will truly relish no-bus days once they get a taste for their commute.   I am happy for them either way, and I will still always have baking goodies hiding for just such an occasion - the kitchen mess is worth having a day off from packing lunch kits!  

I remember these days...

                                   Scientist Claire making slime:

              Architect Cass building cardboard mansions for her toys:

 Cupcake calamity:

All in all, my experience with snow days is as with any other day: Seize The Day!    Carpe diem ~ at school or not at school, bus or no-bus, make the day count, fill it with laughter and fun,  and do what you gotta do.  

Even if it's a case of no-trains - when stuck in a hotel for six extra days, knit socks!  

Nod to my Mom and her friend who traveled from Florida to New York City for a craft show last weekend and to see some sights, and ended up getting snowed in!  They have been storm-stayed at their hotel, even Broadway was shut down - there was a street curfew for cars so that the snow plows could try to dig out New York, NY.   But they knitted... and we all get new socks yay!  They are on their way back to Florida now, if the train ever gets them out of the huge snow on the north east coast. Safe travels Mom! 

   

Article & Photos © Natalie Richardson 2016

Melanoma Connect - I'mLivingProof.ca

My melanoma star is on the map.  Yes, I actually committed to putting a photo and short video of myself on the world wide web - outside the comfort of my little blog - gasp!  

I am happy to announce that I am participating in a program hosted by Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) to connect melanoma patients across Canada, and perhaps beyond.  SYSF founder Kathy Barnard is spending her well-earned survior-time helping others by way of emotional support and friendship, patient advocacy, working to increase awareness of metastatic melanoma and possible treatments, and connecting melanoma patients should they wish to be connected with others.  This site/group goes far beyond the basics of warning people to wear sunscreen; it is informative, warm, inviting, helpful, and proactive.

I am proud to join this group of survivors and to try to help bring awareness to this disease, and I am hoping that if I can help even one person to lighten their burden of a melanoma diagnosis, then I may be able to return even a small bit of the love and support I have received since my cancer journey began.  

Please check out their site to see what it's all about:

 

 http://imlivingproof.ca/natalies-story/

My friends and family may recognize the location of the little star above the "T" in Toronto, that's Meaford!  That's me.  By clicking on any of these stars you will meet a melanoma patient with a story to share, and it includes a short Bio as well as a little video (mine is very obviously home-made, thank you Claire and Cassie!).  Along with the photo and bio is an orange button that anyone can click on to have SYSF connect patients via email and they can go from there.  

Please check out their whole site... my guest blog piece is on there too:

 

When Kathy Barnard (Founder, Save Your Skin Foundation) was diagnosed with Metastatic Malignant Melanoma in 2003, the first thing she did was look to the internet for anything that would inspire optimism for her prognosis: hope, survivors, or treatment options. She didn't find much.

The I’m Living Proof initiative is a program intended to provide a wealth of information, resources, and support to those touched by the disease, while also connecting you to a community of survivors who have shared their stories. This initiative is borne from Kathy’s desire to ensure that those diagnosed with melanoma know that surviving melanoma is possible –“I’m Living Proof."

Hand in hand we fight Melanoma together
Join us and connect with other melanoma survivors and supporters

Sign up for their Newsletter

 

 (Scroll to the bottom of the home page to find this sign-up box!)

Check out their webinars and other helpful links

Who Are You Surviving For Program- 

Write to your MLA/MPP and Health Minister 

Thank you Save Your Skin Foundation!  



 

Relaxing Saturday

Another busy week in the house of melanoma momma-ing, wow I am glad I'm getting some energy back as these days make me wonder how we survived the last year and a half while I was napping!?  I still celebrate the small accomplishments but I really love it when they add up to more than the "new-normal" standard I set for myself.  

Couple of random updates from here:

I have lost eight pounds!  Yahoo, I have been paying very close attention to my nutritional habits for the last few weeks, and I am inspired by my body's quick response to the less meat, less alcohol, no wheat, dairy, or sugar regime that I have dug out of my back pocket from years ago.  

I am not new to weight-gain weight-loss due to life or health circumstances -having twins pretty much surrenders ones body to an involuntary increase in fluffiness that takes hard work to remove - and this post-cancer-treatment weight gain is no different in my mind.  I am determined to feel better, get my strength back, resume my graceful-swan mountain-goat-like athletic ambition into hiking and biking... okay, I may be exaggerating a bit there HA! Anyone who knows me knows that I am the clumsiest duckling out there.  I try though, I do try.  LOL

This week I visited my family doctor for a mid-point check-up, I don't go back to Sunnybrook until March so I wanted to have a local run of bloodwork to see how I am doing this far after treatment.  With all of this vitamin-taking and liver resting I wanted to see if my bloodwork reflects the benefits I think I am feeling.  I needed to check in on my vitamin D and calcium levels (I am terrible at taking those hateful supplements) and B12 (wanted to see if the tablet chewing was really working) and thyroid hormone/supplement levels.

  

We checked everything top to bottom and great news, everything is perfect!! Motivation to take that darn calcium!  The only thing a bit low is my Iron...again.  I struggled with that years ago, now time to boost it again I guess.  That's fair, I found an iron supplement I actually tolerate well:

So that's good news, I am detox-ing and de-puffing, which is helping me with the de-stressing.  Vitamins supporting the body systems that have been out of whack for so long, herbal teas to reduce fluid retention and cleanse the liver, and apple cider vinegar to do everything it seems to do, all topped off with essential oils for pain-relief instead of analgesics, I am a happy camper.  There is hope anyway.    

One snag is the tummy trouble.  My medical oncologist (The Boss) is concerned with the prolonged bout of Imodium-need I am having let's just say, and she is urging me to consume a course of Prednisone to try to stop it.  I am desperately against adding a new medication to my regimen now that I am working so hard to clean up post-treatment, especially a medication as harsh as that one.  

Prednisone is a cortico-steroid that can reduce inflammation in the bowels and stop or reduce the damage that has been done by the pacmen, but the side-effects of it include weight gain, mood swings, and a host of other scary things I am trying to leave behind.  

I am putting her off for now as I feel we are still too close to my last treatment to get a good indication of whether or not this side-effect will clear up on its own.  I want to wait, I am willing to see if it stops by itself.  My bloodwork shows I am doing okay, and I am feeling quite a bit better, so the bathroom trips seem not to be affecting my general health.  

I knew colitis was a risk of the ipilimumab treatment, but I am not going to call it just yet.  I am quite aware that it can take months, years to recover from the crap I went through. Pun intended.  Family Doc and I will confer with The Boss if it comes to that point, and in the meantime I am going to get a third opinion from a Naturopath in Collingwood that my CCAC Nurse recommended for colitis-symptoms specifically.  

Dietary-wise, I have been cooking a lot.  Funny for a person working on weight loss, but indeed, I have been cooking and trying new recipes, especially for soups.  With trying to eliminate foods that may aggravate or trigger my tummy trouble, I have been having a lot of fun experimenting with new recipes again.  I used to do this a lot, and it's nice to be back.  

It is such a phenomenal pleasure to cook in my new kitchen, everything is so easy to use, keep organized, and to clean WHOA! Dishwasher is a whole new world.  I have satisfied my cravings for veggies with spicy soups such as this Coconut Curry Sweet Potato soup ....extra yummy with pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds as a garnish.  I am going to blast that cancer with beta-carotene, omegas, and alkalinity!

  

Okay... so body details done, I have lots to report on the mental/emotional side of things too.  I was a bit cranky this week but (maybe that was full moon related?) overall have been feeling pretty productive.  The kids seem to have been extra busy/needy and I think I handled it all right, plus I have been thinking a tonne about my book and the research I have been doing for it.  The preparation for writing is just as important as the writing itself, and I have found a couple of new avenues for inspiration.  Instagram for example, has been a new pet addiction for me this week.  There are SO many creative people in this world, and I am having fun connecting with them! 

I have also been thinking of blog updates as that all goes hand in hand, in my experience.  My book relates to my blog but they will be two separate entities so I am carefully planning how I will mesh the two, or how I will write publicly in the meantime.  I have been reminiscing quite a bit, about my Italy trip and photos, and my old blog which displayed much of my perspective on environmental issues, family environment but also Earth environment.  I was rooting around in my old laptop files and even managed to find a screenshot of my old blog.  Weird!  I had been trying to remember what it looked like and voila! One snow day last week I found this:

I found my old blog post about making sushi as well, I may have to dig it out and re-post.  The girls have been bugging me since the kitchen reno was done to have a sushi party for their friends.  I fear I am rusty at rolling but I guess I won't know until I just jump back in?  I'll keep you posted.  haha

Well, my simmering Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken soup is calling my name, so I need to go for lunch.  Then a walk with Reese, and for supper I am thinking of trying out a Jamie Oliver recipe for a dish with the fresh fennel I bought last night.  I am quite content to have my vegetarian recipes back out, feels good.  

  

(Thanks to my cousin for the photo, via Instagram xoxo)

Happy Saturday!

Feeling Better

For the first time in almost two years I didn't cringe the other day when a friend asked me how I was feeling.  I noticed it right there on the spot!  I was happy to honestly answer "I'm feeling pretty good actually!" and it was a refreshing change.  My west-coast Uncle also sent me a nice text saying "I'm glad you're feeling better."  Being as we haven't spoken in a bit I again was surprised (at myself) that he said that, but I was happy he did.  I guess I am projecting it?  All the way to BC?!  Yay me  :-)

Yes, thank you, I am feeling a bit better these days.  Can it really be?  My quarterly CT scans have been clear, my Christmas holidays were busy but great, my liver seems to be recovering well from all the celebrations, my kids are motivated in all things responsible, my dog is loving the walks... dare I say: life is good.   

Perhaps I am over the hump; maybe all those shitty months of constant physical and mental fight against melanoma are going to give me a break.  

I am still experiencing severe gastrointestinal distress, but that may be a permanent side-effect of the lengthy ipilimumab treatment, only time will tell.  My medical oncologist is considering forcing me to take a dose of prednisone/steroids to help with my tummy, but I am fighting that all the way.  

My imodium and I are still comfortable to hang out close to home and give my body more time to figure out whether or not it will ever get back to normal.  I am back on the weekly parole calls to monitor it, mainly because I neglected to report to Sunnybrook a particularly bad bout of bathroom time I had before the holidays.  Ah well.  This is what I signed up for!

I exited the holiday season with a renewed attitude toward the new year and what I want to accomplish in it.

First off, I want to feel better.  

Second, I want to help others feel better, my kids #1, and then others who face the life sentence of malignant melanoma.  (please notice I said life sentence, not death sentence. Big difference, from where I stand)

Third, I want to write my book.  I have forever said that I will write a book someday.  The time has come.  I am spending a good portion of my recuperation time with pen (and keyboard) in hand.   

I am deeply grateful for the position in which I am in my life, able to use my time for whatever purpose I choose... relatively speaking.  It was a helluva trade-off, this melanoma shit, but I am making my lemons into lemonade and sipping it quietly while I recuperate. 

I am embracing recovery and rehabilitation not only from the physical assaults my body has encountered since April 2014, but also the emotional and mental pain my family and I have endured.  It will take time, and I am finally relaxing about that.  A bit.  

All that said, here is some news from around here:

• Due to snowy weather I postponed my oncology follow-up at RVH this week, will try again in a few weeks.

• I have begun drinking a health-potion of apple cider vinegar/lemon juice/cinnamon daily to help detox and heal organs such as liver and digestive system.  I also read that apple cider vinegar may assist in relief of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis I am experiencing, plus it is said to create an alkaline body system the likes of cancer's arch enemy.  It is time for me to gradually introduce the alternative approach I have been craving since signing up for clinical trial.

• Green smoothies also, the girls and I have been experimenting with spinach- or kale-based smoothies most mornings.  I have never been a big smoothie fan but frozen mango seems to be the key to success. 

• I still have to take hefty calcium and vitamin D supplements due to loss of parathyroid, and I have been dutifully chewing a daily B12 tablet to try to bring up my levels.  The tablets are pretty much tasteless but I find them much easier to take since my family physician told me I can chew them as opposed to letting them dissolve under the tongue (BLECH!)

• Essential oils, also key to good health.

 

I have begun with the classic Oregano, earthy Rosemary, and my long-time favourite, Bergamot.  Rosemary is found to have many of the healing properties I am seeking: analgesic, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-catarrhal (diarrhea), anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.  Oregano also for detox - last night before bed I mixed a few drops with coconut oil and rubbed it on the soles of my feet... felt good but according to Cass I smelled like "a lot of spaghetti" LOL!

 

• Dandelion tea, and lots of it!  I love this roasted dandelion tea so this is an easy one to increase in my diet for aid in detox and improve liver function as well as decrease fluid retention, especially for the benefit of my lymphedema leg. 

• Rest and relaxation, I have found I am truly enjoying some rest time.  I'm not so cranky about the chronic fatigue, I am resting for a bigger purpose: to recuperate. And I am feeling much less guilty about it.  The song lyrics "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...I can see all obstacles in my way.." just floated into my mind... 

• Yesterday (snow day) the girls and I worked on capturing a new "profile picture" for me, as well as a little video clip for the I'm Living Proof website by Save Your Skin Foundation.  I am the LEAST photogenic person ever born (either that or I really look like that!?! YIKES) but we managed to settle on a couple.  I wouldn't do it but for the desire to connect with other melanoma patients/victims/warriors/survivors - more to come on that when I find out if my video made the cut.

• Very much looking forward to the launch of the video project I participated in last month, I even have a shiny new instagram account I am building up for the purpose of spreading the word.  It is a fun addition to my social media repertoire, so far so good!  LOL This is me: 

Also have a LinkedIn account now woohoo.  I am building these now in addition to blog as it will help when book promotion time comes along.   

That about sums it up for today, I have plenty of pots cooking and it feels pretty good.  I have been sleeping better and getting out more.  Hard to not want to walk the pooch when I have this to enjoy:

  

 #meaford #meafordharbour #melanomaawareness 

#ohwowI'mTalkingInHashtagsNow??   :-)

Article & Photos © Natalie Richardson 2016

Orthodox Christmas

January 7, 2016... my how times have changed.  As known to my Mom's side of the family today is "Ukrainian Christmas," the day after the Christmas Eve feast and evening of carols beginning at dusk.  I have many memories of this celebration.  All stops were pulled for the meatless meal consisting of 12 courses savoured throughout the evening, all of the best recipes were used to celebrate this occasion.  

Today my family is not having pickled herring or "kutia," but I will quietly remember the laughter and the love.  Foremost on my mind of course is family, my grandparents, my Mom.  Mom and Grant are in Florida for the winter again but we did skype for an hour yesterday.  I was thinking about a blog post I wrote a few years ago around this time of year, my Dido (grandfather - Dee-do) had passed away in November and I had memories to share.  

Please bear with my re-posting of an old story, but I find it to be a classic.  And I can update that I have begun teaching the girls to read/write/speak Ukrainian, and I will be making pyrohy (perogies) again soon! Soon friends, I promise to call when I do! ;-) 

A bit about what Ukrainian Christmas means to me  
(originally posted 2009):

A couple of weeks ago my beloved maternal Grandfather passed away. Dido (pronounced Dee-doe) was 91 years old, and, as I remember him, I have a full slate of memories to draw from. Absorbing his death has been difficult, but it is eased by the celebration of his life. He had such a full life, and I am grateful that he gave so much of it to me.

Orphaned at a young age, Dido was raised in part by monks, in Ukraine, given a start in life unlike anyone else I know in present times. He was a kind gentleman, a thoughtful and resourceful soul, and I imagine that was how he had always been... I knew him for 33 years, only a third of his long life, but in that time I never heard him say a bad word about anyone else (even when they deserved it).

He was complicated, simple, outrageously funny, gentle, elegant, peaceful, quiet, noisy, all of these things and more. Part of my childhood was spent in his care, along with my beautiful Grandmother (Baba), who passed away five years ago almost to this day. Baba and Dido were inseparable, they were like salt and pepper, sugar and spice - or oil and water, depending on the day! Truly lovely people, they instilled in me a strong work ethic, a creative and resourceful nature, and a good dose of Catholic guilt. They taught me Ukrainian, and they taught me life.

Dido was remembered by family and friends in Sarnia as a kind and true gentleman, a father, a friend, and a teacher. He worked hard throughout his life, during his incredible journey to Canada in the late 1940's, and even to his last days he pored over books, reading Ukrainian, English, and Polish. What we most remembered was his penchant for teaching... his skill in naturally drawing out the best in people, and for educating others about not only life, but Ukrainian life.

Countless hours he spent with me when I was a child, teaching me Uky reading, writing, culture. I owe my second language and cultural background to my Mom, and my Baba and Dido, but it is Dido I remember as spending the time demonstrating grammar and alphabet lessons. He was gentle but insistent in his teaching, coaxing hours of work out of me without my realizing it, providing me with firm roots in Ukrainian.

I remember occasionally resisting yet another reading or lesson, wanting to go outside to play with the many hand crafted toys Dido made for me, but I kept that under control until it was time. When we were finished there would be plenty of time to go to the parks in St. Thomas, for him to push me on the swings at Pinafore Park or to walk the bridges in Waterworks Park.

Dido didn't force me to work, it was simply an expectation he had. It was clear to me what I was expected to do, and I embraced that responsibility as I was taught. It is fascinating now that I can look back on it and remember. I try to raise my daughters with that same gentle but steadfast expectation, although I'm not sure it always works out that way. We are a different generation of parents now, and I'm not sure we are as skilled as the likes of Dido.

Ukrainian culture in my life plays an ever more important role, as I grow, and my kids grow, I want more Uky influence for us. I want the language to stay in my family, I want the stability, the history, and of course I want the food. I will teach my daughters to make pysanky (Uky decorated eggs) and pyrohy (perogies) as I was taught, and I will teach them to read and write and speak Ukrainian, as Dido desperately encouraged me to do. He was right.

I am also inspired by the work that Dido did, that I am not entirely aware of. I grew up knowing that Baba and Dido were active in the local Ukrainian community and church, and I knew they still tried whenever possible to take care of family still living in Ukraine, but I didn't really know the extent of their activism and support of the old country. I had a feeling they did more, and a quick google search brought up their names in a few places (who knew Baba and Dido would ever make it to google!?) Looking through photos at my Mom's last week I found one that struck me... a photo of my little Uky grandparents participating in a march in Ottawa, 1978.

 

<---That's my Dido, holding the sign that says "Freedom for Ukraine"
 

Congratulations Dido, for a life well-lived, I applaud you. Thank you for all that you have done for my family and for so many others... We will always cherish you and your memories, you are alive in us. I love you.

Orthodox Ukrainians around the world celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar (January the 7th). Christmas is the most beloved festival among Ukrainians when the family  gathers for a holy supper of 12 symbolic dishes. The meal is traditionally meatless and milk-free and features fish. The recipes differ from region to region, but here are the most well known dishes which are prepared for Sviat Vechir/Christmas Eve: kutya (a dish of honey, poppy seeds, raisins, chopped walnuts or pecans and boiled wheat); a braided, ring-shaped bread (struslya); fish dishes; dried or pickled mushrooms, red borsch, holubtsi (cabbage rolls) with rice or potato filling, varenyky(perogies) with sauerkraut or potato filling, cooked beans and others.  Smachnoho! :-)