Teal Tuesday: A Little Bling for the Return to Work

Last week's Teal Tuesday was celebrated with a little bit of Teal that make a HUGE Statement.  I was back in the office which is always a bummer after a vacation, no matter how much I love where I work.  So I put on a little bling to brighten up Teal Tuesday. 

The ring came for Expression Rings of Hope http://expressionringsofhope.com/   The creator, Holly Freese, started her company in honor of a friend's husband who died of Renal Cell Carcinoma.  A portion of the profits from the rings created in his memory go to the Jimmy V Foundation.  She has also partnered with Bright Pink and donates $5 from the Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, and special Be Bright Pink rings to the Bright Pink foundation.  I found her on facebook https://www.facebook.com/expressionsofhoperings and follow her daily sales.  Some of the Real Housewives from Bravo have also been seen wearing her rings and reality TV junkie in me loves seeing who is wearing what!  No one has worn the Ovarian Cancer Ring yet!  There are always new ring designs coming out and specials through her facebook page.  Best of all, I can tell Holly is super sweet through her updates and tweets and does a lot for charity.

Whether its on the beach or at work, rocking Teal for Tuesday could help start a conversation and bring awareness to the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.  Have you worn your teal today? 

    

Teal Tuesday - Beach Edition

Imagine the sunshine shining,  the waves crashing, the sea gulls cawing, and teal toes in the sand. Now, imagine it is last Tuesday. 

Last week we were vacationing in the Cape with some great friends and their families. I got to relax, read a book cover to cover, eat, drink, and laugh! We spent every day at the beach and each took turns being in charge of dinner for the night. One night we did an epic seafood cook out with steamers, scallops, lobster and margaritas!  These friends have quickly become like family and I am amazed and humbled by their generosity, openess, and acceptance into the crew. 

The best part was that I got to spend one week straight with the hubs without being sick, going to a doctor's appointment,  a medical test, or doing any paperwork. While a bunch of the last year has been spent at home it was certainly no vacation.  I slowed down, kept it simple, and focused on doing one thing at a time.  This vacation was a amazing.  Here are a few pictures...

Return to Health - I Can See!

Photo Credit

Chemo does a lot of funky things to a person's body.  Some are obvious - exhaustion, nausea , hair loss. Others not so much.  One I didn't realize I had was a change in vision.  According to The National Cancer Institute eye changes can include trouble wearing contact lenses, blurry vision, and watery eyes.

My eye sight has always been poor.  I've worn glasses since the 6th grade and I live in my contacts (well I sleep in them, which some people frown upon). Upon getting my first pair of glass, I looked at my sister and said "Wow, you have freckles on your nose!"  So when things were a little more blurry than usual, I figured it was just time for a new prescription.  I went for my regular appointment in February and when my ophthalmologist found out I had cancer (the head scarf gives it away every time) she scheduled two follow up appointments and field vision tests.  I've had my first follow up and field vision and everything showed up normal.  I told them I still didn't feel like I was seeing as crisply as I wanted to.  She told me just to give it time.

Then, just last week, it was like a light turned back on.  I was watching a video of our monthly legislative meeting in order to write the minutes.  While we have good camera equipment, it isn't the best.  As I was watching, I couldn't believe how clear and crisp everything looked.  I asked Joe, who made the video, if he had done anything different because it felt like I was watching HD.  When he assured me it was the same old stuff, I really started paying attention to how I was seeing.  On rainy, dark nights I noticed I could actually read the signs on the highway while driving home (good thing I knew the way home without needing to read!).  I am loving the ability to see clearer and that everything just looks brighter.  This was just an unexpected improvement on the road to the Return to Health!