Sydney and Ziggy

Sydney loves my dog Ziggy. This is taken at my home. As you can see, he gets his treat, then begins to close in to give kisses.

It's About Time...

Ok, so I've been away for awhile. I'm a busy person you know :) Look out I'm back!! I need to make some adjustments to what I want my blog to look like and who knows, I may have something new to add that most of you don't know about me. So, just keep checking back. More snow and ice on the roads, which makes for a two hour delay for Hamilton Southeastern School System. Ok by me. Makes the day different and I like the change-up of routine. Routine for me gets a bit boring.

Under Construction

Please bear with me. Figuring my way through. Thanks, Pam

SPRING BREAK!!!

It doesn't seem like it's been over a month that I returned to work. We, at least in HSE school system, are off for spring break, yippee :~) Our return date is April 13th. I don't have huge plans, other than possibly going to South Bend to visit my son and grandson and a couple friends. One is fighting for her life due to cancer. A jewelry class is scheduled and I plan on spending time outside playing with my grand-children. Always time for relaxing too. I had a CT scan yesterday, April 2nd and everything looks great, yea!! I invite you to visit my Relay For Life page www.main.acsevents.org/goto/pamg My blog will be under construction for a couple weeks. HAPPY EASTER to all of you. Pam G

Watch Out

Hello, just wanted to let you know I'm back on the road again :~) That's right, bus #25. It's not a nice transit, (flat front, engine is in the back)but I'll take it. I have an aide ride with me which basically takes care of my fifth and six graders. I had pre-training on Wednesday. Thursday I started my own route (am & pm ). Yeaaaa!! I feel liberated. Now I need to get used to getting up earlier than I have been. No problem, you gotta do what you need to do, huh. Hope this finds you well and happy. Pam G

Blonde or Brunette ??

Hello, as you can see I have hair and truly at the other end of the spectrum :~) Who says blonde's have more fun, lol. Being a brunette is fun too. When I adorn my wig and look in the mirror I'm thinking this isn't to bad. Once my hair grows out I might stay a brunette. It's going to be much quicker getting ready for work. No hair to fuss with. I can sleep in fifteen minutes longer. My own hair is actually coming in! A snails pace, but it's coming :~) I finished my chemo treatments the last week in December. Had lab work for two consecutive weeks after that to see where my numbers were. Tomorrow I go for a CT scan to see if any alien/foreign matter is sticking around in my abdomen/pelvic area. I could use a prayer, if you believe in them. I know God and the help of many, many others lessened pain from my surgery, nasty side effects from chemo treatments and depression. Whatever you did, helped me get through this and I'm so appreciative. Please keep dropping by. With Love, Pam G

Hi everyone, As of December 19Th, I have a new grand-daughter!!! Her name is Reese Elizabeth, weighing in at 7lbs 7oz and twenty inches long. Just barely forty-five minutes old, I saw her for the first time and she took my breath away. As I held her gently in my arms, looking down upon her beautiful face, I thanked God for the new blessing. Five months ago, in the shock of hearing I had stage four ovarian cancer, I quickly asked him to let me see my new grandson or grand-daughter born. Here I am beaming!!! Something inside tells me I'm going to be around a zillion more years :) Why not... See you back here soon... Granny Pam PS...for more pics click on blog-Pretty In Pink

Creating Hope...

Jeanette's Story My #5 chemo treatment was on December 4 th. So far I'm feeling good, just a little fatigued. The cool news I wanted to share with you, is about Jeanette's Story. Visit her different sights and see how Jeanette, Kolleen and others inspire cancer patients to find their way through each day toward survival. I met Kolleen, ovarion cancer survivor, December 4th during treatment. She entered my room introduced herself, sat down with her Creating Hope bag and began painting ! Thank you for your visit, Pam

Giving Thanks

Hand painted gourd~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING.....I hope everyone can come up with something to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my two children and four, soon to be five, grandchildren. I'm thankful for my family and friends that have given me support through my cancer, chemo treatments. Also, their children who used their talents to let me know they are thinking of me. My next treatment is on December 4th. Love to all of you. Pam G

Seasons

Hello, isn't fall a wonderful time of the year? I love watching the leaves on the trees change to vibrant red, orange and yellow. Many seem to collectively do their own color combinations, which I like the most. A different picture can be taken as the sun dances around them from early morning towards dusk. These trees are bare now and a

reminder that old man winter is soon on it's way.

Chemo #4 will be in two days (13th).

Thanks for your visit.

Granny Forgot Her Meds

Chemo #3

Hey There, Ya-Whooo! :-) Thursday is vitamin (chemo) day - it will be my third round. Yes, this is my half-way mark. Here are some comments from my count-down, love chain that friends and family made me.

Vitamin Day #1 - You Did It

• "How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself. So always think positively."
• "Sometimes God calms the storm...sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child."
• "Once you choose hope, anything's possible." - Christoper Reeve
• "It's time to do some stuff around this house. Sit around it, walk around it, lie around it."
• "Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death."
• "I love you." - Carter

More later. Time to turn out the lights. Come back and visit.

We Wear Teal

These wonderful shirts were bought from a website called CafePress. The "I Wear Teal..." collection is inspired for, and only for, support of women with Ovarian Cancer. Visit the site by clicking here.

My Supportive and Loving Family

Looks like I need to do some catching up, huh. This is a picture of my Dad (Jim) and step-mom (Sharon). My dad, of eighty-one years young, drove all the way from Port Angeles, Washington. Seriously, he wouldn't let Sharon drive! He said she's to hard on the clutch :) Their visit was for two weeks.

The four generations. This is my brother (Terry) also from the state of Washington. He flew into Indy, on the day my dad and Sharon left for home. His visit was five days. Since he was at the house, my sister (Gayle), her husband (Rick), and son (Brandon) came from Elkhart, Indiana for a day.

I thank God for the glue that keeps families together and how blessed I was for those several weeks. I've had Chemo #2 on Oct. 2nd and am doing well. I hope all of you are healthy and happy. Until the next time. Pam

"When It Is Dark Enough, You Can See the Stars." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello, once again. It's nice to be able to come back and keep you updated on my ovarian cancer journey. My dad and step-mom drove from the state of Washington to visit for two weeks. Though they stayed in a motel with Josie the dog, they made a daily visit to the house. My dad is eighty-one years old, his wife Sharon is a sweet-heart, and Josie is thirteen and mello. Nick's two "taco dogs" and Josie finally did become friends but at first I felt like a dog kennel had opened at the Heitkamps! It was very, very bittersweet to say our good-byes. My brother, Terry flew in, from the same state, Sept. 30th and is leaving tomorrow. You just can't be around this guy and not laugh. You'll have to hear the story of him taking his walk (on the open golf course) and getting picked up by what he called the "golf cart police man". My sister Gayle, husband Rick, and their son Brandon are coming to watch football and see Terry before he leaves. Terry went with me to my second Chemo (vitamin) treatment. He spent most of the time checking out the nurses :) Then he helped himself to one of the recliners and took a nap...he's a HOOT!

I hear your prayers and continue to fight the blasted fight. I'm so blessed to know all of you. I'm opening your love chain every day. Thank you. From the almost bald-headed Granny. Later.

18 Days In

Small Set Back

First, I want to thank you for the comments and visits from all to my blog. This really gives me a huge boost. Well, my first ten days into chemo (vitamins) went very well. It was hard to believe. Everyone, I think was amazed. I was giving praise to God every single day. On Sunday the 21st of Sept. I began running a fever. This was my first sign that my white cell count was, or had been, going down hill. As so many of you have experienced the dreaded sore throat/colds going around, this was my turn, which caused my fever. As instructed, I had to get to a hospital. Why...because when white cells dip, it means your immune system doesn't work to ward off colds etc. My stay in the hospital was from the 21st to the 26 th Although the doctor was pushing antibiotics 24/7, this girl didn't expect to be there so long. But the deal was, my white cells had to go up. I tell ya, I was packed in five minutes and waiting at my hospital door for my ride home ! There's just no place like home.

Friends

July of 2008 was a whirlwind. I'm going for many tests. Darel and Tawnya were with me at most of them. They have a great circle of friends that seemed to be on call, if they were needed. Tawnya's summer was not going well, at least from my perspective. Flood damage on the interior of her house. Dryers that were hooked up to the floor and huge fans set up in many places. These very noisy contraptions were hooked up for weeks. I mean weeks! It seemed like we could only escape the loud noise if we left the house. After being told I was 99.9% sure to have cancer, and looking at Darel and Tawnya's faces, I said "that stinks." My point of all of this is their friends, waiting in the wings, started bringing dinners for us. I just couldn't believe it. I wanted to be celebrating my daughter becoming a Mom again, not what was going on with me. To say the least their friends took a load off of Tawnya's mind, then she had one less meal to think of. Friends, you're so awesome. I can't say enough about you and your children that have painted and colored pictures for me. They're hanging in my bedroom. Love to all.

Many Thanks

How do I begin my blog, whew, emotionally. To my fantastic family. It's hard to express the feelings, in depth. A core of my soul feeling, to touch all of you as you have so deeply touched mine. So much has been given in love, time, encourgement. Hospital visits, making sure I was as comfortable as I could be. Meeting my every need. Your travels back and forth for my many tests. Cards, letters and phone calls and goody bags. Flowers, tears and laughter. God has truly blessed me. You are my family. So unbelieveable. This is a journey unlike any I have taken. God hasn't included only me but you too. Check in and see where I am from time to time. I'm one week into chemo (vitiman's) I insist and have basically no side effects. My Journey Begins>>>