Here I am!

I love pink.  Wow, now that's a way to start a sentence, or a paragraph for that matter.  Why am I doing this?  Hmm, first I love to write.  Second, maybe what I have to say might have an impact on someone out there.  Or maybe it can cause a chuckle.

Here is a little about me.  For those of you who haven't seen me since high school, or don't know me, I have had numerous surgeries since I was 18.  Let's see, I have had about 9 female surgeries.  It wasn't until 2006 that someone LISTENED to me and ripped everything out of me.  Best decision ever made.  When you walk into a hospital every year and the dietician says, "you look familiar,"  THIS is a problem. 

To add to the lovely abdominal scares or, as I call it, a "butt stomach", I have a "Frankenfoot."  My son and I were involved in a car accident and I wound up with a plate and 13 screws in my right leg/ankle.  Love it when I stay out in the cold too long and the plate decides to "freeze."  Nothing that an electric blanket cannot cure to thaw out the old nuts and bolts.

If this entire mess isn't enough, I had thyroid troubles.  Couldn't swallow, so I decided it was time to go to the doctor.  Hmmm, due to the fact that I am Polish, the goiter was growing in instead of out.  This caused pressing on everything and anything possible in my throat.  Had the surgery, the thyroid was twice the size it should be.  Yeah!!  Problem solved and over!  Ummm, no.  Let's add some cancer in there, shall we?  Let's not forget that I learned this news by myself.  You see, I am stubborn.  My mom had said she would go with me to my follow up after surgery appointment.  I told mom, "Don't worry, they are just going to look at this scar and say looks good!."  That part IS true.  Scar and incision did look good.  The part that wasn't good was the cancer part.  However, doc said it was the best type of cancer to have.  Really?  No cancer is good cancer.  And to tell you the truth, I didn't hear much after the BIG C word.

After all this health goodness, I am now battling an autoimmune disease.  It sucks the life out of me daily; however, I am here.  Medications are a challenge.  My "Mickey Mouse" hands are not always pleasant.  I must be the only person that wears black gloves at night to reduce swelling.  Most people wearing black gloves in the night are usually robbing a store. Again, I am Polish!  There is no point in being Polish if you can't prove it.  (Thank you to my friend Marcia for this line.  I use it quite a bit.)  I was a Financial Representative; however, the traveling and stress of the job was wreaking havoc on my body.  What do I do now?  Work with 25 kindergarteners!  Crazy?  Maybe.  But these 5 and 6 year old creatures keep me focused on them and not me.  They are the best medicine.

Okay, this is my first post for now.  I have so much to say, and try to say it always in a joking matter.  A smile and a laugh is the best medicine. 

In my writings I will share my life.  My life with my illness and of course family.  This includes a 19-year old son who drives me insane on a daily basis.  Who also always points out my loudness.  HELLO, I want you to HEAR ME!

Till next time, laugh loudly and smile constantly!
Kathy