The Story of my PancreASS- Chapter One

My pancreas hates me and that's a fact.

It all started - I think - in my youth, where I  would state, quite loudly, that if people thought beauty was skin deep, they hadn’t seen my pancreas, which was beautiful. I was your typical nerdy-looking teen; braces (tick) with funny, weird hair (tick).

Now if you have ever seen the pancreas it really isn’t such a good looking organ, but in all fairness, is any organ really beautiful?

Years later and after some self-doubt and a self-diagnosis of potential hypochondriacism, my husband encouraged me to go to the doctor. I figured he was so tired of my constant complaints of nausea, weakness and a burning sensation in my tummy, to name but a few. Or maybe because he said “Chanene I am tired of your constant complaints”.
I then get sent for an ultra sound. The doctors find a lump. They then get authorization for a CT-scan, I am asked if I had a "boozy night" the previous night, now if you know me I get drunk after a few sips of wine, fast-forward the story through blood tests, a g-scope (the one down your throat not up your bum) more blood tests, more "episodes of sickness", I eventually land up at the Milpark Hospital in Joburg, where I am scheduled for blood tests and a biopsy of my lovely lady lump. Pancreatitis is confirmed. The Lump is obviously what is causing this.
After the longest weekend of my life and 2 days later I was told it is a Neuro Endorine Tumor. And then I was referred to a Professor and an appointment becomes available the next day - my birthday.

18 smating

I was invited to an 18th birthday party. Yes people, I am cool and hip like that
Ok so it was my cousin's 18th Birthday but I did feel cool.
Put the Bebe to bed.
Then set out to hang out with the in crowd.
Yip the rest of the family.
We are PRITTY cool and I am sure that our laughing and having fun made them 17 and 18 year olds PRITTY jealous, all eye-balling wishing they could be part of the in crowd.

Who was I kidding.
I told my bebe-daddy that this party was making me feel OLD. I just happen to mention my 'aged insecurities" at the exact same time two very young boys walk past and nod in agreement with said statement.

The result from this, is as follows:
Botox - I will find you one day and I shall ferverently deny using you - just like them celebrities do...

Ah the joys in finding that fountain of youth

Winter Highs

Here is my list of winter highs to make me feel more excited at the prospect of Winter

1. The smell of fresh winter mornings
2. Winter Fashions - you get to look stylish and be comfortable (you get to relax your gut for a bit)
3. You get to snuggle even if it's with a hot water bottle... snuggling is nice

4. Gluhwein... yummy yummy yummy - when I was preggers I had some lovely friends who made me the non- alcoholic

 5. Fireplaces - so for those of us who don't have a fireplace I am going to find a fireplace app pronto.

So some of it seems a bit "clutching on straws" but it's worth a try... mmh what else is good about Winter?

5 Funny things

5 things that made me giggle this weekend:

1. Playing ten-pin bowling -'"old-school-style", hitting a strike (not really in on the bowling lingo) - can I add there where no kiddy barriers?! but there were mostly all A LOT of gutter balls. The giggle part was developing a bum shake and rolling the ball between my legs backwards - True Story and it worked for my friends as well - somehow the guys weren't that that eager to do it.

2. bowling shoes - need I say more

3. listening to BeBe Daddy change his first poo nappy since Bebe A has been on solids. She ignored the gagging sounds and her Daddy near to tears saying Noooooo! I just lay on the bed enjoying those long few minutes

4. My 8 year old cousin greeting our guy friends with a simple "Jolling with the Boys!" - he is quite a serious 8 year old so it was cute - I promise!

5. Going to a music quiz that was so much fun when you know whats being asked and if you are reading this - you know who that picture was Babara Streisand and not Amy Whinehouse... can I get the pics so post on my blog please. (Shannyn did you get that?)

Cell phones are dangerous

 I need to tell you that  I love my husband dearly even when he does a silly thing and I can not judge him as I do as well. The story begins with him going to a bachelors party. Yes that is fine, bachelor parties happen and they are a way of life, but that is not my story. He survives the morning white water rafting and finishes with his face on his head. A few drinks later (not that many, he was not off his head yet -as it was early evening), whilst giving directions on his cell phone, he manages to stub his toe on a rock and without even a moment to protect his face fall face down and has a romantic kiss with a boulder. The result, besides me laughing, is a very-sorry-for-himself husband with scratches, black eyes and the doctor confirmed a broken nose. His face was scratched and bruised and so was his ego.
I asked him if the guy were nice to him and his reply was " of course, they said  ag shame, sit here, let me see if I can help you" his response was obviously dripping in sarcasm. Guys and Girls are so different aren't they.

The wedding was exactly a week later and he recovered quite nicely, well as nicely as one can!  I did what any good wife would do I made sure I was not in many photos with him.

My artistic impression on Kevin's face and I think my drawing makes him looks kinda sweet :)

When writing this blog, I have to bear in mind that there is a fine line between keeping it real but keeping it a bit tidy. Tidy? yes Tidy? for you uncool fold keeping it Clean...

You see my husband reads my blog, I feel that this puts me in a serious CONUNDRUM*, I therefore have to count to 10 when he annoys me beyond belief, all I want to do is run to the blog and write and let the world know (obviously I have the world following me on the blog), so yes I do want to write about why I am annoyed and why I am RIGHT!...I begrudgingly hold my breath and do not say I thing which is just so boring.

Since having Bebe ,A we have had the problem of trying to find the sexy, sparkly times together and as much as much as you think it won't happen to you, it does! What I mean is the simple things like sending " I love you" messages, or I am thinking of you, even a simple smiley face letting the other person know you are thinking of them, sweet gestures and there really is no excuse as we have so many different mediums available to make this possible. It sounds so simple yet becomes just way too much admin - it shouldn't be admin I know. I think about it and the intentions are there but you have heard the saying "the road to hell is paved in good intentions"

We preserver in finding the time for a coffee and date night but this has brought us to a new adventure of finding fun things to do around Johannesburg so our first place we recently went to on a Sunday Brunch Time was called Bamboo in Melville.

It is a centre with a few stores. Upstairs @ Bamboo is the art gallery a bit tricky with a stroller. After which we shared a sandwich and coffee. I managed to buy some books for Bebe A but due to the spending glee in my eye my husband said "home time" I definitely would go back as there is a toy store opening soon that needs my attention and a few other shops.  What I really want to go back for is their farmers market, I envision myself being posh and getting back to nature.
The address for Bamboo is:
 53 Rustenburg Road Melville,
Farmer Market is each and every Saturday
8h00-13h00

 OK better go the baby is crying... possibly cos I am late in feeding her. Such a bad mom :)

*word of everyday

Milestones or guidelines

My not so baby brother graduates from Varsity in the UK. This is very exciting for us all as a family. The excitement is "road-trip" and not the relief that my brother actually passes. Planning has been fun to a degree to think Bebe A is going to be a year old when we travel. Wow I cant even imagine that so many milestones to reach till we get there, sitting, feeding, crawling and so on and so on. I really do try not to wish her little life away especially as, my little hippy child is pretty chilled at reaching her milestones.

I personally think milestones can be a stressful for a mommy. I do use it as a guideline and find it quite useful, but I will not get stressed about it (and boy can I get stressed), as one of my friends recently told me the kids all get to where they need to be eventually - that "Piece" or should I say "Peace" of advice just made sense.

I cannot believe my baby is going to be 5 months old on Saturday and shoo is she loving the sound of her voice, big conversations are had by anyone willing to even look at her direction. I on the other hand am gearing up to starting the next stage of mommyhood - "feeding the bebe" yes I have a month left but my little one is hungry and that is just on formula.


And in honour of Dr. Seuss's birthday month in March here is a quote

"The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
- Dr. Seuss