krista colvin's [putting on my big girl panties + kicking breast cancer in the ass]

i need to get back in the groove

My groove's been thrown off... It typically happens this time of year (and post summer break) because the kidlets have been underfoot and I can't keep my life in order because I'm too busy playing cruise director. But my groove has been off since last March when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. #BAM #lifeshappens

I thrive on routines... simple little routines that keep me sane and keep me from yelling at my family. A couple of years ago I created Shebang 101 to help my clients (and me) get it + keep it together. I've decided I need to get my routines back in order- it's time.

    

     Here's the link to my Shebang 101 page.
     click here

    

 

 

I'm going to work on updating my routines to fit my current lifestyle... Would  love to have you join me if you're feeling the need to get your groove back on.

what i do when i'm overwhelmed...

When I get overwhelmed I make lists. And today just thinking about what I need to do pre-mastectomy surgery has me feeling that way. I'm going to hunker down + get all those to-do's out of my mind and down on paper.

Here's a doc I created a while back to do just that. You are welcome to download it as many times as you need!
click here for what I call Project Brain Drain  Download Shebang_project_brain_drain

A few details:

Divide your list into 3 categories: Today | Tomorrow | Someday

• Use one page for your Today list (just circle it), and write down those items you need to tackle ASAP.
• If it can wait until Tomorrow... then so be it.
• If it's a Someday... jot it down and get it off your mind. You'll eventually get to it.

*note there are 2 columns: one for home and the other for office... for those juggling work + life!

cleaning for a reason

It's the little things that drive me crazy... like my house being dirty or cluttered. I'm fortunate to have my parents helping me so that I can have my house cleaned weekly #iknowyour'rejealous #spoiled #wooohooo #cancerbenefit

I would say a dozen or so of you have sent me this information on Cleaning for a Reason #thankyouforthinkingofme ... a free house cleaning service for those of you/us going through treatment... and I think it's such a fabulous resource I hope that my fellow cancer chicas tap into it.

I've copied and pasted the details here:

Cleaning for a Reason -
 
If you know any woman currently undergoing Chemo, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - 1 time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment.
 
 All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. 

 http://www.cleaningforareason.org/
 
Please pass this information on to bless a woman going through Cancer treatment. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along ..

coping with cancer... the columbian series

 
Photo Troy Wayrynen

Amy Benson, left, Debbie Oster, Krista Colvin and Angela Fadlovich share a moment together during a cooking party for the Colvin family as a way to support Krista as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer.  Editor's note: This story is the latest installment. May 17, 2010,  in our continuing series following the journey of Krista Colvin in "Coping with Cancer." 

Krista Colvin taps away on her netbook as drugs drip into her body through a port in her chest.

An organizer by profession, Colvin doesn’t let breast cancer keep her from using her time well. She takes charge of the four hours she spends each week in chemotherapy. click here to continue reading the story.

a couple of chemo tips...

Today I did my monthly segment on AM Northwest, Portland's morning show. It was nice to not have to lug a bunch of props to the station and just do my segment interview style. But also it was such a quickie that I didn't get to share very much info soooo I included my show notes in a link below. Personally I think I spent more time debating whether or not to go thin or go hat! #gothinorgohomesaysthegobiggal

Here's the segment: Organizing Your Medical Crisis You'll recognize some of the info from this post on messy meds + this post on a day in the life of chemo.

Here are my full personal notes for the segment: Download AMNW segment outline 5.10.10 managing treatment 

from lifestyle to my life

I do a monthly lifestyle segment for our local Portland morning show- AM Northwest. Today's segment was about 'Tips for Helping Cancer Patients'. [The emphasis is on the first month or so of hearing the words "Cancer"]

click here to view the segment
My hairs a bit thinner... the topic a bit heavier, I hope you find my tips helpful. #andnowyoucanputmyvoicetotheface

 

Here are my notes from the segment:
April 26, 2010   Segment for AMNW- How to support a newly diagnosed cancer patient?

Knowing you have Cancer is different than knowing the Severity or How to Treat it.

• Tests may include: ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies, MRI's, CT, PET scans. 
• Official Diagnosis + Treatment plan happen after ALL the information is in.
  This can take several weeks after hearing "you have cancer". 
• You Can expect to have 2-4 medical appointments a week for several weeks.

 

Diagnosis Month is a Whirlwind of Appointments + Well Meaning Family + Friends

• Important to remember that YOU don't know how to beat it/fight it/ until you know what you are dealing with. 
• Thinking of you/praying for you/Here to support you... over the well meaning: "my aunt had... xyz cancer, she beat it, you can too" or here is how to beat it via xyz book etc.
• Thinking of you via cards, notes, facebook messages, etc. preferred over phone calls, Instant Messaging on FB etc.

Helpful Gifts

• Binder with pocket dividers, paper, pen.
• Small notebook to jot down notes
• Envelope to collect business cards in.
• Baked Goods
• Medicine organizer
• Treatment Basket or Bag

 

Do

• Texts or a quick call "I'm at the store can I bring you anything... milk? bread?"
• Snacks: fruit, muffins, ready to eat/on the go.
• Meals: prepared + easy to clean up.
• Be the "Designated Appointment Driver"
• Be the "Note-Taker"
• Be the "Child Care Provider"
• Be the "Cook"
• Help Schedule Appointments or clear appointments from your calendar
• If you are close... the tell them what you are going to do instead of asking what can you do.

USEFUL WEBSITES:

• www.LotsahelpingHands.com -Site helps you create + organize your community as to how they can best help. [I created a small team of my girlfriends to help me manage 3 areas: SELF.HOME.ENDEAVORS]
• The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
• Washington Breast and Cervical Health Program offers free women's health exams, pap smears, and mammograms to qualified individuals. 360.514.1663 http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/bcchp/.

fake betty

I'm not quite sure what i've told you + what I haven't.... There are so many paths I travel in one day that sometimes you get the whoa-is-me post but 10 minutes later all is back to 'normal'.

It's Sunday night... we've had a mellow weekend. But Friday- Friday was a doozy of emotions. My last post told you how my day started off. Here's what followed.

In fact I'll just skip to the end because I'm tired + I'll fill in the blanks later.

[blanks include chatting with an ol' friend, meal making with my girlfriends, coffee + wig planning, panic, girlfriends handling kidlet details, quick stop at the school. and speeding into portland.]

Meet Betty. Fake Betty. 

 Why hello fake betty...

I hadn't planned on meeting betty today. But the hair shedding through me into a tizzy that I hadn't expected. WAAAAAAAY more emotional about the 'it's just hair' thing than I imagined. I now wanted to scream to all the well meaning "it's only hair comments' [which includes me by the way]... "But it's my fucking hair" and the Brazilian comments... "ummm yeah, do I LOOK like I give a shit about having my hoochie stripped naked like a barbie doll or a child"  along with "I wear a swim skirt for crying aloud- no need to wax the hell out of my private area". #excusemylanguage #whyholdback

Fake Betty is synthetic. Real Betty is on order. Yes I splurged... it's my f*cking hair remember ;) When I sat in the  hairdresser chair Brenda took one look at me + said I've got the perfect thing... and out came Fake Betty. Bobbed + ready to rock it.  My daughter was with me[after pulling her out of school 15 minutes early as a surprise- to actually both of us because Brenda got me in last appt of the day before heading out of town for a week] 
I sighed and made the remark to Brenda that there must of been so many women in this chair that have breathed a a sigh of relief.

I was no longer completely freaked out about losing my hair. I now had the Betties.

*more betty pictures later...
*more on my girlfriends cookin' up meals for me
*more on crazy mom tears into school office in a panic

 

 

in the life section

To view the full article click here

I mentioned earlier + briefly that our local paper The Columbian was following my story. Today the paper hit the matt. I had planned on it being a big feature but I wasn't prepared for the reply I got tonight when I ran up to the mini-mart to grab some copies to send my parents + my best friend. [my mama doesn't do the net].

I placed 4 copies on the counter and the gal said something like "It must have something good in it". My reply, as I flipped the paper over, pointed to the front page bottom banner + waved my hand in front of my chest "It's a story on my breast cancer". She immediately replied "Congratulations!" as if it was a good thing.

What? Did she not hear me.... BREAST CANCER. Not my business was just featured. Not my home is on the garden tour. B  R  E  A  S  T    C  A  N  C  E  R  do I need to spell it out?

The next question was debit or credit...

thinking ahead