Back on track...

So, yesterday (ok, it was most of the weekend) I was pretty darn crabby! I still was feeling pretty awful on Monday, and it was made worse because I EXPECTED to feel better! I FINALLY called the doctor and made an appointment. Turns out I caught something - virus, cold, sinus infection - and it wasn't just the chemo making me feel terrible! Whew!

I got some medications to make me feel better and am taking it easy. Claire's chicken soup has helped too! I can't believe I got sick... I've been very careful and wash my hands a billion times a day (and I make anyone who visits wash their hands too!) My best friend wants me to wear a mask everywhere I go! I thought wearing hats on a bald head was going to be bad but a mask???? UG!!! Will I loose my image of "fashion librarian"???? What is the world coming to??

I have a few more Christmas presents to figure out for my boys. And I really want to get my Christmas tree put up... just no energy yet! But I am really enjoying the holiday season - I feel good just to be a part of it all. I must say I am missing the "Santa" stories with my boys as they are all BIG boys now! I have always loved the music most - and can be found often napping to country Christmas albums!

I hope you are all happy, healthy and enjoying the season.

Still kicking!

It is Friday morning and considering everything I am doing well. Just a bit tired, a little achy, but all in all feeling ok. Not really wanting to get to far away from the couch! Dinner was "delivered" last night and that was a huge blessing! For me, who usually runs at top speed, this is an odd feeling to want to do nothing!

The worst part? I don't feel like reading - can't concentrate! Maybe I need to try a book on MP3. (There are 1000's available to download from our library through Marmot - I always have to put my "plugs" for library services in!!!) I have always loved being read to.

Isn't the snow beautiful? (Maybe it is only beautiful from the couch view - and not so beautiful if you have to be out driving in it!) Drive safely, stay warm, and happy holidays!

Humor for the morning...

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse.

"But why", they asked as they moved off.

"Because", he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

Hee hee hee!!!! (Thanks to Ann Peterson for sharing a laugh with me!)

1:59 PM - Chemo, Treatment 1

(***NOTE: I actually wrote this at 1:59 this afternoon but a funny thing happened on the way to the blog..... I have 2 blogs that I am a part of. When I wrote this I posted it on my very cool, very professional, librarian blog with my friends on the front range - who probably didn't even know I had cancer! I checked the computer just now before bed and realized what I had done!! AHHHHH!!! So I am reposting what I wrote here, to the place I meant to!!!!)

I've been here since 8:30 this morning. It has been quite an experience. My nurse, Pam, is amazing... kind, patient, and a very good caretaker. I started out with the few meds... some to help ward off nausea, and some more to ward off nausea!

Yesterday I was feeling pretty scared. The fear of the unknown... of something I had never been through before (in spite of all the stories). But once I met with my doctor, I felt much better. All this chemo & side effects really aren't bad.... considering the alternative!

So after taking the first round of 'oral' meds... I started to get dizzy. A very strange sensation. But let me tell you, the heated, massaging chairs really help! And the nurses also bring you a warmed blanket. Ahhhhhh. (For a "Hawaiian" like me, it was very helpful.)

So I teetered around, feeling odd, but was ok. I am on my 3rd different chemo right now, dripping slowly in my port, and doing well. I haven't felt anything with the chemo. Just a bit tired and "off" - more from the meds I think.

So I have to tell you.... I had my oncologist appointment yesterday. In the great tradition of my dear friend Kate, using a temporary tattoo, I decorated my new "body space". This time it was a smiling faced sun! My oncologist LAUGHED out loud when she began the examination! Perfect! She thought it was so great, she asked me to (discreetly) show the nurse!! Once again I guess I am "sort of" famous (in my own little ways!)

OK - so they just unhooked the last of the chemo. I am feeling good... and headed out of here. I will write more later! Thanks everyone, for everything!

Wow! Those kids can sing!

The event at Barnes & Noble was really fun. What I enjoyed most was the performance by the West Winds! (OK, buying all those books wasn't too bad either!) I highly recommend going to see them perform this holiday season.

I send out a special thank you to Nichole Stoddard for all her hard work putting the fundraiser on. Nichole you are amazing! And to all the students who showed up to help -- thank you. And to all GJHS staff who helped out too. What a fine school community we all belong to.

I am so ready to come back to work! But I am a little afraid of those GERMS!!! So I am going to be a bit more patient and wait until after my first Chemo treatment. I have doctor's appointments and lab work next Tuesday, and on Wednesday the first treatment. I must admit I am a bit scared... it is my impression that the technicians are completely covered to administer this stuff (like they look like they are from some science fiction film or something) so they don't get this toxic stuff on them (yes, the same stuff they are pumping into me!!!). But if I really think about it, I can wrap my head around the fact that this will actually save my life. That makes it all OK. I am really valuing life these days!

Remember... Book Club is next week on Wed (12/12) and Di has some really great books! Keep those reviews coming in... and she is getting ready to give away all the books that she has been collecting, so if you have written reviews start a list of the books you would really like to own and pass it along to her. And don't forget to thank Mrs. Sweetman-McPeek for lunch! Someone could send her a note: leota@mesa.k12.co.us

Y'all have fun!

Welcome back to school!

So how does it feel to be back at school? I stopped in yesterday, to take care of some business and hang out with the Manga/Anime club. Wow, I sure miss being there! I just wanted to run around the library, touching the books, and talking to everyone! I must be healing!

FYI: Bookclub is next week on the 12th at lunch in the library, but remember that we also meet every Wednesday at the Bistro (15th & Chipeta) and Di usually has new books. Last week I picked up Unwind by Neal Shusterman. It was great! A sort of realistic-type science fiction. I could not put it down. I'll try to get it back to Di tomorrow at book club at 4pm in case anyone else wants it.

Please come see me tomorrow night (Wed. Dec. 5th) at Barnes & Noble... NHS is hosting a library fundraiser (isn't that cool?) and the Westwinds will be performing. It is going to be lots of fun. I'll be there to help people choose Christmas gifts and gift wrapping will be available. This fundraiser will benefit the GJHS Library program. Thanks NHS - you are great!

News from the Oncologist

Yesterday I had my appointment with my oncologist, affectionately known as the "Cancer Doctor". They have a new treatment for my type of cancer and I will be starting chemo on the 12th of December for a total of 16 weeks, injected every 3 weeks. Then I do 5 weeks of radiation (EVERY DAY!!!) then continue on part of the chemo for the remainder of a year. Whew. The upside is I should be able to be back to work through most of this.

So, I am going to continue to heal from the surgery until the first chemo, see how I do with that, and then make my plan for coming back to school. Hopefully, I will be back in the beginning of January. As soon as the school opens up again, I will be in to visit, and I definitely will be there for book club in December. It is my goal to be there Monday afternoon for Manga (ok I know there is an official name but I can't remember it...) Club.

I am also planning on attending the fundraiser at Barnes & Noble on December 5th (we need to get this added to the GJHS webpage!!). I've already talked to some parents about helping them pick out books for Christmas gifts!

I am going to try to get to the book club at the Bistro today at 4pm - one of the books that Di has looks really good to me (I flipped through it at B&N the other day) ... Unwind by Neil Schusterman about a future society that make abortion illegal but allows "retroactive abortions" when kids are 13 to 18 years old and tells the stories of three Unwinds who escape.

Happy reading all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am still full from yesterday! Many people offered to cook for me this year and I took advantage of that (as many of you know cooking is not my thing which is why Ms. Sweetman-McPeek provides the lunches for book club!!) What a delicious day! After visiting the 3rd house, I finally went home! Today I am working on turkey soup... one thing that I do make that is rather good.

In addition to all the eating, I was reflecting on all I had to be thankful for. Being diagnosed with cancer has changed my life. I have had the opportunity to be shown so much love that I am overwhelmed. It makes me want be the best, most loving person I can be because of all the blessings I have been given.

I have been forced to slow down but also to appreciate all the big and little things that are great in my life. I am a very lucky person to have the best job in the world for me, to live in such a beautiful place, and to be surrounded by so many amazing, wonderful people.

So, thanks, for everything!

It is Friday afternoon and I must be getting better! This is the first day I got up and missed driving!! I had an incredible urge to go to the library! (Yes, I miss the books, but I also have overdue public library books and as much as I support the library I hate to owe them money!!) I controlled the driving urge and called my girlfriend who promised to come get me and take me to the library!

Can you believe this weather? The “Hawaiian” part of me is quite happy at all the sunshine. I am sure it is a big help in healing.

Time for lunch, then off to the library!

Update - I'm doing well!

So you may have heard... Friday evening as I was getting ready for bed my chest felt funny. I reached up and realized that it was expanding! Ahhhhhhh! We called my surgeon and he said to meet him at the emergency room. When we got there he determined that a blood vessel had "opened" inside the original surgery spot and the area had filled with blood.

We went into surgery around 11pm. All went well - he repaired the blood vessel and stitched me back up.

It scared me, and it had never happened to any of his patients before, but it turned out ok. I vowed to TAKE IT EASY!!! No more laundry or dishes for a while!

I was released from the hospital on Saturday morning just in time to go get my sister from the airport. She had flown in from San Francisco. I just got back from dropping her off to head home. It was great having her here taking care of me and her timing was great! She even brought live dungeness crab with her so we had a feast on Saturday night!

I am doing well --- really trying to take it easy and read. I've started Eclipse and am currently curled up on the couch, in my soft comfy robe, with a cup of hot chocolate (with EXTRA marshmallows) THANK YOU EXEC & OTHERS!!!! The care packages are awesome! I had never seen the hot chocolate with extra marshmallows (a whole package of the marshmallows for each package of hot chocolate!!!!)

Carri (my sister) and I went wig and hat shopping. AHHHHHHH! Pretty hideous! Hats are just not my thing and we were both rolling on the floor laughing at how I looked in the wigs. So.... she had this brilliant idea to "rent my head". She thought... everyone stares at a woman with a bald head right? What better advertising space?? We could airbrush the highest bidder's logo on the back of my head and earn money in the process!!! (Can you see why, as much as I love her, that I am glad she lives far away??!!!)

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! I am very blessed.

News from the Doctor

I had an appointment with the surgeon today and got good news. My pathology report is in. Basically it says they got all the cancer, two tumors and some “suspicious” cells. They also removed 11 lymph nodes. Of those 11, 3 had cancer. That’s good… four or more is not good.

So I heal for the next couple of weeks, then enjoy a great Thanksgiving Dinner, then we talk chemo. The treatments will start the end of November or the beginning of December and will last for 16 weeks. Hopefully, I will come back to work and take a few days off for each treatment every couple of weeks. Everyone reacts to chemo differently so we will just have to see!

I just finished reading my 2nd “Cancer” book and am ready to stretch out and be entertained! I will pick up something happy, with a good ending…. Any suggestions?

Thanks for all your support…. Anyone with a burning desire to rake some leaves?

Home from the hospital.

On Thursday morning I had my mastectomy on my left side, only (yeah!). Surgery went well and the doctors are pleased. They also took my lymph nodes from under my arm pit. When I got out of surgery I was pretty groggy and kept asking for my friends and ice chips – I was really thirsty! I hadn’t been able to eat or drink from midnight the night before.

FINALLY… they brought me from recovery into my room where many friends were waiting to welcome me. A beautiful site! My room was also full of colorful flowers and I was on the end of a wing so I could look out into the construction zone. There were guys working on a tower right outside my room!

That first night and into the next morning I was pretty sick. The meds took care of the pain, but I was very nauseated and couldn’t keep anything down. All I wanted was a huge meal, and I couldn’t even take 7-up! The next morning after some anti-nausea IV stuff, I was feeling really good. I ate and ate and ate! I was quite happy that I was feeling so good. The next morning, I awoke craving French toast and by the time breakfast was delivered, was back to feeling really puny and nauseated. Yuck!

I was released from the hospital around 10am, still feeling crappy, but happy to be home (where my blood pressure would not be taken every few hours!) I slept most of the afternoon, tried eating a lunch of “Brazilian Chicken Breasts” and slept some more. I woke up that evening feeling better and finally got my French toast!! (I don’t know why this all seems to be about food and why I feel like everyone is trying to feed me chicken breasts!!!!)

I am still feeling good this afternoon and again, eating well. Some high fiber muffins, yum yum, and lots of comforting mint tea!

I have a couple of drains from the surgery spot, and they are not as gross as I thought. We have named them “Dewey” and “Melville”. Melville puts out quite a bit more fluid so will be hanging around longer than Dewey. Both should be out and gone before 10 days! I already have doctors appointments scheduled and am being chauffeured around. It takes a planner just to keep track of the medications, appointments and other various bodily functions these at home “nurses” like to keep track of! I feel quite lucky to be this loved!

I already miss the library but am enjoying the slow pace of my life for now. I am definitely “stopping to smell the flowers” and wake up in the morning no longer angry but thankful to be here, thankful to be shown how cared about I am.

Why is Ms. Castro gone?

Hello All!! I have decided to create this blog to let you know how I am doing while I am gone! I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It looks like I will be out the month of November... hopefully back to work sooner!! I have surgery scheduled for November 1st and should be home a day or two after that.

Everything looks good... they will treat me for the cancer and I'll be sick for a while but should bounce back quite well. (The whole "bald" thing is kind of scary!! Be thinking about some interesting hats!) I feel so supported by my students, the staff at GJHS, and all my friends. I am quite blessed to be in such a wonderful, warm, and caring community.

I must admit I am quite frustrated at not being able to work... but I promise to keep up on my reading while I am gone. If you have any book recommendations, please let me know!! (I promise to finish Eclipse and the new Harry Potter!)