Wordless Wednesday : Baa Baa

The neighbaas are lambing -These twins are just two of the cute -
At my brother's place too - he said most of the Ewes have twins and some triplets.


*bAA*

So no lamb on the menu for months now.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Wordless Wednesday : Clown Doctors

 

 We are familiar with Clown Doctors' work — we met Dr Colourful In March 2008.

Dr Colourful

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Clown Doctors are a not-for-profit organisation that visit hospitals around Australia , bringing smiles and laughter to the faces of children.

CommBank is the founding partner of the Clown Doctors, Monday they launched a social media fundraising campaign running until 2 April.

All you need to do is post a 'silly selfie' with the hashtag #ClowningForKids on Instagram or Twitter and CommBank will donate $5 to the Clown Doctors 

An InLinkz Link-up

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Let's get Kranking

Today I joined the local gym - it was a deal too good to refuse.
I received 12 months Corporate membership for virtually the price of 6 months , I joined with a local sporting group. Eagerly, I waited till we had the list of 15+ and we got the GO yesterday.

My weight is creeping to the very top end of my healthy weight range and my clothes are too snug. I've put it on slowly - bite by bite ,

How do you eat an elephant ? 

Bite by Bite

So , I lose it bite by bite...bit by bit

* Smug alert *
I intend to really use it too for equipment and weights that I don't have at home and maybe 2 -3 classes.
Really.
Yoga , Aqua / Aqua Zumba and ? Hot Legs !
Seriously, they have the class titled Hot Legs !
I hope it's not standing in the spa or sauna while they cook us.

My favourite new equipment is Jacob's Ladder and Krank cycle.

A few friends are already members or joining too - hopefully a gym buddy or two will keep me accountable and make it more fun...two in the hot tub is more fun than one stranger.

Plus, they have options to share a Personal trainer in small groups.

The hardest part of the workout was changing in the tiny shower cubicle after my workout and getting my jeans back on. I was sweating  glistening like a lady and all out of breath.

My bad. I'm bringing a slip on dress next time.

I'm going to be sorry tomorrow,

Have you ever had a gym membership ?
Did you use it ...wisely ? and get your money's worth ?



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Voilà Stuff I love Saturday #1

You know sometimes how you find something awesome, inspiring or a community cause you want to share ?

It might not help you sleep at night but it's just kind of cool to tell everyone.

Expression: Voilà

Pronunciation: [vwa la]

vois là (literally, "see there"), has varied uses and meanings, precisely, some of  which are hard to define . To help make the distinctions clear I mean... "there you have it "

I had a huge glitch in my comment system - I think the header was too long or something. Hopefully, it is all fixed now - It was challenging figuring out the corrupt content error - so comments did not been going through on my blog the last 2-3 days. Some glitch in the comment system or link up .

My favourite quote of the week

When you have start doubting yourself, remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.

Scrunchies saving wildlife from being killed by cats: study
I'm trying it- Somehow my cat actually stuffed a small bird into a small plastic cup (ironing water cup) this week and was rolling it around.

Cyclone Pam (Vanuatu) 2015 Appeal 
Have you donated Red Cross has launched the Cyclone Pam (Vanuatu) 2015 Appeal to provide humanitarian support to people affected by the immensely destructive cyclone in the Pacific.

13 Awesome Gmail Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know  I didn't and some are brilliant.


Humans of New York - Big news - their first 100% confirmed HONY romance! So special.

15 Minute Ferrero Rocher & Nutella Cheesecake  My waistline is screaming NO

Genetic Portraits of Mothers and Daughters  this is incredible

We also received these amazing new Retro Cup and Gelati Strawspoon Bundle , thanks to Ecococoon.

I am so impressed with their water bottles we received last year. At the end of the school day if my kids have any water left it is still cold. I take mine everywhere with me too and even left in the hot car, my water stays cold and fresh.

I was not asked to blog about them at all - I have an ad in my sidebar for their 50% off Warehouse sale because I love their products. My kids are drinking so much more water because it tastes better than warm bubbler water.



Voilà

Have you got any Voilà for me this week !

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Wordless Wednesday : Sydney ~ Friendship, Symmetry and Chinese New Year

 

Lanterns Of Terracotta Warriors

Dig it in !

An InLinkz Link-up

Tidy up loose ends

March has been a busy month so far , embarking on a new #100things challenge - to get rid of a minimum of 100 things - a week.

I know it must be measurable and accountable.

Decisions , decisions ?

throwaway

 giveaway
 freecycle

recycle

sell

I admit I'm not that good at selling, fairly generous at giving away some things and terrible at throwing away useful things (to someone if not me). Recently, I gave our double pram and car seats to a family with 3 adopted children. Plus a new pair of gumboots on the weekend to a friend.

The money is part of the incentive and the freedom de-cluttering brings ...you would think.


After Christmas (I'm slow off the mark)  is a popular time to get rid of crap and de-clutter with everyone after bargains or unwanted gifts, or stuff you have been hoarding for years.

Facebook Garage sale sites and groups

Last week I decided to list a few things on Facebook buy, swap and sell sites.

As a means to an end - de-cluttering and fundraising for our charity Children's Tumour Foundation.
The boys are also learning about saving and working (or earning) money for an iPad mini.

I successfully sold  82 Tupperware kids blocks, in under 15 mins - net $80 - sold locally and she picked up.

My Garmin forerunner10 GPS running watch , I upgraded and just hadn't bothered selling it - $70 (minus a few $ for postage) was next. A few weeks back another 'runner' had annoyingly mucked  around for a week.

The Holden Port-a-cot $50 and an old activity table $15 and Lego table $5 followed.
It wasn't too time consuming to sell these items.

Markets

I heard an ad on the radio for a local market day and decided to sell my wares. I spent Friday packing the trailer and ratting out a few things.

The day dawned warm and sultry as I shoved my reluctant husband out of bed at 6:30am.There was much deliberation as we hastily priced the goods , while unpacking and setting up - the early bargain hunters moved in.

It was hot and we didn't have time to arrange proper shelter. We had only a little shade. Markets are good for selling cheap items ; my stash of new teddies was popular at $5 each. My husband decided better to donate the cheap items , if you factor in the labour and standing around for 4 hrs. I disagree.

Haggling is a bit of fun, having people dish your stuff is not.

Still, it was also for the Far West Children's charity so we bought breakfast $20 -  bacon and egg rolls.

eBay

I've don't think I've sold much anything on eBay - I am definitely not a 'PLAYER' and I don't like taking 99c risks.

 I buy from eBay. My last week my husband was going to Sydney on business , as my treadmill (running belt developed on large hole) could no longer be used, I searched the same model and by chance from one not far from my Mum's place. He went to inspect it , rang to declare it was in good condition and I jumped onto ebay - hit BUY IT NOW and the deal was sealed. He picked it up the next day. Not literally because the damn thing weighs so much.

Gumtree was checked for  treadmills and  I've have sold a few things on there in the past

What I learned 

• I learned from holding other items (like the Garmin) for 7 days to say "NO DEAL " - pickup or pay asap or PASS . It works when you have NIL - next(s) in line.
• Junk under $5 is popular at Market days , especially the small stuff .
• Some items will be popular and others duds. Research.
• Paypal is a great way to transfer money.
• My books (some new) were not as popular as I thought even at $1 -$2

At the end of the day - our pockets have a little more jingle jangle in them. Though , we came home from the markets with a desk a friend gave me (she couldn't sell it) and several empty plastic boxes.

I will list a few other baby and toddler toys and the boys like the idea of us selling their $TUFF for cash.There is a CWA market day Saturday and I'm tempted.

Yesterday, I dropped a big bag of men's shirts (my FIL's) and other clothes off. Adult second hand clothes belong in Op shops or are best given to charity. I often browse Op shops for books especially and I did buy a few items for a friend.

Best of all my  - new to me - $250 treadmill is a beauty ! It looks barely used , plus it was a bargain;  a new replacement treadmill belt was $199 and my husband would have had to fit it.

So tell me what you have sold and where you have had most success selling your unwanted crap items.
 

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Wordless Wednesday : Under construction

The new Double Garage or Whatever ? by the time it gets going further

The boys are in no hurry to lose their their scooter slab.

Please visit others in WW community - it seems we are shrinking in the linking. I didn't get to visit last week. I'll lift my game this week.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Wordless Wednesday : Despicable Me

Guess who brought both iPad and Mini to Sydney ...much to his twin's - that was despicable - he did it on purpose attitude TOO.

J had 5 days with just my old iPod. Anyway, this Cheeky Minion had a Neurogenetic Clinic appointment at Westmead - for annual Neurofibromatois review. We encountered this big Minion in the corridor. Sam wanted this picture ! It is so HIM.

An InLinkz Link-up

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I made the best decision for me at the time.

Ever since I read , on Sunday afternoon, of the tragic passing of Jess Ainscough  , the Wellness Warrior, I have felt overwhelmed. Cancer is a bitch.

Overwhelmed more by the CONTROVERSY and debate, the judgement,the misguided and factually incorrect comments. I didn't know Jess personally and while I've read her website and knew about her choices , I did not follow them. Amongst other things she advocated a healthy lifestyle and I applaud that.

I am sorry for their loss.

Twelve months ago today, my life was shattered once again with a malignant cancer diagnosis - a much more scary one. Soft tissue sarcoma - Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour. MPNST.

I wondered should I weigh in with my own thoughts.
Dare I voice an opinion.
Sadly, many people with even less knowledge or experience have. Yet, there is nothing mentioned about what finally ended Jess Ainscough’s life.

I feel qualified having faced cancer twice including a rare sarcoma 12 months ago. Jess Ainscough had Epithelioid sarcoma , mine was a different type - sometimes initially with a very similar 'pathological' presentation. 

My husband also had a different malignant sarcoma too 5yrs ago.A dear blogging friend died from a horrible sarcoma too barely 8 months from diagnosis , only 2 years ago. Many knew this special lady. Based on her own research she tried Gerson therapy. Her options for more surgery, radiation and chemo were limited. We chatted about it (Gerson and other treatments) a few times. She was very informed and I respected it.

Mostly, I will refer my opinion to my own experience .Out of respect for Jess Ainscough I'm not discussing her Wellness business, or those who followed her life and story. It is a delicate issue.

I digress, twelve months ago today my life was shattered once again with a malignant cancer diagnosis - a much more scary one. Soft tissue sarcoma - Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour. MPNST.

Sarcomas have such a poor prognosis being a rare kind of cancer. About 1 out of 100 cases of adult cancers is soft tissue sarcoma. There is so little research and treatment options.

There are 50+ different types of sarcoma, they can be grouped into two main kinds: soft tissue sarcoma and bone sarcoma, (Osteosarcomas - Ewings included). Osteosarcomas being rarer.

My sarcoma is genetic and no amount of healthy living, juicing or coffee enemas would either prevent or cure it. Plain and simple. Ingrained into my DNA, into my genes , a fault in my stars.

Sarcoma knows no borders; ethnicity, gender, or economic status.

Sarcomas are different from the much more common carcinomas / cancers. They happen in a different kind of tissue growing in the connective tissues -- cells that connect or support other kinds of tissue in your body. They spread to lungs, brain and other organs.

More common in the muscles, tendons, cartilage, nerves, fat, and blood vessels of your arms and legs, and less so bones , sarcomas can happen anywhere - even in uterus, on genitals and within the abdominal cavity. If it is in the limbs, wide surgical amputation is recommended to ensure complete removal of cancer cells.

Sarcomas have limited treatment options, often by having surgery to remove the tumour there are debilitating side effects. I have at least two Facebook friends, with the same genetic MPNST sarcoma in their leg as I did. Both had a leg amputated , including half their pelvis and sacrum ;both have complications but still live a 'full' life , just not one they would have imagined or chosen.

Others in the group have faced amputation and radical surgery and still died; painfully. It is quite tough for doctors to come up with any suitable treatments in many cases. In the US patients are subject to approvals by insurance companies, limited by money and admission to various trials to extend life. At whatever cost or succumb.

I have complications from surgery nothing I can't cope with, and I have my leg. Though the preferred wide surgical margin was not possible because it was with < 1mm (actually 0 .8mm of my femur) margin. 10mm is the minimum recommended.

The Radiation oncologist asked my surgical oncologist could I return to surgery for a better margin ...

No , not without potentially and unnecessarily awful complications.Amputation was not an option offered.

Even my very esteemed surgeon and radiation oncologist did not agree entirely about radiation. The choice was ultimately mine. It's a balancing act - do more harm or wait and see.

A week after radiation.

I know there is nothing I wouldn't try (using my own critical thinking and beliefs) to extend my life. 
Yet, I can barely imagine having my leg amputated. I would, within reason, try every other option first. I haven't and I hope I never will face such a difficult and life changing decision.

Why didn't Jess Ainscough amputate ? 
Only Jess knows.

I have issue with one of the debates - I can't believe people suggesting and speculating that her vanity and treatment choices caused her 

"preventable death" or "unavoidable death"

Well, I know in many cases (based on my participation a world wide sarcoma support group of 2000+) maybe it would have made no difference. The unpredictability of sarcomas and the wide spectrum of how it affects a person creates uncertainty with treatment options. Yes, some people might get a few more years but at what cost. It is still their choice.

Even the Sarcoma Alliance a worldwide based group that advocates and provides information includes complimentary and alternative therapies. 

Some chemotherapy drugs came from plants or animals originally, such as from the Pacific yew tree, trabectedin from sea squirts, and doxorubicin from a bacterium.

I had both  Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) as my main Chemotherapy drugs with Breast Cancer. 

Adriamycin is also used in MPNST sarcomas. My bad, I can't have it for this , if I need it though in the future.

Her mother, Sharyn's passing with Breast Cancer too - even early diagnosis and aggressive treatment sometimes makes a SCRAP of difference.
Eminently treatable ?
I don't always believe that !

Each person's reaction to a cancer drug is different.

I can honesty say I still doubt my decisions , that I didn't had radiation for Breast Cancer (the Oncologists said it wasn't necessary) , that if even if I wanted to I can't have chemo for the sarcoma and also because I had it with Breast cancer - the complications potentially to my heart could be fatal.

So strict are they with the dosages, least they kill you with the treatment. Another (real) friend nearly died during her first chemo, it weakened her immune system so much so. She spent 2 wks in isolation in hospital and away from her children - she told me she thought she was going to die THERE without goodbyes or a chance to have a good death.

We both cried a river of tears while she described the near death experience , as we sat and talked over coffee in a cafe - not a care who was watching and they were . Happily, she is doing well now after two and half yrs.

I would always have chosen cancer drugs because it gives me hope for the future. I made the best decision for me at the time.

Maybe Sharyn Ainscough did too ! Chemo has a 10% chance of a fatal outcome.

The stats say 20 - 30% of women diagnosed with Breast cancer will die no matter what stage at diagnosis.* The survival rate with terminal diagnosis has improved with treatment to extend life but they still die.


Truth - maybe not in the first few years but they don't mention the ones who die after 5 -10 yrs. Some zealous , healthy, exercising clean living juicers live and it seems just as many as those who do nothing 'healthy' at all live too. Note: I am not advocating living unhealthily.

I have dozens of Facebook friends diagnosed with early breast Cancer , who DID all the treatment regimes, mastectomy , chemo and radiation and they still died or are terminal .

One real life friend is undergoing more aggressive chemo after in spread to her hips, other bones and now liver. Terminal and dying in just over 3yrs (under 50)

Another , dear friend with early Breast cancer over 10 yrs ago has just been given a terminal diagnosis after breast cancer metastasized to her lungs. Out of nowhere in 10 years.

Cancer is SH*T and it doesn't follow any rules. Medical intervention is sometimes worst than the natural progression of the disease - especially with sarcoma.

While, I don't disagree either with some of the debate surrounding Jess Ainscough's influence as the Wellness Warrior and promoting the Gerson therapy - it's just so very complex. 

How can we speculate whether her life and death were unnecessarily awful ? It was her journey.

* It is estimated that 20-30% of all breast cancer cases will become metastatic. [O'Shaughnessy, J. "Extending Survival with Chemotherapy in MBC" The Oncologist 2005:10]

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