AnneLyze

"To cherish a desire with anticipation" Webster's Dictionary. I've been an Oncology Nurse for over 17 years. People ask me all the time "how can you stand your job" or they comment that "it must be hard" and "I couldn't do it". I love my job and I love my patients. What people don't realize is that it's an honor to be a nurse and especially an Oncology Nurse. I live with hope every day. "If we want to create hope for the person ....we must give hope, always hope." Mother Teresa The most important word on the first visit is hope. Sometimes it's the only word they hear. It's absolutely the word they most want to hear. People hope their doctor is good. They hope they live through the surgery and they hope their cancer is treatable. They hope they can tolerate the chemotherapy and especially hope that they don't vomit. They hope I can find a vein easily for the IV and that I know what I'm doing. They hop...

I am a Mother. I am meant to be a mother of boys. Sometimes I'm a good mother and sometimes I wish I could do it all over again. I love them to the moon and back. I'm an athlete. I love asking something of my body and being able to do it. The feeling of moving through the water and yet having the water hold me is awesome. I am a nurse. I give of myself and get so much more in return. It's an honor to be a nurse. My patients have shown me the way. I am a fat girl with a jelly belly and no matter how much weight I lose, I will always hold that fat girl in my soul. I think about food 24/7. It is my addiction. I am a lousy housekeeper and really who gives a shit. I'd rather do other things. I'm a reader and find joy in reading books. I read one to two a week. Going to the library is one of my favorite things to do. I ask Ben if he wants to go with me just to hear him say, "Why would I want to do that?". I am a cat owner. Ash is twenty pounds of pure love and...

This was published in the Times Union on Tuesday March 9, 2010. I read with great interest the recent article on communicating with your teenager. I, along with many parents, find it exasperating to have a conversation our kids. After reading the article, I felt ready to go. At dinner Tuesday night, I decided to give it a try. "How was school today?" I got the usual reply, "fine". "What did you do?". Again I got the usual, "nothing". "What did you have for lunch?" "Food" was the response. It was time to try a new tactic. Using the phrasing I learned from the article, I said "tell me more". His chin lifted slightly from the plate and one eye peered at me from under his bangs. An opening, I thought. I proceeded, "I'm interested in hearing more about your life". Both eyes now peered at me and he stopped shoving the food in his mouth. "Really, Mom...... are you serious?", he replied with his de...