Today I’m grateful for so much – Family and Friends top my list – but close behind is my health. This year has presented some challenges, but I’m happy to say by 2010 I’ll be adding up the miles on the pavement running again !

My thoughts are also with those that have lost family members and have a missing spot at their table today…. peace be with them. I have a friend saying goodbye to her father, so happy he made it to Thanksgiving to celebrate as he can.

Make it a great day!

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On Saturday, October 10th, my friend, John Lauber and I are hosting a Tweetup (you don’t really have to be on Twitter) Breakfast followed by a walk around the West Chester Borough. Buying your own breakfast is the only expense

Photo walks are a very informal gathering of people who like to take pictures whether a casual photographer or professional – we just walk around (most of the route will be chosen when the time comes) and shoot !

Let me know via email if you’d like to join in the fun – so we can watch for ya ! Group may be limited.

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Remembering….. Rex, the family dog…. Izzy, the family cat…. Nubby, my niece’s hamster…. Max, my sisters’ family dog…. Bubba, a friend’s family dog …. Puck, my cousins’ family dog and so many others.

I remember after someone sharing The Rainbow Bridge after Rex passed away, it gave some comfort. Pets so often become a member of the family – they just have the fur and fuzz. I want to picture them having a blast playing together.

For comfort and peace, I share with you…

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown

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Hank Baskett III my most viewed photo in Flickr

Hank Baskett III is moving to the Colts, so I heard this morning. I’ll miss him. He is from Clovis, New Mexico and went to school with my daughter, AChrome23. It was fun to have him close by.

Good Luck with the Colts and GO E-A-G-L-E-S!

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The Downingtown East High School Football Schedule for 2009
Who are YOU routing for ?

Fri. Sept 4; 7:00 PM
HOME vs. Lansdale Catholic

Fri. Sept 11; 7:00 PM
AWAY at Souderton

Fri. Sept 18; 7:00 PM
AWAY at Wilson-Reading

Fri. Sept 25; 7:00 PM
HOME vs. Coatesville

Fri. Oct 2; 7:00 PM
AWAY at Avon Grove

Fri. Oct 9; 7:00 PM
HOME vs. Malvern Prep

Sat. Oct 17; 1:00 PM
AWAY at Bishop Shanahan

Fri. Oct 23; 7:00 PM
HOME vs. Downingtown West

Fri. Oct 30; 7:00 PM
HOME vs. West Chester East

Fri. Nov. 6; 7:15 PM
AWAY at West Chester – Henderson

Fri. Nov. 13; 7:00 PM
HOME vs. Unionville

For team information click on the team names above. For last minute schedule changes, you can visit highschoolsports.net. These are Varsity Level Football Teams.

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Rockin' the Hot Hospital Gown

Dear Friends and Contacts, (Warning: This gets personal)

“Be transparent. Be you. Let people in.”
Those are the words I have practiced and taught in my social networks both virtually and in the real world, actually. The relationships that have been made because of it are beyond measure to me. I’ve always appreciated them – if you are one of the special people in my life I hope you can tell that. When I’ve had the opportunity for face-to-face meet ups, I’m thrilled to see friends that I have and have not yet had the opportunity of a f2f hug.

I’ve struggled with my definition of transparency lately, and I’ve opted to use my discretion until I’m sure of how transparent I want to be. I don’t want to hide things from people – but you don’t really want to know it all. I want to help others who may face the same things in their life. I try to put myself on “the other side” and wonder just how many details would I want? And why. I don’t want you to worry. I don’t want you to pity me.

Many continue to wonder exactly what happened to Kim Wood’s world? I’m ready to tell you some bits and pieces. Please don’t push me for more. Please don’t push my friends and family to tell you more.  There is a line between being open and privacy. I’ve lingered the line – and appreciate my family and Sarah, my tweetspokesBFF for protecting my privacy until I am ready to share.

I went to my family doctor to receive the results of annual blood work. (pssst they were really good! My weight loss efforts paid off – cholesterol and A1C were good !) As her normal routine, she layed me back on the table and pushed on my belly.
“ooh”, I said, just a little ooh, not an OOOOH.
“Does that hurt?” Dr. G asked.
“Just a little. I’m fine… move on.”  (I had two real estate appointments that afternoon a buyer and a seller!)
“Kim. Tell me where you are tender.”
My doctor is thorough. I knew this might mean an afternoon full of tests that would prove nothing. I didn’t have time for it.
“Dr. G. Really, I’m fine. I feel good.”
Thankfully she takes her job very seriously, and she sorta kinda got firm like a Mom would. Off I head to the hospital for a CT Scan. Quick contacted my scheduled clients, my Mom, and two friends. (Mom and friends had the same reaction, “is this the doctor that goes to the specialists for everything?” “Yes”. We sorta of sighed it off.)

“I will call you after your scan is read. Just wait there.” were Dr. G’s instructions.
“Dr. G would like to see you back in her office.” The technician told me. Slight panic set in.

This circulated around Twitter

I knew potential results of this scan, I had asked. They weren’t all that good. Why did she want me in person to her office? Off I went. Scared.

Phew. Not too bad. Not the “C” word anyway. I needed to be admitted into Chester County Hospital for Diverticulitis. Hospital? Yes, I needed IV Antibiotics for a few days to kill it. I walked onto the floor and the nurses looked around for the patient. I smiled, waved and said, “I’m her!” I requested my laptop right away, talked to a first-time client about (and since have listed) selling his home, worked almost the entire time, and was tweeting about being stuck in many ways around my IV. I walked the halls, circled the helipad, and planned my escape route.

Ten days later, I was back in the ER for a suspected allergy to the meds (they’re poison) ! During my stay, I got another scan, which did not show Diverticulitis sticking around anymore! Yay – it was gone ! Discharged at 9:00 PM, one book and 10 hours later.

But….
Something bad happened.
Something scary.
Something unplanned.

Three hours later I was curled up in so much pain on the floor. Back to the ER, no question where I needed to be. But the diverticulitis was gone? After many hours, pain meds, XRays, CT Scan, MRI without any conclusions or diagnosis – I was told, “We have to go in.”  Did I mention I didn’t like getting stuck? My pain was so severe even through my own push button pain meds- I didn’t care – just fix it. Princess20 was the only of my children that made it to the hospital before I went in. So I called AChrome23 and LittleOne6 to tell them again I loved them. Just in case.

Thankfully I woke in ICU hours later, without gorey details, I do have an open “wound” type of a deal. I cried. I heard how much of a mess I was and that not caught I could have died. I was told “it’s not a big deal.” It was a big deal for me. I was on a healthy road and I wanted to continue being a runner. It was around the 5th day of my 10 day stay, when I started to come to my senses and began weaning myself off of my “fly high” pain meds,  that I asked the surgeon, Dr. R, “So… what are the chances I’ll ever be back to normal again? 10%? 80%? What?” The next words I repeat over and over again almost every day as I continue to struggle, “Kim! 100%! You have a 100% that I will be able to ‘fix’ you. It’ll be about 3 months.”

Today is one month. I’m celebrating ! I struggle with something every day. Sometimes it’s a mental thing. I want to run. Sometimes it’s a physical thing. It hurts. Sometimes I’m happy. Overwhelmed with the love that I’ve felt in the last month. My family has been next to me.  Bringing meals, keeping me company, visits in the hospital, protecting me my HIPPAA, loving me, helping with LittleOne6, and being the most awesome support system I could ask for. My friends and acquaintances around the country with virtual handholding, hugs, flowers, texts, calls, tweets, wall posts, cookies, daily notes, cards, blips, books, thoughts, and prayers. I continue to be wow’d almost every single day.

My road feels long. Often can be very lonely as people try to understand. Thank you. Thank you for caring. Thank you for counting down 2 more months with me !

And I respect and shout out to @SusanReynolds, @drew, and @QueenofSpain – who remain transparent in their medical fights of their own. You helped me have the courage to share a piece of my story – and I hope it helps, a mere one person.

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Click on the links below for more detailed information about location and times to see the sky lit up by some fantastic pyrotechnic displays around the area.

3 JULY 2009
Parkesburg
Phoenixville
Downingtown at United Sports

4 JULY 2009
Downingtown in Kerr Park
Tredyffrin in Chesterbrook
Kennett Square at Longwood Gardens
Radnor at Radnor HS
Pottstown at Memorial Park
Nottingham Park
Exton at Miller Park

I had to come back and write some more Have a Happy 4th of July – and while you’re at it… be sure and stay safe! That means with all those tempting home firework tricks to drinking and parties – BE SAFE! Don’t forget your furry creatures too – fireworks can be scary and they can also be tempting to chase and harm. Ok. I’m better now

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I couldn’t wait to get my fingers rolling across the keyboard. I can only hope to convey what I saw today out of one outstanding Philadelphia Eagles football player to you. My lesson I continue to learn.

My family can say we “know” Hank Baskett III, of the Philadelphia Eagles football team. No, we aren’t like his mother, cousin, best friend, Los Lobos roomate…. but we “know” him.  AChrome22, my daughter went to school a few years behind HBIII in Middle School during their Clovis, NM stunts.

Hank cares. Even through his famed career, he cares. It was so evident today – we all left with goosebumps.  After Eagle’s Football Training Camp, Hank saw AChrome and said, “Meet me over where you were before.” (He heard all of us screaming when he made every single catch that was thrown to him.) When he was finished official autographs, he made his way and stopped to visit with us. It was AChrome’s birthday – so he made sure she got some HBIII time and a sweaty hug

It was after our visit that time stopped for many people including me. A woman came over to the crowd of fans hopeful to receive his autograph, “Hank. Mary’s Mom is over there. She can’t get to you, but she’d like to see you.” “I’ll be right there” Hank said as he finished the last autograph (he always tries to get them all).

Hank went over to the woman wearing #84 and they grasped each other in a squeeze. Noone else existed around either one of them despite the massive crowd of people. As the woman sobbed tears, Hank hugged her so tight, his eyes did not wander. The woman had all of Hank’s attention. It was a painful moment; yet beautiful at the same time. I felt a bit like I was invading, however, both of them had each other completely and fully on their mind. The woman was in pain. Hank was comforting her. You can see in the picture above his intense focus on her.

I want to listen in this way. I tend to get distracted, or interupt people while I’m thinking of the next thing to say. I want to listen and be devoted like I witnessed today. It was beautiful. My prayers go out to the woman – I hope she received some comfort from Hank – and that it will continue to get better for her. I hope more than myself went away being touched by the focus of listening and compassion.

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