Reflections and forward looking

So 2019 was one for the record books.  All my readers know about my brain tumor diagnosis and subsequent brain surgery to remove said tumor.  I've been trying to be open and honest about all challenges I face and how I am facing them, however I did not post that in May of 2019 I was also disgnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  I immediately went on Metformin and changed my diet - almost keto and I was doing really well until surgery.  Post surgery I started eating like old Randi and have continued to through today.  I was being hopeful that the tumor removal might effect my a1c but alas it has not.  (There is some science behind this) So now I will start tracking my carbs again (myfitnesspal) and back to regular exercise.

I learned a lot about myself in this last year and I really hope to continue my personal growth as a wife, mother, genealogist, library worker, volunteer and chodan.  By next year I should be getting ready to test for EeDan (2nd degree black belt) I want this more than I thought I would. I start today by focusing on health - yes I made Monkey Bread for the house full of guests but I will be focused on eating better and exercise. 

My most immediate goal is my next karate recert in February - while not quite as daunting as the black belt test it is a difficult day and I still have yet to attempt break falls - I am very scared as I still feel the difference in my skull.

I'm a Black Belt with a Brain Tumor

It's been a while since I have posted and now it's time to change the focus of this blog. For a few years now I have suffered from chronic vertigo. During Black Belt Bootcamps I would have to grab onto a wall sometimes to keep my balance, I completed and passed my 9 hour Black Belt test in February of 2018 and am so proud to be a "ChoDan".  All this time my vertigo was holding me back.  In November of 2018 I decided enough was enough and I was determined to get to the root of the problem.  I went to my doctor who referred me to an ENT.  The ENT ordered an MRI and on Dec 31 I had my first ever MRI.  January 4th I received my results.  I have a brain tumor known by 2 different names Vestibular Schwannoma or Acoustic Neuroma.  This is a benign tumor that grows on you balance nerve.  The nerve structure in the brain places the balance nerve, acoustic nerve and facial nerve all in a bunch.  Most people who are diagnosed have a loss of hearing on one side as their first symptom, I am blessed to still have my hearing now.  My vertigo is still ever present and I walk like I'm drunk...I'm not.  This will all be dealt with in a few weeks - July 22 I will be undergoing a 8hourish brain surgery to remove the tumor.  There is a possibilty of losing hearing on the one side due to surgery and well as risk of injury to the facial nerve which can cause facial weakness on one side.  I intend to blog my recovery every step of the way.  There might be times when this blog is TMI but I feel like I want to put it out there for others who are considering their options.  I plan to be back at work the first week of September and I hope to be back in karate class as soon as I can and plan on getting back on my bike (on the trainer) in the winter.  My goal is to be ready to re-cert my black belt in February.

Right now I'm in countdown phase, trying to get everything lined up at home for me to be completely useless for a few weeks. 

#52Ancestors – Week 7 A little Swedish for ya!

#52Ancestors – Week 7                                             Randi Mathieu

This week’s prompt is “Valentine” Is there a love story in your family tree? Maybe a couple was married on Valentine's Day or you have a valentine that one ancestor gave to another. Maybe you have an ancestor named Valentine.

Hmmm, these are getting a little more challenging now that I’ve used up my awesome stories.  After running a calendar report on Legacy I came up with the idea to feature Johanna Mathilda Andersdotter. 

Johanna was born in Mellosa, Sodermanland, Sweden to Anders Gustafson and his wife Anna Pehrsdotter on 14 February 1838.  In March of 1860 She married Lars Erik Ersson in Husby-Oppunda, Sodermanland, Sweden.  Lars was from a parish known as Ardala, Sodermanland, Sweden.  The family grew in Husby-Oppunda as they had 4 children in their time there.  They eventually moved to a parish known as Bettna.  In Bettna their family grew even larger with 3 more children.  From Bettna the family moved one last time to a parish know as Lids.  In Lids there were 3 more children born to Johanna and Lars.  In total they had 10 children.  Johanna died in Lids in 1887 and Lars stayed there until he passed in 1917.

                      

The walk from Mellosa to Husby-Oppunda is approximately 32 km and would take around 6.5 hours. Husby-Oppunda to Bettna is approximately 10.6 km and would take about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Their final journey was around 28km which equals about 5.5 hours or walking time.

I love researching in Sweden as the churches were to account for all people in their district. The church not only recorded birth, marriage and death but also kept a move-in/move-out book!  The other joy of researching Swedish records in the naming system. Johanna Mathilda Andersdotter tells me she is the daughter of Anders! Not only that, but the women kept their surnames after marriage.  While I don’t have a photo of Johanna, I was able to find photos of the parishes where she reported to.

 

Bettna Parish

Husby-Oppunda Parish

Lids Parish

Mellosa Parish

#52Ancestors – Week 6

#52Ancestors – Week 6                                             Randi Mathieu

This week’s prompt is “Favorite Name”.

This is an interesting thought to process.  My first gut reaction to “Favorite Name” was how do I not use “William Fain Rountree” after all I used his middle name for my son’s middle name. As I thought about what to write, I thought about my own name – how original it is and how much it’s not what you expect.  Most people hear the name Randi and think male (until they notice it’s spelled with an i).  As I think about the names in my family my two great aunts stand out to me. Willis Melmus Simmons and Jessie (Chessy) Ward Simmons. These two women grew up with male sounding names in the early 1900’s.  Willis was named after 2 ancestors – both male.  Willis was the name of her grandfather and Melmuth was the name of a great uncle who died in the civil war.  I have not been able to track down where Jessie’s name came from but a middle name of Ward must have been a family name somewhere – guess I have some more research to do!

                             

 Willis

 Jessie

Catching Up

I will hopefully be catching up on blog posts now.  Life got a little hectic but now all should be calm.  I will be posting my #52Ancestors posts as soon as I get them in order. 

It's been a while since I posted.  I have since been promoted to Cho Dan (1st degree Black Belt). The feeling is something that I cannnot put into words.  It's the small things I notice - not just in me but in my son and husband as well.  We carry ourselves with a greater amount of confidence.  We have experienced the thrill of achieving a goal that we have worked long and hard for.  Putting on our black belt dobak makes us stand a little taller. 

A point to our black belt uniform - it is actually midnight blue.  Black is final and we are never done learning so our colors symbolize that.  Before our test I thought 1st degree would be as far as I go, but now I want that 2nd degree!  It'll take a couple years to get there but I know we have it in us to keep going and prove that we can do it!

My Journey to Black Belt

Part of our testing for black belt is to write an essay.  I am posting mine here for the world to see.

My Journey to Black Belt  

By Randi Mathieu 

Five years ago I asked my then 5 year old son what he wanted for his birthday.  His good buddy, that is 4 years older than he is, was taking karate and so in order to be more like him, my son replied that he wanted to take karate. I made an appointment and we all went in to the Dojang to see what it was like. While there I saw many different people of varying ages – not just kids training and thought it might be fun to try.  As I discussed it with my husband we decided that all 3 of us would give it a try. In the back of my mind I thought hey we will give it a couple months and see how it goes.   

See here’s the thing about me – I’m a quitter. When I would ask to take dance lessons or music lessons as a child I would only last a few months before I was bored with it.  By middle school I decided to try band – that lasted until sophomore year.  Goals I dreamt about – becoming the first female NFL player, becoming the first female fighter pilot, even becoming a Japanese interpreter – never came to fruition because I didn’t really try.  My life has been easy and has been handed to me.  Even after Jim and I were married the quitting continued – swing dance lessons, aikido, and many jobs lie in my wake.  So naturally that February five years ago I thought we had no chance of making to even green belt. 

Something in me changed along the way in this 5 year journey.  There were times that I thought – maybe this is as far as we go.  But some how I pushed through.  Each test I said “ok Randi one more level” Our karate compatriots became a second family to us and help encourage me even though they never knew they did.  It was the thought of disappointing my new found karate-sisters that kept me coming back for more.  It was the regret at never letting myself get any good at anything before I quit and not wanting my son to have the same regrets.  It was also the challenge to myself that I could make something happen for me! 

Now here I am a red-4 and just paid the registration fee for test.  I can’t believe I am here and doing this.  I may not be the first female blackbelt but I am the first Randi Mathieu to become a blackbelt.  I’ve worked hard and know that I have pushed myself harder than I ever have.  I want this – not just to get a blackbelt but to be a blackbelt. I need to know that “I Can and I Will” is not just a personal mantra but a way of life.  I am excited for the mental change I know will happen when I tie that midnight blue on and the confidence that I can set goals and I will achieve them.