I had great news last week. The surgeon did another ultrasound and the two masses are smaller and she could not find the lymph node - and she really looked! I also completed round 4 of Chemo (half way thru) and the Oncology Nurse Practitioner said I have done as well or better with this dose dense protocol than any patient. They love my positive attitude and I love all of them! Together, and with all your support, we will eliminate all those "c" cells from my body.
The Sunday before my Chemo I had a wonderful visit with my Gastroenterology buddies from the VA. I cannot believe it but it has been 17 years since my early (blessed) retirement. What fun we had visiting and reminiscing.
Dr Pound iis the one who cured Carol of her horrible GI problem this summer. So Carol really loves him! Dr Lumeng just retired from IU, Ruth, Frances, and I have been retired for a long time, Marylee has her hands full with two teenagers, and Linda not only has three boys - 18, 15, and 10 (I think) but she also is the only one of us back working at the VA!
Our friends Mary Roelle and Linda Webb invited us to dinner at their house on the Tuesday after Chemo. Connie Kelley and Treila Craft also were invited. Not only did we have a wonderful dinner and visit but we even did some home improvements. Before dinner we got talking about the problem they have had with their SunSetter Awning for 6 years. When the awning was out it was so low that Linda had to duck under it and they could not see the pool and yard from inside. With this many strong women you can guess that we had to fix the problem. Treila looked and said she thought the awning was adjustable. Carol said we just need some hex wrenches. Nancy looked up the instructions on the internet. Soon everyone was working. Low and behold, we fixed it. You knew we would didn't you?
I have a sad tale about our pets. I promise NO pictures. We came home last week to a real mess. The dogs, probably Natti started it, got into a bag of Natti's chewable medication and ate almost the whole large bag. Then they proceeded to barf huge piles all over the house, at least 20 places. Even the cat was sick. Besides taking them immediately to a nearby vet and spending $300 for shots and medication Carol spent hours cleaning up the rig. Have I told you that I am so blessed to have Carol. She is working so hard to take care of me and keep this rig clean. Three cheers for her!!!!!!!!
By the way, I did spend two whole days and several partial days very fatigued and sleeping but we push to keep going and enjoying our lives.
We were blessed to meet new friends at our KOA on Labor Day weekend - Scott and Patti Cameron, their daughter Kennedy and their Golden Retriever, Carrot. Carol met Patti while out walking. Carol noted that Patti has Chemo hair growing in and stopped to talk to her. Patti goes to my Oncologist and just ended Chemo. She said she wanted to meet me and had a book for me. We did meet and her book was wonderful. I read it all in a few nights. It was just what I needed. It is called UPLIFT Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors by Barbara Delinsky. What positive words of wisdom! Patti herself was also very positive and supportive. I have already gotten us a Kindle edition and passed the book onto Deanna Medsker's aunt who is depressed after her recent breast surgery and starting Chemo. I sure hope it helps her!
On Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Tammy Haley and Tammy Hansen came here to visit. They brought a wonderful homemade chicken dinner. Even made brownies with pink ribbon sprinkles! Had fun talking about going with them to Alaska next June. Tammy Haley has also volunteered to help us get back to AZ in November. What great friends we have!
Carol and I have spent much time the last two weeks going down memory lane. Our friend Connie Kelley has stored stuff for us for the last 4 years. We actually forgot what we had there! Now she has bought a new home and is downsizing so we need to go through everything and decide what to do with it. Yes I can hear many of you saying that if we did not need it in 4 years we probably do not need it now. But it is so hard to let go of your memories and treasures. When we sold our home 4 years ago we did sell most everything but had boxes of old photos and items we really thought of as treasures to enjoy later. Now we have put a lot of it up for sale at the garage sale but it is still sad letting go.
OMG, Carol and I each had 7 big boxes of old photos and slides! So I have started to sort/pitch my photos while Carol has been helping Connie and friends prepare for a moving sale held this weekend. I have really enjoyed seeing so many friends and family from years ago. Those were the days my friend, we thought they would never end but they did and now here I am having to decide what ones to keep and put on discs to keep forever!
Both KEEPERS!
By the way, I want to mention that I am so very proud of our friend Chris Paulsen. Besides working full time she is the President of Indiana Equality and is now on the Board of Freedom Indiana. Great work Chris!!!!!!
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