Monday, Auguest 12th

As good as news can be = I received GOOD news today! from the breast surgeon!!! Charlie came with me for my consult/visit with Dr. O'Shea.....he was nervous and when she called me in he asked if he should come in or wait in the waiting room..... The good news is that I need a Lumpectomy. Here I was thinking the worst...but this is the good news! She spoke to us for about 1/2 hour and put our minds at ease.> < The surgery is scheduled for the first Wednesday of September....of course now I need the pre-surgical appointments = blood work and EKG done....all do-able in this time frame.> < She also spoke about radiation after the surgery - 5 days a week (M - F)for 7 (seven) weeks. She doesn't do the 'seed' implant. She's done them before and doesn't like the results - may burn the skin or the muscle wall into your lungs = so we'll forgo that one.> < I won't start any chemo (pill form) until two weeks of healing time after surgery...and right now it does look very good as to taking the 'pill'. There are still side effects with this but not as bad as the IV....and I'll be checked to make sure the pill is doing it's job or I'd have to do the original IV......we'll take one step at a time and not hurdle through this.> < Surgery is done as outpatient, about 1 1/2 hour and she will check the lympe nodes at the same time.> < Lumpectomy is a real good thing - she said I would NOT be a candidate for re-construction....> < Prayers do work! Thank you for your prayers and support. WE will get through this small detour on my road to recovery.> < Not sure if I will post for the next two weeks....so if you don't check - you might not miss anything!> < Enjoy the rest of the summer - it sure did go by fast! Kids are getting ready to go back to college and school too.......Never stop believing in miracles!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013.......BIG winner of MY health lottery!!!!

Had my appointment today to see Dr. May to discuss 'my journey'.....I definetly have breast cancer and it's not associated with colon cancer. Her suggestion is to have a mastectomy right away so we can proceed with the chemo treatment....PILL form!!! The only good thing about this! < > I now have an appointment with one of the Top Surgeons in NJ (in Sparta) on Monday. Dr. O'Shea whom also did my biopsy. I'm sure she will discuss what the procedure will entale....one question I would have = would I be able to have re-construction surgery the same day/time as the mastectomy. I think I'd have a hard time when I showered if nothing was done. < > I really never read up about breast cancer...there are so many different types and all treated a little differently. Here is 'some' information that was on the pathology report....< >I have - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and , > Estrogen receptor: Positive, 99.7% - Progesterone receptor: Positive, 99.39% - HER2 Marker: Negative, Score 0 - KI-67: Unfavorable, 83.21% -and Additional immunohistochemical stains: Focally positive: CK7 - Negative: CK20, CDX2 < > I will be taking chemo via a PILL....no loss of hair, maybe thinning....and other side effects along with it...I won't have to sit in the infusion room for 5 hours but I will have to go weekly for blood work....and she will watch me close and I'll have a scan in 6 months to see if my body is accepting this chemotherapy treatment. Amazing that chemo is available in pill form for both cancer's! < > I had blood work drawn today and hopefully the insurance company will agree to doing a 'gene' test....for my kids and relatives. Dr. May says they (relatives) should relay to their doctors that colon and breast cancer runs in our family -- see, I'll go down in history with my family health!!!! < > I will update next Monday, the 12th - to let you know what is 'next' on my bumpy road! < > I still believe in miracles! and I also know that God has His plan for me! < > Thank you all, again, for your continued support and prayers! < > Love to all! <<< >>> I just looked at the 'preview' of my blog and there are no paragraphs! I'll put in a 'symbol' for a new paragraph...(< - >)

the end of July 2013!

Not sure exactly where I left off with my last blog....I write them, not necessarily READ them!  I was told by some of my friends that they check my blog a lot and I should update even if I don't have any information.....so here, by 'highly suggested' people, is my update.....

I had my breast biopsy on the 18th by (what I have come to find out just recently) a top surgeon in NJ!  Dr. O'Shea.  She did an ultrasound and the biopsy right in her office and called me with results last Thursday.  She said it IS breast cancer but is still waiting for another pathology report and then she will meet with Dr. May (who will be returning to work from her vacation tomorrow) and I have an appointment with Dr. May scheduled for Tuesday the 6th of August.

At this point, I have no idea of 'what type' of breast cancer I have except that it is NOT related to colon cancer and if I can beat colon cancer (as I have so far) breast cancer will be a breeze!  Sure, that's what the surgeon says.....

Oh yes, I did go for my mammogram too........OMG!!!  I kind of remembered how it felt....but now I know why some of us hold off a little to get one......I know what a piece of steak feels like when you put it in a George Forman Grill!!!!  or a sandwich in a panini press!!!!

That's my update.  I know I may have said this before but I'll say it again = if my health was the lottery = I'd be a millionaire!!!

I'm in great spirits right now....knowing I have another bump in the road with a few curves ahead....with all your prayers and knowing it's in the hands of God - I will get through this.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

I went for the breast biopsy on Thursday....won't get results until this week = probably the end of the week.

Dr. May is on vacation this week....

The breast surgeon's name is Dr. O'Shea.  A very young woman and very nice.  Came into the room (without a uniform and wasn't sure she was the doctor until she introduced herself).  Very pleasant.  Congratulated me for being a survivor....I said I wasn't....feeling that if I made it through a year without chemo and/or anything coming back = then I'd consider myself a survivor.  The last time I had chemo was the end of August 2012 - almost made it....but 'new' lesions came back in March....so.....

The only way I can put this === If my health was the lottery, I'd be a millionaire!!!!

Can't win playing the cash lottery but I can expect something new to grow that isn't suppose to be there!

Right now, I'm feeling like I can and will conquer the world....it may take some more time....but I will get there!!!!

I'm going for a mammogram tomorrow (Monday)......another NEW venture coming soon!!!  Oh how lucky can a girl get?!!!!

July 13, 2013 - it's been a long time......

It's been a long time = feeling really good and I still do.....BUT with having stage 4 - it can come back, which it did.

I had a CT scan back in March which showed two new nodules in my lungs.  Everyone has nodules that come and go.  We (Dr. May and myself) weren't too concerned at that time and decided to 'watch' it.  Three months later I had a PET scan which is actually better.

I'm allergic to the iodine contrast for the CT scan so it just shows anything new and sizes.  The PET scan illuminates cancerous growths along with sizes.  Words used in the reports are 'suggesting' and 'could indicate'.....meaning that they can only 'see' them as a photo but not being able to actually know without a biopsy if they are.....

This scan report showed two nodules in my lungs that have grown; a new lesion in my liver; and something in my breast. 

I am in the process of scheduling a bioposy/ultrasound for my breast.  To find out if this is 'breast cancer' or still considered 'colon cancer which has spread'.  Once the findings come back we will proceed with the correct chemo therapy.

No surgery is set for the breast = Dr. May wants to see it actually shrink while doing chemo.  Eventually if it doesn't go away on its own, then surgery will be considered.

Right now, I am a bit upset - I was almost considered a 'survivor' - last chemo I had was last August!  But I have resigned myself to knowing that there is always a possibility of this appearing again = which it has.  I am a strong, thick headed, woman and if a 5 year old has to go through this and still smile = I can do this again!

Dr. May is trying to schedule the breast biopsy (which is just an office visit) for this coming week...once the results are back then we will discuss what will be done.

Thank you all who have continued to pray for me and I ask you again to start.  At one point I tended to 'not' believe in miracles' but I shake my head and say that this is really a miracle!  finding this now while everything is small - if I bet this before = I can do it again!  Now to pray that once I begin my chemo that my side effects and symptoms are easy enough to handle.

Friday, February 23,2013

I just couldn't get myself to watch Robin Roberts journey tonight...she is such a strong    woman.  I think of my journey and feel  like a whimp ....she endured so  much pain for so many months....I praise her for being so brave....she is a true winner.  God bless her!

No health issues...just been busy....doing......

February 2nd

I've had so much energy and I'm putting it to good use!  Cleaning...organizing stuff, and even throwing away 'some' stuff too....

Early December we had a water leak in one of our 'tubes' in our waterbed.  Granted it's about 20 years old or older....When I went to fix the bed I noticed the blankets were soaking wet and we found the leak in the tube on 'my' side of the bed.  Years ago, Charlie had one on his side and we called to get a 'new' tube.  When we were looking for the leak I noticed on the mattress (it looks like a shell) that there were spots of mold!  Thank goodness we've had a 3 inch piece of foam over the mattress so were weren't in any danger mold related (I think)....We decided to get a new bed but we'd have to wait until after Christmas...with having the Christmas tree and decorations all over the house - it would have been hard to have them deliver the mattress and not knock anything down. 

With 'that' in mind (a new mattress); while shopping at Sam's Club during December I noticed a pretty nice bed frame (top and bottom) and the cost was very reasonable...but I had my convertible and it was way too cold to buy it and bring it home with the top down. 

I had mentioned to Charlie about this bedframe....and time went by....finally we decided to go and buy it one Sunday that he was home.  When we arrived at Sam's Club we noticed that there were no more 'pick up' signs there and it was just the floor model that looked like a full/double size which wouldn't do.  I decided to check out the mattresses while we were there...Walking to the back of the store, Charlie was looking UP to see if there were any 'display' model boxes around and he came across a cart with the entire 'set'!!! 4 boxes!!! ready to go!!!  We thought it maybe another customers so I told him that we'd go pick up the dinner rolls that we also came in for and if it was still there when we got back - we'd take it.  Well, taking our time and going back --- it was still there!  Charlie took the cart and off we went to check out!  He was walking ahead of me and I was a little behind -- just in case the original buyer saw us walking towards the cashier I'd say that I didn't know him! (nice of me!)....we got to the cashier and the woman ahead of us was griping about a product that was rung up with the wrong price (and we wanted to just pay and get out)....I told Charlie I was going to see the mark down on the Christmas stuff but he aggressively said 'NO'!  A couple came up behind us and were talking about running into another couple and not knowing their names...but we thought they were going to complain about their bedframe....no.....now a gentleman came up to us and tapped Charlie on his shoulder - I was listening to this woman in front of me complaining....then Charlie poked me --the guy was asking what the price was - being that there was no ticket....I remembered the price from the first visit - wow! and here WE thought it was his!!!  While he was asking us, the girl was ringing us up and charging us for each piece - duh, it's a set....anyway, we got it and RAN out of the store.  I still wanted to go back to get the Christmas stuff but Charlie wanted to get out.  We had one of the employees that was putting the carts away to help load the one piece of the bedframe....all in his truck! done!! and then he goes to put the dinner rolls in and the whole bag rips...about a dozen fell out and Charlie looked at me as if he wanted to pick them up....no way, the pigeons had more to eat!!!  I was laughing hysterically the expression he had on his face when the guy asked the price....and his expression as we were running to the cashier and out the store....still thinking of it - I can laugh so hard!!!  We finally got it home and in the garage.  Paul helped Charlie bring it upstairs to Sam's room.

Now, noticing the carpet in our room - disgusting!!!  spots all over the place....Years ago, when Paul was a baby - he threw up on it and of course stained the carpet....now with the dogs - just them laying on it made spots everywhere!  So we decided that if we were getting a new mattress and bedframe we may as well get carpet....and paint the room.

I'm telling Charlie - that we need this to sell the house.  The bedroom didn't look like a master suite...it was so messy....I had to change my original comforter because Marlee had chewed a corner of it when she was a pup and I just bought a regular comforter to make due at the time.

We ordered the carpet, and bought the paint.  We kept it the original color; a very light green.  We took EVERYTHING out of our bedroom as the carpet was coming on a Wednesday and the bed on Saturday.  I had written down that the first paint took only 1 gallon.  Charlie bought it at Lowe's and we both painted.  Of course we ran out of paint only having a small portion left.  He was off Monday and Tuesday, so we went back to Lowe's on Tuesday to buy another gallon.....came home and painted the rest of the room - touching up a fairly large area where our pillows were.  Charlie had to go to some seminar that night and came home after 10 pm.....I came up to the bedroom to get ready for bed about midnight and noticed the area on the wall where he touched it up....uh oh...the paint didn't match!!!  He came up and noticed that he bought the wrong type.  First was ' matte finish' and the replacement was 'eggshell' - same color but noticeably different!!!  Here we were = 1 AM in the morning RE-painting the whole wall!!!!  We had to do it then because the carpet was coming the next morning! 

Here we had all our furniture on the loft and in the hallway to the kids bedrooms!  Such a mess!!  We were sleeping in Sam's room.  Her bed is so hard!!!  I couldn't sleep the first night so I decided to sleep downstairs on the floor in the living room with the pellet stove rather than in my Mom's bedroom as the cat sleeps on her bed and I'd be sneezing all night....the floor was not comfortable at all...the next night I decided to sleep in Sam's bed rather than the floor.

Carpet guys came and went...arrived here about 8 AM and left by 1 PM....wow, it looked so nice!  The carpet guy said it was pretty bad!  After all this carpet has been down for 27years!!!!  He really said it was pretty gross!!!

Thursday we brought the bed frame in and Charlie began to 'sort' out all the pieces.  Friday he figured he'd put it together...again, another outing for him - had to go to the chiropractor so we didn't finish putting it together.  The mattress was to be delivered between 12 noon and 4 pm, so we had more than enough time in the morning to put it together.

8AM I woke up and shook Charlie telling he that we should put the frame together....he said it would only take a few minutes so we could wait....well, not 5 minutes later the phone rings and they were delivering another mattress in Blairstown and asked if they could bring ours now....YIKES!!!  We both jumped out of bed and began putting it together....I had to move my car and it was done about 10 minutes before they arrived!!!  This bedframe has everything screwed in...headboard, sideboards and bottom frame all connected to the dividers in the middle.

When they left, we began bringing in the furniture.  Dusting and cleaning it all before bringing it in the nice clean carpet!  We were finished about 4 PM...exhausted!!!  But it looked so nice.

Several years ago I had bought a new comforter set.  I was going to put it on our bed but we had just gotten Marlee and I didn't want to do it seeing what she did to the older comforter set and due to our bed being a platform - it was hard to get the sham on...so it was put away; and used now!!!

After the room was put together I thought the windows needed something....off to Walmart for valances....got them and 7:30 AM the next day, I was washing screens and windows and putting up the new window treatments.

I love the way our room looks now!!! 

So much cleaning to do!!!  Dust everywhere from when Charlie put in the pellet stove - the hearth...with cutting the wood and putting down the tiles....so I had to dust off the bookshelves.

During all this, I cleaned Paul's bedroom.  I took out his bookcase (that had a ton of t-shirts) in it and placed them all in his closet.  Paul takes after me  - can't throw or give anything away!!!! so I found another place for all of them.  I moved the bookcase into my bathroom and am using it as a linen cabinet.  I bought baskets to put the stuff inside so it looks 'clean and organized' (of course I can't find anything even though I tried to keep things somewhat together).  I moved his shoe racks and just made his room neater!!!  Sam's room is done...I put a few flower arrangements in there.  She already had a wall unit in it that has her TV and other things...HER room looked more like the master suite than ours DID....now ours is beautiful!!!!

Next:  I want to make an atrium (where you  put plants), in the bathroom downstairs.  My sister Patty, has hers like that.  Putting a piece of plywood over the tub and putting plants around it with the shower curtain drawn back.....But I have to wait until its warmer as Charlie said its too cold outside to cut the plywood to fit.

All this = to make our house 'sellable'....as much as I prefer staying here...it will make a little more of an impression on 'lookers'...and as long as we're here - we can enjoy it!!!!