Friday, February 22, 2013
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!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
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!!!!
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!!!!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
CT scan report = December 05, 2012
it's all medical terms...but if you read the 'Impression' you may be able to understand it then......unremarkable means: good/great
CT of the chest without contrast:
Clinical history: Malignant neoplasm of the spienic fiexure, Comparison with PET CT 1/19/2012 was made.
Technique: Multidetector imaging was performed through the chest. Coronal reconstructions were performed.
Findings: The lungs are clear of nodules, effusions, infiltrate or consolidation.
The trachea, mainstem bronchi and segments are unremarkable.
No suspicious hilar, mediastinal or axillary adenopathy is noted. A small hiatal hernia is present. The aorta, heart, pericardium, thyroid, great vessels and pulmonary arteries are unremarkable.
The bones are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION: Small hiatal hernia.
CT of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast:
Technique: Multidetector imaging was obtained through the abdomen and pelvis with oral contrast.
Coronal reconstructions were performed.
Findings: The liver demonstrates a small area of decreased attenuation in the right lobe image 50 measuring 6 x 8 mm. This was shown to represent a hypermetabolic lesion on the comparison CT however on the noncontrast imaging previously it was not low-attenuation. This may represent an area of scarring post treatment. The fatty infiltration of the liver appears to have improved from the comparison study. Surgical clips are seen in the right anterior hepatic lobe images 61-64. The spleen, pancreas and adrenals are unremarkable. The kidneys are unremarkable.
There is no bowel obstruction. There is no ascites or adenopathy in the abdomen. The gallbladder is surgically absent.
The aorta, IVC, illaca, mesenteric vessels, portosplenic confluence and renal vessels are unremarkable.
There is no pelvic adenopathy, free fluid or masses. The bladder is unremarkable. Postsurgical changes are identified in the right anterior abdominal wall. The uterus and adnexa are unremarkable.
The bones are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION:
1. Small area of decreased attenuation in the liver where previously a metabolic lesion was seen on the 1/19/2012 PET/CT. Findings may be secondary to scarring.
2. Less fatty infiltration of the liver from comparison study.
3. Post cholecystectomy. Surgical clips identified within the liver.
CT of the chest without contrast:
Clinical history: Malignant neoplasm of the spienic fiexure, Comparison with PET CT 1/19/2012 was made.
Technique: Multidetector imaging was performed through the chest. Coronal reconstructions were performed.
Findings: The lungs are clear of nodules, effusions, infiltrate or consolidation.
The trachea, mainstem bronchi and segments are unremarkable.
No suspicious hilar, mediastinal or axillary adenopathy is noted. A small hiatal hernia is present. The aorta, heart, pericardium, thyroid, great vessels and pulmonary arteries are unremarkable.
The bones are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION: Small hiatal hernia.
CT of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast:
Technique: Multidetector imaging was obtained through the abdomen and pelvis with oral contrast.
Coronal reconstructions were performed.
Findings: The liver demonstrates a small area of decreased attenuation in the right lobe image 50 measuring 6 x 8 mm. This was shown to represent a hypermetabolic lesion on the comparison CT however on the noncontrast imaging previously it was not low-attenuation. This may represent an area of scarring post treatment. The fatty infiltration of the liver appears to have improved from the comparison study. Surgical clips are seen in the right anterior hepatic lobe images 61-64. The spleen, pancreas and adrenals are unremarkable. The kidneys are unremarkable.
There is no bowel obstruction. There is no ascites or adenopathy in the abdomen. The gallbladder is surgically absent.
The aorta, IVC, illaca, mesenteric vessels, portosplenic confluence and renal vessels are unremarkable.
There is no pelvic adenopathy, free fluid or masses. The bladder is unremarkable. Postsurgical changes are identified in the right anterior abdominal wall. The uterus and adnexa are unremarkable.
The bones are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION:
1. Small area of decreased attenuation in the liver where previously a metabolic lesion was seen on the 1/19/2012 PET/CT. Findings may be secondary to scarring.
2. Less fatty infiltration of the liver from comparison study.
3. Post cholecystectomy. Surgical clips identified within the liver.
Miracles Happen! I'm living proof!!!! Thurs., Jan. 24th
I feel like I'm dreaming and it's NOT a nightmare! This was a long journey, not only for myself but for my family and YOU!
Praise you Lord Jesus Christ!
I've been feeling so good these last few months and so relieved to hear the results of this scan that I had 7 weeks ago (if I wasn't so head strong, I would have found out then and really enjoyed my holidays but this just makes it like another great Christmas present).
Looking back = watching some TV shows and hearing 'stuff' about cancer kind of gave me a clue that I was okay.....I heard, if you get up to go to the bathroom between the hour of 2 to 3 AM that you have problems with your liver; if you have a coating on your tongue...which I HAD both! I also had this 'growth' (kind of pimple like) on my eyelid and never knew what it was or how to treat it. I did notice with the chemo that it had gone away. I also had an infection in my mouth (where I had a root canal done years ago) which I let go for at least a year (which I feel was the beginning of my cancer)......these were some of the symptoms I noticed on myself....could it be? I don't have any of them now....
My last chemo treatments was in late August. I only went 2 times instead of 3 due to the symptoms being so horrid. Then in September I went to Sloan to meet with the oncologist that does the liver pump (and if you read my blog = she was such a terrible person!) and with her attitude I/we decided to hold off. I was expecting to go to my niece's wedding in S.C. in late October (so I didn't want to start chemo again before that, knowing how terrible I'd feel), then the hurricane came and devastated this area - more so NYC....IF I had gone for the PUMP, I would have had the hardest time getting to the city. God is right there!!!! HE knew that this was happening! Then I finally made an appointment with Dr. May in November. I needed my port flushed and she requested that I go for a scan to see what was going on. Putting it off until the week after Thanksgiving I finally went - December 5th. I usually call to ask for a copy of the scan which Dr. May is always accommodating me and doing so...but feeling so good and knowing the holidays were upon us, I decided to wait and if I'd get a call - I wasn't even going to answer....I just didn't want to know....I wanted to enjoy my Christmas holidays with my family. Finally, knowing that my port needed to be flushed again, I hesitantly called to make the appointment and to find out the results of the scan. I called a few weeks ago and they were so busy I had to wait (10 weeks) until yesterday. --so many things go through your (my) mind....IF I did do the pump = then they would have said the same thing - disease free....but look what I would have had to go through....another 'full' cut on my liver PLUS another incision for the pump....AND having to go back and forth to NYC every other week PLUS to have to put up with that arrogant doctor! God does work in mysterious ways.....
My next appointment to see Dr. May will be in three (3) months. I will have to go back to have my port flushed every 6 to 8 weeks.
My journey has come to a 'stop sign' and hopefully with God's grace and prayers my miracle will continue until I am definitely in total remission (not sure how long that is - with breast cancer it's five (5) years; maybe the same with any type of cancer).
Diagnosed with Stage IV (4) Colon Cancer in October/November 2009 and began chemo in January 2010; on and off, surgery, on and off, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and some horrid symptoms, not all bad, not all good either....I AM A SURVIVOR!
Laughter and staying positive is the best medicine. Here it is, easy for me to say at this point in my life. Thee were times that I just wanted to 'stop' all of it....but with YOU, and my family, I continued on.....
Not sure how often I will blog....maybe once a month.....don't be a stranger...I'm on line with my emails and on facebook.
I can never express the 'thankful, joyous feeling' knowing that you all have walked me through this journey with the help of God, Jesus, Blessed Mother, all the Saints.....etc.....
Love to you all - always stay positive and BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I'm living proof!
Praise you Lord Jesus Christ!
I've been feeling so good these last few months and so relieved to hear the results of this scan that I had 7 weeks ago (if I wasn't so head strong, I would have found out then and really enjoyed my holidays but this just makes it like another great Christmas present).
Looking back = watching some TV shows and hearing 'stuff' about cancer kind of gave me a clue that I was okay.....I heard, if you get up to go to the bathroom between the hour of 2 to 3 AM that you have problems with your liver; if you have a coating on your tongue...which I HAD both! I also had this 'growth' (kind of pimple like) on my eyelid and never knew what it was or how to treat it. I did notice with the chemo that it had gone away. I also had an infection in my mouth (where I had a root canal done years ago) which I let go for at least a year (which I feel was the beginning of my cancer)......these were some of the symptoms I noticed on myself....could it be? I don't have any of them now....
My last chemo treatments was in late August. I only went 2 times instead of 3 due to the symptoms being so horrid. Then in September I went to Sloan to meet with the oncologist that does the liver pump (and if you read my blog = she was such a terrible person!) and with her attitude I/we decided to hold off. I was expecting to go to my niece's wedding in S.C. in late October (so I didn't want to start chemo again before that, knowing how terrible I'd feel), then the hurricane came and devastated this area - more so NYC....IF I had gone for the PUMP, I would have had the hardest time getting to the city. God is right there!!!! HE knew that this was happening! Then I finally made an appointment with Dr. May in November. I needed my port flushed and she requested that I go for a scan to see what was going on. Putting it off until the week after Thanksgiving I finally went - December 5th. I usually call to ask for a copy of the scan which Dr. May is always accommodating me and doing so...but feeling so good and knowing the holidays were upon us, I decided to wait and if I'd get a call - I wasn't even going to answer....I just didn't want to know....I wanted to enjoy my Christmas holidays with my family. Finally, knowing that my port needed to be flushed again, I hesitantly called to make the appointment and to find out the results of the scan. I called a few weeks ago and they were so busy I had to wait (10 weeks) until yesterday. --so many things go through your (my) mind....IF I did do the pump = then they would have said the same thing - disease free....but look what I would have had to go through....another 'full' cut on my liver PLUS another incision for the pump....AND having to go back and forth to NYC every other week PLUS to have to put up with that arrogant doctor! God does work in mysterious ways.....
My next appointment to see Dr. May will be in three (3) months. I will have to go back to have my port flushed every 6 to 8 weeks.
My journey has come to a 'stop sign' and hopefully with God's grace and prayers my miracle will continue until I am definitely in total remission (not sure how long that is - with breast cancer it's five (5) years; maybe the same with any type of cancer).
Diagnosed with Stage IV (4) Colon Cancer in October/November 2009 and began chemo in January 2010; on and off, surgery, on and off, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and some horrid symptoms, not all bad, not all good either....I AM A SURVIVOR!
Laughter and staying positive is the best medicine. Here it is, easy for me to say at this point in my life. Thee were times that I just wanted to 'stop' all of it....but with YOU, and my family, I continued on.....
Not sure how often I will blog....maybe once a month.....don't be a stranger...I'm on line with my emails and on facebook.
I can never express the 'thankful, joyous feeling' knowing that you all have walked me through this journey with the help of God, Jesus, Blessed Mother, all the Saints.....etc.....
Love to you all - always stay positive and BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I'm living proof!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Friday, January 11th - 12:23 AM
I only wrote the time (on my posting) because I haven't gone to bed yet and it still feels like Thursday!
I finally got up the nerve to make an appointment to have my port flushed....this is week #7 and they ask that you have it done between 6 to 8 weeks.....it will be 10 weeks but still okay.....so my appointment is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23rd.... I will find out the results of my scan at that time too....its been so long that Dr. May may want to do another one! NOT!!!
I'm feeling really good....have lots of energy and getting lots of things done! Cleaning out rooms and straightening them out - not throwing much (if anything) away but putting them in their own places! --if you know me, I HATE to throw anything out!!!
Still putting some Christmas decorations away....a few a day....I took the tree down on January 2nd....everytime I walked past it, it made my stomach ache! Just seeing the branches drooping made me so sad....and I knew when the ornaments were off - the tree would perk up again! and it did!!! It looks wonderful! outside on the front deck! I couldn't move it any where else as we still had snow on it.
I'm getting a little tired of seeing my Santa's around and a few extra decorations...so I'm sure they will be put away in the next day or two. I do have snowflakes on my windows, which I'm sure I may keep for another month....it is winter = even though the last few days feels like spring is in the air! Way to early to say that -- we can still get a lot of snow!!! 2 1/2 to 3 more months....anything is possible!!!!
Had a great month of December....celebrating Christmas with the Marra's, the following day with the Sinatra side and then it was just us on Christmas Day....New Years Eve was with our friends that live in this area -- my favorite holiday!! Enjoyed seeing everyone!!!
Nicholas and Charlie are planning a ski weekend in Colorado, Paul maybe going back to Miami for a month or maybe two (if he gets work) and Sam - well, her classes just started on Monday and she already has plans for her spring break - and they aren't planned for up here!
I finally got up the nerve to make an appointment to have my port flushed....this is week #7 and they ask that you have it done between 6 to 8 weeks.....it will be 10 weeks but still okay.....so my appointment is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23rd.... I will find out the results of my scan at that time too....its been so long that Dr. May may want to do another one! NOT!!!
I'm feeling really good....have lots of energy and getting lots of things done! Cleaning out rooms and straightening them out - not throwing much (if anything) away but putting them in their own places! --if you know me, I HATE to throw anything out!!!
Still putting some Christmas decorations away....a few a day....I took the tree down on January 2nd....everytime I walked past it, it made my stomach ache! Just seeing the branches drooping made me so sad....and I knew when the ornaments were off - the tree would perk up again! and it did!!! It looks wonderful! outside on the front deck! I couldn't move it any where else as we still had snow on it.
I'm getting a little tired of seeing my Santa's around and a few extra decorations...so I'm sure they will be put away in the next day or two. I do have snowflakes on my windows, which I'm sure I may keep for another month....it is winter = even though the last few days feels like spring is in the air! Way to early to say that -- we can still get a lot of snow!!! 2 1/2 to 3 more months....anything is possible!!!!
Had a great month of December....celebrating Christmas with the Marra's, the following day with the Sinatra side and then it was just us on Christmas Day....New Years Eve was with our friends that live in this area -- my favorite holiday!! Enjoyed seeing everyone!!!
Nicholas and Charlie are planning a ski weekend in Colorado, Paul maybe going back to Miami for a month or maybe two (if he gets work) and Sam - well, her classes just started on Monday and she already has plans for her spring break - and they aren't planned for up here!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
12/13/12 - I forgot to add this.....
Last month when we had the hurricane, lost power, trees down and all that good stuff...you'd think that the mail wouldn't be delivered....well, it was and I received a Jury Summons in the mail. Don't get me wrong, I really wouldn't mind doing my civic duty but for $5.00 a day and just the idea of having to sit and really listen to everything said - I really preferred not to....The information needed to get out of serving was one thing I was able to reply with - having an illness would prevent me from serving.... I needed a letter from the doctor and with the weather and the gasoline lines I wasn't really able to get there so I called and asked if they could fax or mail me a letter. This was done about November 3rd. Days went by, no phone call or letter faxed or mailed to me.... I need to have my port flushed every 4 to 8 weeks if I am not doing chemo. I had gone the last week of September and wasn't due until the middle of November. I needed to reply to the county within ten days so I made a copy of my last/latest CT and MRI scan and sent it to them. They replied that it was not what they wanted and I still had to report to them. To make a long story short (which as you already know me, I can't do it!)....I had to have my port flushed and I picked up the letter and faxed it to the county.
I did get a reply saying that I was excused.....now my neighbor and good friend had gotten the same Jury Summons....SHE had to go to the court house and she told me that this was going to be a 'murder trial'!!!! She said that they asked people if they were unable to give at minimum of two/three weeks on this jury and needed to be excused to step aside....She said about 3/4 of them went to that side! Took her all day before she was able to leave. They had to interview everyone to find out their excuse, hers was that she and her husband had planned a vacation. She also said that EVERY one that received this summons was called to show up. Half the people went in the morning and the other half went in the afternoon. She did get out of it.
Murder trial!!! Two young guys in Phillipsburg supposedly killed someone........I'm sure it would have been an interesting trial but - if for some reason these two kids didn't do it and were committed - how awful I would have felt or visa versa....I really don't like the idea of putting someones life in my hands.....again, if you know me...I'd be the one of the jury members that would question EVERYTHING!!! and be a juror like the OJ Simson case!!!
I did get a reply saying that I was excused.....now my neighbor and good friend had gotten the same Jury Summons....SHE had to go to the court house and she told me that this was going to be a 'murder trial'!!!! She said that they asked people if they were unable to give at minimum of two/three weeks on this jury and needed to be excused to step aside....She said about 3/4 of them went to that side! Took her all day before she was able to leave. They had to interview everyone to find out their excuse, hers was that she and her husband had planned a vacation. She also said that EVERY one that received this summons was called to show up. Half the people went in the morning and the other half went in the afternoon. She did get out of it.
Murder trial!!! Two young guys in Phillipsburg supposedly killed someone........I'm sure it would have been an interesting trial but - if for some reason these two kids didn't do it and were committed - how awful I would have felt or visa versa....I really don't like the idea of putting someones life in my hands.....again, if you know me...I'd be the one of the jury members that would question EVERYTHING!!! and be a juror like the OJ Simson case!!!
Thursday, December 13th
I went LAST WEEK (Wednesday) for my CT scan and still haven't heard anything from the oncologist....not that it's a bad thing as I prefer to wait until the new year to find out the results of it....I'm feeling good and praying that: no news is GREAT news! I'm afraid even if I see their name on my caller ID that I won't answer the phone right now....
For anyone that received my Christmas card and didn't see a 'holiday newsletter' in it...I figured I say enough about everyone and everything on this blog - so this is it = my daily newsletter!
Nicholas is in China for ten days (on business) and he called me yesterday morning, our time: 8:20 AM and his time: 9:20 PM....he called me from his cell phone and it sounded like he was in the next room! Our connection seemed better -there - than when he talks to me from here! The weather is winter time too - chilly! He has the weekend off so he and his co-worker will do some sightseeing...asked him if he sees a Budda key chain to get me one! He kind of looked last year when he went the first time. I also saw the hotel that he's staying at on line - it's beautiful!!!! So nice and has so many restaurants that he doesn't even have to leave the building! I did ask him this time as he didn't remember or look last time === they have a gas mask right by the door and my question was, do they have a Bible....NO was his answer...hmmmm.
Paul and Samantha will be coming home soon! Of course, not soon enough for me....but we did have kids to let them fly and boy did they leave the nest!!!!
Charlie is still putting in the pellet stove. Thanks for the help from his brother Christopher in helping him put up the stone and lay the floor on the hearth...now Charlie is 'trying' to run the pipe up and out the chimney of the original fireplace....he was having such a hard time and found out the other day that he was actually missing one piece - now the puzzle of the pipes fitting together will work! He's off tomorrow and will finish it up and we'll be HOT in our, kind of, chilly house. The wood stove heats up the back of the house and this pellet stove should heat our bedroom (upstairs) and the rest of the front of the house (we have a high ceiling where the stove is).
I'm still putting up decorations around the house. I was able to do 'some' because we had stored them in the basement (as Charlie thought it would be easier to have them already to go - when we move....which didn't happen THIS year)...and then I had to wait until he had time to get the rest of the stuff down from the attic. Now with being busy, shopping and doing hair cuts...I'm a little behind and my house is definitely a mess! Stuff in every room, nook and corner!!!
I'm not happy with our fresh tree this year...it looked so nice when Charlie put it in the stand...then I added the lights - lots of them and then the ornaments......and then - the branches started drooping!!! My ornaments are too heavy for the branches!!! Even the strings of lights are sliding off. I don't even enjoy lighting the tree! I usually keep the tree up until two weeks after new years...but this year = it will be down on January 2nd! It's much narrower than ever too, I can't fit all my ornaments on it...and I have such beautiful ones that I can't even hang....I have to keep them in the box. I did hang a few 'memory' ones on my screens (my screens are on the inside of the windows)...but those are the 'flat' ones too.....I was so upset that I was ready to take out our artificial tree but it was in the attic and having everything on it already - where would I begin to re-decorate....taking all the ornaments off and then the lights and then doing it all again....na, I just look the other way when I walk past it......and every now and then, I hear an ornament fall off.
I was checking some medical stuff on line and found that people that have had their gallbladder removed have a higher chance of getting colon cancer....hmmmm. I didn't realize that and if I did, I may have gone for a colonoscopy sooner....so, my advise to anyone that has had this surgery - when you are 50 yrs. old = go for one!!!
Thank YOU again, for keeping me in your prayers and from our family to you: We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!!!
Believe in Miracles!!!!
For anyone that received my Christmas card and didn't see a 'holiday newsletter' in it...I figured I say enough about everyone and everything on this blog - so this is it = my daily newsletter!
Nicholas is in China for ten days (on business) and he called me yesterday morning, our time: 8:20 AM and his time: 9:20 PM....he called me from his cell phone and it sounded like he was in the next room! Our connection seemed better -there - than when he talks to me from here! The weather is winter time too - chilly! He has the weekend off so he and his co-worker will do some sightseeing...asked him if he sees a Budda key chain to get me one! He kind of looked last year when he went the first time. I also saw the hotel that he's staying at on line - it's beautiful!!!! So nice and has so many restaurants that he doesn't even have to leave the building! I did ask him this time as he didn't remember or look last time === they have a gas mask right by the door and my question was, do they have a Bible....NO was his answer...hmmmm.
Paul and Samantha will be coming home soon! Of course, not soon enough for me....but we did have kids to let them fly and boy did they leave the nest!!!!
Charlie is still putting in the pellet stove. Thanks for the help from his brother Christopher in helping him put up the stone and lay the floor on the hearth...now Charlie is 'trying' to run the pipe up and out the chimney of the original fireplace....he was having such a hard time and found out the other day that he was actually missing one piece - now the puzzle of the pipes fitting together will work! He's off tomorrow and will finish it up and we'll be HOT in our, kind of, chilly house. The wood stove heats up the back of the house and this pellet stove should heat our bedroom (upstairs) and the rest of the front of the house (we have a high ceiling where the stove is).
I'm still putting up decorations around the house. I was able to do 'some' because we had stored them in the basement (as Charlie thought it would be easier to have them already to go - when we move....which didn't happen THIS year)...and then I had to wait until he had time to get the rest of the stuff down from the attic. Now with being busy, shopping and doing hair cuts...I'm a little behind and my house is definitely a mess! Stuff in every room, nook and corner!!!
I'm not happy with our fresh tree this year...it looked so nice when Charlie put it in the stand...then I added the lights - lots of them and then the ornaments......and then - the branches started drooping!!! My ornaments are too heavy for the branches!!! Even the strings of lights are sliding off. I don't even enjoy lighting the tree! I usually keep the tree up until two weeks after new years...but this year = it will be down on January 2nd! It's much narrower than ever too, I can't fit all my ornaments on it...and I have such beautiful ones that I can't even hang....I have to keep them in the box. I did hang a few 'memory' ones on my screens (my screens are on the inside of the windows)...but those are the 'flat' ones too.....I was so upset that I was ready to take out our artificial tree but it was in the attic and having everything on it already - where would I begin to re-decorate....taking all the ornaments off and then the lights and then doing it all again....na, I just look the other way when I walk past it......and every now and then, I hear an ornament fall off.
I was checking some medical stuff on line and found that people that have had their gallbladder removed have a higher chance of getting colon cancer....hmmmm. I didn't realize that and if I did, I may have gone for a colonoscopy sooner....so, my advise to anyone that has had this surgery - when you are 50 yrs. old = go for one!!!
Thank YOU again, for keeping me in your prayers and from our family to you: We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!!!
Believe in Miracles!!!!
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