5/31/12 --- May Flowers (brought!)

So I made it through May with:

• A growing head of hair – YAY!!!!
•  The knowledge that I’ll probably have my gallbladder removed…and that’s OK!   
• Going to physical therapy 3x/week to strengthen my spaghetti legs – it’s WORKING!
• A GREAT TRIP to Arizona with Michael & Liz where we hung out in Sedona, Phoenix, Tempe and Tucson with Camille and her family.  It was AWESOME to see the kids older and meeting the new ones.
• And only two more weeks of school!

Sunday I do my FIRST breast cancer walk – the Michelle Offsie Walk in Edison, NJ.  I named my team, Fight Like a Girl, and have 7 friends/family members walking with me!  The weather prediction is sunny, but not too hot. PERFECT walking weather.   

4/21/2012 1-year Anniversaries

A year ago today I had my 2^nd biopsy that let me know what I was in for.  I find I’m checking off these 1-year anniversaries off to make sure nothing else goes down.  I still have side effects (rashes, itching, fatigue, etc.) from treatments and lately have been having gallbladder attacks.  They’re more frequent so I went for an ultrasound yesterday.  Yeah, another anniversary met.  Results should be back next week.  More surgery?  Go to a very strict diet?  Who knows?  I do know that in a month I’ll be flying out to Phoenix to meet my brother & sister-in-law for a week in AZ.  Spend some time north then go south to see Camille and my new grand-niece & nephew!  Can’t wait!!

4/9/2012 ... I Can See Clearly Now ...

A year ago today I had my annual mammogram and my journey through breast cancer began.  Today I went for my first follow-up mammo & ultrasound.  I was VERY nervous, anxious and in the same boat – hubby is away on a business trip and my son is staying over a friend’s.  I pray that I do NOT receive similar news this time around.  I slept horribly.  My appointment was at 7am and I got my results by 8am – I AM CLEAR!!!  Thank God!!

I also go for a blood test to see where my iron levels are – hopefully I’m no longer anemic.  I will also see how the other levels are, specifically the cancer markers.

THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has helped me through my treatments and
who’ve read my blog.  It kept me going.

It's Been 2 Months...

It’s been two months since my treatments ended.  I didn’t know if I’d have more to say, but of course I do!  Loquacious is my middle name after all! :) 

We all make New Year’s Resolutions, hoping to make ourselves better people.  I now realize how futile they really are when prayers for a better and healthier year are what we should be making.  So, this year, 2012, I pray it to be a better and healthier year.

I’ve been getting iron infusions these past 2 weeks.  Yep, good ‘ole chemo isn’t done with me yet!  I became anemic, so I’m getting these IV’s to refill my body’s iron tank (which was ¼ full in January!).  I have 3 to go and that should do it.  If not, I go for some more.  So, being tired these past couple months, passing out after working for a day…yeah, anemia does that to yah.  At least I know there’s a reason.

I’m working some days at the school and using those stairs to help get my leg and knee muscles back in shape!  I feel so weak and unfamiliar to myself.  When I can get up those stairs without stopping, then I know I can re-join Curves and start to REALLY build my muscles up!

Chris took me to St Thomas as an end-of-treament+birthday+Christmas present!  BOY WAS IT GORGEOUS!!!!  We had a very relaxing time and I got my sun and sand!  I missed that last year – sun, sand, getting my hands dirty in the garden, and all the other things I do in the sun.  Here are some pictures, http://www.tiny9.com/u/my_pix.

End of Year sum-up

12/17/2011

Mission now:  PHYSICAL FITNESS!!!

I started walking and dong weight loss programs on the exercise bike this week.  Overdid it a little on the walking…I aggravated my sacroiliac. WAH!!!  So, now I’m seeing my chiropractor to un-aggravate it.

12/23/2011

Saw Dr. Taylor (my wonderful bone cracker) 3 times this week and feel better.  It will take another week to get back to exercise shape though.  Sometimes we want things too much and over shoot our goals.

Today is a day for remembrance… Beautiful Maureen…today is her year anniversary, as well as ours for mourning.  I’m gonna head to South Jersey to see the folks overnight then bring them back up here for a 3-night 4-day stay over at the Marriott up the street for Christmas weekend.  It’ll be a mini-getaway for them and bring the family together for Christmas.

I VERY THANKFUL to see this Christmas and look forward to the NEW Year ahead.  What wonders will it bring?  My eyes look to the future in anticipation.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!

Her EVER Smiling Face

12/9/2011 I'M DONE!!!!!

Iiiiiiii'm FREE!!!!!  http://youtu.be/rGa70tVYVKo
Today was MY LAST DAY OF RADIATION!!!!!! 
The END to a heck of a year.
I am THANKFUL for all my supporters and Loved ones always there to BOOST ME UP and help me out!!  It would have been a truly miserable year without YOU ALL!

12/1/2011 -- OK...one more time!

HAPPY DECEMBER!!
Whelp, tomorrow was SUPPOSED to be the last boost of radiation day, BUT…this past Monday I saw the doctor before my scheduled boost.  It was then she confirmed what I pretty much already knew (and dreaded).  I had severe radiation burn. WAH!  Yeah, it hurt reeeaaaalll bad -- enough to send me into tears over the Thanksgiving weekend and drop some pain killers.

I used the silvadene cream and gauze along with saline soaks as directed and a week later I am 90% healed!  So, the lighter side now is I should be BACK on track and FINISH treatments next week!!!  Just in time to enjoy the upcoming parties. 

Also on the light side….my hair is now growing faster.  I am up to a half inch!!  Yep, the same as it was 48 years ago.  Wow...it's been that long?!?!?  (pun intended)