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)

11/20/2011 - Downhill Race time!

I was given unexpected GREAT NEWS today during radiation (yes, even Sunday's I'l go to keep on track) ----  I start my FINAL 8 boosts tomorrow instead of Wednesday!!! That means I'll be DONE by December 2nd!!!  I am so glad for the news and am on the final downhill race!
This truly is a wonderful Birthday gift.

1971 - sledding down Prince St. in Ramsey

11/17/11 -- no longer skating on thin ice

Radiation #23!!  2 more, then 8 boosters and the WHOLE ORDEAL IS DONE!!!  Well, except for the clearing of the side effects, but I am seeing the end of the trail and am ready to lie down in the field. I am ready to look up into the sky, feel the sun on my face, the breeze through my hair….yes, I don’t ask for much.

I am ready to celebrate Thanksgiving (which my birthday shares this year) and then throw our Neighborhood Christmas Party and then enjoy the rest of the Holidays!  I normally have great patience, but I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa to come down the chimney!!!

I’m no longer skating on thin ice – Napolitano’s Pond has the thick ice and I’m ready to learn to skate again!

11/3/2011 There's Always Tomorrow....

I thought radiation would be a breeze.  I thought “It doesn’t matter. It’s a piece of cake!”  Once again, I am taught that I don’t know everything and cannot predict everything either.

Radiation is a CONSTANT DAILY REMINDER of what I was diagnosed with 8 months ago.  It is a DAILY DRUDGERY of what I’ve had to go through, what I’ve missed, what I’m fighting, what EVERY WOMAN I go through this with is BATTLING. In the radiation waiting room:  I see them cry, I hear their stories, I see their fears…but I also help celebrate THEIR LAST DAY.  Of course, I am envious of them, but know my countdown is in action as well.  When Friday comes, I’ll be ALMOST halfway through.  Next week another woman will be done.  What do we do when we’re done?  We’ve been living, breathing, and eating this for MONTHS!  What do we do when it’s over?  Cry some more?

I still have residual chemo side effects (itching, swelling, moon face…) and don’t feel myself yet.  Will these all go away when radiation is over?  Will my body FINALLY PURGE those damned steroids!??!?!  Will I recognize myself next year?  Will my hair come back red again?  Yes, LOTS of questions that I have to await answers for.

As Clarice the Reindeer sings every year, http://www.xmasfun.com/Lyrics.asp?ID=66:

 There's always tomorrow,

                                     For dreams to come true,
                                    Believe in your dreams
                                    Come what may.

There's always tomorrow,

                                    With so much to do,
                                    And so little time in a day.

We all pretend

                                    The rainbow has an end
                                    And you'll be there my friend someday.

There's always tomorrow,

                                    For dreams to come true,
                                    Tomorrow is not far away.

10/23/2011 DOGZILLA!!

4 down of my 33 Radiations!  No side-effects to speak of – yet.
I had lunch today with one of my BEST MOTIVATORS, cousin Robert! He’s been a great influence on my spirits when they get low.  When they were at their gloomiest (Blog entry 9/6/11), he rallied behind me and promised Fuddruckers Dogzillas when I was ready to start eating again.  Yes, sometimes when you can’t eat anything and you are plied with something juicy and yummy, it DOES HELP your EMOTIONAL STATE!

So, a month later we meet in Paramus and I get to see one of his race cars.  Then we make plans for next summer, which helps my mood more because I completely missed the summer of 2011!

THEN, I get a call from one of my BEST BUDDIES, Elise!  She’s gonna come up North next weekend for a visit!  This truly is a GOOD DAY!!