Its a New Day

I finished my radiation treatments on November 23rd - the day before Julia's birthday (she was really hoping I would be done before her birthday so we could celebrate together). The whole experience went so quickly, it was August 23rd that I had the lumpectomy and 3 months later I was done radiation.  I couldn't write about this sooner, emotionally and physically I just couldn't do it.  I just started talking more about all that happened and what I went through, but it was hard. I mean it was hard . I had no real idea going into it what was going to happen and how I was going to respond (especially since I respond sooo well to things - let the sarcasm drip) but it was not great. My weeks of treatment went like this (there were 21 sessions that went Monday to Friday with weekends off): Monday-Friday: work 9 till about 12 (depending on what time treatment was)                            leave for hosp...

The countdown started after day 1 and there are now 15 treatments left! This week has been pretty rough again.  Lots of migraine and extra head pain, exhaustion - coupled with insomnia (it was really nice to sleep for a few nights) and now breast pain. Tuesday I could hardly function, my head was so bad.  I was so thankful to have Jen come with me to my treatment and drive (there was no way I could do that).  My head was just throbbing.  I was trying to think of how to describe it - like a CD being put into the slot and slicing through my brain. That's the closest I can think of it. I often stop at Rachel's on the way home, it is just a bit too far to drive all the way home with feeling so tired, and Rylee has been my nurse.  If I close my eyes, she puts a blanket on me or tucks a dolly in my arms or just sits and snuggles and tells the other kids to "Shhhhh".  Julia keeps letting me how tired I look.  Thanks honey, I appreciate that. :) I have...

It is hard to believe that it has been a week since I started radiation, and what a whirlwind it has been!  Last Thursday was my first treatment.  Tini came along with me.  We had a quick visit with the nurse and then got changed and headed in.  A scan was done and then 5 minutes later I was done.  As I was getting off the table, the nurse said "See you tomorrow". Those 3 words hit me like a ton of bricks! See you tomorrow We drove back to Tini's and had some tea and relaxed, a had a headache starting so I headed to Rachel's (I had to give an in person update and get some kid snuggles) before I headed home. We told Tristan, Hannah and Julia a few days before, just in case they overhear someone at church talking about it.  I wanted them to hear it from me first.  They took it really well.  Tristan and Hannah just were glad that it was out and the treatment I was going to have would be helpful. Julia is the thinker/worrier.  She would...

It is hard to believe that it has only been a week since I hear the words "the lump had cancer". In July I saw my family doctor.  The lump that we had been watching since about 2011 was really starting to hurt, every day I would have sharp almost like lightening pains shooting through it.  A few days later, on a Thursday morning, I was at Free Port Hospital for a mammogram and ultrasound. Friday morning I got a call that the radiologist recommended a surgical consult.  Everything looked good, but as it had grown a little bit and I was experiencing pain, it was worth looking into. Six weeks later, I was sitting in Dr. M's office and she said that all indications were that it was just a mass that was growing a bit.  It was only 1.3 x 1.8 x .2.5 cm, just shy of the 3cm that she usually likes it to be, but again, as it was hurting she would remove it.  She had a cancellation the next Thursday morning, so we booked it. I had to have an ultrasound guided needl...

I was looking at the blog today to find another blog that I like to follow and realized that I haven't written anything since October 31st, 2014!! That's 4 years!  I guess that writing everyday for 30 days just did me right in :). So what has happened in 4 years.  Let's see.  Isaiah, Rylee, Trent, Ian and Easton were all born. I moved out of Rachel & Ryan's to a place out in the country (a little bit farther out than I'd like to be but a great location).  I joined the Hosanna choir and have loved singing again. Three kiddies from Amanda Some things haven't changed.  Still work for RPM (next week is 16 years!!!) and still have the migraines, but we're working on that. September 2016, I was walking and injured my heel.  After seeing the doctor and trying a few things, I went to a specialist.  Long story short, I ended up wearing an Air Cast for 10 months and endured some pretty painful procedures.  Fast forward to February 2018 and I w...

Yep, combined days again (yesterday was a day spent in bed with a migraine so no post). It is hard to believe that it is already the end of the 31 Days.  This has been an interesting experience - being conscious of being thankful for 31 days.  So in light of that I am thankful for this opportunity to have, in writing, 31 Days of Thankfulness. Looking over these posts will be a great reminder of God's great blessings and gifts to me. 

I am thankful today for clothing.  Does that sound weird?  I see lots and lots of clothing come in through the thrift store and while sometimes it makes me feel a bit crazy, I am thankful that we have options.  Sweaters for when it is cold - good snuggling ones and nicer lighter ones for in the office.  When I read back of days gone by and they had 1 good dress and 1 every day dress with aprons to wear over top, I am thankful that we have options.  I do try to go through my closet every season and if I didn't wear it, it gets passed on to someone else who could maybe use it.  My closet is not full to overflowing - by any means.  Quite frankly, I don't have room for a lot of clothing in my storage space so if it doesn't fit then something has to go. (quite handy really). In fact, I think that I have more quilting material than I do clothing... maybe I need to be working on making that pile smaller too... Yesterday was a beautiful warm day and toda...