Wonderful News!!

I know several of you have been praying for my friend Charlotte. A week ago she called me to tell me that her cancer is in remission!! That is the best news I've heard in a LONG TIME! I'm still smiling and PRAISING GOD for this wonderful news.

the wait is over!

Most of you don't know that I had a suspicious Mammo about a month ago, I didn't want everyone to worry about it and I really felt that I was OK, it's the waiting for the confirmation of that that was so difficult. There were all kinds of complications in getting the right information to them so they could determine what the changes were. During all my Dr. visits last year somehow my mammo from last year got lost in the shuffle. It took over a week of phone calls to track it down and then get it to the radiologists who did the current one. The report said that there were some changes and/or irregularities in the right breast at the site of the surgery. That resulted in my having to get an MRI for a closer look. The MRI was last week and I finally got the results from the Dr. today. Praise God!! Everything is normal!! It has been a very tense month for us. I guess I'll be going through this every 6 months for at least 5 years.

Otherwise, things are going well... my hair is continuing to grow and fill in and yes, it's still pretty curly. Henderson Libraries has just opened our new library inside the Galleria Mall and it's very cozy! If you live in the area come down and see it. I'm still hyped about the Creative Memories conference that I went to a couple of weeks ago. I'm looking forward to getting my business up on it's feet again. Dr. Gardner loved the book I made about my journey with breast cancer (his picture was on the cover). Digital scrapbooking is so awesome!

Who would have thought I'd have curls?!?!

Some of you know... because I braved it on Sunday and attended church without my wig. It was sort of scary because it looks so different than any hairstyle (and I use that term very loosely) I've ever worn. I've been testing my courage and going out on short trips without my wig, I went to the local Fresh and Easy where I always shop and they didn't know me at first and then one clerk said "why did you cut that beautiful hair off?" that sent me scurrying home to get my wig! I almost went to work yesterday without it, but that was a mistake... half way to work I glanced in the rear view mirror and realized that I'd forgotten to put my wig on. I did a quick U turn back home to get it!

My hair is very soft like baby hair and it definitely has a mind of it's own, so I have to learn how to manage it. I have a lot more hair in the back than I do in the front and I've heard that is pretty common. I also was told that it could come in curly and it has, I'm not sure if that will last or if it will go away after a trim or two. The color is pretty much the same as I had before, I was hoping for more white but it's still predominately gray with a little bit of silver.

I took my wig in for it's 30,000 mile checkup and the gals at "the Wig Cottage" told me it was in great shape, I had it steam cleaned to poof it up a little bit and it looks pretty good. My own hair is starting to creep out around the edges so I probably won't be wearing it much longer. I got a super conditioner that is supposed to stimulate the hair growth, so I'm hoping it will help the front come in a little thicker and stronger.

The good thing is I should have plenty of hair by the time it gets hot again, it's not fun wearing a "hat" (as I affectionately refer to my wig as) in the 100 plus degrees that we have here in vegas. Now for the pictures I took yesterday...

Cleaning Poem

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes'

He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work...?

I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site.
That I got SO way into.
I was into it all night. <>

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.

Thank you for being my e-mail buddy and friend!

Taking a Deep Breath After the Holidays

Sorry I've been absent from this blog for so long... but the good news is I haven't been sick, I've been so well that I've stayed very busy!

November 14-16 I (I really should say God) lead the ladies retreat for our church. It was such an awesome experience and I felt like I grew as much as anyone there. I was so often brought to tears by the power of God exhibited in so many of the participants, as the ladies shared their hearts and souls with all of us. I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to pull it all together this year, but I should've know that "God is in Control" especially because that was the theme! My friends Char and Donna (who came from Michigan to attend kept reminding me). It has been the theme of my life for the last several months as well. I thank and praise Him for His grace and healing power in my life.

The retreat center was great, "Life-Giving Spring Retreat Center" in Boulder City, NV. It was our first time there and we loved it! Everyone on staff there was very gracious and accommodating, the director Dave Miller made sure that every detail was handled expediently and completely.

We spent Thanksgiving with Jerry and our Grandsons at our friends Mui and Chris' house. They have children close to the ages of our Grandkids, so they had a ball. We had so much to be thankful for!

The weekend after Thanksgiving Bill and I went to Prescott, AZ to unwind and relax. We stayed at the Hassayampa Inn, a lovely old hotel with lots of charm. This is a picture from the lobby... It took me at least a day to start to unwind and then it was almost time to return home. We did get the opportunity to ride the Verde Canyon Railway and I took lots of gorgeous pictures

That was very relaxing. The other exciting thing was I found a knit shop that was clearing out it's inventory and I got some awesome yarn really CHEAP! Also found a pattern book that I've been searching for for almost a year, for only $2!! We took a side trip to Sedona on our way home, which added several miles to the trip, Bill really wanted to visit the European Deli that we found last spring.

We were pretty tired when we got back home. A trip this short to "relax" wasn't ideal, but it was still fun!

December arrived and I was so thrilled that I had the energy and enthusiasm to put up the Christmas decorations. Each ornament brought back memories of the past and meant so much.

Bill says we need to get a smaller tree, but that wouldn't hold all my ornaments!

Things slowed down a bit at work toward the end of December, but the food kept coming... we have the "12 days of Christmas" which consists of everyone bringing all kinds of favorite holiday treats. I'm sure I gained at least 5 pounds... and It was so worth it!

My Grandkids convinced me to be evaluated on their "Wii Fit" and that was a real eye opener. Guess I need to go back on my diet!

I finished my book about my experience with breast cancer with 26 minutes to spare. I had set December 31st as my goal, I just got it in the mail on Wednesday and I'm very pleased with the end result. Let me know if you'd like to see it.

the last chapter

I finally had my port removed today after a long saga of delays and mix ups. Pictures above show the top and bottom sides of the port, I kept it for a souvenir. Now the rest of the story....

• First my Dr.'s office didn't think that Steinberg was a provider for my new insurance. So I was in the dilemma of having a port that was put in by Steinberg and having no one who wanted to remove a port that they didn't install.
  

• Then my surgeon said he would do it, however he was booked up for at least a month, I made the soonest appt. I could with him.

• Then they had to change it a couple of times because he had more urgent cases to attend to. I certainly understood that, but I still had this silly port and I really wanted to be done with it.

• I called my new insurance and asked them what could be done to facilitate having this port removed. They told me that Steinberg was a provider with them and helped me get an appt. for today.

• I was instructed to stop taking the Cumaden 5 days before the surgery, I was also instructed to get my blood work done the Friday before the surgery. So I dutifully did what I was told.

• When I went for my blood work they didn't have the order from the Dr. that was supposed to have been called in several days before. So I waited 1 hour while they contacted the Dr. and had it FAX'ed over.
  

• When it was finally my turn to see the nurse I asked "just what are they drawing blood for?" I was told to see if the effects of the Cumaden had worn off, I said that would be pretty amazing since I had taken my last pill the night before.

• I went on Tuesday to get my blood drawn and expected to not have to wait since I was told that being a STAT order they would take me right in. NOT!!t So I waited about 45 minutes

• Steinberg's called me Tuesday afternoon to tell me they had the results and the surgery was a go, but could I please come in a couple of hours earlier than originally scheduled. At this point I would have come at midnight to get this done!

• When I got to Steinberg's they didn't have my new insurance info even though I FAX'ed it over to them days ago.

• The order they had from my Dr. said to remove the "chest" port, small problem my port is in my arm!

• So I waited again while they contacted the Dr. and got a new order to have it removed from the right location.
  

• The port was removed successfully other than an inordinate amount of bleeding, they couldn't get it to stop so they could stitch me up but they finally did and I was able to go home "portless"!!

Oh, and just in case you think I was embellishing this whole tale, this was the shortened version!!

Now my life is all about the retreat that I'm doing with the women of my church, spending time with my family and friends and getting back to normal at work, much more important causes than all the medical nonsense above!

Blessings to All,
Sue

The Results are in!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I finally got the results of my CT scan today and I am cancer free!! The Dr. was very pleased with my over all condition, except for a few extra pounds that she said I must shed. She gave me the order to have my port removed... YEAH!!! I think that is what I needed to hear to believe that this journey is really coming to an end. The soonest I could get into the surgeon for that to happen is the end of this month. Praise God for healing me!!

Dr. Wierman is very tricky, she asked me to raise my legs 12 inches and lower them slowly... while I was laying on the examination table, so naturally I did what she asked. She then told me that since I can do it I need to do it at least 30 times each day!! Along with changing my diet and walking each day.

Since my insurance wouldn't approve a PET scan which is what Dr. Wierman really wanted me to have, she is having me come back for another CT scan in 3 months, she will probably be watching me very closely for the first year.

I feel really good and have most of my energy back. I'm not nearly as scatterbrained as I was during the chemo, although I still have my moments. My memory has greatly improved, in my learn and play class I have 15 little ones and I knew all their names by the second class.

I still don't have enough hair to go wig less, but it's getting there. It seems to be coming in fairly thick, but it sure is growing slow! It is definitely white in the front with some salt and pepper shades on the sides and back. I'm still hoping for some curls but it doesn't look that way so far.

I'm busy at work and when not at work I'm getting ready for the ladies retreat for our church, so all in all things are pretty much back to normal.

Blessings to all who prayed diligently for me through this entire time, I couldn't have done this without the support you have given me. Sue

The thrill of wearing deodorant!!

WOW, I can't believe so much time has gone by since I last blogged! When we got back from our trip I had to hit the ground running at my job. I'm doing the Learn and Play storytimes for little ones (6 months to 3 years) and I have 15 signed up this time!

The trip was wonderful and the wedding was amazing! Audrey was such a gorgeous bride! It was great being with family, we celebrated Mom's 80th birthday and Mom and Dad's 62nd anniversary at a picnic the day after the wedding.

When we went to visit Bill's "Dad" at the Veteran's Home we were so pleased that he is doing better than we could ever have dreamed a year ago. There is another resident there (a female in assisted living) who has decided to adopt Dad and make sure he eats everything at every meal and that he gets to any activities that he can participate in etc. She is an angel in our eyes and I'm sure in Dad's eyes too.

We also were able to spend time with our nephew Michael who is doing a wonderful job managing his Mom's care. Norma is now in a nursing home with Hospice care. We got to spend some time with her at the hospital while we were there.

Also had lunch with Bill's cousin Albert, dinner with nephew's and nieces and their children, and the traditional visit to the Thai restaurant with Steve and Kathy.

All in all it was a wonderful trip with a safe and uneventful flight home.

My burns are pretty well healed and I'm waiting for the final tests (CAT scan and PET scan) to be scheduled. My biggest thrill this week is that I'm able to wear deodorant again!! It doesn't take much to make me happy these days.

I'll be reporting the results of my scans when they are available.

Blessings to all,
Sue