So Carrie & I went to Omaha to see Dr. B today (thanks for taking me Carrie!). Anyway, we weren't quite sure what was going to happen at this appt - we thought probably the date for the surgery would be set up. Dr. B also wanted to check out the size of the tumor . . . and what she found was that it had gone from the size of a ping pong ball to the size of a dime (and flat) - GREAT NEWS! And the radiation & chemo will continue working, so it may shrink even smaller. So the surgery date is set - it will happen in Omaha - the pre-op date is set and the follow up date is set!
We found out that Dr. B's staff is just as caring and genuine as she is - and I got to meet her medical assistant Nickole face to face - which was nice because I had only talked to her on the phone.
I am feeling really good this week - and I believe that the energy level is coming back - I'll see if I can get some work done outside this week - I have some rose bushes to work on and some new plants to get in the soil.
Anyway, I am feeling glad that things are all set up and I can now kind of plan where we go from here . . . and at the same time am a little anxious about the surgery. One step at a time!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Mother's Day
I slept in! For those of you that know me - I love to sleep in!
Jeff called to see what I was doing, and wanted to know if I wanted to come down and spend some quality time with #2 grandson - so of course I said yes. So while I watched Brant, Jeff, Jill and Brody worked outside putting down new landscape timbers and mulch and Jill got some flowers planted.
Then we came back to town and Jeff & Justin barbecued some turkey broils (my favorite) - so we were ready to eat supper when John got off work. Carrie & Jill brought everything for the meal. Then John & Brody & Carrie & Jill went out to the lakes in the convertible so they could check out a spot to have Brody's birthday party. They also ran into our friends Mike & Mary who were at their camper.
Needless to say I had a great Mother's Day!!
Jeff called to see what I was doing, and wanted to know if I wanted to come down and spend some quality time with #2 grandson - so of course I said yes. So while I watched Brant, Jeff, Jill and Brody worked outside putting down new landscape timbers and mulch and Jill got some flowers planted.
Then we came back to town and Jeff & Justin barbecued some turkey broils (my favorite) - so we were ready to eat supper when John got off work. Carrie & Jill brought everything for the meal. Then John & Brody & Carrie & Jill went out to the lakes in the convertible so they could check out a spot to have Brody's birthday party. They also ran into our friends Mike & Mary who were at their camper.
Needless to say I had a great Mother's Day!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
It's the first week of May
And what a good week it was!
Had committee meetings on Tuesday night. Then John sent the stock car that he had purchased down the road to a new home
On Wednesday we went to the funeral of a dear friend's mom - that part wasn't so good - but the fact that we got to spend some time with old friends Steve & Dez and their girls (Jennie, Jess, Amy) and their extended family was. Since Dez's in-laws lived across the street from us since we moved into our house, we were always seeing them. But since we lost Grandma Eileen about 16 months ago and the house was sold, we don't get to see them so often now - we are going to try and remedy that!!
Wednesday night we met some dear friends - Mike & Mary for supper - and had a great time as we always do when we get together.
Thursday I had a Dr appt w/ Dr. H - and they set up an appt for me for next week to see Dr. B.
On Thursday night we had our last Small Group get together for the spring. Mac brought pizza for us - it was delicious! It was great to see Mac, Tim & Odetta, Sharee & Kylee - plus John of course! We had been using the book 90 Minutes in Heaven for our discussion, and all thought it was a very interesting book!
John brought me some beautiful flowers for Mother's Day on Friday.
Now today I got to sleep in - then I went to the May Museum plant sale - then I went to lunch with Carol S., Carol A. and Charlene B. (2 hours worth of gabbing & eating) - then I went and got a pedicure.
And tomorrow I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family for Mother's Day.
Had committee meetings on Tuesday night. Then John sent the stock car that he had purchased down the road to a new home
On Wednesday we went to the funeral of a dear friend's mom - that part wasn't so good - but the fact that we got to spend some time with old friends Steve & Dez and their girls (Jennie, Jess, Amy) and their extended family was. Since Dez's in-laws lived across the street from us since we moved into our house, we were always seeing them. But since we lost Grandma Eileen about 16 months ago and the house was sold, we don't get to see them so often now - we are going to try and remedy that!!
Wednesday night we met some dear friends - Mike & Mary for supper - and had a great time as we always do when we get together.
Thursday I had a Dr appt w/ Dr. H - and they set up an appt for me for next week to see Dr. B.
On Thursday night we had our last Small Group get together for the spring. Mac brought pizza for us - it was delicious! It was great to see Mac, Tim & Odetta, Sharee & Kylee - plus John of course! We had been using the book 90 Minutes in Heaven for our discussion, and all thought it was a very interesting book!
John brought me some beautiful flowers for Mother's Day on Friday.
Now today I got to sleep in - then I went to the May Museum plant sale - then I went to lunch with Carol S., Carol A. and Charlene B. (2 hours worth of gabbing & eating) - then I went and got a pedicure.
And tomorrow I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family for Mother's Day.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Well, Easter is over and this was a short week at work
Since I get Monday off for the Easter holiday and it was one of John's regular days off, that's how we could keep Brody overnight Sunday night and go to the movie on Monday.
Tuesday John went to the funeral of the mother of a very good friend, but unfortunately I could not go.
Wednesday we were treated to lunch by our boss - delicious food and great company!
Thursday several of us went to the Salad Luncheon at First United Methodist Church - which is always a good time and a delicious meal! (Think about going to a salad potluck with all of the best recipes you'd like to try - and being able to!) Thanks to Nancy for the treat.
Thursday was GOTRA's first night out for the 2011 season at US30 Speedway in Columbus (our hometrack) - we had 19 GOTRA cars there. It also was Rich Anderson Memorial night - his wife Robin and granddaughter Allie were there to participate - his car number (#9) was retired, each of the GOTRA guys got a trophy that had belonged to Rich and the GOTRA cars were out on the track for the presentations and also to start the night's festivities. Rich was a great GOTRA supporter, fellow racer and was also instrumental in getting our first Cornhusker Vintage Nationals off the ground. Unfortunately Rich lost his battle with cancer last fall and we all lost a very dear friend.
I opted not to go to Columbus for the races cos I was afraid that it would wear me out. Sounded like it was a good night of racing!
On Friday we each got a bouquet of flowers from Personnel Committee - thank you guys - what a nice surprise that was!
On Saturday morning we had Work Day at church - with a very short crowd I'm afraid - so we ordered pizza in instead of the normal Youth Club sloppy joes lunch that we do. In the afternoon I even felt up to spending a little time out in the yard doing a little after winter cleanup after John got done mowing. I can hardly wait for my energy to come back so I can do some more work outside!
Sunday I got up and put a turkey breast on - that was part of what we had for lunch when we celebrated Easter today - corn casserole, green bean casserole, kings hawaiian rolls, Grandma Rehder salad and three pasta salads. We ate lunch, then spent some time outside while Brody hunted for Easter eggs and Brant enjoyed crawling around in the grass, then went back in for dessert (caramel brownie dessert and raspberry almond bars). No one went away hungry that's for sure. It was a beautiful May Day!
Tuesday John went to the funeral of the mother of a very good friend, but unfortunately I could not go.
Wednesday we were treated to lunch by our boss - delicious food and great company!
Thursday several of us went to the Salad Luncheon at First United Methodist Church - which is always a good time and a delicious meal! (Think about going to a salad potluck with all of the best recipes you'd like to try - and being able to!) Thanks to Nancy for the treat.
Thursday was GOTRA's first night out for the 2011 season at US30 Speedway in Columbus (our hometrack) - we had 19 GOTRA cars there. It also was Rich Anderson Memorial night - his wife Robin and granddaughter Allie were there to participate - his car number (#9) was retired, each of the GOTRA guys got a trophy that had belonged to Rich and the GOTRA cars were out on the track for the presentations and also to start the night's festivities. Rich was a great GOTRA supporter, fellow racer and was also instrumental in getting our first Cornhusker Vintage Nationals off the ground. Unfortunately Rich lost his battle with cancer last fall and we all lost a very dear friend.
I opted not to go to Columbus for the races cos I was afraid that it would wear me out. Sounded like it was a good night of racing!
On Friday we each got a bouquet of flowers from Personnel Committee - thank you guys - what a nice surprise that was!
On Saturday morning we had Work Day at church - with a very short crowd I'm afraid - so we ordered pizza in instead of the normal Youth Club sloppy joes lunch that we do. In the afternoon I even felt up to spending a little time out in the yard doing a little after winter cleanup after John got done mowing. I can hardly wait for my energy to come back so I can do some more work outside!
Sunday I got up and put a turkey breast on - that was part of what we had for lunch when we celebrated Easter today - corn casserole, green bean casserole, kings hawaiian rolls, Grandma Rehder salad and three pasta salads. We ate lunch, then spent some time outside while Brody hunted for Easter eggs and Brant enjoyed crawling around in the grass, then went back in for dessert (caramel brownie dessert and raspberry almond bars). No one went away hungry that's for sure. It was a beautiful May Day!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
My First Weekend!
Remember how I thought that I would have my energy back right away?
Well, last Saturday I felt great - so I was trying to catch up on some things around the house. Evidently that, or the week before had caught up with me.
I got up Sunday morning to have donuts with Carrie & Justin & John after they came home from sunrise service - but then decided I needed to go back to bed, so I did - and I didn't wake up until after lunchtime. When these"down" times hit - they come on really fast.
But I rested up the rest of the afternoon . . . so that when Jeff & Jill & Brody & Brant came back from having Easter at Jill's family - we had promised Brody that he could spend the night. Well spend the night he did and then the three of us went to see "Rio" in 3D on Monday. It is a very funny movie, and we had a great time. Even went and got ice cream as a treat afterwards. Jeff picked Brody up on his way home from work - although he wasn't really ready to go, and we weren't ready for him to leave either!
Well, last Saturday I felt great - so I was trying to catch up on some things around the house. Evidently that, or the week before had caught up with me.
I got up Sunday morning to have donuts with Carrie & Justin & John after they came home from sunrise service - but then decided I needed to go back to bed, so I did - and I didn't wake up until after lunchtime. When these"down" times hit - they come on really fast.
But I rested up the rest of the afternoon . . . so that when Jeff & Jill & Brody & Brant came back from having Easter at Jill's family - we had promised Brody that he could spend the night. Well spend the night he did and then the three of us went to see "Rio" in 3D on Monday. It is a very funny movie, and we had a great time. Even went and got ice cream as a treat afterwards. Jeff picked Brody up on his way home from work - although he wasn't really ready to go, and we weren't ready for him to leave either!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Side effects
Since I had done radiation with my first bout of cancer - I thought maybe the symptoms would show up in about the same way this time - not until the treatment was almost through.
Well, I was wrong about that too!
Actually the side effects started showing up about halfway through the radiation & chemo. Diarrhea was the first thing to show up (that was a side effect of both) - and I found that Immodium might be a very good friend to keep on hand. The couple of times that my mouth started getting a little "tingly" I rinsed it with some baking soda - I never did get any sores in my mouth. Some of the other side effects were skin irritation (this might not be for the squeamish among you) - when that started to happen I used baby powder and preparation h to take care of that. Believe me, you don't have to have hemorrhoids to use preparation h. Dr. H had prescribed some anti-nausea pills to take if I needed, but I never did.
This is not really one of the "side effects" of the radiation treatments - but when you start receiving your treatments, you are "marked" with some "tatoos". Now these are not tatoos like you would think - but actually little round black dots that they use to set up the lines for doing the radiation treatments. So I now have approximately six tatoos (three from the first time around and three from this time) at various places on my body. So I guess if I am asked if I have tatoos - I can say yes! I'm just not going to tell you where - or let you see them!
Well, I was wrong about that too!
Actually the side effects started showing up about halfway through the radiation & chemo. Diarrhea was the first thing to show up (that was a side effect of both) - and I found that Immodium might be a very good friend to keep on hand. The couple of times that my mouth started getting a little "tingly" I rinsed it with some baking soda - I never did get any sores in my mouth. Some of the other side effects were skin irritation (this might not be for the squeamish among you) - when that started to happen I used baby powder and preparation h to take care of that. Believe me, you don't have to have hemorrhoids to use preparation h. Dr. H had prescribed some anti-nausea pills to take if I needed, but I never did.
This is not really one of the "side effects" of the radiation treatments - but when you start receiving your treatments, you are "marked" with some "tatoos". Now these are not tatoos like you would think - but actually little round black dots that they use to set up the lines for doing the radiation treatments. So I now have approximately six tatoos (three from the first time around and three from this time) at various places on my body. So I guess if I am asked if I have tatoos - I can say yes! I'm just not going to tell you where - or let you see them!
I am a free woman!
Or so to speak anyway!
On Friday, April 22 (Good Friday) I finished up my 28th radiation treatment - and also did my last day of chemo (about 5 weeks total). Wow was I anxious to be done! And, in my mind, as soon as I was done with all that I would automatically get my energy back. Of course I was wrong! I'm hoping that will come in a week or two! Actually I am feeling very good and love having everyone tell me that I look good! So now we wait to let the radiation & chemo continue working to shrink or get rid of the tumor completely. The next step will be surgery - but at this point I don't know when that will happen yet.
On Friday, April 22 (Good Friday) I finished up my 28th radiation treatment - and also did my last day of chemo (about 5 weeks total). Wow was I anxious to be done! And, in my mind, as soon as I was done with all that I would automatically get my energy back. Of course I was wrong! I'm hoping that will come in a week or two! Actually I am feeling very good and love having everyone tell me that I look good! So now we wait to let the radiation & chemo continue working to shrink or get rid of the tumor completely. The next step will be surgery - but at this point I don't know when that will happen yet.
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