Radiation

Hello. Today was my appointment to revisit my radiologist. I had another CT scan for purposes of making my 3-D image, so the physics department can zero in on exactly the spot(s) they want the radiation to hit and exactly the spot(s) they don't want the radiation to hit, i.e. heart, lungs, good nodes.

I also got three dot tattoos for purposes of lining me up exactly right every time for the radiation techs. My nurse started to get the dye ready and said "Opos", I said "That's not what I want to hear". She laughed and told me she'd gotten the dye all over her hands. Oh, well, as long as there was enough to do my tattoos. Now I'm a tattooed granny!

My radiation will start July 23 and run for 33 days. Six and a half weeks. Monday through Friday, so I should be done with radiation the second week in September. I'll be free to be me! A healthy, healed me. Can't wait.

Joan, my mother-in-law is coming to visit us for the week starting tomorrow. On the
4th of July, our daughter (with little David) and her husband will join us and great grandma for a BBQ in our yard. On July 6, our granddaughter, Maya (our son's daughter), turns five, so we'll have fun and dinner with her and her family that evening in Oak Park after her big party with her little friends.

My gardens are blooming with Monarda, daisy's, daylillies and Annabelles. Lovely sight.

Happy Fourth of July everyone.

Naperville Ladies Tournament

Today I played an eighteen hole tournament for the City of Naperville with my friends. I believe there were 77 women playing in four different flights. I received Runner Up in my flight "C" (last flight), so I brought home a baby plate to match the big plate I won in 2005. That was fun. Jay said the "C" flight signified 'cancer' for 08. So be it.

It was a beautiful day and the pure joy of being outside, hitting that little ball to the next hole was great fun. I know not everyone looks at it that way, but I saw plenty of wildlife, smiles and friends to make it a great day.

On to tomorrow for my regular nine-hole ladies league and as much fun as today, just a shorter time commitment.

Good days to all of you.

Three down, one more to go

Today's chemo treatment was uneventful -- thankfully! No reactions, just drip, drip, drip. Last chemo treatment is scheduled for July 9 - YEAH! Then I'll have my radiation for seven weeks. We're not sure when that starts, but I'll let everyone know after June 30, when we meet with the radiologist again.

We're having beautiful weather here, tomorrow Jay and I will be golfing in the morning. He's getting ready for a trip in July and I'm getting ready for the Ladies City Tournament on Monday.

Take care everyone and be good to yourselves.

Good News

We received a call from my gene doctor and we were told that I have NO MUTATION for the BRCA gene. Good news! However, I still have the family history of cancers - melanoma, colon, breast, so we are meeting with the gene doctor on Wednesday, or she's meeting with us while I have my third chemo treatment. Jessica will be meeting with us also to hear the total results and find out what's next for all of us in this cancer business.

On the home front, I finished painting my formal dining room and changing rugs around. Poor Jay, he's about had it with my home revisions! He did, however, shovel ten yards of mulch in and around our yard and gardens last week. Now, he feels like he's a part of our landscape and he knows the gardens intimately. He feels strongly that he'll never do that again!

I have been blessed with feeling well and not skipping the beat of life while I'm going through chemo. All the books I gathered to read are still waiting to be opened as I keep myself busy with daily living. This time around, I even got to play with all the grandchildren at different times during the three week period.

Today is Father's Day, happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Nice Week

The days have gone by this past week as if I don't have cancer. How nice. I golfed Tuesday with my ladies' league (nine holes) and Thursday with Jay (eighteen holes). I had a great time both days. It seems that my white cell count has kicked into high gear. I really haven't slowed down this past week (ask Jay).

We've worked in the yard, deck and garden. Yesterday, with the high 40+ mile per hour winds, my six cacti plants were all thrown to the deck and smashed. We salvaged them all and I re potted most of them. They're all sitting huddled behind a wall on the deck wondering what the heck happened to them!

The rest of the yard and gardens are looking great. We're eating radishes that Jay planted, they're hot, but fun to have from the garden.

Life is good. Here's hoping all of you are having a wonderful week.