My menagerie ;)

Happy St Nick, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thought I'd stop in and give a quick update then take a break for the holidays.  Thanksgiving was a nice small gathering with the family.  Although many were missing from our dinner, they were enjoying dinners with other family members.  A reality with grown children.

I have not had the best week since then.  My CT scan was redone, thankfully no dye needed.  Since I'm allergic to the dye I usually have to start medication the night before to prevent any reaction.  The less meds I have to take the better.  The results came back again with a "spot".  The doctors are currently not worried and calling it inflammation.  The oncologists say its from radiation, the radiologist says it's not.  Any way you look at it, its there and wasn't before.  They will keep an eye on it and will look at it at my next 3 month checkup.  Fingers crossed it goes away or doesn't grow.  And my recent, aggravating cough goes away.........the life of a cancer patient.

Daily Doses

I've started my new chemo pills, Xeloda.  I take 4 in the morning, and 4 at night.  (Along with Vitamin D need huge amounts to help prevent, Tumeric Curcumin proven to be affective in preventing when taken with an oil, and Citalopram for continued help with anxiety and depression).  I'm now considered to be toxic in some ways so precautions are taken again to ensure no one else is exposed in the house.  Only I handle the pills, cleanliness is essential (dammit), and clothes are to be washed separately.   All just precautions.  My hands and feet need to be constantly moisurized to help with the hand-foot syndrome that is prevalent with this medication.  Alcohol is a no-no, so it's sparkling apple juice for New Year's Eve. 🎉🍷🍎  I have a follow-up with the oncologist December 21st to see how I'm handling the meds before the holidays arrive for everyone.  Having started me with the highest dose possible, they have a little wiggle room if the side effects get to bad over time.

My biggest disappointment is my employment.  I informed them I would be returning February 6th, barring any complications and was informed by the HR director that my position is no longer available, it is being, or has been, offered to the person who was filling it in my absence.  The distressing part is two-fold.  For the first time in 24 years at the district, I have no idea what I will be doing or where I will be going upon my return.    Secondly, I may not be returning to the school I have been at for all 24 years, and to the teachers and support staff that have been a big support to me during this battle.  I will have a job and for that I'm thankful, its just very disappointing to have to start over after all these years and a very difficult last one.

I have time to deal with my thoughts on this, and to deal with the chemo I have to take.  In the big scheme of life these are all small potatoes, and I need to remind myself of that.  The goal is years and years cancer free.  I have grandchildren I haven't met yet ;)


 Most times I try to be as uplifting as I can, reading and rereading this blog so as to not be too negative.  This time it's just not that easy.  I am truly grateful for so much in my life.  I have been blessed in many ways, and know not all are as lucky as I am.  But the continued disappointment with things, like some of the previous mentioned being unclear, gets hard to keep a smile and say it will be okay.

Anyway.......

On the flipside......Went wedding dress shopping with my daughter's and their grandmother at Veras in Madison for my oldest daughter's dress.  What a day.  The women were so accommodating and helpful.  When they say you can tell which one is the one, they are right.  After a few try-ons, the moment we walked in the room to see her in "the one", her face was beaming.  We cried, and said Yes to the Dress.  It was a great memory.  I am very much looking forward to her wedding.  And, bonus, I will have hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes for pictures 👍👍

About 52 😀

Another happy day this month will be my birthday.  I'll be 52 and happy to celebrate.  I use to not celebrate thinking it was just another year, another day.  That is not true.  Every day, every year is a gift.  Enjoy them.

Time to finish my Christmas shopping, I'm never done until the weekend before.  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.   May the year 2017 be a much, much, better year.