I just spent an hour changing my page. Are you laughing? That's okay. I am proud that I remembered how to change it.
November and December were pretty eventful. I sold 7 pieces in my first Art Walk! That was fun. I learned a lot that day. I will do it again. In fact, I hope to sell more at the Evia Farmers Market. Mark your calendars for March 28th!!
I saw how the power of positivity and prayer can transform one's outlook when Michael collapsed during the San Antonio half marathon. What a fighter he is and continues to be. And not just him, all of you surrounding him fighting for him. And look at him now....every day is a positively new day for him.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all came and went. I enjoyed the food though I paid for that later since none of it was on my chemo diet, but it was worth it. Family, laughter, happiness, new and old loves all together. I feel so blessed to have the memories old and new in my heart and soul.
December 28th brought a new style of "hospital lounging". With Sean working that day, the initial panic of him wanting me to move the appointment so I wouldn't be alone...well I reminded him, I would never be alone. I have family all around me. All of you. So Jen, Joe, and Andy accompanied me. We brought along the game Sequence and Mexican Train Dominoes for this was going to be a long day. In the past 3 years, I have learned that I can really relax before going. I know that no matter what happens everything will be okay. He has a plan. And it DOES include me living. So rather than going to bed super early (I can sleep through every test and in between ya know)we all stayed up in Houston at Joe/Jen's aunt and uncle's. We roasted marshmallows and played Rockband until our fingers hurt from strumming and our sides hurt from laughing. Memories. Life is not fully lived if you forget to live in between.
The next day started at 7:15 with labs and an x-ray. Then we settled down by the white gazebo on the second floor.....where we remained for the next 12 hours. No puzzle working for us that day. We visited with others and I "braceleted" new friends. While I drank 2 bottles of barium (my berry/banana concoction), we played Sequence. We weren't loud, but we weren't quiet either and something you could hear from us that isn't so common there was our laughter. Happy to be together no matter how the new memories are made. Just happy to make them each day. I had chest/abdomen/pelvic CAT Scan and then I was off to......EAT!!! So hungry by that point. Then it was time for the MRI. Learned something new about that...Jennifer, who is practically my sister n law (always wanted her for a sister!!), was able to sit in the room with me. They gave her a pair of ear plugs and for the next 45 minutes she talked to me and would dance to the clicks. The test is broken down into several different scans of varying length, usually around 3 to 5 minutes each. The scans are very LOUD and rhythmic sounding. Each scan sounds somewhat different from all the others. They range in sound from a jackhammer, to loud buzzing, to high pitched sirens. Despite the intensity and variation of noise many patients fall asleep during the scan. Jennifer didn't believe that you could fall asleep during this but even she was out for a 5 minute interval. I am glad she was able to be apart of that with me. What an amazing experience.
At 4:15pm I checked in for my 5pm appointment with my oncologist, Dr. Benjamin. The lady at the desk gave me a buzzer like you get at restaurants and also wrote down my cell number. That way we could stay over at the gazebo area with its couches and sunlight and uncramped space...an area not full of people nervously awaiting results. At 8pm we still hadn't been seen. I had a funny feeling in my stomach and left the group to go check on things. When I got to the waiting area, the lights were off and no one was there. But I knew that Dr. B. and his nurse Mara would still be there. They never seemed to get out of there before 9pm. Too busy making miracles happen! I went to the back area (3 years and you get pretty comfy around there) and I found them. They had no idea....the lady at the counter never passed my number or buzzer info on to them. I don't think she will make that mistake again though. :)5 minutes later, we had our results. Everything looks fine he said. All organs are good and though I need to continue to watch any tummy issues and nose bleeds (thinning of the vessels) things are fine. He also said no chemo breaks. We had asked if I was to be on it every day of the year or if breaks would be good. He said no, no breaks. I can't tell you more. We don't know more. What we know is that he is still happy with what he sees, no matter how little the change appears to be each time. Though 3 years later, there is still no new growth. I am most happy about that. Because that means another birthday!!! Speaking of birthdays - Friday, April 30th is Galveston's Relay for Life event. The theme this year is Celebrating Birthdays!! I really really really want you to sign up to come. You can join my team, Positivity is Power, or create your own team. It really is so much fun. There is no training required for this. It is a night of fun, games, food, memories...and of course walking the track. The more people that sign up and come, the better the night will be. The more money we raise, the more lives we save. Did you know that 97% of your donations go to the American Cancer Society funding. Not to paychecks...not to events....not to travels...but to the CURE! No other organization can truthfully say that. Here is the link www.relay4life.org Once you are there, look up my team, Positivity is Power. Then click on the link "join". I have already raised $200.00!!!! Thank you Gabby, Kolby, Bobby and Cookie!! I am so excited!! And I am hoping to make it to my team goal of $3000.00. Please join me this year. Please help me stay awake all night. We relay at night because it's in our darkest hour that we feel the most alone, the most afraid. With all of you around, I am not alone nor am I afraid. So come, be with me. Help me fight to help me and so many others make it to another birthday.
February 22nd and 25th I will see the doctors again. More tests and my favorite.....a visit to the urologist for a stint exchange. Till then....
Carpe Diem!!
