Happy New Year!!

Aha! Leaving 2009 with much love and grattitude for my many blessings!!

I want to acknowledge humbly, the many calls, cards, emails, caring gestures of friends and family - I'm overwhelmed!! Although I didn't get a chance to talk with each of you personally during my surgery encounter, please know how much I appreciate your correspondence!!!! I find comfort in knowing that there are so many positive thoughts and a strong network of prayer; that we have much continued support on this lengthy journey!!

I refrained from posting too soon after surgery as the Percocet sort of numbed my senses - I'm sure Glen was beginning to think they might have removed half of my brain along with the breasts....

I won't bore you with the details - but recovery so far has been pretty easy - Not near the pain and incapacity that I expected!!

Saw the Dr. yesterday - still have two drains, apparently using my arms too much - hand to mouth eating, drinking, and using tv remote must account for too much repetetive movement, because REALLY, I feel like that's all I do!

OK, so I probably did a little more, but, I'll stop doing what little I was doing...AGAIN, I'm not complaining, I can pet the dog with my feet!

Now, Drum Roll..........In addition to getting a little fill in the tissue expanders - for those of you keeping track, 250cc at surgery, 60cc yesterday...now 310cc in each!! Too much information for the rest of you?! - Sorry - crazy how all of this now seems 'just normal'! ANYWAY, the cause for the drum roll.....pathology report says no cancer cells remain!!!!!! Of course that's what we wanted, but you never know...God is Great, and chemo did it's job!

Was a great day with my hubby! I felt really good, taste back to normal, wore real clothes...Got GREAT news, went shopping, out to dinner, even had a cocktail - it was, after all, happy hour.

Wishing you all a safe celebration, much happiness, love, and good health as we enter 2010!!

Before & After Chemo

OK, so I have this photo booth on my imac and I really don't use it...the kids have great fun with it, but I kinda forgot it was here - ...But - got a package in the mail the other day, had ordered an 'inexpensive' wig - was going to say cheap, but inexpensive sounds nicer. Anyway, American Cancer Society offers $100 grant for 'head gear' - so got another wig and a few scarves to get me through the winter - ANYWAY - came home from work, I take this $38 wig (compared to the ~$200 ones I bought pre-chemo) out of a plastic bag, plop it on and, as I always do right when I get home, had to check my e-mail, FB, etc....was sitting at my computer - could kinda see my reflection in the screen and decided to go to this photo booth and see 'really' what this wig looks like...(Now that is about as much multi-tasking as I can do these days) --- hence, the photo on the right...

During this time, Glen comes home from work via the back door and the Schwan men - 2, one in training, are at the front door... Our tried and true guy quit the company last month - so these guys don't know us - I really didn't have time to 'change my hair' or 'find a hat' so I let these guys in, we (Glen & I and the '2 guys) are in the dining room, chatting, perusing through the catalog, placing the order...all the while I know I have 2 big cardboard tags hanging out of the back of my head. I really wasn't too concerned about it, but now I do kinda wonder what the fellas thought...

I was looking back through this photo booth thing at all of Matthew's amusing shots and I found this (photo on the left) And apparently I had used this little ditty another time - Again, lookin' at the hair - Melyssa had cut and colored my hair and if I remember correctly, I was trying to see my highlights... So, there you have it accidental before and after chemo photos....

Yes AFTER CHEMO - it's not been as climactic as I thought it would be...I still have so many of the side effects - was really hoping to feel like a super hero for a few days anyway before surgery...

Since I do have a few days left, maybe SUPERHERO mode will kick in yet this week;)

Although surgery for Christmas may sound like a bum deal, it's probably not a bad thing that I've had so much to do, that I really don't have time to wimp, ponder, or stress about the fact that in now less than a week someone is going to violently hack off two rather large appendages, separate a layer of my chest wall, shove hard rubber balls in that space and stretch until it almost pops - oh, sorry - I forgot, I don't have time to think about this...

Really, we're doing good, got employee Christmas party, Resident Christmas Party, House decorated, and all of our Christmas Shopping done!!

Will have surgery this Friday morning - will let you know how it goes soon after, if I'm not too sedated from the pain meds and anti nausea drugs - Anesthesia is not my friend...will probably awake in recovery heaving - hopefully I won't dislodge any of the multiple tubes exiting my body:-

Thank you all for your support, love, prayers, etc etc etc... We're almost there...:)

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!!!

Love & Hugs to all!

Di Di