May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!

Here is my favorite picture from Christmas #2, which is Christmas morning at our house. Our furry babies open their stockings first, then David and I exchange presents and open our presents from Santa. After waffles and bacon, we watch the Disney parade and nap. We go celebrate with my Mimi this afternoon (#3), then David's family tomorrow (#4). Such a joyous time of year!

My sweet Maggie!

Poppy and her Christmas look!

Christmas Eve eve, we have dinner and open presents at my mom and dad's(#1). We have started a new tradition lately of playing LCR. 16 of us played this year, so my nephew went home with $48! He was happy, as you can see:

Goofing around while taking Family pictures...

My big brother Jay, playing....

Me, my dad and mom, brother Jay, sister Judy, and our Mimi

David, me, and Mimi

What a blessed Christmas we are having! Merry Christmas to you and your families!

 

Posted with Blogsy

And Now, On With the Fun!

In the midst of the biopsy craziness, we had Thanksgiving and several birthdays. My sweet husband's 50th was one of them!

To celebrate, we went to dinner downtown and got a window seat for the annual parade of lights. It was so fun! At dinner, I presented him with a book of over 50 notes and memories from many friend, family, and his former and current theatre students. He was so surprised!

Little did he know, the following day a bigger surprise was coming...over 50 of us ambushed his rehearsal at school.

He had students past and present, colleagues, former college professors, and friends there to love on him and wish him another happy 50 + years!

I was so happy that I was able to pull it off. Thank goodness for Facebook and being able to form "secret" groups!!!

I'm in the Clear!

When the nurse called me just a few minutes ago, I really thought she was just checking on how my biopsy was healing. Then she said the magic words, "There is no cancer." I'm not really sure I heard what she said after that....just a bunch of words: "fibroid tumor....more frequent scans....see you in six months...."
Hooray! Thank you (whoever might be reading) for all your positive thoughts and prayers on my behalf.
Once the last twinges of pain subside and the steri strips come off, I can put this in the past and keep on keepin' on. NOW it feels like Christmas is coming!
I may actually become one of those nutty people that hounds others about mammograms now. You know, the kind of people I ignored? Honestly, with what I've got going on upstairs I always assumed I would know if there was any lump of any kind. Just goes to show, you don't know what you don't know.

I've got some fun blogging to catch up on. Like a 50th birthday surprise I threw for my sweet husband and an upcoming girls' weekend shopping trip. Fun times ahead and clear sailing! Whew!!!

And the Waiting Continues...

So, the needle biopsy is done. How was it, you ask? Well, I would say that it was easier than expected...about the same category as having a crown put on your back molar. If you can get past the initial shots and hold still, while keeping your emotions in check, then it's done before you know it. I was told I "sailed through" and I'm just glad it's over. I came home and slept a little. Tylenol is definitely my friend! I'll hear results on Friday. They wanted me to come back in to get results in person, but I can't handle a third doctor's appointment this week. I talked them into calling me with results. I mean, it's either over or they'll refer me on to another doctor, right? I can hear that over the phone. Until then all I have to do is:

Posted with Blogsy

95% is Still an A, Right?

95% was the percentage that the radiologist used to predict that the "small mass" they found today was NOT cancer. So, it's 95% likely that it's a fatty deposit sitting there like a shiny, ugly pearl among the many, many clear cysts. Even I could see the difference, well, once it was pointed out to me, of course. The cysts are nice and round and clear. The "mass"(I think it needs a nickname...any suggestions?) was not so round, white, and a little angry looking-but that could be my imagination.

So, on Wednesday, I go back for an Ultrasound Guided Core Biopsy. Scary enough for you? Yeah, me, too.

Honestly though, I'm kind of at peace with it. Chances are, it's nothing at all but a minor inconvenience and this will all be over when I get the results on Friday. And if it's more than that, it's teeny tiny (less than 1cm), so that's got to be good, right?

I appreciate all well wishes and prayers. I'm 100% sure that I can use them!

Posted with Blogsy

One Foot in Front of the Other

So, my resolve went out the window...I Googled every word that was given to me when I was told to schedule the diagnostic mammogram. And I'm reading some blogs that I probably shouldn't right now. Blogs that make me imagine the worst case scenario.

I have this habit of trying to visualize situations before they happen. I think I feel like if I know what's coming, I can somehow control it. I do it with vacations, holidays, scary situations, happy situations. Maybe it's normal, or in the words of Dr. Keith Ablow, maybe I'm nuts.

Why does our mind go immediately to the negative? From what I've read from Dr. Google (as one witty blogger calls my latest obsession), the chances are high that they will take a few more pictures on Monday, say everything is fine and send me on my merry way....please!

The truth is, one way or another, everything WILL be fine. I have family, friends, and positive thoughts on my side. :)

I have spent all day trying not to think about it and was able to have a wonderful day with my family. I have a fun weekend ahead celebrating my husband's 50th birthday. I don't want to worry the good times away with possibilities that will probably never happen, right?

New resolve, focus on fun and the many blessings in my life. Monday will come and go...I'll deal with it then. In the words of Scarlett O'Hara, "After all, tomorrow is another day."

Posted with Blogsy

A Time to be Thankful...and Mildly Concerned?

This weekend, I got to spend a fabulous girls only trip with my best friend. It was a wonderful time to relax and re-energize. So thankful for that time!

On the way home, however, I got a call that no one wants to get. It was my "girly" doctor's office telling me that my mammogram came back with "areas of concern" and that I needed to schedule a diagnostic mammogram. Yikes! Out of the blue, no family history, no indications of problems, deep, dark blue....

When I asked for a little more clarification, I was told there was "dense tissue" and " an asymmetrical abnormality". So I am scheduled for the diagnostic mammogram on Monday...which just so happens to be my birthday. Hopefully, nice clear scans will make for a VERY happy birthday!

I will spend this weekend trying not to think about it, not Google too much, and being extremely thankful for this happy holiday time with my sweet husband, family, and good friends. Your positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated! Count those blessings.....happy Thanksgiving! :)

 

Posted with Blogsy