#notconsumed
I’m not a big printed t-shirt fan, but when I saw this one late last year, I knew I needed it because of this cancer journey I am on.
This verse is printed on the back:
Lamentations 3:22-26
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him.”
On the news and upcoming appointments
First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day. Tonight is a busy night for our family, so we celebrated on Sunday evening. The girls decorated the dining room and we enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner prepared by our favorite chef. 🙂
I’m feeling good most days. About once a week my body hurts a lot…not sure why. It’s that same pain from the inside out. Sometimes Tylenol helps. Sometimes it doesn’t. I can’t pinpoint it to anything I’m doing, but it’s annoying. I usually end up in bed early on those days. Other than that, I’m keeping up with our crazy busy life and am so thankful to be feeling great and healthy enough to keep up with the girls. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I finished chemo.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of supporting the oncology certified esthetician I’ve told you about before. She operates out of the Breast Center at Valley Medical Center and while she has many regular paying clients, she also donates some of her services to cancer patients. She was being interviewed by King5 News and asked a few of us to come be part of it. read more…
Goodbye Dr. Leung…until I see you in 3 months!
Hooray!! After my visit with Dr. Leung, my oncologist this morning, I don’t have to go back for 3 more months!
My cancer antigen test came back in the normal range. But when I compared the numbers, it is exactly the same now as it was in September 2015 when I was diagnosed. Hmmmmmm. Apparently the test is not specific enough to spot small cancer growths, which is why they do not use the test on early stage breast cancer patients. He said it does well at picking up cancer growth when it is in multiple places and growing. Since mine has already spread once, he said it’s the least invasive test they can do to help monitor it. However, if the test did show a big jump in numbers, I would probably be experiencing some symptoms. So with all that to say…I won’t be losing any sleep over that test any more. Hopefully I explained that clearly…at least as clear as mud, right??
Have you missed me?
I have not posted in a while, because Praise the Lord, I am feeling great! I would even venture to say I’m back to feeling as good as I did before my stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis.
On Wednesday we got home from a 2 week vacation to Southern, California. We had a great time visiting family and friends. We also enjoyed a few days at Disneyland and California Adventure. I walked over 25,000 steps three times on vacation a few weeks ago. (It’s crazy how many miles you walk when you go to Disneyland!!) I am so thankful for a body that allowed me to do that. I was pretty tired the days after, but survived and had a great time with our family!
I still miss my hair
Yes…I’m writing about my hair again.
The girls and I just got back from the hair salon and every time I leave there, I’m sad because I miss my longer hair. I just saw a picture of myself in my wig the other day and actually thought about wearing it again. I just love that style so much more than the short pixie look I’m sporting right now.
I talked with the stylist again about growing it out, but I just really don’t want to deal with the horrible growing out phase, which will take so long. I’d like to grow my hair out and style it like my wig…maybe I’ll wear the wig during that time. I have no idea. But I know that I’m sad. read more…
Missing My Mom
I’ve been missing my Mom a lot the past few weeks.
This time of year brings back so many memories of the Christmas seasons I spent growing up. I’ve made her Pumpkin Bread recipe multiple times recently and the recipe is in her handwriting. I just made her sugar cookie recipe this afternoon, reminding me of all the times we decorated cookies together. Today I was also putting things on the January calendar and saw the reminder on the 23rd of the day she died. Ugh! 🙁
Then there are things like piano lessons…our girls take lessons from Jim Jansen, one of my parents good friends for many, many years. She would just LOVE to hear the girls sing and play “Do You Hear What I Hear” on the piano as a duet with Jim Jansen!!!! She would be crying if she heard it. (She cried at everything, remember Dad?)
That Infusion Hit Me Hard!
I guess I can’t complain since all but my first bone strengthening infusion have not caused any side effects. But this last one was different.
I’m not sure why.
My port was a little uncomfortable after they accessed it, but it was working great so I didn’t say anything. (Last time I did say something, they did an x-ray and it was this whole big thing…for no reason.) My labs came back great. I felt fine during the infusion.
Another Infusion and the Bike
As I type this, I am on the incumbent bike at the gym…the only exercise I am allowed to do ’til my next apt.
Sorry…had to pause for a second because I was going up a hill…
I’m back.
I saw the Plastic Surgeon yesterday for a quick apt. They changed the steri-strips and put some silver nitrate on 2 small spots that are not healing as fast as everything else. I got my first glimpse without any bandages. I am still swollen, bruised and bandaged a little again, but all is well. 🙂
Surgery is a great way to get out of cooking on Thanksgiving!
Haha! What a great excuse to not help with the cooking or dishes on Thanksgiving!! Surgery!
I didn’t do much on Thanksgiving, but the day after we did decorate for Christmas, I did some laundry and even unloaded the dishwasher. (SHHH! Don’t tell the Dr.) Then on Saturday we walked around Seattle looking at Christmas things all day. Clearly I am doing a great job of resting after surgery. Hey – I rested for one day, right?? (And I am resting today – no gym and I’ve been sitting on the sofa for a lot of the day!)
Another Surgery Done
I got the girls off to school this morning and watched TV for a few minutes before Linda came and picked me up. I talked with Tom on the phone for a bit too. 🙂
We checked in this morning around 10 and only waited about 5 minutes. Then they took me back, I signed a bunch of papers and changed into my gown. It looks ridiculous of course, but a hose attaches to it and I can control the temperature. I just love these and have had them for all my surgeries. 🙂 Linda and I agreed that someone needs to make these for home use!
I’m not sure of the conversation between Linda and the nurse as the anesthesiologist was trying to find a vein to put my IV in, but I think because of it, I was able to keep my glasses on until I fell asleep and then I woke up with them on!!!!!!!! What a HUGE blessing that was. It was the first time I have ever seen the inside of the operating room. It was not as exciting as I thought it would be, but I am thankful everything was not totally blurry. I remember the anesthesiologist moving my arm and putting something in my IV and then I was waking up. 🙂 How lovely!!
Meet Jennifer
Breast Cancer Patient, Chef Wife and Mom
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