Finally

Well I had to go to the surgeon's office today about pain I had been experiencing and talked with him about not having had a call from the chemo doctor. Well when I got home I had had a call from them and my appointment is scheduled for February 18th. Seems like a long time off and as I have been indicating the wait is the hardest! But with the appointment this morning I am still healing and there is a lot going on with the healing and still a lot that needs to heal. So ... frustrated I am but I know I need to be patient and behave myself and for those of you who know me well, you know this will be the hardest part!!

What's that saying about time heals all wounds, hate that ... who's got time like that?! Oh yeah, I do.

Debbie - Get Well Quick

Uncle Ken made this card for you ...


We love you.

Note: As we previously mentioned our niece had surgery after mine and is now home recuperating. I am sure she would appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery. The Lord has been great and the surgery went much better than the doctors had expected. PTL!

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

It started raining this afternoon and soon it was freezing rain. I could hear sirens all the rest of the day as cars were sliding off of the roads and they were suggesting people stay inside and out of the bad weather.

Tonight's news showed school closings and then at 10:10 p.m. Ken got the automated call from Headquarters that the building would be closed tomorrow due to bad weather. People are bundling up and planning on staying inside and close to the fireplace and heaters and I am glad Ken will be able to stay at home tomorrow and not have to go out in this awful cold.

Stay warm!

New Book Project

In the midst of all of "this" I thought I'd start something new ... how about a new book project! I've contacted past contributing authors on "A Quiet Escape" and "Times of Refreshing" and have gotten great response. We're going to do another book.

I'll keep you posted, after I clean the house!

Radiation Oncology Appointment

I had my first appointment today with Radiation Oncology. It seems a little funny since I will have chemo first and then radiation but hey, I want some answers so I don't mind having them out of order if I get some!

This was actually a consultation and short exam, so I registered and then watched a video detailing all that will happen over the 6 1/2 weeks that I will undergo radiation treatments. The treatments will be daily, Monday-Friday.

When I complete chemo I will wait and rest for one month and then call and schedule my treatments with radiation. I will go in for a simulation appointment where they will give me my first tattoo (don't tell my mother), and schedule my treatment times. The next time I go in they will perform a "dry run" of the actual treatment only taking X-rays to verify proper positioning. From that point on, when I arrive I will check in and spend approximately 15-20 minutes for treatments except once a week when I will see the oncologist and that appointment will be approximately one hour.

Hey, Ken thought of shaving his head if I lost my hair during chemo, do you think he'll consider a tattoo?!

One Appointment Scheduled

I got an appointment card in the mail. I got all excited and was ready to start my appointments and realized it was for my radiation consultation. I know I shouldn't really be that excited about starting chemo—but I'm ready to be through with all this—so in order to do that, I've got to start it! I go Friday for a consultation with the radiation department and doctor and find out all about that so will let you know what I find out. Maybe we'll just skip the chemo part...

I have been working off my list of to dos and have finished all the things I needed to get done for my boss by the end of the year! Pretty impressed aren't you?! After all it's just the 22nd! I have a meeting with him on Monday so I thought I better get busy!

I am going to take Mom to lunch tomorrow. This will be the first time I've driven that far (she lives across town) and been out that long so we'll see how it goes.

List Day

I've made a list. I am working off of it and hoping to accomplish something today. Ken is helping me. I still haven't gotten my boss those end of the year items he needs! He is being patient. There are many thank yous to write. So many people have done so many things. Meals, flowers, and so many of you are praying and that is where the strength to do all this is coming from. Thank you ... I am going to have a great day.

A Quiet Weekend

We had a quiet weekend. I am still feeling some pain but the actual incision seems to be healing well. If I get carried away and overdo I feel it and then pay for it with pain. Since it's my right side I do forget occasionally and reach out to do things and then realize I shouldn't have!

We did go out for breakfast with friends Saturday morning and enjoyed the outing. We actually saw some other friends while out and just enjoyed the time out of the house. I am hoping to be able to take Mom to lunch this week.

Questions

So many questions, not many answers. That's what it seems we have. We are now waiting for an appointment for chemotherapy. We don't know when it will start, we don't know how long it will last, we don't know how it will be administered, we don't know how it will affect me, we don't know much about it at all. It seems this has taken over our lives hard as we try to not let it. We can't make plans because we don't know when this will be over—but hey, I'm cancer free! That has to be the focus, all this other is just stuff, life stuff, but just stuff...and just remember how cute Ken is going to look in his do-rag!

Life Goes On

We have had a roof leak and we are waiting for repairmen to come and fix it! They actually came last Wednesday morning, the day after my surgery and we asked that they return this week and they agreed. Hah! When they hadn't shown up by Wednesday I called and asked when they were coming, they said Thursday so I waited all day Thursday and no repairmen. Now I have arose to await their arrival once again but since there is snow on the ground this morning I have a sneaky suspicion that I won't be seeing them today either! What do you think?

Ken's Blog - My Comments

Disappointed

Peggy had her post-surgery follow-up with her surgeon today. We are still grateful for the good news. He says we got the best possible result from the surgery.

However, there is a disappointment. All the area between the tumors was cancerous so they are looking at what they took out as one very large tumor and it appears Peggy will need to have chemo after all. She was prepared for it, but I did not expect it.

So that purple wig may be needed after all. I told her that if she loses her hair I will shave my head. She has forbidden me to do this however. She must think I look bad enough already.

So we worked out a compromise. If she loses her hair, I will cut mine short and wear a do-rag. May need some of you bikers to help me out with this. I don't want to look funny. The do-rag will need to look good in my new TPE profile shot.

We're not happy, but you have to laugh at times like this. Beats the alternative.

My Comments:

I have forbidden Ken from shaving his head because I love his thick hair and I don't want to chance it coming back in grey or not coming back in! I also don't want him to look worse than me! I have to look at him, I can avoid the mirror! Also maybe I can teach him what else he can do with a do-rag, like dust, clean, etc.

I am somewhat disappointed but want to do all we can to avoid this cancer coming back. God has done His part, now we will do ours. Hey I've always wanted to know what I'd look like with really short hair—now I'll know, or maybe not, it may not fall out!

Just remember God is good!

A New Week

I was going to change the title to "A New Weak" but then I am trying to stay positive. I know I am getting better everyday and God has done a great thing but I am getting ready to move on! So human aren't I?! I am still sore, still tire quickly, still ornery as Ken would probably tell you, but not to my face, and still anxious to be doing something, anything other than sitting around!

I have been trying to edit an Onward Book project blue lines, it doesn't usually take me four days! I will get it done. I still have things to get Hal (my boss) before the end of the year! I need to take things to UPS, I need to pick things up at the IRS ... I won't be doing much of those things but maybe a few ...

So you can see I am getting better. God is good.

Note: Surgeon Appointment on Wednesday afternoon.

Cancer Free - That's Me!

Called the doctors office today and the pathology report shows no more cancer. They got it all! Yippee, hallelujah ... thought you'd like an update!

My next appointment is Wednesday where I go for a check with the surgeon and then I guess we will talk about setting things up with the oncologist for 6 weeks of radiation. We're on the home stretch. Thank you Jesus and thank you friends for your love, support, prayers and calls. It all means so very much to us during this time ... you are special.

The Healing Begins

We are hearing from so many of you and it means so much ... thank you for your prayers, the flowers, the meals, the concern, the cards....

The surgery is over and from sight they think I am cancer free. We should know on Friday after calling pathology if that is true and of course we are believing for the best. With all of your prayers how can it be anything else.

The pain is slowly lessening and my good looking home health guy is taking good care of me. Bringing me things, helping me on and off with my sweater, helping me in and out of bed, cooking! All is going well. I would ask that some of those prayers you are praying for me you could direct his way, he can't seem to kick the cough and possible bronchitis that he's had since before Christmas. With having to get up through the night to give me pain pills, etc. he is not sleeping well and I know this is not good for his recovery.

Again, thanks so much for your faithful support through this for us. You are loved.

One More Day

I have a long list of things I want to get done today. But then again I shouldn't have to do anything right ... yeah right!

Starting to feel a little bit of apprehension. Not fear or worry but just wanting to make sure all of you are praying for me. I know you are and I know that is why I have been so calm and of course God's peace and comfort have been so real. How do people do it without Him? Actually that's the thought I will leave off with because I do know He is with me and I do know that you are praying and that we have a BIG God and GREAT friends that care. THANK YOU.

Mood Swing!

Not sure what kind of mood I'm in today! Got some things done but then I didn't feel like doing anything! Ken says that's OK. But I didn't think I would remind him that that's all I will be doing for a week or two.

I am not afraid or worried. I know that God has everything under control. I just don't really want to deal with Tuesday. Hope to get some things done tomorrow so I can feel like I can relax and not feel anxious about anything undone.

Thank you for all your prayers in regard to my surgery and the cancer. I really appreciate all the calls and emails. You are special...

Getting Things Done

Today I am in a "getting things done" mode. I feel like I have to have everything done before I go for surgery on Tuesday. I don't know how I will feel on Wednesday so I don't want to have things left undone and feel like I need to do things!

Hey, that's how I feel even when I'm not having surgery. Actually I just want to skip Tuesday and be done with all of this, but of course, that's not an option. Too bad.

You can kind of see how my minds working. I'm not fearful but I am ready to get on with life and have this "interruption" behind us.