A Quiet holiday

Thanksgiving was a bit weird this year. My 91 year old mother in law insisted that she would order the entire meal from a local market and we would all eat at her home. I really, really, wanted to cook this year. I LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner and I was looking so forward to it. There was no arguing with her as she started to get aggressive saying she "staked her claim on Thanksgiving" and that was what she was doing and we were expected to be there.

She is 91 and very stubborn, there was no use trying to change her mind. I was so disappointed and it felt so weird to not be cooking anything for the holiday.

Both my children spent Thanksgiving with their in-laws so it was just me and my husband and his brother plus my mother in law. It was a very quiet Thanksgiving. I did take a break in between the meal and dessert to stop over to see my side of the family. Love being with my family and I am glad I had a chance to see them for a little bit.

I am doing a surprise birthday party for my husband in a couple of weeks. It is at our house and I am trying to do stuff without him noticing. lol So that will be a fun night. It is his 60th!

Tomorrow I go to see my surgeon and have my port taken out! I will be hurting for a couple of days. Then I hope for a long stretch of time with no procedures or pain or people poking and prodding at me!

Carrying on

This is a week that would have ordinarily been a chemo week. It feels so wonderful not to be going there for treatment. I am so thankful it is over and pray I will continue to stay healthy and not have to go through any more chemotherapy.

I still freak out at times when I think that I had TWO cancers at the same time. I can't explain the feelings, but fortunately they don't come that often.

My younger son and his finance picked a date for their wedding. Oct. 20, 2013! We already found a venue in Rhode Island that we all love. A very rustic conference center nestled in the woods among huge pine trees. The after party will be a big bon fire with S'mores!

It is not a fancy place, but beautiful in in own right as it is on the grounds of Lake Eisenhower. The dining room looks right out to the lake and the views are breathtaking. They have lodge right on the grounds and all who stay there get together in the morning for a free home cooked breakfast and continue the party!

The dining room and deck where there will be dancing is very nice and they have a beautiful living room where the older crowd can sit if the music is too loud. I think it will work out fine even though all my relatives will need to travel to RI!

I am going from chemo bells to wedding bells and I am so GRATEFUL!!

There was another curve ball thrown my way last week. I was getting all ready to return to work this week and found out that my job was eliminated. It was a shock to me, so much so that I spent the entire night with my body just shaking. I didn't even have that kind of reaction when I received my cancer diagnoses!

I have worked there 13 years and put a great deal of time, energy, and love into the job. If it was my choice not to go back, it would be one thing. But to be told that I was not needed anymore really hurt me to the core. BUT By the next day, I was no longer shaking and just had to process the feelings.

They said they might have some part-time hours for me, but so far I have not seen a new job description nor a contract. I am older and was very sick.
I guess not a good profile if you want to work.

There are a lot of complications about this situation and I will blog about it when it is all resolved!

For now I am enjoying every minute of everyday and looking so forward to the holidays and my hair growing back (did not lose it all, but lost enough where my head is cold!)

The work stuff will resolve itself one way or the other and I can't worry about it.

God closes a door and opens a window. Ah... It might just be a blessing in disguise and some fresh air!

Done. Finished. Ring the bell!!

On Wednesday I completed my 12 rounds of chemo and it was my turn to ring the end of chemo bell! I have a video but it will not upload. I will work on it!
In the picture above is me (in my Groucho Marx glasses, as it was Halloween after all) and my 87 year old mother.

All the staff lined up and clapped and cheered for me as I rang the bell. My oncologist, the director of the cancer center, all the lab people, and secretaries. It is a very emotional time.

My sister and my mom came to watch along with my husband and then we went out to lunch. Hurricane Sandy messed up plans for my son to come along as well as my other sister!

I am very emotional right now. So much to process and so much to make plans for. Going back to work in a couple of weeks to see how that goes. Going to check out wedding venues with my son and his fiance. Getting back to living LIFE with out having to check chemo schedules!


Oh Happy Day!!