Doing Pot(s) at Officer Cid's House!

Okay.  It wasn't really pot like that.  It was clay pots.  But we were at Officer Cid's house....which is Christine's husband's occupation (he is a bad ass cop).  I realize this is a few weeks late but I finally got a chance to get my act together and write about it.  And since it is May this week, I've got gardening on my mind and well....to me....they all go together.

My lady friends still are getting together each month to make a craft.  For April, we decided to try our hands at decorating clay pots.  Everyone had the freedom to do with them what they wanted.  It was fun to see what everyone came up with. 

Stacy spray painted her pots.  She is going to stack them to put on her front porch.  She used a brown metallic paint and then put gold around the top edge.  It was stunning.  Jennifer and Christine used scrap paper paper and Mod Podge  on their pots.  They cut the paper in strips so it had a stripes.  Gayle, Jamie, Kim, and I all used fabric and Mod Podge.  I was too lazy to wait to have the fabric cut so I picked out quilting fat quarters to use. 



(L to R = Jennifer, Christine, Jamie, Gayle, Kim, Me, and my massive bread maker arms.)

My plan was to make a pot for....Mother's Day (Grandma close your eyes) and 3 small pots for over my sink on the shelf.  For the pots over the sink, I picked a medium green fabric.  For the other pot, I picked a light blue flowered fabric.  I used outdoor Mod Podge for my pots so the fabric would be protected when watering the pots.  I still don't think you would want to soak the pots but it will protect them.  Much to my surprise, this craft took quite a bit of time and I found myself bringing home slightly damp pots to apply another coat of Mod Podge at home.  Then I left them to dry for a really long time (2 weeks).  Today, I went to Lowe's Home Improvement and got some plants to put in the MD pot.  I can barely wait to take it to her next weekend.  Hopefully, it will brighten up her room at the rest home.  For my small pots over the sink, I'm going to get some silk flowers to put in them since they will get very little sunlight.

I think it is so fun to get together with these ladies and explore different crafts.  For May, we are going to do wreaths again.  This time with mesh.  They found an example that is like a flag.  It looks pretty cute and would be darling.

ASU Orientation

I wanted to blog as soon as I could because I know people are anxious to hear how it went.  It was actually a great trip.  This was Philip's 3rd trip to the campus.  Although I've been there for work, this was my first time in several years and from a student's perspective.  We flew to Phoenix after work on Friday.  Philip suggested we stay at the Marriott in Tempe on the Butte.  It was literally up on the butte!  We got in after dark so we decided to head to the hotel and have dinner there.  Philip mentioned they had a great restaurant.  So we went there.  We sat on the patio that looked over the city.  And it was delicious...and beautiful.  It was warm with a little breeze.

There was a cute little feral kitty that was sitting on the rocks just outside of the patio.  Philip was sweet and shared his salmon.  The kitty had a few bites but then disappeared again.

On our way to dinner and back, we crossed over the pool at the hotel.  Such a beautiful pool.  I so wish I could enjoy it.

Saturday, we got up super early and got ready to head to the campus.  We had a beautiful room with a nice patio.  So we decided to order room service to enjoy while we were getting ready.  We had so much food.  We couldn't possibly eat it all.  We opened the patio door and enjoyed the birds and the smell of the bougainvillea's just outside the door.

View from our room.  See the butte in the background?

 

 

We had to be at the campus by 7:30.  We got there with a few minutes to spare.  We had a golf cart come pick us up to deliver us to the Union building.  Once we got there, it was packed and we were basically herded for the morning.  We started in a long snaking line to register for orientation, get TShirts, get Philip's student ID photo taken, and get a packet for the day.  Then we were herded over to an open conference room that was set up with tables from different areas of interest (student health services, dorms, financial aid, parking, etc).  Philip wasn't interested in many but we picked up information from all the tables we felt we needed. 

ASU campus!

We were herded into a large room for presentations.  This orientation was only for the Honors college students and they have 8 sessions.  There were people as far as I could see.  Haha.  They are expecting 10,000 Freshmen this year!!

Dean of the program giving a talk.  I like their vision!

After the general sessions, they broke us up in degree programs.  After a little bit of combined time, they took the students to register for classes while the parents and families stayed behind to learn about how to help your student succeed.  And another parent only session on how to let go and be comfortable with your kid away at college.  I thought that was so funny.

After that, we regrouped and had lunch.  After lunch was a session on financial aid which we already have set and a tour of the college dorms which Philip has already done twice.  So we headed out and to the airport.  We took a big loop around the campus though so I could get a feel for it.  ASU actually has 5 campuses in the area.  Each one focuses on different types of education.

Outside the Union

These are the Barrett Honor's College Dorms. 
They are very secure.  It is a gated area of campus.  Notice the girls in short shorts? 
A benefit to attending school in a warm part of the country.  Haha

As we drove around.  I was fascinated by the beauty of the desert.  I couldn't skip taking a photo of this huge cactus!

I am so excited for this opportunity for Philip.  I was never given this type of opportunity.  It is hopefully going to have a positive impact on Philip's life and future.  I am very excited he gets a chance to live outside of Utah too.  It can't help but broaden his perspective.  It is going to be a big adjustment for both of us having him so far away.  But it is just a quick plane trip home.

 

 

Doctor updates

I've been a busy girl these last few days having visits with my doctors.  I know a few of you are anxious for an update.  Ask and you shall receive.

Yesterday I saw my regular oncologist, Dr. L.  I've not seen him for 6 months which in the cancer world is like a lifetime and usually is a good sign.  As I suspected, there isn't anything to be concerned about. Blood work looks good.  Scans have been good (haven't had one since October though).  No lumps or bumps.  So we caught up on Johns  Hopkins and my recent surgery.  He also told me about some new drugs that came out last Fall that are showing great results for people with my same cancer but are not responding to the normal treatments.  It sounds pretty exciting.  But he said depending on how mine comes back will depend on our next steps.  He said he would do Rituxan again if it was low grade or one of these if it is a higher grade tumor.  We will just wait and see.  He said it is looking more and more like I won't have to have the standard chemo, R-CHOP which is fantastic news.  He thinks I am having these long periods of remission because of my Methotrexate use although we agreed the Prednisone was carrying the weight before.  We will see each other in 6 months unless I have any concerns before that.

Today was my follow up appointment from surgery with Dr. D.  He confirmed everything from surgery was good.  Little quicky exam where he confirmed I am considered healed.  I did ask him about my bladder issues.  He feels they are unrelated to the surgery.  I asked him about HRT.  He actually encouraged it EXCEPT to only use Estrogen.  He said the problems are with HRT that contain Progesterone.  He said HRT actual will keep things working well in the nethers, stop the hot flashes, keep my skin from drying out, and will prevent osteoporosis.  He said it also reduces the risk of heart disease and breast cancer.  I explained what I had been told online and he said it was all untrue. I  trust Dr. D and accepted the prescription for low dose estrogen.  He told me to use it for 5 years and then I can stop if I wanted but there is no harm to keep on it.  He still was confident with the surgery and removal of my ovaries.  I'm not going to worry about it anymore because it is already done.

Then I was very surprised when he told me he doesn't need to see me anymore.  My cancer risks are over and I can resume seeing a normal GP or gynecologist.  This of course is great news that I can cut one oncologist out of the mix but it is with mixed feelings that we said goodbye.  It has been over 13 years that I have seen him.  It is like saying goodbye to an old friend.  He said I can always come back should I have concerns but he doesn't do the routine stuff  and with my recent surgery, there isn't anything we need to follow.  I no longer need pap smears and a regular doctor will follow me for the routine physicals and such. I've waited for this day for many many years.  But I am a little sad.  He is an excellent oncologist and surgeon.  So I will schedule physicals with Dr. T but I just can't have Dr. T do a gyno exam.  That is much too personal.  My next gyno exam will be in 3 years so I have time to find someone new.

I'm ready to hit the gym and continue on my "wellness" plan!! One more thing behind me.  That is a good thing!

What's up....buttercup?

I'm having a hard time believing it has been another week all ready.  Frankly, I am always looking for interesting things to blog about but I don't know that I have anything.  But that doesn't mean I can't give an update.

I made it through another week of work.  My boss was gone most the week so I was pretty busy  covering for him and picking up my stuff.  I also found stuff that didn't happen while I was gone so I've been working to clean that stuff up. I did work more than 8 hours a day all week long.  Made me pretty tired but I am feeling better this week then last.

I was really working on being social again.  I had a luncheon with one of my new craft friends, Kaylyn.  You might remember that Kaylyn is the mom of the blogger I've been following for a few years.  I've gone to a few of her craft classes and she asked if I would meet her for lunch.  I learned a lot about her family and her life.  I think we have quite a bit in common even though we are very different.  She does inspire me with her "pick herself up and keep going" attitude.  She isn't doing classes anymore but I think we will continue to keep in touch. 

I also co-hostessed book club Friday evening with my good friend Stacy.  I can't tell you how sweet Stacy is.  Because I have lower stamina and still can't carry or lift, she got all the food together and I just showed up and helped prep it.  I stayed and helped her clean up a little bit too.  I was very tired when the night was over when I was finally in my bed.  But I really enjoyed it.

Saturday, I met my long time friend Bev and her son Jaxon for breakfast.  We've not seen each other for over a year!  We spent 2.5 hours catching up and we probably could have kept going had our butts not flat got tired sitting there so long.

Sunday was a Metho day.  I planned to sleep in but I woke up wondering if I had a urinary tract infection.  It is not uncommon after a hysterectomy.  But also, it can take awhile for your bladder to adjust after surgery (a uterus holds your bladder in place).  In fact, the internet said a year!  And many people continue to have problems after that.  So I had to get up, shower, and head to the weekend clinic.  They couldn't tell for sure if I did or not.  It speedy test was inconclusive.  So I am waiting for the culture and will know Wednesday.  Interesting enough, I 'm not feeling as confident that is what is going on today as I did yesterday.  I do not want to take the antibiotics unless I need because it often causes more problems then it fixes.  So I am waiting....unless I am doubled over and confident without the culture which I am not....yet.

Muscle wise, I am feeling a little better.  I had my CK done last week.  It came back at 196 so it back in the normal range which is excellent.  I'm anxious to try to get back to the gym again but need cleared after the surgery. 

My labs came back from Johns Hopkins.  It came back all negative for the antibodies.  So that further indicates their suspicions that I have Inclusional Body Myositis (IBM).  I'm not convinced because IBM doesn't usually respond to the medications which my Myositis does.  But it would also explain why I can't build muscle or get feeling better.  IBM is about as bad as it can get from a Myositis perspective.  They've called it "slow progressive Muscular Dystrophy".  I would like to confirm if that is what I have but there isn't any solid diagnostic tool.  There is a new lab test you can get to help with the determination but it can only be read at a hospital in MO.  So I have to get the lab drawn here and find a hospital to send it over night to MO with the proper paperwork.  Of course, I have to pay for  this out of pocket.  I think my insurance is pretty much done with allowing all these out of network tests.  I get pretty discouraged with each indicator coming back more sure about the IBM.  It would really suck and be super depressing because there isn't much you can do about it to improve.  The prognosis isn't good.  But it would help me to know if that is where I am headed.  Most likely, I would be in a wheelchair in the next 10 years.  That is a totally different lifestyle then I have in my head now and so I would be willing to make some decisions that would facilitate that lifestyle more if necessary.   But you know  me, I don't give in to prognosis and I will fight and prove them wrong as much as possible.  But I have to be realistic.

This week, I have a follow up with my regular Oncologist, Dr. L and with my Gyno/Oncologist Dr. D.  This will be my first follow up with Dr. D since the surgery.  I'm anxious to get answers to my questions (HRT, bladder issues, gym readiness).  I also look forward to talking to Dr. L.  I don't expect any issues with that appointment.  I also need to get my mammogram scheduled.  Have you done yours in the last 12 months?  If not, this is a great time to do it!

Philip is doing good.  He is in the home stretch of high school.  He is so ready to be done.  I am trying to  keep him on track.  He is lucky he is so smart.  We are headed to ASU in a few weeks for orientation and signing up for classes!!  He is going to be gone before I know it!!

All things are good here.  Hanging in there and keep ticking off my list of things to do.  I keep getting feeling better post surgery which is great.  I can't wait to be back to my normal.

I'm back Baby!

As I whined about before, I am back to work.  I logged in for my first time in 4 weeks last Thursday.  I won't lie.  I didn't feel ready and I wasn't sure I could do it but I did and it went fine.  I did set the expectation that I will not be working over 8 hours a day.  I also asked for flexibility if I am having trouble and needed to take a mid-day break.  My manager agreed to both those terms.

Thursday, I spent all day getting caught up on email.  I had over 900 emails to catch up on.  The older they got, the less I need to be concerned about because most things were already taken care of.  I had a few meetings including a catch up meeting with my manager.  Because I started at 7:00 am, I was able to log off at 3:00 and promptly took a nap which I needed.  I was proud that I did so well working a full day although I was a little sore and had lots of "settling" in my tummy.  Friday was a similar day with me getting caught up on projects and getting up to speed on the projects.

I spent a good hunk of the weekend resting.  I had planned that so it was just fine.  I had my book club book to read so it was an excellent compliment to the plan (I finished the book Sunday night).  I did go out to dinner with Philip on Saturday.  We also went to see Cinderella which was fun.  Sunday was "couch dependency day".  I made sure the couch wasn't lonely.  The cats love "couch dependency day".

I'm back to work again today.  This week will be a full week.  I think I should be okay but I do continue to be kind to myself.

I had no idea it would take this long to get over this surgery.   I hear from some that were fine after 2 weeks.  A few say they were recovering for 6 weeks or more.  I can't help but wonder if my crappy immune system and muscle disease isn't playing a part in the slow recovery.  I know I am ready to be back to normal.  I have 2 more weeks before my follow up appointment with my doctor.

Oh.  And today, the day came I've been waiting for.  I got a call survey regarding my stay at the hospital.  I had lots of feedback to provide.  I only wish I could have said more.  It was just a survey company calling so not as personal as the written survey but at least I had a chance to let them know how I felt about my nurse the first day.