Long Overdue Update

I feel like I should start this blog by saying Happy New Year. Since it's now February 24th and my first blog of the year.

To say it's been a good start to the year, is really an understatement. Yes the first week was fabulous! I couldn't have asked for a better start then spending it in Las Vegas with the hubs. The thrill and excitment of ringing in the new year on the Vegas Strip was the best experience ever!! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

But that happiness was short lived when we got a phone call from my sister at 4:30 in the morning telling us that my mom called her because she was feeling horrible. She could hardly breathe and her heart was racing and said that she wasn't sure if she could make it to answer the door for EMS.

She did get the door opened and after a few hours of testing, she was severely anemic and bleeding internally. Which caused her to be admitted to find the source. On January 12th we got news that nobody ever wants to here. She had a mass on her stomach that is bleeding and the source of the internal bleeding. They also suspect cancer. It also had to be removed even if it wasn't. She underwent surgery on the 14th. The removed 2/3's of her tummy. Thankfully, no other organs showed signs of cancer. However, a few days later it was confirmed that it was cancer and in one lymph node.

Oddly, she took the news better then I did. And my siblings. But at 86, I guess she's allowed to be 'okay' with it.

So after a few weeks in the hospital, 2 weeks in rehab and 2 weeks at my sister's, she is back at her own house and doing extremely well for a woman her age that just had more then half of her tummy removed.

Hopefully she will continue to get stronger each day as she will need all the strength she can muster since she has decided that she doesn't want any treatment. She says she's too old and how much time does she have anyway.

I'm finally ok with her decision. The hardest part at first was that I was always in denial that she was going to die someday. And she couldn't die because that would make me an orphan...silly I know. But I'm at terms with it and who am I to go against the wishes of an 86 year old woman. I think she's earned the right to say and do whatever she wants.

Wellness Check Update

Several years ago while at a Infertility doctor appointment, my doctor discovered a lump on the side of my neck on my thyroid. After tests galore, we found out that it was a nodule on my thyroid and it was cancer. I had it removed and had a round of Radioactive Iodine treatment. So far, two and a half years later, everything is going well.

However, that experience has made me paranoid about every ache, pain and spot I feel or discover. So a few months ago, I noticed that a mole I've had on my leg for years, looked a little different on one side.

The next day I called my dermatologist and made an appointment. I had to wait about a month to get in. I finally went on December 17th. She looked at it and said that it looked fine. But because of my cancer history, she was going to remove it.

Christmas Eve, she called me with the results. She said that the biopsy came back with it being superficial skin cancer. She was as surprised as I was. She was able to remove all the tissue around the area where the cancer was but to be on the safe side, I'm going back on January 28th and she is going to remove a little more.

I am so thankful that as soon as I noticed a change, I wasted no time calling for an appointment. So please, please, please don't ignore unusual symptom or mole change that you may have. You just never know and it's better to be safe than sorry.

It's Christmas Week!!!

This is my most favorite time of the year!!! All the lights and decorations, the fabulous food, cookies and treats!! Yea I know, so good for the diet, right? Well, I figure, if I workout like a maniac all week long, I won't feel as guilty when I over indulge on Friday.

Then come Saturday, the fitness madness starts again because we'll be leaving for Sin City on the 30th. The land of never ending buffets and the free drinks that come your way as long as you're sitting in front of a slot machine throwing your money in or playing a table game!!

Ah, yea....I am so doomed. But you know, I don't care. As long as find myself at the gym or on the treadmill here, it's going to be fine. I'm not going to beat myself up because I had bad food.

This is also a week where I find myself reflecting on the year that is quickly coming to an end. And pondering what is in store for the year ahead!! Should I make some resolutions or not. Should I set some goals or not.

But you know, right now I'm just going to enjoy the week and as the time draws near, I'll let all you Internets what I have been pondering and maybe a little year in review.

Stay tuned!!

Wellness Reminder

Today I went for my annual skin check up and came back with 3 stitches on the side of my right leg....thanks in part to a mole that has been there for years. Well this year, it decided to show some small changes so my dr decided that it was best to take it out because it may get worse by next year. She says that she thinks it's fine but will find out next week what the results are.

So I'm taking this time as a public service message to remind everybody to take care of themselves and get annual check ups even if you're feeling fine and your moles look normal.

Out of Ohio for the Week

Today begins my crazy month of December as I am travelling to San Antonio for conference/training. I have mixed feelings about going. Why? Because it's Christmas time, my favorite time of the year and I will be missing out a week of admiring our decorated house.

I did finish my shopping last week and that is a great thing.

So I'm drafting this on the plane because it's a 2 and ½ hour flight and I can't nap because, in my usual worry mode, I'm wondering if my luggage will be on the plane. My flight from Cleveland to O'Hare was supposed to leave at 9:35. But because of weather issues with the incoming plane, we didn't take off until 10AM. Problem with that was my connecting flight to San Antonio was leaving O'Hare at 10:45 Central time. We did arrive at 10:15 at the G Concourse. The Connecting flight was on the K Concourse. Thank goodness the same terminal. Hopefully it made it. And luckily at the last minute I decided to check in my carryon – because I knew I already had a 45 minute layover if it was on time. We just made it to the connecting flight as they were getting ready to close the door.

And another nice thing…there is no curtain separating first class and coach – NICE – you can see all the nice service they are getting while we sit back here and just get a beverage. No snacks unless you pay $3 to $4 – with a credit card only. Really? A credit card for a $3 snack.

Good thing when we go to Vegas on the 30^th, we get snacks cause we're flying Continental!! One of the few airlines that offer snacks – for free.

 

And It's Back To Work Tomorrow

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. My glorious week off of work is coming to an end today. And it's back to the grind tomorrow.

It was a good week off. I decorated the house for Christmas. The tree is up. Did some Christmas shopping. Got a massage. Cooked us nice, healthy meals all week. Helped the hubs with painting at the rental. Got caught up on little tasks that I've been putting off. Had some great workouts this week too. Which is good, since Vegas is 30 days away!!

This week at work, since it's usually kind of slow this time of year, I plan on getting caught up on those tasks that you put aside for times like this. Things that you really don't want to do and save for times like this.

Next week it's off to San Antonio for a training conference. Do I want to go, no. Am I looking forward to time away from here, yes!! But looking more forward to our week vacation in Vegas!!

Can you tell, I'm really looking forward to that?!

Well, hope everyone in the blogging world has a great week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Years ago, when I first broke free from the house I grew up in and moved out on my own into an apartment, I met twin brothers that lived in the same building. Phil and Pete. I briefly dated Phil but we decided we got along better as just friends. Through the years we stayed in touch.

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Pete. Phil suffered a stroke. He's 52, has a great wife and 5 awesome kids. The stroke left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak. He was life flighted to Cleveland Clinic and now is at rehab at Metrohealth.

Yesterday, I went to visit Phil. I didn't know what to expect and was actually pretty scared to see him. But I knew I had to go. Pete wanted me to go. I was surprised when I got there, because the last update email I got from Pete, Phil was starting to talk again, but in one syllable words. He still has trouble speaking, but it's now in multi syllables. He still can't walk but they are working on that and he can eat. We had a real nice visit. In the end, he's still the same old Phil. What makes him sad right now is that he desperately misses his kids and because of H1N1 they are not allowed to go to the hospital to visit. I told him that he needs to focus on his kids and fight to get better so he can run around with them again. I know Phil and I know he will beat this!

On this day that we give thanks, I would like to say that I'm thankful for the life I have. Visiting Phil made me realize that we just never know what life is going to throw at us. And we really do have to make the most of what we have everyday!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!