and a Happy New Year

As the calendar turns ..to another year..I want to reflect on 2007, 

Some highlights

1. My new blog friends
   
2. My dear gold friends
   
3. My new friend Sally, right here in Peoria, who I met online!!
4. My last daughter fled the nest
   
5. My website ~The Primitive Gathering
   
6. Helping with Creative Call Studios
   
7. The wonderful friends of Art in the World , a Yahoo group
   
8. The community on ZNE
   
9. My new roses that bloomed in the garden
   
10. Seeing my first Kingfisher
    
11. Breast Cancer diagnosis on 10/28
    
12. Mastectomy on 12/12 with reconstructive surgery
    
13. Amazing doctors, Dr. Jones and Dr. Mammolito
    
14. Lasik Eye Surgery in April
    
15. New Breast Friends
    
16. My son graduate from Motorcycle Mechanic School and is a certified Harley Davidson Mechanic
17. 8 new holly bushes
18. A crazy mole family in our backyard
19. My 14th wedding anniversary in February
20. My 52nd birthday in April
21. My son turned 35
22. My oldest daughter turned 25
23. My youngest daughter turned 18
24. My Pink Razor phone & Pink Bluetooth for my ear
25. A New MacBook, NO viruses ALL year, not ONE!!
26. Deeper Faith in God
27. Closer relationships with all my loved ones
28. A WAY cute Lauren Jean Jacket
29. A trip to Phoenix  AZ for my son's graduation
30. My BFF has a new grandson, Hunter
31. Another Year of life in the Singing Woods
32. Right before my diagnosis , an overwhelming sense of hopelessness *which went away immediately after the cancer news*
33. In December,FINALLY,  just Rich and I in this big house
34. Christmas Breakfast with my kids and grands
35. Hubby gave me a necklace & earring, made of silver & pearls, made just for me
36. Selling our old house after 2 years
37. Wearing jeans again after surgery
38. A new Brighton purse & pill box
39. Gifts given with love from so many friends
40. Finally being happy with who I am
41. Ice and snow storms
42. Seeing the space shuttle in the horizon
43. Renewed Friendships
44. Discovering "The Sopranos"
45. Netflix
46. Doing my first "show" at Cinammon Creek's in KY with dear friends..BJ & Sherry
47. Seeing deer in the yard
48. A little Red Fox visited our yard
49. Hearing the Coyotes at night
50. Seeing oh so many Eagles on the river
51. Andre Bocelli
    
52. My favorite book I read this year, The Tenth Circle
53. My favorite movie this year, The Martian Child

There are lots more ..all blessings, but might be boring to you!!

teehee

May 2008 be a BLESSED year for each and every one of us.

I'm determined to fight the fight

I believe in tomorrow & I intend to be part of it

fondly,

 

Going to the Doctor"s today

Yesterday's do.

New Year's Eve 2007, the new me.

Still not going too short, but we'll gradually

do it. Gotta get ready for the BALD me!!

LOL

I love the back too

I've got a pink tee & pink panties on

but ya know, PINK is being exploited!!

To see my sweet plastic surgeon

Dr. Jones.

I'm all cute, with jeans and a shirt

& my new hair. My sweet daughter

Nicole does so good.

Makes me feel younger for sure.

fondly, deena

I have a new Gift Away coming up

I'll post it in the next couple of days

tis AWESOME!!

Me & My Honey

SIGN UP FOR MY GIFT AWAY

Click HERE

Here we are, acting silly, getting ready

to go OUT for breakfast..and I have

jeans and a shirt on!!!

woohoo

Nicole is coloring and cutting my hair today

so stayed tuned for my new do!!

fondly, 

deena 

(&Rich)

Gifts of Love

Sign up for my GIFT AWAY

click HERE

Lovely plant my neighbor Cami brought while I was in hospital

*Dr Jones says it that way*

My friends Cindy & Patty brought this to me

in hospital

My sweet angel  & Saviour stitchery from my sweet friend, Angela

Love the pointsettia pin & fabric rose from

my friend Erika @ Meadow Street

A few gifts, from some lovely friends

I posted a few SNOW pics on my NATURE BLOG

hope you'll take a look

thank you for your continued encouragement ..it makes a WORLD of

difference in this battle *sometimes called journey*

deena

What an Honor

A new friend, Mary from Across the Pond

bestowed all these awards on me today!!

I am honored to have her as a new friend.

Stop by her blog, tis a treat.

Thank you Mary!!!

BE SURE TO VISIT MY PREVIOUS
GIFT AWAY POST

I'll draw a winner on New Year's

fondly, deena

Prayer Answered

Thanks for praying for my daughter Nicole

The prayers were answered and all should

be well tomorrow

God is good!!

I'll post more tomorrow

Today we got SNOW, and JoAnna called me

..I worked on web stuff

and generally had a fun day by myself.

fondly, deena

NEW BANNER

Well I just love this one..tis so ME

Mary from Isabella's Closet made it

..she's so sweet..

ONE big thing I want to say, don't be

sad or sorry for me  BECAUSE

Cancer has blessed me with new  friends, better

relationships with my gold friends,  a deeper faith

and a closer relationship with our Lord,  it has

strengthened my marriage & I now value TODAY

every day.  It has also brought a peace to our home.

Just love me, be my friend, pray for and with me, encourage

me &  hold my hand as we walk through the next few months.

Romans 8:28

"and we know that all things work together for good

to them that love God, to them who are the called according

to His purpose"

Today was the first day alone for so long, it was peaceful and

wonderful. I putzed a bit, watched the movie "Insomnia"

and took a nap. Hubby is home now..and we have the movie

"We Are Marshall" to watch.  

I get better each day and hope to wear my jeans again SOON!!

I met a couple of new pink friends..Libby and Amy.

I am even thinking about working on some new graphics for 

my website, The Primitive Gathering , gosh I must be feeling good.

I've been "juicing up" for chemo & love the good natural stuff. 

For the

next few days, till New's Eve day when I visit my AWESOME Dr Jones,

(yes I have a crush on him, teehee)

I'll probably just be hanging out at home & recovering more each day.

Today is day 15 after the surgery..and tomorrow is 2 months since

my diagnosis..oh the places we'll go..

fondly, love to you my friends

BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY GIFT AWAY

TIS IN AN EARLIER POST

Laden with Gifts

MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR MY GIFT AWAY

a PREVIOUS POST~~ and read the BLESSINGS

tis wonderful.

Another page for my art book from

my sister's at Art In The Word Yahoo Group.

This one is from Katie.

Christmas from Rich

a new purse & pill box &

A GREAT book on hawks.  Love them.

My sweet friend Jan, of Bold & Free made

this scarf for moi!!!! I love it..blue, cream & lilac..with

silver accents ..I LOVE it..My BFF told me how to drape it.

I wore it in the house all day, on Saturday when it arrived.

Thank you Jan!!! and your friends for the card also

More pics of gifts soon, my camera battery died..then it was time

for the docs, then it was DARK!!

The doctor today..said after chemo

I'd do 28 treatments of radiation

on the right chest and shoulder area.

Tis a 15 minute visit, 5 days a week

and I think I'll be able to drive myself

Maybe about 6 months down the road..

fondly, deena

Gift AWAY!!

Two wonderful books from Kaye Gibbons

Ellen Foster  &  A Virtuous Woman,

they are Oprah's Bookclub picks.

I loved them both, just post a Blessing you received in 2007

& make sure I can reach you if you win.

I'll draw a winner on 1/1/2008

Tell your friends too

Tis good to give, deena

A VERY Merry Christmas, A Christmas Breakfast

Let's open some gifts.

Preparing breakfast, that HUGE man with a beard and tatts is 

my son.  He's so kind, funny and gentle, but he might

scare you if you didn't know him..I do NOT like that beard!!!

Much needed coats

Kitty got locked in the family room

The girls  & I start breakfast

The usual Wrestle Fest

I had to rest, I guess I'm NOT SuperWoman, LOL

The boys are patiently waiting for FOOD

Steven, my youngest grand, Andrea my wonderful DIL & Nicole

No one wants to look at the camera

Rich got the camera out, the boys POSED!! He didn't even ask

All my grandsons!!  I asked them to pose for me!!

It was a MERRY Christmas

fondly, Deena

Today we journey to the Radiation Oncologist

GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY

For Unto Us A Child is Born

Wrapped in swaddling clothes & lying in a manger

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas Eve

Here I am..I did everything for my self this AM

My arm where the lymphs were removed , hurts a bit

today, but everything else is doing great.

I hope to get the gifts wrapped with Rich's help..hasn't happened

yet, but at least we have the gifts!!

Yesterday was a quiet day at home, enjoying each other's company.

I will be taking pics of my mail surprises to post soon.

Tonight we plan to go to the 7PM CandleLight service at

our church.  Then unwrapped our present(s)..we only have 

one to give each other, maybe we can have a fire too, 

as the wind is finally gone.

Merry Christmas Eve to all of you !!!! I love you

Saturday & the last day of hospital stay

Oh God sent me an angel nurse this day.

Sister Marion.. a young lady from 

Slovakia..she made me feel I was her

ONLY patient that day. 

She got me cleaned up, removed my catheter, took me for a walk

around the surgery floor, washed my hair as I LAY IN BED.

She told me she prayed for all her patients..and she was so kind, 

caring , gentle and loving.

Alot of progress this day!! With visits from Rich (of course)

my BFF Marcia, my friends Cindy & Patty (my movie partners),

my neighbor Cami who works at OSF hospital

So..the last day..I did get my pathology results (the abridged version)

and made lots of progress in moving about.

Sunday, Dr. Jones came in to see me, took out my pain pump

and cleared me for flight..and away Rich and I flew!!

and OH 

Oh Auntie Emm , there's no place like home.

Friday of Surgery Stay & TODAY

Friday, day 3 of my hospital spa stay..LOL

Started out as a not so bad day..I had set up in bed

and got a "bath" and ate lunch, but come 11.30 ish

I got a horrid headache. I must admit it was worse

than any of the surgery pain.  The nurses and doctor

gave me a break , as I was SUPPOSE to

get up and walk, and have my catheter removed.

My friend Sheri came to visit and Rich went to

check on his dad.  Sheri set with me for about 5 hours

just trying to comfort me, let me sleep, her cool hands

on my neck and forehead.  She was a blessing.

About 5PM the migraine finally left and I was so glad to say farewell!! Do NOT come back.

My blood pressure and hemoglobin rose a bit. More good news, no transfusion yet.

Rich brought in a dozen pink roses and a poinsettia plant and 

my sister in law, Rhonda

sent a lovely bouquet of red and whites.

Marcia and Michele came up Thursday evening ..that was

a sweet visit ..two of my best friends . 

Rich went home Friday night, it was snowy so lovely..and he was LONELY 

at home, but I was glad I felt safe enough to let him leave.

TODAY

We went to see Dr Jones at 8AM, got my last drain removed..my steritape changed on my tummy a little attention to my new breast and we go back on 12/31..Dr Jones is quite pleased

with my recovery and Rich told me that Dr. Jones knows I have a CRUSH on him.  He is so kind, caring and gentle ..and HANDSOME, well dressed and just love his accent.

The place where one drain was removed yesterday , continues to bleed a bit too much

but Dr. Jones showed Rich how to massage it and help it drain out a bit and then 

start to heal.

The staff at the office were so festive and SWEET and even Dr. Mammolito 

walked through and hugged me and told me .."now it's time for you to get WELL"

I love her too, we could be friends, she alot like me..OH MY I hope she doesn't 

read this..that statement my scare her!!!!!!!! ROFLOL

I have only taken 2 pain pills today.!! another goal

Nicole , my oldest daughter came today, with her youngest, Caleb..She cleaned the house

THANK GOODNESS and shaved my legs..WOOHOO..I'm a girl again.

Caleb was very gentle and leary of me..I showed him my surgery and he was

so glad the cancer is GONE!!  He's 4 but he has a lil understanding of

Gramma Deena being sick with Breast Cancer.. He's so cute, loving and sometimes

even a GOOD BOY.. He said he was a super duper good boy..teehee

We had PIZZA for supper, and some cake from Sally, YUMMY..a good day 

all in all..

ONE LAST THING. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PRAY for 

my daughter.  Her car was impounded on Saturday eve  in the snow...after she'd left me at the hospital and 

she need funds to get it back..more than any of us have right now.

Please ask God for assistance in finding a solution..as she is

a single mom (soon to be divorced) of two young boys.

  She needs her car badly.

thank you in advance for lifting up her needs to our Lord.

fondly, deena

HELP about a novel

 Hi my friends,

  Lori Foster sent me a book, a signed copy of a book

she wrote, but with my brain all muddled from things

lately, I can't remember who asked her to send it to me???

Can you help??

** You can always

email me through my profile if you like,  too**

fondly, deena

Life on the Surgery Floor & Pathology Report

The day after surgery went pretty good, I did have one

time when my pain wasn't bearable..but it was 

taken care of pronto..

My "On Que" had stopped working

it's a small ball of meds, with a pump and nodes inserted

directly into my incision site..right where the stomach was

opened to get the tissue, blood vessels , and FAT ..(yes take it!!)

for my new breast.  

It worked great  

My blood pressure

took a large drop, my hemoglobin was WAY low and

they had to change my pain med

..do it yourself pump from

morphine ..to a new med thinking it would help..as

morphine is known to lower blood pressure.

That day

I just layed there ..with drains, cathater, IVs , pain pump

in me and I felt so weak I was sure I would die..but I wasn't scared

even then.  Rich stayed the night again, despite the every two

hour interruption of  sleep for vital checks..and the blood  pressure

just kept going lower (transfusion had been mentioned MANY times)

of course ..I made it!!! YIPPEE..

TODAY.. we went to my breast cancer surgeon..Dr. Mammolito..and 

I was THRILLED when we she removed TWO of my THREE drains..woohoo

I've lost the black of the shoulder drain bulb holder..

Now I have one drain bulb in the inside pocket of my cami.. 

Of course we laughed..teehee..and I told her that before she came in to

see me and I was talking about my parents..and how I had always wanted a mother

and then how I bet my step and bio mom thought I was a disappointment..and Rich went

"OK, everybody just calm down" I said.."I'm the only one here" ..Rich says.

"I know I'm talking to all your personalities Sybil"

I was ROARING ...I bet everyone ..in the office and waiting area heard me laughing.

 Now for the skinny on the Pathology Report

I am in Stage 3 C of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

Dr Mammolito removed 39 lymphs..and 29 were cancer.

I have the size of my lump..but I will add that as I'm too tired

to get up, get it and get settled again..but I remember that the margins she removed

around the mass was clear!!! YIPPEE

I will be seeing a Oncologist

Dr. Diane  Prager, a Radiation Oncologist , (oh WHERE did I put that name??? teehee,)

 lots of testing on my body and blood, chemotherapy, then radiation, and taking a med for year

as my Hormone Receptor test results showed

no cancer in the progesteron ..weak for  cancer in the estrogen and 

my Her2Neu 

tested as  3+for cancer.

This usually indicates that the cancer is agressive and treatment

needs to be started ASAP.

So I imagine by next week, I'll be taking the med Herceptin  and for one

year.

Well..I'd say that is a bunch of new learning I have to do, that

even though my doctor was SO disappointed as she was hoping even

the Sentinal Node would be clear and 29 were cancercous..that my Her2Neu isn't what we

wanted either....again..Rich and I will follow this path of the journey.

His(Rich's)  words today after we left the doctor

"we're good"

and we are!! thank you God for your overwhelming blessings.

Today I got gifts again and my friend Sally, came over for a visit, 

brought Chicken & Rice, southern style green beans, rolls and four pieces

of cake (each piece a different cake) YUMMY and I'm gonna get plumper...

Last night was a good night of rest..today I haven't taken anything for 

pain in 12+ hours!! woohoo..

I thank you all, I hope I can help others the way you help me

and remember ..to take care of YOU, get your mammo's and do your self exams

fondly, 

Me and "the girls"

Hello to all my friends

I may not get to answer each of you

or post a comment back to each who visits

BUT

I read every comment..bask in the joy of it..visit

your blogs and pray for you all too.

I have to keep my typing to a minium

so just know I care and that each post  brightens my day

and fills me with God's love.

Here are my girls..Hannah my dog..Mya on my chair...my FAT cat

and me resting and cuddling.

Rich went downstairs to get some dog food and came

back up to click this picture of us.

My chair has a sheet on it..for comfort..and 

I have my "surgery uniform" on..a velcro'd cammy

and pj pants..My drain bulbs are in a little "purse" 

around my neck and over my shoulder..

My TED white socks, to protect against blood clots

and my HOT pink slippers from Linda.

I have gotten cards and presents, I'll try to post soon.

Last night, I fought a WAR with pain, nightmares, sweats, and no

position to feel comfort in, I WON!!! I woke this morning ..unable to

speak for about a minute & felt much better the rest of the day.

I'm going to try to cut down on pain meds at night to see if 

that helps with theses awful horrid dreams..and jerks of my body

with the feeling and fear of falling..

UGH

Tomorrow we visit Dr. Mammolito and we'll discuss the cancer and 

pathology reports more, get an appointment with my oncologist

and plan the next path of this pink journey.

Rich is so protective, caring, loving..and a GREAT cook.

yummy food daily for me

your friend , brimming with the love of God thru each of you.

My friend Mary sent this to me, but it only fit fully in my post,

not the side bar.. Isn't it lovely and SWEET!!!

Did you know..I'm SweetAnnee??

teehee

Happy Birthday Dear Jesus