Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008, it will be a very good year!!!


On Monday I saw Dr. Jones..my plastic surgeon.

He said I was healing great, cleared me
to drive..take a bath (it had been just showers)
and lift 10 lbs.  
He cleared me to begin chemo
in a couple of weeks too.

I came home and took pictures of my
tummy and breast..but I can't post them here. 
I want to ...so other ladies can see what is
available after a mastectomy..perhaps I'll post them
somewhere private and then post a link on my Blog
if someone wants to see.
What do you think???

On New Year's Eve..Rich and I braved the snow storm
and went to dinner at one of our fave Restaurants.
The food was divine..I ate so much, I actually HURT
when I got home..I was dressed in jeans, a pink tee, a brown
velvet jacket & some awesome boots. I felt like a GIRL!!!
woohoo

We came home I swallowed some pain med,  took a BATH & snuggled in bed.  
At Midnight I woke Rich
up for a New Year's kiss.  sweeeet

New Years day was quiet, I took a nap..we had chili for supper
and went to bed early.

Today my friend Sheri came with bagels and
we talked and talked and had a pedicure with
salt scrub..Dead Sea Salt no less!!

It is always good to open up to someone about
how I feel.  

I read more of my "Pink BooK"
thinking I never would have DREAMED I'd have
cancer, tis not in my family AT ALL.

I remember the day I got the book
Keli told me 
"Just read a bit of this ..cuz it doesn't all apply to you
and if you read it all , it will scare you"

Well, now it does ALL apply to me, except the 
hospice information..and I am a bit concerned,

of the effects of chemo,
that perhaps the cancer is
in my body,
 not just my breast and lymphs,
 that perhaps I won't see next year at this time,
 but I am at peace in the fact that 
I know God has a plan..and He will reveal it
to me.  

I wake each day with a new appreciation for
every gift I am given, like today's new snow
that came down like glitter, the sun so bright,
the air SO cold.

The gift of the birds at the feeders, even though the temp
was 0 degrees out.

The gift of my friend coming to visit ..
the gift of warmth in my home..a hot shower, a good supper,
and wonderful husband, phone calls from my grown children, a good nap,
and 
now a new season of Law & Order.
woohoo..

I have added new music & a new BANNER

Find the joy in each day..
it's God's gift to His children..
Keep those prayers coming..
I'm not afraid..just need to be strong
for the coming months!!

fondly, deena

PS I'll be posting a new Gift Away on Friday...come 
back to see, it's a GREAT one!!

20 comments:

  1. Hi Deena, it's great to hear how well you are healing.
    Amy over at http://foursistersinacottage.blogspot.com/ has photos on her blog of how she's doing. She has done a wonderful job of sharing her experience with us girls.
    You girls are so brave.
    How wonderful to have a friend like Sheri that you can so freely open up to.
    Take care.
    Alison

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  2. Hi Deena,

    First visit, I think...I'm just charmed by your blog and will be sure to come back and visit. I love your enthusiasm, after reading back several blogs, I suppose I'm hooked.

    Best wishes!
    T

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  3. Oh, and I LOVE the new haircut, a lot!

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  4. Hi Deena, I'm glad you had a nice night out, one that ended with a bath and a kiss. After all you've been through it feels good to do something "normal", doesn't it?

    I don't know the "pink book" you mentioned, but I have read Dr Susan Love's Breast Book. It gives much more information than you ever want to know, and lots that doesn't apply. I had to put it down several times through my treatment because it was scaring me. But I always went back and tried to put on my "clinical hat" and I learned a great deal.

    You will be fine with your chemo. Everyone's experience is different, I know. I learned not to listen to people who try to tell you how miserable they were. I don't know why people do that. Listen to those of us with something positive to say about it! For example, my chemo experience was pretty great. I wasn't sick, I didn't gain or lose weight. I did lose my hair, unavoidable, but I had great wigs (and I gave them all names....Delores, Audrey-Angelina, and Paige....to make it more fun). I had a few hours every other week to sit in the chemo chair and do my crosswords (to keep my mind sharp), to write letters, listen to music, snack, and snooze. It was the "me time" I needed and I actually enjoyed it. Plus I knew we were actually doing something to attack the cancer cells, so it was a good feeling.

    As for whether the cancer is elsewhere, your doctors can order scans to check that out. You probably know that. That provides some peace of mind.

    From what I've read in your blog, you sound like such an upbeat person that you will sail through the rest of this! Just keep finding the positive, keep laughing, and keep blogging (it's so therapeutic). Good luck to you, Katie

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  5. Hi Deena -
    Love your new ribbon with the bling on it. It's great to hear that you are doing so well. Thanks for the nice note. What a surprise amongst my the bills and flyers. Love ya!

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  6. Hi Deena....Don't think of the what-ifs........you could worry yourself into a tizzy!! Have Faith in God and through Him know that you are going to be healed...I believe in the power of prayer....and you've got ALL of Us you lucky Girl you...LOL!!!
    Extra tight hugs,,but not too tight to hurt you...
    Love,
    Robin

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  7. Deena, I would love to see your photos.. please do add them to your blog when you can.
    It's been good seeing what my friend Amy (FourSistersInACottage) has gone through by seeing her photos.
    I'm glad you are doing well. You are just such a true sweetheart and I wish the very best for you!
    I love your positive attitude :-}
    How nice that a hot shower can feel so good for you..we who have not been through what you have take so much for granted.
    Take care..
    Hugs & Love ~Mary~

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  8. Good Morning Deena,
    I am glad to hear you got a good report. "PRAISE GOD"!!!! I think it is a great idea to show your pictures. It will help someone else out there that may be going thru the same thing. I just so admire you for being so strong and having the courage to share this all with us. It is a good thing to be able to talk to someone about this tho. I'm glad you and your hubby had a good time going out. I know I enjoy it very much when me and my hubby go out together. I call it our Date Night. LOL. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.
    Hugs,
    Karen H.

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  9. Hello Deena, I am the Mom of Creation In Art. I know God has a plan for you. My Hubby has a saying and it is Keep Smiling God Loves You!!!! Friends are hard to find and you have a great one. The pedacure sounded heavenly. Just keep smiling and have a great day.

    Love and Hugs,
    Joyce
    http://joyce-creationinprogress.blogspot.com

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  10. Hi Deena,
    If you go to my blog today you will see a post that my sweet daughter Jodi posted for me explaining I am "temp out of order"
    but I am keeping a check on you through borrowed time on someone else's computer..... I am so proud of you for leaving this in God's hands...
    and I know he can prepare you for whatever He has in store for you...
    as the treatments begin I will hold you and Rich up for strength as well as healing...
    you are such an encouragement to so many people that I know God has a great purpose for you...
    one year ago you had no Idea that you would be influencing so many people to "Fully Rely On God!"
    I am very proud to know you (even if it is just through Blogland) we are both Daughters of God... so that makes us Sisters in Faith,
    Love,
    Mimi

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  11. Deena, I so encourage you to share your photos. I would love to see. I wish I knew this was possible. It all happened so fast for me and I didn't have a clue. So if your photos could help someone who was in my position, I think that would be wonderful. Information is power in so many ways.

    You sound wonderful sweetie. Keep that good attitude and you will find every day a blessing, even when the not so good days come. And enjoy that hair!! Looks adorable!

    Like me, it is a blessing to go through chemo in the winter time so you can wear all kinds of fun hats and scarfs. I loved trying to look artsy with them and got so many compliments, even from strangers. And you won't have to shave for a long time which is so cool. And oh my, when your hair is gone, and eyelashes, you can get ready so fast. I would be ready before my husband and we would just laugh. Not having hair is amazing in so many ways. I wish I could be there with you and paint your head like I painted mine with roses...lol.

    Just keep laughing and praising God, and life will just get sweeter and sweeter.

    love and hugs,
    joanna

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  12. Hi Deena:
    I applaud your attitude. Please educate us and show us your pictures. Amy does (Four Sisters In A Cottage). I found you (I know you are not lost : ) through my friend Mary (Isabella's closet). Take care
    Peace
    carole

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  13. All good news...lovely!
    Some of this is scary...it's meant to be...it's life...it's natural for your mind to move forward to the "what ifs" and it's the what we don't knows that can keep us up at night...don't deny yourself those moments...and as you always do, rebuild with the positives. I still, 2 1/2 years beyond have those doubts and moments. As I said to myself & God on January 1st...on May 4, 2005 I didn't think I'd be ringing in 2008....we just don't know.

    Hugs!!

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  15. Hello Deena, I found your blog through Mary(Issabellascloset) and I agree with everyone. Amy showed her stages and it will help a lot of women who may have to go through it. Prayers for you. Pat

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  16. I have no idea what you are going through and would not even attempt to try to know.. but The Father God knows and there are a couple of things I would like to say...

    Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord That Heals

    He healed back then and He heals today...... I believe that, I have experienced His healing power...

    We are flesh and blood and we are subject to the fears that the enemy whispers in our ears..... I hate the "what if" whispers... How they torment....... but there is a scripture in the word that will help the "what ifs"

    Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

    Keep your heart and mind focused on the goodness of God.

    And remember Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

    Just remember that we are praying...

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  17. Please do post them, Deena.

    It's always better to have the information than to not know.

    That would be a nice thing for you to do. I'm sure a lot of people are curious, it would be helpful for them to know what they face, even the lurkers who won't say so :)

    Your New Year's dinner with Rich sounds wonderful !

    So does your sea salt scrub pedicure with Sheri, and opening up about your feelings !

    Of course it is scary. Not having control always is, as is the unknown.

    You have so much appreciation of what you have. Smart, because it is all true -

    May you be here next year. and with no other cancer or side effcets from the chemo...

    Left you 'special blessings' on my blog today...

    I didn't know there was a new Law& Order season ! Whoo-hoo, I'll have to go check it out :)

    Loving Annie

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  18. The pink diamond encrusted bling ribbon is beautiful !!!

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  19. How is it I've missed your blog??? It's wonderful and I look forward to being a regular.

    You have a wonderful spirit and I can tell you from experience (as can so many of the other ladies here) that will do more for you in the coming months than anything else.

    Blessings to you!
    Jen

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~**~Your kind remarks are my angel wings~**~