Another Milestone

Yesterday was a full day for me at Simon Cancer Center, but one filled with great news:

• Mammogram was normal
• Blood work sees nearly all parameters now normalized--white count still a bit low
• I've lost 7 of the 15 lbs I gained last year due to treatment
• My dear surgeon says I don't ever need to see him again...I'll miss him, but what great news
• My Zometa treatment went well with only one needle stick this time, so I actually left without a bruised up arm

It's funny that I looked back at my goal list and thought I was near normal energy last August...how silly of me! I think I had just forgotten what feeling good really felt like. I've had a significant upsurge in energy the last six weeks or so, so I'm beginning to see my old self on the horizon and believe that I may once again get back to her!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation!

Hey there everybody--are you still out there? I feel as though I don't deserve any blog followers anymore as I've let you down...it's been a long, hot, busy summer and I guess the heat sapped my energy for blog writing. Anyhoo, I'm back and anxious to catch you all up on what's been happenin'!

So for starters, no the kitchen's not done yet...can you believe it? We still have trim that's not up, but otherwise we're really enjoying our new cookin' digs...so will post when all is finally done there.

We've had a really blessed summer, although with a very rocky start. I feel like I lost May/June completely as my mother was hospitalized again exactly a month from the first time...this time they did a procedure that has her back in business, though she was shaky at first, returning to the ER a week after her second admission. So needless to say, from May 14th until June 25th or so, I was all caretaker!

The real summer fun started with all our kids and their ladies coming to Indy for Ted's 60th BD and Evan's wedding. It was a glorious weekend filled with partying and great fun. Every weekend in July was packed...Home Group at our house, then our first Camp Mimi with Parker and Finley with us for 4 days, then to northern Indiana for a 60th BD party for Joey intertwined with my college roomie weekend, then back to Stiver's to co-host a shower for their daughter Katie and her hubby to be-Thaddeus, then a drive to a park outside Chicago for my great niece's wedding. The final weekend in July found us hosting both my sisters and their hubbies with concurrent visits from 3 of their kids at some point throughout the weekend. Such fun!

This month finds us just as busy with Game Night and Ted's family reunion last weekend, a drive to St. Louis for the twin's 3rd BD party this weekend and co-hosting our neighborhood's annual picnic next weekend.

Oh yeah...then there was work. I had 3 grants funded...one to co-direct IU's new practice doctoral program for nurses, one to upgrade my health informatics course with Podcasting, and another to work with our large hospital system here called Clarian to help them enhance their employee wellness efforts. Needless to say, I'm sliding into the start of classes on Aug 23rd just barely ready, but it will all get done.

The biggest news of our summer all has to do with our kids/grandkids...Kyle has moved to Toronto (yep, as in Canada!) to follow his love, Casey who will start her plastics/hand surgery practice on Sept 7th. Joel and Jo are doing great and Joel was just given a top leadership award by Google while Jo is getting her program of research really on its way at UCSF. Brian & Brooke continue to thrive with their 3 under 3 (at least until this weekend) and we thrill at the chance to spend time with them all. Harrison is 7 months old now and doing so well..he continues to be such a perfect baby in every way...such a joy! Teddy keeps busy helping us all in various ways and continues to see his days pass quickly.

So that's what I did on my summer vacation. No days lying in a hammock for me!

Workers, workers, workers

Man oh man...the condo is buzzin' today! We have a man cleaning and disinfecting all our heating ducts and air returns, an electrician installing all the final lighting in our kitchen and somehow, Pauline is here to try and clean as much as she can in preparation for having the kids come in this weekend.

I realized once again, just how old I am, after cleaning every new cabinet and washing/putting away all our kitchen goods over the weekend.

Ted and I just keep telling ourselves it will be worth it! The kitchen redo should be about finished by this Friday. I promise to post pic's of the new kitchen when it's done. I'd write more, but I've got too much to do today!

Crazy life!

My friend Geri wrote me today really worried as I haven't posted in so long. She's right in that something is usually up when I fall way behind in my postings! So here's the scoop this time. The end of my semester was crazy busy...a tough semester with some struggling students in both my classes. Turned out the last week of the semester coincided with Joel and Jo's wedding, so we were off to San Fran from April 28th-May 3rd. To say the wedding and entire weekend were just incredible is an understatement, but suffice it to say that the entire experience was amazing and wonderful! I promise to post some pic's when we receive them.

I returned home to a boatload of papers to grade amidst all the end of semester stuff that faculty need to do. Teddy, on the other hand, also had his plate full as a crew arrived to completely gut our kitchen the second day back from the wedding. So while he handled unloading our entire kitchen contents into our living/dining room and covering all with plastic, I finished up my teaching.

The next few days were consumed with meetings at work, a grad party for a neighbor, our home group night, Mother's Day, another Zometa infusion for me and my mom's 99th birthday last Thursday. This past Friday, the 14th, my mom became profoundly ill and we rushed her to the hospital. Thankfully, though 'we' are still hospitalized, she has once again found a way to overcome all odds and is on the mend. So 'we' will likely be released back to her assisted living facility tomorrow morning. My niece Becky and sis Marilyn have come to help out!

If the planets align, we'll stay with her a couple more days, my kitchen will be done by the end of the week and I'll be able to move the dishes, food et al from their various places on the floor, couches and tables back into our new kitchen this weekend! Teddy will be in New Orleans all weekend for Evan's bachelor party (I didn't think old guys got to be invited!), so it will just be me and Wrigs hanging out and catching up with life a bit!

Launching a Couple!

We had a big weekend five days ago. Joel and Jo flew in from San Fran and Jo's sister, Shiao, flew in from NYC and Brooke brought Harrison and Parker in from St. Louis. That's the starter.

We provided our condo to my college roomies, the TFWCers, to host a shower for Jo on Saturday afternoon with 12 attending, then we regrouped and provided our condo for my sis-in-law Barb and Nancy and my good friend Marilyn to host a Meek/Lukens family and friends shower on Sunday with 30 attending.

The TFWC shower was Jo's first "exposure" to my crazy college girlfriends including an induction ceremony for both. As you can see, it was loads of fun and we would all love to hear how Jo and Shiao describe that whole experience to their family and friends (ha!)

Then, Jo (once again) and Shiao (for the first time) got to share great fun and conversation with our family and friends.

The entire weekend, despite all the activity, I kept thinking about my bridal showers and all that has since happened to Ted and me in the 36 years. Joel and Jo have a lot ahead of them...joys, tears, craziness, low times and great times. So it was so good to help launch this wonderful couple!

Being reminded of my blessings

As soon as we got back from Cabo and I made it back into work the next day, I was reminded of my blessings. I was stopped by a faculty colleague who has just completed her chemo. She stopped me to ask what to expect from her radiation treatments, starting this week actually.

We stood there for a few minutes, with me asking her questions and then relaying as many tips as I could to help her prepare for radiation and all that comes with it.

She especially appreciated me saying that she needs to just prepare herself for the fact that when treatment is officially 'over', it's not at all over. And how she will still be feeling the effects for 12-18 months post treatment. The look on her face was like mine now nearly a year ago...I heard that, but I didn't really believe it. I was so anxious to get my life back to normal, that I was in a kind of denial about the after-treatment stuff. So it hit me hard when I didn't bounce right back to normal following treatment.

It's good that I can help this colleague and also another colleague, both 6-9 months behind me with their cancer journeys. Hopefully they'll be helped by my experience and will be more realistic about how long it takes to recover.

Fun in the Sun!

Man oh man, what a difference a year makes! Like this weekend, we took off a year ago to be with dear friends, sharing their condo timeshare in Cabo, New Mexico! Like this weekend, we absolutely pampered ourselves silly, laughed loudly all day long, ate great food, swam in the pool, soaked in the hot tubs and permitted ourselves a refreshing mojito even in the afternoon!

Unlike last year, I have HAIR, I don't have to completely stay out of the sun due to the chemo and I can actually awaken early to help secure our 'spot' on the beach!

It will be a sweet, sweet time this year!