where did July go?

And June too, for that matter!

Started out in Houston the second week of June. Conference was good, but the fun part of the trip was to have a great visit with my academy roommate, Linda. We had not seen each other for about 8 years, so it was great to catch up.

Flew home to Seattle straight from Houston, and the days fly by playing with KK, visiting with the kids, pretending it was summer (60 is better than the 100 in Texas) and working during the day. On the summer solstice, we had a great barbeque at Mukilteo Beach with the family, including Nan and Ron. It was a beautiful evening, and we sat and watch the sunset. We also spent a nice Sunday evening at Camano Island in a cabin on the beach. everyone came for cookout, and then Bert and I stayed over. Great short get a way that was very enjoyable. The weather even cooperated.

I also went in for the 90 day check since I started my meds regime, to determine how it was going and whether to switch to chemo or stay with the meds we are using. So, blood work and a full CT, and then a long 24 hour wait to go see the DR. the next day, and good news!! The meds are working great, the big c is not to be found anywhere, and no chemo needed. Yeah! We celebrated with a nice dinner out and a big gooey dessert, which tasted extra good since I had not had any sugar for about 2 months. I will stay with the meds and check in and have another CT every 90 days for one year.

Made a quick trip to New York City for a meeting at Staten Island Ferry. We had a great meeting, and I had a great Friday night in the big city with my friend Linda. We had dinner and a Broadway show and a really nice visit.

July kicked off with a long weekend at the Oregon Coast. The weather was fabulous, and the whole family was able to get away. We made our usual stops at Cannon Beach and the cheese factory. The baby loaf mini-vans were new, and we had a great time playing in those! We also made some new favorites, like Cape Foulweather State Park, which was amazing. It was so nice on the way home, we stopped to see the Mt. St. Helens visitors center.

I was busy when we got home, keeping up with work and decorating our bedroom. I had decided that the contractor beige had to go in our bedroom and it is so great since Bert put in my new window and new lights, so we painted, hung new curtains and got new bedding. And Bert built us a new bed. so we are looking nice and cozy now.

Most exciting event of all was Michal and Jason's news that we will be grandparents again! The little Frieslette is due in February.

I returned to Virginia mid-July, just in time to have a nice visit with sister-in-law Mary. We did some good sight seeing, in spite of the 100 degree weather, and we managed to get to three concerts in a week. I made four, as I snuck in a Fiddler on the Roof at Wolftrap when Mary was working one night. Nephew Carl arrived for a job interview, so that was good timing. Mary, Carl, Amie and I all got together for a nice dinner in DC before he flew out the next day. Best news was that Carl got the job he wanted, and will be moving to DC the middle of August to start the new job.

This week was busy with visits to friends, swimming in Sheri's pool every chance I got, and went to the Dr. here to get my Herceptin. I did a few chores in the garden, but it is just too dang hot to do much out there. there hasn't been a day below 90 degrees this entire trip.

And this upcoming week will be busy with meetings, workgroup and flying home to Seattle on Thursday. I promised everyone here that I would take at least 10 degrees of heat West when I go. Everyone will be happy if I can pull it off!

Come on Summer!

OK, really its not summer for a couple weeks, but it sure feels like it here on the East Coast.

It was definitely NOT summer in Maine. Arrived in Bar Harbor 8 hours late due to weather delays on the East coast, missing one whole day of my trip! dang. And while I was there it rained, got very foggy, rained some more, and was a cold as 34 degrees. Luckily the vessel member I was visiting there gave me a nice new fleece jacket! The exercise went very well, which was why I went there, and then I drove down to visit Chebegue Island ferry, and Maine state ferry. So, a pretty good trip. Did take a few minutes to explore a lovely azalea garden (the airline gave me the time, since we were delayed leaving again!) in Acadia National Park

Have spent the time here in Fort Washington/Alexandria busy with work and friends. Had our partnership meeting with the Coast Guard and our officers in town, and a visit from sister-in-law Gail, who was here for a week. We managed to have dinner a couple nights, and had a nice visit. Have been enjoying the sun, and getting the garden whipped into shape. Seems like I am busy all the time, but not really sure with what! I did go on the 19th and the 26th to the oncologist here where I got both my shot and my infusion, with no trouble! so that is working out great. Memorial Day weekend was hot, no other word for it! 95 each day and fabulous, or so I thought. When I went to the doctor's that Friday and everyone was complaining about it being hot. I thought of all those cold May days I complained about and said "it is great outside". Plus, the pool opened that day, and I have tried to be there everyday that I could since then. The swimming has felt great, and between that and my regular workout, the muscles in my chest are starting to not feel so stiff.

On the 31st I flew to Boston, and while I whined and complained I did not want to go, I had a good trip and a good meeting in Boston. The weather was lovely, about 75 which was just a bit cooler than the 95 in DC, I had a nice dinner outside after a walk around the harbor walk and a swim in their nice pool, so what's to complain about.
I did miss the terrible weather there but just a few hours, so I was very lucky.

This weekend I met my friends Meg and Molly after the Koman walk (no, I didn't walk) and we had a great lunch in DC and a nice visit. Then I went with Amie to see Jared perform at Strathmore Hall. Lovely Tchaiksovsky program, a very nice performance. And a nice day.

Tommorow, off to Houston and then home to Seattle on Thursday!

after a quick visit, headed East again

Doesn't seem like I was in either place very long on this turn around, but I guess that is because I wasn't! I was one week in Virginia and one week in Washington.

I was a busy week in Virginia. Arrived just in time to pack my office and get ready for the big move. We went three whole blocks, to a nice new office with views of the Potomac River. Not in my office, buy in some offices they have views, so we will just have to sit in Jen's and John's offices more. We left our stacks of tubs on Friday, and arrived Monday morning to find our tubs and furniture in the new office. Pretty easy move for all but John. We did have several days of screwing around with phones and computers, but pretty dang easy overall.

Over the weekend was the big Avon Walk, and my team, the BG's did a great job! Here they are at sunrise at the Washington Monument on Saturday morning. Jen is blister free at this point,and they both look ready to go after getting up at 4 am! They walked every bit of the 37 miles, 26 on Saturday. I met them for dinner and a quick visit before they climbed into their pink tent with all the other walkers!

Sunday was not as nice a day, but Jen and Karen trudge on thru the drizzle, to arrive at the finish line just after noon! An amazing job, so thanks to all of you that supported their walk (they raised a bunch of money!), and thanks to the BG's for all that they did!

Karen tried to get Jen to sign up for 2012 right after they crossed the finish line! Jen was not having any of that!

On Monday I went and visited my Virginia oncologist, and she has agreed to be part of the Seattle team, arranging for me to get my medication when I am in the East. So, I am set: can go back and forth to my heart's desire and keep my meds on schedule as well. Great arrangement.

Tuesday was unpacking, and settling in to the new office. I forgot pictures, will post some when I get back this trip. On Wednesday and Thursday I attended an advisory committee (discussions of artificial intelligence operated boats and virtual buoys, its getting pretty wild out there in the navigation world) and then I was on a plane headed home again!

The week in Seattle was busy with Mother's Day (my girls spoiled me) Rachel and Michal's birthday and visiting a few members. Went to see oncologist here, everything going good. He has ordered new CT scans in 30 days, and that is when we will find out if this regime of medications is doing the trick or not.

Today was Seattle Maritime day, so the family went on a harbor tour! Thank you Argosy for the free cruise. And the sun came out and made a rare appearance! Tomorrow, off to Maine for 5 days! (I think it is raining there, too!)

too excited, too soon!

The excitement over the drain being out didn't last very long!

Lets see, that was a Monday that the drain came out. On Thursday I went to the Dr. to get my Herceptin, and they say "looks a little red, better go downstairs and see the surgeon". Isn't it nice they are all in one building? so, they look and say "it looks a little red, isn't it great we noticed nice and early" and they put me on antibiotics. Friday I have an early flight, so I get up at 4 am and look to see if it is worse, and it actually looks a little better. "It will be fine, and I am just going to be gone overnight" I say to myself.....and off I fly, have a nice luncheon in Oakland, and go to a meeting all afternoon and at 9 PM drive out to stay with my parents over night. Wake up at 1 am, and have a mess on my hands. Turns out I had two abscess in my chest (oh, those damn drains) and one has ruptured the incision from my surgery. So, wake up my parents and drag them out of the house in the middle of the night to take me to the hospital. The ER doc starts talking about antibiotics and a couple days in the hospital and I am already thinking how to bust out of the place sooner. Luckily it is where my mom has all her surgery done, and so they call in her breast surgeon and by 9 am they are prepping me for surgery. From here is where I can't believe the story, because I cant believe I pulled it off. Surgery started at 10, and the surgeon tells the team that our goal is to have me headed home that night, home to Seattle, not just home from the hospital. So they got me all cleaned out and stitched back up, I woke up in recovery about noon. With, I am crushingly disappointed to tell you, not one new drain, but TWO! and the one placed right where the open abscess was is twice the size of the old one. anyway, by 12:30 they call my mom to come pick me up, and by about 1:30 I am back at my parents house. At 5 PM I headed to the airport, and flew home, where Bert picked me up and had me back home by 10 PM. Amazing.

Sunday morning I went with the family to see the tulips as we had planned, and I have to say, I felt great. I don't know what they did differently to knock me out for surgery, but no "hang over" feel at all. Kenley had a great time playing in the mud at the growers, and it was so great not to have missed it! By Sunday night, I was pooped though. Threw everyone out and went to bed. Every big muscle in my body felt like we had run a marathon. Hm, go figure!

Monday was a quiet workday, and then Rachel and Kenley arrived to stay with us for the week while Michael was out of town. Bert was in charge on Tuesday and Kenley and I both enjoyed a long nap in the afternoon. Wednesday was down to see my surgeon, who pronounced everything healing well, and removed one drain and the stitches. Did tell me that I can't fly for one more week though, so I will not be in VA until Wednesday instead of Monday next week. It felt like my penance. Went to Propeller club and had a nice visit with a bunch of friends. Thursday back to the Dr. again for my shot.

Friday my brother and the sun both arrived for the first time in a long time! We enjoyed a nice dinner at shilshole bay, with a fabulous sunset over the Olympic Mountains. Seattle at its best!

The drain is Dead!

Well, big day today. I finally got rid of the dreaded drain. It has been so long, I am not sure I know how to take a shower without having a plastic patch on me! How to actually put my arm down at my side! Let alone remembering that I can lift my arm now without having the snake bite me (or at least that is what it felt like). So, lets see where I left off when I fell asleep posting my post last weekend..... Friday night I ushered at Ford's Theatre. It was a cute little play, and I loved seeing more of the theatre, although I was so busy being the usher I didn't see the presidential box or the museum. Guess I will have to actually go get a ticket one day. Fun evening, though. On Saturday I had a fabulous lunch with all my gal pals (well, not all, missed Kiki and Carolyn!) but we had a great lunch at Jaleo's and they spoiled me rotten. Then Sheri had me over to her house, after we hit the local garden shop, hoping that it wasn't really too cold to buy flowers for pots. Of course, it still was, but it was fun to look at. Then back to Sheri's for a nice dinner with Brad. Great day! Good company. Sunday was catch up on the home front. A little gardening, some throwing out of clothes that don't fit any more and some errands. Nice day, felt good to be out in the garden, cleaning up and getting ready for spring, if it decides to show up at either of my homes! I think DC has a better chance than Seattle. Now you know why I feel asleep posting last Sunday. Whew, busy weekend. Monday starting packing at work to get ready for the big move. We are moving PVA three whole blocks! But, closer to the river, with a nice view. Will miss the atrium, and the underground garage, but there are other niceties to offset those losses. Squeezed in dinner with friend Jorge, and enjoyed a little of the nice 80 degree weather. Just a passing fancy, gone again by the time we got up the next morning. Tuesday was another busy day at the office, and then off to the airport. Amie was nice enough to drive me to Baltimore for an uneventful trip home. A little late, but the first class seat helps off set that! Nice to be home, although the weather still sucks here! Worked in PVA West on Wednesday, and then Thursday off to the Dr. for the shot in the butt. Yowee! Also went down to the surgeon's office and tried to whine my way out of the drain before the weekend. Cari, the RN, was having none of it, and I left depressed! Friday Bert and I took the day off, and headed for Port Angeles. A work day at the little house there, but we hardly minded since the sun came out, ALL the mountains came out, and we didn't even mind our chores. I would have taken pictures but I forgot my phone! All day with no calls or email, it was weird! Our friend Dee was there doing a bang up job painting the inside of the house, and Bert painted the garage door while I cleaned up the flower beds and planted some nice stuff so the front of the house looks good. Then the three of us enjoyed a nice lunch out on the driveway enjoying the day. Port Angeles, and the whole peninsula are so beautiful, its such a shame that it didn't work out to stay out there and live. Still a long way away from Seattle though, and that always makes for a long day when we go out there. Left home at 8 am, and drug our butts thru the door at home again at 10 PM. I ate my dinner that we brought home, and I was straight for bed. Worn out! Bert has one more day out there on Wednesday. But the house looks good, and we hope it will sell quickly. Saturday after I recovered, we once again decided it was too wet for the Tulip Festival, so we had "freezer cooking day" at my house, where the girls and I cook meals that make their work day dinners easier. So, two batches of soup and a batch of spaghetti. Not too exciting this time. We also took Kenley for her first haircut! She was a perfect angel (of course!). And looks really cute. Then on Sunday, once again, too wet and cold for Tulip Fest! So, we all decided to go to our first Mariner's game of the season, and Kenley's first ever. Everyone had a great time, and we were happy they closed the roof half way through the game. Kenley seems to approve of the game, and her new hat, which she wore most of the game. Today I was up and out early to get to the Dr. This time I won the argument with the nurse, and she pulled that ugly little sucker out. 62 days today since my surgery, which she says is not the record, but I think she is lying! The rest of the day was spent at my desk catching up, while Bert puts the new window in my bedroom! Can't wait.

Busy Week in DC

I arrived here early last Monday, just in time to NOT see the snow that was here on Sunday! But it was still grey and cold all week. I managed to go to the office and work a full day, and didn't get caught by John doozing off once. I was out of their at 5 PM on the dot though, and home and in bed for a "nap" by 5:30. Pretty good nap, woke up at 10:30! Amie and Jared (my roomies here in DC for those of you new to the blog) were just getting back from the airport with nephew Carl, who was here for job interviews. So we all had a quick visit before heading back to sleep.

Tuesday was a busy day getting ready for our members that were coming in and our reception Wednesday night. But, we still had time to go visit our new offices, where we are moving on April 30. Very nice, 2nd floor with a view of the Potomac out the window. I will miss my corner office and daily entertainment of the drivers going the wrong way down the one way street every day, but will sacrafice for the rest of the staff. Jen is excited about the security guard at the door to keep the salesmen and weirdos away.

Wednesday was visits to Capitol Hill for our 15 members that flew in, but I woke up really sick, who knows what that was about, and having some of the worst pain in my chest since my surgery. It seems like these feeling crappy days are like little thunder storms that roll in and then roll out again. Don't think I can blame them on drug side effects, but maybe. By the time everyone came back from the hill and it was time for the reception, I felt much better. Didnt dance a jig or anything, but better. Reception was a big hit this year, we even had a congressman come and our brand new 3-star Coast Guard Admiral. Plus all our freiends and most of our Board of Directors. So, a hit. I was glad John had arranged for me to stay at the hotel across the street! We finished up about 9 and by 9:30 I was in that big ol' king size bed with trashy TV on. Ah, luxury!

Thursday was supposed to be a Board Meeting all day, but they flew through the agenda and we out of there by 12:30! So, I took some of them downtown, and Jay, our president and I went to see the cherry trees on the tidal basin, and managed to hit dang near the peak bloom. Jay has twins that are 11, and he travels with one favorite toy from each of them. And everywhere the toys go, Jay puts them in funny little places and takes their picture. Very cute. From here the toys visited FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt and had their pictures taken there.

You will have to wait til tomorrow for my weekend. I had so much weekend it wore me out!

New Look

Rachel gave my blog a new look! Post a comment and tell me what you think!

and so it begins

Spent a pretty quiet beginning of the week, movies with Rachel on Saturday (Jane Eyre) Sunday night dinner at our house, movies with Bert on Monday (Rambo). Two Completely different movies that's for sure. Wednesday I went in and had tests in the morning, to get ready for the outpatient surgery to put the medical port in that afternoon. It might have just been outpatient, but it kicked my butt. Twilight anaesthesia it might be, but still pretty powerful stuff. But, then we were still on the way home when the pain meds started wearing off, and that was no fun. They had warned me that they were moving my neck muscles out of the way for the procedure, and it would be sore afterwards, but I think they underplayed it. I walked in the house, took two pain pills and slept the rest of the night in Bert's recliner. Woke up just long enough to take another pill and climb into bed. Thursday, back to the Doctors where I got my first medications. Nice facility, nice nurses, over all better treatment than I was used to at the clinic in Virginia. We had lunch on the way home, and then I was home and out for the count again! Climbed into bed at 3, slept til 9. Watched a couple TV shows, and back to bed. I think I will not be taking any more of those pain pills!

Feeling better today, and the sun came out, so that helps! Hope it was only because of the surgery, and not the medications that I was thrown for a loop. I have all next week "off" so am headed to Virginia on the red-eye Sunday night.

We have a schedule!

Next Wednesday I will go in for another bunch of tests, and then a quick out-patient surgery to put in a medi-port. This will be a device placed under the skin in my right chest, with a small silicone disk in the center, where they will stick all future needles. There is a catheter that runs from the port into a blood vessel, delivering drugs right into the blood stream. This means that to deliver the Herceptin and chemo if we need it later, then they do not need to use my arms, which have the worst, tiny, uncooperative veins in the universe. So that is good. Then Thursday I will go back in for the first dose of Herceptin, and the shot of Fulvestrant, and I will be a cancer killing machine! Then I will have two weeks before I go back again, and then will be going in every Thursday for a month after that to either get a shot, or an Herceptin dose. Yeah for a schedule!

New Office and New Haircut!

Guest blogger, Michal, here!

PVA West got a makeover, and mom got a new haircut!

Here is the office before....dreaming of being yellow and gray!

And here is it after!

New storage and organizers, a new set up, some great pics (featuring a member boat...well, sail... a WA state ferry, and a super cute Kenley!)


Having brilliant thoughts already....

Signs of forward movement are sometimes hard to see!

Another week of waiting for the drain to be removed, another week of disappointment on that front. That little bugger is just as busy draining today as it was a week ago. So annoying!

My oncologist last week said "don't worry, we will stay busy during this time" so he ordered a MUGA test, which tests the efficiency of my heart muscle. The good news, passed with flying colors. They do this test because some cancer drugs are hard on the heart, and they want a baseline. I also cut all my hair off, which was actually kind of fun. The stylist asked "getting ready for summer?". My response, "yeah, thats it!" Much better than answering "some jerk doctor is going to make it fall out so I thought I would cut it short"! Its much easier and Bert really likes it.

We also finished the office remake last week (and I think I have finally found where Michal stashed all my papers and projects). The lamp has a shade, some pictures got up on the walls, and it is looking good and feels great to work in. Today, there is even a bit of sunshine outside the window, which is so much better than that rain that fell all week, interrupted only by the thunder and lighting!

Yesterday, the oncologist changed his tune. Enough waiting, he says he can't wait any longer for the drain, and we are going to start things happening. Interesting that he says not only does he not like to give the chemo while I am still technically healing, but he also thinks that the drugs, if given, would find their way to the fluid in the site and drain right back out. So, he is going in a different path, using target-specific drugs, which are not chemo and don't have the side effects of chemo. So, I am starting today on Aromasin, which is a pill I will take daily. Then next week I will have a medi-port put in, and that will allow me to start getting a Herceptin dose every three weeks. In addition to those two, I will also get a shot of Fulvestrant every month. All of these will work together, we hope (!!) to stop the growth of any tumors, since the tumors I had are estrogen receptive, and these drugs combined will make sure I don't make any estrogen and will kill off the cells that live off estrogen. I am sitting right now waiting for the doctor's office to call me with an appointment for the placement of the medi-port and then we will have a schedule!!!!!

After a month of these three drugs, they plan to run all the diagnostic tests again (bone scan, lung scan, etc.) and make sure there is nothing bad there. If they see anything, then we will probably switch to a chemo regime, but right now there is a chance that I won't have to do chemo. Don't want to get excited, had that rug pulled out from under us once already, so will see. I am glad we are getting going, but it actually feels a little odd to not be bringing the big bad drugs to the party, taking a pill somehow feels too easy. Told Dr. Gadi it feels like bringing a softball to a baseball game, but he assures me that softballs win games too! And, we still have the hardball in the dugout if we need it!

My other challange this week has been trying to find some clothes to wear. I have made a couple shopping expeditions and had some successes and some miserable failures. I clearly have a terrible eye for what will not draw the eye right to my very flat chest. Bert says he is going to submit my name to the "what not to wear" tv show, and see if Stacy and Clinton will come and help me!

Meanwhile, my fabulous co-workers Jen and Karen have organized themselves into a team to walk the Avon 2-day in April. Yesterday, they started fund raising, and my PVA family donated some $1400 in less than 8 hours to the cause! I am kind of embarrassed and extremely honored at the same time, and slightly appalled that they are going to inflict all those blisters on themselves in my honor. Their team name is the BG's! If you want to help them out, because they still have a ways to go in their fundraising, visit their team web page at info.avonfoundation.org/TR/Walk/WashingtonDC?team_id97001&pg=teamandfr_id=2010. You can see their picture there too, they look so cute!!!!

Other than that, I am trying to work, although my concentration is shit. Enjoying day light savings time. Had a great visit with sister Lucy last week, went to a Propeller Club meeting in Seattle yesterday, and have visited with a lot of friends AND Kenley allowed me to be her babysitter last Saturday, so it was a good week. KK and I had a great time drawing at the easel and playing with the boats in the bath.

Rainy Wednesday here in Seattle

Decided a week ago, that the staff was getting too comfortable without me around, and it was time to go back to work.

So, on the 27th, I took the red-eye to Dayton, OH, where my friends had a driver pick me up (thanks to Capt. Kerry) and drive me to Cincinatti. I was expecting a hard time from TSA about the 3 oz. fluid containers I was wearing, but they didn't even notice. I also had my nuclear medicine letter with me, showing I had an excuse for being radioactive, and was disappointed on that count, too. No alarms, no nothing, very boring.

On Monday I attended a licensing meeting with the Coast Guard, Tuesday thru Thursday attend the Inland Waterways meeting, and Thursday thru Saturday met all of our staff at the same hotel for our annual staff retreat. Last years staff retreat (which I arranged!) was at a fabulous small inn with a wine tasting in Hermann, MO. This year we worked in a small crappy room at the Hyatt Hotel. Definitely not the same.

Did not travel with my lap top, and it did not work out quite the way I expected. I had not been in a hotel in a long time that charged by the minute to use the business center. So, just decided to relax and not do mail and blogging, so this update has taken a bit. I took it pretty easy all the way around, napping each day, skipped the award's ceremony and the factory tour that was part of the conference. Jen and I tried for a bit of retail therapy on Thursday, but to no avail. Nothing we liked at Macy's and nothing we could afford at Saks! Yikes, that place is spendy! The dress we liked was $1200 and it was just a nice summer dress. Apparently, the lack of retail therapy caused me to come down with the flu on Saturday, because I felt lousy all day. When we finished the meeting at noon, my friend Mary drove me back to the airport in Dayton, so we had a nice visit on the drive up. Got checked in (again, no one cared or noticed about the 3 oz containers I was wearing) got on my plane and then....ground hold in Chicago for snow, where my connection was. So, sat on the runway in Dayton for 2 hours, missed my connection in Chicago at 5 PM by about 5 minutes. How do you get one of those flights where they hold the plane for you? Did get on the 9 PM: first class seat, no snow, de-ice and we were off. Bert had to come to the airport at 1130 to pick me up. Good thing I have a private car service! It felt soooo good to climb into my bed here at home, after a long week, and I slept good. So good that Bert came in next to tell me it was noon! I managed to get up and dressed by the time the kids came over for dinner, but it was close. didn't feel very perky all day, shaking off the last of that bad bug.

Monday went to work in my new office here at home. It is looking good, but still a few loose ends. Hanging photos mostly. Will try to get a photo and post it. We also went down to the doctors, and they pulled the number 2 drain! one down, one to go. We had some lunch while we were there, and did a bit of shopping to try to figure out what flat girls where. Looked at a lot of things, were successful with one white blouse. Hmmmm. Had to come home and take a nap. Weather is conducive for napping: rainy, grey. Today the wind blew, almost kept me awake!

Tuesday Bert cooked up a feast, and our friends the Waterhouse's came over and had a nice dinner at our house. Crab salad and beef stew. yum. Today our friend Ginny came over after work, and we again had a nice catch up and dinner.

Tomorrow I have my first all day meeting since surgery. Wish me luck I don't doze off during the meeting.

What is it about plastic surgeons?

Crappy day....started out OK, not too much snow on the ground, drove to Seattle with Michal and Bert for a nice lunch at Aqua Verde (where Michal and Jason had their rehearsal dinner), arrived at the UW hospital right on time...to wait...and wait...and wait. We were just about to leave after 1 hour waiting in the waiting room when they said, oh no, he is back from his emergency, come back. So then, we go and sit in the little exam room and wait some more. At 2:30, I had Bert go tell them we were leaving, and then the Dr. comes in and says, sorry, I have been sitting in my office, no one told me you were here! Really? He actually seems like a very nice guy, but I was too irritated, and too worried about missing my other appt. and too worried that it was going to be snow shitty traffic on the way home. So, we said see ya in 4 months or so, and we will see if we go back there or not. My track record with lying lousy surgeons definitely affected my patience! Then , went to the appt. where I was supposed to get the #2 drain removed, and the damn thing was full! so, that appt. was a bust too, they didn't do a thing. I was so mad, came home and took a nap! Hopefully, tomorrow will be better, if there isn't too much snow to make my appts in Seattle! Egads.

Blog update

So, I have not made an entry here for a long time. Silly me, thinking we were done with the blog and didn't need it any more as a communication tool. Ha! That will teach me.

As a quick tale, to bring everyone up to speed, I received a new, third if you can believe it, cancer diagnosis the first week of February. I was with a group of my favorite guys in Pittsburgh when I got the call, working on a project. After calling Bert and the girls, we finished the meeting and they took me for the usual conciliatory martini (or two or three, ok, maybe four...) Thats what friends are for!

Bert went to work finding us a new medical team in Seattle, and we selected the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, were everyone and everything we need, just about, is in one building in Seattle. I kept working in Virginia while Bert got all the priliminary information taken care of. On the 4th of February, I flew into Seattle and met with the new team. Oncologist, surgeon, radiation specialist, all at the same time. It was a long day but we felt fully informated and ready to move forward by the end of the day. We decided that I would have a mastectomy on the next available day the surgeon had, February 10.

You used to hear people talk about drive-by mastectomies, I had a fly-in one. Arrive from our convention about 9 pm on the 9th, Bert and I went out and had a next dinner before I had to start fasting, went home and got a quick nights sleep, and were at the hospital at 6 am the next morning.

Surgery was at 2, and I was back in my own nice private room by about 5 PM. (I think that was it, I was pretty sleepy...) Mr. Lefty has been donated to scientific research. They also completed a biopsy of my lymph nodes during the surgery and found that the cancer was in those as well, so they were removed. I now have to have my blood pressure taken in my ankle which is pretty interesting.

I was pretty sleepy and the team wanted to make sure the surgical drains that are installed were working well, so they asked me to stay overnight. I didnt' really argue, but I am always a fan of getting the heck out of those hospitals as soon as possible. Rachel, Michal and my friend Lisa kept me company, and even Baby Kenley came to say hello, although she was not a fan of the hoses and tubes, and basically was having none of it, so she didn't stay long. She did make me a very nice get well card, though.

So, Friday I went home, and my at-home team has been doing a great job of taking care of me. Resting and being feed good food has been the prescription for feeling better. Friends have stopped by to help recuperation, bringing more yummy food. I was getting up and getting out for a walk and a bit of a work-out, but the Dr. put a stop to that at my follow up appt. So, haven't been out much, until the drains come out. Apparently, exercise makes the drains fill up. And, here I was trying to be so good!

Last Friday, my Mom and sister Cathie came for a previously planned visit to celebrate our common birthday. We had a lot of gabbing and visiting, and a quick outing to Nordstrom's of course for some birthday (and Kenley...) shopping. But, we didn't make it much farther than that. Yesterday, a nice birthday lunch at Michal and Jason's favorite neighborhood restaurant that just reopened after burning down. Everything is shiny new now! Then Cathie and Mom flew home.

Today, Michal and Bert are working on my birthday gift while I sit and type: a makeover of my home office, with new paint, furniture and Michal and Rachel creative touches. I can't wait to see it all finished.

Tomorrow, plastic surgeon appointment. Thursday, diagnotics all day at the SCCA building.