The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong in the broken places.
Ernest Hemingway
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WARMER

3/22/2019

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THIS IS A TINY REMINDER THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF AMAZING THINGS.


Not a whole lot of anything going on, which is just fine with me. The sun continues to shine and the mud is drying up, so I feel gooood. Yup, it's getting warmer.

I have stuck with my "bucket list" plan and am working hard to clean closets, cupboards, etc. to get rid of stuff I have held on to for years. I've decided if I haven't used it in quite a while, it's gone! It's amazing how better you feel when there is less chaos around you. Try it. As Marie Kondo emphasizes ---  being tidy is joyful.

Lots of medical reports about people you do not know, but are close to me.  Sister Karen went under the knife to get her torn rotary cuff (?) repaired. Remember how she was run over by a  pallet-loaded flat cart in one of the big box stores, before Christmas? She toughed through the surgery and is doing well, but she is probably going to have problems using her left arm for the rest of her life. Then wonderful cousins, Deb and Connie both got sliced-and-diced this week. Deb with her back and Connie got a hip replaced. Yup, that's what us old broads do. Maintenance is everything when you get to be our age. grrrrrr

Here's something I'm sure you have been waiting for (kidding). The latest flowers put on my parents grave. Bear with me. I couldn't change them out for Christmas because . . .  well, I was stuck in the house. There was no way I could go out in the snow and ice, and walk across a rural cemetery with a broken leg. So Ma and Pa had to put up with the fall decorations until yesterday. Sisters Sandy and Karen live far enough away, so this is the only way they get to see what the flowers look like .

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I have been watching way too much politics on TV. How about you? I can't get enough of this amazing "major history in the making".  It is truly addicting. I try and change the channel to check in on HGTV which I also love, but then I have to switch back for just a second, to see what I've missed. The Mueller report is expected any minute now, and that is going to be a hoot to see what that says. True, we probably won't get any info for months, but I'm sure little tidbits of stuff will leak out. 

I've been working on something else that is on my bucket list. sigh  I have finally been sending some of my kids' stories to a wonderful agency, to try and snag an agent. It's tough. Or, maybe, my work stinks. But it is doing something! Time's running out, Kids. I love to sit at my computer and just start writing. Sometimes, after a long period of time, I stop and read what I have just written. The time has flown by, and I don't even realize what I've put down on paper until I read it back. Cool!

Easter will be here before we know it. Sunday, after church, one of my dear friends, Connie (not cousin Connie with the hip replacement, but whom has also has given me wonderful gifts in the past),  gave me a gift bag. Just to be nice.  I think she was concerned about the Mayo Clinic visit and was cheering me up. She did! What a sweet thing to do. Look.

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It is the neatest bunny candy dish along with goodies  How very nice. What thoughtful friends I have.

The latest Hair Report:  I have gone through the Mike Pence look, then on to the punk rock star Billy Idol (previously, I mistakenly called him Sid Vicious who incidentally has dark black hair!), and now that my hair has grown a teensy tiny bit more, I am now resembling the late Barbara Bush. It is really taking a long time to come back this time. I guess it is because I am still taking the chemo pills. Only three more months and that will be over. 

I do have to go in and have a chest CT scan next month for a nodule that was detected on my last PET scan. It did not sparkle (indicate cancer) on the film, so it is probably not anything to worry about. I'll be concerned about that only  if the test gives me something to be worried about. Right?

Well, I must get back to work. There is still a ton of crap to go through to pitch, set aside for the Goodwill, or find a place to store it.  Marie Kondo, where are you when I need ya, Girl??????

                                        GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

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IT'S THAT 'PEEPS'  TIME OF THE YEAR!

3/12/2019

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IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MARCH DAYS WHEN THE SUN SHINES HOT AND THE WIND BLOWS COLD, WHEN IT IS SUMMER IN THE LIGHT AND WINTER IN THE SHADE.
                                            Charles Dickens

Another lovely morning, Kids! Just with the sun shining the last few days, has made such a difference in my state of mind. I have been doing a lot of cleaning and even went into town Sunday after church and did some shopping. I was trying to find some tops that had high necks or turtle necks. Kinda hard to find them this time of year as the stores are starting their spring lines. I found a couple of pieces that will hide the scar on the front of my neck.

I did find a dress that I just had to have. I normally never wear dresses. I am so short-waisted that my waistline literally starts right under my armpits! I look totally stodgy wearing a dress. But, I got myself into a pickle on Facebook. I have several long-time friends that I occasionally get into silly back-and-forth discussions. The other day I noticed that friend Jodi from California, had posted several pics of herself at her workplace. The co-workers keep snapping her in cute situations (standing in front of a truck or holding onto an engine block ---she works at a truck parts place). I mentioned that they should make up a calendar of all these cute poses. She laughed it off. Then some guy posted  that she should wear a swimsuit! She laughed it off. Then the other kooky girls I grew up with, joined in. A few actually started planning on making a calendar of all of us older...er...more mature chicks. Jodi offered that we should all pose in flowered dresses and sensible shoes.  (I think she was talking about those flowery cotton shirt-waist, short sleeved frocks that our mothers wore).  

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I know … just turn your head to the right.  Anyhoo, I've got my outfit! But like I mentioned, I look terrible in dresses. Remember when our kids were little and , perhaps, a bit on the chunky side? There was a line of kids clothes for chunkies in "husky" sizes for the little guys, and the girls could pick from a selection of "Perfect Plus".  Well, this dress makes me look like it came from the Old Ladies' Perfect Plus Collection. Whatever, I am prepared. It's amazing how those wonderful girlfriends can still put peer pressure on me and I ALWAYS CAVE!  heh

I got a couple of letters from the Mayo Clinic. One was asking permission to use the video footage that they shot of my operation, to use in some of their studies. I think this is just business as usual. However, the surgeon was extremely iterested in studying my humungous tumor (40 times normal) so this footage will be a little out of the norm. I said yes. Who cares? If it helps some study, I say "go for it!". The other letter was actually a packet. I joked to Hubby that it was probably our hospital bill. But, no. It was a complete discription of all the tests and procedures that took place whle I was there. Very interesting. I do have to laugh about one of the  personal discriptions that they had in the  information. They said I was a "pleasant, middle-aged woman".  That reminds me of the first info I got when I started going to my oncologist. He listed me as a pleasant, well-nourished woman. I took that as politely saying I needed to drop a few pounds.  Anyhoo, when you think of me, please remember I am a pleasant, middle-aged, well nourished woman.  What a legacy!

My Alec came and spent a night with me this past weekend. I had him move some furniture in the family room which was a big help. I taught him to play Tri-Ominos and it was fascinating to watch him figure out which tile was the best one to use. He beat me every game---and I honestly try to beat the grandkids at games.  sigh

I have been spending more time at my "happy place" The Woodbridge Building. I love going down there and messing around. Alec joined me the other day and we put moldy, oldie, goldie music on the stereo and jammed. He loves to sing along with Frankie Valli and The Monkeys and others. What fun! I get phone calls regularly about my event room and the rentals have been coming in at a steady pace. This is so much fun.  I am really eager for the weather to warm up so I can get mowing and doing some yardwork. I think Jenna has some ideas about new landscaping, so we will see what wonderful things she comes up with. Can't wait!

Sister Sandy had Lasik surgery done yesterday, so I went and sat with her son. I got to talk to her, and she did great! That a trouper. She has had so many operations lately, that eventually, she's gong to be a whole new woman! She was really nervous about anyone working on her eyes, but she got through it! I am very proud of her.  

Sister Judy just had a birthday. She turned 70 and is embracing her years gracefully and joyously.

I was checking some ancient emails on my computer, and came across the address for a wonderful, old friend. I wrote her a message update, and it got sent! Now we are friends on FB. How wonderful to hear from my Shirley S., after several years. Whoo hoo!

And one thing I am so happy about . . . IT'S PEEPS TIME!  Love that time of year when the little yellow and pink bunnies and chicks made of crunchy, sugary marshallows burst forth. so, run to your local grocery store and get yourself some Peeps. It will make your day.

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                                    GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY
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ROAD TRIP IS OVER

3/2/2019

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COURAGE DOESN'T ALWAYS ROAR. SOMETIMES COURAGE IS THE LITTLE VOICE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT SAYS "I'LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW."
                                                                                               Mary Anne Radmacher

What a whirlwind trip I was on. Last Monday, we set off for the Mayo Clinic in. The weather sucked! Snow and ice, and all kinds of road closing reports. We headed out and stopped at a DOT (Dept. of Transportation) station to check and see if US 63 was going to be open. We were told that it still was open, but they didn't know for how long. Hubby kept driving until we came to a barricade that was marked "ROAD CLOSED". And he drove around it! I kept waiting for him to find some place that was not neck deep in snow, to turn around. When I questioned him about it, he said that we were going to get there one way or another. So, slowly but surely, we did make it. Sometimes driving 27 mph. Whew.

We stayed at a hotel that is connected to Mayo. It is so cool. You just walk underground in the subway tunnel, as they call it, in nice carpeted hallways to get to all the buildings. The most time it took us to get to any of my appointments from our hotel room was 5 minutes . . .  and that's with me limping along. Location, location, location. 

The clinic is amazing, and the people are fantastic. Tuesday morning I had a blood test at 6:10 AM, then bone density tests at 7:00 and 7:50. At 8:20 I had an electrocardiogram test, at 9:00 there was an ultrasound head neck exam, and then the evaluation of all the tests at 12:30.

Wednesday I had a nuclear medicine parathyroid does at 8:00 AM, then the parathyroid scan at 10:00. At 3:30 there was the endocrine consultation. This is where I found out that I was really going to have surgery the next day. Evidently, I had hyperparathyroidism, which has nothing to do with the regular thyroid. This little bastard was really acting up and going bonkers. It was time to get rid of it!

Thursday, I checked in at 8:30 AM,. Man, I was thirsty, but they said they wanted me dried out as much as possible. Right before surgery the doctor had prescribed 2 Tylenol. I told the nurse, "Good. I get to take it with water, I'm dry as a popcorn fart!" I was a good girl and took a tiny sip to take the tablets. She winked at me and said, "I think those pills got stuck. You'd better drink a bit more water." Eureka!After getting a lot of prep done, went to surgery at ll:30.  Got out of recovery around 4:00.

In the meantime, my son, Dan, had driven over from Medelia, Minnesota, to be with Hubby while I had the surgery.  I was pleased to get back to my room and see him with his dad. When the surgeon came in to tell us what had gone on, it was really interesting. We all have four parathyroid glands. The one he removed from me was 40 (yes, I said 40) times larger than normal. A regular gland is about the size of a pea, but this sucker was like a small carrot! He told me that immediately after it's removal, my heart, muscles, and nerves were going to be loving me now. Something (I can't remember what) was supposed to be rated at 10 to 67 in a normal person, but my tests showed that I was at 1,600. Wish I could remember what it was. (Chemo brain and anesthesia brain). I asked the doc how long I had had the tumor. He estimated 10 to 12 years! That explains a lot about my not-so-clear thinking over the past decade. Anyhoo, I am feeling great. I got to remove the bandage on my throat today and was shocked. There was absolutely no blood on the bandage, the incision was a 3 1/2 inch long cut which looked like a thin, red pen mark. They must have glued the cut shut.

That guy was a surgeon rock star!!!!! I have had little pain, and best of all, most of the leg pain that I have been suffering the last two years is almost gone! The stupid gland has a lot to do with different body functions. Who knew? The only complication I have had is . . . well, there is an issue with my voice. He warned me that there might be a problem with my vocal chords, since the vocal nerve is so close to the parathyroid. I am hoping that it is just bruised a bit right now. If not, I can live with a weird voice. Hubby said it sounds like a combination between Olive Oil and Donald Duck. In other words, I now talk like a cartoon character! sigh  It's better than not have a voice at all. Right?

So that is the saga of Janene. We are all hoping that this will finally eliminate the leg pain that I've had so long. Mayo was my last chance. I've seen a chiropracter, a nerve specialist, and exams from all the rest of my doctors. This may be the answer. And if any of you ever get a blood report that shows you have elevated calcium in your blood, you might want to have your parathyroid checked. I was just lucky enough that my oncologist's wife had had this and he recognized all my symptoms. Talk about lucky!!!

So, back to the old grind. I need to finish some laundry. Oh, by the way, I tried folding my king sized sheets like Marie Kondo (the super dooper neat person who keeps everything crazy neat)  does. Didn't work. That little lady can zip zip zip and fold all kinds of clothes and bedding in a flash. But she does it so fast,  I can't follow her on the videos. So, I ended up with my usual large, squarish, odd looking bundle of bedding. It works for me.

                                        GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY


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BACK FROM MAYO CLINIC

3/1/2019

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I'll make it short and sweet. Just got back from five days at Mayo. I'm tired. Will let you know how it turned out tomorrow.

Good night.


​Janene

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    Janene...

    ... was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 11, 2013. This is a place for all of the people who love and care about her to get the information about her treatment and her personal experience of kicking cancer's ass, (sometimes from her daughter's perspective). It's hard to stand by and not be able to do anything to help. Writing gives my mom an outlet and allows both of us to share information during this time. Therefore, we blog :) 

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