Blog Archives

RESULTS

9/24/2019

Okay . . . so, last night I took a shower, hopped into bed and began reading a big stack of magazines that I had been neglecting. I take Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Entrepreneur, Woman's Day, Traditional Homes, US, and a bunch more. Very eclectic tastes. Then I added another layer of distracting myself by turning on HTVD and watched the Brady Bunch Renovation. yippee. Anyhoo, it took my mind off today's doctor appointment. I even ended up sleeping quite well through the night. I woke up about 6:30 and still managed to stay calm. I was really super worried about hearing the results of the PET scan.

When we met with the doctor, he had a very somber, serious look on his face, and I thought, "Oh, crap! This is not going to go well." But ---he said everything looked fine!!!!! The scan was clear and showed no cancer this time!!!!! I am so happy I can't really express myself well.

I have to get "PETed" again in four months. So, in the meantime, I am going to embrace my life and start doing all the things that I was wanting to have the time to get done. As we know, from previous posts, that getting my clothes closets pristine is just not happening (where the heck is Marie Kondo????).

So, my fellow peeps, I am one happy camper. So glad I didn't have crappy news to pass on.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

0 Comments

THE WAITING GAME

9/23/2019

0 Comments

HOPE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE THE PRESENT MOMENT LESS DIFFICULT TO BEAR. IF WE BELIEVE THAT TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER, WE CAN BEAR A HARDSHIP TODAY.
Thich Nhat Hanh

I have a feeling that everyone of us has encountered a Drama Queen at some point in our lives. You know, the chick that thinks something is so important in her life, that she has to dwell on it and talk and talk and talk about it, with a whole lot of "I"s involved. Well, buckle up, Buttercup, here's your new friend, Drama Queen Janene (hey it rhymes).

Okay dokey . . . so I went and had my PET scan done today. It took about 3 hours total, but was no real big deal. The techs were super nice, and they got a kick out of my huge titanium rod in my leg showing up on the scan. (I told them it comes in handy when going to the casino and sitting close to a slot machine --- NOT!). All in all, things went fine.

Then I got to thinking about tomorrow. My appointment with the oncologist is at 11:00 and I am trying very hard to stay calm and cool. Every so often, I have a mini anxiety attack, but I tamp it back down when I feel it starting. I began to realize that when I get the results tomorrow, it may make a huge impact on my life. IF the scan shows any sparkles, well . . . I guess I will handle it okay. But, IF it does show something positive, that pretty much spells out that things might be speeding up for me and my life. (Real Drama Queen stuff here. Sorry). Most people do not have to go through the ordeal of finding out what may or may not be the ending of their time on this great earth.

Lots of stuff goes through your mind. All the things you still want to do or get done. You worry about those who you will leave behind. Yes, they will survive. Yes, they will go on with their own lives and be fine. But, just for that period of time, everyone hurts. I've been through that with my parents, my in-laws, other family members, and several friends.

Soooooo . . . that's Scenario Number One.

Scenario Number Two is that there will not be a single, stinking sparkley sparkle anywhere on the scan. That's my hope. That's my goal. That's my prayer. So, I guess I will find out tomorrow, and when I hear what is going on, I'll let you all know. Okay?

Just one big, fat waiting game. That's all for now.

Drama Queen Janene signing off.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

0 Comments

IN REMBRANCE . . . 9/11

9/11/2019

1 Comment

EVEN THE SMALLEST ACT OF SERVICE, THE SIMPLEST ACT OF KINDESS, IS A WAY TO HONOR THOSE WE LOST, A WAY TO RECLAIM THAT SPIRIT OF UNITY THAT FOLLWED 9/11.
President Obama, in a 2011 speech

Yes, today is the 18th anniversary of 9/11. I'm pretty sure, if you were old enough to understand what was going on at that time, that you remember exactly where you were when you heard about the planes crashing into the Twin Towers in NYC. For me, it was a beautiful September morning. I was just doing some housecleaning. I had the TV on and happened to catch what was going on. I immediately called Hubby, who had gone into town to pick up some vehicle license tags. He was sitting outside the administration building, waiting for it to open, when I called. As we talked, the second plane hit. Hubby still has the envelope that he wrote a few notes down as I told him that it was happening again.

I have mentioned in previous posts that I have been fortunate enough over the years to be able to visit Ground Zero in New York, and have gone to Shanksville, PA twice. Very emotional, very moving, very somber places.

Today is not the prettiest September day, but we have had quite a run of impossibly beautiful weeks lately. It rained hard yesterday morning, then dried up. I went out and mowed our lawn and then did the property around The Woodbridge Building. I am taking advantage of all the "outdoors" time I can get. Remember, this is Iowa and soon it will be winter. I have a feeling that I will still be hesitant about venturing outside much, come snow and ice time. I walk kinda gingerly around the house, so I will have to be extra careful outside at that time. Blah!!!!!

Jenna has almost completed her move to a new house. I helped my Alec pack up his HUGE collection of DVDs and CDs. Seriously, we are talking thousands. Last count, we had completely loaded 12 large cartons and numerous smaller containers with his movies. Yipes! At the new house, they are thinking about having shelves built in his "man cave" in the basement, so he can finally get organized and truly enjoy his possessions. It will probably look somewhat like a movie rental store when they get done! He is enjoying his new bedroom, which will probably end up getting one wall painted red . . . his signature color. The boy in red. The boy with everything red. What a guy!

The countdown to my next PET scan is on. The 23rd. Then on the 24th, I see my oncologist with the results. I have high hopes. I am not too concerned. After all, this is not my first rodeo, as we are all well aware. If nothing else, I have learned that what will be, will be. There is not much changing it now. I do wish that it will all come out negative. I've probably mentioned it before, but after the last scan, my doctor informed me that if it had come back positive again, that would make it three cancers in 5 years. Not good. Prognosis would have been . . . one year left for ol' Janene. BUT, even if this next time comes back positive, I am calling BS to that! No where does it say for sure what anyone's expiration date is. Right? So I am chilling, staying cool, keeping calm and just getting on with life.

And life is good.

Went to change out the flowers on Mother and Dad's grave the other day. The actual wreath is kinda cool. It is a bunch of little light orange papery pumpkins on a rectangular base. However, this is not my best work. After I looked at the pictures I had taken, everything looks crooked. Sigh. At least it is a fitting color for the season. I promise I will do better next time.

And here is an update on the hair problem. This morning I managed to straighten out some of the cotton candy texture. But it will probably start to fuzz up in about an hour or so. Can't wait until it gets longer and maybe the weight will pull it straight. Who knows?

Oh! I can't leave until I give my latest "TV commercial" gripe. I . . . can not . . . stand the huge hotel chain commercial with the actress from Pitch Perfect and Twilight movie. She talks sooo darn fast, I can't understand what she is saying! It seems like so many from her generation speak in a long, mushy, garbled manner. So, I just turn the channel. FYI I have stayed at that brand of hotel, and it is very nice.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

1 Comment

RESULTS

THE WAITING GAME

IN REMBRANCE . . . 9/11

Archives

Janene...