Too Tired to Think of a Title

Guess who came home from Walmart with a smiley face sticker on the back of his hand. Yep, Harry did and he was proud of it. You can bet your bottom dollar that no one at Walmart will ever give me a smiley face. I always enter with an expression of dread and leave with a big frown and tired feet from standing in checkout lines. Not that I've been to Walmart since March.

Today was PET scan day so we had to go out to the Cancer Care Center which is a different direction from where I went daily for radiation. I couldn't believe how much had changed! A few stores have closed, at least three new buildings are up and occupied, and a couple of interesting stores have opened. I need to go exploring.

Speaking of the PET scan - it was the easiest procedure I had since this whole thing began. Last night I almost made myself sick dreading yet another ordeal but it wasn't like that at all. When we see the medical oncologist next Monday we should get final results. My burns are healing nicely. Not everyone has this much trouble with radiation but my skin just gave up. I had a couple of spots that were third degree burns. They should be completely healed in a week or two.

I'm still trying to upload pics but haven't been successful. Maybe this weekend Joe will have time to rattle Blogger's chain and fix the issue. On this note, I believe it's time for me to follow hubby to bed. I hope to wake up tomorrow morning bright eyed and bushy tailed - ready for a new day.

Just Me

Several Days ago Soul presented me with a blog award (Over The Top Award). I'm proud to have received the award and have tried to persuade Blogger to allow me to upload the icon. No luck. At first I thought that I was doing something wrong but now I think Blogger is having a temper tantrum. I tried to upload pictures of the grandsons and Harry carving pumpkins. Blogger refused to upload those pictures, too. I'll have to wait for our son, the computer guru, (Joe) to have time to appease the blogger gods and ask them to please overlook whatever transgression I committed.

That said, I completed radiation on 20 October. My burns are healing fast and I'm now looking to the PET scan on this Thursday. I should have the results on the following Monday. We're confident the results will be negative for cancer. It's been a trip but now the end is truly in sight.

I'm enjoying watching the leaves turn to brilliant golds, reds, and bronze. The winter welfare birds are arriving. Squirrels have fat cheeks and are hiding their bounty. The dad-gum chipmunks are digging in places I'd rather they didn't dig. We're having more rainy days than sun. No drought here this fall. My house plants are either safely inside or on the screen porch. Life is returning to normal.

I intend to return to regular blogging now that life is on a more even keel. Get ready, friends, here I come.

More of the Same

It's been a rainy day Monday in my world, but that's OK. I didn't have plans, anyway.

My Radiation Oncologist put me on a five day treatment "break." The condition of my skin (what is left of it) has deteriorated beyond what's acceptable for further treatment. I'm home with medications to ease the pain and promote healing. As has been the case throughout this ordeal, Harry is assuming household management and nursing care. The kids continue to be supportive of us. Mary is cooking dinner tomorrow night. She is a wonderful cook so it's a meal to look forward to. For dinner this evening Harry made German Apple Pancakes. Wonderful!!

There's really nothing current to write about and strolls down memory lane can get boring for everyone. On that note I believe I'll publish this post, take a pill, kiss Harry goodnight, and spend the next few hours hugging my pillow.

My best to everyone. Thanks for stopping by.

Don't Assume

Today was day two of my seven "booster" radiation sessions. Forgive me for assuming that "booster" means less intense. Guess I was wrong about that one. The beam isn't as wide-spread. It is more sharply aimed and the exposure does not make for a care-free experience. The radiation burns are painful and ugly but the alternative is even worse. I'm thankful that the treatment is available but at the same time I want them to be in the past!!!

I'm spending most of my time either in bed or stretched out in front of the TV. In the beginning I read a lot but now I just can't concentrate on a book. That's a first for me. I've learned a lot from watching TV.

1) The History Channel screens many, many "dooms-day" programs. They seem to concentrate on such things as which volcano/earthquake/flood will destroy a large portion - if not all - the world. That's predicting the future in my book.

2) Public Television does have interesting programming - if you don't get tired of the "send us money" routine or if you haven't seen the program several times before.

3) Many - if not all - of the detective shows have gotten graphic beyond the acceptable.

But then I'm an old fart who is buried in health issues at the moment. It makes for negative impressions. I think I'll just crawl back in my hole and be quiet.

Take care and enjoy the colorful all weather - old man winter is on the way.

Can't Think of a title

Twenty-three down and twelve to go. Just call me "Crispy" and you won't be far from correct. What am I gonna do you ask. I'm gonna put on my big girl panties and get through this. I'm giving thanks for all the wonderful support that I've had. You, my blogging friends, have helped me keep a good outlook.

Fall has finally arrived and I'm ready. We had a long hot sultry summer but at least it wasn't dry. Last night was our first cool night - 56 degrees. I'm not a fan of really cold weather but these cool breezes are wonderful.

I can't think of anything to write. Harry is cooking dinner on the grill and, as usual, I'm just being a lady of leisure. Actually, I'm a spoiled, worthless, old fart. On that note I'm signing off. Have a wonderful evening.

Spoiled Rotten

As of today I'm officially half way through radiation. It seems like it took a long time to get this far but here I am. Not much the less for wear. There are bouts of nausea, a bit of pain, lots of fatigue, and burns - nothing that I can't manage. I do, however, avoid seeing myself in the mirror. If I actually see the burns I feel worse. Today was a "see the doctor" day. Talking to him and feeling comfortable with his reassurances made me feel better not only about the present but also about my probable outcome.

Rain came to our corner of the world and seems to feel right at home here. There's no sign of it moving along. We haven't had flooding but many have. Northwest Alabama has been hit fairly hard but not nearly so hard as Atlanta. Last summer, after experiencing a few years of drought, I threatened to have all the shrubs replaced with sand and cactus. That would have been a mistake. (I never really intended to replace the shrubs with cactus. It just made a good example of how bad the drought was at the time.)

I didn't have a playmate visit today. Jesse was running a fever this morning and everyone (not me) decided he shouldn't play with Nana today. I talked to his dad a little bit ago and Jesse seems OK now. I always look forward to play time and really miss having the grandsons visit.

Harry continues to pamper me. I'm spoiled rotten. Bless his heart, I know he gets tired of this game but he doesn't complain. Between taking care of me, the tanks, and mowing the yard his days are packed full. The cleaning service helps a lot, though. Did I mention that I'm spoiled? Yep, I surely am.

Well, that about sums up my day. So much excitement that I can hardly stand it. NOT!!! Hope all is well in your world. Take care and be happy.

The Sound of Silence

It's raining, it's pouring, kitty cat is snoring. She's sleeping beside me. I don't see how she can breathe at all with her nose buried in her fur.

Harry is in Memphis. He left last evening for a coral reef event and will be home late today. I just didn't feel up to the trip. I have actually enjoyed the sound of silence but it's beginning to become a bit too loud. Silence CAN become loud - at least in my world. Joe will be here in a while and then silence will slip away and things will be normal again.

I wish that I had something to write about but I really don't. My days are all the same. . . up and to radiation (5 days a week), home and a light lunch, nap, eat dinner, watch a bit of TV with Harry, back to bed. That's it. In between the events of my day I read a bit, watch the fish play in our reefs, and read a few blogs. Let's all stand and cheer for the excitement at the Hooper household. Sunday Gatherings are my highlight! They are pretty much the same except I do less cooking.

As for me and my journey along the big C road, I'm doing fine. Keeping a good outlook and looking forward to getting through this and on to better days. I do have burns (from the radiation) that are pretty uncomfortable and certainly yucky. Have you ever heard of "Lindi" gel products? They are absolutely an answer to the worst of the discomfort from radiation burns. Needless to say, I'm learning a lot on this adventure.

It's Saturday, folks. Find something fun to do and enjoy, enjoy!! My best to one and all.