This has been quite an eventful 10 days, starting with a Girls Night Out in New York City on the 19th and ending with my oncology visit and Zometa infusion yesterday. Oh yeah, and a little event called Thanksgiving worked its way into those 10 days. Yep – I’m exhausted. But Christmas is a-coming so there’s no time to relax just yet.
Let’s get the boring stuff out of the way. I met with my oncologist yesterday and she and my other doctor want to treat me with the Zometa every other month instead of every month in an effort to forestall any possible side effects related to jaw necrosis. So I had my treatment yesterday, but don’t have to go again until late January. So far I’ve had minimal side effects from either of the medications (some bone pain, some neuropathy, some fatigue) – nothing to write home about, as they say, and nothing that seems to interfere with my everyday activities. All the blood work looks good, my recent mammogram came out clean, and other than having a bunch of small tumors in my body I’m perfect!
Ahhh, Girls Night Out. My best pals, a fun restaurant, and 2-for1 martinis. You all get to see the “before” picture (above). We’ll keep the “after” pictures to ourselves. JK – we may not be the wildest bunch, but I find myself smiling and laughing an awful lot when we’re together. So Patty – what are we going to do for your 50th???
Thanksgiving was a usual frenzy of shopping, preparing, cooking, eating, drinking and football with an added dose of fun when Taryn and I ran a 5K Turkey Trot that morning. She had to do a 5K as a requirement for her Jogging class and asked me to run with her, this despite my not having run in a couple of years (my hips and knees just couldn’t tolerate it any more – spin, yoga, and Zumba seem to be much easier on the old joints). But guess what? We did great, better than expected although not nearly at the level I once was. Dinner was filled with laughter and toasts and enough food to send my uncle and stepdad and brother-in-law home with plenty of leftovers. We enjoyed the company of Emily’s college friend, Cat; we were grateful to have all 3 kids at our table this year; we offered our thanks for all that we are privileged to have; we groaned when it was time for dessert (“I’m so full!” was the standard lament), but sampled a little something anyway. We rooted for the Lions; we booed the Cowboys; and we cheered loudly for the Jets.
Of course, the best part of Thanksgiving weekend was yet to come – the annual Black Friday shopping trip to the outlets with Taryn! Up before dawn, out to Riverhead while the sky lightens, and into the shops as the rest of the world is just beginning to stir. Although a much more frugal trip than in years past, it was nonetheless very satisfying as was our lunch at Friendly’s afterwards. Top it off with a movie and a nice nap later and we agreed that it was an overall fantastic day.
Yep – I’m exhausted. But I am nothing if not appreciative of the fact that I still have the energy to do all this, that the inevitable deterioration of my body is not yet manifest, that putting together a Thanksgiving feast for those I love or sharing a meal with friends is not yet beyond my abilities. With so much to look forward to in the coming month (The birth of our Savior! The decorating of the house and tree! The sharing of gifts, both practical and magical! The vacation cruise planned with Taryn!) I am truly grateful that, for the time being at least, God has granted me physical strength as well as emotional strength.
Blessings and Love to All.
Let’s get the boring stuff out of the way. I met with my oncologist yesterday and she and my other doctor want to treat me with the Zometa every other month instead of every month in an effort to forestall any possible side effects related to jaw necrosis. So I had my treatment yesterday, but don’t have to go again until late January. So far I’ve had minimal side effects from either of the medications (some bone pain, some neuropathy, some fatigue) – nothing to write home about, as they say, and nothing that seems to interfere with my everyday activities. All the blood work looks good, my recent mammogram came out clean, and other than having a bunch of small tumors in my body I’m perfect!
Ahhh, Girls Night Out. My best pals, a fun restaurant, and 2-for1 martinis. You all get to see the “before” picture (above). We’ll keep the “after” pictures to ourselves. JK – we may not be the wildest bunch, but I find myself smiling and laughing an awful lot when we’re together. So Patty – what are we going to do for your 50th???
Thanksgiving was a usual frenzy of shopping, preparing, cooking, eating, drinking and football with an added dose of fun when Taryn and I ran a 5K Turkey Trot that morning. She had to do a 5K as a requirement for her Jogging class and asked me to run with her, this despite my not having run in a couple of years (my hips and knees just couldn’t tolerate it any more – spin, yoga, and Zumba seem to be much easier on the old joints). But guess what? We did great, better than expected although not nearly at the level I once was. Dinner was filled with laughter and toasts and enough food to send my uncle and stepdad and brother-in-law home with plenty of leftovers. We enjoyed the company of Emily’s college friend, Cat; we were grateful to have all 3 kids at our table this year; we offered our thanks for all that we are privileged to have; we groaned when it was time for dessert (“I’m so full!” was the standard lament), but sampled a little something anyway. We rooted for the Lions; we booed the Cowboys; and we cheered loudly for the Jets.
Of course, the best part of Thanksgiving weekend was yet to come – the annual Black Friday shopping trip to the outlets with Taryn! Up before dawn, out to Riverhead while the sky lightens, and into the shops as the rest of the world is just beginning to stir. Although a much more frugal trip than in years past, it was nonetheless very satisfying as was our lunch at Friendly’s afterwards. Top it off with a movie and a nice nap later and we agreed that it was an overall fantastic day.
Yep – I’m exhausted. But I am nothing if not appreciative of the fact that I still have the energy to do all this, that the inevitable deterioration of my body is not yet manifest, that putting together a Thanksgiving feast for those I love or sharing a meal with friends is not yet beyond my abilities. With so much to look forward to in the coming month (The birth of our Savior! The decorating of the house and tree! The sharing of gifts, both practical and magical! The vacation cruise planned with Taryn!) I am truly grateful that, for the time being at least, God has granted me physical strength as well as emotional strength.
Blessings and Love to All.
