We are all packed and ready to leave. Have completed all the chores, tidied the house, prepared the outside and now just need to have a relaxing day tomorrow, before our flight out on Wednesday.
It has been a hectic and traumatic few weeks. But . . . the Gods (my God) has been looking after us. We managed to change our Frequent Flyer tickets from January to November, our hotel room as well and everything has just fallen into place. With the help of the kids, we have all worked really hard and are looking forward to our trip.
We have never been in Disneyland during the Christmas season. All our previous visits have been in January, after all the Christmas decorations have been removed, so it is going to be a very special treat.
Roll on the next 11 days. And then I can tackle anything that is placed before me.
My personal thoughts & dreams to inspire family & friends
Monday, November 18, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Happenings
November has been a really busy month.
First of all medically my cancer diagnosis and surgery really knocked me both physically and emotionally. Trying to rationalise a return of my cancer so quickly has not been possible, and I have discovered the only solution to be 'not to think about it.' Yup, I am an ostrich!
I did have some good news in that my gastroenterologist discovered and helped manage/cure my diarrhoea with a cholesterol lowering powder - so not only will I not be so 'shitty' but my heart will be happy.
Then at the beginning of the month Elizabeth and I had the fun of attending Elizabeth's friend Cassie's wedding. It was just a week or so after my surgery, but I was well enough and had a great time.
The month has also been really busy with me organising our trip to Disneyland. It has been a miracle as we have been able to transfer frequent flyer point tickets from January to November, get the hotel that we wanted and organise passports and visas. So leaving on November 20th and returning on November 30th - 10 days of wonderful memories.
Then disaster struck.
Sunday 10th - Sarah's little bird Hazel (a green-cheeked Conya) flew away. Sarah was so devastated and for two days she was in total mourning. And then ... yesterday Tuesday a neighbour stopped by Mom who was putting flyers in all the post boxes and asked if we had lost a bird. They had found Hazel, and fallen in love with her. They had been taking care of her, waiting to see if anyone had lost her.
And to end this post it is birthday month in our house.
Mom (Dorothy) turns 70 on November 17th, but as we have given her a couple of nights in the city we celebrated early. Dad has bought Mom concert tickets for the night of the 16th and we thought we would shout them 2 nights in a nice hotel. So we had some cake and gave her, her gifts while we were all together. A very Happy Birthday Mom.
So with Ivan's birthday still to celebrate on the 16th and our trip to Disneyland - November is a much better month than October. So I think we will keep November in our calendar.
First of all medically my cancer diagnosis and surgery really knocked me both physically and emotionally. Trying to rationalise a return of my cancer so quickly has not been possible, and I have discovered the only solution to be 'not to think about it.' Yup, I am an ostrich!
I did have some good news in that my gastroenterologist discovered and helped manage/cure my diarrhoea with a cholesterol lowering powder - so not only will I not be so 'shitty' but my heart will be happy.
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| My supply of gastro-stop and Questran |
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| Beverly, Cassie, Tom & Elizabeth |
The month has also been really busy with me organising our trip to Disneyland. It has been a miracle as we have been able to transfer frequent flyer point tickets from January to November, get the hotel that we wanted and organise passports and visas. So leaving on November 20th and returning on November 30th - 10 days of wonderful memories.
Then disaster struck.
Sunday 10th - Sarah's little bird Hazel (a green-cheeked Conya) flew away. Sarah was so devastated and for two days she was in total mourning. And then ... yesterday Tuesday a neighbour stopped by Mom who was putting flyers in all the post boxes and asked if we had lost a bird. They had found Hazel, and fallen in love with her. They had been taking care of her, waiting to see if anyone had lost her.
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| It is you? You are safe home. |
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| The smile and cuddle says it all. |
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| A very pretty girl. |
Mom (Dorothy) turns 70 on November 17th, but as we have given her a couple of nights in the city we celebrated early. Dad has bought Mom concert tickets for the night of the 16th and we thought we would shout them 2 nights in a nice hotel. So we had some cake and gave her, her gifts while we were all together. A very Happy Birthday Mom.
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| Making a wish and ready to blow |
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| Don't lose your teeth Mom! |
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| Yummy Pavlova and lots of gifts. |
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Disneyland Here We Come!
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| Disneyland - January 2012 |
I just can't wait.
Then on December 2nd, I will be in hospital for the insertion of my portocath (again) and on Wednesday December 4th the chemotherapy begins. Every 2 weeks for the next 6 months.
But.......... I will have so many happy memories to keep my spirits up.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
General News
First of all the medical update:
Healing is fantastic - tummy feels quite normal. Yesterday had colonoscopy and gascoscopy - both showed nothing abnormal - great news. Am seeing gastroenterologist today to check up on biopsies and have a general discussion about tummy health.. So hopefully will get some answers.
Next bit of exciting news is that my book cover proof has arrived for my second novel.
I love it - it has the same theme as book one - with just a few dramatic changes.
So hoping it looks good on a shelf together.
Working on the final proof copy - allowed 25 changes to mistakes - found a couple. So frustrating, as I have edited and re-edited this book hundreds of times. Sending it off to the publisher by the end of the week.
Other news is that I am hoping to take a week away with the family to head to Disneyland before I begin my chemotherapy treatment. It is a chaotic and crazy idea as we will need to organise it all to leave on November 18th and return on November 25th. But...... if I can pull it off, I think it will be the best medicine in the world ....... a chance to recharge batteries and energy levels and just have a fantastic time. Was supposed to go in January for my 50th birthday, but who cares when I begin celebrating.
Healing is fantastic - tummy feels quite normal. Yesterday had colonoscopy and gascoscopy - both showed nothing abnormal - great news. Am seeing gastroenterologist today to check up on biopsies and have a general discussion about tummy health.. So hopefully will get some answers.
Next bit of exciting news is that my book cover proof has arrived for my second novel.
Working on the final proof copy - allowed 25 changes to mistakes - found a couple. So frustrating, as I have edited and re-edited this book hundreds of times. Sending it off to the publisher by the end of the week.
Other news is that I am hoping to take a week away with the family to head to Disneyland before I begin my chemotherapy treatment. It is a chaotic and crazy idea as we will need to organise it all to leave on November 18th and return on November 25th. But...... if I can pull it off, I think it will be the best medicine in the world ....... a chance to recharge batteries and energy levels and just have a fantastic time. Was supposed to go in January for my 50th birthday, but who cares when I begin celebrating.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Day Five and recovering
I love modern medicine and surgery techniques. Just five days out and I have the waterproof dressings off from my tummy. Small little steri-strips hold my cuts together and I am up and about. A little swollen and tender but feeling so good.
I have had a good week, been sensible resting and taking it easy. Have been up every day for an hour or so, but mostly have rested in bed, watching TV and reading - aah the life of the patient.
Yesterday I had exciting news: The cover and text of my second book arrived. It is everything I hoped for and in fact even more. It is seriously beautiful and enhances and follows the theme of the first cover. So the next day or so, will see me working on the final read through - yes, there are still corrections - wow - how can I have missed some simple things - even after all these read-throughs. Then it is off to the printer. Yippeeeeee!!
Monday I will be seeing Dr Vasey, my oncologist for a long discussion. I have a long list of questions, including alternative therapies, options etc. And, of course, a prognosis for the future - two cancers in one year is more than acceptable.
The weeks ahead are going to be challenging, but I feel a little more optimistic that I can deal with it all.
Am planning to spend November writing another 50 000 words on my 4th novel, completing my Jane Austen assignment (yuck) and preparing for Christmas. Life is wonderful, I am alive, loved and relatively healthy. So let's live.
I have had a good week, been sensible resting and taking it easy. Have been up every day for an hour or so, but mostly have rested in bed, watching TV and reading - aah the life of the patient.
Yesterday I had exciting news: The cover and text of my second book arrived. It is everything I hoped for and in fact even more. It is seriously beautiful and enhances and follows the theme of the first cover. So the next day or so, will see me working on the final read through - yes, there are still corrections - wow - how can I have missed some simple things - even after all these read-throughs. Then it is off to the printer. Yippeeeeee!!
Monday I will be seeing Dr Vasey, my oncologist for a long discussion. I have a long list of questions, including alternative therapies, options etc. And, of course, a prognosis for the future - two cancers in one year is more than acceptable.
The weeks ahead are going to be challenging, but I feel a little more optimistic that I can deal with it all.
Am planning to spend November writing another 50 000 words on my 4th novel, completing my Jane Austen assignment (yuck) and preparing for Christmas. Life is wonderful, I am alive, loved and relatively healthy. So let's live.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Princesses and good news
On Monday as I was in surgery, we were celebrating Elizabeth handing in her Honours thesis. A year of sharing her amazing journey into the fairy tale world of beauty - resulted in a 15 000 word thesis titled: "From Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever after--Images of fairytale beauty". I am so proud of her and know that on December 11th at 2pm, we will once more celebrate with her as she accepts her graduation certificate.
Saturday 19th, had seen Sarah, Elizabeth and I - take the joy of being a Princess one step further. Elizabeth's school friend had a bridal shower in the theme of Disney Princesses and we all got dressed up to help her celebrate.
Here are some special photos of us all:
Saturday 19th, had seen Sarah, Elizabeth and I - take the joy of being a Princess one step further. Elizabeth's school friend had a bridal shower in the theme of Disney Princesses and we all got dressed up to help her celebrate.
Here are some special photos of us all:
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| Sarah - Cinderella, Elizabeth - Snow White and Me - Sleeping Beauty |
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| Snow White - sleeping or dead? |
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| Twirling in my full skirt |
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| A modern Cinderella, sunglasses and all. |
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| Elizabeth, with Cassie (the bride) and Sarah |
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| All the Princesses at the Bridal shower |
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| Two sleeping beauties - the Mum's (Cassie's Mum - Leanne Reck) |
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| And the best one of all - A Beauty with brains - Elizabeth with her thesis. |
Home and recovering
It is good to be home from hospital and recovering from my surgery. I was very lucky that my surgeon was able to perform the surgery laproscopically and all I have is 5 small cuts.
The results however, are not quite as good. He found a large Metastatic Colon Cancer tumour. It is good in that it wasn't a new form of cancer (ovarian), but not good in that it was part of the original colon cancer that survived the chemotherapy and grew very quickly.
So now, I need to heal from the surgery and see my oncologist on Monday. I must admit I hate the fact that I have a 'my oncologist' - who wants one of those? Still, he is very good and I know that he will look after me.
I am dreading facing chemotherapy again. I was never sick from my cancer, but really sick from my chemotherapy and this is a path I don't want to walk down again.
I am also finding that my head is struggling with the idea that I have now had two bouts of cancer in just 12 months and the journey ahead is going to be challenging.
So here is the medical update: Time for me to retire to bed for a little rest and then I will be up and ready to go again soon.
The results however, are not quite as good. He found a large Metastatic Colon Cancer tumour. It is good in that it wasn't a new form of cancer (ovarian), but not good in that it was part of the original colon cancer that survived the chemotherapy and grew very quickly.
So now, I need to heal from the surgery and see my oncologist on Monday. I must admit I hate the fact that I have a 'my oncologist' - who wants one of those? Still, he is very good and I know that he will look after me.
I am dreading facing chemotherapy again. I was never sick from my cancer, but really sick from my chemotherapy and this is a path I don't want to walk down again.
I am also finding that my head is struggling with the idea that I have now had two bouts of cancer in just 12 months and the journey ahead is going to be challenging.
So here is the medical update: Time for me to retire to bed for a little rest and then I will be up and ready to go again soon.
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