Whew!

Ok,so maybe scooping soup for 1.5 hours was a bad idea when you have a healing incision that goes a quarter of the way around your body... BUT.. it was so nice to be out and se so many people who have been so amazing to myself anf my family these past few months. Came home and a pain pill and a nap took care of most of it... and a quick back rub from my wonderful mother too!

And yesterday my wonderful friend Lydia came over and spent the whole day helping me sort and organize and purge my office ... so two small trash bags and one large plastic bin of recycle paper later it is almost done....these are the type of friends I am extra thankful for!

Today I was able to give hugs to and say thank you face to face to so many people that I have been wanting to for far too long. It was mostly work and I am looking for ward to the Catholic Charities Gala next Saturday when I can just visit.

Souper Fun Sunday was again a great success and I look forward to next year. I guess those calls and visits that I keep hearing about that don't happen are a good thing in a way, cause it was a busy weekend! I really do not mind when people don't call or visit... it is when they tell me they are going to do so and don't :(

Short update

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday and the remaining stitches were removed. Shoulder movement is doing ok, the fibro limitations are there but the healing from the actual surgery is looking great according to him.

Took myself to see my GP Wednesday. Had a pesky mole removed from the side of my head. Lauri is very happy that her comb will not nick it when my hair returns. I also am struggling with a sore throat and stuffy nose, which makes sleeping even more difficult.

Driving is still not the easiest thing for me to do, but as long as I stay in my Alachua/Jonesville/Newberry triangle I can manage. Much farther than that and I get too tired and my shoulder gets a bit stiff.

I am looking forward to a dinner out with a work friend tonight (cold permitting) and a supposed visit from a former work friend on Friday along with a work meeting in the afternoon and Souper Fun Sunday this weekend. My boss has a couple of soups submitted so it will be a work function for a good cause.

I have a couple of work meetings set-up next week for some upcoming weddings, my clients have been so understanding these past couple of months and I am looking forward to trying to resume some type of normalish activity. Wish me luck!

New shoulder please

So yesterday I drove about 10 mile to Tim's basketball game. The driving was not a problem. However, sitting in bleachers for almost 2 hours (30 of those waiting for the other team to show) apparently kept me in a weird position and my arm and shoulder are now very stiff.

Had a really bad night last night as a result. Today I am trying to get some work stuff done and a little bit of household duties. I am hoping I can get some of this stuff off of my Mom. I hate how much my independence has been restricted. The things I can not do for myself are very frustrating, which I think it the worst part of all of this.

Tomorrow I am going to oversee the set-up of a small work function and then breakfast/brunch with a friends afterwards. Hopefully all will go well.

New Poll!

Laurie wants me to do something crazy with my new fuzzy stubble.... thoughts?????

A day out.....

So Mom took me out to do a few things today.... left around 10:30, got home around 2:30 and had to take a nap. Thought I was going to give driving a try today and go to Tim's basketball game as it is close by and not in a big traffic area but I slept much longer than I expected. Baby steps!

Yay!

Just reinforcement that my best friends live far away. Getting a visit from Ohio in a couple of weeks! Yay!!!!

1/3 of stitches ....

are gone... the rest should come out next week. I have been given the ok to try and drive a little bit. I will give it a try and see how it goes before I get all crazy.

Wonderful weekend

I am tired in such a wonderful way. My best friend since age 3 came and spent the weekend with me and it reinforced something that has been bothering me these past couple of weeks.... the people who are true friends are the ones that live the farthest away. I am not trying to sound like I do not have friends locally, I do and a couple of them are amazing. But it makes me sad, hurt and kind of mad that I get all kinds of promises to come and visit me, bring me dinner, etc after my surgery and for the past week and a half I have sat here bored to tears. I have had a couple of visitors and that has been great and I do not expect people to drop everything to come amuse me, I know everyone has bust lives, but don't make statements like that if you are not going to follow through on them. It is quite annoying.

In other news I am healing up quite nicely from what I can tell. The weirdest thing is the way my chest is tightening up. Going from having a large breast to having nothing is quite a different feeling as the sensations return to my right arm, chest and back. Sometimes it is like bugs crawling, sometimes it is like pins sticking... it is always weird.

I am getting some more fuzz every day, it is quite a different texture and color than my former thick reddish brown (or course we all know the red came from a bottle!). We shall see how it ends up. I still do not regularly wear my wig. Only for work functions and things like that. It is just too uncomfortable and hot. I have way too may cool hats, scarves and now ear muffs to need fake hair!

Stitches out on Tuesday and if I get the clear to drive... LOOK OUT Gainesville!!!!

Thanks everyone!

Friday the 13th..

I guess I have been quiet for too long. Healing is happening, the problem is my fibro. Due to the limited use allowed of my right arm because of the location of my incision and stitches my shoulder and bicep are locking up. And since I can not lay on my stomach therapy is difficult. Sleeping involves pain meds still as it is difficult for me to be comfortable. My tailbone hurts quite a bit due to the previously mentioned trying to get comfortable.

Everything else is just the waiting part. I am getting a bit frustrated by not being able to do certain things. If something falls on the floor it has to wait for Mom to come over and pick it up. I do use a pair of tongs sometimes depending on the item.

Bella is being pretty good with me. She sniffs at my incision but does not get on that side of me, which is surprising because that is where she used to lay. She slept on the right side last night but only pinned down my arm and did not touch my chest at all. She is such a good girl.

The other battle is boredom.... I have some attention span issues so it keeps me from being able to get too involved in too much. I try and read but it puts me to sleep same thing with movies. I did get some work done this week and actually have an event next Sunday, which if I am able to drive I am going to at least oversee set-up of.

My hair is coming back in, makes me look sicker than when I didn't have any. It is wispy and brown and a whitish gray, we shall see what happens.

Thanks for checking in on me!

Bella is

Home and life is feeling more normalize,

I miss my dog.....

Bella has been staying with Lydia since the night before my surgery and I have learned that that crazy little mutt is what makes my house a home. I miss her sleeping with me and I miss her having be touching me at all times.

I know it is best for me to have her not be here but I hope she can come home soon. Maybe tomorrow these damn drains will come out and I can consider it.

I know she is playing and having a good time with Diddley, but I hope she is excited to see me when she comes home.

Summary..

So I finally made it into my desk and was able to sit at my real computer to type something more than a brief update.

Before I left the hospital on Friday my surgeon came by with my pathology results. They took 31 lymph nodes from under my arm and there was one tumor in the mix. This means I most likely have to have more chemo after my radiation is completed. He will visit with my surgeon and they will decide.

Not real happy about this news, but as always I am trying to look on the bright side and will say.. at least it was only one. Did that sound positive?

Today has been a tough day for me, not really physically but emotionally. Nothing prepares you for these feelings.. nothing... it just plain sucks and there is no other way for me to put it.

So with that said.. I will be signing off and heading back to watch the Broncos and Timmy play.

Thanks,
D

Whew.....

Well, it is over! Hopefully this is the worst part. I am doing pretty well today, the pain is better have not had any meds this morning yet.

The boredom and not being able to do simple things for myself is difficult for me. My mom has been amazing, waiting on me hand and foot.

Thanks as always for checking in on me.

D

45 minutes and counting

until the folks pick me up. Been up since 4am, slept for maybe 4 hours before that.

Was so weird to have the bed to myself without my pooch.. I miss my baby Bella for sure.

Thanks everyone for the messages, calls, texts, prayers and general support. The biggest step is almost over.

Love you all,
D

Told ya, I would be back here tonight.....

Rented The Hangover 2, it is on in the other room but I am not watching it. I thought the firs tone was dumb and I think the same of this one.

My friend Lydia gave me some massage therapy on my shoulder and the rest of me today, it was painful but helped. Bella has gone to stay with her and her daughter Aurora and their dog Diddly for a few days. I have gotten a lot done without here here but I sure do miss her. I think it will make it even more difficult to sleep tonight without her.

Thanks for all of the calls and texts tonight. I appreciate them all, I have a mass text set-up to go out tomorrow to those who have requested and will send a follow-up once I am settled in a room.

Going to go make the bed and try and get some sleep. Good night all.......

Alternate site...

I was asked to set up a Caring Bridge page, to keep up with me over the next few days this will be the place to do so. Thanks!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/denisehenault

Duh..Duh..Duh....

Day before, will be a busy day. Going to the game yesterday was probably a really bad idea... legs and shoulders are a little more sore than usual, but a therapy appointment later today will hopefully help that.

Lunesta help me get a decent night sleep for a change, but I am sure the fact that I barely slept the night before helped it along. Up early to try and get all the day before tasks done. Off to the Dr. for pre-op in a little while and breakfast with one of the best friends ever.. Lauri! A couple of small errands, home for chair delivery and therapy.

Will probably check back in later with some "I can't sleep" babble!

Ugh...

Spending New Year's Eve and Day by myself was not a good thing. Too much time to think about what is ahead. These holidays faliing on the the weekend have limited me getting some things done due to things being closed. So Tuesday will be full pre-op appt. Lift recliner rental delivery, laundry, packing, therapy and getting all the bills paid, because of course the bank has been closed and will be again tomorrow.

There is just so much to do and then what is happening on Wednesday reachesup and smacks me on the head. There is just no way to accept it, I know it is what I have to do to survive, but it does not make it any less scary, overwhelming and just plain sucky.

I really am a glass half full kind of person but I think I deserve a littlepity party now and then.

On that note I will say good night and once again..happy new year.

Happy New Year!

I wish all of you a wonderful 2012.. full of happiness and health!