9 Moons Ago

Just a brief entry to express my enormous gratitude to my family and friends who have helped make this whole week, before my surgery tomorrow morning, less stressful and so much fun! Thanks for the overwhelming support I’ve gotten from everyone, since my diagnosis of breast cancer in early June, while we are at it!

I’ve been getting emails, letters, flowers, cards and phone calls from all over. To those of you who’ve written or tried to contact me in the past months, I have been sketchy with staying in touch, but I am thinking of you for sure, and glad for your continued thoughts and prayers. There will be plenty of time for me to use my new stationery in November! He he.

This past Sunday, I thought my Mother and Dad & I were going out to eat with my Sister and her boys at a favorite restaurant. When we got there, I saw Kathy inside right away, standing up and holding Blaine, and then I noticed EVERYONE. They shouted “Surprise!” and I definitely was surprised! Two tables full of family and friends, almost 30 people all wearing pink in some way or another, with candy, balloons, gifts and a cake!
Thought it was great when my Uncle Barry came over and said, “Well, I’m wearing red, which is related to pink” and he pointed out the “Oklahoma” logo across the front, saying “I also wore Oklahoma, because you’re going to be O.K.!”
I received cards, some lovely journals, a beautiful drawing from my cousin’s daughters, Lexie and Abby, the softest cozy pink socks and a box of gummy bears, which I shared with the kids till their food was ready. Other friends who couldn’t be there helped in planning it, and because it was short notice and a small place, not everyone was invited, but we’ll have to have another party, down the line!

I was not expecting this in the least! You got me good, guys! Such a big thanks to my Sister, who thought of it and organized everything, as a spur of the moment thought just a week beforehand! Our crew took up two thirds of the small dining room!

As for the surgery, I’ve only been anxious in the last couple of day, but mostly have been distracted with all the emails, letters, cards and visits from the people who make my life wonderful! Thank you ALL, near and far, for such incredible fun, joy and love!

So, yep, tomorrow at 6am I’ll be in the hospital, but knowing just how many people are supporting me (multiply the number from my party, oh, about ten thousand or so! :-D) will make things that much easier! And, as I told my Mother, couldn’t have planned a better month for this, October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Some pictures from the party, taken by family and friends:

Thanks everybody! Lots and lots of love, Amy

My surgery date is October 21st. They said I should be in hospital just overnight, but I have a feeling it may be at least a day longer. The last one was supposed to be no overnight, but the anesthesia knocked my for a loop because I am sensitive to a lot of meds, so I could hardly wake up till that night, and I also had to be on oxygen.
Not nervous at this point. Might be a little the day before or something, but I’ll just be glad for the anticipation of it all to be finished. So, yeah, while surgery might not be what I’d call “excellent”, it is something will help to prolong my life and eventually give me a clean bill of health and it is excellent that I have a date and can start getting prepared for it!

With the surgery set, this means that I will be able to attend the gallery show in Philadelphia, “The Art of Giving” on November 6. Excellent! I have a piece in it and it is a benefit for Philabundance, an organization that combats hunger and malnutrition. There will be various wines for sale, which have been donated by several vineyards, and their labels on the back, with your choice of art from close to 40 different artists on the front of the bottle labels. If you want to come but need details.. let me know! Mom, Kathy and I are going, and if any of my friends want to go out to dinner at a restaurant (to be determined) with us afterwards, you are welcome! We’re also going to stay overnight at a hotel before driving back in the morning. Good fun!

I think this might just be my favorite excellent thing: My 2 year old nephew, Blaine, can’t really say my name and for a while he would also call me “Nana”. Now it is down to “Ana” which I love very much.
When my Sister was 3, she stuck an “M” on the front and called me “Mamy” and her eldest, Isaac, naturally did the same thing for a long time.
But I love that Blaine calls me “Ana” and I’m never going to correct him for it. Hope he continues to for at least a little while, if not longer. :-D

Now, I’m off to make some rye bread and herb dip… mmm mmm mmm!
(That makes it four excellent things, I suppose…) Catcha laters, alligators!
xoxoxo Amy

Well, it’s way overdue, but I’m finally giving everyone an update.. Have made the decision of what kind of reconstruction I’ll be having during my surgery (mastectomy on the left side) but when Kathy took me to see the surgeons today to set up a date for the surgery, we learned that one wasn’t in her office today. So I did some paperwork they gave me a lab slip for pre-op bloodtests, and I’ll be getting a call about the date of surgery sometime next week.

Even tho I stay in touch with most of you through facebook, I owe either a card, a call or a letter to you. Yes, you.

Tonight was a fun night at a HS football game with my Mom and my Sister’s family at the High School where my Brother-in-Law teaches. Isaac was interested mainly in the snacking part of it all, but Blaine was dancing like the little ham he is, clapping and throwing his arms up to call any “touchdown!”s.. after which he said “Pop Pop”! Yep. He knows that my Dad is an official, which Dad got a kick out of when we told him later.. then Blaine was imitating the footballers doing their leg stretches.. funny and cute… So, even though I’m not much of a sports fanatic, the atmosphere of HS football is always fun. The bands and cheerleaders were great. Although, I’ve got to say I rediscovered that I’m not very patient with, nor fond of, highly excited pre-teens and teenagers, still! They were CRAZY tonight.. it was homecoming, so that might have had a hand in making it chaotic… just hordes of them, all excited and showing off and shoving each other, running around and flirting.. deafening yelling and talking, piercing shrieks, stopping right in front of you when you are trying to move past, or see something… it was like my insanely boisterous (but very much loved) niece from Melbourne, Ebony, times 1,000!

Yes, I’m an oldhead. I incessantly talk about my health problems and complain about the lack of manners in today’s rowdy whippersnappers… deal with it.

*mutters* bunch of punks..why I oughta… oww..I think I just twisted me knee..ooooh, that’s gonna smart in the morning…

..it is watch this video!

White Knuckles by OK GO

I will be around later in the week to give an update on my situation, but everything is just fine. I owe people thank you notes, emails and letters. I’ve got some nice new stationery from Chicago, so that will help get me started!