9 Moons Ago

It’s been a while! Thought I’d let everyone know that things are going well, as far as my health. The recovery process is slow, but steady. Chemo is the next item on the agenda, but that will be after the holidays. Right now everything is still healing up, and some muscles are still tight and there is some numbness, so I’m just doing my best to be patient and do the gentle stretches, massage, and warm compresses, etc. on a daily basis. Not feeling sick at all, but being careful with lifting and such…

Thanksgiving was nice. It was just going to be Mom, Dad and I for dinner, and then Dan and Allie stopping in for dessert, but Kathy and Zach surprised us and came right before we sat down to eat! They brought a lovely bouquet of fall flowers for Mumsy and a good time was had by all! The kids were up at Zach’s parents, and had a grand time. Black Friday shopping was done by several family members, but I didn’t miss it one bit!

There is still no tree up here, no candles in the window and no lights on the house, but it’s been a crazy year, so we’re all moving a little more slowly right now. The hutch is decorated though, and gifts have been bought and wrapped. The sewing machine and painting supplies are out… I’ve started playing piano again and the Christmas CDs are in rotation, though not constantly. So we’re easing into the spirit gently..

One thing that kicked us into the mood was the annual Sheerer open house last Saturday! Such a pretty home, and filled with loved ones. It was so good to see everyone and catch up again! Great food and fun company.

There are more pictures of everything on my flickr photostream:
amy’s flickr stream

Tomorrow morning, Dad goes in for surgery. He’s having a stent put in his leg, in preparation for future knee surgery, which he’s needed for a long while now. Mom will be home tomorrow to help with that, and tomorrow evening, she and I are going to see Isaac in a school performance.

Working on cards, letters and gifts and it’s been fun. If you want a card, and you don’t think I’ve got your address, just email me!
Hope everyone is enjoying safe and fun holidays!

Thanks so much for the cards and letters, and calls, everyone! Recovery has been good, but slow. I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow, and since I’ve been running a slight fever tonight, and have some new redness in my skin, I’m thinking they’ll put me right back on antibiotics, which I finished a few days ago.
I am like my Dad, and have a hard time just relaxing in bed for too long, unless something really good is on tv. Even then, I’m not a big tv watcher, but at the moment can’t focus well enough to read the rest of a favorite memoir I’ve been re-reading, “Growing Up” by Russell Baker.
But the tv which has been keeping me still this weekend, has been the new Sherlock Holmes series that stars Benedict Cumberbatch at Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson.
I’ve also been laughing at a marathon of the Addams family. Gotta love Morticia and Gomez, but have discovered that some with Lurch as the main character are the funniest.

Last night, Kathy and her family were over and after dinner, the boys and I carved jack-o-lanterns. Isaac drew about 12 different ideas and chose to draw a storm trooper on his pumpkin. It had lots of nice details, and I’m sure he will correct me as to what he actually drew.
Blaine was amazed at it all and bent down to watch saying “oooooh!” and he helped me draw three large circles on his face. I will post photos tomorrow.

Then, after we had dinner, I went along to take the nephews trick-or-treating. Dan and Allie stopped by and went the rest of the way with the crew. Fun night!

Some new photos are up on my flickr stream, too:

amy’s flickr photos

Hope your Halloween was full of creepiness and candy, too!

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