Summertime has arrived in Houston, y'all. I've been out in the backyard, working on the river rock that is on the sloped drainage area. It needs some sprucing up but it's going to have to wait till this evening when it's cooler out there. Also needs some fresh mulch around the purple fountain grass, and some power washing of the walkway. It's Mother's Day and I've been thinking about my mother a bit. I've heard from all five of our kids which makes me feel so good. I got some sweet gifts, too. I appreciate hearing from them more than the stuff, but who doesn't like a gift!! My son sent me the 'traditional tulip bouquet', too. I told him years ago that tulips are my favorite and he has sent them to me every year since then. Since it's so hot outside and my garden plan has been put on hold, I'm going to wash a load of clothes and play with my new mixer attachments. I want to learn how to use the grater/slicer blades and get them washed and put away.
We're having an unseasonably hot spring this year, and very dry. Normally April and May are really rainy in the Houston area, but not this year. I hope we're not gearing up for a drought this summer. I'm also concerned about the fragility of the stupid power grid in this heat. Today I had a checkup at the ophthalmologist to see how the bleed in my right eye is progressing. On the drive over there, we missed our exit off the toll road due to construction and had to go several miles out of our way to get turned around. I suppose I never gave much thought to how limited entrances/exits to the toll road are. Anyway, my eye is doing OK. Not a lot of change but the bleed is a bit smaller and the doctor (retinal specialist) doesn't seem concerned. He said we'll check it again in 6 months unless I have worsening symptoms. On Thursday I have my annual mammogram on my remaining healthy side (at least I hope it's healthy). I wonder if I'll get it for half price?? I also have an appointment with the radiation oncologist; I suppose that will be my final followup visit with her. I didn't bake anything today. We are pretty stocked up with baked goods so I need to let the mixer cool down for a while. Speaking of mixers, I sent my youngest daughter a new Kitchenaid bowl-lift model like the one I recently bought for myself. She received it last Friday and spent the weekend making stuff. She sent pictures of a gorgeous cheesecake, and some shredded cooked chicken that she used the mixer to shred for enchiladas. We have three graduates in the family this spring; two high school grads (grandson and step-granddaughter) and one college grad (step-grandson). The college grad is going into the Air Force, following in his dad's and older brother's footsteps. Our son-in-law was career Air Force. So proud of all of 'em. The pool is finally a comfortable temperature so I'll start getting some water exercise. I also want to get a bit of color on my skin; I have always loved being in the sunshine.
Another hot, dry day. "They" are predicting possible rain this weekend and I hope they are correct for once. Our lawn looks completely terrible since it's hot and dry, plus my husband decided to put weed killer out for the nut grass and grass burs that are the bane of his existence. The herbicide said it wouldn't harm the St. Augustine but SURPRISE!!! It most certainly WILL. So the lawn is patchy and sad looking in the front yard. I'll just close the blinds for a few months and try not to look out there. I thought we had plenty of bread until I opened the package earlier to slice a piece for toast. The bread (home made loaf) was getting moldy so I tossed it and mixed up a batch of dough. It's rising right now so I'll need to get down there and knead it in a little while. I may need to start storing the homemade stuff in the refrigerator during the summer. My first mammogram since treatment last year was yesterday and "no concerns found," so that was a relief. I mentioned to the doctor that I am having some weird nerve pain or something, so the radiation oncologist suggested an MRI. I agreed but asked if it could be scheduled in August when I have my next round of checkups. If the pain gets worse I'll call and get the appointment moved up.
I'm really sad today. My young friend on the BC forum had her surgery 4 days ago and this is what she posted today... "Hi everyone, just wanted to post an update since having my surgery. I got a call from my surgeon yesterday, my path report came back. What we thought was going to be very little to no residual turned out to be a 0.4cm remaining tumor in the breast, extensive intra-lymphatic and vascular invasion, and 10 (yes TEN) out of 24 nodes positive! All of this when my breast exams appeared “normal” prior to surgery and my lymph nodes “resolved” on my pre-surgery CT, and multiple doctors telling me I had an “excellent response” to chemo. Talk about feeling blindsided, sucker punched, and completely defeated. I’m a wreck. I meet with my MO Tuesday to figure out what the hell I can do now. I am in so much pain, and I don’t mean from the surgery " Just devastating news.
My heart aches for her. I haven't had breast cancer but I went through that stage with my DIL. I understand how she feels.
Friday night I noticed a small lump on the side of my neck. I scratched at it briefly and then tried to leave it alone, all the while consumed with googling "location of lymph nodes in the neck" and trying not to panic. Yesterday it was still there; I had my husband look at it which was basically a waste of his time and mine. I wanted to know if it looked like a bug bite or sting and I can't really see the side of my neck in the mirror. Last night after my bath, I was tugging the skin around and trying to see the little pea-sized knot, fighting progressive lens eyeglasses combined with a magnifying mirror. It seemed to me that there was a tiny black dot in the center of the bump, so I decided to scratch at it some more. I put alcohol on the area and used my fingernail to scratch it. Finally was "rewarded" with a very tiny brown-ish sliver of something; I assume the remnants of a stinger of some kind. WHEW!!! I applied alcohol and anti-bacterial cream to the area, and held some ice there for a while. Today the lump is almost gone and the area is pink-ish. When I say that any suspicious lump makes me physically ill with anxiety I am not exaggerating. I guess this is my life now, but it's mentally exhausting.
@Beth Gallagher - trust me ,most of us panic at our ages, on anything that isn't suppose to be there.
I suppose so, G. But until I had cancer I never thought about my lymph nodes!! Hope you're doing well these days. It's so freakin' HOT outside; this summer is going to be brutal.
Once you have had cancer, you may be cancer free but you are never free of cancer. I'm glad that turned out to be a false alarm. I was going to send you a big hug but this came up soooo......
Beth, Sorry you had a panic attack, you're right anytime there's a medical issue or feel out of sorts we think the worst. With my wife whenever she's extremely tired I'll tell her it's from the radiation but she'll swear it's something else that they missed. For me my panick attack my body gets like jelly/weak. It's just terrible about your friend from BC, so sorry. I saw an article a few days ago maybe you seen it .on the internet about a viral treatment that they injected into a human that is supposed to kill all the cancer cells. I'm nowhere near an expert but it sounds promising. I save a copy of it. If you're interested in reading it I can cut and paste it.
Beth, I so enjoyed reading about you enjoying your life! I like your new stand mixer and about bread making, because you're having fun with it.