Just everyday stuff...

Thanksgiving went great. It just felt GOOD to be with all my extended family. I even got to see my step-brother, and it has been YEARS since I seen him! After that, we went camping. What was the one thing I forgot that we really needed??? GLOVES! I remembered real quick while Doug and I were setting up the camper, after dark, and it was cold! No big deal, we needed to make a WalMart run and I knew I could get the cheap ones that were less than $1, and I did. Yes, we got up and did the crazy shopping thing Friday! Got a few things, but not everything, I still have some more shopping to do. I'm sure it will be like always, I'll be shopping til the very last minute! Anyway, back to the camping, it was great, cold, but great! We did a fire one evening, but didn't stay out too long. We were gonna take the kids to Dollywood to see the lights one evening, but when they figured out that they wouldn't get to ride anything, they wanted to just stay at the camper and play games. That ended up being tons of fun! We played Old Maid and Go Fish for a very long time, even had hot chocolate with marshmallows, lol! A movie topped off the evening, all of us cuddled up in our jammies and warm blankets! I would have stayed all week if we could! This week has been pretty laid back, nothing going on. Next week will be another story. Monday I will go and have my port taken out then a consult with a radiologist on Wed.. I hope to be creating a new blog soon, just for my scrapbook pages. I'll be sure and add a link here when I do!!***UPDATE*** I have it up, but don't have the link here yet. But all you have to do is click on "my profile" to the right, and there should be a link there called "Total Scrap".

Had a Dr appt today...

and everything was just fine! I had a little bit of a fever, and she was concerned about that but couldn't find a source for it, so let it go. She was pleased with everything, blood work was great. I have been having some pretty bad headaches lately, and so I was sure to mention that. Not that I am worried that it is "anything", but just to be on the safe side. I'm thinking it could be many things, like the weather changing, or adjusting to no chemo, or sinus. Doc said it was possibly a combination of all three. Your body has to totally readjust after chemo, just like it does when you start. Since the chemo depleted all my hormones and played around with all the rest of my body, my body has to go through the process of getting it all back to normal again, and evidently headaches are very normal during this. The bloating caused by steroids can linger around for up to 6months!! UGH! But what's 6 more months, right? Small price to pay, the way I look at it! We decided against the genetic testing, but asked about having a hysterectomy anyway, for preventative measures. They are gonna check to see what insurance says about that and let me know. And then, a bit of a surprise, I have to go talk to a radiologist! She had very good reasoning to back it up, so I'm going with it. The Dr I am suppose to have a consult with is suppose to be very knowledgeable about recent and current studies dealing with radiation. They think it's just a good idea for me to get his opinion, given my age and that I'm triple negative, all that good stuff. I guess it's the same as getting a second opinion. That will happen the 1st week of Dec.. Also, that same week, I will be going to my surgeon to have my port removed!! YAY!!! I'm really excited about this, I hate the dern thing! And as long as nothing comes up, I will not go back to the oncologist office until FEB!!! I won't know what to do with myself on Wednesdays, lol! I'm so thankful the Lord saw fit for me to get through it so well. Speaking of thankful, I'm excited about seeing my family tomorrow on turkey day. Sad to say, this is about the only time I see most of them. There is a new baby in the family, new as in not even a week old, and I hope to get to see him, if him and mommy are up to it. I'll be taking my camera and hope to get some good snapshots. After we visit and stuff ourselves silly, we're gonna head to the Smokey Mtns for a wknd camping trip! Last one til at least spring. Can't wait, campfire, snuggling, hot chocolate with marshmallows! It's gonna be fun! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!! And if you don't read this til afterwards, hope you HAD a great Thanksgiving!

So now what?

What on earth will I do on Wednesdays now that I am done with treatments? LOL! I still have lot of appointments, at least one a week through the end of the month and maybe even in to December. I'm not sure how long I have to have my weekly blood work. When I go next week, if my counts are ok, I will get my flu shot. It'll be the first one I've ever had, and after getting the flu two times last year, I promised myself that I would get one this year! Then blood work the week after that, and the following week will be time for my appt with the oncologist, and the week after that I have to have my port flushed. Then I know for sure that 3 out of the 5 of us have dentist appointments this month. The twins will be celebrating their 7th birthday this Sunday. Nana also has a birthday this month. And we can't forget Thanksgiving!! Wow, this month is crammed, I just thought I would get to rest since treatments are over! I have got to get major SERIOUS about my weight! Not only will it help keep the risk down for the cancer to come back, but I can't get my reconstruction done until I get some of it off. I think I will be asking for a month's membership to the gym from several family members, that would work wouldn't it? But I need to start before then, with better eating habits at least. Well, on to something different, how was Halloween? We had a good one. Despite being tired from chemo, I managed to get the kids in costume. Ethan changed his mind at the last minute. He was suppose to be Groucho Marx with the funny glasses and black hat, but ended up being a farmer. Autumn was a witch. Grayson was the cutest lil cowboy ever! It might have something to do with the fact that I was just super proud that I made his costume, very cleverly and CHEAP! For his vest, I just got some of the felt sheets at WM, cut them in a vest shape and left enough on the sides for fringe, then sewed them on a shirt he already had, and for the pants, I used a pair of his jeans and the chaps are made from a pair of pj's I had! Just cut them out and sewed 'em on! Of course I used really big stitches so I could take everything off since it was clothes he normally wears. The hat was one that Autumn or Ethan wore for kindergarten graduation, so we already had that too. His mamaw took him and bought his some cowboy boots. She bought him a sheriff's badge too but he wouldn't wear it when it came time, lol! Anyway, here are some pics so you can see for yourself.




Doug's mom took them to family close by before I got home from chemo, then I took me and Doug took them to their kindergarten teacher's house that lives really close, and then down to Doug's brother's house. And that was it, terrible isn't! Believe it or not, they got just as much candy as if we had went to 20 houses, so I don't feel bad at all! I'm tired. I was really hoping that I wouldn't feel as bad this week as I did last, but I'm not sure it's gonna happen. Last wknd was BAD! I stayed in bed all day long Sunday, and didn't do much on Monday either. I'm just glad it's over so I can concentrate on feeling better now. I'm going to Kim's tomorrow for some scrapping, but I may just work on some "thank you" cards since I haven't sent any out to those that donated to my race fund, especially if I'm not feeling good. And a special note for my aunt Barbara, thank you so much for always leaving me a comment! Love ya bunches and I hope your beach trip was great!!