So much has been going on in the last 6 weeks or so. Alot involving Mark and what he has been doing. Jeff has been making making good effort to get his grades up. We are hoping that he will continue the habit into High School! Emily has been getting taller, staying busy and trying to become a Young Lady. Of course, as her mother, I want her stay little......but when have children listened to their parents in that regard?
In mid-April Mark had a very busy weekend. On Apr 16 was an ROTC awards banquet. Only those cadets that were recieving awards were invited (along with guests). This banquet encompassed 4 different schools in the Anchorage area, so there were roughly 250 people attending. Mark received and award for Citizenship. Only about 25-28 awards are given from each corp. Quite the honor!
Then on Sat, Apr 17 Mark had his 1st date! It was to a church sponsered Prom. So he a couple of friends creatively asked some very nice looking girls to attend the Prom with them. Mark wore his ROTC dress unifrom, and his date wore a black dress with a yellow wrist coursage. Looking Good! The group went out for dinner, then headed to the church for the Prom, and had Coldstone Creamery afterwards. I think a good time was had by all. Pictures will be posted ASAP!
Now that we are into May, the count down for the number of days left to get up for school has begun. That would be NINE!! I know a few kids and adults that are ready for that!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Spring Break in Alaska!
Spring Break.
When I think of Spring Break, I think of green, cool evenings, relatively warm days, kids playing outside, etc.
Not in Eagle River......Spring Break was Mar5-14. It snowed for the 1st 7 of those days. But, when the sun did shine, it was pretty!
We had a bull moose wander thru the green belt behind our house. Don't see that everywhere!
When I think of Spring Break, I think of green, cool evenings, relatively warm days, kids playing outside, etc.
Not in Eagle River......Spring Break was Mar5-14. It snowed for the 1st 7 of those days. But, when the sun did shine, it was pretty!
We had a bull moose wander thru the green belt behind our house. Don't see that everywhere!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Cancer Update
Cancer is difficult.
The day after my post-op visit to my Dr., she calls me to let me know the results of the "conference" (review) of my case by peers. I am going to be taking Tamoxifen (hormone blocking therapy) for 5 years. She also said that the consensus of the conference, which included my Radiation Oncologist, is that she did not take enough tissue, did not get a big enough margin around the cancer. My Dr took less than a 1 mm margin. She felt she took enough, but the "conference" wanted more taken. She asked me, "How do you feel about that?" WOW. Do I want more surgery or take a chance with radiation only? At this stage of the game, I don't want to leave anything to chance. More surgery.
Surgery was scheduled for Monday Mar 8 at 3pm.
{UPDATE}
After posting the above, my surgeon called to let me know the lab results. During our conversation, she said as she was taking out the extra tissue on the lower side of the tumor site, she saw another lump, about 5mm in size. She took that out along with margins. The lab results show that the newest lump is also stage 0 cancer. My question, "How many more lumps are there?" My surgeon feels that with radiation and hormone therapy, everything should be fine. BUT if in 5 years or so another lump is found then I would have to have a mastectomy. Reconstruction would be difficult because of the radiation. (Makes the skin less stretchy)
What to do?
I am going to get a second opinion in Seattle.
The day after my post-op visit to my Dr., she calls me to let me know the results of the "conference" (review) of my case by peers. I am going to be taking Tamoxifen (hormone blocking therapy) for 5 years. She also said that the consensus of the conference, which included my Radiation Oncologist, is that she did not take enough tissue, did not get a big enough margin around the cancer. My Dr took less than a 1 mm margin. She felt she took enough, but the "conference" wanted more taken. She asked me, "How do you feel about that?" WOW. Do I want more surgery or take a chance with radiation only? At this stage of the game, I don't want to leave anything to chance. More surgery.
Surgery was scheduled for Monday Mar 8 at 3pm.
{UPDATE}
After posting the above, my surgeon called to let me know the lab results. During our conversation, she said as she was taking out the extra tissue on the lower side of the tumor site, she saw another lump, about 5mm in size. She took that out along with margins. The lab results show that the newest lump is also stage 0 cancer. My question, "How many more lumps are there?" My surgeon feels that with radiation and hormone therapy, everything should be fine. BUT if in 5 years or so another lump is found then I would have to have a mastectomy. Reconstruction would be difficult because of the radiation. (Makes the skin less stretchy)
What to do?
I am going to get a second opinion in Seattle.
Another birthday!!
Emily decided she needed to have another birthday. She liked being 10, but wanted really bad to be 11. So, on Mar 3rd she had a birthday. I am not sure how I feel about having an 11 year old in my house. Emily is growing up way too fast! As tradition goes in our family, Emily decided she wanted to go to Moose's Tooth Pizza for dinner. Great Food!!!!! The boys did not go, which made Emily happy! She had her parents all to herself....what better birthday present than that!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Jeff is 14
Feb 14, 1996. George and I got up early, packed a bag, and headed to the hospital. At about 1:10 that afternoon, Jeff arrived! We knew we would not be celebrating Valetines Day in the same way again!
Now, 14 years later, we have a very nice young man! Jeff was so excited to turn 14. That means that he moves up in the Priesthood from the office of Deacon to Teacher. He can now go to Stake dances, he is getting closer to high school......
For his birthday, Jeff got a fly rod, flies, dvd how-to about fly fishing, some "Deadliest Catch" wear, a fishing vest, cash. All good stuff! He wanted to go to Golden Corral for dinner. I asked what kind of cake he wanted, but he said he didn't want one because there is dessert at Golden Corral!
Happy Birthday Jeff!
Now, 14 years later, we have a very nice young man! Jeff was so excited to turn 14. That means that he moves up in the Priesthood from the office of Deacon to Teacher. He can now go to Stake dances, he is getting closer to high school......
For his birthday, Jeff got a fly rod, flies, dvd how-to about fly fishing, some "Deadliest Catch" wear, a fishing vest, cash. All good stuff! He wanted to go to Golden Corral for dinner. I asked what kind of cake he wanted, but he said he didn't want one because there is dessert at Golden Corral!
Happy Birthday Jeff!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Cancer
This has been a month.....
About a month ago I found a lump in my right breast. So, naturally I went to the DR to have it checked out. She found the lump also, and sent me in for a mammogram and ultrasound the next day. The day after that, I made an appointment to have an ultrasound-assisted biopsy the following week. Then came the waiting.......almost a week after the biospy the DR's office called and asked me to come in for the results of my biospy. The results must be bad since the DR could not share that with me over the phone. Lucky for me, diving the school bus, I have mornings off, so I hopped in the car. The DR told the lab results came back with 'ductal carcinoma in situ' ( mayoclinic.com/health/dcis/ds00983 ) also known as DCIS. I was in shock. This is not the news I was hoping for. CANCER. I have had a couple of other lumps removed in the last 12 years. Both of those were benign lumps and the DR's were not worried about them. I guess my luck had run out.
So, my DR made an appointment with a surgeon. Another long week of waiting. I did alot of reading and internet searching for info about DCIS. This is a Stage 0 cancer. If you are going to get cancer, this is the one to have. It has not spread, treatment is usually radiation after the lump is removed and sometimes Hormone blocking therapy. NO CHEMO.
The surgeon is great! My appointment was on Thursday Feb 4, she had already reserved a dat surgery time for me before the appointment. Friday Feb 5. WOW!! So I took most of Thursday with the Dr, Radiation Oncologist, pre-op admittance, blood work, x-rays.....etc. It was a long day.
The next morning George took me to the hospital by 730am, surgery was scheduled for 1130am. I had to have a mapping of my 'sentinel' lymph nodes, so that the DR would know where the incision would be and could easily find them. It is an amazing thing to go into the OR move from the gurney to the operating table, and within 30 seconds be asleep and "wake up" 2 hours later in the recovery room. And I'm not sure you can call it waking up! I felt so disoriented and groggy.
I ended up with 2 incisions, 1 near the site of the lump and 1 in my underarm for the lymph nodes. I have a total of about 6-7 inches of incisions and stitches.
The results from the lab about the lump and lymph nodes was very good! The cancer has not spread, the nodes are clear. The DR took out a 2.8 cm size lump.....that seems pretty big to me, but the DR said it was smaller than what it felt like.
In about a month, I will be starting radiation. Next week I have a followup with the surgeon and at that time will probably find out more about when I will start hormone blocking therapy.
My family has been great! George is taking great care of me. The kids are being very helpful and are actually getting along with each other (for the most part!!) Thanks!
About a month ago I found a lump in my right breast. So, naturally I went to the DR to have it checked out. She found the lump also, and sent me in for a mammogram and ultrasound the next day. The day after that, I made an appointment to have an ultrasound-assisted biopsy the following week. Then came the waiting.......almost a week after the biospy the DR's office called and asked me to come in for the results of my biospy. The results must be bad since the DR could not share that with me over the phone. Lucky for me, diving the school bus, I have mornings off, so I hopped in the car. The DR told the lab results came back with 'ductal carcinoma in situ' ( mayoclinic.com/health/dcis/ds00983 ) also known as DCIS. I was in shock. This is not the news I was hoping for. CANCER. I have had a couple of other lumps removed in the last 12 years. Both of those were benign lumps and the DR's were not worried about them. I guess my luck had run out.
So, my DR made an appointment with a surgeon. Another long week of waiting. I did alot of reading and internet searching for info about DCIS. This is a Stage 0 cancer. If you are going to get cancer, this is the one to have. It has not spread, treatment is usually radiation after the lump is removed and sometimes Hormone blocking therapy. NO CHEMO.
The surgeon is great! My appointment was on Thursday Feb 4, she had already reserved a dat surgery time for me before the appointment. Friday Feb 5. WOW!! So I took most of Thursday with the Dr, Radiation Oncologist, pre-op admittance, blood work, x-rays.....etc. It was a long day.
The next morning George took me to the hospital by 730am, surgery was scheduled for 1130am. I had to have a mapping of my 'sentinel' lymph nodes, so that the DR would know where the incision would be and could easily find them. It is an amazing thing to go into the OR move from the gurney to the operating table, and within 30 seconds be asleep and "wake up" 2 hours later in the recovery room. And I'm not sure you can call it waking up! I felt so disoriented and groggy.
I ended up with 2 incisions, 1 near the site of the lump and 1 in my underarm for the lymph nodes. I have a total of about 6-7 inches of incisions and stitches.
The results from the lab about the lump and lymph nodes was very good! The cancer has not spread, the nodes are clear. The DR took out a 2.8 cm size lump.....that seems pretty big to me, but the DR said it was smaller than what it felt like.
In about a month, I will be starting radiation. Next week I have a followup with the surgeon and at that time will probably find out more about when I will start hormone blocking therapy.
My family has been great! George is taking great care of me. The kids are being very helpful and are actually getting along with each other (for the most part!!) Thanks!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunshine!
Since we live relatively near the Arctic Circle, (it is only 500 miles or so to the north of us! )we get a big fluctuation in sunlight between summer and winter! During the summer, I normally don't see DARK. We have about 19 1/2 hours of daylight at the summer solstice. When the sun goes down in the north/northwest, it doesn't go very far below the horizon, and comes up in the north/northeast. On the flip side of that, at the winter solstice we have about 5 1/2 hours of daylight. We also have some tall mountains around us. They do a great job of blocking the sun during the winter! Because of this, we don't get sun shinning in the house from the end of Nov until mid-Jan.
This picture is from Jan 20 at about 11am. The sun has finally risen high enough to peek thru the valley!!
This picture is from Jan 20 at about 11am. The sun has finally risen high enough to peek thru the valley!!
This is so very exciting when it happens! I love winter! The snow, the Christmas lights on trees with snow all around, even driving in the snow! The cold, not so much! The bone-chilling cold that is! I love that the sun shines in-doors. So when that happens, it is worthy of photos!
So, when it does shine in the house again, it may only be for about 5 minutes, but it gains a minute or so each day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
