I’m thankful for a bit of rain, cards from my mom, a good burger, and a glass of wine.
June 16, 2021
I lost track of time and now I have too much to do. My mom is coming for a short visit this weekend. Since we haven’t had any visitors in the house for months, things have gotten a bit messy—not dirty because we still clean—but a pile of something here and there that we mean to put away but don’t get to. Winter clothes that haven’t made it to the winter tote. The craft items I need to bring to my storage unit. The spring items I set aside when I put some summer items out. I want to get everything tidied up, but there isn’t enough time in my day. Dang that full-time job! Haha!
Next week we leave for my daughter’s wedding, so I’ll also have to start putting together everything we need to take along. However, I can worry more about that starting Sunday. I did clean up my craft room tonight, so that was a start. While there is a lot on my to-do list, I’m thankful to have this visit to look forward to.
June 15, 2021
I can’t believe I forgot to post this yesterday. Well, yes, I can. I was busy enjoying the cool down in weather last night. I sat outside on the deck with a glass of wine and read. The breeze was so cool that I needed a sweater, and it was wonderful! We still need rain, but I’m grateful to be able to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows and doors again.
I was also thankful to chat with my sister for a while. She’s been a great resource and support for me since she had breast cancer too. We talk pretty regularly to catch up and compare notes.
June 14, 2021
Last week I called my nurse coordinator to ask her about some test results that I got. During our conversation, we talked about the next steps in my treatment. I mentioned that I thought I should have an MRI before meeting with my surgeon again. She agreed and said she’d call his office, which she did. So today I had an MRI. Next week I meet with my surgeon.
Getting an MRI is an uncomfortable experience, but today I’m thankful for it because it confirmed that chemo works. The results showed “markedly improved appearance” compared to the previous one. My last MRI showed a 2-inch tumor spanning all four “quadrants.” This one showed 3 small spots, about 5mm or less each.
I think it’s probably a common fear for those with cancer to worry that the medicine won’t help. I had read that sometimes lobular cancer doesn’t respond well to chemo, and that was stuck in the back of my mind. That’s most likely why I felt such relief today. Even though the improvement doesn’t change the fact that I still need surgery and radiation, I’ll go into the next step feeling like the chemo has already made a big difference.
June 13, 2021
I’m thankful for another Sunday. I slept in a little bit. Yay! Then we got out of town again for a while and had a relaxing night. I wish tomorrow was also Sunday.
June 12, 2021
I crafted today! I think I needed to be creative and spend time focusing on something other than my frustrations, especially when there isn’t much I can do about them. Plus it’s been about 100 degrees outside these days, so staying in the air conditioning was good. One thing I made was a 4th of July couple from silver salt and pepper shakers. They’re not great, but it was fun.
I’m thankful for the time in my craft room. And I’m thankful that Patrick did the laundry and vacuuming today. Bonus!
June 11, 2021
I almost forgot to write today! That’s how happy I am that it’s finally Friday. Besides being grateful for the end of the week, I’m also thankful for ice cream for lunch, a chat with my mother-in-law, and an impromptu dinner invitation from friends. It was a good day.
June 10, 2021
It was a frustrating day again. I won’t go into it all, but it included work, cancer, and what seemed like my entire life. One of those days where everything seems to be going wrong.
But on my walk back from around the block, I saw this by the walkway. It’s a stepping stone from a friend, and it reminded me to stop thinking the worst, which I’m thankful for.
June 9, 2021
It’s our anniversary! We’ve been married for 3 years. It feels simultaneously longer and shorter than that. How is that possible? I suppose the last year and a half have been long, but when I think back to our wedding, it doesn’t seem that long ago. It was a good day.
When I think back over the last three years, I realize that I’ve been through a lot—job change, kids moving away, cancer—and Patrick has been steady right beside me, not much changing in his world except me. I’m grateful to be keeping him on his toes and adding so much excitement into his life. Haha!
Tonight we celebrated with a good dinner out. I’m thankful for the past three years and look forward to many more.
June 8, 2021
I was crabby today. I’ve been feeling like there is so much in pause mode again. I spent so long in chemo which felt like I was actively working towards my cure, and now, I’m just waiting. It’s frustrating. I thought I had learned patience but some days, it’s really hard. I called my doctors’s office yesterday just to make sure they had let my surgeon know I was done with chemo since I expected to have an MRI to check how much the tumor had (hopefully) shrunk. Thankfully late this afternoon, the surgeon’s office called to schedule an appointment to discuss next options. Not the MRI I was hoping for, but I’ll take it.
melissagratitude 