Back in Florida now.....

The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.  -- Mario Puzo

I’ve been meaning to get back on here to post a new blog entry, but time seems to have run away from me, and I can’t believe it has been over 2 weeks since I’ve posted.  It’s the old “no news is good news” thing – I don’t have a whole lot to report.

But I’ll begin by saying I had a fabulous 10 days in Maine with Mom, Freeland, and Nancy.  And, of course, the highlight of the visit was the wonderful celebration we had on the 14^th – celebrating Freeland’s 85^th birthday and the end of my cancer treatments – with 19 of us together for a day filled with fun and frivolity, good company, delicious food, and wonderful wine!  Oh my, it was so superb to have so many of us together.  I’ll try not to get too repetitious here because I know most of you read my last post.  But I have to say that I am STILL totally overwhelmed and quite emotional by what my amazing family and friends of the family did for me!  The medical bills are already starting to come in from various appointments I’ve had in January, and I have to say that all the stress of paying them has been alleviated!  I still can’t believe it!  I so clearly remember sitting on the couch at Mom and Freeland’s house when Nancy presented me with that big, beautiful purple card and the big, beautiful Bank of America check!  As I said in my last blog, I honestly thought the check said $1800 (no glasses on), and I thought to myself I’d better not say that out loud because there is NO WAY they are giving me a check of that magnitude!  So I nearly had a heart attack when I found it was $7800, not $1800! 

I knew we were celebrating the end of my cancer treatments, but in all honesty I was not expecting a card of any sort, much less one filled with loving messages from so many people, and I certainly wasn’t expecting a huge check to help with the medical bills!  At the very most, I thought maybe we’d have a toast – “Here’s to Suzy finishing 11 months of cancer treatment and to a better year ahead!  YAY!”  And we all take a sip of wine and go play some more ping pong or whatever!  So I was really flabbergasted by what actually transpired! 

Okay, I’m gonna start crying again, so I’d better get on another subject.  BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT AND GENOROSITY!!!!

I’m back in Florida now.  Flew out of Bangor on 1/22 – it was 7 below zero(!) that morning as I was standing outside on the tarmac waiting to board the commuter plane to Philly.  And it was 78 (above zero!) when I landed in Orlando.  Kenny met me at the airport – so nice to see him – and we went to lunch at a little restaurant on the Banana River in Merritt Island.  Sat outside on that beautiful Sunday afternoon watching the porpoise swimming and playing in the river. 

My INR has been within range for 4 weeks in a row!  Yay!  Unfortunately, it is either at the high end or the low end of the range, so I still have to have it checked weekly….for now.  It’s not painful – just a finger stick – but it’s time consuming – travel time, waiting time, etc. 

I started my aromatase inhibitor (generic Femara) on 1/23.  So far, so good.  No side effects to speak of except some minor hot flashes.  Nothing I can’t deal with, though.  Eight pills down, 1817 left to go!  Eeeh gads!  That sounds terrible, doesn’t it?!

I have an appointment with an ophthalmologist on 2/10 for my watery eyes.  They’re not getting any better, and they’re driving me a little crazy – at times pouring down my cheeks like a freakin’ waterfall!  Hopefully he’ll have some suggestions for me, although Dr. Sprawls warned me that he might want to put stents in to help with the drainage.  I’m not sure I’m interested in that.  Might just have to continue on carrying hankies with me everywhere I go for wiping up the constant flow of tears.

Happy to report that I’m back to eating healthy (for the most part) – mainly protein and veggies – and back to exercising again.  I’ve been trying to ride my bike to the Pioneer Trail (15 minutes), walk the trail (35 minutes), and ride back to the RV (15 minutes).  On days that it’s too windy for a bike ride, I drive to the trail and walk the trail – it’s a beautiful walk.  Today I don’t feel like doing anything because I seem to be coming down with a cold.  Bummer.  It’s zapping my energy today.  Of course I keep reassuring myself that IT’S ONLY A COLD.  As anyone who has ever had cancer will tell you, every new ache, every pain, every illness scares the heck out of you, and you start imaging the worst.  HOWEVER, I am going to BANISH those negative thoughts from my brain.  It is ONLY a cold, and I will be feeling GREAT again in just a couple of days!  In fact, I’m starting to feel better already!

One final note here – a lot of you probably already saw the photo on Facebook with me “modeling” my new Sleevey Wonders®, but I have to post a picture for the benefit of those not on Facebook.  These are the coolest things.  I can’t wear sleeveless tops due to “arm dangle.”  Well, a high school classmate and friend of mine, Ruthann Greenblat, has come up with the perfect solution.  Simply put, they are sleeves that you wear underneath a sleeveless or strapless top or dress.  They can be used to hide arm dangle or to jazz up an outfit or just to add sleeves if you don’t feel like going sleeveless.   Check ‘em out at www.sleeveywonders.com.       

Hope everything is wonderful in your various corners of the world.  All is well here in Florida.  Sending LOTS OF HUGS to everybody! 

Me in my Sleevey Wonders (and sleeveless top)