Keeping Abreast of Things: The Udder Truth

2011-03-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 31, 2011
The Toad
Monday morning dawned overcast with evidence of a light shower during the night. It remained overcast and I realized it was a perfect day to get out and do some weeding. As I pulled weeds, using a little clawed trowel, I raked back the dead leaves from around a daylily. Nestled down into the dirt next to the base of the lily I caught a glimpse of a beady eye! Upon closer inspection, I discovered a big brown spotted toad (perhaps a bewitched prince!). He was almost completely covered with dirt and leaves. I considered the possibility of kissing him, but already having a very suitable prince,and the idea of kissing him was quite unappealing, I gave that idea up. I carefully avoided him but continued cleaning weeds out. I wondered if the scratching of my trowel, and the tremors of the earth frightened him and was reminded of Peter Rabbit and Mr. McGregor. Alas! Peter was in much greater peril than my little prince-toad!

I adore discovering little creatures to whom I must appear to be great danger. Not that I enjoy frightening them. I just enjoy seeing them in their world, knowing their fear will fade away as I move on in my own world. Reminds me of an old saying, though I doubt I can quote it exactly. It goes something like "Most of the things we fear never happen." How often do we waste countless hours worrying over something that might never come true?

New Beginnings - Or Spring!

2011-03-14T17:01:00.000-07:00

I have jumped back into my yard with a vengeance since the weather has warmed up and I'm done with all treatments. I still have to be careful about being in the sun. I wear protective clothing and a hat. The down side to that is I often feel I'm breaking out in hives because I get hot quickly (a side effect of treatments). But, my yard has captured many years of my life and deserves some attention. I know it will soon be too warm to work outside except very early and very late hours, so I'm working as hard as I can while I can. My back is protesting and I hope it soon gets over it!

I miss my chickens now that I'm outside again. They were a source of entertainment. We're fortunate that Lindy furnishes us with free range eggs, though I'm sure that will be seasonal as the hens get too hot and start to molt. She has 3 young geese that are so adorable! I do wish I could live on a farm and have animals about. I do love that. I suppose it takes me back to my childhood.

I had my port taken out a week or so ago. The incision hasn't quite healed but is coming along nicely. They close incisions now with something called dermabond. I don't know why doctors can't make a nice little seam and leave prettier scars.

Cary still complains with his hand occasionally. For those of you who don't know, he injured his right hand, cutting a tendon, while boning out a deer last Thanksgiving. He had surgery and physical therapy but says if he'd known what he knows now, he wouldn't have gone through all that foolishness.

I doubt anyone will read this, since it has been such a long time since I wrote. But...I just felt like contributing tonight. Giving my back a rest at the keyboard!

Love,
LG

A Life Well Lived

2010-11-03T17:04:00.000-07:00

How do we decide someone has lived their life well? The first thing that comes to my mind is what kind of effort the person put into their life. Did they put forth their best effort, always doing the best they were capable of? That's really the crux of the matter, isn't it? Because from that one character trait you can look at how one treats their family, friends, and the rest of the world.

My mother is gone. She passed away October 23rd, 2010. She never sloughed through any task or relationship. She always did her best.

I could go on and on about all the things she did well and she did do many things well. But I won't. She simply did her best, always.

Thank you, Mother, for setting an example I try to follow. Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Rubies can't begin to compare with you, Mother.

Overnight at Fanning Springs

2010-10-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Katie and I decided to spend Friday night at Fanning with her children. Lee joined us later after he got off work. We stopped to visit Mother on our way through Trenton. She was in a semi-conscious state, not really awake nor completely asleep.

We went on to Fanning and prepared dinner. I went to bed pretty early and awoke when Lee came in and again about 4:30 a.m. when Linda Grace was fussy. I took her to my bed and she smiled and cooed for a while until she found her thumb. I could tell she was sleepy, so I turned off the light and we both fell asleep. She slept until almost 9 a.m.!

About 10 a.m. I went in alone to visit Mother. She was in bed, semi-conscious but would not open her eyes. I sang two or three songs to her and stroked her hair. She moaned a little and only opened her eyes once when I began singing "Red River Valley". Katie and I had planned and packed a picnic lunch to take to the river, but Linda Grace slept on until almost 1 p.m. so we had a lovely lunch on the porch. Later, Katie, the children and I went back to see Mom on our way back home. She was pretty much in the same state. The nurse told me she had been up for breakfast, though she ate little and they had been able to feed her a little for lunch in bed.

How much of her lack of responsiveness is due to medication and how much to her true condition, I cannot tell. I plan to talk to her hospice nurse on Monday to find out how much pain reliever they are giving her and if her condition is congruent with the medication.

Katie and I got home about 3:30 P.M. Lindy invited me out for dinner so I took a bottle of Sterling, some cheese and crackers and had a lovely evening with her. Bob was still there when I arrived but left for his Saturday night gig with his band buddies. Cary was there also, but had his friend, Maelee over, so I saw very little of him.

The photo is one I took last weekend at Fanning. I tried to capture the sun's rays coming through the trees. I am not satisfied with my efforts but hope to do better. A friend who is a good photographer and I plan to make regular photo op trips together and I hope to learn a lot more from her. I find photography very relaxing. I have always admired art that followed reality rather than the abstract and photography satisfies that interest.

A Time to Sow and a Time to Reap.

2010-10-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

I love looking at fields after the hay has been harvested. What a vision of plenty! I've recently been putting up pears and just feast on the sight of all those jars of spiced pears that are "laid by" for future enjoyment. I think I'll do a whole series of photos on this theme.

We spent the weekend beginning Friday at our place at Fanning Springs. My sister, Yvonne and her husband, David, came down from Georgia. We had a meeting Friday at Ayers with a representative from Hospice. My brother, Marcus, and his wife, Sandi, also came to the meeting. My mother 's condition has deteriorated to the point she needs extra care. She is sleeping a lot, pulling up into the prenatal position. She's also not eating much and often refuses her medications. Yvonne and I knelt by her bed and released her on Sunday. We just let her know we didn't want to hold her back if she was ready to go. Her eyes were closed and I wonder if she really understood, but she did acknowledge me when I asked her if she understood. Mother has never expressed a desire to leave this world. She has always been a person that made the best out of whatever situation she found herself in. I think that's one reason she has been at Ayers for 9 1/2 years. She simply made the best of it and adjusted to the life she had there.

We have no way to know how long she will live, which goes without saying, I suppose. We just all hope and pray she can go quickly without becoming a bedridden patient. So, please pray with us that she will be able go soon.

That's about all my news except to say I'm enjoying my grands very much. Olivia was with us a couple of weeks and of course, I see Katie's children often.

Namaste,
Linda Gail

New Beginnings

2010-10-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Today marked a new beginning or, perhaps more accurately, a return to former vitality and pleasures! It was cool enough this morning that I made myself a hot cup of tea. I've been told green tea is the healthy choice, so, since it is almost tasteless, I put a constant comment tea bag in with the green tea bag. This begs the question, have I negated the benefits of the green tea by adding another tea?

The cool air also permitted me to be outside all morning. I took a few photos in the yard which I will share. I put away the chairs around the pool, cleaned up Olivia's "pasta kitchen" on the front porch, moved plants around and weeded a corner of the side yard. My blue gingers,white butterfly gingers and curcuma gingers are all blooming now. The white butterfly drenches the air with a heavenly scent. A most pleasant area in which to work.

Last new beginning is I no longer have chickens to care for. I only had 3 and yet they still managed to do a lot of digging when roaming free. They were miserable in the pen. So Lindy graciously came over and took them back to her place. Dolly and Daisy originally came from her farm and Wheatie was from an egg Lindy brought me that was hatched here by Francine, one of my samatra hens. The main reason, however, for giving them to Lindy is they tie Cary and I down. Mickey can go with us and I can leave enough food for several days for Sheba in her food dispenser on the back porch. I know I will miss the chickens but truth be told, there is a time and season for all things. My mother is not doing well and in fact, Hospice has been called in to make an evaluation. I believe she suffered a stroke a couple of months ago. She often refuses to eat or take meds and cannot hold her head up while sitting up. I'd like to feel free to spend more time at our place at Fanning just to check on her more closely and perhaps bring her more comfort during the time ahead. I do not feel her death is imminent but still feel I should be more available to her.

Now as to the photos. I find it difficult to place descriptions with the photos, so I'll just give a brief description now. The golden rod in my pool area just volunteered there. Our bees find it most enticing (as well as the love bugs! ugh!). The large planter beside is has seeding sweet basil. The little tree is an olive tree and should bear fruit within 3 or 4 years. I bought this tree a year ago at the Seedlings Spring Garden Show and it has doubled in size already. The neat thing about olive trees is they can live for hundreds of years. I like the idea of leaving something behind that might survive long after I am laid to rest. The vine is on my pool fence. I don't know the official name but call it "Butterfly" since the seed pods form a butterfly shape. It blooms spring and fall and both the blooms and seed pods are pretty. The other photos were taken on the south side of my house in a more shaded area. Blue gingers, a potato vine that comes back on top of my azaleas year after year (I love the chartreuse color) and the white butterfly ginger whose scent makes gardening a pleasure.

I really do feel closer to my pre-op, pre-chemo and pre-radiation self today! This cool weather has started a trend!

Love to all,
Linda Gail

Pulling Together | Pulling Together

2010-09-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

Pulling Together | Pulling Together

I shared this on Face Book and realized just today I wanted to share it with those of you who read my blog. This little video says so much, and much more eloquently than I ever could, about how I feel toward all of you who have lifted me up over the past months. This has been a journey I am thankful that I did not have to go alone!

Today is my and Cary's 38th Anniversary. We met through my parents and I have to confess, Lindy fell in love with Cary before I did. In fact, she proposed to him, asking him to marry her Mama. That speaks volumns about the wisdom of children and the character of my husband! I'm so thankful he came along when he did and now 5 children, 3 sons-in-law, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild later, I can truthfully say I am happier now than ever!

Our ceremony was very simple. We planned ahead of time to stand up after regular church service on Sunday morning and exchange our vows. Lindy and Bobbie stood up with us. We didn't want to make much of a fuss and with the exception of not getting any decent pictures, I have no regrets. The only photo I have is quite small and faded. Oh, well, I have boxes of pictures taken since then which my children are going to hate us for if we don't get them culled and organized!

I hope you enjoy the video "Pulling Together/Pulling Together". Simple Truths has a large selection of wonderful videos at www.simpletruths.com.

Namaste,
Linda Gail

I'm back!

2010-09-02T15:23:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the long hiatus, but somehow I couldn't get going again after I finished radiation. I thought I'd post a few photos of my chicks, just to show you the growth of the 3 chicks Freckles hatched (2 pullets, 1 rooster) and the one little chick Francine hatched out, Wheatie. Wheatie is going to be a giant when she's grown, maybe even larger than Daisy, my white leghorn. Notice in the 2nd photo how she's already as tall as her mom. I say "she" wishfully because I'm hoping Wheatie is not another rooster! As it is, I don't plan to keep Sultan II. He's shaping up, however, to be as pretty as his pa. He just isn't grown yet and doesn't have the golden cowl around his neck that Sultan the 1st had.

Daisy and Dolly(the Americana)are both laying pretty much every day. Freckles gives me the occasional egg, when she feels up to it. She has tried to set again twice since she hatched her three and both times I've broke her from it by making her stay in the chicken run area at night rather than roosting with the others and in the daytime she's outside the entire compound. The first time I broke her, it took 3 days and nights. The last time, one night was enough! Shows you her pea sized brain might be able to retain a few things.

I keep a little bowl of eggs on my hutch. I love looking at them. Strange as it may sound, those eggs are little treasures to me. The greenish ones are from Dolly, the Americana, the brown ones belong to Daisy, the white leghorn, and the cream ones come from Freckles.

You will probably remember this photo from a previous posting also. This is Freckles with her 3 chicks on the roost when they were little. One of the chicks is hidden underneath her on the roost. The other photo was taken today as the 4 of them roamed the yard together. Freckles is leading the way and Sultan II is bringing up the right flank.

I made a new friend today who lives near here. Her name is Sandra. She lives in the woods out from town and has a blog about foxes. She has videoed these foxes right outside her home. She has an amazing story to tell about a young kit whose head got stuck in a plastic mayonnaise jar! If you'd like to visit her blog the address is www.micanopyfoxwatch.blogspot.com. She has used her photos to create sale items which she has also posted on her blog.

This blogging, especially posting pictures, is time consuming. And I admit, I don't know enough about blogging to make it easier. There is probably a way I could set my blog to let you know when I have something new. I'll try to figure that out, but meanwhile, just check about once every week or so.

Thanks to all of you (mostly one friend in particular) who have encouraged me to continue the blog. We'll see how long I last this time!

TTTL,
Linda Gail

Where to now?

2010-07-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

Well, dear friends, I've been casting about wondering what direction this blog can possibly go now that I have completed the worst of my treatments. I don't know. I just feel somewhat at sea right now as far as any commentary goes.

I feel incredibly blessed to have weathered the treatments as well as I have and am thankful that my life can resume some semblance of normalcy. Of course there are the herceptin infusions every 3 weeks and I am continuing physical therapy for the time being.

Cary and I plan to go to our place at Fanning after VBS is over. We will be taking Olivia and Ana back to their mother after this trip. Ana plans to live with her mom. This will be a major change in all our lives, but we are praying for Jenny and Brian to make a family with the girls and their new baby boy due in August.

Perhaps when it cools off in the fall, I'll grab my camera and share photos and a little descriptive prose to go along with the pictures. I've seen so many things lately I wanted to take shots of but didn't have my camera along. One shot I missed was the banners the new owners put up on the old Christian-Reber home during the 4th of July. They took them down before I could get back with my camera. Those banners gently rippling in the breeze just seemed to be whispering a promise to that old house and all passers by that better times are on the way!

Love to all,
Linda Gail

One more!

2010-07-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Ones:

My oncologist thought my skin so improved today that I should go ahead with the two lost chest wall treatments. I had one today, so tomorrow is the very last one. For real, for sure, this time!!! It is amazing how much better my skin felt after 8 solid days with no treatments. Conversely, it's also amazing how tight it already feels tonight after the one treatment today.

I finished "One True Thing" by Anna Quinlan. It is also a very good read. She is a gifted writer, though her story lines are serious. I am currently reading a short biography on Winston Churchill. I like biographies. I am always amazed by details of people's lives that I wouldn't learn otherwise. I have Lucille Ball's biography and have had for several months. For a real change of pace, perhaps I'll read that next. Although, Cary and I were at our place in Fanning last night and I brought home "Armageddon" by Leon Uris. It's a rather thick paper back and the print is quite small. If it's interesting into the 2nd or 3rd chapter, maybe I'll stick it out and finish it. When we bought the place over there, the lady who sold it to us left a few things behind including a little hall bookcase with a collection of books. One she left behind that I really liked and want to read again is Mitchener's "The Source".

I don't know if you all can keep up with which chicken is which, so if I repeat information you already know just remember it is in the interest of keeping my chickens identified properly. I had two Samatra hens left when I gave The Sultan and his favorite hen away. One is Freckles, the alpha hen. She has 3 half grown chickens (2 pullets and a little rooster - so far all unnamed). The other Samatra, Francine, had tried to set once before and was run off the nest by The Sultan. About a month ago she began sitting again. Only trouble was, the eggs were not fertilized. Lindy brought me 4 beautiful chocolate brown eggs that I put under her. Of the 4 eggs, only one produced a biddy. That old saying that a hen will scratch just as hard for one biddy as she will for a dozen is really true! Francine clucks and scratches and runs the other chickens away from her biddy. Freckles likes to mess with her, though. She is either very curious about the biddy or has designs on stealing it. That little chick is so bonded with it's mom, though, I don't think Freckles has a chance! Dolly (the Americana) has laid every day since she began about 5 days ago. Her first egg was a beautiful blue but they've become more green as they increase in size. Today, Daisy (our white leghorn) gave us a nice white egg. Now if Freckles would start laying again, we'd be getting 3 eggs a day.

The little half-grown rooster has started training the two little pullets to come to him when he clucks and acts as if he has something to eat. I got a chuckle yesterday when he clucked, Dolly ran over and smacked him as if to say "Now we aren't going to put up with that!" It is interesting to me that the of the two pullets left that Lindy brought me, they both hang together. The 3 half grown chicks hang together. The only brood mates that don't hang together are the Samatras. I expect that's because Freckles is so hard to get along with.

Francine and little Wheatie

Sheba leads the way!

2010-07-01T05:14:00.000-07:00

This is pretty much the way Sheba and I spent our day yesterday. I'm not sure if I was so tired because of the atmospheric pressure or whether after getting done with radiation treatments my brain just called for it. Whatever was going on, I laid around most of the day.

Just finished Anna Quinlan's "Every Last One". Quite a story, but sad. I do recommend it as a good read. I had her "One True Thing" on hand also, so I started it yesterday.

I plan to clean today. Cary is driving down to meet Jenny and pick Ana up. Ana will be in church camp next week. She's very excited about it. She will be with a group camping out, planning and cooking their own meals, etc. I'm a little concerned about mosquitoes because she is so allergic to the bites. We've bought "off" spray and Off now puts out a battery operated bug repellent I thought might be good to use at night while she sleeps.

Wow! The rain yesterday was something else. Best we've had in quite some time. I probably need to fertilize again. I'm sure anything I put out earlier this year was washed to China! I did manage to dead head my hydrangeas yesterday. That's an easy job that doesn't take too long. I'll miss their beautiful blooms in the garden. Sister Teresa continues to shine, however. She's white and the blooms change a little but are very resilient.

Bobbie sent me a little plastic thing that resembled a douche bag. It has two suction cups. I had to call her to find out what to do with it. Seems she bought it when she visited Butchart Gardens. They used them to display fresh flowers on the windows! It is open on the top and has 3 sections to it. Oh, heck! I'll just take a photo and show you! The photo with my china cabinet is the first place I put it. I have blinds on my windows which creates a little problem. But then I decided I wanted to see how it looked in a window. Brighter flowers would help a lot, but right now I have only Sister Teresa hydranges. Well, that's not true exactly. I could cut some of my Black Eyed Susans. But, I want them to reseed for next year so I've left them entirely alone. Anyway, isn't that a neat way to display flowers?

Let us all pray that our 4th of July will be celebrated without any crazies out there trying to make a statement!

Love to all,
Linda Gail

Serendipity Day

2010-06-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

My treatment yesterday may become my last radiation treatment. I thought I had one more scar tissue and 2 more chest wall treatments but yesterday I had my last scar tissue treatment. When I saw my oncologist, she didn't think my skin was ready for 2 more chest wall treatments. I have raw tissue under my arm where the tubes exited my body after surgery. I'm to go back to her next Tuesday and if I've healed enough, I will go ahead with 2 more chest wall treatments.

The serendipity part of this is that today is my mom's 89th birthday and because I didn't have to go back for another treatment, I drove over to see Mother on her special day. I bought us both fried chicken deli dinners at Hitchcock's in Newberry. We had a private dinner in the family room, then sat on the front porch where there was a gentle breeze cooling things off under an overcast sky.

Daphene, my Rhode Island Red hen, is no more. We let the chickens out yesterday after the shower Sunday night. They eat corn, corn, corn all the time and I feel sorry for them. I thought they'd enjoy scratching around in the damp earth, finding a few earth worms and eating greenery they like. When we returned home, Daphene was on the porch the obvious victim of a vicious animal. I suspect a dog but since no one seems to have actually witnessed the mischief, I won't ever know. Whatever it was trapped her in the corner wall of the front porch.

Dolly, the Americana pullet, has been exhibiting signs of wanting to sit on a nest. But I've caught my irascible alpha hen, Freckles,running her off. So today when I caught her at this, I let her out of the pen. After all, she can fly straight up into a tree if something starts chasing her! I later found a small blue egg, not in the nest, as I would expect, but on the ground. Maybe Dolly will get the hang of it if she's left alone long enough. The egg is bigger than a Mocking Bird's egg, but not by much. Very cute and pretty! Americana's are a cross breed from the Araucana chickens. They lay either green or blue eggs and are commonly called Easter Egg Chickens.

Someone asked why we are feeding the bees sugar water. They feed on this and store the honey they make from pollen rather than eating their honey. That way, they'll have a good store of honey for lean pollen months and we will be more likely to get more honey when we rob the hive.

Later,
Linda Gail

Last Leg

2010-06-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

This week should see me through the completion of my radiation. I have two more treatments on the scar tissue and expect to take the last two on my chest wall Wed. and Thurs. I am still very uncomfortable, though some of the burned area is healing. I expect the two days on the chest wall will cause some new burns and more healing to be done. Tomorrow will be a full day. Beginning at 10:30 I will be getting an echo cardiogram. At 12 Noon I'm in for a herceptin infusion and at 1:20 I get radiation.

Someone asked me about the bees. The bees have doubled in number and the brood box is nearly full. They have it capped off at the bottom. Cary expects to have 90,000 bees by the end of July. They are eating a half gallon of sugar water a week. They are interesting to watch. There are guards at the entrance to the hive to make sure no uninvited guests come in. As the worker bees land and crawl inside you can plainly see the pollen on their legs. One day I was standing out under my vitex tree around noon and a solid chorus of buzzing was going on up in the blossoms. Quite pleasant and reassuring to know that insects so essential to ensuring that plants continue to seed are so industrious!

Linda Grace continues to thrive, gaining about an ounce a day. She seems to be a very relaxed, laid back baby. Of course, after three children, I'm sure Katie is a much calmer, laid back Mama!

Namaste,
Linda Gail

Update, better late than never

2010-06-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been a while since I posted anything. This radiation thing is every day, 5 days a week, except for weekends and holidays for 30 treatments! Everyday I head out about 1 p.m. and I'm normally home within an hour and 15 minutes. It does take a plug out of the middle of my day. We have had Olivia with us since last Wednesday. Also, I had, up until last Friday, been going to Katie's in the mornings to help out with daily chores and getting in my Linda Grace "fix".

Speaking of Linda Grace, she is such a good baby. She's sleeping good stretches at a time so Mama and Daddy can get their rest. She hadn't lost any of her birth weight when she visited the doctor last week and she's filling out very nicely!

My chest is really, really burned and painful. That explains why I haven't made it to yoga. I called in today to see my radiology oncologist before my treatment time because I felt I just couldn't take another treatment on the same area. I only had two left of those, then I was slated to do 5 days on my scar tissue. After a long wait and a short talk with the doctor, she agreed to let me go ahead with the 5 days on the scar tissue and we'll revisit the issue of the 2 days left on the chest wall. There will be some overlap with the scar tissue treatments but hopefully it won't overlap over the worst burned area. The skin has thickened so medication is not being absorbed. The aloe gives a temporary relieve to the area which is a wonderful plant to have around! Laurel and Frank brought me a trio of them because I didn't have an aloe plant.

We went to Brunswick, Ga. over the weekend to help Cary's oldest brother, Charles, celebrate his 80th birthday. Silas came along and drove for us, so with Cary in the passenger seat that left Ana, Olivia and I in the back seat. We actually did pretty well, all things considered. The girls got to know cousins they had never met before and I got a photo. These McCollum girls are 3rd generation from Cary's parents. They had a great time together eating and then taking a swim in Uncle Charles' and Aunt Caroline's pool. We spent the night in a hotel which Olivia pronounced "hellatella".

My cousin, Madelin, is coming for an overnight visit Thursday. She lives in Tallahassee. She has always been very close to my mother and will come by to visit her before coming here. Madelin is my senior by 12 years and has always been like another older sister. Her mother, my mom's oldest sister,was my favorite aunt and served as my surrogate grandmother. She made cute dresses with matching bloomers for me, saved empty powder boxes and other little trinkets to delight a little girl.Aunt Lola will always hold a special place in my heart!

I had a surprise visit yesterday afternoon from my cousin, Kendra, and her husband. They drove over from Jacksonville. She recently had a bad fall, a concussion, and is having a time recovering. She is younger than me but we enjoyed each other as children and have been close since we've been grown.

I know you've all been waiting with baited breath to hear the update on the chickens! Right? Francine has been sitting on her nest for about 2 weeks. She has what we hope are fertilized Wheaton eggs under her. Her sister, Freckles (You remember her. She's the "bitch" mother hen.) started laying again as soon as she got sick of her biddies. Being the bitch that she is, she would jump up in the nesting box with Francine and run her off to lay her egg. Take into consideration there are 5 other nesting boxes to choose from. Francine, not being too bright, would just jump into another nesting box. An empty one at that. She didn't seem to notice there were no eggs. So I had to go run Freckles and Francine off the nests, steal the egg Freckles laid, separate her off in the chicken pen, and without fail Francine would get back on the nest. At least Freckles was keeping the eggs warm while she sat there. Cary came up with the idea of placing a wire screen over Francine so Freckles couldn't get in the nest. So what does Freckles do? She gets in another nest and proceeds to go into setting mode! So now she is baned from the nesting boxes entirely except for roosting time at night. Hopefully she will pick a spot in the chicken run pen to lay her egg. The 3 pullets Lindy brought me have been eating laying mash but not laying. I really think Francine keeps them so rattled with her proprietary attitude, they can't settle down enough to lay. Would anyone like a nice hen for chicken and dumplings?

Tata,
Linda Gail

Linda Grace Deaderick

2010-06-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

Linda Grace was born yesterday, June 9th, at 11:07 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz and was not quite 19 inches long. She favors her sister, Maggie, a lot. She is nursing, sleeping and all the other little things babies need to do very well. Katie is hoping to come home tomorrow but it may be Saturday. Katie is feeling as well as she might expect to after a c-section.

Annie has been the perfect big sister. She wanted to stay with her mother and Linda Grace during the day but still had school and a couple of final exams. She asked her parents to allow her to ask permission to take the exams early and get out of school so she could help her mother in the hospital. So, that's what she's doing and we are all very proud of her.

I saw my oncologist yesterday, or rather his P.A. It is doubtful the Herceptin (an antibody) was causing the pain in my legs. The more likely culprit is a delayed reaction to the chemo. He gave me a prescription for pain meds but so far I haven't filled it. My legs still ache but they are much improved from the intense pain I had last week. I would rather not take pain meds because they also bring with them side effects. So, if my legs don't put me in fits like I was last week, I can live with it. Today after I received my radiation I went to the infusion center and received my 8th herceptin infusion. I have 7 more to go to complete the full round of 15 infusions. I should finish either December or January. I'm very thankful to qualify for these infusions. Test trials have shown that herceptin increases the chances of survival of my cancer by 50%.

So far my skin is holding up well to the radiation. It is red and irritated but regular applications of aloe vera and an aloe vera product by Vaseline, have kept it from blistering or breaking open. I have 13 more radiation treatments. I am over half way! Yeah!!!

Best to all,
Linda

Half-Way

2010-06-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

Today marks the half way mark on my radiation treatments. So far my skin is holding up fairly well. It is pretty irritated on the chest wall where they give stronger treatments to the lymph nodes. Yesterday I was measured for my last set of plates which will be used the last 6 days of my treatments to treat the scar tissue. They have made 2 other sets of plates since I began treatments. The plates are made from lead and just the area they wish to treat is cut out of the lead. It's amazing how quickly they get me out of there (usually 13 minutes or so).

I am anxious to talk to my oncologist tomorrow about the Herceptin treatments. I really would like to finish them since the research on it shows it increases my chance of survival by 50% over women who are Her2 positive who don't receive the Herceptin. The pain in my legs is a little less troublesome and the sciatic problem is resolved. Thanks to massage therapy and a stretching exercise, I am no longer having that pain.

Last night Ana graduated from 5th grade. The inspirational speaker was a young man of 16 who had a book published at 14! He also plays the piano. I thought it rather neat to have a speaker for them to whom they could readily relate. The school bought copies of his book for each graduate and he signed each of them after the program.

Well, Francine, the other Samatran hen has decided to set. She only has one egg. You may recall she tried to set back when her sister hen set on her eggs and The Sultan ran her off her nest. She ran around here wild eyed for days afterward. The one egg she has under her hasn't been fertilized so I think I'll do what Lindy does with her little Cochin hen who is always broody. I'll let her set 21 days, go get a biddy from somewhere and place it under her at night and bingo! She's a mama. Freckles (Mother Hen) has finally weaned her 3 little ones. I've seen her peck at them when they come around her and she no longer shares food. The last two nights she has gone to the roost without them. I did notice last night the one biddy that looks like a rooster has taken a place on the top roost with her but the other two which I think are pullets took a lower roost. It will be interesting to see how the dynamics of the group change once the little rooster comes into his own. The 3 pullets Lindy gave me stick together, often sitting in a little clutch in the afternoon.

Tomorrow Linda Grace will arrive!!! So, more later.

Linda Gail

Linda Grace, Lightning, Legs and Radiation

2010-06-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

Katie's c-section has been moved up to June 9th, this coming Wednesday. Her blood pressure continues to be high as well as her blood sugar. Linda Grace weighs about 7 lbs. and is practicing breathing, so the doctor feels confident she's ready to greet the world! I am so excited about her coming. Another little one to dote on and get sugars from! I'll post a photo as soon as I have one.

My internet service has been down since last Friday due to a lightning strike that took out the chip inside my computer that communicates, the internet modem and my printer. The lightning hit a tall palm tree on the south side of the house. Once it left the tree, it cut a trench about 12' long and about 6" deep through my flower bed, decimating a Shooting Star Hydrangea and ruining the new growth on two old French Hydrangeas. Shooting Star will make it, but it's beauty has been stripped this year and I had been feasting on it with my eyes for several days!

I have been experiencing severe pain in my legs, particularly late in the evening. It began as muscle soreness and continued to get worse. Then about 4 or 5 days ago, my left sciatic pain kicked in robbing me of rest at night. I realized it must be related to the Herceptin drug I take every 3 weeks. One of the side effects is muscle pain and heart problems, our hearts being the largest muscle in our bodies. Before I began taking Herceptin the doctor ordered an echo-cardiogram and every three months following the beginning of the treatment. My next treatment was scheduled for Monday but my next appointment with my oncologist wasn't until Wednesday. I called his office today and spoke with his nurse. She recommended canceling the next treatment. I don't know whether I will be able to continue on this medication or not. I do know I can't continue to endure the pain.

I had my 12th radiation treatment today, leaving 18 more to go. I'll reach the half-way mark on Tuesday. So far I have tolerated them very well but am beginning to feel the skin tighten up and itch. I use an aloe product immediately following the radiation, then reapply it and real aloe again that night and the next morning. I must rinse it off before my next treatment. The radiation department is very efficient. Once I'm on the table, I'm out in about 13 minutes. I haven't had to wait over 5 minutes for an appointment since I began. Today Cary and I were almost home within an hour of leaving the house.

Our good friends, Jan and Jim Elliott, were here this past weekend. We had a very "laid back" weekend. They enjoyed being in the country, particularly visiting Lee's garden. It is quite something to see. They also went with us to the end of year program of DKNP home school. The students did a Greek play complete with beautiful props. Parents brought covered dishes for a delicious dinner afterward. Maggie really hammed up her part in the play. It was obvious she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Jan and I ran around in the golf cart and visited Mary Ann Kelley to see the garden her grandfather began in the early 1900's. We got a twofer! Mary Ann took us to her woodland garden(which Mary Ann calls her "Secret Garden") out in the pines. It was delightful and enchanting.

That about brings you up to date on our news. I'm just about sick of Freckles (Mother Hen). Her biddies are big enough to fend for themselves but she still runs herd on all the other hens. Anything that comes in that pen (to eat) is hers and her biddies. She still occupies the top roost and is generally a bitch.

'til later,
Linda

1st Night on the Roost

2010-05-23T17:55:00.001-07:00

Mother Hen decided last night was the night to finally establish her position in the flock. I don't know how she did it, but she herded those three little chicks all the way to the top of the roost. She wouldn't allow another hen on the roost with them. The top roost was her roost. Tonight, however, was a different story. The Amerighana hen, Dolly, went to the far end of the top roost and gingerly sprang up to take her place. I have watched her with the other Samatran hen, Francine, and have thought she may become the alpha hen. Time will tell, but they are funny as all get out to watch. When they were all on the roost, it was Freckles (Mother Hen) and her three chicks, Daisy (the Amerighana) and Daphene (The Rhode Island Red) on the top roost, Francine (2nd Samatran Hen) on the 2nd roost and poor Daisy (the White Leghorn) on the bottom roost.

I know people passing by on the back street who see me with my camera by the chicken house must think I'm some kind of fruit cake!

We had a great visit with my sister, Yvonne and her husband, David. I felt so bad yesterday, though, we came home early just because I wanted to be home. I felt much better today. Tomorrow starts a whole new week of the radiation treatments.

Later,
Linda

Alpha Hen

2010-05-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

This was so interesting, I just have to share it. We only have two of the samatran hens left since we gave The Sultan and his favorite hen to a friend. One hen, Mother Hen, is separated all day with her three biddies from the other hen and the three pullets in a day pen. Because we separate them, it's kind of a rigamaroll to get them all back into the roost area at night. The one samatran hen who is allowed to roam free during the day with the three pullets has established herself with them as the alpha hen. Mother Hen is shut up all day in the day pen with her biddies. At night, we wait until the 3 pullets and the hen are on the roost, then we open the little gate from the day-pen and the roost for Mother Hen and her babies to come into the roost area where they have a little brooder box, which I shut them up in after they come back in.

Tonight Cary and I had a meeting to attend and arrived home after dark. Mother Hen was still out in the day pen, the biddies had squeezed through the fence and were nesting in the brooder box, and the other samatran hen and three pullets were on the roost. When Cary opened the little gate for Mother Hen to get into the roosting area, she didn't go into the brooder box to her biddies right away. Oh, no! She jumped up on the roosting poles and gave the other samatran hen a good peck!

I think her message was "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you're the alpha hen? In case you've forgotten, you're not! I'm still in charge. So there!"

Talk about the "pecking order".

Ana and I have named the hens. Funny how it wasn't important to name them as long as The Sultan reigned supreme. The Mother Hen is actually named Freckles because she's black with little white spots on her. The other Samatran hen is named Francine. She has wild looking eyes and somehow the name Francine just suited her. If you'll recall, she tried to nest and get babies going but something always happened to run her off the nest! I think that's why her eyes are so wild looking. We have a white leghorn pullet we named Daisy, a Rhode Island Red pullet named Daphene, and an Ameraucana we named Dolly. The Ameraucana will lay either blue or green eggs. She has funny feathers around her face. It remains to be seen who the real Alpha hen will be as the pullets grow into maturity. I'll try to post pictures of each hen later with their names. They really are interesting to watch.

What is that old saying? "You can the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl." That's me!

Love to all,
Linda Gail

First Radiation Treatment

2010-05-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

My first radiation treatment went well. They promised it would be quick and it was. This week because I'm starting on Tuesday, I'll have just 4 treatments. Then again Memorial Day will garner me another 4 day week. Wish those 4-day weeks were toward the end of my treatments, but glad to get them either way. Of course, I must complete 30 treatments, regardless.

Last week I spent two days and nights at St. Augustine with members of our book club, "McIntosh Undercover". We had read "Bloody Sunset", a true story about a murder that occurred in St. Augustine in 1973. We looked up two of the homes mentioned in the story and talked to a local shop keeper who remembered the murder and had a definite opinion as to "who done it". We had a fun time just relaxing on the beach, playing balderdash, and shopping.

Best to all,
Linda

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted. We have had Olivia for the past week, which has kept me really busy. She will be going home in the next day or so. Of course, we'll miss her the minute she's gone!

Well, the 4:30 to 5:00 a.m. wake-up calls by The Sultan lost him his tenure with us. We found him a new home and allowed him to take one of his hens with him. There are other pullets also at his new home. I really hated to give him up, but between having to pen him and the hens and his incessant crowing, we made the decision to let him go. There are just some things in life we have to do!

My scar tissue issue is now labeled axillary web syndrome. It is also called "cording". The scar tissue where the lymph nodes were removed is drawing causing some discomfort. I am continuing to do exercises and find that I feel better after yoga classes.

My radiation treatments start on May 18th and will continue through til the end of June. These treatments are 5 days a week except for holidays for 6 weeks. While the treatments don't last long, it is a trip to Gainesville every day. Please pray that my skin will hold up and I will be able to tolerate them well. My sister just completed her treatments and had to have a 6 day rest before the end because of damaged tissue. I told Cary with all our modern medicine and science, these treatments seem primitive to me.

I have tried unsuccessfully to load a little video Ana helped me put together of my wildflowers. I have enjoyed them immensely, especially the poppies. The heat of the last week have pretty much spoiled them, but they were quite beautiful for two or three weeks.

To each of my friends who are mothers and to my daughters, "Happy Mother's Day". I believe a mother's impact on the lives of her children cannot be underestimated. William Ross Wallace wisely said, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". I was just thinking yesterday that I wish I had been as good a mother as I am a grandmother! But like all mothers, or parents for that matter, I did the best I could at the time.

Love to all,
Linda

Bees and Wildflowers

2010-04-29T13:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Cary and I made a trip to Baxley, Georgia to pick up 9 lbs of bees - 3 separate hives. They are all now safely in their hives with their respective queen bees and are buzzing around, licking up sugar water. The first thing they have to do is dig the queen out of her little cubicle, then they will start preparing the brood box chamber for her occupation. Two hives will be tended by the Pierponts on their horse farm near Flemington and one hive is here near the house. Bees are fascinating creatures and these appear to be quite tame. I stood around and took photos without any special netting or equipment to cover me. A few lit on me, but no stings!

We had a great day, though it was a long day, leaving about 7:30 a.m. and getting back about 7:30 p.m. We stopped in Odum, Ga. and had lunch with Cary's Uncle Bobby and Aunt Dorcas. They live on the original land that Cary's Grandpa Trull homesteaded, though the old house burned down. They have a pond on the back of the property where they enjoy fishing for catfish and brim.

I was totally wiped out by the time we got home. Took a quick shower, put on my jamies and climbed in bed. Cary cooked a chicken pot pie for each of us from the freezer, so I got up long enough to eat and went right back to bed. I have been in bed some this afternoon, with my feet and toes freezing and feeling a little numb. The scar tissue around my arm is pulling and a little painful, more so than usual. Don't know what has happened there.

The poppy blossom is from the collection of wildflower seeds our daughter, Bobbie, brought back from her trip to Antonio, Texas last year. I scattered them around during the coldest weather, the chickens scratched them in (I thought they were eating them). They really came up very well and I'm hoping to have seeds again for next year.

How Great God Is!

Love,
Linda

A Sunday Bouquet, "Curtains", and Cross Creek,

2010-04-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

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Mary Ann Rath Kelly brought it to me last Sunday after this lovely basket bouquet had graced the altar at McIntosh Christian Church. All the amaryllis blossoms came from a sunken, walled garden that Mary Ann's maternal grandfather, Mr.William Dedman, created probably sometime in the 1920s or 30s and started with 25 amaryllis bulbs. Most people called him either Uncle Will or Uncle Bill. Chris,Mary Ann's mother, took over the task of caring for the garden in 1952 when Mr. Dedman passed away. Mary Ann began the tradition of adding different varieties and other friends and relatives followed suit.

Chris and the garden were featured in the 1988 John Deere Calendar as Miss March. The garden is beautiful right now and Mary Ann has graciously offered for anyone wanting a peak to just drive by. I recently took my friend from West Virginia up to see it. It really is a wonderful local attraction with such an interesting, rich history. Chris grew up in the wonderful old farmhouse as well as her children, Mary Ann and Bill. Mary Ann came here to live with her mother shortly before Chris passed away in 2008 and has stayed on to care for the house and garden until Bill and his wife come to restore the house. Rarely does a home and garden have such continuity to nurture and sustain it!

A group of us went to the P.K. Yonge production of "Curtains", a Broadway production, I believe. Broadway couldn't have made a more professional presentation. I understand some of the crude material was left out(an improvement, I'm sure). Curtains is a musical from a book by Rupert Holmes, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander, with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes.

Based on the original book and concept by Peter Stone, the musical is a send-up of backstage murder mystery plots, set in 1959 Boston and follows the fallout when the supremely untalented star of Robbin' Hood of the Old West is murdered during her opening night curtain call. Can a police detective/musical theater fan save the show, solve the case, and maybe even find love before the show reopens, without getting killed himself?

Our grandson, Cary, played the part of Chris, the director of "Robbin' Hood of the Old West" and had all the hysterically humorous one liners. We were very proud. There were twelve of us there which included his maternal great grandmother (90 years young), his paternal and maternal grandmothers,his namesake grandfather, a great aunt and uncle, 2 aunts and 2 cousins. On the way home Ana, Papa and I decided our favorite character was...Chris, the director!

Kitty Dunn and I spent Friday visiting the artist working during the plein air paint out at Evinston, then drove over to Cross Creek. I remembered my camera was home while visiting the artists, so we dropped back by the house for it before heading to Cross Creek and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings home. The farmstead took me back to my childhood, cracker houses, chickens in the yard and a small kitchen garden. Ms Rawlings furnishings were fancier than our plain stuff, but the house didn't look a bit more comfortable. My personal favorites of the four photos are the barn and the rooster resting under the shade of an antique Louis Phillip rose bush. His hens were sitting further back.

The rain today has been such a joy! We had our lawns sprayed for weeds last week and the rain should help the spray do its work. Of course, there were so many weeds we may have a brown lawn soon!

Tomorrow is Infusion #6 and the very last one! Hallelujah! I thank the dear Lord for seeing me through with you good friends to cheer me, side effects I could live with, and my dear sweet hubby who has been right there with me. I know prayers have lifted me up and I'm thankful for those who pray and the power of prayer.

Love to all,
Linda

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Biddies!

2010-04-20T15:18:00.001-07:00

I tried several times to get a good photo of the little ones, but this was the best I could do. Mama Hen is very protective and tried on a couple of occasions to flog me when I was inside the enclosure with her and the chicks. Three out of four eggs isn't bad. Mama Hen was faithful and sat on those eggs through last night when the third one hatched. The fourth didn't make it and number three seems weaker than the first two. He's slower, and often stops to close his eyes, isn't quick enough not to be stepped on by his mama. So, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make it either.

Well, now that food is tasting normal again, it's almost time for another infusion. But...It is infusion #6, the very last one, so I can endure another few weeks of food not tasting good just knowing that I will done with the chemo.

Cary has finally finished the chicken pen complete with wire overhead to keep them from flying out and predators from coming in. I was beginning to think I was going to have to call in reinforcements to get the job done. It was a difficult project because of two different roof lines plus a little alleyway between the two buildings.

Tomorrow Shirley and I will be going to Sparr Elementary to their Earth Day celebration. Shirley will be demonstrating solar cooking, solar driven music box and sun tea. I am taking a sample of the quilt blocks 4th grade made last year using transparent paint to create designs using leaves, flower, etc. The little 2 1/2" squares are painted with the paint first, then the design material is placed on top, and placed in the sun. Once the material is dry and the design material removed, it leaves the design on the fabric. Each student completed a cathedral window square, which was a lot of work! I am taking supplies and will demonstrate on several squares so the learners can get a first hand view of how it's done.

This is Ana's square.

My sister, Yvonne, is having difficulties with her radiation which is stoking my own apprehension about my own radiation treatments. Please pray for her that the rest of her treatments will be easier. Her last treatment is supposed to be on Monday. And,dear friends, pray for me that I will overcome my fears and hopefully, not have difficulties. Others have told me the radiation is a piece of cake.

Did I say I like cake?

That's about all the news around the ole homestead.

Love to all,
Linda

Iddy biddy baby biddy

2010-04-16T18:50:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to report that The Sultan still has a job! Mother Hen has two eggs under her, as well as the new baby. Hopefully they will hatch tonight or tomorrow sometime. I was surprised the baby was yellow. I guess I expected him to be dark, like his mommy. Anyway, he/she is adorable.

Silas spent another afternoon with me in the yards today. There's still plenty of weeding to do, but there always will be, won't there? I did buy a weed retardant that works for about 3 months, according to the label. It is a pre-emergent weed killer which prevents the weeds from coming back up. I haven't used it yet because I'm still waiting for the chicken pen to be finished (needs an overhead covering and a working gate). I wouldn't want them to get sick pecking away on this stuff.

Sorry to say that Sheba most likely broke up the mockingbird's nest. It was spoiled yesterday afternoon when Ana took a little peek. Sheba loves to catch birds and other small creatures and "play" with them. She has brought several bats through her pet door to the back porch, several squirrels, but never a mockingbird. But she must have tried to take the mother mockingbird from the nest. Those birds build their nest less than 4 feet off the ground, near the house, for heaven's sake! You'd think they would get far away from humans to start a family.

Sheba was just doing what cats were created to do, and that is hunt for prey. She later came in and curled up on my bed like the queen she is. She has learned to leave the chickens alone. The Sultan warned her off fairly early. We plan to keep the biddies in a little brooder box with their mom until they are big enough to get out with the rest of the flock. Lindy has 4 little pullets we are to get as soon as the pen is finished. One is an American Araucana and 3 are Rhode Island Reds. It will be interesting to see the dynamics of the flock, and The Sultan's reaction when his harem more than doubles!

Not much else happening around here. Just couldn't wait to share photo of our youngest member of the tribe!

Happy weekend,
Linda

Manifestations of Spring

2010-04-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was going to title this post "Spring has Sprung" but honestly, the weather doesn't know it yet! Such turns in the weather this week with a little windy sprinkle bringing a chill back to the air and the wind just continues to blow!

The mocking bird's nest is located in one of my favorite camellia bushes. I've placed air-layers on several branches of the bush and those parents got really nervous. So far they aren't dive bombing me when I go outside, but I've seen mocking birds give Sheba, our cat, a really hard time. Sheba usually holes up in the house when she's under surveillance by the birds.

Years ago when our children were younger, Evans Smith told Cary after church one Sunday that we must have raised our children in a mocking bird's nest they all sang so pretty! I've cherished that remark and have to agree, all our children have fine, beautiful voices. Each child has their own style, too. Well, enough bragging!

Silas has been out two days this week helping me in the yard. He's helped me move two large bushes, set up an arch on the south sidewalk and do a lot of weeding and edging. Now I ask you, how many sons would take their vacation time to come help their Mothers? I really appreciate it too. Of all the things that need doing around here, the yard work depressed me the most. I dearly love having my yards cleaned and spring plantings done. Well, enough bragging. Did I say that already?

As to my physical well being, my energy continues to be very strong. After the last two infusions I have experienced more problems with my intestinal tract and I expect the last infusion will render the same results. It's just something I have to work through. Food hasn't tasted good for a longer period of time and I've completely quit trying to have my glass of red wine at night. Also, the scar tissue under my arm continues to be a problem. It becomes constricted if I don't exercise or if I do. Sort of a damned if I do, damned if I don't situation. I still see my physical therapist, though not as often. That's my report on my health issues. Please pray that I can work through this last infusion as well I have the last 5 and that I can get a handle on the scar tissue. I really am very thankful for fairing so well.

Cary got a really good report from his doctor the last visit he made. His exercise and weight loss have paid off so well that the doctor reduced his blood pressure medication by half. Also, he thought he might have to take meds for sugar diabetes but his sugar level was normal - also attributable to his exercise and weight loss!

My sister, Yvonne, is just 8 days from completing her radiation treatments. She has experienced a problem with burning so they've changed her treatments, giving her 6 days of booster shots rather than radiation, then the last 3 days she will have the radiation again. Evidently, the 6 days of booster shots usually comes at the last of the treatment but they felt her body needed the rest.

Oh! And I have a chicken report/update. Tomorrow the biddies should hatch that our little speckled hen has faithfully sat on for the past 20 days. We had another hen trying to set, but she had her nest outside the fenced nesting box area. I moved her into a nesting box, but she was having none of it! These Sumatrans are really not far from the jungle. I mean they are wild. Anyway, I feel badly for her and I know if Speckles does hatch out a couple of biddies, she's going to be very jealous. If Speckles doesn't hatch out a biddy, guess who is going to be replaced? As fine a looking rooster as he is, The Sultan will have to go! Any takers?

I hope everyone is enjoying spring, chill winds and all. It hasn't been that long since I was hovering around the wood burner. It feels wonderful to actually work up a sweat now and then!

Love to all,
Linda

Just Pictures

2010-04-10T16:24:00.001-07:00

The Sultan in all his glory!

Mark's photo

2010-04-07T18:30:00.001-07:00

Don't know what happened to Mark's photo in today's blog, but it previewed fine before I posted it. So h e r e ' s MARK!

So far...

2010-04-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

This first photo was taken at Van Ness Park of the beautiful resurrection fern growing on the oaks. The next photo is of Mark, at the park, participating in the annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Garden Club. Next is Olivia in yet another Easter dress she received this year, and last is Ana and Olivia Easter morning. Blog follows.

So far I am weathering infusion #5 just great! My energy level is good and I've worked this morning in the yard, re-potting plants and doing a little trimming. I came in about 11 because pollen is at it's worst during the heat of the day. I rinsed my eyes with eye wash and rinsed my sinus passages with saline solution(thanks for the suggestion, Mary Ann), so I am hoping not to have a repeat of sinus trouble this time around.

I think the weather has a lot to do with how I feel, and all the prayers that are being sent up for me. I thank the Lord for both. I received some disheartening news from my cousin, whose husband has cancer also and has had a recurrence. His name is Tad, and he's facing a pretty tough decision after testing is completed today. Please pray for him and Betty as you feel led to.

Yesterday Cary and Ana left for an overnight chartered fishing trip, so I've had some time to myself. While I love them both, it has been very pleasant to do what I want, when I want and not have to consider someone else. Now if that is selfish, I'm guilty. I ate a whole mango right by myself for breakfast yesterday and later enjoyed an iced coffee. Now I know I could indulge myself when others are around, but somehow these indulgences are better enjoyed alone! I mean, I would have to share the mango (I only had one) and I'd probably have to make another iced coffee for someone who asked me what I was drinking!

Yesterday evening a good friend brought me the most delicious, authentic Italian lasagna with an arugula salad. Katie had shared some rosemary bread with me which completed the meal nicely.

Life is good, friends. I love every minute of it, alone or with family and friends!

Infusion #5

2010-04-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't written a post in a couple of weeks. (Nobody seems to have noticed!) Tomorrow is infusion #5. Cary also has an appointment tomorrow at the VA so it will be a full day for us. Plus, I have my bible study tomorrow night on Joshua.

Olivia has been here since Wednesday, having gone back to her mom today. She enjoyed coloring eggs with Mark at Aunt Katie's and an egg hunt in their field. She made a new friend, Ashlynn, who participated in the egg hunt with her and Mark. They didn't really have time to get to know each other, but hopefully they will continue their friendship the next time Olivia visits.

My recovery time from infusion #4 took a little longer than previous ones. I still feel very fortunate to be getting along as well as I am. I've had a sinus infection for which I just finished antibiotics. The pollen has been extra heavy this year and even well, I normally have a lot of sinus trouble in the spring of the year.

Nothing witty or earth shaking to share. Up until recently I have felt a buoyancy of spirit. Lately, though, I have felt weary of this whole process and discouraged about my recovery around my arm. Nerves were damaged and scar tissue continues to be an issue. If I don't do my exercises, I feel it and if I do my exercises, I'm sore. And...I understand it gets worse again once the radiation begins. This is not meant in way of a complaint. Just sharing where I am right now.

The weather has been wonderful and I've enjoyed being warm! I'm a little frustrated I can't work in the yard, but keep telling myself next year, next year, next year!!!

Love to all,
Linda

Ready to Dig!

2010-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

I have loaded the little dish garden on my face book page, so for everyone on face book with me, please just bear with me! My little garden has bibb lettuce, dill, chives, and narcissus. Cary took some sprouting red bliss potatoes from the kitchen and planted them in my front bed. They have sprouted out and so far have not fallen victim to the scratching chickens.

My book club met yesterday. Laurel brought me the beautiful camellia pictured below. It is at least 3" to 4" across and she said the first blossoms on this bush were much larger. What a dreamy blossom! We discussed "American Eve, The Crime of the Century". It is quite a story and gives real insight into the way things were for women in the late 18th, early 1900's.

I have seeds for the Blue Hyacinth Vine I had on my front trellis last year. The flowers look like sweet peas and once they are gone, pretty purple beans adorn the vine. Thought I'd give them to the garden club for their sale in April, but if anyone wants a few seeds, just let me know and I'll mail you a start. You need a bright, sunny location and a strong trellis. I am enclosing a photo below for you to see.

I didn't feel as well after my 4th infusion as I have in the past 3. My food tasted bitter and metallic. But, this morning my cereal tasted almost normal, so perhaps that has passed. I have yoga in a little while which I am looking forward to. My physical therapist has cut me back on visits since the scar tissue is broken down some and my range of motion is near perfect. I really do like going to PT. The scar tissue is already bothering me since normally I would have gone yesterday for another session.

Happy Spring Everyone!
Linda

The Morning After

2010-03-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

So far, so good, friends. My infusion went very well yesterday. Cary took me to Ruby Tuesday's later for lunch. I love their hamburgers with avocado slices on top. It wasn't as tasty this time because I had to order it well done. That's one thing about chemo treatments. You have to change the way you eat. We saw friends there who came and sat with us a few minutes.

A funny thing happened in the parking lot as we were getting back into our car. We noticed a tall, redheaded, obviously of Jewish descent, young man. As we were entering our car (the guy and his obviously gentile girlfriend were just two cars over) Cary said, "There's King David." The guy heard him, turned his head our way, and smiled. As they were walking toward the mall, he evidently relayed the remark to his girlfriend and she turned and smiled at us as we drove by. I wonder how many times that fellow has heard that. I got to thinking last night about him and I wondered if he might actually be a descendant of Kind David. Anyway, it was an amusing diversion that obviously entertained the other couple without any offense. We could use more of that in this ole world!

Speaking of red, I mentioned a red jungle fowl in my blog yesterday. I thought I would try to post his picture along with a photo of The Sultan. Lindy's remark regarding The Sultan is right on the mark, "He didn't fall far from the proverbial family tree! So, here goes!

This is the Red Jungle from the web:

This is The Sultan:

Not the prettiest photo of The Sultan, but since I want to get this posted I won't wait until I can take a better one. This photo of The Sultan was taken when he was still immature. He's now in his full plumage and quite gorgeous! Maybe I'll take a photo and post it later.

Looking forward to a great day! Hope you all have one too.

Love you all,
Linda

Infusion #4

2010-03-15T03:26:00.000-07:00

By this evening I will be past the half-way point with my chemo infusions. I have made a habit of saying when asked how I'm tolerating the infusions that "so far" I have done very well. I guess in the back of my mind, I think they will snowball on me sooner or later. Anyway, I covet your prayers for continued tolerance and blood reports that allow the infusions to continue.

When we go to the infusion center we meet and/or see others who are in much worse condition than I am. People tell me all the time how positive I am, what a trooper I am. I must say, Stage II cancer with a positive prognosis is much easier to be positive about than say, Stages III, IV, etc. or in situations where the cancer has gone to other organs of the body including the brain. I met a lady last time, Alice, who is going through her second round of chemo. The cancer is in her brain and her husband shared with Cary she has very little time. I am hoping to see her today.

I have to take a medication the day before, the day of and the day after my infusions. It typically robs me of sleep. Last night I went to sleep about midnight and awoke before 5 a.m. It wasn't long before I heard the Sultan crowing away. Once he gets started crowing in the mornings, he keeps up a steady chorus. I wondered why roosters crow, so I looked it up on google. The best anyone can say is that roosters crow to establish that they are here, this is their territory and by the way, I have this harem of hens that are all mine - so, "back off buddy." The experts seem to think our domesticated chickens are descended from the wild red jungle fowl. When I googled the red jungle fowl I got a picture of guess who? Someone who looked strikingly like the Sultan! The things you learn.

Namasta (I honor the Spirit within you that is also within me),
Linda

Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve

2010-03-10T08:24:00.001-08:00

Just a couple of photos from our trip to Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island. We saw so many birds in the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve on Sanibel. I saw rose colored spoon bills which were not close enough to photograph, but which were quite beautiful. The weather was warm during the day, though the wind still had some chill in it. Jim and Janet built a fire every night in their fireplace. We had a lovely time, in spite of cooler temperatures than we expected

I am experiencing some discomfort under my arm where scar tissue continues to be a problem. I slacked off on my exercises, so perhaps that is at least part of the problem. This is a condition I expect will always be a problem. It's just a matter of my making up my mind to stay after it with exercise and self massage.

I have puttered around in my yard a little this week. I brought back a few petunias I found on the reduced rack at Lowes. I have planted them in pots since the chickens would decimate them in the ground. I scattered quite a few wildflower seeds a month or so ago and so far don't see any plants coming up. Wondering if the chickens got those too.

TTTL,
Linda

Going South

2010-03-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

Thought I might make everyone envious. Cary and I are headed to Ft. Myers tomorrow. I'm hoping for some warmer weather and maybe even a trip to the beach. We have very good friends living there, Jim and Janet Elliott. I met Janet in 1977 when Ben was only 6 months old. She and I met, I believe, at the Methodist Church. Or it could have been through the preschool program that Marion Keep ran on top of the hill where Hunter's Antiques is now. Her daughter, Laura, and our Katie were both attending there.

Through the years we have visited them many times and have traveled with them several times. Of fondest memory is a trip we made with our campers up to Canada. We stopped by places of interest along the way. Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, was my favorite. Janet was always organized, a great camper and planner, and never failed to have lunch ready at some scenic roadside picnic area! Truly a jewel of a person to camp with!

My physical therapy is going very well. In fact, my physical therapist may dismiss me until my radiation begins. This is more a consideration of what my insurance will pay for but also my range of motion is about maximum at this point. I find yoga a much more relaxing and satisfying way to stretch than the required exercises from PT. Many of the yoga asanas accomplish the same stretches. I may try to work out a little yoga routine to do at home and leave off some of the PT exercises.

Today is such a beautiful, sunny day. I haven't been out to see how cold it is, but perhaps I'll take Mickey for a short walk.

Namaste,
Linda

All is well

2010-02-25T07:26:00.000-08:00

We had a pleasant surprise last weekend. Cary's oldest brother, Charles, and his wife, Caroline, came down to the Herlong Mansion in Micanopy to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. They invited us to breakfast with them. The Herlong is a beautiful old mansion now being used as a bed and breakfast. If you are curious about it, you can just google it online. We had a very pleasant visit at the Herlong and they stopped by the house for a short visit on their way south afterwards.

I said I would give an update after my Monday infusion, so here it is. I am doing very well. I have kind of learned to get ahead of the after effects of the chemo and hope it continues to work.

Our church ladies began a new bible study Monday night. Actually, we just got through the introduction to it. It is on the book of Joshua. Joshua, as you may recall, was successor to Moses and actually led the children of Israel into Canaan, the promised land. That land is the same land that all the fighting and dispute is over to this day. The woman who wrote the study was born in Syria and raised in Lebanon. I am very anxious to learn what her study provides that will help me understand and get an insiders view of that region of the world.

Olivia was with us for almost two weeks until I returned her to her Mother last Friday. She stayed with Cary and I during the day and spent evenings with her Dad and sister, Ana. She is a very affectionate child, also very headstrong. We enjoyed her and we miss her.

Our other grands are thriving and doing well in their studies. Katie is home schooling Maggie, teaching science and social studies. Two other mothers are also homeschooling their children so between the three mothers all subjects are being covered. Annie and I had a pleasant afternoon last Saturday. She came over to help me make muffins for church fellowship. We watched a video from America's Test Kitchens a friend had loaned me. I had a quilt that I had intended to give Annie when she graduated from 5th grade at McIntosh Area School. Mrs. Wilma Ward from the Evinston community that Annie knew well before she passed, had made it. The school auctioned it the first year we were open and as would happen, a bidding war sprang up between Cary and a wonderful community supporter, Mrs. Louise Courtelis. Mrs. Courtelis finally outbid Cary, then very graciously gave me the quilt! Since Annie was in the first class to go from 1st grade through 5th at the school, and she knew the maker of the quilt, I felt it should be hers. So I took the occasion we had together Saturday to give her the quilt. I enclose a photo of the presentation. The pattern is a school house, printed on the fabric, not pieced. However, Mrs. Ward added applique to enhance the quilt.

I love hearing from all of you. My mailbox usually has several cute e-mails each day. Some I forward, some I don't, but I enjoy them nonetheless.

Have a great weekend!

Love,
Linda

Just checking in

2010-02-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

I've been enjoying my camillas that are blooming. I am enclosing a photo of a little arrangement on my library table. For those of you who have not seen me sporting my new wig, I am also attaching a photo. I enjoy looking different and might not ever go back to my own hair! :>) I'm also enjoying the "nude" look when I just wear a little cap on my head. It's quite a freeing experience to have no hair. Though I expect I actually wouldn't want it to be a permanent condition, I think I could live with it.

How many of you are enjoying this warmer weather with bright, sunny skies? That's a silly question, I'm sure! I got out a while yesterday and today and just basked in it. Today I pulled moss from my plants on the south side of the house. The oak tree sheds moss and everything just drips with it. I am seriously considering having the tree sprayed to kill the moss.

Well, our mother hen finally returned to The Sultan. We had two other hens trying to set last week and The Sultan broke that up. Guess he didn't want any competition from possible male heirs. Sounds like David and Absalom to me. He actually pecked the heck out of one of the two and now she's off on her own and wouldn't come in to the roost this evening. These Sumatran game chickens are more wild than most chickens. I haven't spent any time trying to tame them, but Cary has. Lindy's little Blue Cochin hen has hatched out two of her own and adopted 7 mixed breed biddies she bought at Sparr. Her chickens are much more docile than ours. She feeds them grapes and raisins from her hand. She has 3 different breeds, so perhaps it has been more a matter of her's learning tolerance. Since our chickens are all the same breed, they haven't practiced accepting anyone different from themselves!

Tomorrow I will receive my 3rd infusion, marking half-way with the chemo treatments. I am anxious to see if I continue to tolerate the treatments as well as I have so far. I'll give you a little report on that in a couple of days.

TaTa,
Linda

Visitors

2010-02-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

My sister, Yvonne, and her daughter, Amy, are here visiting for a couple of days. They live in the Savannah, Ga. area. Yvonne has met with her oncologist and it has been determined she will have to undergo radiation therapy. Amy is expecting her first child. She is so happy and we are all happy for her. She is the same age as Katie. Actually, Amy was born on the 3rd of July and Katie on the 5th, both of them barely missing being firecracker babies! Amy's baby is a boy whom they have decided to name Kenneth Graham and call him Graham. He is due the end of April.

Also, we have Olivia this week during the daytime while her daddy is working. She is such a sweet, loving child. She's a little hard on Mickey, but only because she loves him so much. I just discovered his bed propped up on something out of his reach and he was sitting around on the cold tile floor! Definitely a sign of Olivia's attentions!

Is everyone as anxious for warmer weather as I am? I can't remember such a committed winter as we've had this year in a long time. If the wind would just lay down outside, I think the sun would warm things up.

Stay warm,
Linda Gail

Just a regular Saturday

2010-02-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy that I've actually not had time for the computer. Yesterday Cary and I were in town by 7:30 a.m. for an appointment with my physical therapist. We were home by 9 a.m. so I went to yoga. It was just what I needed. My lower back had awakened me the night before. Each asana strengthened my core and my back has been much better.

I had gone to the post office before yoga and received a large package from a pastry company in San Francisco, Ca. I didn't have time to open it, so my concentration might have been tampered with during yoga. When I got home and opened it, there were three boxes, each a different recipe, of delicious biscottis. My cousin, Betty, who was here in November, remembered me complaining that Sam's no longer sold Nonni's Biscottis and how much I missed them. She did a great job choosing because each one is good and chock full of flavor.

Almost every day brings a new surprise, a kindness, directed to me. I cannot describe how all this makes me feel, except to say "thank you" from my heart to yours, each of you. I would mention each of you by name, but don't wish to embarrass anyone. I know none of you know Betty so I don't feel I have to hid her identity. Those of you who quietly read my blog without comment, that is a gift too. Those of you who remember me to the Father, that is a gift.

Did you know the American Cancer Society furnishes new wigs and head gear to cancer patients who have lost their hair, all free of charge? A visit to their office in Ocala set me up with two nice wigs and several knitted caps. I'm not sure if the American Cancer Society is privately funded or not, but can you imagine the funds it must take to offer this free service?

I may have more news about biddies in a day or two and maybe some photos, so keep posted!

Love,
Linda Gail

Mama's Peach Cobbler

2010-02-02T06:14:00.000-08:00

Just a little note to say, don't waste your time and ingredients on "Jitterbug's Bread Pudding." I made it and was very disappointed.

My Mother has made a peach cobbler for years that beats the bread pudding all to pieces. All you need is an iron skillet, a stick of butter, 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1 cup sugar (you can reduce the sugar a little, or make it half and half brown & granulated). Place the skillet in the oven and heat to 400 degrees, melt the butter in the skillet, pour the mixed liquid ingredients in. Spoon the butter over the top of the mixture and place drained, canned peaches in the mixture. Reserve the liquid from the peaches. Bake until done, usually about 25 minutes, then pour a little of the peach juice over the top. Delicious and it only takes a pan to mix in and a pan to cook it!

Bon appetite!

No More Bad Hair Days!

2010-01-31T04:49:00.000-08:00

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror,
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

'H-M-M,' she said,
'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.'

So she did and she had a grand day.

The third day she woke up, looked in the mirror,
and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going
to wear my hair in a pony tail.'

So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

On the fourth day when she woke up, and looked in the mirror,
she noticed there wasn't a single hair on her head.

'YAY' she exclaimed!
'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

The Bread Pudding is made!

2010-01-29T17:23:00.000-08:00

Anyone wanting a taste of Jitterbugs Bread Pudding with Rum sauce, just stop by this weekend and I'll share as long as it lasts! Preparation involved a lot of pot washing, and I haven't tasted it yet, so the jury is out.

My 2nd chemo infusion went very well today. My son-in-law, Lee, pointed out that I am now 1/3 of the way through the chemo. One third of the way sounds a lot better than 2 out of 6!

Being in the infusion center brings other very sick people into my consciousness. There was a lady there today starting her 2nd round of 6 chemo treatments. She took her radiation along with the first six! Another woman, about 50 or 55, was getting a treatment for a rare cancer tumor she has been fighting for 19 years - 19 years! I see young people there and I wonder what their battles are.

Well, I'm tired and still have my exercises to do.

TTTL,
Linda Gail

As a postscript, I'd like to add my friend Laurel's description for tonight's sky. I hope she doesn't mind, but it is so appealing, I thought some of you would enjoy it. Especially those of you who have access to the big sky with no town lights should be able to see (that is if the clouds don't obscure things).

"Tonight's full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon. As a bonus, Mars will be just to the left of the moon tonight. Look for the reddish, star-like object. (More moon dancing for sure!)"

Jitterbug's Bread Pudding with Rum Creme Anglaise

2010-01-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

I seem to have food on my mind a lot lately. A few nights ago I was watching Emeril and he prepared a bread pudding recipe that sounded divine! I downloaded the recipe, got my ingredients today and hope to prepare it in the next few days.

I also put on a big pot of my Mama's vegetable soup today. It is also very good. With my next infusion coming up tomorrow, I wanted to be prepared. I dropped by Mother Earth and bought a couple of little snacks I thought I'd like. A friend recommended ginger for indigestion, which was my main problem after my first infusion so I bought ginger tea and raw ginger that has been caramelized. Eaten raw it also serves to expectorate my sinus passages!

Picked up my prosthesis and bras today. Now I'm not lopsided anymore. I also was measured for a compression sleeve which my physical therapist tells me is essential. I will wear it when doing yoga, exercise or hard work (yard work, for instance).

I now have two cute little chemo hats another friend dropped off. I'm ready for my bald pate to appear any day now. It's not as exciting as waiting for biddies to hatch, but there is a degree of healthy curiosity!

Later,
Linda Gail

The Beach

2010-01-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends, Cary and I have just returned from two days and nights at St. Augustine Beach. Good friends invited us to spend time with them at their place. Cary fished both days and today caught a flounder and a sheep head. We cooked them for lunch. We walked on the beach both days. It was a little chilly but the beauty of the sea and sky far out weighed the weather.

The incision for the port is healing very well and is beginning to itch a little. I had noticed my head had been itching more than usual lately. This morning when I was toweling my hair dry, lots of it began falling out on the floor! So the process has begun. I expect it will become thinner and thinner until it is gone.

I see my chemo oncologist, Dr. Staal, tomorrow. He'll read the numbers on my blood count and make any adjustments he thinks necessary. My next infusion is on Friday. I really must drink more water in preparation. I am supposed to drink a gallon of water a day. In this cooler weather, that's difficult.

Our yoga group lost a sweet friend yesterday, Margaret Freyer. I have Margaret to thank for an invitation to me to go to yoga the first time. Her husband, Charlie, worked with me at the school and she sent word by him for me and Shirley to go. The rest, as they say, is history. She was a sweet, English lady. Very caring and thoughtful. She had suffered for the last couple of years with heart trouble and didn't get out any more. I wish I had been a better friend to Margaret.

I am so humbled and blessed by friends who do special things for me. I have two friends who keep humorous e-mails coming, friends who send cards, face book friends who leave messages, many many people praying for me, a friend who washed my hair for me because I can't shower until the port incision is healed, friends who call and the list goes on. I am so blessed! Thank you all, dear friends.

Love,
Linda Gail

Port Procedure

2010-01-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

Cary and I arrived at Shands shortly before 8 a.m. I was quickly taken to the holding room, given a gown to wear, and an IV was placed in my right hand. We waited and waited. Finally a very nice male nurse came and took me over to the new cancer center at about 10:30 a.m. I was awake during the entire procedure.

Cary wasn't allowed in the recovery room where I stayed a couple of hours after the port placement. We finally left about 2:30 p.m. We had been told it was a 2 to 4 hour visit to the hospital. So much for scheduling.

I am very sore, especially around the puncture wound into the large vein. Oddly, I was told not to get the site wet for 5 to 7 days and to keep the bandage on. After my breast was removed, I was told to bathe the next day!

I was able to make it to my book club meeting at 3 p.m. and Cary had a wonderful meal prepared when I got home - meat loaf, turnip greens and baked sweet potatoes. I had not eaten all day except for several saltine crackers and a sierra mist they brought me in recovery.

So, I'm through another milestone. I will be glad when it is healed. This will put my physical therapy on hold for a few days and I was just beginning to make some real progress. Two steps forward, one back. What was the name of that game we played as children? "Mother May I?"

My big news this week is that Katie found out she is having a girl. Her name is Linda Grace!

Love,
Linda Gail

Port

2010-01-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I will have a little device called a "port" put in under the flesh over my right breast. This port will facilitate a safer, easier injection of all the intravenous medication I will have during the coming year. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and I should only be away from home 2 to 4 hours. I'll take a little nap and when I wake up I'll have a new gadget installed!

My physical therapy is going very well. My therapist is working on stretching the scar tissue. She is very good and a very pleasant person to be with. I have exercises I do at home which I am trying to be very faithful in performing. I do need to order a compression sleeve so when I am doing something strenuous, I can wear it and by doing so, reduce my chances of edema in my arm. Evidently it is one of those things that is easier to avoid than it is to get rid of once it occurs.

My friend, Carla, also comes by a couple of times each week to help with my lymphatic system and she does a little thing she calls zero balancing. It is very relaxing.

Love to all,
Linda

Yoga

2010-01-19T17:44:00.001-08:00

Tonight I went to yoga for the first time in several weeks. Every asana we practiced lent itself to stretching areas of my body that so badly needed it. I knew before I was diagnosed with cancer and had surgery that the practice of yoga, the meditations we do, and the power we generate as a group, has made me a stronger, more resilient individual than I would have been on my own.

I have almost full range of my left arm in spite of the fact I lost my axillary lymph nodes (12 of them) on that side and have nerve damage from the surgery.

I especially want to thank Nitya and Gita for their faithful service to all of us, and to me in particular. Their caring expressions of love and concern reach out to each of us where we need it the most. They do more than lead us in yoga. They make us a priority in their lives.

The reception I received tonight from all the members of the group made me feel like a celebrity. It is difficult to express how it felt to come back to the group and hear shouts of exultation because I was there!

Thank you, dear friends, one and all. Each one of you has contributed to my well being in your own precious way.

I thank my Father in Heaven for each and every one of you.

Blessings,
Linda Gail

Mama Hen

2010-01-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

A couple of you have asked me about Mama Hen. Unfortunately, she is molting. Cary says she wouldn't sit on eggs if we put her on them and I have to agree. She's a pitiful looking little hen. I think she's suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome! She has this peculiar look in her eyes and not even The Sultan will mess with her. His only overture to her has been to stand out in the back driveway and crow late in the afternoons, telling her it's time to "give it up and come in." It's very dear of him and she soon comes up from the woods side of 10th street and settles in each night with the other hens.

We have had a lovely day with warm weather and sunny skies. Worship this morning at church was just outstanding. I missed last Sunday so I was very glad to be back this Sunday. I also sang with the choir - one of my favorite occupations.

We had lunch in town and shopped a little at T.J. Maxx. I found my mother and me cute vests to get us through the rest of the winter. Mother loves bright colors so I was pleased when I found one in a pretty rosy pink color. She was laying up in bed snoring when we arrived, so we left the vest for the staff to try on her and headed back home.

Today has been such a wonderful day in every way. It's amazing how much pleasure one can extract from such a day, particularly when the last two or three days I have not felt up to par. Absence makes the heart grow fonder is a truism which may be liberally applied to health, weather, and lovers!

Love to all,
Linda Gail

Eggs in the Incubator

2010-01-15T18:21:00.001-08:00

We are now the proud parents of 21 (hopefully fertilized) eggs, and a brand new incubator. Never realized there was anything to incubating eggs. But, can't be too hot, too cold, too much moisture, not enough, must be careful handling the eggs (I used latex gloves). If I can get Cary to cooperate, we'll fix a little nest where Mama Hen can be locked in and we'll divvy out 4 or 5 eggs just for her. We've got to get some bonding going on here!

I am still feeling punk tonight but at least the back pain is gone. I've used ice today and it helped tremendously. Tomorrow a friend is coming over to help me with my exercises so I won't overdo but still get the optimum benefit. We are doing work on range of motion, sculpting the scar tissue away and my lymphatic system. Now that the lymph nodes on my left side are gone, the lymph tissue must be stimulated in other areas of my body to take on the extra load. I really think working with my lymphatic system is another reason I am feel so punk today.

Later,
Linda Gail

Back Pain

2010-01-15T05:59:00.000-08:00

Last night I experienced perhaps the most excruciating pain I've ever had with my back. The lower back started spasms and would not relent. I laid in warm bath water, then used a heating pad to no avail. I was finally able to go to sleep with my knees pulled up and sometime during the night I was able to relax into a normal sleeping position. I have been trying to decide what brought this on. A call to my physical therapist may shed some light. I just started exercises this week and think I may have twisted my back in the process.

Enough about pain! Look at that sunshine this morning and it's warmer! Hallelujah! We can all do with some outdoor time. My yard is in shambles, but someone else will have to clean it up.

The death and destruction in Haiti boggles the mind. It is almost impossible, even with the videos coming out of there, to imagine the suffering of the people of Haiti. Insulated as we are, our hearts must take time to sympathize and pray for them. I hear a cardinal singing outside, the sun is bright, my pain is gone and I feel a little guilty because I'm so blessed.

Bless you all,
Linda Gail

Sunshine makes me happy!

2010-01-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

The chickens are in my line of view resting on the sunny side of an orange tree, fluffing their feathers, taking sand baths(and sun baths) and appear to be mighty contented. Mama Hen, however, is still in a funk over no biddies and separates herself every morning. We assume she goes back to the now defunct "hidden" nest. She's molting and looks pretty sad. We have ordered fertilized eggs coming this weekend, but doubt she will sit on them. Even if she would sit, I doubt she would live through the experience. She started trying to set mid November. So, I guess we'll be in the incubating business! All for one little golden hen!

Yvonne received word this morning that the lymph nodes taken at the time of her surgery are free of cancer. She will have to recover for a few weeks before radiation begins. We are thankful to God for this blessing and count my blessings in too. I have been fairly symptom free from chemo side effects. My appetite continues to be good and I've actually gained a couple of pounds since surgery!

My first physical therapy session went very well yesterday. I have a really thorough, knowledgeable and delightful therapist named Barbara. She spent about 2 1/2 hours with me going over exercises I can do both to stretch the muscles and tissue under my arm and a set of massage type exercises to free up my lymphatic system. I intend to make full use of this resource in order to gain back what I've lost and prepare me for the radiation. Once radiation begins, I'll be set back again as far as physical therapy, but hopefully I will do well enough before then that I will easily be able to recover quickly.

Nitya called today to set our first cooking class for our yoga group. It will be completely vegan which is exciting since we could all do with less meat in our diets. I find I crave vegetables, light broths and soups.

I should get started on a couple of little knitted hats. Dr. Staal told me I would probably lose my hair about the 3rd week after my first treatment. Silas did cut it into a very becoming short cut.

I was just checking my calendar. Out of the next 13 work days, I have appointments in town for 7 of those days! You'd think I was a VIP with all those appointments! It's really great, though, because it gets me out of the house and involved with other people.

If you find you are cold, stop by and back up to our wood burner. Sure fire way (pardon the pun) to warm your fanny!

Love you all,
Linda Gail

Yvonne

2010-01-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

My sister, Yvonne, had her surgery today. The preliminary report is very good. The doctor doesn't think her lymph nodes are involved. This is the very best of news! She had a lumpectomy and will have to have radiation, but no chemo. Needless to say, we are all very happy!

Today was my 3rd day following my chemo infusion on Friday. I had been told the 3rd day would probably be the worst. Well, if this is the worst, bring it on! I had a great day. We visited my Mother in Trenton, then came back through Gainesville so I could get my neulasta shot (to boost my immune system). We did a little shopping before finally getting home about 4:30 p.m.

I realize the effects of the chemo may become cumulative, so I'm not truly expecting such good results every time. But we have prayed, haven't we, that I would get through this without a lot of trouble? So, I am just accepting each day as a gift and know that whatever the next day brings, my needs will be met.

Tomorrow I go for my first physical therapy session. I am moving pretty well but still have nerve damage. I'm hoping the PT will help revitalize those nerves and I'll be able to use my left arm normally soon.

Good night, and God bless you all.
Love,
Linda Gail

After

2010-01-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm safely home from my first chemo treatment. Of course the next few days could tell a different tale, but for today and tonight, I am feeling fine. I was impressed with the team in the infusion center and found the experience to be interesting and without stress.

Cary accompanied me. Bobbie and her friend, Donna, showed up about lunch time and took Cary out to lunch. I managed to doze a while until they returned with my lunch. Cary prepared a good supper tonight after we got home and I enjoyed that also. Although, I've developed a case of hiccups!

I am taking the anti nausea med because I understand it is easier to get ahead of it, than try to catch up.

I am about 2/3 through "Stones to Schools" by Greg Mortenson. I hope everyone will make an effort to read it. I truly believe his work is Jehovah "breathed" and blessed by Him. There are too many "coincidences" that come together to help the Central Asia Institute to build schools for Jehovah's hands not to be on it.

Love to all,
Linda Gail

Before

2010-01-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

I made myself a very dirty martini tonight as my pre-reward for tomorrow's chemo. After all, we should celebrate every time we have the slightest excuse.

I know I am in God's hands. As that chemo is coursing through my veins, I am going to imagine that the chemo is God's Spirit going through my body to convert any cells that don't belong there and protecting those that do. I found imagery very powerful before my surgery. I think we don't use our imaginations enough to think of good things. I also plan to take a hand carved cross with me and several of my favorite scriptures.

So, good night all. I love you and hope I feel up to giving you a full report tomorrow evening.

Linda Gail
PS: The little hen who was so intent on "nesting" has gone back to her hidden nest during the day and only comes back to the rest of the flock at night to roost. We believe she is sitting on the old nest still hoping for biddies. So today, between Cary and I, we have narrowed the area she's going to and hope to find her nest. We plan to get fertilized eggs from a friend and place her in a cage and let that little Mama do her thing!

1st Chemo treatment, coming up!

2010-01-06T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have discovered I will have to be proactive in keeping track of my schedule. I called today to report I hadn't received a call from scheduling only to discover my chemo had been scheduled. The scheduling secretary hadn't had time to call me! I'm sure after the first treatment, a schedule will be set and these kinds of problems won't exist.

My first treatment is Friday morning, this week, at 8:30 a.m. I start taking a med tomorrow to help prevent allergic reactions. Reportedly they may keep me awake, so I am getting another med to help me sleep if that becomes a problem.

The last report I had from pathology is I had one positive lymph node from the breast area and one from the axillary area where 11 other lymph nodes were removed (a total of 12 lymph nodes were removed). Every doctor has given me a different count, but I think this one is the correct one. Reportedly, the doctor who prepared the report did not do a summary which has caused the confusion.

Love to all,
Linda Gail

New "do"

2010-01-06T06:15:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention yesterday that Silas gave me a new hair cut, much shorter. It looks very nice. It's short enough I can comb it toward my face to hide the silver halo!

Love,
Linda

Treatment plan for Radiation

2010-01-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

Cary and I met today with Dr. Lightsey, the radiologist at the Davis Pavilion. My appointment was for 2:30 p.m., finally saw her at 4:30 p.m. and left the building at almost 5:30 p.m. Have a notion this is common fare for me(and most other patients) with the different clinics I will be going to for chemo, and later for radiation.

The treatment plan prescribed is 6 weeks of radiation (5 days each week = 30 treatments). This seems a bit daunting to think about. I have been assured however, that the radiation is as essential to my longevity as the chemo treatments.

The main problem I have right now is waiting for all these treatments to begin. The dread of them. Once they begin I will at least know fairly soon how difficult a course I will be following. Not knowing is the hardest part.

Isaiah 43:2-3a "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour." This was one of our scriptures last Sunday and surfaced again in my devotional guide yesterday.

Today I received this encouragement from my devotional guide. "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the next year: 'Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.' He replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God, that shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.'" King George VI used this as part of his Christmas radio address at the beginning of WWII. King George VI would be most surprised (and delighted, I hope) to know his words brought comfort to this American lady at the beginning of this new year, a year that for her stretches out into the unknown.

Love to all,
Linda Gail

New Year's Day

2010-01-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Cary and I had a quiet day today with our grand daughters, Ana and Olivia. Cary cooked the traditional New Year's dinner (black eyed peas with hog jowl) and I baked a sweet potato pie. We just finished the last of the eggnog. The girls have gone home to stay with their Dad.

It has gotten cool enough to light a fire again in the wood stove. I think about all the blessings I enjoy and I'm truly thankful. The girls have been a pleasure. Olivia is at that loving stage where kisses and "I love you" are liberally sprinkled through the day. I love lying down with her at night to read a story and listen as her breathing slows and she falls asleep. Ana is becoming a young lady, helping clean up after meals and being more responsible.

Thinking back on past new years, I remember when Mother and Daddy always came out to share the day with us. Then, after Daddy passed away and Mother became a resident at Ayers, we invited friends to come share the day with us. I have always loved New Year's Day because the stress of the holidays is behind me and New Year's Day is low key and relaxing, yet promising a fresh beginning.

I'm not making any resolutions this year. I'm just pledging myself to be the best person I can be all year, which is what I ought to be doing anyway!

Love to all,
Linda Gail

Meeting with Hemotology Oncologist

2009-12-28T16:07:00.000-08:00

I have a sheaf of papers to read through and hopefully understand. Mostly it seemed to me the meeting was about internet resources and worst case complications. However, despite all that, I came away feeling reassured that chemo is doable. My first session hasn't been scheduled yet but I expect it to be after the 1st of January. If all goes according to the schedule, I will have a session every 3 weeks totaling 6 sessions. The first session will last 6 hours, the rest should last 3 hours. The herceptin drug will be administered concurrent with the chemo but will continue possibly up to a year.

My meeting with the radiologist is next week on the 5th, and that will be another schedule to keep, though I understand the radiology will be administered after chemo is finished. I also have a physical therapy session scheduled on the 7th.

Enough about medicine and doctors! How about this Florida weather? We've kept our little wood stove going since it was installed. Cary still keeps the TV on, but I'd just as soon just sit and watch the flames as they dance in the stove. Anybody want to come watch the fire with us?

Happy New Year, and don't forget to make at least one New Year's resolution!

That Dress!

2009-12-27T15:50:00.000-08:00

I wore my "lost" dress today to church. Made me feel great. Why do we rely on the outward appearance so much? Have an idea I will learn not to rely on it as time goes by and I continue to adjust to my new "figure".

Cary, Si and I watched "Julie and Julia" this afternoon on pay TV. Some of Julie's remarks about keeping a blog struck home. Projecting into the ether does make one feel rather narcissistic! That's okay, because in the ether I believe there are ears listening with their hearts.

TTTL,
Linda

Christmas is Past

2009-12-26T06:18:00.000-08:00

Our family get together was on Christmas Eve. Bobbie brought white chili and Mexican cornbread. Sandy brought a pumpkin/ginger snap souffle'. I had made lots of eggnog. All of our children and grandchildren were here except Ana and Olivia, who are celebrating Christmas with their mother in New York. I've talked to Ana a couple of times and she is thrilled with the snow - wants to move up there! Most everyone made it to a Christmas Eve service. I stayed home. I was tired and due to the change of weather, I hadn't felt very well all day. That was kind of a bummer since I had been feeling great all along. There was no pressure on me to do anything, which made the day easier.

Our little wood stove burner has been a real source of comfort for both me and Cary. It's amazing the space it warms in the house.

Our grandson, Jay, gave Sandy a beautiful diamond ring and we expect wedding bells very soon. As a couple, they compliment each other beautifully. So now we can realistically begin to look forward to becoming great grandparents. Not rushing them or anything. LOL!

My sister's biopsy came back positive for ductal carcinoma. They have not checked her lymph nodes yet and we don't know if her cancer is invasive. Please pray her cancer can be managed with a lumpectomy, period. I plan to talk to my doctor about genetic counseling now that there are two of us with cancer.

Cary and I visited Mother yesterday, Christmas Day. That has been our tradition now for 8 years. We had lunch with her and I took a gallon jar of ambrosia to share with everyone on her unit. She was in good spirits and enjoyed her stocking which Katie and Maggie had stuffed with special items for her.

To all our friends who have brought little gifts of food, flowers, cards,e-mails, and called, we thank you all! We are very blessed to have each and every one of you. I would love to hear how all of you celebrated Christmas.

Love to all,
Linda

Jib Jab from Ana

2009-12-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

This is fun and cute. Grand children do add extra touches to life.

A special discovery.

2009-12-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

To those of you whom I have not lamented to, I discovered a couple of weeks ago I couldn't find a favorite dress of mine. It's a Jessica Howard, very warm, which I have had for several years. I only wear it once or twice each winter, if I'm lucky, because it is so warm. I wanted to wear it to a special church dinner the first of December. I looked high, I looked low, but couldn't find it. I finally decided I had taken it to the dry cleaners and forgotten to go get it. I was sick about it. In fact, I remember thinking how inappropriate my grief over the loss of the dress was, considering I had weightier matters on my mind.

Anyway, today I was rummaging through my chest of drawers, and there in the bottom was my dress! It's hard to express the elation I felt. It was a gift, truly a gift, to find that dress! The kind of gift that reaffirms that the spirits are out there, working on my behalf, even for something as materialistic as a dress. Actually, it isn't materialistic. That dress made me feel good when I wore it and it was that loss I felt.

Okay, I'm enclosing a photo of the dress. I must admit it doesn't look like much on a hanger.(May I say, it looks a lot better on me?) I can't find a photo of me wearing it, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Like so many things we take for granted, we don't truly appreciate it until it's gone.

Care Plan Meeting

2009-12-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

Our meeting today wasn't exactly what I expected. I saw Dr. Grobmyer again, but will have to wait for appointments to see the radiologist. I need some PT on my shoulder, so after Christmas I will be visiting a physical therapist.

My cancer is stage 2. I may have shared that already. While I won't know for how long and how often, I do know I will have chemo therapy. That comes first. Then I will have radiology and last but not least, I will be treated with a drug called herceptin. For anyone interested in learning more about the Her2 positive factor, the following link that Lindy found should offer some insight. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102172028.htm There are all sorts of websites out there about Her2.

My sister had a needle biopsy done today and I am anxious for her results to come back. I am praying hers are negative. She is 70 years old, 71 in January, and is helping her youngest son make a home for his two children. So, please pray for her.

I participated in our church Christmas music yesterday. We had a "Bluegrass Christmas" with all members who could play an instrument participating. It was fun and we had eggnog in the fellowship hall after the program.

I'm looking forward to a few quiet days through Christmas. No doctor appointments, just family, friends and rest. I wish the same for you.

Monday, December 21, 2009

2009-12-21T07:39:00.001-08:00

I never realized how difficult photographing a fire is! So, in the event you can't make the image out, that is a cozy fire in our wood burning stove which my son in laws recently installed. It is now one of my greatest sources of tangible comfort. I've asked Cary to allow me to occupy his place at the dining table so I can glance over at the fire while dining. The other seats don't offer this view. He has sat at that place for as long as we've lived here. Think I'm over using my new found power? Well, maybe we'll trade off!

So many kindnesses have come my way. It is very humbling, yet encouraging, to know how many people are concerned for me. All this causes me to reflect on the past, when other members of our community have been ill, or had some sort of concern, and I try to remember if I have been as kind and like minded as I find my neighbors and friends to be. Especially at this time of year when everyone is dashing madly about preparing for Christmas, it amazes me how people take the time to show their love and concern.

I will be able to report later on the care plan. I have a few questions for the doctor. I have tried to study Susan Love's Breast Book and find myself distracted because I want to be doing projects for Christmas also.

Mama Hen decided to rejoin her sisters and "The Sultan" yesterday. I'm glad, because all through that howling storm the other night I thought of her out somewhere sitting alone on her first nest, on eggs long since past reviving.

Love,
Linda Gail

Drainage Tubes are out!

2009-12-17T17:15:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how glad I am those two little tubes are gone that were running out from under my armpit. Now they are HISTORY!

The pathology report showed no other cancerous tumors in the breast. It revealed that two lymph nodes did have cancer. 10 nodes were taken, so that translates to 1/5 of the nodes had cancer.

We have a meeting on Monday with my team to hear what their recommendations for treatment are. They will meet separately before we get there. I expect chemotherapy and perhaps some radiation, though I did receive a small glimmer of hope the radiation might not be necessary. I'm not building on that too much. I'll just wait until Monday.

Lindy and I went out to dinner after the appointment and did a little shopping. We were both tired so didn't do a lot of shopping. When we got home I asked Lindy to help me candle the eggs under the hen that's been faithfully sitting on eggs for 22 days now. Not one of the 9 eggs had a pip in it so we removed them and put her off the nest. She raised some kind of holy cane. I hope she will forget about those eggs and get on with her life. Cause biddies ain't happening this time. Poor Mama Hen.

Love to all
Linda Gail

Everything is A-Okay!

2009-12-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

Sorry to be remiss in posting. My sister left yesterday so I'm on my own for the most part today. Cary left today for the hunting woods. He needs the solace. In many ways this has been much harder on him than it has been on me.

Sis left me with lots of individual packets of home made soup, different kinds, so I'm all fixed up on that score. Someone else brought tons of meat, cold slaw and beans. Yum!

I am beginning to receive visitors. Just call ahead and we'll work out a time. I've been spending some time reading, enjoying the lights of Christmas and taking photos as you will see. As a friend recently pointed out, it is a good time to be recovering with the Christmas lights to cheer me. I agree!

I hope the Spirit of Christmas is alive in your hearts. It is a blessed time of year!

Mark with Santa

Christmas Bouquets

Lights & Scenes

Playin cards and winning!

2009-12-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

My sister, Yvonne, and her husband, David, are here. We just played a game of shanghai rummy and I won! I only had to remind them two or three times I have cancer! It works like a charm! :>)

I have felt very well today. Didn't feel the need of a nap, though I did rest for a while.

We have been running the AC while my son-in-laws have installed a wood burning stove. Does that make any sense at all? I'm looking forward to a cool spell when I can sit and just watch the fire. Sis brought me a raft of books to read, so it could stay cold for a while and I wouldn't mind.

I still have the drainage ports but hope to have them removed this week. Lindy and Katie take turns measuring the drainage and taking my temperature. They are both very loving and fun to be with.

Love to all,
Linda

Home Again

2009-12-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2009

Well, they won't even let you lay up in the hospital and receive visitors like royalty anymore. I spent the night of my surgery in the hospital and was released to come home by noon yesterday!

I am doing very well. I walked around the hospital some the night of my surgery and have kept moving ever since. When I got home yesterday, however, I crawled in my bed and snoozed all afternoon. One thing, it was MY bed, and the weather was overcast making it a perfect day to sleep. Also, I didn't sleep well in the hospital. The anesthesia made me so sick, I kept waking up.

I am sore, but have not been in real pain. I took a tylenol last night and slept all night except to get up once. My two local daughters, Lindy and Katie, are taking turns emptying the drainage ports. We have to measure the fluid and when it has subsided to a certain amount in a 24 hour period, I will return to the doctor to have them removed.

We won't know what my treatment plan is until all the pathology reports come back and the team handling my case get together to decide what they recommend. I expect chemotherapy since the cancer had made it to my lymph nodes. Other than that, I don't know what else they will recommend.

Your prayers have held me up, dear ones. I have felt elevated beyond the reach of worry and fear. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much." That's in James somewhere, I think. I had the confidence I could come through the surgery well, and I did. Now I need confidence for whatever is ahead of us. This is the harder part of cure and recovery - the treatment plan. So please pray that I will be strong enough to face this, too, with confidence.

Home!

2009-12-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Mom is resting comfortably at home. I can only surmise at how she is, as I haven't seen her yet. What I heard is that she was up and walking around this morning! I can hardly imagine that after her surgery yesterday. I guess I should have known that Mom would be resilient.

She is still resting and we will post when she is ready to take calls or visits. We feel so blessed at the prayers, well-wishes, calls and cards of so many of you. Please keep praying. God is good and faithful to hear the fervent prayers of the righteous. And if you don't think you are righteous, remember the Cross. He died once for all of our sins and you don't have to hang your head anymore!

Enough with the sermons, more information later.

Katie

The Surgery

2009-12-10T16:45:00.001-08:00

Hello all. This is Linda Gail's daughter, Lindy. Mom asked me to share news with you of her surgery today.

First, we ask folks to hold off on phone calls and visits for the next few days... We'll keep you posted on everything and will let you know, via this blog, when mom and dad feel ready to take callers. That doesn't mean mom and dad don't appreciate your outpouring of love. Quite the contrary, they take great strength from it. We all do.

Mom, dad and I arrived at Shands this morning for mom's 7:30 appt for a second attempt to identify her sentinel node. With another injection of dye in a different location, the sentinel node was identified, and we were escorted from the CT clinic to the new Cancer Center, which is very beautiful and modern.

Mom was admitted into pre-op at 9:30, and Dad, Barbara Ann, Pastor Lane and I were allowed to come into the pre-op room to visit and pray with her before surgery. I don't know which friend it was who told her this, but mom took great pleasure in sharing her friend's visualization for mom of a fierce angel standing over her with a sword, "yes, a sword," held high in his hand. The angel said, "Cancer fears me!" She loved that image, and took strength from thinking about it. Mom also shared with us the verse she chose for her surgery: Psalms 91:1, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." She loves the imagery of that too.

Mom was wheeled away to surgery at 10:38 a.m. with a smile of encouragement on her face for the people she knows fear for her. But she was safe in the shadow of the Almighty, and took great strength from the mighty outpouring of love from her friends and family leading up to that moment.

Dad, Katie and Mark, Bobbie, Pastor Lane, Donna Weiseman and I sat in the waiting area, waiting for news of the surgery's outcome, while many, many people called dad and mom's cell phones, anxious for news. That finally came from Dr. Grobmyer, mom's world-class surgeon, at 1:30, immediately following the conclusion of mom's surgery. He said mom had done well during her surgery and was in recovery. He said he removed all the breast tissue in the breast cavity to make sure he got everything out, and that mom was recovering just as he'd expected. That was the good news.

The bad news is that the sentinel node came back positive for cancer cells, so he removed the lymph nodes under her arm. The lymphs came out in a mass with much connective tissue, and he wasn't able to visualize anything, but he palpated the tissue and one of the lymphs felt hard. He feels that one may also be positive. It and the removed breast tissue will be examined by the pathologist -- the breast tissue to make sure all the margins are clear of cancer to verify nothing bad was left behind, and the lymph for cancer cells. Once that is completed, the results of which they will have by Tuesday, he and his team will map out a plan for follow up treatment, which he believes is likely to include radiation and chemotherapy.

I realize this was not the outcome we all hoped to have, but I don't think it is unusual. Many, many breast cancer survivors have had this exact situation and have survived with great outcomes and excellent expectations of long futures. It's just going to be more difficult path with uncomfortable treatments to reach that goal. Mom's been dreading chemo, but she's also a brave and practical woman, and ready to do what she must, especially with that angel standing over her with sword drawn.

We were finally able to see mom at 4 this evening, by which time she'd been settled in her private room and was awake, though a little groggy and nauseated from the anesthesia. Mom's surgeon, surgical residents and nurses at Shands are outstanding, and we all feel incredibly confident in their expertise, knowledge and concern for Mom. We're expecting that mom can come home tomorrow, but we'll play that by ear.

Mom has always been my role model... When I was a child, I wanted to grow up to be beautiful, like her. When I was a young mother, I drew on my own experiences of being parented, intuitively knowing by her example when to be tender, when to be tough. Now, as a middle-aged woman, I know how to face the frightening unknown with great strength and bravery, because I've seen her do it. She is amazing.

So, keep praying for her and for dad and for our family. We love you and will keep the information flowing.

Love,
Lindy

Pre-op appointments

2009-12-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

Cary and I started today by being at Shands by 9:30 a.m. The first part of the day went very well, lab work, ekg, interview with anesthesiologist, chest x-ray, etc.

The afternoon appointment was with the nuclear medicine department. They injected a radio active dye near the biopsy site and started taking pictures of it to see where the sentinel node is. The dye didn't move so I was asked to do some exercises, rubbing the tissue, etc. It still wouldn't move into place. Finally, at about 4:30 p.m. I was told I would have to report to Shands at 7:30 a.m. in the morning to have it checked again before surgery. Still no time scheduled for the surgery.

So, my specific prayer request tonight is that the dye find it's way to the sentinel node in order for Dr. Grobmyer and his team to find it easily. The plan is that during surgery the sentinel node will be biopsied and tested while I am still under. If the cancer has made it to the sentinel node, then they will remove that node and possibly others.

A friend of mine sent me the following message tonight. I find the image very comforting and will hold it in my mind as I fall to sleep. She said,

"I use images to help send my hopes and wishes to people whom I care about when they are in need of a little support.

My image for you is a glorious angel with flashing eyes and a big sword. Yes, a sword, because this is no wimpy little cherub. This angel is a force to be reckoned with, a guardian worthy of a beautiful petite woman who has more power and determination and will than most linebackers. This is an angel who states, calmly and with clarity… “CANCER FEARS ME!”

Another friend sent me a note saying she felt the 91st Psalm was written for me. Actually many of the passages in Psalm 91 refer directly to Christ, even so, if we be in Christ, we are one with Him, so I believe this Psalm certainly applies to me and all those found in Christ. I had circled the first verse some time previously. I shared this on face book, so please overlook me repeating it. Vs. 1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Dwelling in His shadow most assuredly means that He is covering me! This image also will be with me as I go to sleep tonight and tomorrow before surgery.

Well, it's a little glass of red wine and early to bed for me tonight. Hopefully Lindy or Katie will be able to post something tomorrow night.

Love to all.
Linda Gail

Last Fling before Surgery

2009-12-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Laurel and Frank for hosting our book club Christmas Party. We had a great time together. I enjoyed dressing tonight - I guess we take dressing for granted. But it gave me cause to savor the experience, knowing my body won't ever be the same. If you think about it, our bodies change all the time. I certainly don't have my 16 year old body anymore, nor my 8 year old body, etc. I guess it's just the thought of losing a part of my body that evokes these feelings of how great it is to dress up for a party and feel good.

Hope no one feels I'm being morose. Just thinking out loud. Don't take anything for granted. Enjoy what you have while you have it.

Update

2009-12-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I meet with the anesthesiologist and the nuclear medicine clinic for preoperative consultation and procedures. The nuclear medicine clinic will inject a dye to help the doctor locate the sentinel node. The sentinel node is called the "gate keeper" of the lymph nodes and is considered the best place to check to see if the cancer has spread beyond the breast area. I have copied a short piece about the sentinel node below.

Key Points

* A sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node(s) to which cancer cells are likely to spread from the primary tumor. Cancer cells may appear in the sentinel node before spreading to other lymph nodes.
* SLN biopsy can be used to help determine the extent or stage of cancer.
* Because SLN biopsy involves the removal of fewer lymph nodes than standard lymph node removal procedures, the potential for side effects is lower.

I still don't have the pathology reports on two other tests that have been performed from the biopsy. These, as well as the report on the SLN, will determine the stage of the cancer and the treatment plan after surgery.

Bomber Hats are the Bomb

2009-12-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, enough about bomber hats. Just wanted you to see a photo of them.

Bomber Hats

2009-12-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

Our day together was pretty successful. Both girls now have really cute bomber hats. They are made from the wool sweaters we felted and are lined with them also, which makes them warm enough to make it through a real northeaster comfortably. How often they will wear them here in sunny Florida is anyone's guess. I expect they will both wear them to school at least one day to show them off. It was a good experience, though, and instructive in how to recycle and use something that perhaps had been discarded.

I have lost the keyboard on my pc so am writing from my laptop. If I hadn't already downloaded the picture I took of the girls in their hats, I would load it for you all to see. Perhaps if I get time later I can load them onto a thumb drive and put at least one photo up.

Today is Sunday. I wish each of you a restful, peaceful day.

Plans for Tomorrow

2009-12-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

While I was on vacation I bought wool sweaters at thrift shops to bring home and felt for projects to do with my grand daughters. We felted the sweaters weeks ago and hopefully will complete a project tomorrow. The girls want to make bomber hats. They are really cute and I hope we'll have time to make all three of them a hat. I'd like to make smaller ones for Mark and Olivia, but will just have to wait and see how it goes.

Anyone want to come help?

Friends, Near and Far

2009-12-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week a friend wrote from Jerusalem offering to light candles for me in the Church of the Sepulcher. To my knowledge no one has ever lit candles for me before, much less in the Holy City where the Light of the World offered Himself so light would shine through all of us! Thank you, dear Rich, for this beautiful gift!

Calls, cards, and e-mails are coming daily with friends pledging their support in their thoughts and prayers.

My McIntosh Undercover book club friends brought me Gregg Mortensen's new book on his work in Afghanistan and Pakistan. His book, "Three Cups of Tea" changed my conception of what one person can do to change the world. I recommend it to anyone who truly wants to gain a better understanding of how to combat the problems that exist in the Near East and our western mindset.

Tonight my dear yoggi friends offered deep meditation and healing life forces toward me as part of our yoga class. This group of women have truly been a source of encouragement for me in building my own physical and spiritual strength. Together our energies nourish each other and that energy goes with us when we leave class.

We all have close friends who have endured losses many more times difficult than what I am facing. Let us pray for them.

Surgery Date

2009-12-01T17:42:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Surgery Date

I have just talked with Dr. Grobmyer. He has talked with the radiologist who did my MRI yesterday. The right breast is not involved. His recommendation was to go ahead with the primary surgery which is to remove my left breast. I was considering having reconstruction done at the same time as the mastectomy, and was in a real state of agitation trying to decide whether that was the right thing to do and what type of reconstruction should I have, etc. etc. I was reading Dr.Susan Love's Breast Book and thinking none of the options appealed to me.

Dr. G does these surgeries all the time. He knows what he is doing. I believe when you have an expert on something you must allow that expert to guide you through the process. One good thing about not having any reconstruction done is that it will give me time to decide whether I really want it or not. The methods I would consider for reconstruction would involve taking tissue from my back or abdomen which would weaken either of them. I have worked awfully hard to build up my core strength and don't want to compromise that.

So...my surgery date is a week from Thursday, December 10th. I do plan to talk to the plastic surgeon just for my own information, but I am going ahead with the surgery as planned.

The Pink Glove Dance

2009-12-01T14:27:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

You will have to copy and paste this to your browser. It's a little long, over 3 minutes, but if you get into the mood of it and enjoy the music as I did, it's fun and makes you want to get up and dance with them!

Enjoy!

2009-12-01T03:49:00.000-08:00

daisy lady said...I placed this post last night under comments. Sorry, I just haven't gotten the hang of this blogging thing yet!: Yesterday we met with Dr. Stephen Grobmyer, the breast specialist at the new Shands Cancer Center. He will be looking at all my imaging results, including an MRI I had today, plus the slides with tissue from the biopsy will be examined by the Cancer Center's pathologist. Basically the immediate prognosis is the same - I will have a mastectomy. Where it might diverge from my previous recommendations from my biopsy surgeon is that a Signal node biopsy will be done at the time of surgery which will determine what treatment I receive after surgery. Also, they will examine the right breast thoroughly to determine whether it may be involved also. From my conversation with Dr. G and his staff I don't feel the "fear" factor and feel we have plenty of time to make informed decisions. If only the left breast is involved then I must decide whether to have reconstruction at the time of surgery. I feel right now that I will probably opt for that. On the other hand, if both breasts are involved, I will probably opt not to have reconstructive surgery. Hey! I was a young person through the hippy generation and still chafe at having to wear a brassiere! Just think of the money I will save not having to buy one of those damned contraptions ever again! Is that too much information? :>) I am confident that a competent, measured assessment will be made on my behalf by Dr. G and his associates and feel comfortable placing myself in their care. The cancer has not been staged yet and we are still waiting for two numbers to come in from pathology. One is the Her2 and the other the hormonal response test.; November 30, 2009 5:21 PM

2009-11-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

Day before yesterday I cooked a big pot of Mama's vegetable soup, one of my favorite comfort foods. Since Cary can't get the plain Nonni's Biscotties at Sam's Club, I decided to bake my own. They are in the oven now for their 2nd baking. Biscotties are another favorite comfort food for me. I slighted the receipe a little on the sugar, so hope I didn't ruin it. Don't like to ever use as much sugar as a receipe calls for!