Christmas!

We've had a very, very nice Christmas holiday!

Hannah designed and, with the help of her friend Graham who is in the t-shirt making business, made this t-shirt for her Dad. It incorporates all things Kevin.

Sylvia and Don hosted a fabulous Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and then some.

Mom now has her very own Bellarmine wear for cheering on Luke.

Christmas!

It Just Isn't Christmas ...

... without Hannah's and Luke's friends coming by! Tonight we saw Cody and Matt and Kayla and Mike.

I LOVE seeing them and catching up on their more recent adventures. Cody had lots of interesting stories from his time in Georgia where he's teaching English as a second language. He's grown a mighty stash since I last saw him.

Kayla and Mike's wedding plans are coming along, which I think is very exciting! We reminded them that they would surely need a librarian and a fish nerd at their wedding.

It Just Isn't Christmas ...

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Cramp Update - NONE TO REPORT!

Could it possibly be the soap? Or the bananas? Or would I not be getting them regardless? Straaaange!

Cramp Update - NONE TO REPORT!

Fingerless Gloves in Five Minutes!

I had seen this idea a while ago and it's so easy, I just had to try it. Hannah likes fingerless gloves. It's not so cold in Vancouver, so fingerless ones are usually plenty warm enough and one can easily phone and text with them.

Hannah and I made these tonight in about 5 minutes. I had a couple of cashmere sweaters with holes in them so I had earlier washed them in HOT water and tossed them in the dryer to "felt them". They hadn't shrunken up (or "felted") as much as I had hoped, so I threw them in again and the blue sweater finally did what I wanted it to. The charcoal grey sweater hasn't shrunk as much so I'll try it again later. It's the one I most wanted to make gloves out of because it would match Hannah's grey scarf. Since the blue sweater shrunk up nicely, all we had to do to make fingerless gloves is cut off the arms - you can make them as long or short as you want - and then make a 1 inch snip with the scissors for Hannah's thumbs to poke through. Easy peasy! She loves them but she'll love the grey ones more.

Doesn't our kitchen make a good modeling background? We should rent out the space to photographers.

Fingerless Gloves in Five Minutes!

Meet Dexter!

Dexter came on Monday to spend the holidays with us. He's Dwayne and Shelley's bearded collie and we love him! He's the breed of dog we would like. One of the breeds we like, anyway.

He had a cute little top knot in his hair when he arrived but that didn't last long. He stuck his nose in some weeds and came out with a bunch of burrs stuck in the fur around his face so Kevin spent some time pulling them out. He crushed each burr with pliers first and then they slipped out relatively easily.

Dexter helped Kevin with the Christmas tree lights and then made himself at home on our bed. If I get up in the night to use the bathroom, when I come back Dexter has taken my place. I snuggle in beside him and in a while he moves to the bottom of the bed. He's much more attached to Kevin than me.

Hannah took him for a big walk and play at the park today.

Meet Dexter!

She's Ho-ome!

Hannah. She's home. She flew in from Vancouver on Monday afternoon. *sigh* It's wonderful to have both she and Luke home for a while.

We finally got the tree decorated Monday night. We are SO behind in our Christmas preparations. I'm running on fumes.

Mom and Gary were here from Thursday until Sunday. They came in to see Josh and Noelene and for Graham's birthday. They'll be back on Friday for a little bit of Christmas with us. I took Monday off work to get some things done before Hannah arrived. It also turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to meet Kathleen, who is the sister of a couple of my Splurge Club Angels. She's actually an "angel", too, in that she was so helpful to me when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. I had never met her in person and hadn't communicated with her for over a year. She brought her Mom by our house to do some "guppy club" business with Kevin, giving Kathleen and I some time to catch up. It was so good for me to hear more about how Kathleen is finding life after breast cancer treatments. While I'm sorry that she still feels the fall-out from that experience, it was very good for me to hear that perhaps I'm not just crazy and that the mental and physical fatigue I still feel is very common. The lingering chemo brain ... the cognitive challenges ... the memory issues ... I'm not alone. I felt so much better after meeting and talking with Kathleen.

So ... tonight I wrapped and am feeling happy to be a little more on top of things than I was. As long as I don't try to think too far ahead and just do one thing at a time, I don't get so overwhelmed. As long as I don't think of all the things I would like to get done in the next day or two. Baby steps. Baby steps. Christmas will be wonderful no matter how much I don't accomplish.

She's Ho-ome!

Josh & Noelene - Wedding Plans

Josh and Noelene visited the city last week. They work over the holidays so they had early Christmas here with Darrel, Lynn, and Kathy and on Thursday night with extended family, we had a bit of an engagement party!

The wedding will be here in April. Noelene and Josh were able to make many arrangements while they were here. Very exciting!

Josh & Noelene - Wedding Plans

Could the Soap be Working?

One has to wonder. I haven't had a night time cramp since I stuck those two bars of soap in my bed! Hmmm ...

At the same time I also got back to eating a banana every day so maybe it's the banana.

Maybe I wouldn't have had a cramp these past few days anyway.

It's a cramping mystery.

I do get hints of cramps during the day if I twist my foot sideways for any reason or if I go up onto my toes. I can usually catch them before they take hold. "Warning cramps", I call them. But, so far, no night time ones since those nasty ones earlier this week.

And now ... off to a Christmas function, which is pretty much what I (we) have been doing every night this week.

Do I have a tree up? Nooooo ...

Do I have any baking or cooking or food planning done? Noooooo ...

Do I have all my shopping done? Nooooooo ...

Do I have ANY wrapping done? Nooooo ....

Have I sent ANY cards? Nooooooo ...

Do I care right now? Well, maybe a little bit. Yes, I do, in fact, but there's no point getting all bent out of shape about it.

Christmas comes whether you're ready or not and it's always a great time anyway. I hold on to that theory.

Could the Soap be Working?

Happy Birthday, Graham!!

Happy Birthday, Graham!!

Happy Birthday, Dawson!

Happy Birthday, Dawson!

Call Me Whacko!

Okay. These leg cramps have got to stop. I spent a lot of time last night with my leg straight up in the air until a cramp would subside and within seconds of putting my leg back down on the bed, being careful not to point my toe even a bit, another cramp would take hold. This went on for a few hours in the night. MOST annoying!! And painful! This time the cramps were in my right ankle and up the outside of my leg. Nasty, nasty cramping! I was quite wasted today.

Tonight I did a little research and I've been laughing out loud at some of the remedies I've read about. But, you know, desperate measures ...

So, at least, I now have a few things in my arsenal. They are: bananas (I'd been without them for about a week but now I'm stocked), tonic water (I need to get some), I'm already taking calcium and magnesium, mustard (not spread on my leg ... swallow a tablespoon before bed ... I'll leave that one until I see if the other remedies might work), and (now this one is laugh out loud strange) ... a bar of soap under the fitted sheet at the bottom of the bed. How CRAZY is that?!! But so many people swear it works and I checked it out at snopes.com and it's classified as "undetermined". Hmmmm ... it can't hurt to try and if it worked for some reason, it would be so worth it!

Here's the tamoxifen discussion board where I read about leg cramps. Here's what one poster wrote:

"Cramping is definitely one side effect of tamoxifen--my onc confirmed that. It also happens on HRT (what I took before bc and tamoxifen, and even on Femara, I think). I found that one glass of tonic water at dinner time (delicious with a slice of lime, and you can add gin or vodka occasionally LOL) really helped. Again, my onc confirmed that this is a good remedy.

I mostly had the cramps at night, in both my calves and my feet. One thing that made a big difference--I trained myself not to point my toes while stretching out in bed. And if a cramp started, I would flex my feet (while massaging the crampy area). This helped stop the cramp."

And here's what another had to say ...

"Hi ladies! I have to jump in here and attest to the soap remedy.....it really works! I would get terrible charley horse and feet cramps on my right leg (always that leg) several times a week. I surfed the web and read somewhere about the soap. I just got a bar of dove, put it in an old trouser sock, placed it at the foot of the bed under the fitted sheet. I had been without even one cramp for about 2-3 months then they started again so I got a new bar of soap to replace it and voila! no cramps!

If it's all in my head that's ok too, it works anyway!"

The continued discussion about what kinds of soap to use and other such details had me laughing out loud. It sounds whacky but there will be a bar of soap in my bed tonight. Call me crazy.

Call Me Whacko!

It's Starting to Feel Like Christmas

It's been a while since I've updated. You're busy, too, I bet. Actually, this past week I was a little overwhelmed and while I typically feel a little frantic at this time of year, it would appear I don't handle it as well as I once did. I'm sure I'll be much better next year unless it really is the Tamoxifen that is a contributing factor. When I get overwhelmed now ... with too many things to do and, especially, too many DIFFERENT things to do (aka: multitasking) ... my brain just kind of goes on "STUN" and then I'm not good at doing anything. Throw a little fatigue in the mix and I'm a write off. That's mostly how I've been all week. One day this past week I misplaced my keys, which I NEVER do. I had left them on the seat of Patty's van after a noon excursion. At least we relatively quickly figured out where they must be. Then, two days later, I lost my debit card, which I NEVER do! I used it at Walmart and then drove directly to Winners to return something for Kevin and when I got to Winners it was missing and so couldn't return the item. I spent most of the night driving around trying to find my bank card, which never has turned up. I had to find time to get to the bank the next day to get a new one. I wasted a lot of time doing things that weren't getting me any closer to being ready for Christmas! Sheesh! Really. I wish I could describe how my brain really does shut down whenever it feels it needs a rest. I have no say in the matter. I really needed this weekend mostly to sleep. I've learned to expect a roller coaster mentally, emotionally and physically through all of this and so it doesn't really come as a suprise that I would hit a bit of a low after the major UP of being told I was "CANCER-FREE"!! And even then, this isn't too bad of a low. I'm already over it. Pshaw!

And, at the worst point of my low, Elaine sent me such beautiful flowers (from Nosegay, of course) to brighten up my office and my life! Thanks, Elaine! They smell so pretty and I have them right beside my computer where I can enjoy them both visually and olfactorarily (is that a word?).

I feel better today now that our hall and stair project is mostly done! YEAH!! It took a month but it looks GREAT. Kevin did a lot of work. Yesterday he finished the painting of the trim along the stairs and today he sanded and varnished the railing. Yesterday I reclaimed the main floor of our house and got everything dusted, vacuumed, shifted, reorganized, deodorized, and even decorated ... all except for a tree, which we'll get this week ... I hope.

I had forgotten about this little pup that emerged from one of the Christmas boxes! I expected his battery to be dead but with a simple shake of his paw, he was singing and flapping his ears and I was laughing! Bonnie brought him last year. He's a cheerful Christmas character!

We were rushing to get the house looking like a welcoming refuge for the happily anticipated homecoming of Luke on Saturday night. Then, Saturday afternoon, I got a call saying Luke's flights had been cancelled because of the storm in Minneapolis. Delta rescheduled him for a flight on Monday. Two whole days later!! So Luke went to the airport in Louisville and managed to get on a flight today. Even while he was switching planes in Minneapolis, he was afraid that his flight would be cancelled because so many of them were. As it was his gate was changed three times and they had to wait on the tarmac for almost an hour but he made it here this afternoon! His girlfriend was supposed to fly home to Chicago today but her flight was cancelled because of a winter storm there.

So, as you can see, we have Luke home. The fridge and pantry have been stocked, he's been fed, and there's hockey on tv! There's not much televized hockey in Louisville.

Oh ... and additional happy news to report! I have lost another couple of pounds. If you recall, my goal was to lose 15 pounds before Christmas. Well, I'm at 14. It's been slow going, especially after a

n encouragingly dramatic loss in the first week, but I'm ONE pound from my goal. If I make it, and I intend to, I will have averaged 5 pounds per month, which is nothing to sneeze at! What was especially rewarding was that the Wii, which had calculated me at "obese", is now registering me as simply "overweight"! YEAH! In the new year, I'll set another goal to lose 10 pounds by the middle of March, which is when I think we'll be going to the States to see Luke and watch lacrosse.

I wish I could say I was ready for Christmas. Not even close. I need to get out and finish my shopping and then do a bunch of wrapping and delivering ... and some mailing ... and then I need to do some baking and cooking. If I think about it I start getting a little overwhelmed again so I'd better not think about it right now. I've taken the pressure off by not sending Christmas cards. Again. And I won't be doing the large amount of fancy baking that I like to do. Things will be a little simpler again this Christmas and, you know, that's okay. I think we're all just fine with that. And, as I've always believed, Christmas (like babies) comes whether you're ready or not and it's always a wonderful time anyway.

Happy belated Birthday, Ricky the Steamboat!

It's Starting to Feel Like Christmas

An Author Is A Person In Your Neighbourhood ...

... and one of our neighbours, Allan Casey, has been awarded the 2010 Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction! We're so happy for him!

His book might be a gladly received gift under the tree for that relative or friend who appreciates one or more if not all of Canada's many lakes. I'm sure the book is readily available at your nearest book store.

Here's a bit about the book, Lakeland: Journeys into the Soul of Canada, by Allan Casey.

More than just a place, Lakeland is a state of mind in this ode to Canada’s abundant freshwater systems. The story begins at Emma Lake, Saskatchewan, site of writer Allan Casey’s family cabin, built by his parents in 1960 for $2,500. From there, we embark on a journey through ten of Canada’s seldom-celebrated but beautiful and increasingly fragile lakes in this extraordinary piece of writing celebrating one of Canada’s iconic natural features.

More than 60 percent of the world’s five million lakes are crammed into this one northern country. Endless pure lakes are the defining and unifying symbol of the Canadian landscape, making us the envy of a thirsty world. Casey, an award-winning journalist, takes us on a journey of these lakes, from log cabins to lakeside mansions, from the semi-desert of Okanagan Lake to the ponds of western Newfoundland, and over the language barrier to Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec. Across the sprawling, hard-to-define land called Canada, the language of lakes is spoken.

Lakeland, suggests Casey, is a place, a state of mind, and perhaps even a new synonym for Canada. Despite problems of overdevelopment, these lakes remain the heartland of this country, and the place where our relationship with wilderness itself begins.

Read some reviews at Amazon.ca.

An Author Is A Person In Your Neighbourhood ...

Party Mode

Here I am off to yesterday's Christmas party with my new hair do and my new cape, courtesy of Mom's sewing talent. Almost normal!

You can see the new and approved paint colour on the walls, my carefully painted stair spindles and the yet to be finished stair risers. I'm very excited to get a home improvement project done! Almost done, I mean. Will be done. Soon.

Now that I've decided that I might just live for a while yet (said only ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek because, truth be told, it's been some time since I dared imagine what life might hold even more than a year down the road), I'm eager to consider some other projects in the new year. I hope Kevin is at least as interested. Kitchen and bathroom are on the radar, as are cedar shakes on the outside overhangs and a much-needed new deck/patio.

What to do ... what to do. I have a feeling our budget will be the deciding factor so I'd best not get my hopes up.

Just so you know, I'm inclined to want to HUG every single one of you! Just because I'm so happy and because you've all made such a difference to me! Thanks, everyone. So much.

Party Mode

Busy! Busy! Busy!

My cold hasn't lingered! Whew! I'm surprised at how quickly I got over it and that when it was over it was over and not a week or two of still feeling on the verge of getting it back.

My energy is back and I've been making up for the time I lost while I was feeling crappy. Kevin and I have been working hard on finishing the hall and stairs. I've been a painting fool and today I finished most of the trim. All that's left is the edge of the stairs, which will require a deft hand. I've been filling nail holes after Kevin air nails on the quarter round and it will need a light sanding and touch-up painting this week.

The stair rail still needs a little bit of refinishing, then ... because we foolishly painted walls before getting the stairs sanded ... I'll need to do a wipe down of our freshly painted walls and then it will be a matter of walking around with the paint can and a small brush and touching up a few little places here and there. Then the hall will be done. The goal is to have it done before Luke gets home next Saturday night. Do-able. I think.

Of course, I'm also hoping to have the house cleaned up (it's currently a bit of a disaster because we've been focusing our time and energy on the hall/stair project) and maybe even some Christmas decorating done. This will be a busy week.

We would have had more done this weekend except that Kevin had Board meetings and events all weekend, including Christmas parties on both Friday and Saturday night. I went to the party Saturday night and it was fun. Nice meal, good people, dancing, singing. Mostly it's great to see all the Sarcan employees having such a great time.

It was also special for me because it was the first time I've gone out to a social event where I've felt that people who see me aren't thinking, "She's obviously been through a medical crisis". What happened is that on Friday I phoned my hair saviour, Van (from Crimpers on Broadway). Amazingly, he'd just had a cancellation and so I was able to see him Saturday morning, which is

much sooner than I had anticipated. I was VERY happy to be able to see him before the Christmas party and had been chastising myself for not picking up the phone to make an appointment earlier. Van coloured my hair to make it look a little richer. It's quite dull, though not a lot of grey showing, which surprises me considing how salt and pepper it was coming in before Van coloured it that first time in spring. He then trimmed off the ends, which he said were especially tightly curled ... like a "toothpick perm", he said. He think that will help loosen the curl a bit in general. We'll see. Then he blow dried it, back combed it to give it some lift and generally tried to make it look as long as possible! I was SO pleased with it. It's the closest to normal I've felt since I lost my hair a year and a half ago. My hair is so thin and I can see my scalp through it ... kind of like a cheap doll where they've scimped on the hair ... haha! Van said my hair is now is so different than it was. It used to be so thick and courser. Now it's very thin

and baby fine and incredibly curly. Van assures me that there are lots of changes in store for my hair yet and they will be for the better. Thanks, Van!

Here I am painting door trim yesterday in my new hair, which kind of looks like a wig because it's so unlike any hair I've ever had! Still, when I was wearing a wig all the time, I always felt that the wigs were a step up from my own hair.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

A Milestone!

Remember when, because of my frozen shoulders, I couldn't even reach back past the side of my hip? I couldn't scratch my back or my butt and I couldn't do up my bra in the back. Not being able to do up my bra in the back was demoralizing for me. Well ... guess what!!

This morning ... it took me a while and it wasn't easy and it hurt a bit but I triumphed!!! I did up my bra in the back! YEAH!!! It can only get easier.

I should also say that while I'm still basically in a weight holding pattern, my aerobic stamina is really improving. When I first started at 2 minutes on the cross trainer, I would be very winded by the end. Now I'm hardly heavy breathing at all after 2 minutes and I can go longer now. I do find that my hips and knees seize up sooner than I would prefer but I can now do 3 minutes and even then I'm not winded. That's promising. I also feel generally stronger, especially in my arms. And I can walk faster. All good.

Unfortunately, despite those positive points, I've caught a cold. I was getting headaches and a bit of a sore throat on the weekend but I was attributing that to the paint smells in the house. But now a cold has emerged and I'm sure those were the warning signs. My ears and throat hurt. I must say, considering all I've been through over the past 2 years, I've been relatively free of colds and the little sniffles I did get, never grew into anything too bad. I attribute that to my becoming a germaphobe - a lot of handwashing and being avoiding crowds and things like that. And maybe the vitamins and supplements have helped. Hard to know. At any rate, I hope this passes quickly.

Happy Birthday, Jack!

A Milestone!