Rain, Rain Go Away...

We’re back. It felt like a very quick four days up at the cottage. The weather was perfect; warm days and cool nights. Fall was definitely in the air. The kids had a great time jumping off the dock and swimming. They managed to get some fishing in too. Andrew/Steve caught a pint sized fish; I think you can just see its head sticking out from Steve’s hand in the picture. It was a much needed time for our family to get away and have fun together.



















The party is fast approaching and it looks like there will be well over 100 people here over the course of the day. I must say I am a wee bit stressed with the weather situation since there is now a 90% chance of rain…so much for the earlier forecast. I had a vision of how everything was going to be set up in the backyard so now I’m working on plan B. I’m sure it will all work out.

The Details
We’re at 15 Cobblestone Road. From Highbury Ave North, turn west on to Edgevalley Road (between Killarney Road and Kilally Road), take your first right on Cobblestone Gate then right again on Cobblestone Road. It is the third house on the right in the court. (There is no parking on the south side of the court.) Show up anytime after 3pm.

me

Mountain Lake

Arrangements for the party are well under way. Tables and chairs have been rented; Costco has been visited several times; the freezer is stuffed with food; Steve put a small dent in the Beer Store; my Dad has done all the lawn and garden prep. work; my Mom has been dusting things I never even knew needed dusting and I have bought every pink thing that every dollar store in London had available. Now all we need is good weather. The long range forecast is calling for sun and 25 degrees…let’s hope they’re right!

Tomorrow, the boys and I will be heading to Toronto to pick up Steve, who has been away at a conference, and then driving up to the cottage on Mountain Lake. It’s a great place to hang out, relax and just get away from it all. So, I’ll be signing off for a few days.

Talk to you later,
me

Run For The Cure

Shortly after I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I envisioned myself running in the annual Run for the Cure. I pictured myself wearing the running bib that said, “I’m Running For…Me”. I guess that’s probably why I sign off each blog as ‘me’. So this is the method to my recent madness of trying to get back into running. I know there are several others planning to do the race on October 1st so when you see me there, don’t be alarmed when you see me balling at the finish line (in fact I can cry right now just thinking about it). It will be an accomplishment for me on so many levels. So if you are interested in sponsoring me (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) you can donate on-line at www.cibcrunforthecure.com and click “Donate to a Participant and type my name ( I will be running in the London race).

Thanks,
me

Guilt

I’ve had this post rattling around in my brain for some time now. Maybe if I finally write it down, I can move on. About six weeks ago, I had a call from the insurance company regarding my long term disability claim. I know the woman on the other end of the phone was just doing her job, but, I guess I was shocked at the fact that I felt I had to defend myself for staying home from work…just saying that I had cancer didn’t seem to carry enough weight. The woman asked the basics, how I was feeling and if I lay around and read books all day. I thought if I tell her that I actually try and get out of the house and try to get some exercise once in a while, my claim would be denied for sure. She said just to give her a call if I felt like going back to work; the doctor’s opinion didn’t even seem to matter. I wanted to explain to her that if I had a job where I could work 3 or 4 hours at a time whenever I felt like it, I could go back to work, but my job needs a little more TLC than the odd 3 hour shift.

My doctor said there would be days when I would feel good and that I should just enjoy those days. I try to follow the doctor’s advice but ever since I got the phone call from the insurance company, I sometimes get this guilty feeling like I should be doing more. I know the guilt is self imposed…I’m sure I’ll get over it.

me

Chemo Treatment 7 of 8

Another chemo treatment done…one more to go. Today’s treatment went smoothly; I slept through a good portion of it.

The Clinic is actually in the midst of a pilot project using patient pagers that I spoke of earlier. It was so nice to be given the freedom to walk around while waiting to be called in the Chemo Suite. If all goes well, the pagers will become permanent and will be used for the doctor’s clinics too.

It’s amazing how many people they see in the Chemo Suite everyday; they estimate it be around 100 people. In a week, that’s 500 people!!! Keep in mind, these are only the outpatients and don’t include any children so the real number is probably double. Frightening numbers.

I wasn’t surprised that Sean developed a suspicious rash on his back; because after all, it was chemo time again for me and that’s the only time my kids seem to get sick. I took Sean to St. Joe’s Urgent Care Clinic last night but turned around after they told me there was a 5 hour wait. The nurse there checked the wait time at the Children’s Hospital, and they were up to a 6 hour wait!!! So, this morning Steve took Sean back to St. Joe’s when they opened and discovered that he has Shingles, which is from the Chicken Pox family. Sean had Chicken Pox when he was 3 months old. The doctor explained that the virus remains dormant in the body and can reappear in the form of Shingles at any time and for no particular reason. For me, it means taking extra precautions to make sure I don’t get Shingles.

Never a dull moment at The Groves.

me

Hot Flash Clinic

Today’s appointment with the oncologist went well. My counts were good so I’ve been cleared for chemo tomorrow. One of the topics of conversation today was hot flashes. During the day, I can cope with them because I can always find some way of cooling off, like sticking my head in the fridge. At night however, the hot flashes wake me up several times and there’s not much I can do but kick off the covers and hope they pass quickly. So, I’ve been signed up for the “Hot Flash Clinic”. Who knew it even existed…but it does. The oncologist is concerned that because I don’t get a restful sleep, I could develop cronic fatigue. Basically the end result of the clinic is that I will be put on medication to control the hot flashes. I was hoping they would subside once chemo was done but the doctor said they will probably get worse with the other medication I have to take after chemo. I guess it’s a good thing that I have the french pill organizer.

me

Home Stretch

Those grey hairs that I secretly used to pull out have once again started to sprout. I never thought I’d be happy to see them back….but I am. Slow but sure.

This week ends with another chemo treatment, number 7. I hate to wish the week away but I can hardly wait until Friday. We’re in the home stretch now. Many people have commented that the time seems to have gone by quickly and I would have to agree. For me, I think having the treatments in the spring and summer has been a huge in terms of my progress. I think if I was going through this in the winter months, it would be much harder.

We’re up to about 75 people now for the party. Thanks to those who have sent an RSVP. To those who haven’t, feel free to stop by anyway.

me

Exercise

A number of recent research studies have indicated that exercise after a cancer diagnosis could be as effective as chemotherapy. Australian researchers believe ‘exercise slowed cancer by boosting a protein in the body which killed off dangerous cancer cells that could multiply out of control.’ This has given me an incentive to try to get back into a regular exercise routine. So this is week one. I’ve started to do a combination of walking and running in hopes of running a 5km race in the fall.

I just wanted to clarify some misconceptions about the Pink Party. It is not just a party for family; everyone is invited. There will be no formal sit down dinner but I’d like to know if I need to buy 1 bag of chips or 40 bags of chips….1 case of beer or 10 cases of beer etc. etc. So drop me a quick line at ksgroves@hotmail.com if you think you may be able to attend.

Take care,
me

5 O'Clock Shadow

Perhaps it is just my incredible desired to have hair again or maybe, just maybe, it's growing back again. When I'm in the right light and I squint really hard, I think I see some real hair growing. My fingers are crossed.

The eyebrow thing is getting to be a real pain in the butt. Like this morning, a plumber is supposed to be here to do some work. The first thing I thought of was I need to clean to toilet he has to work on, then; I have to draw my eyebrows on. (Boy, have my priorities ever changed!) Usually by the end of the day, I've inadvertently wiped one of my eyebrows off or part of one. My eyelashes are next on the chopping block. I've been told they can take a year to grow back...great.

me

I Am Lucky

It has occurred to me on several occasions that I am lucky. As I trod along through the surgeries, the appointments and the treatments, I sometimes forget the seriousness of breast cancer. Lately however, I have been reminded. A co-worker of Steve’s lost his wife to breast cancer last month at the young age of 34; an obituary in the paper the other day described the life a woman who passed away from breast cancer in her 40’s. A woman in our support group was unable to attend the last three meeting because she has been in and out of hospital, having blood transfusions and having injections to keep her blood counts high enough to receive chemotherapy.

I am lucky to have such amazing friends and family. I am lucky to have a team of incredible doctors look after me. I am lucky that the cancer was found before it was too late.

me

Pink Party - RSVP

Here it is, the official invitation to the Pink Party on Saturday, September 2nd at our house (15 Cobblestone Road). It will be an open house starting at 3pm until the last person is standing. So, feel free to drop by for an hour or so or park yourself for the whole night. More than likely, a few poker games will get going during the night (yes, Mark bring your set).

If you’re planning to attend, please send me an e-mail at ksgroves@hotmail.com by August 15th. I need to know numbers so I can make arrangements for food.

Don’t forget the dress code.

me