Sometimes life just sucks. I went to the doctor today to see what damage I may have done to my arm. It would have been nice to have been told I just jammed it and it will be back to normal in the next couple weeks. Noooo, I find out I have a small fracture in the humorus in the upper shoulder. What the hell????? It wasn't very humorus. I have to go to the orthopedic doctor on Monday to see what I am in store for. I am hoping it is not surgery. I would much rather have to wear a sling type brace for a few weeks and let it heal on its own. Like I don't have enough on my plate or I didn't go thru enough the past 10 months. I feel bad for my son, having to continue to take care of mom. He is definately getting some of life's challenging lessons. But he is great. I could not ask for a better son. And he continues to find the humor in things and laughs at me rather than take things too seriously. Until Monday - stay tuned for the next chapter in a day in the life of Val. Pray, pray, pray that I can be healed easily.

Well, if this wasn't an interesting weekend. First to go back to the work week. I had my followup appointment with the oncologist. I was really nervous about this appt as I was to get the results of my scans from the week before. I'm not really sure what I was afraid of, I guess I just wanted to hear that all the crap I went thru the 6 months prior did what it was supposed to. My brother went with me. My blood work looked good. The report showed some soft tissue that they weren't sure what it was. Turns out it is the upper chest area, indicates still swollen from surgery, chemo and radiation. Not anything of a concern but still healing. Doctor wants to keep on eye on it to make sure it heals. She said it was not uncommon and that things looked the way there were supposed to. She also told me I had gallstones so if I started having pain to let her know and I'd probably have to have it taken care of. So I need to see her again in 2 months to check the healing and then every 3 months thereafter. So on to the weekend. There is a few big things in my house I wanted to get rid of (wall unit, table, etc) so I started to empty them this week and had planned to take them to Goodwill. A friend at work was having a garage sale on Sat, so she offered for me to bring my stuff over and try to sell them first. So, I started looking thru the house and garage and found some things to try to sell. Well, it ended up being colder than anticipated so we did not have much activity. We plan to try again next weekend. Well, later in the evening I went into the laundry room to get something out of the dryer. We have a baby gate blocking part of the room to keep the dog out of the cats food and litter box. I most often just step over it. Well, on my way back out of the room, my back foot got stuck on the gate and I couldn't get my foot free. I fell into the door in front of me and my right arm is what caught me first, then my face hit the door, then I fell to the floor. OMG. I had a small cut on my forehead from my glasses, which also got bent. I think my arm took the weight of my fall. I layed on the floor and could not move my arm. The upper portion (bicep) is very sore. I think I pulled muscle or ligaments or something. My son helped me up and I couldn't move my arm. We called my brother who come over to check it out. I didn't believe anthing was broken but there was concern since it was the right side. Same side as radiation and lymph nodes removed. I put ice on it, took ibuprofin and tried to take it easy. Everytime I moved, my arm hurt. Had a hard time sleeping. It felt a little better this morning but I still could not do too much with it. I can't use it for anything that requires strength. Thank goodness I have such a great son who is very willing to step up and help me out. Basically sat on the couch all day with ice off and on. Not sure if I will be able to work tomorrow. I will see how it is tomorow and determine if I should call the doctor. I think it was just a sprain or pull and it will just take time to heal. Never a dull moment around here.

Happy Sunday. It's been a decent week at work. We have had fun with the dogs. Took them to see my friend today. They were running around the backyard. Well she has a pool and Harley has not been around a pool before so he thought he could run across it to catch up with Sugar. Splash - he went right in. 50 degree water too. He started swimming right away to the side so I had to grab him out of the water. Good thing I didn't have to jump in. After a little while, Harley and Sugar kept trying to drink the water from the pool. Well, down at the deep end, Harley bent over to drink water and straight down into the pool he went. OMG - I wasn's sure if he was coming back up. Nick was there this time and had to grab him out of the water. It was quite funny. He did end up getting a bath when we got home and Sugar did too. I think I had my first real hot flash last night. I was actually sweating and was very warm. I meet with the oncologist this week and don't expect anything unusual. At that point, I believe I am done until May. On to another week.

I am so glad to know that people are still reading my blog. I know, I haven't written in the last 10 days, and some of you have noticed. I just didn't think people wanted to hear about my daily work adventures. So since I last wrote we have adopted a new puppy from the shelter. It's a boxer mix and he looks just like our other dog we got from the shelter 3 years ago. We've named him Harley and he is a cutie. He is getting along very well with our dog, Sugar and is very smart. We have been having a lot of fun with him. Took him to the vet yesterday and he is in very good health. It is getting us out walking as we try to take a walk daily when I get home from work.
Ok, so on to me. I have been doing well and healing fine. I had my first follow up scans today. I had a chest x-ray and CT chest scan. I have a follow up appointment with the oncologist next Thursday so I will most likely find out the results at that time. I am a little nervous since it is the first check up since my treatments. I'm sure things will be fine but one can't help but be nervous. I seem to be doing well with the tamoxofin medication I am on. I get a little warm now and then but I am tolerating it just fine.
Had my annual review at work and things went fine. I still have a job, which I am very blessed to have and also got a raise in pay, which is always good.
Well, that's the update for now. Stay tuned for more news coming soon.

Yesterday, Sunday, I picked up Nick at his friend's house and we went to a move. Saw the Chipmonks - very cute. Did a little shopping then Nick made dinner on the grill. Nice to be taken care of by my son.
Today - back to work for the beginning of the year. Not a bad start. Went to the radiologist today for my follow up. Hard to believe that it has been 60 days since my last radiation treatment. I brought my camera so I could get a picture with the doctor. I told him I was going to write a book one day and wanted to be able to put pictures of my doctors in there. Of course when he came in I had already put my lovely gown on. I told him I couldn't do a picture with no top on, so he gave me a big hug to cover me and we got a great picture. He said it needed to be the cover picture of my book. Everything went fine and he said he would see me in 4 months. Unfortunately that means my reconstruction has to wait till after then. I told him my story of the over 50 discount at Beall's and he said he was glad to know they offer a discount. Although he will only be 45 - this Friday, which also happens to be my dad's birthday. He would be 80 if he was still with us. Guess I'm good for another week or two when I have my chest x-ray and follow up with the oncologist. Then I'm done for 4 months. Is it possible that before I know it, it will be Christmas again???

A chilly start to a Saturday. And it is supposed to get down to about 19 tonight. Burr. I thought we left the cold last week. I got to sleep in which was nice. Nick wanted his friend, Kevin, to come over and play the new Wii, but first we went to the game store. He had credit from turning in some PS2 games. He found another Wii game, then we went to pick up Kevin. The two of them played a bit and Kevin's mom, Gail, came over and she and I went to a movie (New Moon). It was okay, but the book is better. It's a little slow in some parts but a good chick flick with my friend. When we got back, Nick went home with them for the night. Not much on tv tonight so it's quite boring. Made some salad for dinner. My chest is almost healed and I go to the radiologist on Monday for a follow up. I can't believe it has been almost 60 days since my last treatment. Time really does fly by, even though it doesn't seem so at the time. I can only hope and pray that this is all behind me for years and years to come. One more day of rest and then the normal routine sets in.

Great day for football. Slept in, made breakfast then got ready for the FSU game. Great game. FSU won and it was the last game for Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews. Went to grocery store and Nick made dinner. Now watching the Gator game. Not sure I will be able to stay awake for the whole thing as I am falling asleep as it is. Not sure what tomorrow will bring but today has been a good start to the new year.

Happy New Year. I hope it brings good things to us all. Thursday at work was very quiet. There was only about 10 of us there and not much going on. My boss was awesome and let us leave at 3. Nick and I went shopping, then had to make some stuff for my friend's party we were invited to. I don't usually go anywhere for new year's but we had a good time. Lot's of good food and friends to share with. I had a shot of some kind of peppermint schnapps, which was good, then had some shot of something from Peru - it was yuck. Then we had some champagne and set off fireworks. Crazy stuff. Thanks Ann. Today it is raining. Important bowl games to watch. Seminoles in the Gator Bowl as Coach Bowden coaches his last game. So sad. Then I'll have to watch the Gators in the Sugar Bowl so I can give my Gator friends some grief. Anyway - happy new year. Hope 2010 brings good things and leaves the hardship of 09 behind.