Saturday lunch/two new friends

When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I immediately went to the Susan G. Komen website and looked through the message boards hoping to find someone in the Milwaukee area I could email about surgeons. That is how I found Sara. I emailed her and asked her who her breast surgeon was and it turned out her surgeon was the same surgeon that I was going to see. Since that time we have corresponded through email. Today I had the pleasure of meeting Sara for lunch. We talked about everything imaginable concerning cancer. Sara is almost done with her treatments, so she had so much insight as to what I can expect as I head into chemotherapy. It was great to talk to someone who had been through what I was going to go through. After we had lunch, we went to meet another breast cancer survivor (from the Susan Komen message boards), Connie, down the street where she was working. Connie it turns out had the same chemotherapy drugs that I will be having. It was nice to hear what she had to say and how she got through treatment. This is a heck of a way to meet new friends, but really helps to talk to other women who have been there, done that, survived and are moving on!!!

Huge Milestone

Believe it or not I actually slept in a bed last night. I have been sleeping on the couch in the recliner portion since I had surgery,and last night I thought I would give it a go and see how long I lasted in bed. I made it the whole night with three pillows behind me but I did it. It felt great!

Now I am off to lunch with a new friend.... more on that later.


ps The Other Boleyn Girl was excellent! (and so was the wine)

Pinot Noir and Chick Flick

Well it looks like the family abandoned me tonight to go the high school football game. I have a nice bottle of Pinot Noir that my friend Linda brought over awhile back and I am going to watch The Other Boleyn Girl, which was a great book! I love it when I have the house to myself!

TGIF!!!

I am taking the day off for some R&R. I worked part-time for 3 days this week and I am tired today. I am going to work on Natalie's dress and hopefully get a good start on it. I have a busy weekend planned so I will take it easy today.
Our dog, Sunny, has been limping around the house on and off for the past two weeks, and now is really not using her back leg very much. John had to take her to the vet this morning anyways for some shots and a prescription for Rimadyl (arthritis meds she uses when she hunts). We had her on a pretty strict diet this past year and she has lost 30 pounds. She is a lean, mean hunting machine now!!! The vet thinks the bad leg is simply due to arthritis in her hips. I am not sure if she will hunt tomorrow (opening day for ducks)as she needs to get ready for the big hunt in North Dakota in a week. Hopefully she will be better by then. It is the highlight of her year hunting with Rick and John.

Enjoy the weekend!

Laughter

~When you have nothing to laugh about, laugh anyway. Soon you'll feel the healing power of joy and laughter bringing new energy and life to your weary, frustrating day.~ Thelma Wells

Laugh today, even if you don't feel like it!!!!! :)

Donate a Free Mammogram

I recieved an email in my mailbox this morning regarding mammograms. Here is what it had to say:

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors /advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate a mammogram in exchange for advertising.

www.thebreastcancersite.com

Please pass this along!

Boxhorn Gun Club Third Annual Breast Cancer Shoot

Boxhorn Gun Club located in Muskego,WI and owners Rick and Debbie Schim are pleased to be hosting its third annual Boxhorn Gun Club Breast Cancer Shoot on Sunday, October 5. This event was the biggest event of the club last year and raised and dontated more than $9,700.00 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

Sunday, October 5th
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
3rd Annual Boxhorn Breast Cancer Shoot
We had over 200 entries in 2007!
~Leather Shooting bags for Winners.
~Thousands of $$$$ in donated prizes
~Great Silent Auction Items for men, women and children
~Shooting Venues for all level shooters
~16 yard,double and handicap traps
~Sporting Clays
~All events 50 target and multiple entries welcome
~$35 for your first event and $20 for each subsequent event. A portion of each entry goes to the Susan G. Komen Fund.
~Free food and music for all shooters
~Two for one drinks 4-6 pm

This is the third year Rick and Debbie have hosted this event at their gun club. Breast cancer research has always been near and dear to Debbie's heart. Ironically,the shoot holds a new meaning for our family this year since my diagnosis.
If you are a shooter or even if you are not, please join us on Sunday for some food, drink and fun and help support a cause that is just too important not to take part in. I will be there working, stop by and say hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mixed mood today

I am in a mixed mood tonight. I did have one drain removed today (actually the one drain that was bugging the crap out of me) so that is a good thing. On the other hand, my discussion with Dr. John about where we go from here leaves me with mixed emotions. I won't get too graphic as I know of some followers of my blog that get a bit queasy with graphics LOL The area of tissue that has died was "larger than what is usually seen" according to the doc. What that means for me is my reconstruction will take approximately 6 months until finished, much longer than we had originally planned. My only other option is to have a skin graft (which is another major surgery) which will cut my reconstruction time in half and I would be finished 3 months earlier. I am not at all thrilled about another surgery and really do not think mentally or physically I can go through another surgery and chemotherapy at the same time. I am also thinking what if the skin graft does not work? What then? I don't think that is an option for me at this time. I will see him again in one week. He promises me that the remaining drain will come out then. If it doesn't I will be more than crabby!!! LOL

You gotta laugh

I am not quite sure what is going on with our family these days. Besides me and my medical issues, Billy came home from his football game Saturday night all beat up again (he is running for his life from these darn big boys), Natalie had to go to the Quick Care nurse because she has a sinus infection (AGAIN) and John fell/slid off a ladder yesterday in the garage (don't worry, he is fine, he skinned his arm and leg and landed on his feet). What the heck??? Just another boring day at the Schim house. You gotta laugh! What next??!!!

Plastic Surgeon appointment today

I have a followup appointment with Dr. John this afternoon at 2 pm. I am SO hoping he takes these drains out. I am getting crabby about them! I just want to be able to wear normal clothes again. I will update later when I return.

Susan G. Komen Milwaukee Race for the Cure®
Sunday, September 28, 2008 ... With your help, someday this will only be a Race!

This year, Komen Milwaukee celebrates its 10th anniversary — a decade of saving lives! We couldn't have reached this milestone without the tremendous support of the Southeastern Wisconsin community, and we hope that Race veterans and first-timers alike will join us September 28th for our best event to date.
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My goal after my first surgery was to walk in this event with my book club ladies who are walking in my honor. Unfortunately with this added surgery I am unable to this year. I will be there in spirit as they walk!