Good morning ! All is well on our front! We returned to the Ivey Institute this past Tuesday for David’s eye check-up, prepared for the news that he might have to have surgery the next day. However, the report was great – eye was stable and healing and nothing else was necessary at that time. So we happily returned home and enjoyed a Wednesday free of appointments.
I had no treatments this week, either, so it has been a quiet time for both of us.
This followed a lovely birthday weekend for me – by Saturday, all four kids were home and we had a great time together. Steve took over the kitchen and fed people as they arrived but we went out to our favourite restaurant for supper. By Sunday they had to start leaving again but we had a good time together while it lasted. Pete was not on his way to Brazil as I had thought – he made a ‘boomerang trip’ from Seattle to be here and Steve flew up from Texas. Time together is the gift that I think I value the most anymore and I appreciated so much the effort that all of them made to be here.
Plans are in the works for Amy and I to fly to Texas for Steve’s birthday in September. We’ll be there for a week and I’m very pleased to think that I can do this and also that I will be able to be in Texas again. So – I really am feeling better !
Thank you again for your prayers and loving support. Hardly a day goes by without someone sending a card or some other thoughtful gift. I appreciate it all so much. May you be aware of God’s presence with you today as you go about your life.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Update - August 19, 2010
Good morning ! It’s been a while since I updated this blog, but things have been happening again, as you will hear.
Last week, I had a chemo treatment on Monday (Aug. 9) as well as my second dose of the bone strengthener, Aredia. I was expecting to have a few ‘down days’ after that, as I had had the first time, but fortunately, that didn’t happen. No reaction to anything ! Wednesday afternoon, I was at the hospital for a respiratory test to see if I need additional oxygen ( would support funding for this.) It also went very well. However, on Wednesday David also began to notice that the cloudiness in his vision that he had been experiencing since July 28 was getting worse – big ‘floaters’ in his left (good) eye. When he woke up Thursday, he could hardly see out of the eye at all and was quite concerned, as the vision in his right eye is still not 100%. He called the optometrist for an appointment and we went in Friday morning.
When the optometrist looked at David’s eye, he decided to call the surgeon in London who had treated the right eye and we were asked to come up there as soon as we could. Fortunately, Amy had come here Thursday, intending to just pick up her dog, who had stayed with us while she was in Seattle the previous weekend. So – off we went, Amy driving. The surgeon – and several other people – had a good look in David’s eye and decided that it wasn’t immediately critical – but that we should return for the clinic at 8:30 Monday morning. This is at the Ivey Eye Institute, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in north London, north of Oxford and Richmond, if you know the city. For us, it is a 90 min. drive, so that meant up and out by 7:00 a.m.
After another careful check Monday morning, the surgeon decided that there was a tear on the retina and that he would ‘spot weld’ around it with a laser, to keep additional eye fluid from leaking in behind it and tearing it more. (The cloudiness had been caused by blood from the retina tear.) So – laser treatment (which hurt) and instructions to return at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, in case there had to be further surgery. Wednesday(yesterday)we got better news – the weld is holding but it needs more time to heal. No surgery needed – but come back next Tuesday (Aug. 24) for a check at 1:15 in case there needs to be surgery the next day. In between, in Tuesday, I had my second chemo treatment of this cycle, which went well, as usual.
So – no dull moments, still ! Amy was a real trouper – stayed with us and drove all the trips to London and then took herself off home Wednesday afternoon. We had been to London and back, including breakfast out, by noon that day ! She will return Friday, with Steve. This coming weekend is my 65th birthday – not sure how that happened – but we are looking forward to a family dinner together Saturday night. Pete is winging through from Seattle via Detroit on his way to Brazil again and will be here about 24 hours and Mike and Lian will come down Friday night or Saturday morning, once Mike gets over his jet lag from his trip to China this week. I can’t believe how the world of business just says casually to people – ‘Oh – you have to be in *** next week. Have you bought your ticket?” The amount of money spent on business airfare must be staggering.
Keep on praying, please !!
I will conclude by saying that I feel great and one could say almost healthy – just a little short of breath. I have to travel with my portable oxygen converter but it lets me go almost anywhere by myself. I also have to expect to be very tired by the end of the day and not get discouraged – a night’s rest and I am ‘topped up’ again. So things are really going very, very well for me. I appreciate all your prayers and concern. God has been so good and I am so thankful for each day.
Last week, I had a chemo treatment on Monday (Aug. 9) as well as my second dose of the bone strengthener, Aredia. I was expecting to have a few ‘down days’ after that, as I had had the first time, but fortunately, that didn’t happen. No reaction to anything ! Wednesday afternoon, I was at the hospital for a respiratory test to see if I need additional oxygen ( would support funding for this.) It also went very well. However, on Wednesday David also began to notice that the cloudiness in his vision that he had been experiencing since July 28 was getting worse – big ‘floaters’ in his left (good) eye. When he woke up Thursday, he could hardly see out of the eye at all and was quite concerned, as the vision in his right eye is still not 100%. He called the optometrist for an appointment and we went in Friday morning.
When the optometrist looked at David’s eye, he decided to call the surgeon in London who had treated the right eye and we were asked to come up there as soon as we could. Fortunately, Amy had come here Thursday, intending to just pick up her dog, who had stayed with us while she was in Seattle the previous weekend. So – off we went, Amy driving. The surgeon – and several other people – had a good look in David’s eye and decided that it wasn’t immediately critical – but that we should return for the clinic at 8:30 Monday morning. This is at the Ivey Eye Institute, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in north London, north of Oxford and Richmond, if you know the city. For us, it is a 90 min. drive, so that meant up and out by 7:00 a.m.
After another careful check Monday morning, the surgeon decided that there was a tear on the retina and that he would ‘spot weld’ around it with a laser, to keep additional eye fluid from leaking in behind it and tearing it more. (The cloudiness had been caused by blood from the retina tear.) So – laser treatment (which hurt) and instructions to return at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, in case there had to be further surgery. Wednesday(yesterday)we got better news – the weld is holding but it needs more time to heal. No surgery needed – but come back next Tuesday (Aug. 24) for a check at 1:15 in case there needs to be surgery the next day. In between, in Tuesday, I had my second chemo treatment of this cycle, which went well, as usual.
So – no dull moments, still ! Amy was a real trouper – stayed with us and drove all the trips to London and then took herself off home Wednesday afternoon. We had been to London and back, including breakfast out, by noon that day ! She will return Friday, with Steve. This coming weekend is my 65th birthday – not sure how that happened – but we are looking forward to a family dinner together Saturday night. Pete is winging through from Seattle via Detroit on his way to Brazil again and will be here about 24 hours and Mike and Lian will come down Friday night or Saturday morning, once Mike gets over his jet lag from his trip to China this week. I can’t believe how the world of business just says casually to people – ‘Oh – you have to be in *** next week. Have you bought your ticket?” The amount of money spent on business airfare must be staggering.
Keep on praying, please !!
I will conclude by saying that I feel great and one could say almost healthy – just a little short of breath. I have to travel with my portable oxygen converter but it lets me go almost anywhere by myself. I also have to expect to be very tired by the end of the day and not get discouraged – a night’s rest and I am ‘topped up’ again. So things are really going very, very well for me. I appreciate all your prayers and concern. God has been so good and I am so thankful for each day.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Update - Aug. 4, 2010
Good morning - not much to report this week. It's my 'week off' and I have nothing medical happening at all !
Last weekend, we made plans to drive to Dublin, Ohio, where David used to live and work. However, at the last minute, David's vertigo acted up and he felt unable to drive. I was all packed and primed to go somewhere, so we agreed that I would drive to Kitchener and spend the weekend with Amy. I enjoyed the drive and felt that I had taken another big step back towards a more normal life. (It's about 2 hours from here.) I also had time with Mike and Lian, who live in the same city.
This coming Friday evening, Pete and Jocelyn are having a reception in Seattle for their friends who could not make it to Detroit in June. Amy, Steve and Mike and Lian are all going to be there. I will be there in spirit, as David probably will also, but that's as close as I can make it. Even if I took the trip out there successfully, it's not starting until 7:00 PDT (a reasonable time, to be sure) but that is 10:00 p.m. EDT and I am usuially done and horizontal long before that. So, I will wait to hear the stories.
That's pretty well all there is to say for now - just a regular week, normal life, trying to keep up with the house chores and figure out what to have for supper, the perpetual question. Hope you have a good week at whatever you are up to.
Last weekend, we made plans to drive to Dublin, Ohio, where David used to live and work. However, at the last minute, David's vertigo acted up and he felt unable to drive. I was all packed and primed to go somewhere, so we agreed that I would drive to Kitchener and spend the weekend with Amy. I enjoyed the drive and felt that I had taken another big step back towards a more normal life. (It's about 2 hours from here.) I also had time with Mike and Lian, who live in the same city.
This coming Friday evening, Pete and Jocelyn are having a reception in Seattle for their friends who could not make it to Detroit in June. Amy, Steve and Mike and Lian are all going to be there. I will be there in spirit, as David probably will also, but that's as close as I can make it. Even if I took the trip out there successfully, it's not starting until 7:00 PDT (a reasonable time, to be sure) but that is 10:00 p.m. EDT and I am usuially done and horizontal long before that. So, I will wait to hear the stories.
That's pretty well all there is to say for now - just a regular week, normal life, trying to keep up with the house chores and figure out what to have for supper, the perpetual question. Hope you have a good week at whatever you are up to.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Update - July 27, 2010
Good morning – two weeks since I last reported in but I have quite a bit of news to tell you.
Last week was quite busy – on Monday, (July 19) my chemo day, it was discovered that my hemoglobin was down to 81 (from the normal 120 or so) and I almost didn’t get my chemo. (This happens when you are given chemo over a long period of time – it destroys fast-growing cells and the red blood cells in your bone marrow would be one of the ones ‘under attack’. They said it was surprising that I hadn’t already had a transfusion, due to the amount of chemo that I have had.) I was scheduled for a blood transfusion Wednesday morning – 2 units and 4+ hours to do this! Then Tuesday afternoon, I already had appointments in Windsor for a CT scan and bone scan. For the bone scan, you get a needle of radioactive dye that has to circulate through your body and you have to wait while it does that. I got the needle at 1:30 but had to wait for the scan until 4:15 – and then it took most of an hour. Lots of practice waiting ! The rest of the week was fairly quiet; a good thing, because it was still very hot and humid.
Amy came back Sunday to be with us for my chemo yesterday morning and also for the trip to Windsor to hear about the results from the scans. I was quite anxious – more than I realized – and afraid that I was going to hear that my bones looked like Swiss cheese. However, God is good and so was the news ! I have only the two metastases on my head – lumpy head – and the CT scan showed that my liver is still clear, so I am clean, clean, clean except for the cancer in my lungs. Such a relief !!! The doctor explained that the CT scan also showed progression of that cancer since April but that she didn’t feel it was accurate – that I had dropped farther after the CT scan in April than we realized and was now on the upward swing but still not back to where I was in April. However, I feel extremely well and everything is working very well – breathing especially – so we are going with that. The blood transfusion has helped with my energy levels – no red blood cells, no oxygen, no energy – and my colour is better too – according to onlookers!
We celebrated this good news by going to a Red Lobster in Windsor and ordering lobster ! Haven’t had one for years ! It was quite an exercise – they don’t cut it open for you as some places do, so you have to wrestle it ‘to the ground’ all by yourself. But boy! Did it taste good!
We are contemplating actually going away on a weekend trip to see if we remember how to do it – haven’t been too many places since all of this started. We did make it up to a park on the St. Clair River south of Sarnia, one of our favourite places, to have a little picnic a week ago Sunday and enjoyed that. For those of you who don’t live in this area, that’s the river between the USA and Canada, and between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. You can look across and watch road traffic in the USA on the other side and if you were a good swimmer you might be able to swim across. There’s always a good chance of seeing a lake freighter, too – pretty impressive at close quarters.
So I am very happy to report this good news to you and to thank you once again for all your support and prayers, especially during the last few months when things looked pretty black. I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be here long past October now but each of us only has today and I am still practicing living in ‘now’.
May God’s presence be known to you today.
Last week was quite busy – on Monday, (July 19) my chemo day, it was discovered that my hemoglobin was down to 81 (from the normal 120 or so) and I almost didn’t get my chemo. (This happens when you are given chemo over a long period of time – it destroys fast-growing cells and the red blood cells in your bone marrow would be one of the ones ‘under attack’. They said it was surprising that I hadn’t already had a transfusion, due to the amount of chemo that I have had.) I was scheduled for a blood transfusion Wednesday morning – 2 units and 4+ hours to do this! Then Tuesday afternoon, I already had appointments in Windsor for a CT scan and bone scan. For the bone scan, you get a needle of radioactive dye that has to circulate through your body and you have to wait while it does that. I got the needle at 1:30 but had to wait for the scan until 4:15 – and then it took most of an hour. Lots of practice waiting ! The rest of the week was fairly quiet; a good thing, because it was still very hot and humid.
Amy came back Sunday to be with us for my chemo yesterday morning and also for the trip to Windsor to hear about the results from the scans. I was quite anxious – more than I realized – and afraid that I was going to hear that my bones looked like Swiss cheese. However, God is good and so was the news ! I have only the two metastases on my head – lumpy head – and the CT scan showed that my liver is still clear, so I am clean, clean, clean except for the cancer in my lungs. Such a relief !!! The doctor explained that the CT scan also showed progression of that cancer since April but that she didn’t feel it was accurate – that I had dropped farther after the CT scan in April than we realized and was now on the upward swing but still not back to where I was in April. However, I feel extremely well and everything is working very well – breathing especially – so we are going with that. The blood transfusion has helped with my energy levels – no red blood cells, no oxygen, no energy – and my colour is better too – according to onlookers!
We celebrated this good news by going to a Red Lobster in Windsor and ordering lobster ! Haven’t had one for years ! It was quite an exercise – they don’t cut it open for you as some places do, so you have to wrestle it ‘to the ground’ all by yourself. But boy! Did it taste good!
We are contemplating actually going away on a weekend trip to see if we remember how to do it – haven’t been too many places since all of this started. We did make it up to a park on the St. Clair River south of Sarnia, one of our favourite places, to have a little picnic a week ago Sunday and enjoyed that. For those of you who don’t live in this area, that’s the river between the USA and Canada, and between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. You can look across and watch road traffic in the USA on the other side and if you were a good swimmer you might be able to swim across. There’s always a good chance of seeing a lake freighter, too – pretty impressive at close quarters.
So I am very happy to report this good news to you and to thank you once again for all your support and prayers, especially during the last few months when things looked pretty black. I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be here long past October now but each of us only has today and I am still practicing living in ‘now’.
May God’s presence be known to you today.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Update - July 12, 2010
Good morning – hard to believe it’s been this long since I updated the blog but things have been busy, as you will see.
We came home from the weddings two weeks ago today – arrived home about 3:30 in the afternoon from Kitchener. I went out for groceries about 5:00 p.m. and as I was arriving back home at 5:30, David saw me and decided to come and help. He stood up quickly, forgetting that he needs to be slower and to wait, because of his vertigo problems. He made it to the door of his den, realized that he was going to fall and turned to go back to his desk chair. He didn’t make it – he passed out and fell, striking his face on the edge of his desk and falling with his head under it. I was in the house by then and rushed in to see what was happening. I could see that he was bleeding but not from where. He was groggy and couldn’t move himself, but in a few minutes he was able to roll over onto his back and out from under the desk. He had bruised his face and was bleeding around his left eye. I decided an ambulance was the only option and he agreed. He was taken to ER after being checked out and eventually had 6 stitches under his eye. However, he is on blood thinners and that caused tremendous bleeding; most of his face turned dark purple and his eyes were terribly swollen for a few days. He still has vestiges of the bruising two weeks later.
A neighbour saw the ambulance and came over to check it out. She took me to the ER and stayed with me, eventually bringing David home as well. It was quite shocking and very painful for him as well; he had a headache for several days and didn’t wear his contacts because of his bloodshot eyes. Most of that seems to have passed now. I was very impressed with the ambulance crew – their kindness and their efficiency.
A week ago today, I had two doctor’s appointments in Windsor. In the morning, I saw the radiologist, who confirmed that the treatment the first week of May had been very effective in improving my breathing and reducing the tumour that was restricting the airflow. I do not need to see him again unless my oncologist feels it is necessary. (This would be because there was another tumour in my lung that was possibly treatable by radiation.) In the afternoon, I saw my oncologist and the news from her was more mixed. She showed me my two chest x-rays from May and June and pointed out the improvements – less compression of my heart, more breathing room in my left lung – all very good news. This shows that the new chemo is having an effect and I will be staying on it indefinitely (as long as it is working, at this point.) I have a weekly treatment for two weeks and then the third week off. The bad news was that the lump on my head is a bone metastasis and that the cancer is spreading to bones as well as lungs. However, she was quite matter-of-fact about it and said, “This is what it is; this is what we are going to do.” I am now on an additional medicine called Aredia which is not chemo but a bone-strengthener. It is also used for osteoarthritis. Tuesday, I went for my chemo in Chatham and wound up getting the Aredia right away. It didn’t have any effect at the time, but I had a low fever that night and spent the next two days in bed, just wiped out. I didn’t feel nauseated or anything – just had no energy and actually slept for part of Wednesday, quite unusual for me. I’m still coming around from it and do not feel anything like I felt at the weddings – but there are other contributing factors to that, I’m sure. I will have a treatment of Aredia every three weeks.
Amy was with us all week and Mike and Lian came down for part of the weekend but everyone went home last night and today it’s just David and I.
I’m struggling with this bone cancer diagnosis; I was feeling so well at the time of the weddings that I thought I might get a break and be ‘normal’ for a while. Now I have to figure out what this means and what consequences I will have to deal with – not too positive the last couple of days, I must admit. However, I have been reminded by several family members that I am much better than I was in April and that I have just come through a fairly intense time of travel and emotion and I should give myself a break. So I am trying to do just that. I’m really not a good patient – I can cope with an illness as long as I don’t feel bad!
I know that God is still in this with me and I continue to trust in His guidance – blindly, sometimes, like a little kid hanging onto a parent’s hand or coat – but trusting in the knowledge, wisdom, purpose and love of the One who is leading. Thank you so much for your prayers – there are so many of you who are so kind to remember me.
We came home from the weddings two weeks ago today – arrived home about 3:30 in the afternoon from Kitchener. I went out for groceries about 5:00 p.m. and as I was arriving back home at 5:30, David saw me and decided to come and help. He stood up quickly, forgetting that he needs to be slower and to wait, because of his vertigo problems. He made it to the door of his den, realized that he was going to fall and turned to go back to his desk chair. He didn’t make it – he passed out and fell, striking his face on the edge of his desk and falling with his head under it. I was in the house by then and rushed in to see what was happening. I could see that he was bleeding but not from where. He was groggy and couldn’t move himself, but in a few minutes he was able to roll over onto his back and out from under the desk. He had bruised his face and was bleeding around his left eye. I decided an ambulance was the only option and he agreed. He was taken to ER after being checked out and eventually had 6 stitches under his eye. However, he is on blood thinners and that caused tremendous bleeding; most of his face turned dark purple and his eyes were terribly swollen for a few days. He still has vestiges of the bruising two weeks later.
A neighbour saw the ambulance and came over to check it out. She took me to the ER and stayed with me, eventually bringing David home as well. It was quite shocking and very painful for him as well; he had a headache for several days and didn’t wear his contacts because of his bloodshot eyes. Most of that seems to have passed now. I was very impressed with the ambulance crew – their kindness and their efficiency.
A week ago today, I had two doctor’s appointments in Windsor. In the morning, I saw the radiologist, who confirmed that the treatment the first week of May had been very effective in improving my breathing and reducing the tumour that was restricting the airflow. I do not need to see him again unless my oncologist feels it is necessary. (This would be because there was another tumour in my lung that was possibly treatable by radiation.) In the afternoon, I saw my oncologist and the news from her was more mixed. She showed me my two chest x-rays from May and June and pointed out the improvements – less compression of my heart, more breathing room in my left lung – all very good news. This shows that the new chemo is having an effect and I will be staying on it indefinitely (as long as it is working, at this point.) I have a weekly treatment for two weeks and then the third week off. The bad news was that the lump on my head is a bone metastasis and that the cancer is spreading to bones as well as lungs. However, she was quite matter-of-fact about it and said, “This is what it is; this is what we are going to do.” I am now on an additional medicine called Aredia which is not chemo but a bone-strengthener. It is also used for osteoarthritis. Tuesday, I went for my chemo in Chatham and wound up getting the Aredia right away. It didn’t have any effect at the time, but I had a low fever that night and spent the next two days in bed, just wiped out. I didn’t feel nauseated or anything – just had no energy and actually slept for part of Wednesday, quite unusual for me. I’m still coming around from it and do not feel anything like I felt at the weddings – but there are other contributing factors to that, I’m sure. I will have a treatment of Aredia every three weeks.
Amy was with us all week and Mike and Lian came down for part of the weekend but everyone went home last night and today it’s just David and I.
I’m struggling with this bone cancer diagnosis; I was feeling so well at the time of the weddings that I thought I might get a break and be ‘normal’ for a while. Now I have to figure out what this means and what consequences I will have to deal with – not too positive the last couple of days, I must admit. However, I have been reminded by several family members that I am much better than I was in April and that I have just come through a fairly intense time of travel and emotion and I should give myself a break. So I am trying to do just that. I’m really not a good patient – I can cope with an illness as long as I don’t feel bad!
I know that God is still in this with me and I continue to trust in His guidance – blindly, sometimes, like a little kid hanging onto a parent’s hand or coat – but trusting in the knowledge, wisdom, purpose and love of the One who is leading. Thank you so much for your prayers – there are so many of you who are so kind to remember me.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wedding Report June 2010
The summary statement is: We couldn't have asked for more beautiful, enjoyable wedding days than the ones we were able to enjoy in the last 10 days. They seemed as if they had always been planned to happen when and where they did!
Wedding # 1 - Pete and Jocelyn
We left for Detroit on Thursday, June 17, in order to celebrate our own 43rd anniversary that night before all the other festivites and had a lovely dinner at a restaurant just a half-block from the hotel. Friday was a quiet day - we had breakfast with Jocelyn's parents, Jack and Martha Gruber, and David finally got to meet them. Later, I was able to help Martha make up the bouquets for the wedding, out of lovely calla lilies. Martha had been extremely busy, making various things for the wedding, including four boxwood-covered pillars that supported the letters L-O-V-E, which were to be background for the wedding. There were Welcome bags containing home-made cookies as well as other goodies for each guest, ribbon streamers to wave as part of hte wedding, heart fans, etc. all in the wedding colours of white, black and apple green. Other family started to arrive during the day and by that evening we had a large dinner party going in the restaurant at the hotel - 20 adults at least and several children. It was a pleasure for us to start meeting Jocelyn's family, especially her 93-year-old grandmother, Fidelis, as bright as you could wish to be at that age.
Saturday was quite a day! The weather was perfect - sunny and hot. We started with breakfast at 8:00, then a rehearsal outside on the lawn about 9:30. Various objects were called into service to stand for the real thing, much like a pick-up hockey game and we went through our paces for later in the day. Pete and Jocelyn looked great and were so happy to finally be there and practicing for the 'main event'. After the rehearsal, there was a surprise lingerie shower for Jocelyn in her parents' suite - ended with a fabulous 'movie' set of long, black sheer wrap, bordered with black maribou feathers, black maribou-covered mules and a short black lace gown. Quite the ensemble ! I had my rest until 1:00 and then David and I went down for some lunch to keep us going - and who was on the elevator but his sister and brother and their spouses, who had just driven over from Chatham for the wedding! So - we all went for lunch and had a good visit. Shortly after 2:00 I realized that I still had to get dressed, so we dashed back to our room and got ourselves 'rigged out'. I was looking forward so much to wearing this fabulous dress that I had found and it just looked great. David wore his tux, as were all the other men in the wedding party. We made it to the lobby for 2:40 or so and were just in time to walk out to the wedding site on the lawn. It had been transformed - white folding chairs, the boxwood pillars and letters as a backdrop to the event, a white runner between the rows of chairs, flowers, etc. - looked fabulous; behind it all was the river, sparkling blue in the sunshine and all the boating activity of a summer Saturday afternoon. Steve had brought me a new oxygen converter, which meant that I didn't have to use the big, heavy tanks that I had been using when I was outside and this was a huge improvement for me. It is a small 'box' on wheels and can run on a battery for 5 - 6 hours at at time.
The wedding started on time - we were escorted in by Pete and then the bridesmaid, matron of honour, flower children (Lily's green tutu dress arrived from the seamstress in Utah at 12:20 that afternoon), ring bearer (berrier, accoding to Clay) and then the bride her self, wearing a gorgeous 'mermaid' style dress - strapless and fitted to just above her knees but then flared out into a fabulous, swishy 'tail' of several yards of fabric. Pete and groomsmen were all in black tuxes with black vests, except for Pete's which was white. Jocelyn was sporting black shoes, to keep with the colour scheme too, but we didn't see much of then because of the big skirt. Everything went well for the ceremony and it was done in a lovely and heartfelt way. It was obvious to all that the two of them meant every word they said to each other and their vows were blessed by tears.
Pictures were done on the spot - there was a large old brick building at the edge of the hotel lawn and that was the backdrop. So, people just scattered on the lawn and enjoyed the cocktail bar and hors d'oeuvres which were being passed around until they were called for their turn in the 'picture gallery'. Clay and Jackson, ring bearer and flower bearer, amused themselves in the reflections from the hotel windows, trying their hats at various angles and the rest of us amused ourselves watching them. The only really bad thing that happened at the wedding happened to the photographer, Kip - someone stole his equipment suitcase just before the ceremony started. It was sitting on the bar table and apparently someone just walked up and took off with it. He had switched cameras and was able to continue taking pictures - most of us didn't realize that it had happened until that evening. His equipment is all insured; what he wants back are the pictures in the cameras - many of which they were able to re-stage Sunday afternoon.
By 5:00 it was pretty hot outside, so we went inside to the reception and air conditioning. It continued to be a most enjoyable evening and I was pleased that I was able to stay for the whole meal as well as the speeches and some of the early dancing. I even got to dance a bit with my husband and with Pete, the groom. I am enjoying my returning health so much and one of the best reasons is that I can do some of the 'normal' things again. I was able to stay until 9;30 or so and felt very good about that. The party went much later but I didn't miss anything important.
Sunday morning saw a big family brunch at 10:30, which we all enjoyed. The two families really got along well together and that was one of the nicest parts of the whole event. It was a case of putting faces and personalities to names that had been heard and getting a sense of what the 'other family' would be like for each marrying child. We both were pleased and felt that they would be well looked after. At the end of the day, after everyone else had left, David and I had supper with Martha and Jack and Pete and Jocelyn. We went to an Italian restaurant right in the RenCen (Renaissance Center) in downtown Detroit, whcih also gave us a good view of the RiverFest going on that weekend. It was a lovely ending to a wonderful weekend.
Monday, after breakfast together with the same people, we left and came home through Windsor, where I had a chest x-ray at the hospital. We were able to visit with David's brother, sister and spouses as well as my sister for the next few days as well as Steve and Kristen and crew. David had his last Board meeting of the year on Tuesday night - a marathon which saw him returning home at midnight. I'm not sure that I ever really unpacked!
Wedding # 2 - Mike and Lian
Thursday saw the exodus begin to Kitchener-Waterloo, although I guess Amy actually left Wednesday and others didn't leave until Friday. We got up there in time to go out for dinner that night with Amy and Mike and Lian at a most interesting Brazilian Grill House restaurant. Besides a salad bar, you are offered tastes of 8 different kinds of meat, all brought to the table on a sword. Once you have tasted them all, you can choose more of the ones that you like. Nothing topped dessert though - a whole pineapple, also on a sword, roasted over the grill like the meat, seasoned with cinnamon and brown sugar. We were pleased to help finish off the one they brought to our table.
Friday was a quiet day for most of us until the rehearsal at 4:00. The ceremony and the recpetion were also going to be in the same venue for this wedding and I must say, it makes it much simpler for all concerned. The venue was another of the industrial sites being reclaimed in downtown Kitchener - The Tannery - which is what it used to be. Lots of old brick, exposed venting and pipes, but very clean and charming - a lot like the condo that Mike bought several years ago! The caterers were busy setting up the tables and chairs when we got there, so we could see how it was going to be. Guests would be seated at their tables for the reception when they arrived, there would be several rows of chairs for the family during the ceremony with an aisle in the middle leading to a clear space in front of the head table where the ceremony itself would take place. Mike and Lian were going to be married by David's brother Dan, a minister from British Columbia, who had a one-time licence to do this service in Ontario. So - rehearsal went smoothly and we retired to the rehearsal supper, being catered at Mike and Lian's condo building on the rooftop garden.
This turned into quite an event - the weather was excellent, the food was unique, and at the end of the evening, several hot-air balloons were seen, which the kids loved. For food, there was catered food from a northern Thai restaurant, sushi and sashimi from a Japanese restaurant, chicken wings, Lian's father's signature duck meat salad, special 'rosette'-style cookies, beef curry, mango salad and, of course, lots of sticky rice to fill in the gaps. We had all of our family there - aunts, uncles, siblings, spouses and children and most of Lian's famliy too, plus the wedding party of friends, so it was a large and happy group. Once again, both families enjoy being together and we had a pleasant evening.
Saturday was as busy but not as scheduled as the previous week. Lian had a hairdresser and two make-up artists at the condo and I had booked in to get my hair done, so my sister got me over there for 10:00 or so. The place looked like a flower shop - there was a florist there making 12 table centrepieces, the centrepiece for the head table, bouquets for the bridesmaids, boutonnieres for the groomsmen - I don't know how she got them all done but they looked fabulous. There was even time to get hot apple fritters from the St. Jacob's market when the trip was made to get Lian's bouquet. I knew I had to rest, so I had to leave about 12:00 to go back to the hotel.
We stopped on the way - it was now raining heavily - and bought some yogurt and other snack-type foods that I could use for a lunch as well as some nylons, because it was getting fairly cool and my dress was light. (A lovely ivory silk, with magenta, purple and greenish flowers, kind of water-coloured onto it.) I couldn't remember the last time that I bought nylons - has to have been years. But I got back in time and had a good rest and then started getting ready. We were both decked out and ready to go by 3:30 and headed over to The Tannery, just 5 -6 blocks away.
Fortunately, it had stopped raining by the time we were going there, so we got in without incident and went and sat down - turned out that the chairs were mostly for our side of the famoily because we didn't have a table - it would be brought in after the wedding. Things seemed well under control and everyone was pretty calm, even Mike. Guests were still arriving after 4:00 but eventually we got under way - probably about 4:15, which isn't too bad. We were escorted to our seats by Mike and then the rest of wedding party followed. Lian had made the dresses for the three bridesmaids and maid of honour, as well as one for the 'groomslady' with Mike. Colours were purple and ivory. Other groomsmen were in tuxes with a lovely gray tapestry vest. Clay and Warren were in tiny tuxes, too and Lily, as flower girl, had a lovely ivory floor-length lace dress, so everyone was 'lookin good'! Finally, it was time for the bride - who had made her dress too - lovely ivory silk with appliqued lace flower panels, strapless and fitted to about the knees and then flared out in the back to a big, poufy train - and dad Chat, looking so proud in his tux as well. (For those who wouldn't know, Lian's beloved mother, Khem, passed away in March 2009, afer a short and unpleasant battle with pancreatic cancer.) The wedding proceeded smoothly except for one part, which Mike will continue to hear about. He didn't wait long enough when it came time for the first vow and responded with a heart-felt "I will" when Dan said, " Mike will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife..." it made everyone laugh and set the tone for an informal, comfortable mood for the rest of the wedding.
When it came time for the recpetion, one of the highlughts was when Lian changed into her Thai wedding dress, She had bought the material in Thailand when they were there in November. It was a lovely ivory and gold silk, top and skirt and it was so nice to have this additional cultural element to the wedding. Mike changed into an ivory jacket and they looked wonderful together. We were able to get some pictures with them, which I am looking forward to seeing. Then they changed back again into their original wedding garments when it was time for the toasts and other parts of the reception. I particularly enjoyed the toasts of the groomsmen, including one from Mike's former housemate, Brian, who could not attend. It's always interesting to hear remarks about one of your children from those who have lived with them and know them well. Granted, it was his wedding and they were going to be polite, but you can still get a pretty good idea. We were able to stay for part of the social time but left between the bride's bouquet toss and the groom's garter toss - apparently a good decision, from what I heard later! Although Clay was wearing the garter as a belt when I saw him the next day, so I don't know how that all happened.
Sunday morning, we met at the hotel dining room at 11:30 for a brunch together before everyone started to leave. My sister Carol had already left, as she was driving back to Ottawa via Kingston, but we had breakfast together before she went. We sat with David's sister, brother and spouses and had a nice time just being together. We never know when we will have the chance again - British Columbia and Minnesota and not next door to Ontario. Then it was time to break it up and everyone left to check out and leave. Once again, we were staying until Monday, but everyone else was leaving at some point Sunday.
I heard that Pete and Jocelyn were going to go over to Amy's to do a laundry, so I hitched a ride with them - David was going to catch up on his sleep. I wanted to have more time with them because I never know when I will see them again, either. It turned out very well in the long run, because Steve and Kristen arrived with their crew, Pete and Jocelyn decided to stay longer and we all went out for supper together - and unexpected bonus. About 7:00 p.m., Pete and Jocelyn headed for Detroit so that they could make their 6:15 a.m. flight to St. Lucia the next day and Steve and Kristen left for Niagara Falls, to have a few tourist days before they return to Chatham later this week. Amy will join them Monday. Mike and Lian are also in the Grimsby/Vineland area for their honeymoon.
Finally, we loaded up all our stuff Monday morning - well, closer to Monday noon - drove over to Amy's for a short visit and picked up the two dogs and headed peacefully for home, happy to have been a part of two such wonderful events and full to the brim with family time and love. I was also so thankful that I was well enough to participate so much and to bring the blessing of my improving health to my children and husband and sister , who have been through so much with me this spring. God has been so good. Thank you all for all your prayers for all of us through this wonderful time.
Wedding # 1 - Pete and Jocelyn
We left for Detroit on Thursday, June 17, in order to celebrate our own 43rd anniversary that night before all the other festivites and had a lovely dinner at a restaurant just a half-block from the hotel. Friday was a quiet day - we had breakfast with Jocelyn's parents, Jack and Martha Gruber, and David finally got to meet them. Later, I was able to help Martha make up the bouquets for the wedding, out of lovely calla lilies. Martha had been extremely busy, making various things for the wedding, including four boxwood-covered pillars that supported the letters L-O-V-E, which were to be background for the wedding. There were Welcome bags containing home-made cookies as well as other goodies for each guest, ribbon streamers to wave as part of hte wedding, heart fans, etc. all in the wedding colours of white, black and apple green. Other family started to arrive during the day and by that evening we had a large dinner party going in the restaurant at the hotel - 20 adults at least and several children. It was a pleasure for us to start meeting Jocelyn's family, especially her 93-year-old grandmother, Fidelis, as bright as you could wish to be at that age.
Saturday was quite a day! The weather was perfect - sunny and hot. We started with breakfast at 8:00, then a rehearsal outside on the lawn about 9:30. Various objects were called into service to stand for the real thing, much like a pick-up hockey game and we went through our paces for later in the day. Pete and Jocelyn looked great and were so happy to finally be there and practicing for the 'main event'. After the rehearsal, there was a surprise lingerie shower for Jocelyn in her parents' suite - ended with a fabulous 'movie' set of long, black sheer wrap, bordered with black maribou feathers, black maribou-covered mules and a short black lace gown. Quite the ensemble ! I had my rest until 1:00 and then David and I went down for some lunch to keep us going - and who was on the elevator but his sister and brother and their spouses, who had just driven over from Chatham for the wedding! So - we all went for lunch and had a good visit. Shortly after 2:00 I realized that I still had to get dressed, so we dashed back to our room and got ourselves 'rigged out'. I was looking forward so much to wearing this fabulous dress that I had found and it just looked great. David wore his tux, as were all the other men in the wedding party. We made it to the lobby for 2:40 or so and were just in time to walk out to the wedding site on the lawn. It had been transformed - white folding chairs, the boxwood pillars and letters as a backdrop to the event, a white runner between the rows of chairs, flowers, etc. - looked fabulous; behind it all was the river, sparkling blue in the sunshine and all the boating activity of a summer Saturday afternoon. Steve had brought me a new oxygen converter, which meant that I didn't have to use the big, heavy tanks that I had been using when I was outside and this was a huge improvement for me. It is a small 'box' on wheels and can run on a battery for 5 - 6 hours at at time.
The wedding started on time - we were escorted in by Pete and then the bridesmaid, matron of honour, flower children (Lily's green tutu dress arrived from the seamstress in Utah at 12:20 that afternoon), ring bearer (berrier, accoding to Clay) and then the bride her self, wearing a gorgeous 'mermaid' style dress - strapless and fitted to just above her knees but then flared out into a fabulous, swishy 'tail' of several yards of fabric. Pete and groomsmen were all in black tuxes with black vests, except for Pete's which was white. Jocelyn was sporting black shoes, to keep with the colour scheme too, but we didn't see much of then because of the big skirt. Everything went well for the ceremony and it was done in a lovely and heartfelt way. It was obvious to all that the two of them meant every word they said to each other and their vows were blessed by tears.
Pictures were done on the spot - there was a large old brick building at the edge of the hotel lawn and that was the backdrop. So, people just scattered on the lawn and enjoyed the cocktail bar and hors d'oeuvres which were being passed around until they were called for their turn in the 'picture gallery'. Clay and Jackson, ring bearer and flower bearer, amused themselves in the reflections from the hotel windows, trying their hats at various angles and the rest of us amused ourselves watching them. The only really bad thing that happened at the wedding happened to the photographer, Kip - someone stole his equipment suitcase just before the ceremony started. It was sitting on the bar table and apparently someone just walked up and took off with it. He had switched cameras and was able to continue taking pictures - most of us didn't realize that it had happened until that evening. His equipment is all insured; what he wants back are the pictures in the cameras - many of which they were able to re-stage Sunday afternoon.
By 5:00 it was pretty hot outside, so we went inside to the reception and air conditioning. It continued to be a most enjoyable evening and I was pleased that I was able to stay for the whole meal as well as the speeches and some of the early dancing. I even got to dance a bit with my husband and with Pete, the groom. I am enjoying my returning health so much and one of the best reasons is that I can do some of the 'normal' things again. I was able to stay until 9;30 or so and felt very good about that. The party went much later but I didn't miss anything important.
Sunday morning saw a big family brunch at 10:30, which we all enjoyed. The two families really got along well together and that was one of the nicest parts of the whole event. It was a case of putting faces and personalities to names that had been heard and getting a sense of what the 'other family' would be like for each marrying child. We both were pleased and felt that they would be well looked after. At the end of the day, after everyone else had left, David and I had supper with Martha and Jack and Pete and Jocelyn. We went to an Italian restaurant right in the RenCen (Renaissance Center) in downtown Detroit, whcih also gave us a good view of the RiverFest going on that weekend. It was a lovely ending to a wonderful weekend.
Monday, after breakfast together with the same people, we left and came home through Windsor, where I had a chest x-ray at the hospital. We were able to visit with David's brother, sister and spouses as well as my sister for the next few days as well as Steve and Kristen and crew. David had his last Board meeting of the year on Tuesday night - a marathon which saw him returning home at midnight. I'm not sure that I ever really unpacked!
Wedding # 2 - Mike and Lian
Thursday saw the exodus begin to Kitchener-Waterloo, although I guess Amy actually left Wednesday and others didn't leave until Friday. We got up there in time to go out for dinner that night with Amy and Mike and Lian at a most interesting Brazilian Grill House restaurant. Besides a salad bar, you are offered tastes of 8 different kinds of meat, all brought to the table on a sword. Once you have tasted them all, you can choose more of the ones that you like. Nothing topped dessert though - a whole pineapple, also on a sword, roasted over the grill like the meat, seasoned with cinnamon and brown sugar. We were pleased to help finish off the one they brought to our table.
Friday was a quiet day for most of us until the rehearsal at 4:00. The ceremony and the recpetion were also going to be in the same venue for this wedding and I must say, it makes it much simpler for all concerned. The venue was another of the industrial sites being reclaimed in downtown Kitchener - The Tannery - which is what it used to be. Lots of old brick, exposed venting and pipes, but very clean and charming - a lot like the condo that Mike bought several years ago! The caterers were busy setting up the tables and chairs when we got there, so we could see how it was going to be. Guests would be seated at their tables for the reception when they arrived, there would be several rows of chairs for the family during the ceremony with an aisle in the middle leading to a clear space in front of the head table where the ceremony itself would take place. Mike and Lian were going to be married by David's brother Dan, a minister from British Columbia, who had a one-time licence to do this service in Ontario. So - rehearsal went smoothly and we retired to the rehearsal supper, being catered at Mike and Lian's condo building on the rooftop garden.
This turned into quite an event - the weather was excellent, the food was unique, and at the end of the evening, several hot-air balloons were seen, which the kids loved. For food, there was catered food from a northern Thai restaurant, sushi and sashimi from a Japanese restaurant, chicken wings, Lian's father's signature duck meat salad, special 'rosette'-style cookies, beef curry, mango salad and, of course, lots of sticky rice to fill in the gaps. We had all of our family there - aunts, uncles, siblings, spouses and children and most of Lian's famliy too, plus the wedding party of friends, so it was a large and happy group. Once again, both families enjoy being together and we had a pleasant evening.
Saturday was as busy but not as scheduled as the previous week. Lian had a hairdresser and two make-up artists at the condo and I had booked in to get my hair done, so my sister got me over there for 10:00 or so. The place looked like a flower shop - there was a florist there making 12 table centrepieces, the centrepiece for the head table, bouquets for the bridesmaids, boutonnieres for the groomsmen - I don't know how she got them all done but they looked fabulous. There was even time to get hot apple fritters from the St. Jacob's market when the trip was made to get Lian's bouquet. I knew I had to rest, so I had to leave about 12:00 to go back to the hotel.
We stopped on the way - it was now raining heavily - and bought some yogurt and other snack-type foods that I could use for a lunch as well as some nylons, because it was getting fairly cool and my dress was light. (A lovely ivory silk, with magenta, purple and greenish flowers, kind of water-coloured onto it.) I couldn't remember the last time that I bought nylons - has to have been years. But I got back in time and had a good rest and then started getting ready. We were both decked out and ready to go by 3:30 and headed over to The Tannery, just 5 -6 blocks away.
Fortunately, it had stopped raining by the time we were going there, so we got in without incident and went and sat down - turned out that the chairs were mostly for our side of the famoily because we didn't have a table - it would be brought in after the wedding. Things seemed well under control and everyone was pretty calm, even Mike. Guests were still arriving after 4:00 but eventually we got under way - probably about 4:15, which isn't too bad. We were escorted to our seats by Mike and then the rest of wedding party followed. Lian had made the dresses for the three bridesmaids and maid of honour, as well as one for the 'groomslady' with Mike. Colours were purple and ivory. Other groomsmen were in tuxes with a lovely gray tapestry vest. Clay and Warren were in tiny tuxes, too and Lily, as flower girl, had a lovely ivory floor-length lace dress, so everyone was 'lookin good'! Finally, it was time for the bride - who had made her dress too - lovely ivory silk with appliqued lace flower panels, strapless and fitted to about the knees and then flared out in the back to a big, poufy train - and dad Chat, looking so proud in his tux as well. (For those who wouldn't know, Lian's beloved mother, Khem, passed away in March 2009, afer a short and unpleasant battle with pancreatic cancer.) The wedding proceeded smoothly except for one part, which Mike will continue to hear about. He didn't wait long enough when it came time for the first vow and responded with a heart-felt "I will" when Dan said, " Mike will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife..." it made everyone laugh and set the tone for an informal, comfortable mood for the rest of the wedding.
When it came time for the recpetion, one of the highlughts was when Lian changed into her Thai wedding dress, She had bought the material in Thailand when they were there in November. It was a lovely ivory and gold silk, top and skirt and it was so nice to have this additional cultural element to the wedding. Mike changed into an ivory jacket and they looked wonderful together. We were able to get some pictures with them, which I am looking forward to seeing. Then they changed back again into their original wedding garments when it was time for the toasts and other parts of the reception. I particularly enjoyed the toasts of the groomsmen, including one from Mike's former housemate, Brian, who could not attend. It's always interesting to hear remarks about one of your children from those who have lived with them and know them well. Granted, it was his wedding and they were going to be polite, but you can still get a pretty good idea. We were able to stay for part of the social time but left between the bride's bouquet toss and the groom's garter toss - apparently a good decision, from what I heard later! Although Clay was wearing the garter as a belt when I saw him the next day, so I don't know how that all happened.
Sunday morning, we met at the hotel dining room at 11:30 for a brunch together before everyone started to leave. My sister Carol had already left, as she was driving back to Ottawa via Kingston, but we had breakfast together before she went. We sat with David's sister, brother and spouses and had a nice time just being together. We never know when we will have the chance again - British Columbia and Minnesota and not next door to Ontario. Then it was time to break it up and everyone left to check out and leave. Once again, we were staying until Monday, but everyone else was leaving at some point Sunday.
I heard that Pete and Jocelyn were going to go over to Amy's to do a laundry, so I hitched a ride with them - David was going to catch up on his sleep. I wanted to have more time with them because I never know when I will see them again, either. It turned out very well in the long run, because Steve and Kristen arrived with their crew, Pete and Jocelyn decided to stay longer and we all went out for supper together - and unexpected bonus. About 7:00 p.m., Pete and Jocelyn headed for Detroit so that they could make their 6:15 a.m. flight to St. Lucia the next day and Steve and Kristen left for Niagara Falls, to have a few tourist days before they return to Chatham later this week. Amy will join them Monday. Mike and Lian are also in the Grimsby/Vineland area for their honeymoon.
Finally, we loaded up all our stuff Monday morning - well, closer to Monday noon - drove over to Amy's for a short visit and picked up the two dogs and headed peacefully for home, happy to have been a part of two such wonderful events and full to the brim with family time and love. I was also so thankful that I was well enough to participate so much and to bring the blessing of my improving health to my children and husband and sister , who have been through so much with me this spring. God has been so good. Thank you all for all your prayers for all of us through this wonderful time.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Update - June 15, 2010
Good morning - kind of overcast here today and rain is expected for tomorrow but all indications are that Saturday will be warm and sunny for the first wedding! For the Texas crowd a day in the 80's will be a welcome cooling off from the weeks of 95's that they have been experiencing.
Chemo yesterday went very well - done by 10:30 or so. I was able to walk both into and out of the chemo lab - no wheelchair, as I had been doing when I started in May. This would be a distance of several hundred feet and I see it as another little measure of my general improvement and returning strength. I am so thankful. The actual dose of chemo is 6 ml. If it proves effective against the cancer, I may be on it for some time, but we'll see how that develops.
We also had a very encouraging talk with the supervising doctor in the chemo lab yesterday. I told him about my CT experience in Windsor and he felt the bump again - told me it didn't feel like cancer to him, just a 'bone growth' - osteo.....something. He also told us that if the cancer seems to be 'retreating', as mine seems to be from the radiation at least, that it will not likely spread to other sites, like brain, liver, etc. That was excellent news to us and I was especially cheered since I have found it difficult not to assume that every new twinge or pain is an indication of the cancer spreading somewhere else. There are now always two voices in my head debating whether or not it is spreading - a sore elbow could be bone cancer...or just a pinched nerve. I think it is because the original cancer kind of sneaks up on you that you are never sure that it's not going to jump on you again somewhere else. You tell yourself not to be so negative but the other little voice says. "Yes, but...". Anyhow - this will help with all of that mental wondering and I was very glad to hear it.
Today is the last quiet day before the wedding schedule takes over - manicures, laundry, hair appointments, packing (trying not to take my entire wardrobe), ordering enough oxygen tanks, etc. It's going to be a lot of fun ! I am feeling really well and am so thankful that I will be able to participate in these celebrations with enthusiasm.
May God be with you today in whatever you are doing. Thank you again for your prayers and loving concern. I am happy to tell you that I am feeling so much better.
Chemo yesterday went very well - done by 10:30 or so. I was able to walk both into and out of the chemo lab - no wheelchair, as I had been doing when I started in May. This would be a distance of several hundred feet and I see it as another little measure of my general improvement and returning strength. I am so thankful. The actual dose of chemo is 6 ml. If it proves effective against the cancer, I may be on it for some time, but we'll see how that develops.
We also had a very encouraging talk with the supervising doctor in the chemo lab yesterday. I told him about my CT experience in Windsor and he felt the bump again - told me it didn't feel like cancer to him, just a 'bone growth' - osteo.....something. He also told us that if the cancer seems to be 'retreating', as mine seems to be from the radiation at least, that it will not likely spread to other sites, like brain, liver, etc. That was excellent news to us and I was especially cheered since I have found it difficult not to assume that every new twinge or pain is an indication of the cancer spreading somewhere else. There are now always two voices in my head debating whether or not it is spreading - a sore elbow could be bone cancer...or just a pinched nerve. I think it is because the original cancer kind of sneaks up on you that you are never sure that it's not going to jump on you again somewhere else. You tell yourself not to be so negative but the other little voice says. "Yes, but...". Anyhow - this will help with all of that mental wondering and I was very glad to hear it.
Today is the last quiet day before the wedding schedule takes over - manicures, laundry, hair appointments, packing (trying not to take my entire wardrobe), ordering enough oxygen tanks, etc. It's going to be a lot of fun ! I am feeling really well and am so thankful that I will be able to participate in these celebrations with enthusiasm.
May God be with you today in whatever you are doing. Thank you again for your prayers and loving concern. I am happy to tell you that I am feeling so much better.
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