Waiting

 My further tests are scheduled.

For July 20th.  I asked for an earlier date, and was offered July 19th.

My nurse was pretty upset by that, which caused me a great deal of anxiety, but she checked with Doc, and he was fine with it.  She explained that she's just used to being able to order these types of things and have them done within a week.  

She said it was part of her desire to control how things get done, and not about my risk being high.

So, I can get in another few weeks of working over time, and I don't have to freak out until next month.

Yesterday, our house sitter came over and reviewed stuff with us.   It was 104 degrees, so we did very little outside.

This morning, we are headed to a new hiking destination that is 30 minutes away.  My friend at the dance studio said she sees lots of deer there, and that there are some easy trails.

After that, we will go to Costco, then back home to continue cleaning the house.  

I got a lot done yesterday, but it's not how I like to leave it for having someone stay here.

This afternoon, there is a protest at the capitol that we plan to attend. Not sure what our signs will say, but we will think about that while we hike. 

On that note, I am off to get ready to go for our morning hike. 

Uncertainty

 Well, here we are again.  

It seems like every year and a half - to two years - on this journey, the cancer re-asserts itself, trying to regain dominance.  Or not.

The scans show two spots in the spine, and one in the liver, that require additional imaging. 

My doc said not to worry, and of course, I am worried, but I am not freaking out.  I know that my team will get me through this, whatever it is.

He said that sometimes, the bone mets shift and look different on a CT scan as they sclerose (heal), so they want to take a different look, and I am waiting for a nuclear bone scan to be scheduled. 

He said that the liver spot may just be a cluster of blood cells, called a hemangioma, which is relatively common, and benign, so they want to take a different look, and I am waiting for an MRI to be scheduled.

I freaking HATE MRIs. Ugh.

The spot in the lower spine is not where my pain is centered, so I am thinking it isn't related, but I guess we shall find out.

My nurse said that there is actually a form of radiation therapy that is used to bone mets for pain management!  I thought that was quite interesting, and comforting.

SO I just keep on keeping on, and wait for the phone to ring.  I certainly hope this doesn't interfere with our planned vacation. That would SUCK.

I went back to dance class on Monday, but was a bit afraid to move in certain ways. I hope to do some practicing this afternoon, and regain my confidence.

It's been very hot here, of course.  

Friday morning, early, Dave got the front yard mowed and edged, and yesterday, he mowed the back.

Yesterday, I got out and cleared the two garden barrels, and pulled up the potatoes.  The soil that I bought back in the spring to refresh the large containers was infested with crab grass.... charming. 

It choked out my other plants, but I DID get a harvest of about 6 golden potatoes, which we ate last night.

Today, it isn't supposed to be AS hot, but we are going back out this morning, and I am going to direct Dave as to what needs to be removed from the flower bed, and what used to be my herb garden.

He will go after unwanted trees, grapevine, and trumpet vine with his various tools.

Speaking of that, I'd better go wake him up. 

Have a good week, and please keep a good thought for me.

Tropical heat wave

 ...so we went from record breaking rainfalls to record breaking heat in less than 48 hours.

Whee.

The good part is that the intense heat yesterday is lowering the humidity today.

Yesterday was HORRIBLE. Dew point was 73, if I recall correctly.  Just miserable. 

I got up at 6 this morning, so we could go take a woods walk.  Woke Dave up, but it took him another hour to get moving.

We had a nice stroll, though, and then went out for breakfast.

It's going to be 102 here by afternoon, with high humidity, so the heat index will be high again, but it should be a bit dryer than yesterday. 

We are going outside NOW to get mowing, and other yard work, done while it's "only" a heat index of 90.

At least there's a breeze, too.

I had a virtually pain free day yesterday.  Woke up this morning in some discomfort, which slowed and shortened our walk at the woods, but I am fine now.

My scans are Tuesday.  We shall see if they can find anything related to this pain.  If not, I will probably be referred for physical therapy to start with.

Since changing hormone blockers, the pain has become much more random, so that's good.  It was constant for a while there.

The leg cramps have calmed down, too.  I had hoped they would dissipate, and they have.

Yesterday, we went to Lowe's and bought a few plants.  I got some coleus planted in the flower box on the front of the house, since we missed the sweet potato vine, which is what I usually put in the box.

Also got my traditional scarlet begonias (Grateful Dead song title, one of my favorites), and I will be potting those this morning.  We are also planting another clematis on a post of the pergola.

Hoping for some rest time this afternoon.  

Nothing else to report!  Stay cool!

Not this again......

 Doc changed the hormone blocker for me, back to Letrozole.

Since there are three of these medicines, this was the one I most recently took probably ending 3 or 4 years ago.  I can't remember anymore.

Anyway, I DO remember, now, the drastic increase in nighttime leg cramps while on this medication!

UGH!!!  I started taking it on Thursday, and have had my sleep seriously disrupted every night since.

I sort of remember that it eases off eventually, but am not totally confident in that memory at this point, because I am so freaking tired.

And yes, I take all of the supplements, and know all of the tricks, because I have suffered from these cramps most of my life, to varying degrees.

I should get a call some time this coming week regarding scheduling my next scan appointment. 

In other news, the weather these past few days has been much cooler.  We've gotten some rain, but not a lot. Maybe today.

Finally got the news on my raise, and the extra cash on the pay check.  

The raise percentage was 9%.   

Everyone else I have talked to got more like 11% or 12%, but I understand that we were all being underpaid at different levels, and I understand that everyone's percentage was different! 

Mine was a lower percentage, probably because I was already close to the top of scale for my position, because I have been there for so long. 

I am happy with any raise I can get, and 9% is great!

Overtime starts again this coming week.  It was nice, however, to have last week to take my lunch breaks and clock out at the regular time!

The missing window is finally in, and will be installed Thursday.  We also had the estimator come and bid the next set.  Decided to open a credit account with them and get more done at once than originally planned.

We did that because they added a $250.00 "project fee," so that each pair would have been more expensive if we'd continued to do two at a time.

The interest rate is only 6%, and we will pay the amount we were putting in savings every month for the windows, which will be much higher than the minimum payment. 

The nicest part about this is that the bedroom will be done now, and that means the noise from next door will be much harder to hear in the middle of the night.

Hopefully, these new windows will be in and installed by the end of July.  The guy said the delay has been gradually shortening, so that's good.

Dave got the front yard mowed and edged yesterday, and if it doesn't rain, I will try to get the back done today.  I'd like to go to the woods, since it's not even 8 am yet...we will see what Dave thinks about that.

Have a good week!