BLESSINGS!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner this year.....my sweet hubby, awesome sister and two furry daughters...Jazzabelle and Emma Grace! It was a wonderful day. Kimberly brought the most amazing dessert that I am sure has just become a new Holiday tradition with us....Paula Deen's Chocolate Bread Pudding....OMG!!! You can really hurt yourself with this one! I have never tried one of Paula's recipes that I didn't fall in love with!

Sometimes it is hard to believe that Mom, Dad and Jennifer aren't here with us....Holidays can be so hard....I miss them each and everyday....but this time of year seems to magnify the feelings. I am just so thankful that we have so many wonderful memories to cherish of them! It is good to know that they are happy and healthy now and I will be united with them again!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and counted their blessings. I also hope that we can all slow down this Christmas Season and savor the true meaning of Christmas!

I am now four weeks out with my new hip....getting better everyday....looking forward to walking on my own...should graduate from the walker to the cane within a couple of weeks...looking forward to that.....especially back to driving. I am blessed....can now ride in the car to Little Rock without pain and having to stop half way there to walk around....the little things in life!

Merry Christmas to all!

TWO WEEKS OUT

Two weeks ago yesterday, I got my new hip! Got to come home from the hospital on Friday. The people at the hospital were concerned about me being able to get up the stairs at Kimberly's..but I did just fine. My recovery is going well....didn't have any bleeding or drainage at all from my incision until Saturday morning.....since then I have had some bleeding but they think it is from the increased dose of coumadin.

My sister, Kimberly, has been the best nurse, friend and caregiver I could ever dream of having. Like I have said before, a sister is the best gift your parents can give you.

I go to the doctor tomorrow for my first check up. If all goes well, I will then go home to Hot Springs....have really missed the country life with my sweet hubby and furry babies....hope they remember who I am!

I am still praying that getting my hip fixed will also resolve my back problem and help me avoid more surgery. I am ready to get back to work giving care, love and hope to others!

• My oncologist called yesterday and cancer markers are elevated again. I will have it re checked tomorrow. Hoping and praying that it is just a lab error. I am told that sometimes they never find the cause of the elevated markers...I have recently had an MRI, PET scan, Bone scan and a colonoscopy....don't know where else they would look. I know that it is in God, the Great Physician's, hands and I put my trust and faith in Him!

HOORAY!

I have my new hip...got released from the hospital on Friday. I am staying with my wonderful sister, Kimberly, until I can manuever by myself. We were really concerned about coming up the stairs to her apartment...two flights of nine stairs each! Wasn't bad at all...the movement actually felt pretty good....haven't tried going down them yet. Walking every hour and feeling better. The hardest part so far has been getting in and out of bed and having to sleep on your back....but I am adjusting!

Everyone has been so wonderful and supportive of me. Kimberly is the greatest...don't know what I would do without her!

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!!!!

I can hardly believe that it is almost here...HIP HIP HOORAY! It seems like I have been waiting forever for this day...tomorrow! I will get my new hip and finally be on my way to start living again....and back to work. I miss my patients and co workers so much...ACH really is my second family!

I am making my list and checking it twice and ready to start packing. Hopefully this time next week, I will be feeling much better.

Sisters are the best and most precious gift your parents can ever give you.....my parents sure gave me the perfect gift with my sister, Kimberly. I will be going to her house during my first days of recovery. As much as I would rather be at home, I know that since my hubby is working nights, this will be the best place. She has arranged to be able to work at home so that I won't be staying alone while I am learning to get around without bending my leg. Like I have said before, it will be like living in a scrapbook store. She will not be working this first week, so we should be able to get alot of cards and projects done! She is the one that got me into this paper crafting madness and she is my inspiration! I wish everyone could see the exploding box she made for me with the pictures from my ten year breast cancer anniversary party....truly amazing, just as she is! It will be good spending time with her....she is the greatest!

Better get to packing.....good bye old hip...hello new and improved hip!

I AM SO BLESSED!!!

I had such a great day yesterday. First I had to go get my lab work done....then to Conway for a wonderful birthday lunch with Kimberly, Lisa, Missy, Charlotte, Linda Y., Linda Mc., Edwina, Mandy and Breanna...I feel so spoiled and loved my first visit to Mike's Place...yum!! Kimberly, Breanna and I then went to my hip class. It was very informative. We got to see the implant and hold it. Found out that if I ever fly, will have to go to the airport early because of setting off the metal detector and will probably have to show them my scar! I will be able to walk after surgery, but no bending...for fear of the new hip popping out of the socket. When you have surgery or are ill, you really want to be at home in your own bed.,,,but sometimes you have to do what is best for your recovery. I have waited a long time to get this resolved. Since my hubby now works at night and I would be home alone, my gracious, awesome sister has arranged to be able to work from home and watch over me during my first days of recovery. Sisters are one of the most precious gifts in life...she is my rock, my pillow, my strength...she is always there for me. I will stay with her after I am released from the hospital until I am sure that I can maneuver and be alone. I also will have to have lab work done twice a week because of the blood thinners. I am sure that I will find plenty to do....it will be like living in a scrapbook store......I should be able to get all my Christmas cards and gifts made! After the hip class, Kimberly treated me to a hair cut and color....I want to look my best pushing my walker LOL! We ended the wonderful day celebrating with the Pajama Mamas....Breanna loved wearing her pajamas to IHOP! What a perfect little angel during such a busy day. When we left IHOP, she said "I think I need to lay down and take a nap." She slept on the way home, but never once complained about anything the whole day.....she is such a joy. I thank my wonderful sister and friends for such an awesome day...."I get by with a little help from my friends." Hip Hip Hooray.....only three more days!

HIP HIP HOORAY!! FIVE MORE DAYS!

Just five more days until I get my new hip.....can't wait. So tired of this pain and being a human barometer of the weather! The next five days will be busy and will go by pretty quickly. Tomorrow I go to the doctor at 10 for my lab work, then 10 friends and I are going to Conway for lunch, then I have my hip class...then a perfect ending to the day with a great time with the Pajama Mamas! Breanna has been here with me this week. She is only five years old....such a joy to be around and such a great little stamper and card maker! Saturday is the Razorback game and then we are meeting Kimberly at Grandpa's for some catfish...yum! Sunday is church and crafting and then Monday night is Bible Study....which leads to the Big Day! Seems like it has been forever waiting for this...but it will be worth the wait!

RACE FOR THE CURE

Today is the day for the Race for the Cure in Little Rock. Since I have just celebrated my ten year anniversary as a breast cancer survivor, I had hoped to be at this year's race. I will plan on being there next year for sure, with my brand new hip!

It is such an amazing thing to experience being a part of this day. Seeing that many people coming together in one place to support such a good cause is almost breathtaking.....especially when you are walking over the Broadway Bridge and look and see all the people crossing the Main Street Bridge at the same time. You see people who are survivors, people who are walking in honor or in memory of their loved ones and people walking to support this great cause. I have never been there without starting the race with tears in my eyes...for seeing the memory patches people have on their shirts and for all the people walking together as one, for such a good cause. It is truly such an emotional experience.

My heart swells with pride when I think of all the times my precious Jennifer was walking with me. I know alot of those years she didn't feel like walking at all...but she insisted that she walked with me. The last year that she walked with me, we had to stop and let her rest a bit. We were in the last group to finish.....but finish, we did!

This year I will be a "Jammie Walker" for sure.....but I will wear my shirt today and know and feel how many thousands of other women will be wearing this same shirt today. We will all wear pink, "fight like a girl" and all come together to "save the ta tas"!