September Already?

I am not quite sure how it got to be August 31st already.  I could swear just yesterday I was looking forward to the weeks of hot sunny weather a normal NJ summer brings; now I am planning out my fall wardrobe and waiting for the return of "school is in" early morning traffic.

The past few weeks have been busy which I guess is why it seems time is flying by.  I have committed to running the Marine Corps Marathon with my brother and friend Jess on Halloween.  So, yes in eight short weeks I'll once again do that crazy 26.2 mile run.  (Note emphasis on "crazy"!)  Training has begun and we are up to 16 miles for our long runs.  Yes, training sucks up a lot of time.

Speaking of training my tri season has come to an end, capped off nicely with me taking home the above pictured souvenir from the inaugural Asbury Park SheRox event.   Greg and I had a fabulous weekend "down at the shore" - thankfully I was not cognizant of the fact that the water I was swimming through for the swim leg of my tri felt like tapioca due to the multitudes of jellyfish, and the beautiful homes of Deal distracted me from registering the miles I pedaled on my bike.  We had wonderful meals at places like Moonstruck, The Boards, Stella Marina and Avenue.  Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Ocean Grove have come a long way since the days of my late teens and early 20's when we would not even stop in town on our way to the beach due to fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The weekend was hot and sunny, the beaches packed with Snooki and Situation wanna-bes, the boardwalk full of folks strolling along desperate for an ocean breeze, and in late evening the moon rose up over the ocean a brilliant red-orange orb that slowly faded to rose then to white providing a spectacular show over the water.  Ah summer - how I hate to see you go!

As much as I hate for summer to end, I do admit to truly enjoying the fall.  I love the crisp air and seeing the riot of colors that autumn brings to the trees.  I love wearing sweaters and the smell of the first fire being stoked in neighborhood fireplaces.  September brings many great events - the Komen Race for the Cure, the 2010 Reach the Beach Relay, and the season finale of True Blood. I have one more visit to my oncologist for my final Zometa infusion and that should be it for doctor visits for the year. When I look back at the summer of 2010 I'll recall the incredible weather I had while staying on the Cape; diving through the waves at the Jersey Shore; and the birth of our newest neighbor Sofia Isis Jones.  Surgery seems so long ago, my incision scars are slowly fading from an angry red to light pink, and I have no need to return to the Cancer Center until next year.  Until then I have training to do, holidays and birthdays to celebrate, places to go and people to see - so, "so long summer", I am sure my longing for you will hit just around say March... 

Follow up

It is a gloomy Monday morning and I am getting ready to make the trek into NYC to visit my doctor - well, one of my doctors!  It has been seven weeks since my surgery so I am hopeful she will tell me that I am finally healing as I should, that my stitches have dissolved and that I will not need to see her again until next year. 

I'll be heading back to the NYU Cancer Center in only another two weeks for my mammogram.  This excursion of course brings a certain amount of anxiety to my life.  For the next few days I cannot help but recall the mammogram that started the need for this blog.  Yes, I am thankful my cancer was caught, removed, treated.  I am thankful that we have technology that allows this sort of diagnosis to no longer be a death sentence and every year treatment options get better.  Still, I will have butterflies and restless sleep until I get the "all clear" that day.

Thankfully we had a wonderful weekend - dinner with friends Friday evening to kick it off; a glorious Saturday sunny and cool on which we attended an open water swim clinic on Lake Hopatcong (well, that was only me) my 25th (OMG!) high school reunion, our neighbor's 2nd birthday and a lake celebration with friends.  All said I was still in bed before ten but guess my body needed the sleep as I missed my Sunday morning cycling date.  I ended up swimming laps and running ten miles in the rain with my brother. I'll see what the doctor says this morning about how this body of mine is healing and make my decision.  I best get going as Monday morning traffic is never good!

The Long and The Short of It

It has been an interesting summer so far.  We are in the home stretch: the hot and humid days of August have arrived and the days grow shorter.  Tomorrow marks six weeks post surgery for me.  I feel pretty good but have not healed as quickly as I would have liked.  I still have my stitches, doing ab work is not yet a good thing and I had to skip a triathlon last weekend because I was still experiencing some "side effects" of healing - I will not go into graphic detail but suffice to say my body was readily telling me I was in no shape to swim/bike/run.

Well, that was last week.  I am going to try  again - or is that "tri again"? This weekend brings the Pequannock Tri, a shorter distance tri and one I think manageable.  I say this as I prepare to go practice an open water swim at 9pm with my brother.  Hmm - this should prove interesting.  At least no one will see me struggle in and out of my wetsuit! 

Our kitchen renovation is complete, again I ask myself why I have these types of projects completed while I am home dealing with a complex disease.  In 2008 while in the throes of chemotherapy we had the cabin sandblasted and restained.  I stayed at my mom's.  This go around we ripped down walls, cabinets, the works.  I stayed at my mom's, my dad's and my in-laws.  It is good to have family both nearby and those who live in a summer vacation spot!

While convalescing after surgery and awaiting the dreaded results phone call I decided that if I indeed was going to face chemotherapy once again, I was going to go long first.  Hence the photo above.  Extensions were fun but very hot.  I feel much lighter without them but plan on having them againn soon - perhaps in the cold winter months.

Much to look forward to during these dog days of summer: I'll be seeing the Adams Family on Broadway, visiting with my friend Patrice who is coming to town from Missouri, I'll be honored by the Komen NYC Race for the Cure for once again being one of the top 100 fundraisers - this time for 2009; my 25th (gasp!) high school reunion is being held nearby, I have tickets to Tears fro Fears with Jess and hope to participate in the SheRox Triathlon at the end of the month.  Whew!  I best go hit the lake!!!

Race for the Cure

While I am in denial that July is in its last week, I truly cannot believe it is once again time for the annual NYC Race for the Cure!  On Sunday September 12th, I'll once again don my favorite pink attire and join the thousands of others who have been impacted in some way by breast cancer.

This year I have volunteered to lead my corporate team and set aggressive goals for both the team and myself.  Why not consider joining us?  I have walked for the past seven years and the day is always a good one!  If you are unable to join us for a walk, please consider making a donation.  I try to "talk the talk and walk the walk" and I can honestly say that I have benefited from the funds that the Komen organization has helped raise.  The breakthroughs in research and treatment options made my experience with breast cancer one that I survived.  My hope is that one day, women will no longer have to worry about breast cancer at all.  Now wouldn't that be a wonderful day?

With all this cancer talk, I guess I should I add I am headed to the cancer center today for my 1st true exam following my surgery.  I am confident all should be fine - I think the commute in will be the most difficult aspect of the day!  However with cooler temperatures having arrived via the torrential downpours we had yesterday afternoon, an afternoon jaunt into the city may not be so bad.  Have a great week!

Real World

nor·mal   /ˈnɔrməl/ Show Spelled[nawr-muhl] Show IPA

–adjective
1. conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.
2. serving to establish a standard.
3. Psychology .
a. approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.
b. free from any mental disorder; sane.
4. Biology, Medicine/Medical .
a. free from any infection or other form of disease or malformation, or from experimental therapy or manipulation.
b. of natural occurrence.
 
As crazy as it may seem, tomorrow marks my return to the real world - aka back to work!  I feel great and the past three weeks of inpatient hospital stays, lounging on Cape Cod and watching the last touches being added to my new kitchen seem incredibly surreal.
 
Thankfully my results from surgery were all good.  No need for further treatment.  I have already experienced the lovely time of life called menopause due to chemotherapy so no big surprises there.  I do experience occasional twinges and I still tire easily but I cannot wait to hit the pool this Thursday and, the good lord willing, I'll be participating in the inaugural Pass It Along Triathlon on July31st at Lake Mohawk.
 
I am once again incredibly indebted to my friends and family.  My parents and my in-laws were the best - providing places to rest, relax, and recharge after my surgery.  My thanks and love cannot be put into written word.  My friends have once again restored my faith in the human race:  I received cards, calls, books, flowers, etc. - so many folks sending words and prayers - how could I not beat this monster?  And of course - I owe most of my well being to my husband.  Who else could stand by me as I fought with nurses to remove my catheter and demanded to be discharged?  Oh boy, you have got to love general anesthesia!
 
Speaking of friends, I have to comment once again about the technology of the 21st century.  I have been so blessed to reconnect with so many people.  This time it was my pal Allie from good ol' BHS with whom I met for dinner and cannot wait to see again.  I hate to admit it but Facebook does have its redeeming qualities!  Speaking of which did I mention my 25th high school reunion is coming up?  Yessiree folks, that is 25 years....  I watched "Hot Tub Time Machine" with my Dad and his wife while I was on the Cape and laughed out loud until I realized that the 80's had become comical! 
 
I hope to return to training this week.  My next doctor appointment is the 26th.  I hope to hear I am healing well!  I can still feel those stitches!

Heat Wave

It is July and it is hot.  I do not mean hot in the sense of "awesome, fun, thing of the moment"; no, the hot I refer to means heat, sweat and the need for air conditioning which I normally despise. Thankfully  I am on the Cape and there are ocean breezes to help move the stifling air around. 

I am healing well. I am moving better and am able to get through the days without any sort of pain medication.  My stitches are driving me mad and NYU cannot locate my pathology reports so I'll be a bit crazed until I receive the "all is clear" message but I am sadly accustomed to this type of waiting.  I still tire easily and am quickly reminded of how tender my incisions are if I move too fast or too much. 

I have read several good books:  The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - excellent;  Imperial Bedrooms (Brett Eaton Ellis's latest) - it was okay;  That Ole' Cape Magic (the title alone made my want to read it) - entertaining chick lit; The Professor and the Madman (the story behind the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary) - excellent; and I am now starting on the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lax.

So you can see, I am actually taking it easy.  I am enjoying spending time with my family who have been very gracious hosts. I am amazed by how quickly the days are passing but am thankful I am feeling better with each one that does.  My follow-up appointment is on the 12th and I am hopeful that I will be able to return to my normal crazy life of running, paddling, and by the 22nd swimming once more!  Stay cool!!!

Light on my toes

The past 72 hours have been one big blur.  It started Wednesday when I was limited to a clear liquid diet with the added kicker of a "cleanse" and it ends with me perched gingerly on a chair in front of the computer at my mother's house. What occurred in the hours between these two events is somewhat cloudy due to a haze of pain; the effects of pain medication and my lack of sleep except that which was administered via IV.

I arrived at NYU Medical Center at 10am on Thursday.  After filling out the same exact paperwork I have filled out for the previous four surgical procedures I had there (1 lumpectomy, 1 port implantation, 1 port removal and 1 cone biopsy), I donned the ever fashionable blue hospital gown and the waiting began.  When I was finally led to the operating room - I recognized both the nurses and the anesthesiologist.  I have obviously spent way too much time in NYU Medical Center but at least I knew the anesthesiologist knew what he was doing as I did not feel a thing during my last procedure!

As my doctor arrived and chatted with me about my triathlon I was rude and feel asleep mid-sentence.  I awoke in recovery to find that my two hour surgery had stretched into four hours leaving me with a very sore throat due to being intubated and a very sore belly but was told that everything went well.  That was the last thing that went well.

I spent the night with a catheter (enough said!) and an 87 year old roommate who had a penchant for walking around without her hospital gown and tell jokes.  If it did not hurt so much to laugh, I would have been roaring.  Even with the lovely pain medication I was given, I did not sleep much making for a very long, very uncomfortable evening.

However as dawn broke I realized I was starting to feel better.  My roommate decided to dress and sat in the chair next to me to talk.  It was a sad story; she had no one to pick her up from the hospital having lost touch with her two children and having outlived her husband and best friend.  She had met Greg the prior evening and told me how lucky I was to have a man who knew how to laugh.  As she settled back into her bed,  I pulled out the four leaf clover my friend Karen gave me along with the beautiful handmade handkerchief my friend Kathleen gave me and reflected on how fortunate I was to have so many wonderful people in my life.  When Greg arrived to bring me home, I gave him an extra squeeze to let him know how grateful I am to have him in my life.  Since my house is still undergoing renovation we are staying at my mom's and again I gave thanks for having a family I knew I could always count on.

So as I sit and type, I am a bit sore and a bit groggy (can you say Vicodan?) but I am fully aware of how lucky I am.  I live near wonderful hospitals and have excellent doctors.  I have a loving family and many friends.  I have an incredible husband who stands with me through the good and bad and although I may now be down a few body parts, I feel light on my toes thanks to all who help hold me up.