Any Time of Life, It's Good To Be Alive!

Hello From The Land of Unwashed Hair!

Just stopping in to say "hi". 

Still sore and moving very slowly

after surgery.

I'd forgotten how much bruising there is.

My armpit looks like a technicolor circus.

 

The surgeon's office called

with the pathology report

instead of making me wait

until next week.

Which was very wonderful of them.

Your mind tends to go to dark places

when you don't know things.

They got clean margins with the cancer

meaning they got it all out.

And I do not have cancer in my lymph nodes.

 

More next week after visits with

radiation oncologist and oncologist.

 

Also, thanks again for your messages.

And a huge thanks to Manna for the awesome card.

It made me cry.

 

News I Have Been Waiting For!

Well, here it is. 

After the two longest weeks of my life,

I finally got in to see my surgeon.   

Unfortunately, because he is so busy it just means

that there are a lot of women having breast cancer surgery.

I used him last time and he is a total rock star,

so I feel like I am in good hands. 

 

I go in for surgery tomorrow morning (Thursday). 

I actually will not know anything else

until the pathology report comes back

and I have met with my oncologist,

so I won't post again until that happens in a couple of weeks. 

I do know that I will be going through radiation again.

There are more possibilities on my horizon,

but I won't know

until discussions with the oncologist and radiation oncologist.

 

Thanks so much for your kind words. 

I totally understand that it is hard to know what to say

to someone in my situation,

so any messages I've received are really cherished. 

I Feel Like Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day!

Sorry about the lame humor.

I so need to keep life normal right now, though.

And keep my sense of humor.

 

Last week was my 6 year anniversary of being cancer-free. 

But I didn't make it past that anniversary. 

I have breast cancer again. 

For the second time.

 

Which makes me gasp and makes me a little insane.

 

The coming weeks will be filled with surgery and recovery. 

I have breast cancer again. 

I can't believe I am typing that. 

I can't believe this is happening again.

 

I am less frightened than last time.

The unknown isn't so unknown this time.

Well, still off the scale

but I know from experience that you can survive this.

I have a lot of decisions to make now.

 

I do know that I am determined to keep doing

the things I love to do this time.

And not let pieces of me slip away.

Then try to desparately recover them.

I will need to touch my rubber stamps.

And fondle the patterned paper.

 

I will try to post when I can.

Please know that I am thinking of all of you.

 

I have breast cancer again.

I can't believe I am typing that.

 

Hippity Hoppity!

I created an Easter card to send to my in-laws this year....mostly because they are really supportive of my card making endeavors and I hardly send them a handmade card.  I also wanted to try coloring with my brand new sets of Copics!  Wow, those markers are really addictive! 

Okay, so be kind....this is the first time I have tried shading and coloring with Copics.  I can see the blaring mistakes.  I hope to improve each time I use them.  I do know, though, that it makes me happy to color with them so I know I will try to do it often.  I used really old papers and embellishments from Doodlebug that I have had FOREVER! 

So all around this was a sickeningly jubilant experience. :)

 

 

Card Recipe:

 

Hippity Hoppity stamp by Shirley's 2 Girls

Pitch Black Adirondack ink

Cupcake Sprinkles cardstock, Daisy Doodles patterned paper,

     Cupcake w/White 3/8" gingham ribbon, and Cupcake glitter

     brad by Doodlebug Designs

Sweet & Pretty Pins by Fancy Pants Designs

B00 Frost Blue, BG01 Aqua Blue, C-1 Cool Gray No. 1,

     G07 Nile Green, RV10 Pale Pink, YG06 Yellowish Green,

     YR02 Light Orange, and YR07 Cadmium Orange

     Copic Markers

Swiss Dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug by Provo Craft

Other:  Dk. pink, turquoise and white cardstock; felt and

     silk flowers and leaves

With Deepest Sympathy

This is the card that I created to send off to my friend Julie for Baby Evan's family.  You can read about all of this in my post here.   The sentiment on the card is (because I know it might be a little small to read):  May prayer strengthen you and memories comfort you.  It is from a Crafty Secrets stamp set, and all of the sentiments in the set are as awesome as that one.

Again, I apologize for the grey-ish hues cast all over the card, but if you have watched any news lately you know Minnesota is just getting hammered with lousy weather.

 

Card Recipe:

Branch In Vase stamp by Impress Rubber Stamps

Card Sentiments stamp set from Clear Art Stamps by Crafty Secrets

Hint of Pesto and Sage chalk ink pads from VersaMagic by Tsukineko

Simple Scallop Edge Punch by Martha Stewart Crafts

Denium Pearls by Kaiser Scrapbook

Lt. blue and lt. green textured cardstock by Bazzill

Buttercream smooth cardstock by Taylored Expressions

Classic Scalloped Ovals, Large and Classic Ovals, Large Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders

B93 Light Crockery Blue Ciao marker by Copic

Periwinkle Elegant Organza 5/8-inch ribbon from Shades of Elegance by Horizon Fabrics