Travelling Trio

We left Stevens RV Park around 11am.  Seemed like it took a long time to get home.  As I was unpacking Dr. Bernsten called to tell my MRI had shown that the cancer was contained in my right breast.  She had called for results on the BRAC test and they were waiting for insurane approval.  I called BCBS and they had no record of a request so I called Tall Grass again and they are calling tomorrow morning.  So I wait some more.  Gary is happy.  I came to the family room to watch evening TV.  He is settled in for his nightly sleep fest.

I got up around 9am.  Had the nagging fuzzy head with weak eyes.  I piddled around and drug all my shoes out of the closet and counted them.  Gary started installing the shower door for Donna.  I ended up going back to bed (slept with over 12 pairs of shoes) and napped until 1:00pm.  Prissy tried on her new Christmas dress and we went to show Angie and Gary.  No one was home in the "big" house so we went to the office area and checked on Gary.  He was just finishing his project.  We then drove over to Daddy and Ruth's house.  He was glad to see me.  He kept patting my leg and saying "I'm sure glad you came to see me.  I've been missing you----and then he precedes to ask where Sandra was."  I told him I was here and then he asked where Deb was working now.  After I told him, he said "I remember that.". Sharon and Clem came over and visited with us.  Sure enjoyed the visit. Back to Donna's for Chinese food...

Yes, I had my camera in my purse.  Yes, I forgot to get it out and take pictures.  Yes, I'm aggravated at myself.  BUT, yes I agree with Barry.  He made the comment on the way back to Centralia that it was one of the best family reunions that he had ever attended, He should have been to the Christmas that we had growing up under Grandma Carrie's wings.  Barb Nobis had us to gather in a square and we went around telling about some of the memories we had from past Christmases.  It was great.  One thing I did learn, I wasn't the only one that Grandma Carrie made feel special   Everyone of her grandchildren felt the same love and care. After we got back to Donna's I headed straight up to the bedroom and took an hour and half nap.  We then headed to Columbia to celebrate Angie's birthday. We had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays.  Most of us had salad and soup.  Angie and Barry and steak and lo...

Donna and I got up early and drove to Fishhook.  We delivered the camper chairs to Deb. After that we went to the beauty shop and somehow Donna got funky.  She won the style of the day.  We ate lunch in Naples, Illinois.  A wonderful place along the Illinois River.  Food was great.  We then stopped at Dollar General and ended up in the Amish store.  Back to Fishhook and back to the Missouri side.  Donna and I baked pies, Gary made Deviled Eggs, and Donna fixed veggies for the Crigler Girls' Christmas at Debs place on Saturday.  Pooped and slept well.

Monday--Met with Dr. Beristen at 8am.  Dana went with us.  It is a good thing because the old man and I can't remember anything and he hears black and I hear white.  I had the BRAC genetic test taken so we could determine my surgery options.  If I have the inherited gene, we will do a double mastectomy and if it is negative most likely a lumpectomy will take place.  Follow-up treatment will be determined on if the cancer has spread into the lymph nodes. I've been busy.  Tuesday we went to Stormont-Vail in Topeka for the dreaded MRI.  I hated it.  Didn't even want to put my coat on afterwards and have not had it on much since.  When I got out Gary looked at me and declared that my blood pressure must be over the top.  I was red all over.  Usually my face just gets red.  Oh, well, that part is done.  After the MRI we drove to Columbia, Missouri (Home of the Tigers) and met Barry, Donna, and Barry for din...

This morning was pretty tough.  I got up around 6am and made coffee.  Gary and Prissy got up later.  For some reason sadness was on my shoulders today.  Later I made french toast, took a shower, and got ready to go to Chaney's dance recital.  It was a nice program.  It went smoothly and quickly.  Calvin, Gary, and I went to KFC and got two buckets of chicken and the goodies to go with them. We had dinner with Dana and the kids.  Brad had gone to work.  Chaney read her sight words to us over her microphone. Back home to wait one more night for the appointment tomorrow morning.  I'm anxious to know what stage, what treatment they recommend, and WHEN can I get this growing "killer" out of my body.  When can the surgery be done (sooner the better)? Rob called while we are the program.  They had gotten an offer and their house and was probably going to take the bid.

It has been a busy day.  We got up and drove to Topeka.  Calvin had a game at 11am and Chaney at 1pm.  At least they were in the same building.  We then had dinner at Applebees and came home.  Calvin was coming with us -- but he wanted to go to a fundraiser for one of his classmates.  Already the grand kids are starting to outgrow their "old' folks. A lot of information was thrown at my pea brain today.  At least I'm learning some terminology and options that will probably be presented to me on Monday. Donna went to Vandalia and told my dad and Ruthie.  I wanted someone to be able to make sure he understood and could answer his questions without interruptions.  Pretty sad state of affairs when your 95-year-old Daddy has to worry about my health. We got home around 3:30pm and I took a long nap.  Got up and Gary was watching RFD-TV.  It is sure good to have our channels back for our viewing pleasure. Doing ok, trying to h...

If you know me, I've never been a patient person.  Something that I might need to improve upon.  As always things are worse in the dark of night.  I got up around 6:30am and washed the popcorn pans.  If the dishwasher is empty, I get really lazy and put them in for a quick wash.  Gary cleaned the garage and put all the boxes away that we were packing to sell and keep.  I did a little paper work, went to the bank, about ran over someone trying to get my "sporty" car into gear, went to the grocery store, and stopped by the school.  We put the Charlie Brown Christmas tree on NaNa's table and called it our 2012 decorations.  Neither of us feel like celebrating too much.  Thank goodness we have our Christmas over with our kids.  I won't be doing cards this year.  But I sure enjoy the ones that are being sent to me. Nurse/Friend Judy Kocher stopped by for a visit.  She has been through a similar situation.  I receive...

Thursday evening (November 29, 2012) I found a lump on my right breast.  No matter how much pretending, it wouldn't go away.  The next morning I woke up and thought maybe I had a bad dream.  Nope, the lump remained.  I called the Onaga Clinic and made an appointment for that morning.  The doctor examined me and made an appointment for Monday morning while the Manhattan Radiology team was on staff.  They did a sonogram and didn't like the shape and appearance so I was scheduled to go to Manhattan on Tuesday morning to have a biopsy.  That procedure took about two hours.  They tried to drain the mass but there was no fluid.  The tech made the comment that it was not a typical cyst.  I didn't want to watch so I had them to cover my head with a towel.  I got hot and uncovered my eyes and was able to see the sonogram screen.  They then took samples with a large needle that sounded like a drill with a vacuum on it.  We...

We always look forward to sightseeing Wednesday.  I choose the scenic route to Monte Vista, South Fork, Creede, and back to Gunnison.  We have noticed that these little towns are being refurbished.  Several of the older homes are being restored to their original glory.  I think the people are looking for a simple way of life.  This is the old mining operation at Creede.  Had to take this picture for Ruthie but the red sign was in the way.  It read "House of Houch & Fine Drinkables".  We tried to find the campground that we had stayed in several years ago.  Ruthie and I fished for trout in a pond and Gary was fly fishing in the river behind,  We found this beautiful first-class resort for RVs nestled in the mountains.  It is a gated community and beautifully landscaped.  We would have to park on the gravel sites because dogs were NOT allowed on their grass at all.  That is were Priss has been trained to ...

When I uploaded my pictures, I found some extra ones that I had taken throughout the past week.  Here are some rainbow trout that the driver/fisherman brought home for dinner.  I was apprehensive about cooking them but found a recipe on the internet.  They were actually not bad.  I'm not a fish lady (I like mine at Long John Silvers). One day Gary asked if I would like to go on a short drive.  Why sure, why not?  Prissy and I put our lives into his hands and the short drive ended up over four hours and the route got so bad that we had to turn around again.  The picture below shows how narrow the path got.  Pretty soon we found ourselves going around a mountain that you had to choose to hug the drop off or put your truck into the boulder sticking out of the mountain.  I would have taken a picture but Priss and I were hanging on and probably had our eyes shut.  We did pass an old log cabin and a modern teepee.  I just love the...

 Well, let me see....have to look at the pictures to remember where we have been and what we have been doing.....The picture of the deer was taken when we out to the Meat Market.  If you want some good corn-fed beef , this is the place to go.  We bought a chuck roast that lasted all week.  I still have enough for dinner tonight and I cooked it Sunday.  It was so big I had to cut it into three pieces and shove it into the crock pot.   I got a ribeye steak and Gary got a sirloin.  They were pretty tasty.  Melted in your mouth.  Back to the deer, It was just grazing in the back yard of a home.  That is the extent of the wild animals I have seen.  We do have this happy little chipmunk that likes to come visit when I'm sitting outside. Next picture.  Had to stop and fill the tank.  Diesel was $3.88 when we filled.  When we came back Obama and his friends had raised it to $3.99.  Most stati...

We slowly got up and prepared for our weekly sightseeing trip.  The driver had chosen this route and as the day goes......  Looks like another beautiful day in the mountains.  The clouds are even prettier here.  We drove through Buena Vista and turned around and headed up Highway 306 towards Cottonwood Pass.  We made it to the pass just fine.   Don't know if the county maintenance changed or what?  But the road turned into dirt when we headed down the other side.  The roads were actually smooth.  They maintained these by watering them and then running a double grader system.  We followed right behind.  The Delia Road in Kansas needs this system.  I still remember going over those wash-board ruts going to the boys' ballgames.  Our goal remains in the horizon.  We made it to Taylor Reservoir.  The roads continued to deteriorate on the way to Tin Cup, Colorado.  An interesting origin...

First, I have a couple of funnies to share.  Chaney wanted to change her earrings; but just didn't want to be too brave about it.  So she gathered enough courage, Mary was holding her hands and I was going to change them and put peroxide on them too.  Then Chaney lost her courage and just had one ear done.  She wanted to; didn't want to; wanted to; didn't want to.  We all were getting pretty tired by then.  So I told her that it was her ears and we didn't care.  Maybe we should just wait to change the other one the next morning.  Mary pipes up:  "That's it!  Tomorrow it is!  Good night! Jessie got up this morning complaining that Grandpa was talking in his sleep.  She said he was practicing his "no (s)" for the next day.  Also, Grandpa got pretty short winded up on the summit of the mountain and started coughing.  He made the comment that he would probably not try to go that high again..  Jessie said that if he...

Today we got up early and was at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo at the opening of the gates.  Everyone was taken with the baby giraffes,  Mary was the only one with any shots left on her camera.  Smart little girl!  Of course we had to ride the antique Merry-Go-Round.  Each one had a big smile as they rode by.  The older ones had to have a ride too. Mary is not afraid of anything or anyone....... We saw bears, lions, tigers, and snakes!  Ohhhhh, what is this?  Looks like four tired kids and one pooped GrMa.  It was a long way to the top and GrMa's knees thought it was a lot longer to the bottom.  Everyone is hungry and thirsty.  Now to agree on where to eat lunch? Guess, Burger King and his Whoopers Won! Here is the crew feeling much better after having some good ole American food in their tummies.  They were ready to practice their rock climbing skills while GrMa took her...