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Well this morning finds me in my house coat still. I have wrapped presents and written some teary notes and am sitting pretty melancholy today. I wrapped up 4 "I Love you Forever" books for my 2 boys and my niece and nephew with notes to go along with it. Next I finish their Kintsugi pieces, wrap and write about them and then finish off the journals I am doing for them. They will be done after that. The boys similar but have some picture stuff to do for them along with the journal writing. A little every day is how I plan on doing it and making sure that my stuff for my girlfriend, hubby and Mom will be ready to. The latter 3 will have the instructions to carry out everything when I am unable to communicate what I want to have done. Do I think the end is near? I know it is coming and trying to be prepared as I can be for those moments. Some things may shift slightly but if I get the gist of it down I think my mind will rest easier especially the notes to the ones I really want for them to reflect on. It is hard doing all this and comes with it's own set of emotions etc but is to be expected. That way my conversations will be just that and the rest I can say is written to be read another day. Not worried so as I covered my bases. It is cathartic work and self satisfying as I listen to music in the back ground completing my own little task list. Anyone else working on anything remotely similar? I painted a cow for my friend last night and am excited to get it done and sent off as it is her collectible and something that will mean the world to her. Now to give her a name……that will take some thinking. I gave her some cow spots last night which made her appear more of a character rather than just a cow. Well I have procrastinated enough here and time to get back to journalling and some knitting today to finish off the last of the baby projects for my boys. I am forever greatful I checked my stash and it will now become even. I would have felt terrible knowing it wasn't complete and I was short one blanket. If they never use them, they can pass them down to someone in the family. They will go to good use that is for sure. Who knows, I may find something else to paint for someone yet. Well back to work for me. Enjoy your day ladies!
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Cottage life!
It was quite the trek on Friday driving from London to Quebec. A 7-hour drive turned into 10 hours with a few stops in between 🤣🤣.
I am so grateful that I am healthy enough to be able to do this trip and that my friend is hosting us for the week. It is a very large property with four cottages - we got the big one! The puppy is thoroughly enjoying it - especially when we brought out her balls for long range fetch! Believe me - this puppy has energy!! We are slowly testing her off leash behaviour here. So far she has been really good…not running through the woods to see the owner and her dog!🤣 We are hoping to test her swimming ability but first we have to work up the nerve to step into the cold waters of the lake!! The weather this summer hasn’t been conducive to warming things up!
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@Sandi6
Glad to hear your biopsy pain is manageable and you were able to move forward with a local.
It’s really weird to be at PMH after hours or on the weekend. There is no emergency department so the whole hospital essentially closes down! There are a few things going on, but there are very few people around. You have to enter/exit via the Murray street entrance and go through security. I’ve never experienced that at a hospital before.
Enjoy your company…sounds like some overdo catching up and just the physical face-to-face will be good for your soul.
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@JoanEG Thanks for that hilarious cactus metaphor. It made me giggle. And that is good writing….
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A peaceful evening at the marina while my husband builds new stairs
![Sandi6](https://us.v-cdn.net/6029987/uploads/userpics/AKTTVQ65J3WO/n53AEZ7I8IF6B.jpeg)
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Hello Sisters
I have had a bit of a time balancing the magnesium in my body. Too little = anxiety and shaking. Too much = the runs, cramps and pain. Needing loperimide or buscopan. But my CPP has settled and I feel almost normal. GloHo it was good to read about your sixth birthday since diagnosis. I have come over a hump in the psychological journey. I accept that I have cancer, and the resistance has just melted away. I am now focussing on living as fully as possible, and being alive right up until my last breath. No more grumpiness, I hope. I am loving this world and everything and everyone in it. Well, all that Impinges on my little life anyway. Next week we are travelling to Victoria. First getaway trip in 2 yrs. We will stay with friends who are like family, who in fact introduced us to each other. And I will visit a good friend whose son-in- law has been given six months to live and is a father of four young children. She is doing some heavy lifting in that family and I hope I can give her some support.
This morning we went to the lawyer and signed our wills and POAs . I am so glad thats done. Now I just have to figure out MAiD in case I need it. After that we drove round Gabriola in beautiful sunshine, stopping at farm stands and buying fresh local produce….chard, broccoli,zuchini,salad greens,garlic scapes,beets, and hakuri. Then I browsed our thrift store and I found a big chunky silver and turquoise bracelet . The last thing I did was buy a double scoop salted caramel ice cream cone and it lasted all the way home. A great morning.
I hope you all have good news from your tests and scans and biopsies. And go on living every bittersweet moment of your precious lives. We are all just walking each other home….
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Good afternoon everyone. Just had a visit from my GP. As much of a social visit as a medical one. She wanted to touch base with my daughter while she is here (they are old friends) and answer any questions she might have. When I told her I haven’t heard about an appointment with the surgeon regarding the bowel surgery she sent a message for her staff to check on that. I truly appreciate her always going above and beyond for me. It is nice to have nothing on my agenda this weekend as the last two have been very busy!
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Hi everyone.
What weird weather we are having in Ontario!! When I was in Toronto on Tuesday, the storm caused flooding in the hospital basement - this affected radiation patient appointments for the next couple of days. The storm also caused street light outages! It took 1 1/2 hours to get from the hospital to the Lodge…usually no more than a 20-minute trip!! This delayed my leaving to head home but I looked at it as a blessing in disguise otherwise I would have been right in the middle of the mess, so it all worked out 🤣🤣 .
On the good news side…I’ve made it to another birthday!! 6 birthdays since I’ve been diagnosed 🎉. Blessed 🙏😇.
The not so good news…
My CA125 has increased significantly (+1200). I believe this increase indicates progression. I have a CT scan scheduled for the end of the month - this will show, definitively, the degree of progression.
I am still feeling ok, although I have noticed some tenderness in mid-section. I am unsure if it is the cancer or bowel…my bowel movements have been slow moving.
I have an appointment with the trial Onc a week after the scan…I am expecting to be withdrawn from this trial
Never fear…I have already set up an appointment with my primary Onc for the day after my appointment with the trial Onc 🤣. There is another trial I am interested in and it is being conducted out of London (as well as PMH)…I have alerted her nurse that I want to talk to her about it 🤣🤣.
So, I have done my self-advocating and have started things moving for next steps…I can relax at the cottage starting Friday and not fret about all this “stuff” while I’m away 😁.
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@Sandi6 Impressive 7 biopsies. You are a trooper! I imagine you may be sore in the days to come so make sure you rest if needed. Good to be excited about company too. Gives us a different focus.
Thank you about the Legacy work. I am so worried I won't have it all wrapped that it is my biggest goal is to keep up with that so there is no guess work for them should something happen to me. It is kind of fun planning for the future but bittersweet knowing I may not be there for some momentous occasions. Knowing I am prepared and they will have something that is a keepsake from me and will always remind them of me brings me great joy. I am glad I am doing it because now I a missing one blanket and 4 cards to go with the gifts. I am addressing them to the boys themselves and welcoming their new baby boy or girl. Who knows maybe there will be none but they will know I was prepared all the same. Gives me something to work on and a sense of purpose. So 4 more gifts to wrap today and I am done for the day with that.
Make sure you rest when you get home. Take care.
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How nice to have your GP not only that but a friend to your daughter as well @JoanEG Glad they could get caught up too. Sounds good. I am also waiting to see what your bowel surgeon has to say knowing what I face and have been told. Interested to see if you are that bit different in presentation that something can be done versus the nothing for myself. I hope it works out for you.
Glad things are slowing slightly for you too. You have had a couple of very busy weeks that it will be good slow down.