What a Week!

This was a really tough week for me.

I made the REALLY difficult decision to end my participation at Well-Fit.  It was a really difficult decision because I've been going to this fitness group (for cancer patients only) since after my second chemo treatment.  These wonderful girls saw me twice a week during all my treatments, recovery and return to work.  They supported me and guided me and helped me embrace the road to better health.  Hey...they worked miracles!  I'm moving my butt more!!  During chemo, when my immune system was seriously compromised and I wasn't hugging anyone or going anywhere near anyone who might possibly be sick, I still went to fitness.  They operate a sterile environment and if you're sick, you don't go because you know there are others in treatment who can't fight off a little cold.  These girls developed a personal program for me every six weeks or so.  They pushed me when I needed to be pushed, and kept a close eye on my heart rate monitor when they thought I was pushing too hard.  They made a HUGE difference to my cancer journey.  So leaving them has had me in tears several times this week.  So, I'll bet you're asking "Why go??".  Well, with the return to full time hours at work, there are only two classes I can attend - Monday & Wednesday at 5:30.  And at the end of the day, I'm just a little too tired to push myself at fitness, and if I miss one of my classes, it's too hard to make it up at another time.  Damn this work thing!  To Lori, Maddy, Erin & Steph I send out my heartfelt thanks.  You girls rock!  Thank you for your encouragement, comfort and caring.  Thanks for pushing me!  Thanks for providing such an awesome support network.  And thanks for helping me to embrace fitness!  I'll definitely be seeing you!!

Part of the reason I could decide to leave Well Fit is because I am joining the new Athletic Club on Ira Needles.  It opens mid-December and I'm pretty excited to check it out.  It does mean that in the next six weeks, I need to do some weights at home, go swimming and go for some walks.  And of course, I'll continue to push myself at tennis (have I mentioned how much I love playing tennis??!!).

So, on Wednesday I went to my last Well Fit class.  I didn't even say good bye to my fellow survivors.  I was just way too emotional.  I hardly talked to anyone all class, on the verge of tears.  Who is this emotional girl??!!

To make my day just a little bit better on Wednesday, someone hit my car while I was parked on the side street near my apartment at lunch.  Crap.  My street is getting repaved, new curbs, new sidewalks and they redid the plumbing underground...so it's a mess!  You have to park a street over and walk.  And leave your car out for people to hit!  Damn.  It's not a really bad dint...but it will have to be repaired.  Not a good day.

I hosted a little Stampin' Up party for some girlfriends on Friday night and am so grateful my beautiful man gave me a hand getting ready for it.  It was a fun time and amazing how a few hours with your girlfriends can turn your week around!!  Thanks girls!

While I was hosting on Friday, Matt was in London painting the faces of my good friends the McGonigles for their Hallowe'en party.  Of course if Matt is there painting their faces, I'm sure you can guess that they went as KISS!  And who better to do their make up then Matt?!  Judy made their costumes and from the picture Jude posted on Facebook they looked awesome!  I'm still waiting for a couple of pics to scrapbook...and if I'm granted permission I'll maybe throw one on here too!  Matt was so excited that they got into their characters and hammed it up!  Great job you guys!!  And congrats on the best costume win!!

I was very happy to get a short visit in with Eileen and Markie Thom today.  Mark was playing in a hockey tournament in Mississauga this weekend, and while they didn't have any wins yesterday, they had an awesome game today (must have been the good luck charms in the stands!!).

You know, I really don't have very many bad days.  So I guess having one (or two) this week just provided me with perspective.  Life is good!

xoxoxoxoxo

Three Month Check Up!!

On Friday morning, Matt & I were at the Cancer Centre for my three month follow up.

I'm on a three month rotation, which gives me comfort and makes me feel confident that if anything was to go askew, they'd be on it right away.  The appointment is easy peasy.  Lots of questions about how I'm doing, how work is going, any discomfort I'm experiencing and how the fatigue is going.  Then, there's an exam (check out the mastectomy site and my remaining boob, check to see if there are any issues with my lymph nodes, a listen to my heart and my lungs and a funny little check they do to see if there are any changes to some other organs).  All and all it's about half an hour.

And I passed with flying colours!  I'm good to go!  And she got a kick out my curly hair!!

So, I'm cleared until January when I go back for my next three month appointment!

I love having a good follow up. Every time I get a thumbs up, it puts a little more distance between me and my diagnosis and treatment.  And that has to be a good thing!

I've had a great weekend!  Dinner out at The Cambridge Mill last night (big yum) and how awesome was the weather today!  What a beautiful sun shiny day!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Athletics Rock...and a Thanksgiving Update too!

So, again I've been a bad blogger and knew I should definitely come up with something to blog about today.  So, I turned to my other half and said "Honey, I need a blog topic."  His response "OK...your blog topic should be that Athletics rock and you should give a Thanksgiving update too".  Really?  You think I should write about how Athletics rock?  Me?  The most un-athletic person EVER??!!  OK...here goes...

I'm starting with the Thanksgiving update because it's definitely the easier of the two!  We went to Clarksburg (near Collingwood) last Sunday to celebrate with Matt's family.  There was a party for Aunt Donna and Uncle Jim, who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this fall!  It was a really nice lunch - a turkey dinner with the fixings so the "ladies" wouldn't have to go home and make one on Monday.  Works for me!  After the party, we drove to Barrie to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Yep...you guessed it.  More turkey.  Twice in one day!  My sister, being the rock star she is, also made a prime rib.  Yummy!  So, I had a bit of turkey (Sandy's was better) and a bit of prime rib.

My Mom and her husband Ian have decided to relocate to Barrie and took Matt & I to see their new condo on Sunday night.  It's very close to the college and not too far from my sister's place. I think they were moving in this weekend (I should probably follow up on that progress...such a bad daughter!!).  We also made a quick stop for a hug in Cookstown.  It was a whirlwind Thanksgiving tour.

I have mixed emotions about Thanksgiving.  It's definitely not my favourite holiday.  However, I do love the colours that show themselves in the fall (and the trip to Clarksburg last weekend was a great opportunity to check them out along the escarpment)...and I'm always happy for any occasion that makes me stop and think about all I have to be thankful for.  I am blessed.  I am grateful.  My plate is full and for this I am truly thankful!

Now...about that "Athletics Rock" thing.  Hmmm...well, the Rangers won both their games this weekend (and Sharon & I are going to the game this Friday!)  And I am sitting downstairs right now watching motocross on the 50 inch...and it's pretty cool.  These guys are beyond athletic!!

I had a fantastic tennis lesson this week.  Yes, I am LOVING tennis!  My serve is coming along and this week we were hitting balls that came at us from the ball machine.  That was super fun.  So, I think I'm making progress and I'm so glad I still have lots of lessons to go!  I got a new racquet that weighs pretty much nothing and I think it helped me a ton this week that Matt and I got out on the court last Saturday to try it out!  I can't wait to play a game and kick Matt's butt!!  Ok...that may be a ways off...but a girl needs a dream!!

Speaking of Matt, he ran a 10 km race today (the Oktoberfest Run).  He did his personal best!  I'm very proud of him.

And Alex is playing on the Sir John A MacDonald junior football team!  They won their game on Thursday (by one point) against Bluevale!!  Go Highlanders!!

I think what I'm most excited to tell you about today though, is the sweet voice of Lauren.  Her band, Winchester, has a website and their music can be downloaded for free.  I think you should definitely check them out. They were featured on the radio for an hour on Friday night (88.3 fm - CJIQ - Conestoga College). My favourite track is Fade Out.  I am so proud of her and Monty and I'm so amazed at how beautiful her voice sounds.  And I love that I figured out iTunes so I can listen to her on my iPad!

While I know Thanksgiving was last weekend, I think we should take a minute every day to count our blessings.  Make a list, it'll blow your mind!

xoxoxoxox

Birthday Week...

In looking for an excuse as to why I did not blog this week, I decided to use the "It's my Birthday Week!" excuse!  On Tuesday I turned 44!  Yep...I'm double 4s.  Somehow, I lost a year.  Ok, I guess we know how I lost a year, but seriously, it seems like just yesterday I was 42.

My Mom & Ian came to visit me last weekend.  We had a little birthday celebration with some cake, and Alex took a great picture of me blowing out my candles.  The problem is, I'm having a little trouble locating the cable to connect my camera to the computer, so I'm not able to share the photo with you at this time.  Suffice it to say I do LOVE my birthday!!  It's my favourite day of the whole year!!  And it was great to celebrate it with my Mom, Ian, Matt & Alex (and Bill & Beth who came for dinner on Saturday night)!  I also got to see my nephews PJ & Sam and my niece Sydney last Sunday (and while I did take my camera with me for the visit, somehow I neglected to take a picture!).

This past week marked my return to full time hours at work.  I was nervous about it, and after such a big weekend I was a little tired when Monday rolled around.  Well, what started out as a "little tired" at the beginning of the week escalated into a cold/flu bug...that took me the week to get over.  In fact, I ended up home sick on Thursday.  Way to go, Sue!  Yep, really conquered that return to full time hours thing.  This week WILL be better!!

On a more positive and exciting note, I have taken up tennis!  I am signed up for weekly lessons and so far I am loving it!  I am going with our wonderful neighbour, Heather, and together we are having a blast!  It is the only sport I can EVER remember wanting to play.  So far we have had two lessons and my fingers are crossed we learn to serve this coming week!!  You know what the best part about tennis is?? It's all about LOVE!!   Well, actually I guess the point is to do better then LOVE!!

Matt & I went to see the movie 50/50 last night.  It's the story of a young guy who is diagnosed with cancer and his journey through it.  It's based on a true story, and co-stars Seth Rogan (who is actually a good friend of the guy the story is based on and Seth was there for him through his real journey, as well as playing the same role in the movie).  The movie was really well done, very funny in places, and I'm glad we saw it.  That said, if I'm being honest, it may have been a bit early in my own journey for me to go see it.  It definitely hit close to home and I would be lying if I didn't say I got a little (ok, a lot) teary eyed at various points throughout the movie.   As we were walking out of the theatre, I turned to Matt and said "I did that."  I'm so glad he did it with me.

It has been a really great weekend.  Lots of rest, feels like lots accomplished and look at me, I'm even blogging today.

I'm sending some love out to my Spacie Gracie who is celebrating her birthday tomorrow!  Hope you have a beautiful day my friend!!

xoxoxoxoxox