A little slice of heaven...

OK...maybe it's not so little...but it sure is heaven! My sister and her family bought a cottage near Rama last May. I hadn't been yet (darn treatments got in the way), so we went up on Easter Friday and spent the day and one night...and I'm already thinking about my return trip. It's beautiful! They've done an incredible job with the renovations and everything looks so amazing! They're on this great river that has swimming holes and they have cut trails through the property that make for some great walks. Yep...I'm definitely going back!


We went for this great walk and it really is a great piece of property. Lots of great places for photo opportunities!! On a side note...check out all my hair! It's pretty curly...and grayer than before...all I know is that it sure is great to have hair!


My friend Jodi had given me a bottle of champaign to celebrate being done all my treatments so I took it with me to the cottage. My brother-in-law Bruce made a great toast to me and everyone had a little taste! It was really great for me to be able to do that with them! And see how comfortable it is for twelve of us to sit around the table with those big beautiful leather chairs?? So nice.


I really enjoyed being there and can't wait to go back! Thanks Sandy, Bruce, Katelyn, Brooklyn, Matthew & Luke (oh yes...and Earl, Hank, Ebony & Ivory) for having us...let me know how far in advance I have to book to come back!

Check out these cuties...


Casey & Jamie Archer...had a little visit with them earlier this week and was so surprised at how big they are! Have fun at WD!!

I'm happy to report that my energy levels seem to be improving! I have had a few busy days and am able to do a little bit more every day. I do find that if I've done too much my legs get very achey and when my legs ache, sleep is harder to find. This fatigue thing stinks! I'm also happy to report that my ability to concentrate is improving...I actually focused on something for two hours yesterday! Of course, I've barely made any headway with the novel I'm reading now...

My big question of the day today is whether or not I get up early tomorrow to watch the Royal Wedding...I'm so tempted. I have fitness at 9:30 am...but maybe if I go to bed really early tonight...

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Awesome Things!

When I was in the middle of my chemo treatments, I received a package in the mail from my step-brother, Bob. It was a book he had found that he knew I would love called "The Book of Awesome". It is in fact an awesome book. It's full of awesome things that cost no money...and that bring us great joy!

I really wanted to share it with you because who doesn't love licking the batter off the beaters of a cake mixer or high fiving a baby? I checked with the author to make sure it was ok to repost one of my favourites on my blog...I'm so glad he said Yes!!

Catching someone you love admiring you from across the room
Baby, it’s true.
Toss your mushy clump of skin, blood, and bones together and we get the beautifully strange and wonderful package that combines to form you. Jokes and smarts, stutters and starts, smile and farts — we’re into your everything even though we probably don’t tell you enough.
But that’s why it’s a beautiful moment when you glance up from the party chatter or kitchen clatter and catch someone you love smiling silently at you from across the room.
Maybe it’s the dog head-tilting from the couch as you race to grab your keys and run out the door all stressed, maybe it’s your daughter sneaking a peek in the bathroom mirror as you zip up your dress, or maybe it’s your grandma smiling with wet eyes as you stick your hands in the cake making a big fat mess.
Maybe it’s your little brother smiling silently from the stands as you come up to home plate, maybe it’s your mom waiting at the train station for you to come through the gate, or maybe it’s your boyfriend bumping at the back of the bus at the end of the date.
When you catch those quick and quiet glances let your heart melt and feel at peace because you just got told without words that you are admired, you are loved… and you are
AWESOME!

I have been surrounded by awesome things and love this guy (Neil Pasricha) for reminding me that it's all around us every day. Check out his website/blog of 1000awesomethings...I promise you'll love it and smile, nod and laugh out loud at things that make you happy - from long ago and today!!

Speaking of awesome things, I have the most awesome friends ever. They have made this journey so much easier...and their loving and support continues to be appreciated more than I could ever articulate! Thank you to all my friends! I love celebrating with you!!

xoxoxxoxoxoxo

I Finished a Novel!!!

I'm so thrilled and excited to announce that I finished a novel! My first one in almost nine months! I've been reading many magazines (and loving them) and even got into a few books with short stories...but I have been wanting to read a novel and am so happy to report that I did it!!
As most of you know (or can guess), I am an avid reader and love a good book! One of the worst parts about chemo for me was losing my attention span and ability to concentrate...and having no desire to open a book (or follow it for long if I did).

I found a new author at Chapters a couple of months ago and bought three of her books (on sale) with the hope that I would be able to jump in and enjoy them soon. With finishing the first novel by Kate Atkinson, I'm onto the second one (One Good Turn). They're a pretty easy read, set in the UK. They tell the story of Brodie Jackson, a retired police inspector who somehow gets involved in several cases that seem to somehow all interconnect. I enjoyed the first one (Case Histories) and am looking forward to the next read!

I do have to admit it took me longer than normal to finish Case Histories, and since it has many characters and story lines, I was flipping back to earlier parts of the book to remind myself who the character was and how they fit in...but I know as my chemo brain continues to get better, I'll get better at the retention part too!!

Feels good to be on the road to normal!! xoxoxoxoxox

Curl for Cancer…Way to Go!!

So, last week I went to visit my Mom in Trenton and give her a hand with the Curl for Cancer event her curling club was hosting. They did an AMAZING job!! They raised approximately $17,500!! I haven’t heard the final count yet, but I know it’s close to that! Way to go Mom and team! It was really a great day working with these ladies and being part of such a special event! A big shout out to all the girls…Jane, Sharon, Sue, Wendy, Linda, Barb, Liz, and, oh, I know I’m missing someone… Thank you all for making me feel so welcome!! Special thanks to Jane who took me in!!


Mom, Jane & I after a long day!! Boy these ladies worked hard!!

It must feel great to see all their hard work come to fruition!!



I am so glad I took the train. It was so easy and coming home on Thursday I was very very tired! It was great to just sit back and enjoy the ride (translation: sleep all the way home).

This past weekend was Scrapfest at The Aud. If you are a scrapbooker or a cardmaker, or just someone who likes playing with paper, ink and paints, you really need to check out Scrapfest! I was helping my friend Karen out with her booth The Art House Studio for a few hours each day. It was a lot of fun and crazy busy!! And it’s taken me a few days to feel like myself again! So worth it!!

Today I had my first follow up with the nurse oncologist. It was a really great appointment and the good news is, I’m doing well! I had some concerns going into the appointment because my knees and hips (and, ok, my whole legs) have been quite achy. I was worried what that might be from, but the word today is that it’s still side effects from the Taxol (one of the chemo drugs I was on). And I can expect the side effects to last a good year. Stinks…but makes me feel pretty good at the same time! I also asked about the damn buzzing in my right ear that has been driving me crazy. The nurse confirmed this could also be a side effect from the chemo, or maybe since I had it before (a couple of years ago) it’s a recurrence brought on from the trauma my body has experienced over the past eight/nine months. Either way the reflexology I had today did provide some relief (thanks Jenn!).

Tomorrow I’m meeting with the surgeon so he can admire how well I’ve healed from my surgery!! Here’s hoping he’s as impressed as I am!!

I am loving the sun shining down on me. It’s amazing to feel that warmth and feel drawn to be outside again! Bring on the summer!!!

xoxoxoxoox

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Ok...it's actually a VIA train, but I have that song swimming around in my head and thought I'd lead you on so you'd read my blog!!

Tomorrow I'm hopping on the train to go visit my Mom in Trenton. Her curling club is hosting a "Curl for Cancer" event on Wednesday so I'm going to lend a hand (or at least sit at a table and look helpful). This is the second year my Mom's club has hosted this event. Two years ago they raised somewhere around $20,000, so I'm excited to see how they make out this week!

I have become the worst picture taker in the world...not sure if I can really blame it on my camera (although I suspect it is not helping me much). Last week I went to Cookstown for the day to visit with my Dad. We had the BEST day!! We got a great visit in and had lunch with my Aunt Janet and Uncle Peter in Mansfield. It was so much fun! And after lunch we went to Holly Park (the beautiful piece of property my cousin's cottage is on) to check out the addition they have been so busily working on. It's awesome - bright and beautiful. I can't wait to see it all done. I took, what I thought was going to be, a fantastic picture of my Dad with Aunt Janet and Uncle Peter. Today when I loaded it onto the laptop to post it on the blog I realized it was blurry and fuzzy. So bummed. I guess I'll just have to go back another day to take the photo again!!

I do have a picture I want to post of some pretty great neighbours who stopped in for a drink (or two) on Saturday night. Matt lives on a GREAT street and all the neighbours were so supportive and positive for my journey. Some of them came by on Saturday to celebrate the end of treatments with me!



Somehow Melinda got cut out of the picture (sorry about that Melinda). And, somehow, I didn't have the flash turned on so it's a little dark in the back...see, I suck at the photo thing!! Thank you ALL the Foxhill neighbours who have been so kind and generous...if I didn't see you on Saturday, we will be connecting very soon!

I also want to give a shout out to my non-bookclub girls. You remember the girls who made me the beautiful quilt??!! We had dinner together last week and they presented me with a new charm for my Pandora bracelet to commemorate the end of my treatments. It's a lovely charm with little medallions dangling from it with daisies. I love it! And am happy to say it's on my wrist right now!!

So, I'm signing off and preparing for my journey tomorrow...well, after having dinner tonight with some awesome girlfriends and cheering on the Rangers...Game 7 tonight!! Go Rangers Go!!

xoxoxoxoxoxxo

Today is the day...

Can't help feeling a little sad...

With the end of treatments and feeling better and better by the day I knew this day would come...the people are here and it's happening.

The big screen has been moved downstairs.

Fifty inches of heaven in my own healing space...gone. Hours and hours and hours it kept me company and amused when I could barely get off the couch. And, almost worse than losing the tv to the basement, the pvr went with it. Ugh!

Yes, I only have to go downstairs to enjoy the loveliness again...and I know I am more than welcome to enjoy whenever I want (and believe me I will). That helps.

I, of course, am being a bit silly. Matt, and especially Alex, have been so wonderful to let me have the new tv pretty much to myself for the past eight months. And poor Alex, we got a PS3 for Christmas and he's hardly played it. So for that reason, I'm very happy today! I can hardly wait for Alex to come home and see it set up downstairs in all it's glory. Just waiting for him to fire up a game. Or two.

In the meantime, I may sulk for a minute. Damn I love TV!!

xoxoxoxxoxo

Healing Nicely...

I had a rough (almost) three weeks of nasty burns...and I'm so happy to tell you that I now feel so much better. In fact, I can see a bra in my very near future!! Who knew that would make me so happy??!!

I'm excited to go to fitness tomorrow and give 'er. I did do some weights on Friday when I went, but I suspect tomorrow I'll be able to do my full routine! I'm very excited about that!!

I am still trying to figure out the whole fatigue thing. I was very tired on Friday night and had a little trouble on Saturday, which brought on a headache. Glad I got a good visit in with my friend, Firmina (and her groovy guys) first!! Thanks for making us lunch, Dave!!

Today I got to spend some time with one of my favourite people!! I was bummed when fatigue hit after a couple of hours and I had to come home to rest. Thanks for lunch, Judy!! So awesome to hang out with you today!!

Now that the burns from radiation seem to be so much better, my next quest will be to work on my endurance!! And my focus...and attention span...and fitness...

So glad the sun is shining and the temperatures are rising!! That will make everything so much easier!!

Sending much love and happiness for a great week to all of you!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo