New Year 2011

It's a New Year and a new me ... with new hair..... Finally

It's starting to show really well now.  I might actually have to get a trim shortly to keep it growing even.

I have to say I am getting used to it though.  It's very easy to take care of ... wash, brush and go.  Can't get easier than that.

Christmas 2010

I had a great holiday with the family.  My energy is coming back little by little.  I even managed to make all my Christmas treats and go shopping a few times and didn't feel like death warmed over after.  My hair is even coming back.  It just looks really short .. but I have stopped wearing the bandanas.  I am thinking of making something out of them.  They are dear to my heart and I can't bear to part with them.

The whole family gathered for our annual Christmas breakfast.  My sister and myself did all the cooking.  It was a pretty nice spread.  Lots of food and goodies and lots of left overs.  We were sending everyone home with goodie bags.

Here is our Tree:

I made quite few of these for decorations around the living room. My niece Alex came home with one and I fell in love with it. She gave me a lesson in making them so off I went.

Mikey helped me glitter them. He was a glittery cocoa covered mess after but he had such a good time.

My beautiful babies ... I am a lucky Auntie

 

Let's see ....

Keilbasa, Bacon, Pancakes, Eggs, Peanut butter Balls, Oreo Balls, Peanut Butter fudge, Chocolate fudge, Mini Pecan cups and Butterscotch Haystacks.

Quite a display eh?

Thanksgiving

We all packed up the van and drove the nearly 2 hours out to my our sisters house in Fort Plains.  We had a great meal.

I wore my 2 dollar Target Halloween wig .... I had my sister fooled for about 90 seconds.  She gave me a strange look and I told her ... ''well you know after Chemo it can grow back curly''

She caught on pretty quickly .. but I had her going for a minute.

I think I can pull off an afro ... if only it was still the 70's lol!

Our lovely Turkey. My sister did a great job with it. It was so moist and tasty

This was the best Thanksgiving ever. I have so many things to be thankful for. Every day is a blessing. I won't ever take them for granted again.

A little update

Here is a pic where I am down to Steri Strips .. now I just have to wait for them to fall off.

Not too much bruising but lots of swelling and its still a little tender but not bad at all.

It's so nice to have it gone!!!

The scar is looking better ... but one of the stitches has worked through ... but still knotted under the skin and it's driving me batty lol ... sort of itchy :p

Port Removal

I had my port taken out today ... not much to see right now. It was much easier coming out vs going in. After everything I've gone through this was a piece of cake.

No More Chemo!!!

As of today I am clear.  My PET/CT scans I had done on Monday have come back and show no signs of cancer.

The scans did show nodules on my Thyroid but they have been there. But, given the family history.  I will be having another ultra sound on that in January but I've been through that before .. no biggie ;)

I have to have blood work and see the Doc every three months for a while.  They will be monitoring me for at least a year.   But for now .. no more Chemo and no more freaking needles every week! :D

... oh and the damn port is coming out Monday!!! That's a good sign right??

The sense of relief is overwhelming..... once he told me I was clear I started to say something and completely lost my train of thought ... so much going through my mind ... now I'm worried he might think I have Alzheimer's setting in lol.

I'll post back after I'm up and around from the removal.

Now I can look forward to the Holidays and New Year with renewed hope and full of thankful blessings.

PET/CAT scans today

I had my scans today.  It's a good thing I am not claustrophobic.  I was in the tube for nearly 30 minutes.  It was freezing cold too.  They had two blankets on me but I was still frozen.  Nothing new about that though ... I'm always cold. 

I go to see the Doc on Thursday and get the results.  *Fingers Crossed*

My Last Chemo Treatment!!

Today was my last Chemo treament!!!  Six months sure does fly by sometimes.

Now I have to wait three weeks.  Then I get blood tests and PET/CAT scans and find out what the scoop is.  Hopefully this will be the end of it.

No Egg - No Oil Chocolate Cake

Now that it is getting colder I am getting into baking mode.  I decided to try something new since I was low on ingredients.  I had no oil and no eggs so, I consulted my old friend Mr. Google and I found this recipe ... Not exactly low cal ... but no fat for sure.  I have to say I was skeptical but it wasn't too bad .. it turned out to be a bit like a brownie.  Moist and a bit chewy.  I will say this is very rich so a small piece goes a long way.  But when you are having a chocolate attack and no sign of chocolate in the house this came in very handy. ☺  I do adore a bit of chocolate now and again ♥

3 cups Flour

2 cups Sugar

6 tbs Cocoa powder

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Vinegar

2 tsp Vanilla

3/4 cup Applesauce

2 cups cold Water

Mix dry ingredients.  Make 3 wells in the dry mix.  Pour vanilla in one well, Apple sauce in the other, Vinegar in the 3rd well and then pour water over all.  Mix until just blended and pour into a 9 x 13 pan.   Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.  I used a glass pan and I went the full 40 ... I think I could have pulled it out at 30 or 35 and gotten an even moister cake.  I'll try that next time. 

Ovens and pans will always vary a little.   

This cake is so rich a small piece really is all you need so this will serve quite a few people. 

Enjoy! ♥

2010 Adirondack Balloon Festival

Another year ... Another Balloon Festival. I go each year weather permitting in the hopes of seeing a huge lift off. Once again Mother Nature would not cooperate. I woke up with huge hopes. NO RAIN!!! I was still hopeful waiting in line for nearly 2 hours of stop and go traffic.

Seeing the sun coming up on the horizon ... seeing a few clouds but not too many ... I thought this is the year! So did every other person from here to Canada. I saw license plates from Canada, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts & New Hampshire. Traffic was horrendous. For those that live here we promptly came to a standstill in front of Glens Falls Animal Hospital. We have always been able to make it to at least Cronin road before the crawl begins lol! But that was ok ... There was excitement in the air.

Everyone walked around with huge smiles just waiting for the balloons to hit the field. There had to be 1000's of people on that field, I haven't seen so many in a few years. Then as the wind picked up those smiles waned. It was not to be.

Once again another year with no balloons

...... but wait!

Some pilots took pity on us poor balloon fanatics. They decided to at least fire up the burners and bring a few of those magical Balloons to life. It was wonderful to see them rise against the odds. Even though a few handlers nearly went flying while holding on to those lines.

So, we didn't get to see them all .. but we got to see a few and that made the wait worthwhile.

And yes .. next year I will trundle out the house half asleep at 4 am in hopes of seeing a full flight once again. ♥

The first kiss of the morning sun

A kind gentlemen asked if I would like a picture of "my daughter" and me .. who am I to argue ☺


 

My sister and her whole crew ..... a good looking bunch I would say. ♥

I love this pic ... the little Pirate giving an approving Arrrrrrrr!!!