Update on my Surgeon and Oncologist visit

Boy, did I ever get a good going over from the Oncologist.  I was there from 2:30 to 5.   I'm in excellent health except for the cancer (duh!).  Nothing has been settled as to what treatment I'm going to get.  We are going to wait for the results of the OncotypeDX test.  I call it a DNA test.  They will test some genes in the tumor to find out if I'll be prone to have a recurrence of cancer either in the breast or elsewhere in my body.  It takes about 3 weeks for the test results to come back.  I checked on the internet and found that the average cost for this testing is around $4000!  Yikes, thank goodness I have great medical insurance.  Today was the last of my visiting nurse.  My surgeon took out the drain tubes (2) and released me.  I don't need to see her for 3 months.  I'm under NO restrictions and the best news is that I can take a shower.  Everyone around me will be happy to hear that!
I ordered a medical alert bracelet tonight.  I need it because of the removal of the lymph nodes under my arm.  The doctor told me NEVER to have blood pressure readings or any kind of needle in that arm.  If I do, I may get Lymphedema.  So my new bracelet will have that info on it.
Sorry no pictures today,  the celery is growing but I'll wait a week to take pictures so you aren't bored by my enthusiasm for the celery.
I 'm going shopping tomorrow to get the little grandson some outside toys.  Bill wants to get him some John Deere tractors and/or trucks.
And the best news yet, my girlfriend may come and visit me on Friday!
The second best news, I'm starting to feel the need to sew!
Since it's tomorrow already, I better get some sleep so I'm wide awake to shop.

My Breast Cancer

I'm going to make a little 'speech' here.  Mid September 2011 I had a mammogram , I also had a CA125 blood test (for cancer) because my big sis has ovarian cancer and my mom died from kidney cancer.  Both of these test came back normal.  The end of January while doing the self breast exam, I felt a lump.  Bill was sick and I didn't make an appointment with my doctor until February.  He ordered another mammogram and ultra sound test.  They came back highly suspicious.  I was then referred to a surgeon and had a core needle biopsy.  This showed that I had Stage 1 Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma  with the tumor being 1.8 cm.
The bottom line is - PLEASE do a self exam every month no matter if you just had a mammo.  I am so happy that I do and that my cancer was caught really early.
Last Thursday (Mar 22) I went into the hospital for out patient lumpectomy or partial mastectomy surgery.  They removed the cancerous tumor and some lymph nodes under the arm.  They got all the tumor and the lymph nodes were cancer free.  Today I go see the surgeon and after that appointment I see my oncologist.  Talk has been that I will have radiation 5x a week for six weeks.  Today is the first day that I feel as if I have some energy.  It's also the first day on the computer.

Anyway, I have been taking care of my celery.  I planted it in dirt last Wednesday.  It seems to grow quite fast.  The tomato seeds are also doing great.  I have to wait a little while before I transplant them.  Here's my celery:

5 days after planting

Can't forget my flower tower

Do your self breast exam NOW !!!!!

I CAN grow celery in Texas

at least so far I can.  It's been 10 days since I cut the celery off and put the bottom in a bowl of water.  Now I have a couple of new shoots coming up.  SEE:  (yes, that's excitement in my 'voice')

10 days since I started this

The next 2 pictures are of my tomato seeds coming up and the other is my first flower tower showing how the flowers are coming along.

Tomato seeds popping up

Flower Tower coming along nicely

The 2 youngest grandkids were over the other day.  I did what any good grandma would do, I gave them both a piece of chocolate cream pie.  This is a first for Ethan.  From the picture, he enjoyed every little bit of it.  And yes, he is left handed.

Christy and Ethan enjoying some chocolate cream pie

That's it from my mundane life today.
Jean

Forgot to mention..........

that I made myself a fabric suitcase.  It's a perfect size to use as an overnighter.  I got the instructions from one of my 'finds' at Half Price Books (one of my favorite stores).

 

The book showing the suitcase on the cover

Full view

Interior with pockets

It measures 20"W x 14"H x 5" D.   No, I don't want to make anymore but glad you asked because that tells me you like it.

Another beautiful day in Texas

The rain finally left us and we now have the warm sun and a southerly breeze.  What else could I do today besides doing the wash and ironing clothes?  Why I could be outside making some planters for the front of the house.  Alright, I got it all done and I also planted some tomato seeds that I had from last year.  Here are my newly planted flowers in my newly made planters:

 

I didn't make them as large as the one on the back porch.  I'm sure that they will look alright once the flowers start to grow.  I'm not sure if I'm going to leave them where they are or move them back by the door.  Time will tell.

Another project that I did over the weekend was to plant some celery!  Sounds strange but because my friend Bobbi has a great board on Pinterest I found the instructions to plant celery from the cut off base.  Here is the web site: Grow Celery Indoors. 

Before the cut

The cut bottom in bowl of water

3 days of being in water with the warm sun

I just hope that I can grow some celery.  I think that if I do, it might be the first thing that ever grew for me here in Texas.

Rushing Spring

 When I was browsing through Pinterest, I found this Flower Tower.  Yesterday I bought flower pots, potting soil, flowers and some plastic pipe.  I had this nice guy in Lowe's cut the 10' length into manageable pieces for me.  There would be no way to put a 10' piece of pipe in the car to get it home.
Today I drilled holes in the pipe for watering the flowers.  I just hope that it waters them throughout the tower.  I tried to find some petunias but none were to be found so I just got some impatiences for my tower.  Here is my master piece.  I'm sure it will look  much better when the flowers get bigger.

This was so easy to do, I'm thinking about making a couple more for the front of the house.

Jean