Category: My Life

After a night where I just didn’t sleep at all, my day started off with a thud. I decided that since my surgery was not until noon-ish, I would go to Weight Watchers. I knew I hadn’t done too well over the fourth of July, but I didn’t think I had done that badly. Well, I was wrong. I gained 2 pounds! Shoot! I was really beating myself up about that until I realized that nearly every one in the class had gained weight. So in the end I didn’t feel so bad. In fact the class was such a good one that I felt better.

I came home and picked up Hubby so he could drive me in for my surgery. We arrived at the hospital and checked in. Everything went particularly fast and before I knew it they were trying to start an IV on me. I have teeny tiny veins, and it took three attempts before they got the IV started. They used novacane for two of the three attempts, and the one that they didn’t use the numbing agent on….let’s just say that hurt like heck!

Once plugged in to fluid, they wheeled me into surgery and things started. They gave me some “happy juice” in my IV, a local anesthetic in my nose and then everything started.

I do recall everything, and even conversed with the doctor while he did the operation. We reached the point where he took out the tumor and while we waited for the frozen section to go to Pathology we chatted about a few things. For instance, a song came on the radio, “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You”, and I told them that I knew the man who had written the song. He is a very good friend of one of my closest friends, and so while I lay there waiting I though of her and how special our friendship is.

Eventually the Laboratory called with the results. Yes, it is cancer for certain, but it is a Squamous cell carcinoma. This required more cutting of the area around the tumor and a slightly larger incision. Here is what I look like tonight.

Hubby was waiting for me, and he brought me home and then went out and got my medications. He made our dinner, and is spoiling me and taking very good care of me.

I slept for a while in the early evening, and I hope soon when I go to bed I will actually sleep. One thing is for sure, this thing really hurts! Thank goodness for pain medication!

I’ve been working all day on things, getting ready for my surgery and for the party for my parents, yet when I look around me, I don’t feel I got much done at all. I don’t seem to be able to stay focused too well on things.

I did go to the dentist, and look….No Cavities!!!

I also got my hair done and it looks pretty, soft and curly.

And my doctor called to make sure I was all set for tomorrow and not nervous. He also asked if I had any questions and was so genuinely concerned. I appreciated that. Dr. S. is a nice guy.

Here is a picture of the little problem spot on my nose.

(click to enlarge)

The temperature here got up to 95 degrees, and the humidity is high. It’s genuinely uncomfortable. Ah, it’s summer in New England. This means that like every other New Englander, I am complaining about the weather. We’re a picky lot. You see in the winter we complain about the snow. In the spring about the mud and rain. In the summer the heat and humidity, and the Autumn…hmmmm, I can’t think of anything bad there. Oh my. Perhaps the Autumn is the perfect time of year!

Yes, Autumn. A perfect season, with colors bright and the air cool and crisp. Ah yes, it’s nice to think of that sort of weather on a day like this.

There are times when I ask myself how I have made it to 49 years old! Let me tell you just a little about my day and I hope you will think it is as funny as I do.

Actually the first part of my day was very productive. Hubby and I got up early, had our breakfast and got out of the house by 8:45 to go grocery shopping for our 4th of July party. The stores were not overly crowded and we were able to get our shopping done in a few hours. We loaded everything into the trunk, placing the cold items in coolers. We stopped and paid a fortune to tank up the car, had lunch at the Chinese Buffet before arriving home.

We were greeted by the 4 dogs with such happiness and sheer joy that it took my breath away. How on earth could I ever survive without these guys?

Of course once home we had to unload the car. Now the trunk was full, the back seat, and even the floor in the back seat! We got everything in, the cold stuff put away and then the fun began.

I made two different marinades, chopping garlic and onions and mixing measured amounts of oils, vinegars and herbs, and whisking it all together. Then Hubby cut up the steak into cubes for the kebabs, I peeled the shrimp and after about 45 minutes of doing this, we took the beef and shrimp and put them in to marinate over night.

Hubby disappeared to do his yard work, and Emily and I worked on the next step of the preparations. We boiled the potatoes for the potato salad, and eggs for deviled eggs. I chopped the vegetables for the salad, made the dressing for the potato salad, and once the potatoes were done, cubed them and mixed the dressing and vegetables together.

I stepped back. It looked like a bomb had gone off in my kitchen. I think I used every dish, spoon, and measuring cup I own! So for the next hour I worked cleaning up the mess, loading the dishwasher and hand washing the other things.

I sat down briefly and sipped some lemonade, before I microwaved a meal for Hubby and myself.

That done, I decided I needed to do two things to end my day. First I wanted to empty out the Puppy pool and clean it out, so tomorrow we could put fresh water in it. So I went out, emptied the little pool, took it over to the side of the house and sprayed it off. The hose has a great jet setting that really shoots the water! What a great job it does.

When I got done I dropped the nozzle on the ground and it turned itself back on and was spraying me!!! I reached down and I swear to you, it was like the hose turned into a snake! I got soaked!!!

I stood there, with Anneliese watching me and I burst out laughing! Soaking wet and no one to blame for the drenching but myself!

I came inside and got on my nightgown and some dry underwear and socks and sat down to write my blog. I was about half way through the entry when my mouse slipped and POOF!

My entry was completely gone!

I did everything I could think of to find it and then I decided that it was gone for good. Thus, instead of hearing about what I plan to do at our 4th of July party, you get to hear about the build up to it and the silliness I myself inflicted upon…..myself!

So I am staying away from the hose for the rest of the night, and I have placed my mouse in an area of safety so it will not erase my entry.

It’s been a long but very good day!

Today I met Dr. S. A nice man a tad older than me. He examined my schnozzola (nose) and gave me several options. First his diagnosis is more than likely Basal Cell Carcinoma. Not a big deal as it is very common for people “my age” to have these lesions appear. It is also very treatable. He gave me three options as to how to resolve this. First to have the lesion excised in surgery, which would leave a small line on my nose. The second is to do a “punch” biopsy, which would leave a scar and might require more surgery later, and lastly to scrape the lesion for a biopsy, and that also can leave a scar, and would require more surgery if it was positive. I opted for the first option. I’m going in next Wednesday for out patient surgery. They will do a frozen section on the tissue and we will know then and there. The scar will be a simple line and will fade quickly.

I also got the results of my “Glucose Tolerance” test. I am Hypoglycemic. This will require a change in diet, and a more careful monitoring of my blood sugar levels. I was a bit miffed at how on earth I could improve my diet, after all I am following Weight Watchers, but the doctor told me I need to cut out simple carbohydrates and starchy foods, like pasta, white bread, sugar, etc, and opt for whole grains, more protein and vegetables. He also wants me to eat 5-6 small meals a day. “Graze”, he said. “Graze”.

So, I am feeling a little old. I’m sure once I get things under control I will be okay, and it won’t bother me so much. I guess it’s just another adjustment that you make as your life goes on.