HOME...be inspired everyday

Is this a sign?

On my way to my first Radiation treatment we saw a Rainbow ending at the City of Hope.....neato, eh?

Thanks so much for all the well wishes...I'm feeling good a bit tired and sore.  You peeps are the bestest eva!!!   
 

Pooped Out!!

 

    {Norman Rockwell}

In anticipation of my surgery tomorrow, I have been washing laundry, loads of it, dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing down walls, scrubbing bathtubs, washing shower curtains, mopping floors, taking everything out of drawers and closets to organize and refold, moving furniture in both girls' rooms.  I even moved a huge armoire that was in daughter's  #1 room over a few feet including the 30 inch TV inside of it, {want to check out my guns?}   Moving a desk to the opposite wall.  Then the next day on to daughter #2's room and did the same moving a vanity in and a shabby chic desk out and rehanging plates above her wrought iron bed.  Sheeh I'm tuckered out!!  I have this feeling that I need to have my house in order before I feel like I can't or won't be able to do anything after my tumor is removed.  I have also put away all the christmas stuff away but left a few Snowman out since it's still the winter season and I like decorating for the seasons.  It still seems very sparse and clean....but I'm liking it a bit. 

 
 
 
 

Hopefully I'll bounce back and feeling like my ole' self soon and won't leave for too long.  Wish me luck and I'll see you on the other side........
 
 

More Holiday Merriment....

Every year my friend has  a Christmas Eve Party.  Her house is always decorated so pretty.  You might of remembered

her don't hate me because I'm beautiful kitchen .  Here is a picture of her outdoor patio all lit up.  No one was out there that night because it was too cold.

Let's go inside and look at all the decorations...here is the Fireplace Mantel.

Those are "faux" candles up there, she got them at Costco last year if you are wondering.  Let's take a look at what is under the glass domes because you know I have a "thang" for glass domes AND glitter and vintage ornaments.

 Can you see that picture in the background..that is my friend when she was a baby sitting on Santa's lap.  Is that not sweet?  And we know I have a special place in my heart for snowmen...

She has a village too.  She added those House Boxes  that we got a couple of years ago to her village...I totally revamped mine in Cottagy Style

Here is her snow covered Tree {flocked} it is covered in all very personal and meaningful ornaments. 
 
I don't think my friend has taken all her decorations down and I'm going over to her house so she can take me to my Surgeon's Appt. this afternoon so I'll get a snapshot of her garland and second tree so I'll update this post this evening.  Ok...here are some more pictures of her lovely home.  The garland is above the beautiful apron sink. 

The Merry Christmas blocks are over her stove.

Moving over to the left we head over to the banquette to take a look at the Chandelier...

 

I love this Vintage Inpired children that are playing in the snow spelling out JOY....
 
  Lets take a look at the staircase.  The lighting is not the best in there but I tried to "dabble" in my photoshop to lighten it up a bit.

 I'm sorry if you are all Christmased OUT....I just haven't had the time to post because I have had numerous doctors appointments all last week. I took this picture with the inclination to post them sooner then I did.  I know most of you have moved on to New Years...hey I'm slow...give me a break.

 
For those of you keeping track of my progress on my BC.  {Breast Cancer}...I thought of doing a separate blog to keep everyone informed but it's hard enough keeping up with one so I thought I would just pop in here when there is news to report and I'll delineate the verbiage with the above symbol that way you'll know if it has to do with my BC or my Regular Home..be Inspired stuff.   So if you don't want to read about that you can just know that post is about the BC. 

Ok..here goes.  I got a second opinion last week and have decided to have my surgery and treatment done at City of Hope.  I really liked the surgeon there, she was very thorough in her explanation of what is happening to my body.  I meet with her this afternoon to schedule my surgery.  What I have is Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma.  It started in my milk ducts by has broke through the ducts now and is on the move...becoming invasive.  It's very early and is about 2 Centimeters.  I had and MRI on Tuesday and I met with the Radiation Oncologist on Wed.  Thursday I had another Mammogram on my Right Breast {the tumor is in the Left Breast} because the MRI picked up another "lump" there.  The Mammogram and Ultrasound could not find it but it's very common to have a false reading on an MRI according to my Surgeon.  So according to the report the "lump" on the right Breast is benign.  Now for the plan of attack on the left breast.  I'll have Lumpectomy {taking out the Lump {tumor} surgery this week or next.  They will take a look at my Sentinel Node and if my NODES are all clear {no cancer} I'll have radiation {Mammosite} for 5 Days, twice a day.  When they are taking out the tumor they put a spacer in there, it's like a balloon.  When I go into have my radiation they insert a catheter and radiate from the inside of my boob.  Isn't boob a funny word?   I think so.  Anyways...After 5 days they take it out and my scar heals.  The only thing I really have to be careful is of infection.  I won't have to have Chemo if they don't' find it in my nodes.  So today I'll find out when my surgery is and when I'll begin the treatment.  I'll keep everyone updated on my progress, Ok?  I guess I'll have to make another category over there with the topic BC. UPDATE:  the date has been set and my BC Surgery is going to be on January 15th. 

I'm a talker...

That is kind of how I deal with things, when life gives me a bump in the road...I talk,  I talk to anyone who will listen.   So it's no surprise that I would want to talk to you my bloggy friends, it's comforting to be able to get things "off my chest".   I wish that I could sit with you in real life and have a cupcake or a glass of wine.   I believe there is a good reason why wine and cupcakes were invented, especially the wine.  It just seems to calm you down. The Monday before last I finally scheduled my mammogram, it was due in October, but I wasn't so concerned about it, there is no breast cancer on either side of my family that I'm aware of.  They called on Monday to schedule a second Mammogram which was done on Tuesday.  I went and thought I'd be in and out so I didn't have lunch before I went, {the appt. was at 11 :45.}  After the Mammogram they sent me to have an Ultrasound, they took pictures for over an hour.  Ok I'm thinking to myself that is weird, that seems to be a long time for ultrasound pictures.  Then the doctor came in and said, "We need to do a Biopsy".  That's when the brakes inside my head start screetching....that involves needles.  I can handle the smashing of my breasts into a plastic vice until my size F cup breasts look like a pancake...that doesn't bother me at all, BUT NEEDLES, not a big fan.  Seriously NOT a big fan!!  I remember when I was in grade school that they were giving the Polio vaccine and two nurses {one of the nurses looked like she played as a linebacker for the LA Rams} were dragging me down the school hallway as I was kicking and screaming, and I was about seven years old.  Thats kind of how I looked whent he did my biopsy, I know I know I'm 45...Another time I had to give blood and fainted as I watched the blood go in the syringe.  I even told my doctor in childbirth that I DID NOT want the epidural I would have the baby naturally.  Yep..just the vision of the needle stopped me dead in my tracks.  So the biopsy part...was the part that scared me, not the idea of having cancer, well that too.  But I told myself I 'll worry about that when I come to that bridge.  I kicked and squirmed like I was seven all over again.  I had to apologize to the TWO nurses that had to hold me down before I bolted out the door.  I'm a baby, I know.  I went home with a bandage on my boobs and was told they would know the results of the biopsy today.  My doctor called this afternoon with the news every women dreads to hear.  "Unfortunately, it's cancer".   Yes, I have breast cancer in my left breast.  So I'll call tomorrow and make arrangements to line up a surgeon to take the next step.  But as I take one step at a time I'll just remember to keep Calm and maybe once in awhile have a cupcake too!!  or a bottle glass of wine.

If anyone that has gone through this or knows of someone, I would love to hear about it either in the comment section or an email.  Thanks for letting me vent my concerns on this very open forum, you guys are the best, I wish I could have you over for some wine or a cupcake or two.