Health Status

Monday, met with the surgion who will be putting in my port. Nice guy, great doctor. Met with the administrative team at the North Fork Surgical Center, again nice folks, but seemed to be having a typical Monday when some things just wouldn't go right. Made a trip to the Oncology Center to change a prescription, the last one had weird side effects.

Tuesday, Today, I had the PETSCAN done and with the help of not one but two sendatives, I survived the ordeal without any hesteria. yea!!!!! We won't have the results for a while but we will keep you posted.

Next we take on the Port Surgery on Thursday morning at the North Fork Surgical Center in Rexburg. A PORT is a entry tube that is implanted just under the skin to allow for easier access to veins for IVs, shots, and blood draws. It is a minor surgery with few risks. I will be nice to only have to numb the area on top of the port and have the needles, slid right in without the 2 hours of fighting to find a vein that will cooperate. This is a good thing.

And the opportunity to get this all taken care of before the end of the year when health insurance deductibles and out of pocket amounts have been met is another blessing.

love to you all. Enjoy the snow, it just keeps coming.... lol -Sheryl

Time for a Port and another PETScan

Well, yesterday did not go as well as we had hoped for. Despite my efforts to drink an entire ocean of water, my veins were still not hydrated enough. It took three attempts again and a lot of stingying and pain. Apparently I have been poked so many times that my skin has developed enough scar tissue that it is near impossible to get in. So next week we are planning on putting the port in, which is aabout a 2-hour day surgery process. I will be going up to Rexburg to have Dr. Christensen do it, as he has a wealth of experience in this procedure. My pre-op appointment with him is Monday. We will schedule the surgery at that appointment but tentatively we are looking at Thursday. The port will be a good thing, so that whenever I have to have blood drawn or have an IV, they can go through the port instead of continuing to beat up my hand, wrist and arm.

The other thing, that we have mixed feelings about is the current readings on my calicium intake, my liver readings and the degree of pain that I am in. My calicium is a little elevated but not at "my normal" levels, so there has been a drop, there has also been a drop in my liver readings. So Tuesday, I go in a PETScan. I will be heavily sedated so that my claustrophobia doesn't get the best of me, like last time. The purpose of the scan is to "restage" the cancer and see if it has spread or if it has remained the same. There is a slight possiblity that my liver readings are off because of the amount of tyneol and iburprofen I have been taking and that the pain may be because of muscle and nerve damage. But we won't know anything for sure until we run the tests. So next week will be interesting.

That's all for now. I hope you enjoy your Christmas preparations. Love, Sheryl

Treatment Day

Today is another treatment day and an appointment with the doc to discuss reconstructive surgery options and medications. I'm thinking it won't happen because of medication conflicts. The best of the day is that Wayne is here and going with me. Going to the doctor is so much calmer for me when he is with me. Have a great day yall'. -Sheryl

It's snowing

Our first snow fall of the season. It's light, but it's white. A little bit more and it will be time for snow angles, snowmen, snowball fights.....and maybe even some snow machining......

Happy Winter.

A Day of Rememberance

Today my heart is full of pondering and rememberance as I think both about those who lost their lives during the attacks on Pearl Harbor and my baby brother.

I am so grateful to those individuals regardless of war time or time of peace, who have served us and our country so that we might enjoy the freedoms, that I quite frankly take for granted. Thank you to my grandparents, my father, my father-in-law, brothers-in-law, friends, and many more, who served or are currently serving. I am endebted to you.

My heart is also turned to that day in December 32 years ago today, when my little brother was called home to live with our Father in Heaven. I remember the details like it was yesterday. I remember what a happy baby he was and how happy he made our family. I love him very much and am ever so grateful that he came here to this earth even for a short while to be in our family and that our family is sealed for eternity so that we might be with him again someday. I know that he's fullfilling his mission in heaven. I love you Danny. -Sheri

Riley and Cammie are my heros!

YAHOO! Riley and Cammie both came straight home from school, which is rare. They joined efforts and got the lights working. We had to compromise because we didn't have enough working icecycle lights to it all, so we have icecycles on the higher roof and straight lights on the lower roof. It looks good. Thanks guys. Love ya. -Mom

Scentsy Party

I am having a Scentsy Party tonight at 7:00 at my house. (which is another reason I wanted the lights to be up and looking good.) I am trying to muster up the energy to go get some cookies made and a table cloth ironed. I have about 8.5 hrs till then. I should be able to get that done.....MAYBE..... ;) Sheryl

Outside Christmas Lights

I love to have Christmas lights on the outside of my house, but this year it has been a pain. One of the boys got them all hung and there were burned out bulbs on 3 of the strings. He didn't know why the lights were out but he hung them anyway. I helped identify the broken bulbs and all was well. He was told to loop the cords so that there wasn't a gap between strings. He did fine on the first two but the last three he had gaps. I climbed up there yesterday and fixed the gaps. Last night a whole new section of lights was burned out, this morning I hoped up there and ended up taking down two strings of lights and now I can't get them to work even though I have replaced the broken bulbs. I ended up crying over the whole mess, which means I am way too tired to stress over lights.... good grief... what a dumb thing to cry about. But I like the lights, they brighten my day every time I see them. Oh well, maybe I can get someone to help me tonight or tomorrow with them. -Sheryl

Bulbs Planted and Christmas Letters mailed

Today was a busy day. I finished up our Christmas letter and got it mailed out. Finished up some Christmas presents. And I dug a 8" deep trench all along the front of my house and Debbie and I planted Daffodil (sp?) bulbs. And under my Living Room Window we planted Daisy starts and Tulips bulbs. I was so wiped out that Debbie had to bury them. I'm excited for spring now to see how well the bulbs do.

Now I am headed to the Ward Christmas PLANNING Party. I'm in charge of decorating, which means that by default, Wayne is helping. :) Sharon & Roger will be helping too.

I am surrounded by the giggles and teasing of teenagers right now. Cammie brought home friends after school and I love having them here and being home to enjoy them.

lol -Sheryl

Happy December

YEAH! It's December. My Christmas decorations are up and I'm loving the feel of Christmas already. I spent the day working on homemade Christmas Gifts and a few household chores. I love the spirit of Christmas and how it brings out the good in so many people.

Thursday I have a Scentsy Party at my home at 7:00. You're welcome to come if you live close enough. ;)

I am meeting with my Oncologist on Dec. 10th to discuss medications and reconstructive surgery. It is looking like I won't be able to have the reconstructive surgery at this time, because the plastic surgeon requires me to go off my tamoxifin and my oncologist says that's not a good idea. So, we are meeting to discuss the specifics. I will keep you posted.

Love, Sheryl

Delightful Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Thursday was Thanksgiving with some of the Thomson clan and Friday was Thanksgiving with all four of our kids. Saturday was decorating for Christmas and Sunday was church and some R&R. All in all it was a grand weekend. I hope you have a good week. lol -Sheryl

Well, Tuesday was not the best of days. I have been in a lot of pain and have decided that the tyneol and ibuprofen are no longer enough to manage it. I spend the entire day in bed yesterday dealing with fatigue and pain. I called the Dr to discuss pain management, and left a message with the receptionist, but didn't hear back from the Dr. I will try again today.

Wayne was placed on oxygen on Monday. Nice birthday present eh?... Apparently he is not getting enough oxygen even though when I read the monitor it read at 89 and 92. That must have just been a glimpse for a moment and not what his overall was for that night. The oxygen is not as loud as we thought it would be, but again, we are having to get use to it.

Riley and Cammie finished finals for the 1st trimester and are glad to be out of school for the Thanksgiving Holiday. They return to school Monday, Dec. 1st.

Well, It's early in the morning and I think I will try and get some more sleep. I have a lot of Thanksgiving preparations to take care of today and I need my rest.

lol. -Sheryl

Monday Nov 24

We had a fun time last night with the Twins. I made a lego cake and they loved it. I put lego gummies all over it and a lego toy for each boy. They were in 7th heaven. We enjoyed taco soup and a game of apples to apples with the rest of the family. It was a good visit.

Today was an enjoyable day. Wayne had the day off, so he went with me to my dr appt for a quick physical, an EKG and some routine blood work, all prerequistes to surgery. Now we need to work out the medications so that I can continue with the current regiment and yet prevent blood clots.

I spent part of the day helping my friend Debbie get her bulbs planted in her flower bed. That wore me out. But I enjoyed spending the time with her.

Wayne has had a pleasant day. His big birthday surprise was that Savannah came home today instead of later in the week. She was so excited to come home and surprise her dad.

Well, that's all for now. Love to you all. -Sheryl

A Birthday for 3

Wayne's birthday is tomorrow Nov. 24th. We have two nephews, twins, who share Wayne's birthday, they will be 7. Each year we try to spend their birthday together. Wayne told Donnel that the boys can't have a birthday without him. This year, since their birthday is on a school day and work day, we are celebrating a day early. We are headed to their home this afternoon and hope to enjoy cake, ice cream and lots of laughter and fun. It is our turn to make the cake, so I better get to the kitchen as I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Happy Birthday Wayne, Kyle and Evan. I love you. -Sheryl

Gratitude and Thanksgiving

Today in church was an uplifting morning of messages of gratitude and thanksgiving. I was asked to write three major changes in my life over the last 6 months. I wrote health issues, deepening relationships with kids and friends, drawing closer to the Lord. Then I was asked to write down a blessing from those changes, I wrote quality time with my family, a deeper self worth and esteem, and peace. I hope that you all can find the time to have to deepen your relationships with your loved ones, that you can make quality time to be with them, that you can draw closer to the Lord, and find peace and a deeper self worth in your life. It is a very rewarding way to live.

A testimony of tithing and thanks..... Wayne's paycheck came in just a little over half what it usually is. I attempted to pay bills, and quickly realized that there just wasn't enough there. I cried and cried then determined the amount that we needed to be able to make through the next month. I then took a deep breath, wrote out the tithing check and paid one bill. Then walked away with a prayer in my heart. I packed and left for Utah for a nice evening with Wayne and the dr appt on Friday morning. And I did my best to put it out of my mind. I knew the Lord knew our situtuation and I knew I had done all I could do. We had a nice "mini" vacation and enjoyed the time together and felt good about the information gleened from the dr's visit. On the way home, we stopped by Wayne's work, where the gentlemen over payroll immediately approached us and apologized for his mistake but that he had missed a couple loads and some hours worked outside of the truck. He handed us another check. IT WAS $10 SHY OF THE AMOUNT I HAD DETERMINED WE NEEDED. I reconginze this as a trial of my faith and the Lord's willingness to answer our prayers if we will keep his commandments. I express my sincere Thanks and Gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father. He lives, He knows me, He loves me and He watches over me. I testify in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ Amen. -Sheryl

The visit went well with the plastic surgeon. Looking at surgery shortly after the new year. I am busy now with Super Saturday plans and Thanksgiving plans. Oh and sorting through and deliverying tupperware orders that came in while I was in Utah. ;) -Sheryl

This afternoon we head for Utah. We have an appointment with the plastic surgeon in the morning to discuss recontructive surgery and a port. I hope to send out a family update this weekend. lol -Sheryl

YEAH. Wayne and I just finished with an amazing slide show that is a tribute to Roy & Karen Thomson and their 50th anniversary. Wayne is going to try to put music to it, but with 199 slides it takes just over 20 minutes. I hope that all goes well when we present it at the dinner tonight. Wish us luck....

I am feeling much better than I was Wednesday and Thursday. Amazing how a few days can make a difference.

Wayne got the results from the sleep institute. He was waking 26 times a minute, he stopped breathing 21 times a minute and was at less than 64% oxygen. He was perscribed a CPAP. Last night was his first night with it. It will take some time for both of us to adjust to that contraption, but I am so grateful that we've gotten him some help with his sleep apnia.

Sunday we are having the baby blessing for Kolton, the youngest in the Thomson clan. It is a fun filled weekend, celebrating 50 years together and a new family's beginnings.

Well, the day is quickly getting away from me, I need to get ready for tonight. lol -Sheryl

This morning I am taking it slow. Dealing with muscle ache's but am glad to be alive. :)

I'm thinking of getting a lap dog to keep me company while I spend all these hours alone, but am still playing with the idea. I'm not real big on indoor pets, so it would be a huge jump for me.

My car has been in the shop for repairs from when someone hit me in early October. They have had it two weeks and I was looking forward to getting it back. But when I picked it up, they didn't repair the bumper, the battery is almost dead and the inside is full of dust and resuial from the shop. the repairs they did do look great, but I am disappointed about the other things. I'm already having the bumper repairs looked into.

I'm planning to spend the rest of the day taking it easy. lol -Sheryl

The treatment didn't go so good. The first poke was in a good vein but the vein blew. So the second poke was too painful, I made them take it out. The third poke hurt and stung the whole time but I worked through the pain. They told me it was time to get a port. Fun. I will ask my plastic surgeon about that next week when I meet with him regarding the reconstructive surgery. I can already feel the treatment making my bones ache. I will not be up much longer. Going to go get some rest. lol -Sheryl

Well, I am busy gathering Thomson family photos for a slide show for Roy & Karen's 50th Anniversary. Hope I can get them all gathered and incorporated by Friday. Also, I leave in a few minutes for a cancer treatment. Those are always so much fun. ;) Have a great day. I hope Rosanna had a good birthday yesterday. lol -Sheryl

Thanks Sayre for helping me learn how to post pictures. I think I went overboard, but it takes practice to learn how to do it right. Now..... I think I need to figure out how to change my format. I like Julie's and Mom's formats. I think I will look into that next.

I'm so lost

Ok - I've seen other blogs and they have cool photos and messages, and comments... I'm hoping my nieces (on both sides of the family), My Mom and Julie will come rescue me and give me some pointers......

Here We Go......

Ok, so if so many of my family members can do this, I guess I can too. So I'm jumping off the deep end and trying this blog thing. Here We Go.....