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Saturday, June 20, 2015
New Car Smell
I was finally able to bring home my new 2015 Highlander Blizzard Pearl White with Black leather interior. I just absolutely love it. I have to learn all the things it does.It has apps like my smart phone. But there is definitely a learning curve. Just about the only thing it doesn't do is Wash and vacuum itself. Boy whouldn't that be nice. Oh well, that's what they make public car washes with free vacuums. Summer in South Louisiana means it rains just about every afternoon. It hardly does any good to wash it, but I will anyway because I want it to keep that new look for as long as it can. And the new car smell. I love that smell. It's sort of funny, but that is usually the first comment everyone makes when they first see it and stick their heads inside "Oh it's got that new car smell! I love that smell." Well it smells like new leather and it is a yummy smell.

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posted by Cindy N. at 2:33 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Sunday, May 17, 2015
A burger please?
Today we went to Burger King in Walker, LA. When we drove up to the speaker box to place our order and before we even started to speak, we hear "Our computers are down and we are out of Whopper meat. May I take your order?" Tom and I looked at each other speachless. What do you say to that?
 
posted by Cindy N. at 9:07 PM | Permalink | 0 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Monday, September 07, 2009
Back is fixed now....
Three weeks ago tomorrow morning, I had major back surgery. I had a lumbar fusion and something else, that is a very technical term I can even say, much less spell. Oh well, what ever it was/is it seems to have worked well. I am already walking, albiet a little unsteady, but having very little pain. Dr. Isaza is a wonderful surgeon.

The first night of surgery, I had a very rough time. I just wanted the pain to go away and Tom said I begged God to take me. I think I was really begging God to take the pain, not me. Anyway, the doctors and nurses were finally able to get a grip on my pain and then I was able to rest some. Tom said I had that little pain pump button in my hand pumping it for everything I was worth. I just remember how bad it hurt and I just wanted it to stop.

Well, I just wanted to let everyone know I am still kicking.....litterally and I am glad that surgery is over with. I don't want to do it again any time soon.

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posted by Cindy N. at 9:24 PM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Broken Back !?!?!?!?!
A lot of you know the pain I have been in for a long time now. The pain has gotten greater and greater as time has passed. On May 6th I had to go for an MRI for my lower back because I was suddenly in so much pain I couldn't stand it. All of you that know me, also know I have a very high tolerance for pain. So when I say I couldn't stand it, that means on the pain scale from 0 to 10, it is a 9 or 10.

So, I had had the MRI and was on my way home, but before I got home, the doctor called my cell phone and told me to go back to the Imaging Center because they saw something on my MRI that was a shadow of something in my belly. His terms not mine. Heather and I turn around and go back to the Imaging Center where they did a CT scan of my 'belly' area. They discover a huge cyst on my liver. It is the size of a cantelope. Nice! I can't do anything just a little bit, I have to do it BIG! I should live in Texas.

Next thing that happens is I land in the hospital. Now I go to the hospital thinking they are going to take this thing that is on my liver out of my body. Not. They called in a liver specialist and he decided that this is a benign cyst and we will look at it again in 6 weeks to see if it is growing more or what. I know it is because 1 1/2 years ago there were 2 or 3 little cysts and they were pea size. So, yes, they are growing. But I will let him have his fun and look at them again in a few weeks. I think they are going to have to be removed, but what do I know? It's just my body.

So I was in the hospital and they called in a Neurosurgeon about my back. I saw him in his office last Friday. His exact words were "your back is effed up. Your spine is trash! and you have been walking around with a broken back." Hmmmmmmmm......broken back. This is a result of degenerative disc disease. The discs have deteriated to the point that the vertebre are falling off the top of each other. Thus a broken back. I am now using a walker and in constant pain. The only thing they can do for it is fuse the last 4 vertebre together L3, L4, L5, S1. This will be done in July. That is the earliest I can get in for this particular surgeon because he is very good and is booked solid until then. I can't think but waiting that long with the amount of pain I am in, so I just do today (one day at a time). So that is the story of the broken back.

Will write more soon as I am living on the couch these days. Love you all.
 
posted by Cindy N. at 2:30 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Skinny Little Butt
Today my husband said something to me that I don't think he even realized until I started giggling and thanking him. My daughter and son-n-law, Allen, were in the back seat of our vehicle with me in the front with my husband driving. We were carrying a lot of stuff in the back end of the SUV and when we hit a dip in the road, the back end of the SUV bottomed out and hit the back side of the dip. My husband said "Cinnie, I am going to have to put your 'skinny little butt' in the back seat and put Allen up here with me." SKINNY LITTLE BUTT!!!!!!! Wow! He hasn't said THAT to me in a very long time. It was a wonderful thing to hear!
 
posted by Cindy N. at 11:55 AM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Me SICK!!!!!
Ok folks, it is spring in South Louisiana. Flowers are blooming everywhere, pine trees are pollenating, oaks are showing an attraction for each other, and it's all in the air! Thus, me sick! This started for me last Friday and I am still down with it. I finally got an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow. I want SHOTS! One is each butt and I will be good to go. That is what it usually takes for me to get past this epizooty.

I have to get over this soon, because a week from tomorrow, we are flying out to Canada to visit friends and watch their daughter get married. We are really looking forward to the trip. I will try to post while we are there to keep you all up to date.

Well, I have spent all my energy for today, so I am closing for today. Will post more later.

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posted by Cindy N. at 5:23 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Fantastic!
Tom and I had to opportunity to see Cirque de Soliel's Salltimbanco last night. It was so good. Here are some pics I found of what we saw.



The fellow on the bike was fasicinating. Talk about control.......



And this guy here was so funny! I really enjoyed his parts......


These two men was so powerful. I could not believe my eyes most of their act. The strength they displayed was something!

And one of my personal favorites was the part these people performed. They looked like flying birds to me. It was stunningly beautiful.

I just can't say more about it. YOU MUST SEE IT!
 
posted by Cindy N. at 9:28 PM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Another strange visitor!
These are the perks of living away from town in the country. Today a Billy Goat showed up and visited for a while. Here are his pictures.....
He is a hansome fellow isn't he?
I have some pretty unusual visitors sometimes, but I like it. I would have a menagerie if I could afford to feed all the animals. This guy lives across the street and he gets out of his enclosure all the time, but it's the first time he has ever come this far from his home. I just hope he won't get hit out in the highway.
Tom finally got the goat to follow him back across the street. He put him back in the enclosure. The people that used to live there are trying the sell that property, but they come out a few days a week to feed the goats and check on the place. The poor goats probably feel abandoned, but I know they are being taken care of. I will check on them every couple of days, just the same though.
Besides the goat, things are going well. Still having a LOT of back pain and have made an appointment with my doctor to talk about what he can do. He mentioned surgery several times, but I have been avoiding that. Now I am willing to listen.
Have a great day everyone.

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posted by Cindy N. at 11:40 AM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Cochon de Lait
Some call it a Pig Pickin'. Some call it a Pig Roast. Here in south Louisiana, we call it a Cochon de Lait. (Cooshau de lay)


Yesterday, at 2:00 am, my son-n-law, husband, and step-son, hung this pig up to cook him over an open fire for the next 13 hours.

There were right at 70 people who showed up for this. It was wonderful! Everyone brought something to eat, from macque choux (mach shoo) to Baked Beans. We had food enough to feed an army of friends. And we did.


Just about an hour into the party, the power went off. WHAT!? Yes, the power went off. I don't know what happened, but that does happen around here from time to time, but I really didn't appreciate it happening at THAT time! But it turned out to create an adventure for our guests. They all came in the house, got a plate, put stuff on it, and went outside to see what they had on their plate! Surprise meals! Yahoo!


The pig got cooked, everyone ate as much as they could hold, we laughed, visited, froze a little big because it was chilly outside, but I think we all had a great time. I know I did. It was nice to have everyone over at our house for a change. It was wonderful to see all our friends gathered together enjoying each other.


Thank you all that showed up. I appreciate all the work that everyone put into this gathering. It was so much fun. We will do it again next year!
 
posted by Cindy N. at 3:54 PM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Was she great!????
Yes she was! She was so awesome! Heather and I went to see her in Houston Friday night and had a great time. Celine put on such an entertaining show. I want to go see her again now. I have been to many concerts in my life, but this one was, by far, the most enjoyable to me. She sang all her popular songs, especially the ones from the Taking Chances CD and had dancers, and her backup singers. Her stage was very entertaining as well. It opened up and closed, had elevators in each corner and in the center, turned, had a conveyor belt, etc. I enjoyed watching the stage doing things as much as I did everything else. She did all her entrances from under the stage in the center. Her band members were also on elevators near the corners of the stage. And the band came and went (litterally dropped) through the corner elevators of the stage. What an awesome show!

Celine's opening act was Gordy Brown, a commedian, and he was hilarious. He is contracted at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas right now and will be there for 2 years. He was too funny. He is an impersonator and is really good at what he does.
Gordy was on stage for about 45 minutes and then Celine was on for almost 2 hours. She talked some, danced some, sang a lot and I so enjoyed it. The one thing that made me absolutely sick, was that I didn't think I would be able to bring in my camera, so I left it in the car, and I could have brought it in. They actually allowed them. Sick I tell you, just sick! I had such good seats, I could have gotten some fantastic shots of her act. I guess I was just meant to enjoy it and not try to get photos.
Ok, I know you are tired of hearing it already, but SHE WAS SOOOOOOO GOOOD! I can't wait to see her again in concert somewhere. It was so worth the trip and the ticket prices. WONDERFUL!!!!!!

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posted by Cindy N. at 5:08 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Thursday, January 01, 2009
It's all gone now!
2008, Breast Cancer, low energy, Christmas tree, Christmas tree needles on the floor, decorations, store crowds, traffic crowds ( I am at home), Hurricane Gustav, Snow.

It was a rough year for me as you all know. I am glad it's over. 2009 has got to be better than 2008. Is it because I am getting older? It seems that each year things are worse than the last. But not 2009. It will be great! Tell me that if I start whining about anything this coming year.

Happy New Year to every one of you!

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posted by Cindy N. at 7:25 PM | Permalink | 3 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Friday, December 19, 2008
FINISHED!
I finally finished my radiation treatments last Saturday. I have never been so glad to finish something. Today is Friday and my energy level has come back up to about 90% of what it should be, so I am able to do a lot of the things I have been putting off, like go get my nails done! I did that yesterday.

Today I am going to lunch with a friend and I hope we can go somewhere to buy some specialized tea. I have a new teapot I want to use. I love spiced tea and special flavors.

I am not going to make this very long because I am at work. Don't tell anyone. My internet issues at home have gotten continually worse and now I can't even send out email. I can still receive it, but can't send, not get to ANY website. Hubby needs to get router VERY soon.

As soon as my issues have been resolved, I will post pictures on previous blogs and I will let you know they are there!

Leaving work in a few minutes, so I have to wrap up a few things.....

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posted by Cindy N. at 11:05 AM | Permalink | 3 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Saturday, December 13, 2008
His eyes fell out and his nose fell off!
The snow was so inviting Thursday, that I finally mustered up enough energy to go make a small snowman about a foot tall. I put an oak leaf for his tie, and sticks for his arms, and a piece of board for his nose/mouth, and little pieces of leaves for his eyes. I found a piece of marble to use for a hat. Well, folks, I tried. What can I say? It took every bit of energy I had left to make him and I just loved him.

I did take pictures of my snowman and I will post pictures later.

Still having internet issues. I think it is my router causing it. Husband said he will go buy a new one and hook it up to see if he can resolve my connection problems. I absolutely HATE it when I can't get online and do what I want to do. It aggravates me to no end. Now why is that you ask? I really don't know, except that I spend a lot of time looking around on the 'net and shopping right now for Christmas since I have no energy to go shopping with my feet, so I do it with my fingers. I love being able to look at stuff and just browse the 'net. So for me, when I can't get online, I feel really left out. What did I do before I had internet? I don't remember.....

Anyway, My snowman is gone now, but he sure was cute while he lasted.

Merry Christmas every one!

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posted by Cindy N. at 10:57 AM | Permalink | 0 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Thursday, December 11, 2008
SNOW in LOUISIANA !!!!!
I am so excited! We have 6 inches of snow on the ground! We get a good snow like this once every 15 to 20 years, so it is always something to see for us. It is absolutely beautiful. We are so used to looking a dried up grass in the winter that when we see the ground covered in white, it is truly a winter wonderland.

I wish I felt better, I would get out there and play, throw snowballs at my husband (he came home from work early) and make a snowman. Maybe later, I will go and make a small snowman.

It really looks strange to see the swimming pool sitting there full of water and the snow piled up on the edges of it and the deck around it. I can't post pictures right now, but I will come back later and post them. I am having internet ISSUES!

The cancer center changed my appointment from today to Saturday, so that is when I will finish my radiation treatments. I will be so happy to get passed this stage of my life. It has really brought my energy level down to zero. I haven't been trying to work, because it wears me out just to get up and shower and get dressed. No forward motion going on here.

I will update more later and post pics of our snow-covered property. It is lovely.

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posted by Cindy N. at 10:50 AM | Permalink | 0 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Good heavens!
I didn't realize it has been so long since posting here. Gosh the stray horse seems so long ago now!

Just a quick update. I have now completed 28 radiation treatments. I was told today that I would have 5 more and that these will be more concentrated to a specific area of the breast instead of the whold breast as these 28 have been. I am looking forward to getting past all of this. Just the 69 round trip travel each day is a drain, but my body is also drained of energy right now. That is a side effect of radiation treatments. I thought I was going to bypass that part, but it finally hit me last week a couple of days before Thanksgiving. I haven't worked but 2 hours since then. I just don't have the forward motion energy. But after next week, it will take a week or so and my energy level is supposed to come right back! Yay!

Thank you all for your thoughts, support and prayers. It means so much to me. Because of all of you, I will be around for years to come! Right now, though, I am going to bed.

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posted by Cindy N. at 10:03 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Stray horse???
I got home today planning to pile up on the couch and maybe take a little nap. Fatigue is beginning to set in from having the radiation treatments. Anyway I went to put the dogs outside and there was a HORSE in my backyard! He was just grazing and acting like he belonged there.

Now I am looking at this horse, thinking to myself , "Cindy you have had a lot of stray animals out here but NEVER a stray horse! Now what are you going to do about it?" I tried to approach him but he started moving away from me and I was afraid he would go into the road, so I moved between him and the road and called the sheriff. I stood out there for almost 2 hours before the sheriff showed up. Meanwhile, I called everyone I could think of and finally figured out who owned the horse, so I was able to tell the sheriff that information when he finally arrived. He went there and left word for the owner to come get the horse.

Also I had called the stables down the road from me and a man from there came up here to see if he could help me. It only took him about 5 to 10 minutes to catch the horse and put him in my fenced area. He was then safe until the owner came to get him.

Here is a couple of pics of “BUCK” the horse.

Buck told me this was his good side!


He wasn't real sure about me, but after I brought him a bucket of water, he thought I was pretty nice. So he let me pet him finally.

Here is Buck and his owner on their way back home. I kind of hated to see the old boy go, I mean the horse!

Quite an eventful afternoon. I just wanted a nap and got a horse instead!

 
posted by Cindy N. at 7:15 PM | Permalink | 4 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Sunday, November 16, 2008
15 down, 20 to go....
I know this color is hard to see, but I am doing pink in support of breast cancer patients. Yay us!!!!!

I am 15 treatments down and approximately 20 to go. This is going a lot faster than I expected. When you think of doing something 7 weeks 5 days a week, it sounds like forever, but it's really not bad at all so far. The next 3 to 4 weeks will get a litttle tougher because the fatigue will most likelyset in, and I am getting very tender where the radiation is being targeted. But that is ok, I can handle all of that. By Christmas this will all be behind me.

Thank you all for reading up on what's going on and for all the comments I have received lately. I love to get the comments, so please just say "Hi" if you have been here.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday afternoon. It's fairly chilly here, for south Louisiana. I am really enjoying it.

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posted by Cindy N. at 3:32 PM | Permalink | 3 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Got my 12th treatment today....
So now it's 12 down and let's see......ummmm.....I can't subtract.......I think it's 23 more to go. Yep, 23. I had to get the calculator. That is pretty bad huh! Oh, well, I was having a senior moment. Yes, that's my excuse.

Anyway, back to the treatments. They are going well. I am beginning to have some minor discomfort and soreness, but I asked about it today and they said all of that is normal. I am also beginning with the pink color to my skin like a minor sunburn. I will get worse, but that's ok. It is just something I have to go through. I can do that.

I just wanted to put this update out here for all who keep up with me through this blog. Thank you all for reading it and for caring enough to do so. Please leave a comment so that I know you have been here.

 
posted by Cindy N. at 4:44 PM | Permalink | 7 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Three down, Thirty-two to go...
Well, so far, so good. I have had three treatments now and it only takes a few minutes and I am on my way again. It is just the trek to go there every day for the next 6 1/2 weeks that is aggravating to me right now. It is messing up my entire life's schedule. If I want to get my nails done, I have to schedule it around my radiation treatments. Maybe I need to change the time for the treatments. I had scheduled them for 2:00 every day, but that is proving to ruin my entire afternoon.

Damn it! Why am I complaining? I should be grateful for the fact that I don't have to go through Chemo. So what if I can't get my nails done when I want to. There are a lot worse things in life! I could be loosing my hair and throwing up my guts for heaven's sake and feeling like warm crap! So, Cindy, stop complaining and get on with it. WAAAH~ WAAAH~ WAAH~

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posted by Cindy N. at 9:55 AM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Ready? Set? GO!
I have been preparing for this for the last two months and now we are at the jumping off point. So here is the scoop.

Back in June, I had a regular, yearly, screening mammogram. I am a strong advocate of having that yearly checkup. Anyway, a few days later the doc called me and told me that, just like last year, I had an abnormal area on the mammogram. Last year, they had found some calcifications and did a core biopsy. A few days later they called and said that it was nothing to worry about. Completely benign. Yay!

This year, however, when more calcifications showed up, I had to have another core biopsy. This time, it turned out to be Cancer. When I got the call (while I was driving on the interstate) I was stunned to say the least. I immediately called Tom to tell him what the doc had said. I couldn't see his face when I told him, but I believe he was just as stunned as I. We had to go see the doctor that afternoon. It is scary enough when they say the "C" word, but when they say, "I want to see you this afternoon to discuss your options," it really sounds bad. Of course, at that point, I was terrified.

After visiting with my doc that afternoon, I learned it was not as bad as my wild imagination had it. I had been diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ or DCIS for short. From there I had to make a decision of either a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. After much turmoil and about 200 questions and internet research later, I chose the lumpectomy.

The first part of having that done was to have an MRI done on both breasts to make sure there were no other areas of concern. There weren't. Whew!
The lumpectomy was done on August 20th. Since then, I have been working with a radiation oncologist at Mary Byrd Perkins Cancer Center to prepare for 35 treatments of radiation therapy.

First was to have a CT scan. That happened Monday, almost two weeks ago. They lined me up on the scan table and had me lay on a huge purple bag. When they got me positioned the way they wanted me, they vacuumed the air out of the purple bag and it formed to my body. They placed my name on the bag and now, when I go for treatment, I will lay on that bag so that my body will be in the exact same position every time. They also drew lines and x's on my body so that the x-ray machine can be lined up in the same position. It looks a little bit like targets on my body. They covered those with tiny plastic covers to keep soap and water from washing off the marks.

Yesterday, I had to go back in for the final x-ray line up. They had my purple bag ready for me and sure 'nuf, it was still molded the way it was two weeks ago. I laid on it and got in the correct position. Then the x-ray maching started moving around me. The technician called out coordinates to the other technician, did some final calculations, drew more marks on me and put on new little plastic covers and told me to come back Monday and we will get started with the actual radiation.

So after two months from surgery, I will finally begin 35 radiation treatments on Monday. I will have to go 5 days a week for 7 weeks to complete this part of my treatment. I have gotten READY, been SET and now will GO! Please keep me in your prayers and I will keep you posted as I go along.

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posted by Cindy N. at 2:00 PM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Washington Parish Fair
Tom and I met Heather and Allen in Franklinton to attend the Washington Parish Fair. I never realized what a big deal this is to the residents of this area of Louisiana. Also people come from miles around to join in the fun.


As we entered the Fair grounds yesterday, we were assaulted with the multitudes of fragrances of all the different foods being prepared as well as the odors of all the animals that are brought in for the rodeo and other contests and exhibitions.


I could smell cotton candy, smoked turkey legs, gumbo made with pheasant, quail and andouille. That was yummy gumbo. There was also steamed boudin, cane syrup being made, corn being groud for cornmeal, and huge round cheese blocks being sliced. What a terrible time to have a tiny stomach. I bought some of the gumbo, two turkey legs, a slice of cheese. No, I didn't eat all of that, instead, I brought it all home for us to eat today and tomorrow.


There ware masses of people everywhere. Bands were playing in several areas, people dancing and eating. Families were laughing and playing. It was wonderful!


I took some pics to share with you guys.
Heather waiting in line for her slice of cheese. She talked about it for two weeks! LOL


This is a pile of sugar cane they use to cook down and make thick cane syrup. I love it.

These ladies put on a show for us and then invited the audience to participate with them.

This is a bunch of smoked turkey legs. I could smell them a block away and started asking people where they were. They sent me right to them. YUMMY!

This is a Texas Long Horn bull. He was quite bored, but you could sit on him and have your picture taken......Um....no thanks.

Below is the last, but definitely not least, image. It is something you might not forget for a while......This is the "Largest Hog in the world". He was about 10 feet long and 4 feet wide, weighed 1500 pounds and had quite a large........let's just say 'rear' end. 'Nuf said.


 
posted by Cindy N. at 1:15 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Saturday, October 18, 2008
My New Look!
My friend, Terri, designed me a new look for my blog. I love it. She even put a pink ribbon on it in memory of my being a Breast Cancer Survivor. That's awesome Terri, Thanks!

The weather here is so nice today. Beautiful vividly blue skies, a light breeze, and temps in the low to mid seventies. What a wonderful fall day.

Tom and I, Heather and Allen, are going to the Washington Parish Fair this afternoon. With the weather so beautiful, it should be a really nice day to go. I had a steroid injection in my back yesterday, so I am bringing my wheelchair or my push-n-sit, so I won't have to do all that walking.

LSU is playing again tonight, so we have to get home fairly early. I know Tom doesn't want to miss the game. Last week's game was hardly worth watching, but we are going to do better tonight. I know it.

See you on the winning side!
 
posted by Cindy N. at 1:14 PM | Permalink | 3 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Monday, October 13, 2008
Getting my marks!
I am finally getting started with the radiation treatment program. Last week we met with the Oncologist and had first consultation. I liked her immediately. She is very personable and very down to earth.Smiles

Anyway, today I had to go for the planning session. They did a CT scan and put black marks all over the front of me. Then they covered the marks with waterproof clear plastic so they won't wash off. They also created a 'cradle' that has the imprint of my head and arm so that I will be in the same position for each treatment. All of that only took about 30 minutes.

Now the doctor will look at the CT scan and make a 'map' for treatment. They will call me when that is done and set up the appointment for my first treatment. Each treatment will take about 10 minutes. I have to have 30 to 35 treatments, then I will be all done.
As of now, I am a cancer SURVIVOR! Pink Ribbon





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posted by Cindy N. at 4:09 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Practice makes perfect.....
Practice patience as a means to an end.

I have learned something very important to me. Never pray for patience. God has a great since of humor. He will definitely give you things to do in which you can practice patience. Now I just pray for tolerance.
 
posted by Cindy N. at 9:07 PM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Monday, September 15, 2008
An important milestone today......
Eleven months and 4 days from weight loss surgery, I passed the 100 pounds lost milestone! I thought this day would never come. I also thought I would turn summersaults too. I didn't. The day came and it went. It just came and went. I know I sound like I am whining, and I guess I am. I guess I thought bells would ring, fireworks would go off, SOMETHING would HAPPEN. It didn't. Nothing happened. I just looked at the scale, I said to myself...."you just broke 100 pounds", stepped off the scale and went on about my day.

That is all I have to say about it.
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YAY! I have lost 100 pounds !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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posted by Cindy N. at 7:25 PM | Permalink | 4 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Friday, September 12, 2008
Here we are again....
We are sitting here tonight while Hurricane Ike passes to our west. I feel badly about those folks in Texas. There is going to be terrible devastation there from this storm. However, I am glad it didn't come here. After Gustav almost 2 weeks ago, we don't need another one right now. We have had some pretty strong winds and some rain squalls off and on today. I can't see outside right now, but I hear the wind blowing pretty strongly.

I have been thinking about where to move to so that we don't have to deal with this kind of weather, but you know, anywhere you go, there is something you have to deal with. Heavy snow and extreme cold in the north, earthquakes in the west, drought and floods in the midwest, and storms like hurricane in the south and east. So.....where do you go? Something to think about. No place I know of is lovely all the time.

We postponed our Destin trip to the 20th of September. A week from tomorrow, I will be sitting on the beach in the afternoon. I have heard that the jelly fish show up 10 days after the full moon. Well, we will see because we will be there during that 10 day time frame. I'll let you know if this is true. I sure hope not.

God, bless the people watching this hurricane coming straight for them.

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posted by Cindy N. at 8:51 PM | Permalink | 0 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hurricane Gustav
Today is 9 days since Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana. We were without power for 5 1/2 days. Yes, it was hot, and uncomfortable, but you know what? We didn't have any major damage, just a bunch of mess in the yard. We lost a couple of trees way in the back, but I am very grateful today. I have seen so many homes with trees 2 and 3 feet in diameter on top of their cars, garages and several right through the homes themselves. Here are a few pictures of the damage I have seen.

There is a truck and a garage under this tree.There is a 2 foot diameter pine tree through the middle of this home. The home is brand new.Another photo of the pine tree going through the house.


There were lots of pine tree (very large ones) that fell, but there were also LOTS of huge live oaks, white oaks, and water oaks that were just uprooted and just layed down. t is truly a shame that so many beautiful oak trees were destroyed or mamed in the Louisiana area. I know we are lucky though even through the destruction we did have, because there are areas that were hit a lot harder than we were.


I want to thank our Governor, our power companies and the folks that work for them, the folks that came from out of state to help us, the neighbors helping neighbors, families helping families, etc. Everyone pulled together and did what we had to do to help each other.

Ok, I am babbling now, so I will stop about all of this.

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posted by Cindy N. at 8:44 PM | Permalink | 1 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Another chapter begun
Hi all,

Yesterday, I had the first stage of recovery from breast cancer done. I had a lumpectomy and am doing GREAT! I have very little pain, more like a slight discomfort. My boobie is swollen and bruised, but hey, I still have the boob!

There were two needles inserted in the breast just prior to the surgery. This was done by a radiologist. This actually bracketed the area of cancer so that the surgeon could take all of that area. All of the tissue they took will be biopsied to make sure they got everything. I am confident that they DID get it all, and will be having radiation as a guarantee.

Here is a picture of what they did yesterday:

I am glad that part is done. Now, I can focus on getting on with my life. My family and I will be vacationing in Destin soon and when we get back, my radiation treatments will begin. I will have 35 treatments over a 7 week period.

I will be posting here as it goes on, so that everyone will know what's happening.

Love you all! See ya all soon!

 
posted by Cindy N. at 12:31 PM | Permalink | 2 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Monday, August 04, 2008
Decision made!
After much thought, prayer, speaking with other survivors, and research, I have decided to have the lumpectomy and then the 35 radiation treatments. As it stands now, I will be having surgery (outpatient) on August 20 to remove the cancer as well as healthy tissue around the affected area. Recovery time is about a week. I will start radiation sometime around the middle of September. That will take 7 weeks.

I am truly feeling well, and very positive at this point. I have agonized over this decision, but now that it is made, I feel so much lighter!

There is a wonderful website that I have been reading a lot. It is cancergeek. He has lots of information there that is very helpful and he has written me a couple of times after my asking questions through email. He seems very kind and knowledgeable.

Thanks again to all who love me and have been saying prayers on my behalf. Tom and my friend Patsy have gone to the doctor visits with me, so I have 3 sets of ears listening to all that the doctor tells me. That really helps too! Thank you to Tom and to Patsy.

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posted by Cindy N. at 4:45 PM | Permalink | 0 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Am I not living right!!!???
It seems as though I must not be living right lately, because this year has been one thing after another. Don't get me wrong, I am not whining, but just stating facts.

So far this year, we have had our central air and heat unit go out suddenly and had to replace it, a paralized dog (she has recovered nicely), wrecked my truck, still don't have it back, and now the biggie; I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Yes, breast cancer. It is called Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. That means it's located in the milk duct and as of right now, it has not broken through to other ares of the breast. However, they did an MRI on both breasts last Friday to make absolutely sure that it is not located anywhere else. I am waiting for the results as I write this. The waiting is torture.

I have to make a decision that is proving to be very difficult. One, I can have a mastectomy and they can use abdominal tissue to rebuild/reconstruct the breast. Or, two, I can have a lumpectomy, but then I would have to have 35 radiation treatments in 7 weeks, 5 times a week. That is a lot of traveling back and forth every day (75 mile round trip) and I am not sure I would be up to doing that. They say you get very tired the more radiation you have.

Tom is standing with me on whatever decision I make. He said that, of course, it is my decision and he will be there with me however I go. He is my rock and I hold on to him. He also understand my anger outbursts, especially right now. I have been doing pretty well with all this until I pitched a 'Cindy fit' this past Saturday and ended up throwing my laptop. Miraculously, it didn't break. But Tom just wrapped his arms around me and let me cry. That is the way he is....'The Wind Beneath My Wings'.

I am in the process of doing a lot of research, reading everything I can find, and looking at different types of reconstruction surgery if I decide to go with the mastectomy. I will keep you all posted about this road I am traveling. If anyone is out there that has gone through this type of cancer and knows what to expect, please let me know.

Love to all of you.

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posted by Cindy N. at 4:04 PM | Permalink | 4 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here
Friday, July 11, 2008
Orange fluorescent eyes???
I have a good friend named Cynthia that says I have to be one of the most observant folks she has ever met. She said I see and notice things that she wouldn't even give a second thought if she even gave it a first thought or saw it at all.

Anyway, This is also why I wrecked my vehicle last week, because I do get to looking at stuff and analyzing things. Maybe I should have been a scientist....or not! Instead, I am just a nut! LOL

Last night I went to get the dogs inside when I noticed a June Bug laying on it's little back 'looking' up at me. Now I don't like those bugs at all, because they fly and might get on me, but this little guy was looking up at me with ORANGE FLUORESCENT EYES! Can you believe that? Who'd a thunk it? I was fascinated and thought it was so darned cute! I don't think I will ever be able to kill another one of those little guys............But I still don't like 'em.
 
posted by Cindy N. at 7:29 PM | Permalink | 0 If you would like to say something about what you just read, please say it here