Back to work

Well, it's time to head back to work!  Today is my first day back after 6 weeks off.  I'm not going to lie - those 6 weeks were nice to not have to look at anything or think about anything work related and I fully enjoyed them!  I can't say I was 100% ready to come back...but at the same time, it's a good sign that I am feeling better and getting more and more healed each day!

Health wise I am doing great!  I am feeling more and more like myself each day.  My energy level continues to improve.  My arms have more movement and aren't as tight or as sore.  All good signs!

On November 19th, I started my radiation treatments.  As I might have mentioned, this is simply a precaution based on my original diagnosis and the aggressive nature of my cancer.  As I shared before, my pathology from my surgery was 100% clear - no cancer - but the radiation is just a final protective measure to be sure we got it all!  They have scheduled me for 25 treatments and if all goes as planned I will be done on December 23rd - what a good Christmas gift!  

Some places do small tattoos as markings so that they can line you up each day for treatments. This is what my mom had done years ago for her radiation.  Now a days, at least at my treatment center, they don't do tattoos - they use permanent markers and clear stickers.  They just replace the stickers as they start to peel off.  This picture is hard to tell but these are a few of the lines and stickers on my chest - I have them on my stomach, sides, back of my arm.  It is interesting to see and I while they don't bother me at all - I will be glad to be done with this part!

 

Last week Austin's class won a Good Behavior Party and were allowed to bring in a stuffed animal.  Austin chose his Beanie Baby Panda - named Bamboo.  He talked about taking Bamboo to school for days!  It wasn't planned but after he got dressed that day I told him he matched his Panda - black and white, with green to match Bamboo's eyes!  :) Such a cutie!

 The twins started their basketball camps on November 15th.  Landon wasn't interested in playing this year - he says we MADE him do it last year, which was true, so he opted not to play.  But both Austin and Aiden were excited to play again.  Austin is definitely our sports child - he picks up on whatever sport he is playing and tends to do well.  Aiden - he has to work at it a little more but he LOVES the social aspect.  Austin does, too.  They are both much more social than Landon, which is fine - it's just fun to watch in a different way!  They have Saturday basketball camps now and then in January will start with their team and games - Dave will be their coach again this year.  It's funny to hear the boys telling Dave who he needs to draft to be on the team.  The list is long, so hopefully they aren't disappointed if they don't get all their friends!

Here is a picture I got at their first camp -  Aiden is in the blue shirt, Austin in the red shorts making the shot. Nice form and this basket did go in!  Aiden has been making a lot more baskets this year and doing great, too!

 

And just the boys being silly.  At these camps they don't pull the bleachers out all the way and they think it's great to climb to the top.  Doesn't take much to entertain my boys!