Upcoming appointment

On Wednesday, I will be going to see my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Swanson. You wouldn't believe all the people that know him and have told me what an amazing man and doctor he is! Just today, my friend Sue asked me who did the surgery and when I told her Dr. Swanson, she told me that he was her father's surgeon 10 years ago and that her mother still goes to see him. She had nothing but fantastic things to say about him! I feel so blessed to have him on my team! He'll be checking out my incision and letting me know how the healing is going. I of course have several questions for him, but I'll get to that later.

Wednesday is also Brian's and Dan's birthday, 2 of the 3 best brothers in the world! Without them, I would not be where I am in all of this. Their love, support, encouragement and belief in me has meant everything to me. They are great brothers and so much fun as you can see from the dance video posted here! Brian, thanks for creating that video and also for posting it. I watch it over and over and I laugh and think of all the fun we had together at all of our wonderful weddings! I am so looking forward to Kelly and Jeff's wedding. Even though we are all getting older and are not as limber as we once were, promise me you'll all get out and tear up the dance floor with me! Kelly, we'll have some song requests, if you and Jeff don't mind!

So, I am doing pretty well all things considered. I can't believe that it has been almost 1 month since the surgery! Remember my story a few posts back about the nightclub? Well let me tell you, all the people got kicked out of the club and onto the streets of New York! It is not pretty! I don't know how much longer Kurt, Kaeli or I, for that matter, can take it! I remember seeing a movie, maybe Seven with Brad Pitt or maybe it was an episode of CSI where a man died from exposure to his own gas. I am telling you, that is threatening to happen here on Sumac circle. My intestines are awake and they are mad! I really have no idea where all this gas is coming from! At least the doctors will be happy! Again, to all of you who find this to be too much information, I am sorry. To all the males and children out there, you are welcome and I hope you are having a good laugh. As Kurt says, farts are funny! I am sure you'd enjoy more details, but I do have and image to maintain! Fart, fart, fart, fart!!! Sorry mom!!! (we had to sit on the bench if we said fart as kids!)

Strange things are going on inside me! It is like there is a whole 'nuther (yes, 'nuther) world that exists in my body. The inhabitants of this world do what they want, when they want! I have no say and definitely no control! The gas is one thing, but there are others as well. It all just feels strange and I was told that it won't feel totally right for at least 1 year! I hesitate to say the word normal because who knows what normal for me even means anymore! When I get used to one strange feeling, it goes away and another takes it's place. Maybe THAT is normal???

I laid low this weekend. I think I pooped myself out last week. I did not take Kaeli to dance on Saturday. I could not stand to witness another class like last weeks! Just the teacher in me! Before Kaeli left, she promised that she would be a good listener, do what the teacher asked, not tell stories to the kids or fool around. I decided that I would choose to believe her. She knows that when daddy takes her, she has nothing to worry about because he won't go near the 2 way mirror where all the mommies stand around chit chatting! She came home and said she was perfect-I believe her! :-)

Saturday night, I ventured out with Kurt and Kaeli to a surprise birthday party for one of my neighbors. It was the first time I wore makeup, curled my hair, and wore something besides sweats and a t-shirt. It felt good to get out looking good! No one would have known anything was different about me, except that I waddle and hold onto my belly. I feel like I have to protect it still. I am like a football player clinging to the ball with one hand with my other hand out in front of me ready to knock out anyone who gets in my way or wants to get at my ball (my belly that is). Not that anyone wants my belly, I just shudder at the thought of anyone bumping into it right now! I hope that feeling passes!
It was good to see friends I hadn't seen in a while and it was good to have had some of them reading this blog. I didn't have to start from the beginning of all this and we could just visit and talk about what is going on now. Again, thanks Mike and Dan for setting this up! You Rock! You Love It!

Sunday was another day of rest. It was the day we went in search of the pain killers. I ran out Saturday morning and didn't realize how much I still really needed them. CVS was out and couldn't get any until Tues. At first I thought that was fine, then my last dose left my body and I realized that it was anything but fine! I called around and Kurt, my fantastic hubby, ventured out to get them for me. My friend Heather and her daughter stopped by for a visit in the afternoon. It was good to have some adult girl time.

Today I let Kaeli play hooky from preschool. She said, "No, mommy, I don't want to get up! Let me sleep just 5 more minutes!" Hmmm... I wonder who she learned that from????? I didn't much feel like making the hour round trip so I let her hang with me today. We cleaned her room, started packing for our trip to Florida, (which my doctor has advised me is an excellent way to speed up the healing-relaxing at my cousin's house while she takes care of me mentally and physically and Kaeli plays all day with her 5 year old buddy, Logan) and then my friend Shelly and her two girls came over for lunch. It was good to be with them. Things feel like they are starting to get back to normal.

Tomorrow I am taking Kaeli to the Rutland Library for our first story hour together! I am so excited! She has only been able to do story hour with daycare and my friends, never me. I am really looking forward to it! I will let you all know how it goes! Not as exciting as the python, but a thrill for me nonetheless! I still need to post that python picture. Actually, if you are on Facebook, go to my profile and look up my pictures. I think Kristin, tagged me in a photo. If you are on Facebook and we are not friends yet, please friend me! If you have not heard from me via Facebook or an e-mail yet, then I do not have your e-mail address. I have tried to get in touch with everyone who has left me a comment. If I didn't get in touch with you yet, please send me your e-mail address, because I really would love to send you your own note. My e-mail is mybabykeg@yahoo.com. (keg is Kaeli Elizabeth Gusek-great initials huh?)

There is something I'd like to share with you. When I met with my oncologist last week, I asked him if there was a chance that someday this cancer could take over one of my organs and kill me. He said yes it could, but that didn't mean it would. I am not telling you this to scare you. I am telling you this because I know that that is not going to happen to me. I don't know how to explain it, but I have faith that I am going to live a very long, long and happy life. One of the reasons I know that is because I have all of you who believe in me, and are praying for me, and sending positive energy my way. I completely believe in the power of prayer and know that it has helped in my healing. I have a positive outlook and KNOW that I will be beating this cancer, it will not beat me! What I would like is to ask all of you who have been praying for me is to continue to do so, please also continue to keep me on the prayer chains you have me on. Keep me in your positive thoughts and send your positive energy my way. I will keep all of you in my prayers, thoughts and will be sending positive energy your way!

Thank you, thank you to all of you! If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know! Even though I am recouping, I can be there for anyone who needs me!
Lots of love, Theresa