Photos With Me Actually In Them!

Thought I would share the latest wedding pictures that I received from a relative of mine:

My newly married boy and I

Our new daughter in law and her new grandpa in law

The family photo

The wedding cake

And the cutting of.....

The Norvold sisters in our own private concert!

The Bride And Groom

The vows

And the kiss

A very nice looking couple indeed.

When Ryan and Jen were married in a family only ceremony at a quaint little very small church by Jen's home town I thought, 'this is so nice it just cant be beat'.

Then Rachel and Melvin were married outside at Gustavus with many more people on a very beautiful day in a non traditional ceremony with a breakfast afterwards and a dance at night I thought again, 'this is so nice it just cant be beat'.

Then came Len and Kel with a large wedding, reception and dance and a full weekend of activities in northern MN and it was fabulous.

Each one has had it's own style and each has been a wonderful wedding. It's pretty unbelievable in fact to think that they are all three married now and one grand child is here!

Dezbah Daisy Nez

As promised here she is the cutest little girl ever.

She was born at home with a mid wife in attendance on May 16th. She weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches long. As you can see she has a head of dark hair.

Mom, baby and Dad are doing very well.

It's Official David Is A Grandpa

Rachel and Melvin had a baby girl this morning. I don't know much at all only that she had a girl and mom and baby are doing fine. Melvin called David....and you know men....they don't even think to ask the IMPORTANT stuff like how much did she weigh, how long was she, does she have lots of hair etc etc etc. In fact David didn't even get her name. I called Uncle Ryan and he told me (I think) that her name is Dezbah. It is a Navajo name apparently and is Melvin's mom's Navajo name. Maybe when she feels better Rachel will fill us all in and I will post pictures as soon as I get them. Rachel's mom is going to spend a week with her so I will get pics I am sure.

This Is A Good Read

And way too funny. I have an appointment at Mayo tomorrow with my plastic surgeon to schedule the exchange surgery (I'll be getting my REAL fake boobs!). Needing to know when I am done with my Herceptin infusions (because the PS is going to remove my port at the same time), I called my onc nurse and asked them to figure out when I will be finished with the Herceptin. The nurse called back laughing......she said that I am done, in fact I have had a few too many infusions! Apparently the doc had forgotten about the 10 infusions that I had had before they went computerized-they were not in the computer but were in my chart hand written. That is too funny. So folks I am officially finished with my chemo treatments!
Celebrate celebrate dance to the music!!!!!!!
Now on to real fake boobs. AND I am officially in menopause so the ovaries are no longer producing estrogen-no need to stop them.
You know what...it all feels pretty good actually!

Cabin Up Date and The Wedding

We just returned from a nice long week up north. Got lots done on the cabin and we also gained a fabulous daughter in law. On May 6th Kelly Jo Schafer became Kelly Jo Leonard.

It was a wonderful wedding weekend. On Friday (David's birthday), the guys played golf. The weather held out long enough for them to finish and then it started to sprinkle just a bit. I had the pleasure of riding around the course in my very own golf cart snapping pictures, it was a blast to be sure.

The wedding was wonderful. The sun was out just long enough for the ceremony to be held (at the last minute) outdoors. For music Lenny's dad and his wife sang and played the guitar (Alisa sang, Tom played the guitar). Alisa has the most wonderful voice. Her and her two sisters are the Norvold sisters and do sing for many functions. They gave a few of us our very own concert during the wedding dance in a back hallway, it was wonderful!

One of the best parts for me was having a mini reunion with the class of 2000. Those kids spent a lot of time at our house and they are good kids....they can party it up good....but they are good kids.

And of course many good friends and relatives were there to help us celebrate the day and to welcome Kelly into the family. It was a great weekend.

I don't have pictures of the wedding as of yet but as soon as I get them I will post them. Until then here are a few of the other festivities that weekend.

Below is a picture of the golfing crew, a motley crew at that! There were balls in the sand and in the weeds and a golf cart was driven into the lake! But they had a good time...even David had fun.

This is Lenny's foursome (poor Lenny!) He had his best man (Aaron who is a fabulous golfer) and his two dad's (neither or which can golf) on his team. However, they did win the tournament. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact the most of the golfers drank their way around the course????

Thursday night was the stag/stagette party. Lenny and Kel had a bus pick up everyone at Craguns and then it was off to the bars in Brainerd. I had to include this picture of the Craguns security, lights flashing, pulling alongside the bus. Go figure the class of 2000 would be pulled over! It was too funny. And yup that would be my kid poking his nose around the bus to see what was going on.....with a beer in his hand no less.

The bride and the groom in the finest ready to party as single people one last time.

Pictures of Lenny and David trying on their tuxes Thursday. Of course Lenny looked very handsome and I have to admit....David did as well! He didn't even mind wearing it I don't think.

THE CABIN

We got the kitchen finished. The cabinets turned out very nice. We do not yet have the refrigerator moved in but I think you can get the idea.

And Tackla's new and improved pool. David made it at least twice as big and it is 6 foot deep at one end. Mikey....he got the bob cat stuck while digging this two if not more times. Stuck so bad that I had to go pull him out with the truck.

On a deer finding drive one night we spotted this great sunset shinning through the trees.

Happy Birthday Early

To my soul mate.
David celebrates 57 years on Friday and because we will be up north for the wedding I am wishing him a very happy birthday early.
On his birthday he will be playing 18 holes (yes 18 holes-David is not a golfer) of golf (on a course that has a dress code no less!) AND he will be getting fitted for his tux that he is wearing to the wedding! Anyone who knows my husband knows that he just couldn't ask for a more fun day than that....too danged funny I say!
You know, I have visions of him in his tux during the wedding supper yanking out his blue hankie and blowing his nose! Oh man it will be an experience.
Lots of love to you David, I thank my lucky stars every day that you followed me around in Cub Foods years ago in an attempt to meet me (thank goodness I took the assertive role or you may still be following me around some grocery store getting up the courage to approach me!).

It Pays To Be 50!

So I was getting a few groceries at HyVee this morning and the place was packed! As I was checking out the gal asked me if I was 50......and I said "No" with a quizzical look on my face I am sure. I then said....oh yes I am I turned 50 in November. As it turns out those of us 50 and older get a 5% discount on Mondays and Tuesdays so there! My first senior citizen discount-I saved almost $3.00. Hey Karen, better start doing your shopping at HyVee on Monday or Tuesday!

Cabin progress report-David got the engineered floor laid in our bedroom a few weeks ago. This past weekend he put the finale coat of finish on the old floors and we installed (yes I said we- I cut boards and knitted while David put the floor in!) the floor in the living room. David got 2 coats of finish on that floor. Pictures pictures!

The kitchen area. Where you see David standing is the front door. The wall that you see will be his home made cabinets. To the right is the living room. The floors and walls are original in this room.

The living room. Ash tongue and groove flooring that we installed this past weekend. The walls and ceiling in this room are pine-new pine as it is a newly added room.

Looking from the doorway across the dinning room into the living room.

Down the hall to our bedroom. To the left is the guest bedroom and to the right is the bathroom. Floor in the hall and guest room are original, walls down hallway are new pine.

Guest bedroom. Original floor and two walls are original pine. We put new pine on two walls because we tore down all of the old walls to insulate and in doing so damaged many boards....SO we didn't have enough boards to re-do the walls. The new pine is lighter in color so it helps to make the place brighter.

Our bedroom with the bed ready to be put together! New pine walls and the floor is an engineered hickory (I think it's hickory!) We have a door going outside in this room which is to the left. We also have a spot for a washer and dryer which will be oh so nice. The closet is small small small but we are downsizing dang it!

And the bath. New pine walls, new floor tile and all new everything else. We actually moved the original bath into what was one of the existing bedrooms and then added on our bedroom. The bathroom vanity is actually an old commode that we bought from our friends Mikey and Jan. We found the sink basin at a junk shop. It is actually an old bowl that David cut a hole in and made a sink out of.

So as you can see it is coming along. After the wedding this next weekend we are going to go to the cabin that next week. We should have the cabinets in the kitchen and be all moved in! There is still plenty of work to be done but it will be nice to be in the cabin as opposed to the camper.

Man Do I Feel Dumb....But.....

Just finished my series of neuro-pshyc tests and boy oh boy it was three sessions of torture! These tests were performed because of my memory and cognitive difficulties and I'm thinking I must have flunked big time because I sure enough felt stupid. I can't even think of an example of any of the questions/situations that I had no clue the answers to but sure should have I am sure.

So even though I felt dumb as a brick I do feel better in that he sees a definite pattern in regards to my ole head. He says it is definitely the left hemisphere that is mush (not his words-mine) and my ability to learn and recall has been impaired. He says it would be his guess it is from the chemo as opposed to any thing else because it is so one sided. David and I go for the full results the second week in May. Doc says I can bring anyone along with me that I would like to hear the results and I said no no no....don't need anyone else hearing how much my brain has mushed!

The process itself, although painful and humiliating, was very interesting. And really very helpful to have someone, a professional, be able to tell with testing that something is amiss....it is not my imagination. So at our next appointment I will have to ask if this can regenerate, will it deteriorate etc etc etc. Whatever-at least I am here to tell the story huh? Perhaps one day soon this will be a recognized and talked about chemo side affect. I am betting once my oncologist receives the report he will study it and be more aware.

Speaking of my onc, tomorrow he should have more information in regards to the Tamoxifen and the ovaries. He had asked some of his colleagues from Jacksonville Florida but wanted to also ask the folks at Rochester as well. He is one of those guys that really likes to know everything that he can about something before he makes a recommendation....and I guess I have really come to appreciate that. After all, this is my life he is dealing with.

In a week and a half we will gain a new daughter in law. It seems like just a year and a half ago that they were starting to plan and here we are almost to the wedding day.

Ending today with shots of the first flowers that I spotted in our gravel pit on a walk with the dogs. I think there are Lilies of the Field and Jack in the Pulpit about to bloom as well but there are way too many wood ticks out now to go back...maybe next week without the dogs I will go to get pictures of those-I don't like waking up at 2am with a tick crawling on my neck and hand!

Oh I started a new knitting class...I am now learning how to knit socks. I don't wear socks...ever even in the winter. But these are so danged nice I may just start! Pictures of my first completed pair will surely be posted on the blog. Next week I learn how to make a 'Top Down Sweater'. Fun fun fun. It may take me 6 times longer than anyone else to make something but I don't care!

So, He's Not Sonny and Cher

Craig Morgan...who in the heck is Craig Morgan?

I came across this on one of the cancer blogs that I read and thought it was good. I seriously have no clue who Craig Morgan is (I suspect you do huh Rhonda???) but I appreciate what he has to say not only in his song 'Tough' but in explaining the song.

Even though this is 'originally' about his wife who has breast cancer.....it is really about all women and how tough we really are. So ladies, stand up and be counted...we are one tough lot no matter what we have going on in our lives.

Hopefully this link will work (you may have to copy and paste it). If it does click on Studio 330 sessions and then the song tough (come on Lenny even you who probably doesn't like country music can do this!). After the song go back and click on interviews/Craig Morgan explains the song Tough.

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/morgan_craig/videos.jhtml

On another note-spring has sprung....finally-

And there's nothing like a couple hour hike at 7 mile park with a good friend and our dogs.

And The Beat Goes On

La De Da De De-------La De Da De Da

Every time something new comes up in regards to my breast cancer this song runs through my head......you shush Lenny!

So it seems, much like a stubborn Grunst....my body is being stubborn. Stubborn has been good in that this ole bod has refused to let the bc get me so thank you very much. However, at my last oncology appointment he informed me that my body is not metabolizing the Tamoxifen very well. What the hell...why should it...it doesn't metabolize food very well either dang it. OK so I digress....anyway, the Tamox is an oral med that one takes to keep the cancer away. You take it until you are in full menopause and then you switch to a med that works for folks in menopause.

Since I seem to NOT be in full menopause (then what in the hell are all of these hot flashes about anyway I say!) the doc cannot yet switch me to one of the other meds that would hopefully be metabolized by my body thus work as it should.

He is researching a couple of options, talking with colleagues in Rochester and I suspect Jacksonville FL. One option would be to do blood work frequently and the minute it shows that I am in full menopause switch me to an alternate med...OR force those ovaries to stop working thus putting me in menopause. My cancer is estrogen fed so I really need to not be producing the stuff!

The doc seems to be leaning towards waiting and watching. Me, I tend to say yank those ovaries, who needs em. Not me at this age! Anyway, he doesn't seem all that concerned about it all so I will see what he finds out huh?

By the way, I LOVE Sonny and Cher...again you shush Lenny.

Happy Ham Eating Day To You

I know I know this is Easter and it is not ham eating day. But I love ham and that is what most traditionally have on this day. I however only get ham now at Christmas (since mom is no longer with us to make me my Easter ham)-for Christmas David's mom keeps me happily supplied with ham.

We are having beef stroganoff at our house today with homemade buns (like my momma used to make...ok ok so she didn't make them from scratch either but I did make them the way she made them and I ain't telling our secret!).

And of course during the holidays I tend to think of my mom because she was always the one that made sure we were very well fed. As I putter around my kitchen I feel her with me-hummm wonder if I make as many circles as she used to? Anyway, as you all know I am not and never have been a big baker but by golly I am pretty proud of this masterpiece. Isn't my bunny cake just cute as can be!

And I really did make it by myself-INCLUDING- the bunny pattern. This is no bunny cake pan folks so there!

Happy Easter.

Bobbi

Another Leg of My Journey

Started today. Back to Mayo for what is called an extraction. They drew 200 cc's off of each side. I no longer have rock hard melons sitting on my chest! I have to wait another 6 weeks, then go back to the plastic surgeon at which time he checks to make sure the muscle has not contracted and snapped back to the chest wall (thus closing the pocket meaning there would be no room for the REAL fake boobs). If all is well I then schedule a time for the exchange surgery-which will be beginning of June. My plastic surgeon suggested that I wait until I am finished with my Herceptin (June sometime) so that he can not only do the exchange surgery but could take out my port while I am under (otherwise my regular surgeon would take the port out during an office visit under local anesthesia). I am thinking that it sure would be nice to have it all done at once huh? I will have to ask my oncologist if he recommends taking the port out right away. Lots of folks leave them in for a year or so 'just in case'. I guess they are more difficult to put in if you need them put in a second time. It's almost unreal for me to think that this is almost done. I wonder how I will feel once I am no longer going to weekly treatments. It is you see a bit of a safety net....while doing treatments I am still actively fighting the beast. I will just have to wrap my head around the fact that there is no longer a beast to fight and enjoy no longer having weekly doctor appointments!

Cabin update-Our cabin appeared to be undisturbed last weekend which is a good thing! We did not get as far on the floor as we had hoped. For petes sake you would think with all of the remodeling that David and I have done we would know that things always take longer than you think...... We did however get the floor sanded. I ran the floor sander for two days straight, used muscles I forgot that I had! David got one coat of poly on the floor. I have decided that people who re-do floors for a living do not charge near enough for their work! My friend Mary just had hers redone and she got one hell of a deal in my opinion!

Eagles-man there were eagles everywhere last weekend up north. Not a single good photo shot was to be had though.

33 Years Ago Today

Ryan's wife Jen was born. Happy birthday to you Jen.

Jen packed up her bags a year or so ago and moved from her very close family unit to Corpus Christi Texas when Ryan landed a job on the railroad there. I am sure that it was not easy for her but I think she has settled in and enjoying life....right Jen?

Jen is spending her time studying yoga, working and taking walks with their dog Molly. Here are some pictures of her and Ryan that I stole from Jen's blog.

This one was taken I think in Austin Texas during one of Jen's yoga training sessions and I think the tree is just too cool. The very little person at the base of the tree is the birthday gal.

Jen and Ry at a hockey game I believe.

And at home with their very spoiled dog Molly.

Hope your day is great Jen.

Cabin Update

Well we spent last weekend in the northland in hopes of getting the floors sanded and perhaps a coat or two of poly on them. As most remodel projects go....what we had hoped to get completedwe did not. The floors needed more work than we thought. We did get the spare bedroom sanded and it is ready to be polied. Our next trip up we SHOULD be able to sand the remaining floors.

No new robbers, the place looked as we had left it thank goodness.

It was a foggy day Saturday and I took some pictures of the fog rolling in.

My favorite picture taking spot.

We often see an eagle in the trees here. In fact one was hanging out on the ice BUT when we turned around to get a picture some knuckle head had stopped to look at him and it spooked. He certainly would have made a nice picture.

A foggy entry onto our property.

We could not believe people were still driving on the ice to fish. This was taken on Friday and by Saturday most of the ice was gone!

It's A Bit Of A Sisterhood

This breast cancer thing. While eating breakfast in Mexico one morning at an outdoor place the couple next to us asked us to join them for a bit. We did and the fella asked what my port was for (it's not easy to hide when you wear a swimsuit!) so I told him......we then found out that his wife had breast cancer 5 years ago as well. Of course this lead to all sorts of conversation. When she was diagnosed they purchased a property on Isla and have now built a nice home. We spent a day with these folks and next year will go back to see them again. (what the hell David how come you didnt deal with my diagnosis like this guy did???? Oh yes that is right....you worked on our cabin....hummmm)





Last week I was at the Tangled Skein (my favorite knitting store) and ran into a gal that I knew I should know....we both looked at each other and she knew my name but I of course could not remember hers for the life of me. Anyway, she too had breast cancer 5 years ago so we stood in the store and yapped for quite a while. Sue was the inspiration for my second knitting project. She told me about the buttonhole bag that you felt much like my slippers. I did this guys without a class if you can believe it...AND knitted this bag in probably 3 hours tops.

How cute is that bag huh? This one is quite small but you can make them really any size that you want. And did I say that I did this without a class????? This bag is my third completed project (I knitted a second pair of slippers before leaving for Mexico) and am now working on yet another project that is to be a surprise to someone so I am not going to talk about it so there.

Anyway, yes the sisterhood. Both of these ladies are doing well after 5 years and neither were fortunate to have had the benefit of Herceptin. Stories like their's are so good to hear. Both of these ladies also are suffering from the same cognitive stuff that I am...so there Lenny.....it's not just me being me...haha.

An aside....the job interview last week went very well and they would have liked to have hired me but the mandatory training did not work out with my Herceptin infusions. They did tell me to call them when I am all done. I went on another interview for a job in StPeter, they too would have liked to have hired me but again could not make the hours work to incorporate my Herceptin infusions. So there you have the job updates. I continue to look and will find something I just know I will.

Someone should just damned hire me to knit and to take pictures so THERE.

Spring Has Sprung

Well the ice is melting anyway. I am anxiously awaiting the first blooms to take pictures of.

There is nothing more relaxing for me than spending time with my camera in my hand. So this morning I went off to get pictures of the rising Minnesota River.

Taken on the walkway along Highway 22. Just yesterday Jess and I were able to walk the dogs along the entire path. Today the water is over the path and is rushing under the bridge.







Same are different view. Taken from top of the bridge by Brandt's junkyard looking towards St Peter. You can see the water coming up over the walkway on the upper right side.

Another view from the bridge but looking in the opposite direction.....is this upstream or downstream???

Taken at the city park in StPeter, the campground area. The bridge in the pictures is the 99 bridge towards the Whiskey River.

And at the History Center in StPeter. The pathway going to the river is, as you can see, flooded.

So I Was Going To Send Out A Mass Email

But then I remembered that that is what the blog is for....duhhhhhhhhhh.

NERVOUS I am nervous. I, yes me, have an interview on Wednesday. Oh my god I am almost panicking just thinking about it! But it will be OK so there no matter what. I mean come on, I have survived cancer nothing else should shake me right?

So in case you all are wondering (why sure you are aren't you?). I stumbled upon a customer care representative position on one of the job sites that I have been frequenting. I actually saw it before we went to Mexico but they had a 4 week mandatory training while we were gone so I thought oh well. Now its in the paper again. Now the good part, in my mind, is that it is an at home position......I know I know you all are crossing your eyes thinking boy oh boy did she get taken. But this is on the up and up because I called my good friend Bugsy (aka Michelle) who is a travel agent with Lutes Travel in Kato (there Bugs how's that for a plug!!!!) and talked to her about it. She has heard of it and gave me the sort of skinny. You know, pay isn't that good and hours are not the best...and all true...but it still intrigues me. And I want to push myself to do this interview because I am nervous about doing it so that means it will be good for me to do.... When you have only had like two major jobs your entire career interviews are a little scary!

The reason I called Michelle is because this job is for Northwest Airlines-they must contract out to a company for this service. But it is taking phone calls and emails from customers when they have questions about travel or their world perks mileage etc.

So there you have it. I am sure I will post more after the interview on Wednesday.

Hey I have spring fever, anyone else?

I am posting these pictures for no particular reason...just because I feel like i want to I guess.