Just some day-to-day stuff

As I originally promised in my first blog entry, this is to be about common Day to Day things.  I never knew that it would become a medical journal. With any luck, this will be my last medical-related blog entry.
About two weeks ago, I went "girl shopping" with my dear friend Louisa.  We went up to London to visit "Just Between Friends", a shop that carries under-things for ladies who are current and former cancer patients. (As well as bras for extra well endowed ladies). They carry a wonderful line of wigs, nice hats and mastectomy bras. Thanks to John's insurance coverage, and OHIP coverage, I am now looking like I looked back in March before all this started. (I'm keeping this brief because of the number of gentlemen friends who read my blog - sorry guys)
Over the few weeks, we have been time travelling. The first weekend of October we took part in a War of 1812 Education day, and Saturday/Sunday was the public event at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. As expected, the weather decided to be part rain and lots of cold. Pooka came along with us on Saturday and served as ambassador. John decided both day to stay in town instead of the long hike for the dam battle, and "guard" the town.  He stood on the main corner and greeted visitors to the Village and gave information, directions, and talked about the period and his uniform and especially the musket.
I also got to a "first-time" of my own. My friend Sue Spencer, owner of Spencer's Merchantile, had a meeting on Saturday afternoon, and gave me the opportunity to watch her shop as a part-time volunteer. It was fun experiencing life as a merchant.  (Any time you need more help - just yell)

At the end of the merchant stands, Katie and I are in the grey capes with  Pooka  making friends.

This is John on "his" corner visiting with Katie and Pooka

John on duty.

Under our awning, Pooka is on top of a storage bin covered with a blanket. He's got a white hunting coat over him. Yes, it was COLD!

Our SCA friend Tyler and his son Thomas joined the unit for the day, staying in camp and acting as a "wounded" soldier.  After the official activities, he, Katie and Robby got in some fencing 1812 style. They got quite a few comments from passing people.

The 17th U. S. Infantry on the firing line.

Tyler (left) and Robby (right) En Guarde

The following weekend, we travelled to 1917 for a World War I education day, again at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. Robby was spending the day in the trench as a medic, John was videographer, Katie was the Time Travelling Alchemist Artist, and I was learning a new role - as a presenter of the role of women during the war and on the homefront.  Of course, because this was not the 1812 weekend, it was warm and sunny. I did get my new blouse finished, but I don't have pictures.

Robby as a medic with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry.

The next day, we were off for Amherstburg (about 2.5 hours away) for a SCA event.  We went from 1917 to 1570s. John took his turn throwing axes and knives, I was on the archery range for the day, and Katie and Robby were fencing. It as a long day, but loads of fun.

Robby and Katie waiting for their turn.

Tyler and Robby again, this time a different era. Note the point of Tyler sword against Robby's neck!

We are now at the end of most of reenacting season. Our next 1812 will be the first weekend of May, WWI ed days are in mid-May, and the SCA has a few events scattered over the winter.

For me - it's heavy duty research and sewing time. I have promised Katie her own fencing armour instead of the loaner set she's using. She also is getting a new jacket that will look like a kimono to go over it. My friend AJ, who is in the middle of a job search, is helping me make a 15th century kirtle and jacket. I have a beautiful piece of blue twill fabric, and a plaid to match for the jacket.  Since it's difficult to find a proper pattern, she's going to help/teach me to make a pattern from scratch.  It will be a wonderful winter project for us.

The center piece is what I'm going to be making.

In the meantime, life is going on.  Most of my blogs will contain some more common things.  Feel free to comment if you want.

In the meantime - we'll take things DAY BY DAY.

And the newest report is....

It's now been 4 weeks + since my latest surgery, and things seems to be progressing.  I have a 11 inch scar that is healed, but is still tender to the touch. This seems to be "normal" (don't cha just hate that phrase!)
Last Thursday (Sept 22), I met with an oncologist in London. The short answer is that I am considered low risk for any kind of recurrence (factoring in family history and my lifestyle). I will need NO radiation or chemotherapy.  On the other side, I will need to be very careful about getting my annual mammograms, and will need regularly scheduled bi-annual MRIs of the right side just to have a double check in case something does show up. I go to see Dr Black (the surgeon) on Wednesday for what should be a "see ya" visit.  He's also going to give me a referral for a plastic surgeon. I'm going to go talk to the replacement surgeon, but we'll have to see how that goes.  From what I saw online, that would be two, yes two, more surgeries. Maybe I'll just become good friends with "Been-a-Boob" (YES-that's the name of a prosthetics maker!)

On other fronts - I've been sewing like crazy on two blouses for WWI (1914) for Katie and me.  We're going to be helping with Education Days, i.e. school field trips, where students come and learn about the war. For my friends south of the border, WWI is emphasized in schools in Canada.  That war represents the first time that Canadian forces showed their stuff after Canada became an independent country in 1867.
So for the next few weekends Clan Goldsworthy will be time travellers. This coming weekend, we're taking part in an Education Day on Friday and a public event on Saturday and Sunday for War of 1812. John and Robby will be ambushing grade 7/8 students in the woods, Katie will step out of her TARDIS to photograph the day, and I will be representing Canadian heroine Laura Secord. (Don't ask-just hit google!)
The following weekend, we'll be in 1914 on Friday, then mid 1500s on Satuday.
Sunday is church, then Thanksgiving dinner. Monday - quiet family day!

We're still waiting on Immigrations Canada to send for our passports for our visas. When that happens, we take a quick shopping trip across the border and come back as permanent residents.

For Susan and Wendy - I got in a trip to Ikea with my friend A.J. We had a wonderful time shopping for her new, and empty, apartment.  My big purchase was a inexpensive but fun curtain for the front window. (see the pictures below).

So for now, life goes on. Even with my health issues settled for now, I'll still try to keep the blog going with reenacting stories and pictures of my various sewing, embroidery, weaving and sewing projects.

This is the front window with the curtain half opened. (notice Pooka in his chair.)

This is the detail. It's very tempting to grab a box of crayons! 

A Day to Celebrate!

We are now at day 8, and I had my follow up with Dr. Black.
We met him in the clinic at the hospital, and while waiting in the exam area, he peeked in and said "I'll be right back. I have good news."
When he came back, he said that all the test had come back negative - no cancer of DCIS cells. After a moment of smiles and laughter, he went on with a further explanation.  It seems that the two spots with suspicious cells were actually very small, and would have been able to be removed with minimal surgery. However, as with this whole experience, nothing was that simple. It seems that the lab found two more separate spots - neither of which was seen on the other diagnostic tests. This means that had I just went with the minimal surgery, these spots would have been left behind.  They would have eventually become the fast-moving, very, very aggressive cancer that he feared. These are the cells that would pop up and spread through my body with very little time to find them and treat them.  (i.e. - the person who is diagnosed with cancer and given 3 months to live) YIKES!!

So it seems that we did make the right decision after all!

When I saw him today, he removed 9 stitches, the drain, and told me that I can drive. He also is referring me to the cancer clinic in London (a standard procedure) so that they can confirm everything he said. I go back to see him next Friday for removal of the 31 staples that are left.

As for us, we are heading to the St. Thomas Iron Horse Festival to have some dinner and a pint of beer.  I think the best word I heard today came from Katie when I texted her about the results.

AWESOME!!

Surgery +1 day

As I promised, here is my latest update.
I went into surgery about 12.30 on Thursday. By 3.00pm I was out of recovery and in my room. Even though our insurance covers a semi-private, the only bed they had was the 4-bed "constant observation room". I was next to a window -  YEAH - and had no one on the same side with me, so it was like a private room.  I had one pain pill, a tamacet, but as of now, that's all I've had. I've got a horizontal suture line from mid chest to even with my shoulder. There's also a drain for a few days that runs on a vacuum system. I was discharged this morning after meeting with the Community Care Access Centre (home care) nurse. I'll have someone come every day until I see the doctor on Friday. They will check my dressing and my drain and keep records for the doctor. I was home and in my comfy chair by 2pm.
Since I've been home, Robby has made me a bowl of soup, and John cooked dinner with Robby cleaning up. John went to get Katie at Fanshawe, and she's been full of talk about her week of Residence Training.  She brought her dirty clothes home, so the kids are now doing laundry for us.

So far ... things are good.

the Countdown has begun

Surgery update
So I've made it to Tuesday night. I'm scheduled for surgery sometime on Thursday at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. I will get a call sometime on Wednesday with the exact time that I'll need to get to the hospital. I had my pre-admission work last Friday, and it included a chest xray. (I mention this now, but keep reading to the next session.) I meet with my family doctor on Wednesday after lunch for my pre-op physical to make sure that there is nothing that the anesthesiologist needs to know. If all goes well, surgery take about an hour, then an hour in the recovery room, then into my room for the night. Dr. Black (my surgeon) plans for me to spend part of Friday and be home by dinner time. I have a picnic scheduled for Saturday with my SCA/reenacting group, and I really, really want to be able to make it. After surgery, it's 2 weeks of no driving, then another week of "quiet", then I should be back in form. Unless something unusual happens, this will be the end of my experience with cancer!
Fort Erie - continued
In the meantime, we got unpacked and the canvas tried out from Fort Erie. We got the dishes and cooking pots cleaned and could find the living room again.

Tents drying in the back yard - Our tent, Jeff's tent, the company dining awning.

Next in our list of life was getting Katie packed for year 2 at Fanshawe College. She has a job as a Resident Advisor and has 2 weeks of training before the student body arrives. She took a small amount of things with her on Saturday, gets her permanent room on Friday, then moves the remainder of her things up on the 21st.

Our Immigration update!

We finally have something to report on our continuing work to become permanent residents of Canada.

The quick version - in August 2010, we submitted our forms and tons of documents to Immigration Canada (ImC) to become permanent residents. This would allow us to stay and work for as long as we want.  Right now, John has to reapply every 3 years to stay and work, Robby and I cannot work, and Katie can only work on campus on her student visa. With PR, we have all the rights and responsibilities of all Canadians except being able to vote. (we can still vote in the U.S. as American citizens)

Mid October - Our packet was return.  We forgot to put our names on the money order, forgot to check the box that stated that Katie had never served in the armed forces, and required that John take an English Literacy exam.  He took the next available test in November, we got the test results back in January 2011, and shipped the packet out.

Then we waited. And waited.  And waited.  And waited. With no way to contact anyone.

Last Tuesday, we got a package form ImC with the forms for our physicals.  After some manoeuvring, we got our physicals at the government approved physician in London.We all had blood texts for HIV and syphilis and John and Katie got there chest xrays because of her working all week (long story) Then on Monday Robby and I got our xrays, and John and I got creatine tests because of our hypertension. If all goes as the doctor plans, she'll have all the results back by the end of this week. She can then send them to the Ministry of Health in Ottawa; they will review the tests and agree/disagree with her findings, then send everything on the ImC.

Then we wait again. The next step will be a request that we send out passports in for the visa to be put into them, then the final crossing of the border for reentry as landed immigrants.  What a neat Christmas gift that would be for us. (we initially came to Canada on December 13, 2007.)

Our Family Staycation

John's vacation ends today. He, Robby and I went to Kitchener on Monday for lunch with Joe and Wendy and a trip to J&J game store. Robby got a great deal on a Warhammer Wood Elf army, and John got some neat figures for D&D. We also got some neat things for Katie that she'll get on Friday.

John and I got in a tabletop game of Napoleonic era Italians (mine) vs Austrians (his). We'll finish it tomorrow evening.

Next update - Post surgery.

Some good stuff and some good times.

Since my last entries have been less than positive, I decided to share some good stuff.
John has been on vacation since last week, and we've been having a "staycation".  Last week was full of prep work for our annual trip to Fort Erie, where John and Robby took the infantry line as part of the 17th U.S.Infantry during the War of 1812. Jared and Nick from our unit, The King's Company   http://www.thekingscompany.ca/TheKingsCompany/Welcome.html .  Joining us was our friend Andy and his son Steve, who are part of an American War of Independence unit. Andy wants to be part of the bicentennial of the War, so he'll be along with us for the next two or so years.
We broke with tradition, and went out on Friday afternoon.  Most of the official activities didn't take place until Saturday morning, but we had Friday to get set up, and just visit with friends. Since Pooka is now an "only" dog, we packed up his stuff and his cage and took him along.  He's never been camping, and we set up his cage in the canvas tent with Katie and me. John and Robby were in a borrowed canvas tent next door.
Katie and I were in charge of meals, and keeping the unit dining area organized. We tried to have a campfire, but    we were having trouble lighting a fire due to the wet, damp wood. So we just had a nice chat and were actually in bed early.
Saturday morning, we were woken by the sound of a fife and drum corps at 6.30am. The fort opens at 10am, and we have to be up and ready to meet and greet the civilians. The guys had to be ready to accept the British Surrender at 11am, and get on with the day.  Katie was working to complete her internship with the Ontario Visual Heritage Project, this time as a location scout.  http://www.visualheritage.ca/   She spent a part of the day behind her camera and making notes on the size of rooms and places in the fort.
The downside was the heat. In the middle of the afternoon, the humidex was 41C/104F.  We did get a fire going, and had a great beef stew for dinner.  The evening battle is the British forces storming the U.S. held fort, with the culmination of the battle being when the British blow up the powder magazine. In year's past, this was 3 or 4 large fireballs, but this year we only had on ok-looking fireball. What a let-down.
We had some light rain overnight, and got up Sunday morning to heat at 8am, high humidity, and not a breath of air. And this is combined with wool jackets!  We had a quick unit meeting over breakfast, and decided to pack up and head for home before the predicted storms rolled in that afternoon.
Pooka was the unit ambassador.  Often people will stop by our camp, but will seem hesitant to "interrupt" us. Pooka would start wagging his tail, they would move forward to pet him, and voila, we have the beginning of a conversation.  He was wonderful!  Most of the area didn't even know that we had a dog anywhere near.  He was quiet a night, and during the day only started to bark when a dog would come close, then he'd quiet down very quickly.
In spite of all of this, we had a good time. Lots of fun with friends from other units, with our unit, and as a family.  I have some trim work to do on John's wool coatee before our next event on October 1/2 at Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London. (Most of you in the area have already received a facebook invite). We also have a few SCA events coming up that I hope to get to after surgery recovery.
I'm adding some pics, some from this year and one or two from last year.  Enjoy the picture show!

Pooka in his uniform. The men's uniform coats are blue with white, and we're the 17th U.S.
(the tail is blurred - it seldom stopped wagging)

           

Katie as a 1812 hipster.

The U. S. campsite.

Our tents.  John and Robby (far left), Beth and Katie (centre) and Jared (right)

The British scaling the wall.  The smoke is from the musket fire! 

This is what our unit shelter looks like. (this picture from 2010)  

The explosion of the powder magazine (from 2010)

                                   

An upcoming date with the surgeon

For those of you who I haven't talked with lately, I have a date of Aug. 18 for my surgery.  I won't know what time until the day before, but I do know that I'll have to show up early the day of, and I'll be staying overnight until at least Friday. I'll have a nurse come for 7 to 10 days for follow-up care.
According to Dr. Black, I won't be having muscles or lymph gland removed, so my recovery time should be minimal. Two weeks without driving and another week of "quiet" with no excessive physical activity.

so far, so good.....