Charlcie

This is the week...finally. The last round of tests to determine that I am cancer free. It's a pain in the butt really....but necessary. I have to do something everyday this week in follow up. Here's the lineup (trying to work the baseball references in for you, Gary, any way that I can!), all happening in Alexandria: Monday: TSH shot Tuesday: TSH shot Wednesday: PET scan at 6:30 AM. Here's a link to a great explanation about a PET scan. Lots of dietary restrictions on Tuesday in preparation...no carb, milk. Feels a little like the low-iodine diet I had to be on prior to radioactive treatment in September but, thankfully, only for one day. AT 12:30 this same day, I have to get my radioactive tracer dose. Thursday: whole body scan Friday: blood work draw So...the fun begins tomorrow morning. I'll keep you posted, as always.

I'm like the ringleader, I call the shots. I'm like a firecracker, I make it hot. ---Britney Spears, Circus OK, I am going to admit it here too since I've already admitted it on Twitter ....I went to the Britney Spears concert at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, on Tuesday! I got tickets for Mackenzie for her 16th birthday back in December (since when do they sell tickets SO far in advance for concerts? I mean, you better have a long-range calendar to plan your attendance at these concerts...but I digress.) I bought two tickets. At the time, I was unsure if I was going to give both to her or have us go together. In the end, I decided I would go with her, and I am happy that I did. It was a GREAT concert! From the music, the stage show, the opening act (Pussycat Dolls), I was really impressed...or was it that I just had not been to a concert in a million years? Hard to tell.... Most folks attending this concert fell into three categories: Packs of teenage girls, most d...

Eldest daughter asked this weekend if I could blog about something other than cancer. Why, yes, I can....happy to do so! You may remember that I received roller skates for my birthday last month. Here's a few photos from our time on the bike trail this weekeknd below: Smirk on both of our faces as she leaves me in the dust! I don't care if Chris takes my photo or not, just am about to fall (but actually didn't...)!

Geez, I've been MIA lately when it comes to blogging. Sorry about that... The good news that continues is...my chest x-ray is clear! Since I've had thyroid cancer, you may ask "Why do you need a chest x-ray, Charlcie?" Well, I'll tell you...one of the two most common places thyroid cancer spreads to, if it is going to spread, is the bones and the chest. The clear chest x-ray proves that it has not spread to my chest. Great news! More tests to come...PET scan and whole body scan. Still waiting for endo to schedule these. However, it should be the last week of March or first week of April. But definitely, so far, so good. Happy weekend to all!

I had my fourth ultrasound since July 2008 relating to thyroid cancer today. The first three all came back positive for something "suspicious" that was followed up with a biopsy proving papillary carcinoma, the most common form of thyroid cancer, as well as surgery. Today, I broke the streak and am happy that I did! The ultrasound did not show anything suspicious! No biopsy to schedule! I still have some other follow up tests to do such as a whole body scan and PET scan in addition to results from a chest x-ray performed today. These are all to make sure that the cancer has not spread anywhere else. However, this is a REALLY GOOD result today. Really good....moving towards being a cancer survivor and not a patient anymore. :) Many thanks to all of you who sent prayers and good thoughts my way.

Well, we did it...and by we, I mean it took a village to pool our money and get this eight-year-old Mustang for Mackenzie. We went to look at it on Saturday, and out walked this Mustang's driver for the past seven years, a redheaded girl who was, get this, a cheerleader as well. It only had 48,000 miles on it...a big selling point. After 30 minutes of Chris checking it out and giving it a go around Arlington, we decided to get it for her. Wasn't it just yesterday that she started kindergarten? Where does the time go?

In my excitement with the snow on Monday, I left you hanging about my ultrasound scheduled on that day. A representative from that medical office called on Monday morning at 6:30 AM and cancelled due to the snow. So...I was rescheduled for Wednesday morning, March 11th, which also happens to be Morgan's birthday. I am also going to get my chest x-ray that day. I will definitely report back when I know more. Big weekend around here...6th grade girls semi-finals tournament game at 11:30 AM. Morgan plays, Chris coaches. 3 PM is Charlotte's first birthday party! Charlotte is my cousin's precious daughter. 6 PM...the house fills with four additional 11/12 year old girls for a trip to Dave & Buster's and a slumber party! Tomorrow - hopefully the 6th grade girls championship basketball game (have to win today). Regardless, Morgan plays in and Chris coaches the all-star basketball game at 4:30 PM tomorrow. Whew! Then...basketball is over after this weekend. This is good as ...

A few photos from the past few days. I got what I wanted for my birthday...roller skates! Wanted skates for outdoors but hate rollerblades. Also, a few photos from our backyard: Morgan and Chewie in the snow today!