Christmas is approaching.

Good morning folks this year is fast coming to a close much to the relief of most of the people I know.  To be honest it has been a doozy and I for one won't be sorry to see the back of it.

All in all it was a quiet week after two successive trips into town for ........ doctors LOL.  I got the thumbs up and temporary sign off from my Breast Surgeon who is happy with where I am now, temporary because she will be involved in my exchange surgery.  I also then got the thumbs up from my Oncologist after booking a bone density test in early December, I will be seeing her every three months so that will be ongoing.  Then to round them all off I saw my Plastic Surgeon who was very happy with all the stitches and wounds, but booked me for an Ultra Sound Aspiration which was done and yielded only 13 ml and another happy Dr Radiologist whoop, whoop. Happy doctors makes a nice change.  Today I go in to have all of the stitches removed 🙏🏻 and the possibility of my first fill.  On our way home last week we stopped at a vet shop and  as I walked in I realized that it is the first store I have been in since before the 8th October - major milestone 😂😂.

We had a fabulous Saturday when the girls came around, exams are finished and a little pressure is off.  It was awesome to see them relax and Princess decorated the Christmas Tree for me, it looks absolutely stunning.  Poppet cooked us the most delicious curry and the afternoon was topped off with Christmas mince pies, my personal weakness and favorite, yummmmm. Thank you girls for making it special and giving me the privilege of seeing you both actually relax a bit.

There has been much stress due to the U.K. closing its borders to SA as Sonshine is booked to be back here for Christmas.  This action has caused such heartache not just in our family but all over the country and my heart goes out to everyone on both sides of 'the Pond' who have been affected and we can only pray that somehow God will make a way.

There are so many people right now who are struggling just to get through the next hour / day / week, even in my own family and  when I look at the tiredness of Spirit and body in those I know, I am so aware that we can do nothing in our own strength.  The last two years have been beyond difficult on every single, possible level, spiritually and physically people are drained and exhausted.  The ONLY answer I have is God's Word and prayer.  It is only in relying on Him that we can face the next hour, in our own ability we are nothing. 

Isaiah 40 v 27 .... Why do you say oh Jacob and assert oh Israel " my way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God?"  Do you not know ? Have you not heard ? The Everlasting God, the Lord,  the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives strength to the weary, and to him to lacks might, He increases power.  Though youths grow tired and weary, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;  They will mount up with wings like eagles.  They will run and not get tired, the will walk and not become weary.

Joshua  1 v 9 " Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go."

Folks, we can't do it, but through relying on the strength of the Lord we can conquer everything that comes our way, irrespective of how tired or weak we are.  It just takes calling out to God for His help, His strength, His wisdom, His peace to bring us into a place where He can reach out and give you what is needed.  Just on a personal level if I did not do this on a daily basis I know for a fact I would not have coped with what am going through and have been through.  

My prayer for you all this week is that you will feel the peace of God, experience His helping hand, strength and wisdom and that the challenges of the week will crumble at your feet.  Stay strong 💪🏻 and stay safe and well.  Ciao Ciao .

My Life's Winding Roads: A very unexpected week

My Life's Winding Roads: A very unexpected week: Good morning everyone from a gorgeous blustery, cool Bettys Bay. Yesterday was what I would call a perfect day - strong winds, overcast and...

A very unexpected week

Good morning everyone from a gorgeous blustery, cool Bettys Bay. Yesterday was what I would call a perfect day - strong winds, overcast and just cool enough for blankies. May this stay for awhile please.

Well ...... last week was definitely not what I expected even in my wildest thoughts. After all my positive feedback and excitement things went rather awry. I had started feeling quite sick on Saturday and actually thought it might have been a Fibromyalgia flare. On Monday, prior to my appointment for the fill I called my Dr and explained how I was feeling, he immediately sent me off for blood tests and I then went in to see him early the next morning (Tuesday). They had received the results already and things snowballed so fast my head was spinning. The results showed that I had a bad infection and after taking a swab from the right side I was literally sent directly to hospital, no going past go, no collecting R200. Hmmmm...... Before I knew it it I was admitted, in a bed and waiting for a CoVid test. Once that came back Negative I was moved back down to Surgical Ward and placed on a drip for antibiotics, as well as sent for a CAT Scan, which showed an abscess. Wednesday morning at 5.45 I was wheeled into theatre (I didn't even know they operated so early) and they were all hands ready to go. Apparently there was a pocket of fluid which had filled with some yucky stuff and was fast becoming a large abscess, so my Surgeon reopened me and flushed everything multiple times to make sure nothing was left behind. Happily it had not reached the expander and so that did not have to be removed, although Dr said to me afterwards that one more day and he would have had to remove that as well. Once I was in recovery I had a Tachycardia episode which got everyone running around quite smartly, they put a tablet under my tongue which normalised everything and I was sent back to the ward. It really happened all so fast and poor old Hubby was back and forth on Tuesday trying to get my hospital bag which precious Jelly Bean just took care of, in the end it all worked out. Apparently the Tachycardia was caused by my potassium levels being very low because I had been too nauseous to eat and then the anaethesisa, but a very close eye was kept on me for a couple of days. I was discharged on Friday after I managed to find a Wound Care nurse locally who has been coming in daily to administer my antibiotic drip. Late Friday afternoon the Dr called to say that the swab results had come back and shown the presence of a super bug 🤦🏻‍♀️. Off to the chemist trundled my long suffering Hubby for a new, oral antibiotic to add to my collection. I will admit that most of the weekend I slept, just cannot keep my eyes open for long. This morning late we are back into town for wound check and Dr's appointment. I am really praying that from here on out it is going to be smooth sailing with NO further complications or issues, just nice and easy progress and healing. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 A totally chaotic week for all, with Hubby and Jelly Bean still holding down the fort and working at the same time, thank you guys for everything, words are totally insufficient. Also thanks to all who sent messages and or phone calls, you precious ladies kept me positive and on track. 

As for my poor little Charlie, he apparently went into full on pine mode and eventually I suggested Hubby put one of my shirts on the chair and apparently that is where he slept with his nose pushed into my shirt. Hubby says he would keep going back to the car to check that I wasn't hiding there 😢 Nevertheless he has hardly left my side since being home and is once again a happy camper. The family are all well, Poppet is getting over a bad bout of sinusitis which laid her low, Princess has one more week of exams. BabyBear finishes off her studies and one of her most difficult years on the 13th Dec, and the boys and Jelly Bean are all snowed under as seems to be the norm at the moment, but coping and grinding out the work. I am certainly praying for a much tamer and please God simpler week coming up. 

I am signing off for now folks and wish you each a wonderful week, may all the crinkles and obstacles smooth themselves out and may you have the strength to rise to every situation you are faced with. Please stay safe and healthy. Ciao ciao

A gorgeous gift of a double stem orchid.

Good news

Good morning everyone and here again Monday has rolled around just like it always does. I trust you all had a good week and aren't under too much pressure. For a change of pace I went into Somerset West twice in a row, real gallivanter I am hehe. On Tuesday I went in to Radiology where a Doctor did the aspiration which went very smoothly and for the first time since my surgery she was delighted with what she could see internally. Yaaaaay. On Wednesday we were back in really early for my Plastic Surgeon to asses things and double yaaay, he was really happy, all the wounds are healing nicely despite still having 2 surface holes. Today the plan is for him to insert a few stitches, under local anaesthetic this time and then to do my first fill, I am extremely nervous and leaning heavily on the Lord for strength and also wisdom for Doctor. His words to me were "now you are starting to make progress for the first time" 🙏🏻🙏🏻 On Wednesday afternoon we were SO blessed to have a visit with Sonshine, Poppet and Princess, who is still writing year end exams, yes, after 106 weeks he managed to get here without incident and they are all having a truly special visit. The Bears are overworking, like everyone else I guess and Jelly Bean is still wearing many caps every day, apart from working and looking after me and keeping the house afloat. Hubby has also been really busy but has had a really sore neck so he was able to gear down a little. Big Guy is on his way back from Mozambique where he spent the last four days, a well deserved and very overdue rest. Yesterday with a very real need to do something useful, I sat and repaired all of Charlie's soft, cuddly toys 😂, now he can play to his hears content. Funny though, Sasha has never been attached to a toy rather, she likes to scoot the cushions off the chairs and has done since she was a baby, funny little munchkins. We have, three times this week, had a Hadedah hollering late into the evening, which is most unusual. My theory is he must be young and for some reason keeps getting lost 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can honestly think of no other reason. Whilst on the subject of Betty's Bay's wildlife a very dear friend of mine sent me a video yesterday, of a Puff Adder merrily wending his way through her fynbos garden, thank the Lord she was not gardening at the time, oh we do live in a very special place. Well ladies and gentlemen that is all for me today. Have a super fabulous week and turn those lemons into lemonade when you need to. Stay well and safe. Ciao Ciao Sunset last night. taken by BabyBear in Gardens, Cape Town looking towards Lions Head.

My Life's Winding Roads: Life continues on its path

My Life's Winding Roads: Life continues on its path: Good morning folks, I hope this finds you all well and ready to face the new week. It seems we are fast cruising up to Christmas and I know...

Life continues on its path

Good morning folks, I hope this finds you all well and ready to face the new week. It seems we are fast cruising up to Christmas and I know that I for one don't feel much more prepared than I did last week lol. Weather wise it has been really mild and comfortable, some days are windy but no extremes anywhere. 

 Well despite finding myself 'grounded' again we have managed to have a fairly productive week, 'we' being a very collective we hehe. Hubby has made huge strides with the deck,- he has the door frame in and has spaced out and begun the placement of the windows whooo hooo, we are working towards being enclosed by Christmas, not finished but enclosed and usable 🤞🏻. He has also had a constant stream of clocks - mantel, cuckoo and grand-father as well as a couple of watches come in. Generally it is the clocks that give him grief by ticking along merrily for days and then stopping for no obvious reason which usually then requires a lot of out-of-the-box thinking. 

 Jelly Bean has had a crazy week work wise, I think work is always going to be crazy no matter what field you are in, the minute you add clients i.e. other human beings into the mix things get crazy. As for the rest of the family I believe that the above stands true for all of them, the year is winding down and deadlines are looming = crazy with large doses of patience needed all round. Princess started writing her year end exams so it is full steam ahead for her as well. 

 I mentioned that I am 'grounded' grrrrr. The hole in my stitches which was so painfully restitched two fridays ago, reopened last Tuesday evening and I will admit I came unglued emotionally, it was like the last straw - I just sat and wept. On Thursday it was off to the Plastic Surgeon very trepidiciously only to be surprised when he was not phased but in fact delighted with all the other wounds. It would seem that despite the set backs, on the whole he is happy. He then sent me off the Advanced Wound Care Clinic, they could only take me an hour later so we stopped for new antibiotics and then did a really quick pop in with the girls for a delicious cup of coffee. It was so good to see them and get hugs. Back we went to the Clinic where after a bit of a wait I was fitted with a Negative Pressure Therapy Vacuum Pump, I have never even heard of such a thing. This pump works over the open wound and by vacuum it drains any fluid as well as causes granulation of the site and thereby closing the wound. 🤞🏻🙏🏻. It is heavy to carry around and I have to wear it 24/7 until Wednesday, as well as it sounds like a soft Kreepy Krauly 😂😂. Hence being grounded. By the time we eventually got home I was in tears from tiredness and pain caused by the pump pulling on already sore skin. Later that night Jelly Bean and Hubby performed some home remedies by snipping some small pieces of the plasters to lessen the pull and then taping the tube to my tummy with micropore tape to lessen the drag of gravity ........ instant semi relief. That night I tossed and turned until 12.30 before gathering up ALL my many pillows, my machine (yes a couple of times I've walked off without it🤦🏻‍♀️) and my quilt and made a bed on the couch, absolute bliss and comfort. I am still here and sleeping well because of the support it gives me. 

Despite being grounded Jelly Bean managed to colour my hair on Saturday despite the weird positions, conditions and angles we were able to work with. At least I don't look like Cruella de Ville anymore hehe. Yesterday she and Hubby bathed both the dogs and made a truly delicious lunch - I am beyond blessed. 

 Well folks that's it for this week, I wish you all a good, happy week full of accomplishments and victories. Ciao ciao for now

 P.S. I have added a page which is an abbreviated 'Journal' account of my Detour with Cancer. Please feel under no obligation to read it just because you follow the Blog, I have done it in the hopes that if it helps just one woman deal with / understand /semi prepare her journey and setbacks then this journey is worthwhile. I will continue to add to it as often as anything happens or I feel the need. 

 Charlie my constant companion

My Life's Winding Roads: Week three and I am back

My Life's Winding Roads: Week three and I am back: Good morning one and all on this brand new day of a new month. I am having a real hard time trying to figure out how we got to November, m...

Week three and I am back

Good morning one and all on this brand new day of a new month. I am having a real hard time trying to figure out how we got to November, my year kind of got all messed up in June and I still feel like it's the middle of the year 🤦🏻‍♀️. It was only this week that the realization of how close Christmas is hit me, made super exciting when Big Guy sent us a screen shot of his air tickets to come home for the holidays yippppeeeee. At the moment we enjoying very mild weather with a tiny bit of rain now and again and some wonderful winds to keep us cool. 

 Currently I seem to be living my life vicariously through other members of the family - I have 'been' to a wine festival, walked the dogs to the beach, spent time DJ'ing, doing Cross Fit to name just a few 🤣🤣. The only 'out' excursions I have had are to the Dr and back and just doing that generally wipes me out for the following day. Recovery is a day by day thing and a lot slower that I expected or hoped. There have been and are some challenges with the healing of the wounds which is holding up the next phase but, I have made my peace with the fact it's going to take as long as it takes. I saw a meme yesterday which hit the nail on the head, it said "Yes, I will get through this, I just don't like going through it." I have also come to realise that every person's journey is different on just about every level and, for that reason it is a very lonely journey. I will never 'know' what someone went through with Breast Cancer because no two cases are the same nor are they treated the same. I do know this though without God, friends, family and the Medical Team I have, I would not be this far. Some of the most meaningful and touching calls or messages I have received have been the ones saying "how are you and what can I pray for today?" and the ones saying "I am thinking of you". Thank you everyone for your love, for listening and for your prayers I cannot explain how much it means to me. 

 Jelly Bean and Hubby have been absolute pillars of strength and help, handling the house and cooking as well as all the running around. From washing my hair, to changing my dresssings and everything in between. Hubby has made rusks twice and they taste exceptional, meals have been brilliant together with all the other household tasks. Jelly Bean has been working around this as has Hubby with clocks and watches continuing to come in, he has even managed to get some work on the deck done, we are so close now to closing up 👏🏻, I can't wait to get out there in my hammock chair. The rest of the family are all well and working hard, Princess starts her year end exams this week and has been studying like a little Trojan, well done my angel, I am so proud of you. There was one very surprising bright spot on Friday, Jelly Bean has been making me smoothies and we were talking about the benefits of fresh juicing so, I had the bright idea of asking on the Village WhatsApp group if anyone had a hidden juicer they would like to sell. Within an hour one lady, whom I don't know had replied, she had one that she had forgotten about and when I asked her the price her reply was " You can have it for nothing, I had forgotten it was there ." I was speechless and am now the owner of a good Braun Juicer and will be stocking up on fresh produce to be juiced and consumed. The only activities I have accomplished in the last three weeks has been the finishing of books and my ongoing recovery , so for all my friends who ask me to slow down, I am slower than the proverbial tortoise 🤣🤣 

 Folks I am going to end off with a prayer that your November is excellent in every way, thank you for your participation in this Blog and please stay safe and well. Ciao

 Caio

Jasper pulling the majestic card.