SCCA Dr. Apt and 10th anniversary

Last Saturday I enjoyed a 10th anniversary celebration with Peter at Cannon Beach. The Oregon coast is so beautiful, we love Haystack rock and could see it from our room. The food was good, bed and pillows super comfortable. We had a fire on the beach and cooked smores. My favorite part is the chocolate and I admit to having more of the Hershey bars than Peter did. :-) I'll get some pictures of the trip here soon. You'll be able to see I was totally relaxed. We had long beach walks daily.

I'll also post pictures of my growing granddaughter Ayana who has plumped up since being born in June. Her big brother Kimani, 3 and a half, is a joy to be with and we spent the day together yesterday. We visited the CDSA office and staff were amazed at how much he had grown and how much he was talking. I have really cute new pictures of him as well. Last but not least Jessica and Q took some great pregnancy pictures this last week. I'll have to post at least a few as she looks so darling with her little tummy holding that precious little girl. October 15th (the due date) will be here before we know it.

My SCCA (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) doctor, Dr. Back,  was reminding me on Tuesday that the next surgery (11/8) will be here before I know it too and that my full time job is still to recover and prepare. This entails sleeping, eating, exercise (especially walking) and remaining positive and unstressed from the variety of sources I could let stress in from. I have been reading and listening to CD's and DVD's about Mindfulness and the research and data on the medical benefits of reducing stress through meditation. I like Jon Kabat-Zinn, Pema Chodren, Mark Nepo, Thich Nhat Hanh and many others. I spent my $100 gift card at Amazon on-line and got lots of good books. I've started riding the stationary bike which doesn't hurt my tender areas. I'm off even the aspirin I was taking for discomfort. Dr. Back encouraged these activities and also said my insides are a ways away from being healed and to remember that when I'm feeling good and not do too much. It still hurts to bend over and pick something up and when I sneeze, yawn, turn or twist. Getting up from sitting and even more from laying down still lets me know I'm only half way through the recovery process. Sleeping can be a little tricky still. Getting comfortable is often difficult but I'm beginning to be able to spend short times on my side instead of having to always be on my back when sleeping.

It has been fun visiting my parents and talking to my mom recently. She is helping to edit my brother Ed's book that will be re-released soon about the history and birds of Vashon Island where they live. Ed's wife Linda continues to advise me on medical reports and will help with Jessica's upcoming baby shower. My nephews are getting ready to go back to school but get to spend a few weeks with Grandma and Grandpa before they do as Ed and Linda travel out of the country. 

More family travel; Peter's dad will be visiting for a few weeks, arriving from California on August 26th. We always enjoy his visits and will be able to help him celebrate his birthday occurring while he's here. His visit assures I'll get to see more of my sister-in-law Jackie, her husband Dickie and daughter Roslin; always a treat.

Thanks again to my neighbors who always take care of the house when we're out of town and remark on my colorful yard, frequently meeting me out in the street to talk. Mordo and Beverly; Cynthia and Charles, Ian and Bettina and Jim. I love it that we're so close to our neighbors!

This week end I am so excited to attend Troy and Jerry's wedding reception at the Pike Place Market and an annual family reunion of sorts at my cousin Ken and Julie's house on Mason Lake near Shelton. It is always a joyous occasion to visit them at their beautiful home. I have been visiting this location since I was a little girl and I have many pictures of myself swimming at all different ages in the lake. Jan Cox, who I also don't get to see nearly enough I hope will be there along with my immediate family.  I guess I'm not up to water skiing this year but hopefully Peter will go out on the jet ski. What a beautiful summer in the NW we are having.

I feel so blessed to be having time to garden, be on and near the water, walk, read, spend time with loved ones, take week end trips and just plain enjoy life. I feel really strong in my recovery and can see myself coming out of the next surgery ready to recover again. This time I know what to expect, not that it will be exactly the same. I'm getting closer each day to this ordeal passing by and being a memory as I live on in health. I'm thankful for all that my body is doing to help me recover and fight this. It is amazing. I am learning more and more how to enjoy and be present for each moment. Life is precious.

Look for pictures capturing happiness to be posted this week end. Next week I'll write about my appointment with surgeon, Dr. Pommier in Portland Monday morning at 8:30. Hopefully I'll have more fresh salmon for dinner next week as Peter and friend Len will go out early Tuesday morning near Astoria to the famous buoy 10.  Whether they get a big King each or pinks for us to make smoked salmon out of, I'll be happy.

Thanks for all your help to remain positive as I move through this period of my life filled with new challenges and blessings.