My First Mammogram

Well it seems I have crossed another bridge in the life of being a female. This morning I went for my first mammogram and I will admit I was very nervous. Over the years listening to women older then me tell me how much it hurts, that they squish the bejjebbies out of your boobies. I'll admit I was scared.

just a little background. I was having some discomfort on the right breast last December and it would come on and off since. Unfortunately I was not observant enough to say it was linked to my monthly periods. The doctor back in December could not feel anything unusual but felt a mammogram would be a good idea to just make sure.

Because the doctor did not find anything i was not in a huge rush so when my appointment was made for January I called and change it till today when I would be off work. I was scheduled for 8:20 am and arrived at the hospital for 8:00 am. A volunteer at the entrance walked me to the correct department and made small talk the whole way. I then was admitted within a few minutes and then asked to have a seat in the waiting room.

After about 15 minutes I was called and the technician was great, friendly, patient and kind. She even asked my if I could be pregnant (she thought i was young enough to still have babies!!! I love this lady) Yes a mammogram is uncomfortable (especially on my right side which is the side that has bothered me, but also cause I broke my collarbone as a teenager and the pressure on that was a little painful. The left side was not a big deal. After the 6 pictures in all were taken I was asked to put on my top and wait for the radiologist to have alook. About ten minutes later the technician returned and asked me to have a seat in the waiting room as they would like to also take an ultrasound of the right breast.

Yes my anxiety was raised but I tried to stay calm and tell myself it is better to be safe then sorry. Again after about ten minutes I was brought to a ultrasound room. A different technician this time but she as well was very nice and we chatted about vacations. She did the ultrasound and then left. After a few minutes she returned and said I was cleared to go home. I was told to call my doctor in a few weeks for results.

I was back home by 9:30 am. The husband and little one were not even out of bed yet! All in all it was 'no biggie' and my advice to all women who will be crossing the bridge at some point is to relax, don't pay much heed to the women who have been through it and go on about being squished flat like a pancake. Yes you will be squished and yes it is uncomfortable but I would take a mammogram over a pap smear any day!

So what is next. I did have a look at pictures of my breasts on the computer screen but really didn't know what I am looking for. I didn't see any dark masses (hope that's good) but I did see a white spot. One on each breast in approximately the same spot so hopefully that is normal. I will probably do a little Internet searching just to freak myself out. I was told to call the my doctor in a few weeks for the results. I am sure they say that to everyone but it did make feel better thinking it was no rush which meant they didn't see anything worrisome. I will do my best to put the thought of anything serious to the back of my mind and enjoy the next two weeks I am off work.

All and all benchers if you are coming to that time when mammograms will be part of your life my suggestion is to do it and not listen to much to the women who make a big deal about it. Its not the most comfortable thing in the world to do but either is going to the dentist but we know it is better for us in the long run.

Carolin

Catchup Fridays

(Sunshine) Hello everyone, I am sorry that I missed you last week but it was a really crazy week. The wedding was beautiful. Everyone had fun and the bride and groom are so happy. (Carolin) I am happy all went well. When can we see pictures!!

I haven't been to a wedding for a long time and I forgot how touching and emotional the day can be. I hope that my sister and her husband have a happy, healthy, safe and long life together. I wish them all the best. It is hard not to tear up at weddings. I think the older and wiser we get the more emotional we get.

Work has been busy and challenging but I do enjoy it. I am glad you are enjoying your job. Challenging can be a good thing as it means you are learning new things. Work, what's that??

Carolin, I hope that you will enjoy your time off for March Break. Yes, I am loving it so far (hasn't even been a day). I have different doctors appointments and tests scheduled for the first few days. Then the husband, little one and I are off to a sunny island for a week. The teenager (who is not a teenager anymore) did not want to go so will be home minding the fort. Tell her to call us for anything!

Cathy, I hope that you have a wonderful March break and that your arm feels better. Perhaps you should start to look at physio to get your arm moving again. I thought so too, however, the docs all say that if it is a torn tendon, physio will only make it worse. It has to heal and once it has physio will help to make the arm strong again.

I have been meaning to call you girls. The days seem to fly by but lets get together soon.

(this should be in green but I can't get the highlight to work)Work this week was dismal as lots of kids were away. As the school I work at has a two week break many families take advantage of the time off. And we all know no new concepts are being taught the last week of school so in reality the kids are not missing much.

The little one has started speech therapy again. We haven't done this since she was a preschooler but there are still many sounds she struggles with and we are fortunate this time to have the therapist come to the school (paid for by some government organization it think) and work with her. I meet with a psychologist on Thursday to discuss many concerns we (parents, teachers have with the little one) I left feeling a little overwhelmed. I feel like the professionals are all pushing us to medicate her. For what??  At this time we have agreed to have another assessment done with her to determine if she has ADD. The husband and I think she may have a mild/moderate version. Her teacher does not see it but he has admitted to thinking in the terms of a ADHD child. She is defiantly not that! But I feel a little frustrated as the definition of ADD (Attention deficit disorder) is children (also adults) who can concentrate on things they enjoy but struggle to stay focused on things they find boring or do not enjoy. Isn't that all of us? What about mild autism?
The doctor also discussed working with the little one to come up with coping skills to deal with her anxiety as we know the pressure and demands made on her will increase as she continues through junior high school and goes to high school. Also, they tell me they will help us flush out her IEP (individual education plan) and then find a high school that will best meet her skills. And just so you all understand none of this comes cheap, (the latest bill was $250.00 for the hour and half consult) Our insurance will pay $50.00 per visit!! I am going to need to sell a lot of cookies and sandwiches to pay for all this.
Oh well enough of that we have two weeks not to think about it!


It never seems to end does it? What happened to all of us kids in days gone by? How did we survive, or did we? Where are the stats on that?! 


On a different note, we have a pipe leaking somewhere in our home. See, it never ends! Hubby finishes the basement and next we know there is a leak coming from the upstairs bathroom! So, now we are once again going into demo mode! Ugh!!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a good March Break, everyone!!!

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) Hi all, how did the week go? I do not think we will hear from Sunshine this week as her sister's wedding is tomorrow. With all of the planning they have done I am sure all will be perfect, after all, it's all about the love of two people for each other and the promise that they make together. We wish them all our best!


Sunshine, also celebrated her birthday this past week. Happy Birthday Sunshine! Hope you enjoyed your day! (Carolin) Hope you had a happy Bday Sunshine.


Carolin's, Little One also celebrated a birthday. Best wishes to her and I hope all of her wishes will come true!!! Yes, my baby is 12. We had a small family do on Thursday (her actual bd). My brother and sister in law (just back from their 4 month honeymoon backpacking through Thailand, Singapore and surrounding countries) came for the KFC feast. We then hosted 9 girls for a sleepover party Friday night/Saturday morning. It is 11:30 am Sat. and three girls are still here. Everyone is tired but I think it went well.

I am off in a few minutes to cook. I am cooking a buffet dinner for 140 people for tonight. I am just doing the cooking and they are picking up and reheating and serving. Then I am helping out a little for the Dessert/Drama night that Cathy mentioned.

Strange week weather wise. One day it's seven degrees above Celsius and warm and sunny. The next day it's below freezing and snowing and freezing rain! I hope spring happens soon, with lots of rain to fill up the water tables otherwise I can see water bans happening this summer.

Arm update: I am off work for another month. I am now on an anti-inflammatory and let's hope they make a difference. I am sick of reading and the television is boring.

Hubby and I are joining Carolin and family at the Little One's school tomorrow night for a night of "Desserts and Drama". It's a mission fund raiser. One guess as to who is making all of the desserts?? It promises to be a fun night!
One more week of school then off for TWO weeks of March Break. I have booked doctor appointments the first week of break. Yes, I will be going for my first mammogram on the 12th and I am a little nervous. I didn't think they did that until you turned 50? My doctor has yet to mention it to me. But the best part is a week from Thursday we leave for a relaxing week in the Dominican. Enjoy!  The little one and I (and I am sure the husband) are looking forward to laying on the beach. The teenager who is not a teenager anymore does not want to come. So benchers if you could do some random drive bys of my house to make sure the parties are not too crazy and it is still standing that would be grand. My brother and sister in law may stay at the house for the week which would make me feel better. I will check on the Teenager who is not a Teenager for you. Tell her she can call us if there are any weird sounds in the house and Hubby can come by to check it out. Will your phone work in the Dominican? 

Have a great week everyone!

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) Hi all, let's hope we can get this post out before Sunday! We did receive a bit of snow today. I had to laugh when I heard all of the school bus cancellations. It was just raining this morning and I wonder if the buses where cancelled to save on gas. I don't think there has been any reason to cancel buses this school year. Let me know if I am wrong. (Carolin) You are not wrong Cathy. Absolutely ridicules that they (whom ever they are) would cancel school bus' which of course means for my school is canceled. I was expecting a banner day as the school was hosting a basketball tournament. GRRRRRR When I woke up at 6:30 am there was NO snow. At ten to seven I got a text from a parent saying school was canceled. (Sunshine) I took Little Miss Sunshine to school that day and the roads were a little bit slippery but not bad at all.

As you know we ladies got together for Carolin's birthday last Sunday. We went to a Greek restaurant and enjoyed really good Slovakia with lots of garlic, yum! It was funny as Carolin's twenty year old kept looking at her watch as she had a party to get to. (It's reading week for university students)Some universities Carolin kept reminding her daughter that it was her birthday!! Boy, it's so neat to see the kids grow up and start their own lives and agendas. I know it's frustrating at times, but it's also somewhat satisfying to watch them, (especially when they are not your own!) The crazy thing was we just got in the car when the oldest received a text saying her ride was not feeling well and would not be going to the party. She nagged for nothing.
Kids , you gotta love em!!!!

I go to the doctor's next Tuesday to get the results and next step for my arm. It really hurts this week and I am having a hard time moving it. I hope to get some good news and can start to move forward with the healing process.
I am crossing my fingers for you Cathy.

Sunshine must be in the last stages of wedding preparation. I think the wedding is next week Saturday. I wish her sister and soon to be husband all the best!
Its less then a week away now and everyone is nervous and excited.

Carolin, I hope you had a good week. You work so hard! Its almost March break so only three and a half months to go before summer break. Where has the time gone?


Have a good week everyone!

Catch up Fridays

(Sunshine) Hello everyone. Cathy, thanks for keeping us up to date last week. I have been really busy with work and my sister's wedding. We are now less than two weeks away. I was also hoping that Carolin and I would be able to come by and see you but time has been flying by. Sorry Cathy, but I have been thinking of you and I hope that you are feeling better. Carolin, how are you doing? How is your nephew feeling?

(Carolin) I myself have not been feeling so great, seriously thought of closing the cafeteria early on Friday. Since Thursday I have this constant feeling of nausea and very tired. I hope it passes soon.

(Cathy) Do you think it's just a continuation of that flu from earlier on this year?

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO OLD!!!!!! I have gone to Tim Horten's twice since they made the cup change. And both times I have screwed up the coffee size. I used to get a large for myself and a medium for the husband. Now that they have changed everything around I can't get it straight what I want. I suggested to the little one I should make a little sign for my dashboard in the car with what I want so I will remember. She laughed her head off at me. How Rude! Since I am a prisoner in my own home I have yet to go to Timmy's and see the new cup sizes. What did they change?

I have another question about Tim Horten's. If my memory serves me right (which is always iffy). Role Up To Win is coming up soon and I thought to get a role up cup you had to order a medium or larger cup. That the small cups did not participate in the game. So now that all the cups have changed and a old large is a medium and a old medium is a small. Does that mean all the old medium drinkers have to spend more money for the new medium (old large) just to be able to play the game? (that's deep thinking.)

Hi all, well I went to the neurologist and he was happy with what he saw. He is sending all of the info to my doctor who I see in a bit over a week. I hope then they will all decide what to do with me. 


It's birthday time for both Carolin and Sunshine. Happy, Happy birthday to you both!


I hope to start my tomato seeds this week. Hope they do better than last year. 

I really don't remember planning a wedding taking so much time and energy not to mention the emotional strains on everyone. We have so many girls in our family that I think that we are overloaded with estrogen. My poor dad and his son in laws. Hopefully all will have fun on the day of. All the planning means things will go great on the big day. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures!


(As an aside, we ladies and family met for dinner to celebrate Carolin's birthday. Her Husband organized us all getting together. It was great to be together again, thanks!)

I am always so tired. We all need a break around here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) Hi everyone! Did I mention last week that Hubby was away for work in Kuala Lumpur this past week? He comes home tomorrow night (Saturday night). It takes him twenty-four hours of travel to get to Malaysia. He took a fifteen hour non-stop flt from here to Hong Kong and then a four hour flight from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur with connection time in between. Hubby really only had three days in Kuala Lumpur for actual work! I hope it was worth it! He texts me that the weather is hot with thirty plus degrees Celsius with ninety percent humidity! As for food, do you remember when he was in South Africa last year and there were no vegetables? Well, this trip he has been eating food I like: spicy Thai, Japanese and to quote Hubby, "lots of fish with eyes!!!" He sure is getting a nice introduction this planet we call home. I wish I was with him!  


So what did I do with my week? Nothing. I am trying to rest my arm so that when I go to the neurologist he will tell me that I do not need surgery. It hurts and does not feel normal, who knew that one little fall on snow would result in all of this? I would really like to start my seeds. I was late last year and with the summer we had my tomatoes did not do well. I am hoping to get my seeds in on time or even a bit early this year. 


Mom came over yesterday and made a big pot of potato, leek soup, yummy! We sat and watched some movies and chatted about all sorts of stuff. It was fun! 


Carolin and Sunshine, I hope you both had a good week. 


Oh hey, I just remembered that it's Valentine's Day next week! What to do, what to do????


Does anyone do anything anymore for Valentine's Day?

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) Wow, another week has flown by. Did I miss winter? I really think we will meet spring without actually seeing significant snow. I know that that is good for driving and getting to work, (work? what's that?), however, I wonder what this lack of snow and cold will mean for the rest of the year? (Sunshine) Its really strange to have grown up with such harsh conditions for winter all of our lives to now have a winter that is so incredibly mild. I miss the snow and the cold and so do the kids. (Carolin) I don't know if I totally miss the snow. I would love a snow day to catch up at home. It is nice for driving and all week I have been just wearing a hoody.


So, to catch up, I am still at home. Sometimes I can use my hand, but I pay for it. I am supposed to balance out wearing my splint and sling with passive movements so my shoulder will not seize up. The positive thing is that I know my arm will heal in time. I really have a better understanding of those people who do not have the use of a limb. Well, not really as I know I will get the use of my arm back. That must be so frustrating Cathy. We are so much more aware of how amazing our bodies are when something isn't working properly. Cathy, try and relax so you can heal properly. Maybe we will come and bug one day this coming week. That's if you are not too busy.


Sunshine, did Miss Teen Sunshine get her driver's license? Well I called her just before I walked in for work and she said that she failed because she hit the back pylon as she was parallel parking. I felt really bad for her and I was surprised because I really thought that she was ready. I called Mr Sunshine in Vancouver and left a message on his cell phone. He called back when I was on my way to pick her up after work to ask for some insurance information and that's when I was informed that she passed. In the evening when he finally heard my message from earlier that morning he called to say that it sounded like I really believed that she had failed. I guess that she wanted to surprise us when she got home but with time changes and short phone calls everything got a little bit messed up. Well Cathy the short answer to your question is YES!! (Carolin) Yeah for Teen Sunshine.



Carolin, how is your nephew doing? I hope you all are feeling better, too. Our thoughts and prayers and with you all. He is still in the hospital and seems he will remain there for some time still. My mom comes home this coming Wednesday.

It is Saturday afternoon I have been home for 45 minutes. I catered a conference today for 90 people. Morning coffee, mid morning refreshments, then a lunch. I was at the kitchen for 7:00 am and the teenager (who isn't a teenager) came at 10:00 am to help. All went well, I am just tired. I get very stressed over these catered events, I would rather not do them as I am just bone tired from the week. But I don't know how to say NO.


Carolin if you have time this week, lets go and visit the one armed bandit. I think that we could all benefit from spending some time together and I would love to see you girls. Cathy do you have some free time and are you up for some rowdy visitors? The husband is back on the afternoon shift this week, but perhaps Friday night will work.

Time to go get my Jammie's on and lay on the couch.
Have a good week everyone!