Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Spencer's teeth and a big anniversary

On Sunday the 10th I went to Target for a few things.  I ended up buying a set of mini scrunchies. Scrunchies came back big time just as I was bald from chemo, so this is my chance!

Chap stick for size comparison. 


There's a scrunchie in my hair!
Nothing noteworthy occurred on Monday the 11th or Tuesday the 12th.

Spencer is ready to have his braces removed, except his wisdom teeth are blocking his second molars from emerging.  We had his wisdom teeth removed on Wednesday the 13th.  

Before

The immediate after is bloody and ghastly, so I won't share it.  This is after we got him cleaned up and into bed. 

Poor swollen baby.

I did some continuing education classes that afternoon. 

I wore my new lip shirt for the occasion!

Oh, and big news!  The earrings I ordered on December FIRST were delivered that day. 

Spencer eating ice that evening. 
Thursday the 14th was the two year anniversary of my double mastectomy, so of course I had to do some comparisons. 

1/14/19

1/14/20

This is what I wrote on Facebook:

***
Two years ago today I had a double mastectomy. It still blows my mind. I really thought I'd have surgery, heal, get a bit of radiation and be done. HA! It took me a long time to wrap my mind around what happened during the mastectomy (a complete axillary dissection because cancer had already spread to my lymph nodes), and what came next- chemotherapy, losing my hair, implant failure, six MORE surgeries in the same year, physical therapy, severe radiation burns, switching surgeons, DIEP flap reconstruction, lymphedema, PTSD, mental health therapy, and hormone therapy. Last year on this date I went to work (which also blows my mind.....I/we used to go to work in person!) and thought about how far I had come in a year. This morning I did some skin care while writing progress reports while wearing a Christmas nightgown. Then I put on "real clothes" and continued working from home while drinking coffee. I only remembered this anniversary because it showed up in my Facebook memories. Healing comes in so many different ways and I am grateful for the physical, emotional and mental healing of the last two years. But I'm still laughing about how both of my surgeons went to the wrong hospital that day, delaying my surgery by HOURS.
***

Skin care in a nightgown.

The official 2021 picture.

Comparison collage

Back in the nightgown that evening. Approving progress reports and drinking peppermint tea.  
Triple Snoopy!

Spencer progress on Thursday.


I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned on Friday the 15th.

Spencer progress that day.

Elliott's 9 year 1 month photo on Saturday the 16th.

My parents came up that day to spend the rest of the weekend with us. We had a winter/snow themed zoom because my brother Nathan is in Utah skiing with his family. 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Saturday to Saturday

On Saturday, January 2nd I made the eggnog for Christmas 2021. I thought about making it on the 31st, but I didn't want it associated with 2020.

I make a triple batch every year, which is 36 egg yolks, 3 pounds of sugar, and nine cups of booze.

Three types of booze.


Yum.

I made it in two batches.


Freshly ground nutmeg. 

It is so frothy when I first make it that I need extra containers.  Within a day it all fits in the big jar. 

We had a Happy New Year family zoom that afternoon. 

Oh, and I'm almost positive that I never posted about this one.  This was Christmas #2 zoom on Saturday the 26th.  The theme was religious Christmas. 

I went to the store and bought a new oven on Sunday, January 3rd.  It's a dual fuel, so it's a gas top and electric oven.  

It looks like this on top. 

And this in the front. 

Hair pictures on Monday, January 4th. 






On Tuesday the 5th I woke up, put a sweatshirt on over my nightgown, wrapped a blanket around my legs and started virtual sessions like that. 

This is what I looked like.

But this is what kids could see. 

Spencer's 13 year 4 month picture on Wednesday the 6th. 

I ate the last rum ball of the holiday season on Thursday the 7th.

Michael and I had happy hour out in the backyard bistro on Friday the 8th. 

It was a happy hour with cappuccino. 
I put my phone down on a cabinet that has little holes in it on Saturday the 9th. My camera was open, and I thought this looked very cool.  Those are my legs and a basket full of masks in the cabinet. 

Michael changed Spencer's sheets that day. See his legs on the ladder? 

Every time he changes those sheets he wants to chop the bed up and burn it to the ground. 


We had a huge family zoom that afternoon to celebrate the 20 year cancer survivorship of Lois.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer (in January 2001), so the theme was pink. 

And finally, snuggling with Elliott that night. 

Monday, January 11, 2021

A festive January home

I took all of the Christmas decorations down on the 30th and put up most of the New Year's decorations on the same day.  The house was done by the 31st.

What follows is a ridiculous number of pictures for the sake of being thorough. 

Outside

I bought this gold wreath at Pier One after Christmas last year before they closed all of their stores.  It was perfect for all the gold and white I have for January. 

Mirror behind the front door. 

Living room

I have been very impressed with myself and happy with this table. 

Inside the table.


Decorations on the fake fireplace. 

I found this gorgeous fabric for 70% off.  70%!!!!! I bought three and a half yards for about $20.  I think the original price was $20 per yard.  Please don't do the math to check for my accuracy, but if you do, know that they gave me the half yard for an additional 50% off the already 70% off. 

The really heavy weights in the living room are hiding under there. 

Blinged out cover for the light switches that don't control anything. 




I bought these pillows on the 8th.  They were just too perfect to pass up. 




Such proud Yodas, Papa and Baby, celebrating the new year. 

Entry way table. 


Coat closet door.
Dining room

I bought this gold angel and star garland before Christmas, but it was perfect for January too, so I left it up. 

It's just tricky to photograph. 

I took these pictures before I turned the dining room back in to my office. 






I don't have gold dishes to display, but I have accumulated some nice gold glasses. 

The other door to the dining room. 

Hallway



Pantry door

Kitchen


I'm having fun incorporating the mug stand into our decorations. 


Laundry room door

These things are on the table behind the couch in the family room.  It's just tricky to photograph all together.

On the left.

In the middle. 

On the right. 

Mantle


Piano

Entertainment center

I am loving my January decor, but I am already looking forward to Valentine's Day at the same time.