Today, Saturday is a beautiful clear day. Perfect for the Los Osos Parade. I don’t think I will be going unless my family wants to go. My twin sister (Suzanne) and my brother-in-law (Steve) are here visiting. They both came yesterday morning. I was surprised that Steve came because he had been ill and they were originally going to come late Thursday night after Sue got off of work, but she said that he wasn’t feeling well. Steve has had the flu for over a month and was still battling it. I told her she could come without him, but she was too tired to drive after work on Thursday night, so she decided to come on Friday morning. I didn’t expect Steve to come, but he ended up feeling better after a good nights sleep.

Wednesday, I was hurting the worst, so I took a muscle relaxant and a pain pill after I got home from radiation, and did pretty much nothing the rest of the day. But I still went to our fellowship/bible study on Wednesday night, because the pain pill took the pain away, but I was groggy headed. I couldn’t contribute much, but I just wanted to be around people, so it was fine. I still enjoyed it very much.

Thursday, I had made an appointment to see my plastic surgeon to just check to make sure I didn’t damage the surgery. I had my friend, Pat drive me just in case my back couldn’t handle the drive or if I was taking pain medicine. I was actually starting to feel better, but I was glad my friend went with me, because we enjoyed each others company.The doctor said everything was ok and I made an appointment with him for in six months for us to discuss my upcoming reconstructive surgery next year. He wants me to recover from the radiation first, and he said he could take out my med-port then as well. He said if I really wanted it out sooner, that I just need to talk to my general surgeon. I am thinking that it might be better to just do it at the same time rather than be hospitalized twice. Even though I will have the ugly bump on my chest for a while. What difference does it make at this point anyway with everything I have been through? I made the trip worth while since I was there and picked up some cosmetics that they sell there that I was out of. I shouldn’t spend the money, but I was out and I do use it daily.

When I got back, I did feel good enough to drive myself to my dog walking job and radiation treatment. I picked up Bert and took him with me for a longer outing. It will be my last day with him for this year since his owner will be done with her classes, so I gave him a treat with a drive and walk. I took him to Cal Poly and Pete and I walked him around campus. We walked by the classrooms to see if we would run into his owner because that is where she works, but she was in the exam. One other staff member recognized Bert and greeted him. The girls at Cal Poly always flock to him. Pete calls him the “Babe Magnet”. Bert is a stunning specimen of a dog indeed!

Pete and I went to our support groups on Thursday evening, and even though I was really hurting, it was a good distraction, and good to be in the group. It really does help to be part of such a tight knit group. We help the one’s who just get diagnosed and talk about struggles and such. Believe me, talking with those who are going through it is better that talking it out with people who have no idea what it is like. It sort of empowers us to go through this together.

Yesterday, on Friday, I picked up a dog client that is staying with me until December 18, so Tink greeted Suzanne and Steve when they arrived. It is nice to have a dog greet you at the door. They liked it very much. Tink is a sweet little thing.

We all went to lunch at the Olive Garden and then took a walk at the park in SLO. Then I went to my radiation while Sue and Steve waited in the car. I told them I would be quick because it is the booster treatment which is very fast. It ended up that they were very behind, so I was waiting for a long time in the waiting room. There was a prisoner from CMC who was having his radiation treatment, and when they come, everything seems to get backed up because there are the guards and the prisoner, and not just the changing of clothes, but the shackles they have to deal with. I remember taking care of patients in the hospital that were from CMC when I was working in nursing at Sierra Vista Hospital, and it was quite the ordeal.

Anyway it set everything off, so my family and Tink were waiting longer than I had thought, but they didn’t mind. Steve took a nap in the car, Sue played some word game on her ipad, and Tink sat on her lap. We communicated by texting, so Sue said the time didn’t matter. No one was on a time schedule except me and this was my only appointment for the day.

Afterwards, we went downtown SLO, and Steve got his favorite cookies from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and all was well with the world. Tink had an additional walk as well, and that was good.

After we were done with all our running around, we were equally exhausted, I was hurting some with my radiation burn and my muscles from my fall, so we were all ready for a rest. I do notice that if I keep moving more, the pain is less from my fall than if I sit around. The muscles tighten up with sitting, and it makes me move like an old person. I had wanted to go to the SLO parade on Friday evening, but we were done for the day.

A friend brought me some soup for dinner because I had my fall, and it really helped to not have to cook. I am thankful for my friends that are stepping up to help me while I am on this challenging journey. I have been greatly blessed.