Monday, January 24, 2011

Pink Weekend

My 5-year celebration lasted most of the weekend.   It's been a flurry of pinkness!

Beautiful, and oh so fragrant, roses from Bill.
We had a small family (3 out of 4 kids in attendance, ain't bad) dinner/celebration at my favorite mexican restaurant, La Loma, on Saturday night. 
Cheers to the milestone.  May we never pass through this way again.
Lots of pink loot!
I am so touched by the goodness in our children.  Sometimes I wonder where it is, why it's missing, or what I did wrong in their upbringing...and then, I am reminded that it was there all along, just waiting for the appropriate moment to emerge and overwhelm and surprise the mom!
Thank you for all you do (and all that you are).
Oh, and the guts it took to wear a pink shirt x two!
A big thank you to all who have expressed such kind words.  It touches my heart.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

YAY ME!

Sixty-two months ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was devastating and scary.  Thanks to my yearly mammogram, it was caught early.  However, due to family history, it would take two agonizing months of tests, appointments, research, and opinions to arrive at a decision.  A decision which would (and still does) cause me some second-guessing (you know what they say about hind-sight).

The outcome: a different Judy. 

Five years later. 

The five-year marker is monumental for many who have battled the disease.  I don’t feel “safe” from recurrence, but I don’t worry about it regularly.  I can rely on the notion that the risk of cancer returning is significantly reduced.   Doctor appointments are now just a yearly routine, even though they still carry a high level of anxiety for me -- my new norm. I just need to take care of myself, find the time to exercise, and eat right.  Someone remind me now and then that trying to protect myself from stress is not selfish.

So, on this day, January 20, 2011, I celebrate my 5-year anniversary of the disease (as it is the anniversary of my surgery). Lots of people (experts included) think the 5-year mark is some magical moment when you can consider yourself “cured.”  It is certainly not that for me.  It is, however, time to let go of the constant dwelling on the uncertainty of it returning. Buh-bye.

So, I share my big day with family and friends.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  Special note to Bill, I couldn’t have gone through it without you.  You were (are) amazing.  I look forward to the rest of our life together.  Let’s get on with it.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

1/11/11 (getting a kick out of all these ones!)

Thought I would post some random Gracie pics, as she is officially 13 weeks old today.  I think she's changing every day and I want to enjoy her puppiness for as long as it lasts (now that we are over the 2:00 a.m. potty breaks).  Seriously, puppies are one of life's best little pleasures, and I intend to enjoy every bit of it! 

Ouch!  I forgot how much puppies like to chew hair!
How can you resist that face?
First snow -- loves it!
She's getting sleepy (thank goodness!)
Sweet puppy kisses!
A visit to my office.  Time to put her to work.


Monday, January 3, 2011

Creative Memories - First Ever Album Sale!

There's a first time for everything!























Click anywhere on the photo to get to the sale (or look for the Creative Memories logo on the right hand side above).

Happy shopping!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

1/1/11

Reaching far and wide to extend my very best wishes to you and yours on this, the first day of a fresh new year.

Here's wishing you more happiness
than all my words can tell,
not just on this day of celebration,
but for the entire year as well.