Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope that everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving!  It really is so nice to focus on all that we are thankful for and recognize that even if things aren't going exactly the way that we want them to in our lives there are always wonderful things to be grateful for.  The whole family got together last night for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner at our place and it was so nice getting to spend this time all together.  The kids are growing up so quickly and I love to see them all hanging out together and having fun! 

We are very grateful for a few months of non-cancer time as I am not going in for any more tests or appointments until November.  I was hoping to stay away from hospitals during this time but unfortunately I have wound up there a couple of times in the last month.....I had a dizzy spell at work which ended up to be nothing serious.  They did a CT scan and it didn't show any changes in the brain so that was good.  It was thought that maybe I had been overdoing things, not keeping hydrated and needed to slow down a bit.  So that's what I did but as I was climbing up in my closet a few days later I fell and broke my foot.  So...... back to the hospital we went were it was confirmed that my foot was broken and I had torn a couple of ligaments in there.  This has forced me to slow down since I have been in a boot cast for the past 3 weeks.  It seems to be healing very quickly and I am looking forward to getting rid of this boot for good.  

I find it difficult to go in to get treatment for non-cancer things since I really don't like going through my whole history every time I go in.  I try to just slip it in when they ask about my health like it's no big deal.  Oh yeah and I have Metastatic Melanoma...  As soon as they saw my chart then the questions came up like "Were you dizzy when you fell?"  "Were you aware when you fell?"  "Do any of the treatments you were on cause bone weakening?"  It's like when you have cancer you have to explain every normal thing that happens.  No, I was stupidly trying to hoist myself up to grab something and missed.  Period.  That's it.  It's not like when you have cancer you are exempt from all the normal illnesses and accidents that happen to people.  Those things happen to us too.  My niece's response to hearing about my fall was "Does Auntie Natalie know that she is not a child anymore?"  LOL!  How many times have I told the boys not to climb up on their shelves for things?  I just learned this lesson a little later in life I guess.

I was fortunate enough not to have to take any time off work during the last few weeks.  I was able to work from home during this time which has been great!  Being able to work is very important to me.  I didn't realize how important until I was told that I would never be able to work again when I was first diagnosed.  It makes me feel independent and like I am contributing to something.  Since my kids are all in school now there is no point in me sitting at home all day.  I just feel better about myself and hopfully I'll be able to do this for a very long time. 

I am very excited about my trip to Vancouver this week!!  I am going on a 4 day Callanish Retreat for young adults.  I have been wanting to go on a retreat with Callanish for the last couple of years and finally got an opportunity so I jumped at it.  This is a healing retreat and I am looking forward to having some time to reflect on all that has happened and find some peace and strength from this.  I am a little nervous about travelling this far on my own since I have never done this before but at the same time am feeling that it is just what I need right now.  So, Vancouver here I come!!!

I hope that you all enjoy the long weekend with your loved ones!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!