Friday 24 January 2014

All is CLEAR!!!
#Ten Things of Thankful

This week was the week I was actually going to remember to write my thankfuls down as they happened. Yup. It was.

Weeeeelll…by Monday I forgot.  *sigh*

So THANKFULLY (this so counts as number 1) I got some super fantastic news that I think also qualifies for the remaining nine seven. I’m invoking the TToT “who needs 10 when you can cover it all and MORE in 7” rule.  :D

My sister was diagnosed with bladder cancer a couple of months ago. The waiting...testing...waiting has been agonizing. On Thursday afternoon she got the all CLEAR! SOOOO Thankful!!! 


Cancer.


It is a terrifying word.

If you are “lucky” you may come away with a "new lease on life". 

I used to hate that phrase new lease on life. What a load of crap! 

And then…it happened to me.

And then...I knew what that meant. 


Eight years ago when my mom and I were going through our own cancer treatments my sister was the rock of the family. Let’s just say that I have been more like gravel…crushed gravel for her. Sorry sis.

Eight years ago my mantra (which I took from my experiences in Riley World and as I try to use now) was “One day at a time; think positive; and most of all…try and keep a sense of humour.”


So in keeping with the last part of my mantra, here is my list of thankfuls for my sister...

2.      You can skip the chemotherapy although you will have to undergo 6 preventative BCG treatments which does not sound like a whole lot of fun. You got this!!

3.      You can bypass being zapped with external beams of radiation. Instead you will have toxic bacterium put directly into your bladder via catheter. Wait. I think I prefer being zapped.

4.      You can stick to your 2 piece bathing suit and forget about a 3 piece bathing suit (one for “the bag”…hey…your husband came up with that one) as opposed to my single boob bathing suit (okay so I came up with this one).  :)

5.      You can keep your hair although once my hair grew back I got a new “do” and decided to let my highlights grow in naturally. Ummmm…perhaps this is the reason I now look like your mother instead of your younger sister. Ouch.

6.      You may not get to celebrate with a wig burning party but perhaps a bladder blowout party could work. Shall I start sending out invitations???

7.      And last but most definitely not the least…there was "NO invasion of cancer into your bladder muscle or other organs". Woo-hooo!!!

I heart you Seestor!


And of course because I can't have you looking better than me...
ummmm...after all it is MY blog



Don't forget to head on over and check out what others are thankful for this week. Even better...give it a try and link up! You'll be thankful you did.  :D


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32 comments:

  1. Oh, that's much to be thankful for indeed! Best health to all of you!

    I actually did write mine down at I went along this week - it worked great! Were it not for my draft, I probably wouldn't have made it on tonight.

    Have a wonderful week!

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    1. The one and only week I remembered to do that...it was SO helpful. When I'm out and about I can have a thankful moment and think I will remember. Yea right. :( From now on I think I will start sending myself emails as well so I won't forget.

      You have a wonderful week too Lisa! Thanks!

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  2. WAHOO! Nothing like the snarky-benefits-of-no-cancer-but-it-still-sucks list!
    I gotta say after chemo my hair improve 100% so another benefit!
    I now look like my mom's younger sister but at least I have straight hair... amazing the lengths you will go for a good hair day...

    You both are soooo cute! LOVE the photos!
    CONGRATS ON THE GOOD NEWS... I have met many zany people who have managed to maintain a sense of humor in crazy times.. I mention this because one elderly lady whom I used to share some time with in the IV rooms had bladder cancer and I can still hear her mantra... "bladders bladders everywhere... bladders in my underwear... and as long as it stay there I'll be happy!"

    Love the new look... My favorite Riley kiddo is so stinking cute through the years!

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    1. Baahaahaaa...your mom's younger sister!!! Love it!!

      Awww shucks *blushing*...you noticed. Thanks...he's a keeper alright! :D

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  3. Best of health as well! An amazing sister you

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    1. Thank you Michelle!! We are all thankful our cancers were caught early and very treatable.

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  4. This is most definitely something to be thankful for and I am very happy to hear it! Great photos, too. Love the mantra and it works well for you in this post. You have a crazy sense of humor...I like it!
    I love the header photo. I just had to say so...what a gorgeous kid!

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    1. Crazy minds laugh at the same things right??? :)

      Thank you...R's cuteness has definitely worked in his favour! Haha!

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  5. Holy cow, you look just like your sister! And she is going to KILLLLLL you over the second picture, but I love it equally as well! Congratulations to her on her if-you-have-to-have-cancer-then-this-is-the-good-kind news. Having just read about the BCG treatment and the use of the TB-like bacterium, I am having a little chuckle thinking about the possibility of her bladder coughing....

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    1. Haaahaaahaaaa....lucky for me she is a really, REALLY good sport and she's seen it before.

      Bladder coughing....you're tooo funny! :D

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  6. For an all-clear on a cancer test, you can have THE ENTIRE TEN! You don't even need to dance for the Seven GuardVirgins!

    YIPPEEE for such good news.

    And the treatment, though it doesn't sound fun at all, is probably still less poisonous than chemo, which is good. So there's that.

    LOVE seeing the pics of you and your sister :) Glad she's been such a rock for you. And hey, gravel can be pretty sturdy when it puts its mind to it :)

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    1. It's a good thing I can skip the dance for the Seven Guard Virgins. Did you see the YouTube video I am using to teach me??? ;)

      Come to think of it...don't they use crushed gravel for cement?!? And cement is REALLY strong. Oh. Wait a minute. Maybe it's sand. :(

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    2. I did indeed - dance of the seven veils - nice touch! I wish you all the best.

      They DO! They use hardcore to give the cement a stable base to lay on. S'there :D

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  7. Fantastic news to be thankful for!! You didn't even need another 9 reasons - it's THAT big! woot!
    bring on the celebration.
    Oh those pictures - awesome! LOL

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    1. Thanks Les! If I couldn't come up with anything...I was definitely going to use your reasoning. After all...it IS THAT BIG!!! :D

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  8. Hurray for this great news!

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    1. Indeed!!! I'm still waiting to hear if I'm planning a party though. ;)

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  9. OMG I am so so so so very happy for you and your family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I had the energy to move right now I'd get up and do the happy dance.. I'm doing it in my mind. See it? You have to close your eyes really tight lmao
    That is so awesome. I hate that word so much. I am afraid to say it. I said Autism once.. before Tommy was a sparkle in my eye.. I'm not going to test fate twice lol
    Big giant hugs all around! :)

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    1. I SEE IT...I SEE IT!!!! And it's AWESOME!!! Where did you learn those moves??? Contemporary Eric?!?!? ;P

      Thanks Rhonda!! Hope you're enjoying...having fun...ummm....loving hotel life this weekend. :D

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  10. Yahooooooooo for the all clear!

    Your ability to stay positive and find the sense of humor in all trials is a gift.

    The photos are fabulous. Clearly, you and your sister have a lot of fun together. And you better hope she never starts a blog, because after the photo you put up there of her, she may want some retribution.

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    1. Haaahaaa...THANKFULLY she is a very, VERY good sport and much, much nicer than me so I am positive she wouldn't stoop so low as post such a photo....I think?!?!? ;)

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  11. very good news…

    (what was it about this week? there has been at least two other participants taking the 'write it as it happens' approach to the List. I am one of them, however, like you Tuesday found me remembering that I forgot!).

    gotta love the Secret Book of Rules… say what you will about virgins, the ones in the Guard (for the book) are temptable…lol

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    1. Ever since you turned me on to the "Secret Book of Rules"....I am milking it for all its worth. :)

      Thank YOU Clark!!

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  12. Congrats!! on the all clear. I love snarky lists-somehow gratitude sneaks in. And sisters... What a great gift. AND all pictures are fair game. She should know that. Mine does.

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    1. Snarky???? MOI?!?!?!? :P

      Fair game indeed and thankfully (hey...number 8) she's on board.

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  13. Congratulations to your sister...that is beyond great news! And this list was divine...the one about the 3-piece swimsuit made me snort (so thanks for that...so very attractive). :)

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  14. Thank you! I will pass along your thanks for my BIL. Quite the visual isn't it. ;)

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  15. I'd say that getting an all clear for your sister is worth the entire ten thankfuls and I love how you snarked it up with this one! HA to the bathing suits the two of you will wear. And I cracked up at the photo caption "keep your eyes open, you'll look natural!" HAHA.
    You're both adorable!

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    1. Does this mean I get a credit for next week's TToT??? ;)

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  16. Awwww. It must be hard to put a positive spin on the "c" word, but your list left me chuckling. I have a couple friends going through different cancer treatments right now and it is difficult to know how to be the best friend. We are all using humor and it seems like that helps. Thank you for this sassy TTot. Enjoyed it. Although I wish none of you had to go through this. Thinking of you all.

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    1. Thanks Linda! It's only been recently that I've been able to actually say the "c" word instead of "the 'c' word". :) For me/us even though we had some more difficult days, humour definitely worked.

      All the best to your friends! Just you being there for them helps alot. :) DI

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