Saturday, July 12, 2014

my legacy......cancer

Hello friends,

Ever heard that song....legacy? Well If you haven't heard it before, I will post the video of it below: here:



So why do I mention this song? Well, as a person living with terminal cancer I often wonder what the legacy I will leave for my husband and children will be. Lately, it has been brought right to the forefront that part of my legacy will most likely be cancer. If not the actual disease than most definitely memories of me struggling with it and how it affects each member of my family. Beyond the effects that will be left behind, the possibility of it being passed on to my daughter (of son- because men get breast cancer too) are very strong. You see, my mom was diagnosed at age 47. I was diagnosed at age 34. I have a 21 yr old daughter. I have a 23 yr old son. This week my daughter had an infection that caused a lymph node under her arm to swell. ( my cancer originated in my right axillary node or arm pit) Needless to say we wasted zero time in getting this checked out. And, as I mentioned this was only ( thank the Lord) a result of an infection. It went away in a weeks time of taking antibiotics. However, my daughter had to have a sonogram. It showed a normal lymph node. The same as the one on the opposite side. Whew! But... we now know that because I had my diagnosis at 34, she should begin being checked 10 yrs sooner. Or at the age of 24d. It made me so sad to find that out. For her sake. That she has to give up the comfort of just living in good health and hover over her body and wonder when.... if she will develop anything abnormal. Plus my children have the double whammy of wondering if they will get cll. Or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

I don't share any of this to make you feel badly for us. Or them. I only am saying that this is a very big chunk of the legacy that I leave. But there is more. We are a very PUNNY family. We can turn anything into a joke. We have a ton of personal jokes shared amongst ourselves. We love animals. Enjoy solving things...mysteries, puzzles, problems. We all are creative, love nature, enjoy a great book or movie. I look at my family and know that there is more. So much more than wether or not they will get cancer that I leave behind. Some times when a person calls and my daughter answers the phone, they will mistake her voice for mine. Wow, that is a crazy legacy. But we do sound a like. My son loves music, and I think he gets that from me. At least the figuring out what it means side. The instrumental knowledge he learned from Mo, and the talent is all him. Beyond how my children are like me, there is what they have learned from me or learned that they don't want to be like from me.

In reality, no matter our genetics, what we share with our families leaves an impact. Tiny ripples that leave big waves, that can become tidal. So I want to ask you, what is YOUR legacy? Please feel free to leave your comments, opinions and thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by,

Leslie

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Rainy day, rainy mood.

Hello Friends,
Can you believe that it is alreAdy Wednesday? Me Neither. So, I go on a bit of a rant about the cost of medical treatment, and how tends to rob you and family of finanCial freedom. My family is debt free, except for living expEnses, and it is very stressful to have thousands of dollaRs of out of pocket medical expenses. I alSo have a little video clip of the weather here in Knoxville today. You woUldn't believe the rain we have had off and on today. It was torrential for a while. But I love the rainforest type Climate that we enjoy here in Tennessee. Please Keep my daughter's dog Oscar in your thoughts and prayers. He is going through a bout of pancreatitiS. We do worry about our little fur babies! At the end of the video Sadie fans will enjoy a brief appearance.

Thanks for stopping by.

Leslie



Monday, July 7, 2014

Surprise Package

A great big Thank you

Hey friends!

I wanted to take a minute to give you a great big thank you!!! Your comments and responses lately have been a huge encouragement and source of joy to me. I just love hearing from you. Let me update you on the choice I have made in reading.....Dunt dun daaaaaa.

It is House of leaves!


Years ago, when House of Leaves was first being passed around, it was nothing more than a badly bundled heap of paper, parts of which would occasionally surface on the Internet. No one could have anticipated the small but devoted following this terrifying story would soon command. Starting with an odd assortment of marginalized youth -- musicians, tattoo artists, programmers, strippers, environmentalists, and adrenaline junkies -- the book eventually made its way into the hands of older generations, who not only found themselves in those strangely arranged pages but also discovered a way back into the lives of their estranged children.

Also, this book is supposed to have different colored lettering that spell out subplots and other stories within the story. There are foot notes that written up the edges of the pages. It sounds like a very layered sort of book that gives you lots to think about and things to solve. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the hard copy of this through amazon. It would not have been an easy read on kindle because of the different colors of lettering and the up the side foot notes. I felt it would be easier to read with an actual book. LOLd.

So, that is the new book choice. I will keep you posted. Let me know if you decide to read it with me!

How was your fourth of July weekend? Ours started with fire works at Two Rivers church on the 3rd. It was a great display. My favorite are the gold fuzzy fire works that just drift right out in a big pinwheel design. What are your favorite fire works? Saturday we spent the day in the Great Smoky Mountains. We had lunch in Gatlinburg, and then took a drive through Cades Cove. It was a beautiful day. I was worn out yesterday. The pups got a bath and the regular house work got done, but for the most part I just laid around watching tv and reading.

That is all that is happening in my world. What is happening in yours??


Thanks for stopping by,

Leslie

Trodelvy trial failed.