My summer was filled with gardening and redoing my flower beds, some of which had not been redone in 20 years,  I’ve added pictures.  There’s something therapeutic about digging in the dirt. I was able to regain some of the weight/muscle I lost. . . never thought I would be TRYING to gain weight. 🫣 I would work for 10 minutes and rest for 20 minutes!  I’ve added some pictures of the end result. I’ve been excited all winter to see how it looks come Spring!

       Our other excitement was anticipating a family vacation with our kids and their spouses in January to Jamaica. This trip has been planned since 2021 to celebrate our daughter completing cancer surgery and treatment. Little did we know that I would go through a similar journey, so the celebration was double! We had a marvelous and memorable trip! We returned home but the following weekend I took a fall in the night (3/10/24).  I had been sick for a couple of days prior but thought I was improving. I woke to use the bathroom and on my way back to bed the room started spinning. I fell hard but at least I didn’t hit my head, I landed on my most padded part! 🫣

The fall woke my husband who came to make sure I was conscious and not bleeding. I remember him asking me if I needed help up but told him I needed to rest for a minute. My back hurt immensely when I fell. He continued to talk to me and said I answered him. . .all of which I don’t recall. After about 10 minutes, he says I got myself back up and managed to get back into bed. I fell back to sleep for about 3 hours until my bladder woke me again but by this time I was unable to sit or stand. I tried to stand and ended up back on the floor. After what seemed like hours, I managed to inch my way to the staircase 20 feet away. I thought if I can get my feet in the stairway, I can slide feet first down the steps on my stomach like I’ve taught my grandsons. Tom never left my side the whole time. We finally got down to the main floor and soon determined that we needed to call for help. Tom dialed *911 (on speaker) and we heard the dispatcher ask what our emergency was. Well, I heard my dear husband say, “My wife has fallen and she CAN’T GET UP!” As bad as I hurt, I just HAD to laugh! I thought it was funny! Now, dispatch had to talk with me (guess they heard me laugh) and make sure this wasn’t a joke. They sent an ambulance but without sirens as they figured it wasn’t a life or death situation. Long story short, hmm too late, I spent three days in the hospital with Influenza A and a compression fracture of L1.  No bending, lifting or twisting!  They fitted me with a back brace from shoulder to hips to be worn except for when I sleep or shower. I heard them say I’d have to wear it 6-8 weeks. I hoped to get rid of it by Easter but on Good Friday they said not enough healing had happened and I should wear it the full 3 months. I never heard 3 months!! 🤔 I’m learning to ask for help to do what I shouldn’t.w

      Back to today’s headlines! I’m at the Dr/ Breast Institute for my mammogram. They take a number of images and then I’m to see the Dr after for the results. The Dr says there are some things showing and they’d like to take more pictures. So IF they can fit me into the schedule yet today. . .I let them know I can wait as long as it takes to squeeze me into the schedule!! They ARE able to get me into the schedule and 50 images later (slight exaggeration) what they see is calcification along my previous incision scar. With a pleasant SEE YOU IN A YEAR! . . . I’m on my way home! 

Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

I’ll see the oncologist this summer.

I’m so thankful to everyone for your support and prayers.  Please add my husband, Tom, to those prayers as he took a hard fall last Wednesday while feeding our cattle. He’s managing but seems to have pulled hamstring attachments.

Also, prayers for our friend Jimmy who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He’s getting a port placement tomorrow and will start chemo soon.