The smattering of snow was all gone by 2PM this afternoon.    The ground is still too warm to keep it.   I can't say I am unhappy about that.    Took Nicky for a walk about 3PM and it was really quite pleasant as the sun was out and the wind was down.

It was a quiet day.    Sometimes I get sick of quiet days.   I will gradually as I get stronger DO things.   Dick used to laugh because I wanted to be "doing things".    He was perfectly content just being.   (As long as I was there:)

He loved family and close friends around but really loved when it was just him and me.   What a compliment to ME>

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is early morning on December 23.     WE HAVE SNOW ON THE GROUND. 

Nicky was not thrilled.

Dia Dhuit

Merry Christmas

Mary

Two quiet days.    I did some baking both of them.    I decided that if "Why do we have Christmas without Buckeyes" then why would we have Christmas without Lizzies, my Mother's fruitcake cookie.   Nobody else, except Deeley's make them so I made a batch today.   Maybe I will share, maybe I will not:)   Ask if you want them.

I just have to make a coconut cream pie on Sunday and then I am done.

Nothing else exciting.   Packages are arriving and I am trying to keep up with Christmas cards.

Tomorrow and Saturday, I won't be going anywhere

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Just got home from a spectacular Christmas event, featuring my great granddaughter, Abby Benoit in a featured, speaking role,    as Kid 1.    Barbara, Marlies and myself drove to Geronimo to the school to see the program with the rest of the family.   

I loved it.   

Children's singing, is mostly yelling, but their enthusiasm is contagious and their director picked wonderful music for them.

Anyway.   Time for bed now.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A nice quiet day.    I spent most of it at home, BUT was invited for a taco casserole dinner at Bart and Barb's.     Always good to eat a meal with someone.

Bobbie and Bill's packages arrived today.   I am set on soap AND her special candies.   Yum Yum.

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is chilly today.   I asked my friend and neighbor, Jarrod, to help me replace the lights on the garage that have been out for a while.   I felt well enough and am confessing that I did try myself, but I forgot how.

It is Sunday and I am being VERY lazy mostly.    I went to the 8:30 Mass and then to a pancake breakfast that the KC's were having in the gym.    God knew that I have been hungry for pancakes.   They even had blueberry pancakes and I ate two - plus bacon and eggs.

I am all caught up on Christmas cards.

The coming week is very quiet.   I have only one doctor appointment and no other scheduled events.  Now, as I am feeling better, I need to start DOING things again.    I am sick of feeling like a sludge and want to be useful.   Can't believe that Christmas is one week away.   Can't believe even more that it has been 5 years since my sweetheart went to heaven.    I miss him more every year.    I imagine that this is how Mom felt.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another day of moderate dry temperatures.  There is a fire on the base, but they have that under control and actually do occasional burns to keep their skills up and to control the dry conditions.

I had an appointment with Dr. Aiku, my GP today.    She is as pleased as she CAN be with the way I have responded to treatment and will not need to see me until April after my PtSCan.  

I also got a haircut today.   Not as short as I used to but as Kandi says, Blow and Go Cut.   I also don't have the hair blocking my vision.   A bit of a bang and I feel a hundred pounds lighter in my head:)

I filled my gas tank and got a couple of groceries, so I should be able to stay home all weekend, except for church.   Ran in to Debbie from Bible Study at the store.    I will be able to go back to bible study when we resume on January 17th.    I have really missed that group and the people in it.   They are one of my strongest prayer groups.   I know those prayer groups are what have helped me survive and heal.

I am truly blessed.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The temps were in the 50s today and if the wind hadn't been blowing, it would have been quite comfortable.

Bart went tot he post office with me today to mail all the candy and presents out.   I got some Christmas stamps too as I will have to get to the Christmas cards next.

This afternoon the Lawton Celtic group met at the Shamrock.   I was able to EAT.   I ordered a corned beef sandwich on a pretzel bun and was able to eat quite a bit.    I was proud of me anyway and didn't gag even once.   I even ate some French fries.   Yea for me.   We always have such a good time and the Donaghe's brought a guest Pastor James Mc Dowell who hails from Belfast.   I had baked a loaf of Barm Brack for the celebration and was assured by Pastor James that it was like the Barm Brack his mom made for him when he was little.    I am sharing the recipe by request with the Lawton club.

So lots of excitement and things to do today.    Tomorrow, I see my general practitioner at 9:30AM and am getting a haircut at 11:30AM.    Boy will I be happy to get this hair out of my face.

Then except for mass on Sunday,, I will be home and able to regroup.   I feel that the house and Christmas have gotten away from me.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I'm keeping myself busy these days and still have very little Christmas around the house.   Today, I put up the little Christmas tree that I have been using since Dick had so much trouble getting around the house in his wheelchair.    I put the local presents on the floor under it and have half of the packages that need to be mailed finished and ready to go.    Will do the last three tomorrow and Bart said he would go to the post office with me on Thursday to mail them.    Then it is downhill all the way to Christmas.

Nora called today.   We had a great visit.  

I am getting a haircut on Friday after my appointment with Dr. Aiku.   I look like the Shaggy Dog these days and want the hair out of my face.  Guess I must be feeling better.   Up til this week, I dreaded driving to get the cut.

Tomorrow is my final, I think, visit with Dr. Smith, my radiation oncologist.   I have a few questions.   Hope I have written them all down.

Guess that catches up.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I mixed and rolled buckeyes today.   Tomorrow I will dip them and then will be able to get my boxes ready to send.

I was able to be home much of the day.   It started out cold but the wind was down and temps were in the 50s which is quite comfortable for this time of year.

My Easter/Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus is blooming.    For the FIRST time in my life.    I guess the sunroom is a comfortable place for it.   When I get more blooming, I will try to send a picture.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I wrapped presents today.    The ornaments.     This weekend, I will make the Buckeyes, then I can spend the week getting packages ready to mail.    I want to get them out by the 15th or the 18th at the VERY latest.    That way I can send them just plain express mail.

Anyway, it was VERY cold, 19 degrees when I woke up.   I was glad that I did not have to go anywhere today.    Bart stopped by at lunch time so I got to eat with somebody.   I had my soup and he had picked up a burger.    Just SO good to have company at a meal.  

I fixed a pork chop for supper and ate half of it.   The first cutting meat that I have had in quite a while.   It tasted good too.

Dia DHuit

Mary

It is a red letter day.

I had my blood test then saw Dr. Aye, the chemo oncologist.    She said that my white blood cell count is up.    She also said that I do NOT have to do the 6th chemo treatment which was supposed to be next Tuesday.   Yeaaaaaa!    That means that I should be pretty much over the chemical and radiation induced ickyness by Christmas.    Yeaaaa!

I will see Dr. Aye in early February AND have the Petscan to be sure that the cancer is all gone.

I am sure that it will be.   After all, 2018 is going to be a great year.    Has to make up for 2017:)

Tomorrow I will go with Bart to the Center for a CT Scan for him.

Glad my day went so well.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Well,  it has been two weeks since my last radiation treatment and almost two weeks since my last chemo.    I still feel like I have been run through a wringer but am sure that as time passes, my body will start healing itself.

Tomorrow I see Dr. Aye and hopefully will hear that I don't need any more chemo.    Please pray that this is so.  I have lost the weight I regained and would like to get an appetite back again, so I can get some strength and start feeling better.

Nice warm day today.   Temps will drop 30 degrees tomorrow.   Talk about a roller coaster of a weather ride.

Dia dhuit

Mary

Felt a bit better overall today.     It has been almost two weeks since my last treatments and Dr. Smith said it would take that long    By the time I see her in two more weeks, I intend to feel close to normal.   Got to be good for Christmas.

I made the fudge today.   That was all I did today.    Tomorrow I will make the 7 layer cookies.   Then I will spend the week making those blasted Peanut Butter Buckeyes:)   Want to get my packages off by Dec 15th if I can. 

My decorations are going to be a bit sparse this year.   I am not entertaining big anyway.  I did put the Advent Calendar wall hanging up and have the candy canes hung on it.   That is at least festive and makes me feel proud.

A lovely day in the low 70's again.   With little wind it was so pleasant.   I have been taking Nicky for a short walk when I get the mail.   Good for him.    Good for me.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Still sore, but did feel better in the early part of the day.

Totally uneventful except that Suzi called and we had a nice visit and Bart stopped by for a bit in the late afternoon.

Tomorrow will be better, I know:)

Dia Dhuit

Mry

A day spent totally at home.   Didn't even see anybody except a few kids coming home from school who oohed and aahed over Nicky.    He loves young people so that was good.

I did have a break in the quiet when Eileen called and we had a good phone visit.   We never run out of conversation.   Go figure.

I do feel a bit better today.   Was able to eat a bit.   My chest is really sore this evening.    Each day should bring a bit of improvement now that I am a week beyond the chemo AND radiation.   At least this is a quiet week and I don't have any obligations or appointments.

Starting to think about Christmas.   I can't believe that Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I now know why I am so exhausted.    It seems my blood count is low so I am on antibiotics for a week.  That would explain a lot.   I also have a new medicine that may help my stomach pain.     Keep your fingers crossed.

I hate to be such a complainer.   I am not used to being sick and if God is trying to teach me patience, it isn't working:)

It was a lovely day in Oklahoma.   Up in the 70's.    I took Nicky out when I got the mail and got to visit with my neighbors Jarrod and Bill for a bit.      I have the best neighbors.    I would not hesitate to ask any of them for help.   A new neighbor will be moving in next to Jarrod on the weekend.   The house has been vacant for some time.

So    North Korea at it again!!!

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Well.   I am alone again.    Leslie and Bill left this morning for home and called when they got there so I know they are safe and sound.

I have not been feeling very well.    So will go to bed early tonight and hope that tomorrow will be better.    I know that it will just take time and healing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Nora and Paul left at seven this morning.   It was so good to be able to spend some time with Nora.    It was over 5 years since we saw each other last.

The day was great.    Bill, Leslie and I just hung out and visited.    Bill did go to "his" coin shop and he brought me a present, an American Eagle coin.    I love it.

So a quiet day.  I LOVE having people to talk to.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This will be short because, I am very tired.

Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days, but on Wednesday, I was cooking all day.    On Thanksgiving, I baked and welcomed my houseguests.

I did tell you that Leslie and Bill and my granddaughter, Nora and her boyfriend, Paul are here for the holiday.    Paul and Nora have to leave tomorrow.    We have had a wonderful visit and catch up time.

All of us went to Adam and Alexia's home for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday.   A feast fit for kings with lots of love and lots of happy thankful people.    Lexie always has everybody say what they are thankful for before we eat on Thanksgiving.  Such a beautiful tradition.

Today, we spent with the "Kunert" family.   Bill and Leslie can stay until Monday.   Yea.

Dia Dhuit

Mary