Firstly, many thanks to Alice for the idea of the post title - it works perfectly :)
A few days before Christmas it finally hit me that Christmas was literally a few days away and I was NOT organised at all. I do tend to leave things until the last few weeks anyway, always, but this year I was down to the last few days then I motivated myself to get a few things done. Somehow, we pulled it off :)
Everyone had something to open, Dj had a small pile of presents to open, we had food in the house, crackers - and a turkey (thanks James!) and it all just fell into place.
Christmas day was really lovely.....Mum and Dad, Sarah and Manolis, James and Leanne plus Rab, Dj and me together for the day. Cancer was 'banned' from the house for the day, it was not discussed or mentioned (as per my wishes) and at no time did it manage to rule the house - WE ruled Cancer and it was banished to the back burner - Yay to us :)
I got some lovely presents, in fact I got everything I'd mentioned or asked for. This is a 'first' - usually I'd tell Rab I like a certain perfume (hint, hint) and I'd get something like a cookbook! LOL..this year I got exactly what I'd mentioned plus other stuff I hadn't asked for at all - but would have done if I'd thought about it. Also got other lovely presents from family and friends - including a really soft snuggly dressing gown from James and Leanne that has already had tons of use :)
James took Dj out shopping the weekend before Christmas to get presents for me and Rab and, with his big brothers help, he made some great choices - thank you James, for everything as always xxXxx
In the evening, my friends Jacqui and Pat came up and we all sat around eating and drinking until around just after midnight. Throughout the day I kept topping up my pain relief and kept things under control...and when not really under control, I just ignored it as much as I could. My brother Eddie also came up in the evening after spending the day with his two boys - so by Christmas night we were all together in one room - perfect end to the day :)
Boxing day is always a 'pyjama' day in my house. We tend to just chill out and do little, eat whatever we fancy and watch TV or go through Dj's presents with him. Terry and Lorna popped up around lunchtime with their lovely little boy, Owen. He's guaranteed to put a smile on your face, a real little character who finds the simple things 'fantastic' - bless :)
The rest of the day was spent doing little and I rested during the afternoon. I'd taken so many painkillers by this point that my body decided it was bedtime at 3pm! So I slept a while then we watched TV in the evening.
On the Wednesday evening, Jacqui and Pat invited us to their place along with Sarah and Manolis for food and drinks. We had a really nice evening with some lovely food - thank you Jacqui, for everything :)
On New Years Eve Rab cooked a lovely meal and Sarah and Manolis came over to us until around 11pm then they set off up town to see the London fireworks (which as usual were fantastic, Rab and I watched them at home on TV, warm and dry and no hassle getting home afterwards).
New Years day Mum and Dad came over for dinner and we just relaxed at home after stuffing ourselves full of Roast beef, yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. We finished off with coffee and cakes after dinner and I'm sure I managed to put on another half a kilo :)
I don't make New Year's resolutions - simply because no-one ever keeps them. If I did, it would be to be back here this time next year still annoying you all - LOL :)
Now.........back to reality :(((........Hospital appointment with Oncology tomorrow morning to review recent scans that were done just before Christmas - then hospital appointment on Wednesday with colorectal team to review 'things'...
Have made some decisions about work which I'll cover in another post and after I've discussed them with the boss. Have made some other decisions too about things I want to/would like to do but this would be after the bone cementing takes place and IF it worked to relieve the pain a little. Again, I'll cover these more in future posts...
Catch up soon - and again, Happy New Year to all of you. Massive thanks for all the support over the past year, it's been so appreciated.
Also BIG THANKS to everyone that has donated to Trinity Hospice - thanks to Running Man (you know who you are) today I reached my target of £500....
I'll now up this to £1,000 over the next few days - so if you know of anyone looking to donate to a worthy cause please do point them in this direction. Every single pound makes a difference. Huge thanks from me and from Trinity Hospice who appreciate the support immensely.
(Mum took some photo's over Christmas which I'll add to this post tomorrow evening).
About Me
- Carole
- I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..
That sounds lovely Carole, if Ihad as many family and friends as you its the sort of affair I'd have preferred I think, but maybe not this year. Just the 3 of us was lovely too. We ate at a table (me in a massive bed chair) in a living room after watching a bit of tv, then back to my room for more of the same as if we were at home.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall cancer ever coming up either, it rarely does unless I'm talking symptoms or pain.
Best of hope and luck for scan results Carole. Xxx
Thinking of you today Carol
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Some great memories were made and cant wait to see the photos. Much Love T xxx
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you had such a lovely Christmas and New Year.
ReplyDeleteHon, do Trinity Hospice have a shop? I'm having a(nother) mega clear out so am looking for worthwhile places to donate stuff to. If so, then I'll try and bring a bit with me when I come up to see you - am hoping to make it up, one way or another, this coming Thursday. Love ya xxxxxx
Hi Carole...Hazel from the forum here, i had been thinking about you and wndering how things were, i won't comment on the news what needs to be said!....you had radiotherapy 20 to 25th Nov? that was my last week of five weeks of daily treatment, i was at St Thomas's an interesting experience and one i am glad that is over!
ReplyDeleteTake Care!
Hi Carole,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear that you had a fab Christmas, and had most of the things that you asked for, and more.
Hoping that all goes well with you appointments.
Wishing you many, many more Christmases, many more New Years, (Painless ones).
Love 'n' stuff
Hugs,
Carol.x
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your Christmas with the children was lovely and that you all enjoyed the time you spent together.
I'm happy that you're where you are right now as for the first time lately I feel that someone is finally doing something about this dreadful pain you've been struggling with.
Always in my thoughts hun xXx Hugs xx
Hi Suze,
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you here and thank you for the kind thoughts you are sending out for me. So appreciated xXx
Tony,
Pic's to follow asap...still choosing which one's that 'Mother David Bailey' took to publish :)
Only joking mum, you took some good shots this year, I even look half human in some of them - lol xx
Hiya Lou,
ReplyDeleteYes Trinity do have a shop, very very local to me actually - on the high street so anything you can squeeze in the car, do so and we'll take it over on Thursday - Thank you :) xx
Luv ya back xxXxx
C u Thursday (let me know what time so can get Sis here too) x
Hey Hazel :)
ReplyDeleteYes, my 25 sessions of Radiotherapy at St T was 'fun' (not) too...something I'll never forget to be honest. I only managed to complete 18 in the end (July 2010). This current set of 5 was MUCH easier - but unfortunately did nothing to stop the pain :(
Glad to see you've finally started your own blog - I'll have a proper read over the next few days. Think it's great for the children to have to look back on in the future.
Keep as well as you can Hazel
Much luv xXx
Hiya Carol,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wishes hun, sending back the same ones to you.
Derek's comment was lovely on here last week, I felt really touched by it. Hope he's looking after you well
xXxX
Carole,
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you had a wonderful time with family and friends over the holidays. It is exactly what I would have wrapped in a box for you if I could have:) It was fun to hear about boxing day. We don't celebrate it here in the USA. I only knew what it was because of the 18 months I lived in Australia.
I hope your appointments go well for you and look forward to your promised news in the next few posts.
xoxox Carla
Hi Carla,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely thought...Christmas wrapped up in a box and sent to me - beautiful :)
Unfortunately it appears my Christmas went far better than my current appointments are going...:(
I'll update probably tomorrow once my head is more sorted.
Much luv to you and Steve as always xXx
Ha ha Carole I'm so glad you liked my phrase but much happier that you put it into practice and it worked!! It helps you feel that you are little more in control doesn't it? Your Christmas sounded brilliant- family, food, drinks, presents, sleeping and TV. Perfect! Mine was also great- one thing I will say about the big C is that it does makes everyone appreciate eachother so much more, and that can never be a bad thing can it? Even though Mum wasn't physically there this year and of course we had moments, we were really proud that she had made us all strong and positive enough to have a great Christmas without her and carry on her traditions etc and have fun (I hope this gives you some hope for your family in the long term- a great Mum remains through her family forever I am convinced) Thinking of you over the next week of 'reality' and hoping for the best news possible and some relief for you. Lots of love, Alice xxxx
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