On the Schedule

I'm having the thyroidectomy on 21 November. That's two days before Thanksgiving. I'm not worried tho - I can go and have a nice turkey dinner before the surgery and we weren't planning to get together with friends or family anyway. I'll be eating lots of ice cream and jello since I'll be on a liquid and soft food diet after the surgery. I'm happy to have a date on the calendar for the surgery.

Yesterday was an excellent day. My friend M came over and we worked on her quilt that has been in progress for 15 years. That's how many years ago I taught her to applique and she first started working on the blocks. When I was in town 3 years ago we started basting it and yesterday we finished basting it. She did get about 10 inches of quilting stitched into it tho. I just hope she'll keep working on it this time since she's actually at the fun part.

She also showed me a very cool part of Bethesda that's full of restaurants and a big Barnes and Noble bookstore. Even better, it's only a few blocks away. I kind of feel like an idiot for not getting over there myself, but at least now I know where it is.

It's improved my mood immensely to have had glorious sunshine yesterday and again today. Hope you all have had some lovely fall (or spring for you down-under types) weather too.

I watched the Sci-Fi channel miniseries The Triangle. I knew going in it would be stupid fun, and it didn't disappoint. Gotta say the air turbulence and high seas were too realistic. I had to keep quilting and NOT look up during those scenes. That's so much easier to do when my sweetie is here to harass - What's going on now? What did I miss?

I hate using the computer in the common room. Not very conducive to staying for long and getting creative in my posts. I'll do much better once my husband gets back with the laptop. Not that it will be the same laptop as before, since he managed to spill coffee all over that one. Glad that was him, not me. Anyway, I am totally behind in reading blogs - sorry about that.

Do check out the first issue of the Bent Needle - textile goodness now on blogstands near you. I haven't gotten a chance to check out all the links, but it looks like loads of fun. Go on, go look.

Waiting

Hi guys.

The appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday went well. He thinks the best option is to take out the whole thyroid. On Wednesday I had an MRI of my neck done so that he would have all the information he needs going in. His surgery coordinator is supposed to call and tell me when my appointment is, but so far I've heard nothing, which is making me crazy. I'm afraid to wander away from the phone. I'll be a pest tomorrow. The surgeon said he thought the earliest he'd be able to do it was in a couple of weeks. So it's gonna be awhile.

Today I did a lot of quilting on Cranky Witch while watching Emma (the tv version with Kate Beckinsale, most definitely not the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow). Jane Austen is so wonderfully comforting. I then watched the Project Runway marathon on Bravo. I hate couture - what ugly clothes. But the show was fun, even if my favorite designer didn't win.

I miss my sweetie, but the cats are keeping me good company. I haven't been spending much time on the computer at all, but I have gotten your comments and emails. Thanks for the good wishes. I'll catch up with you later.

Sweeties

A picture from Cairo. This was when I was trying to sort through my sewing and craft stuff to figure out what I was going to toss and what was getting packed. Cats of course had a great time.

Ya'all are very sweet. Again, thank you for all the supportive comments and emails. You're fabulous.

Turns out my sweetie and I were overreacting. We'll still make it to Paris. We just need to stop worrying.

My husband is leaving this morning to go out of town for two weeks. This has been planned for ages and there was no compelling reason for him not to go. My marvelous friend M lives not too far from here and is willing to step in and take care of the cats and me if it turns out I can actually get in to surgery in the next little while. Which I hope I can.

He's taking the laptop which means I won't be spending as much time on online, but not to worry, I will keep in touch.

On the good news front, my favorite aunt and uncle are in town. We all went out last night for dinner and it was wonderful to get caught up. I considered doing some sightseeing with them today, but then decided I really didn't want to see the capitol building, so maybe I'll just meet them for dinner.

Still Sighing

We're lucky to have cats that all get along with each other. Even so, the combination of Lily, Pokey and Howler all sleeping together is unusual. Much more likely to see the little girls with Habibi. Anyway. In size, one big cat would be equal to three of our little ones. They are big cats. And fat.

Well, the bad news is that the biopsy results came back with a "suggestion" of cancer. The good news is that it's the easy cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer is highly treatable and curable. So now I have to find myself a surgeon to remove the nodule so that tests can be done. Have to say my endocrinologist was completely unhelpful, so I've spent some frustrating time on the computer researching exactly what kind of surgeon I need. And are they covered by my medical insurance. Sigh. Think I've got what I need now and I'll start calling this morning.

My sweetie and I do NOT want to lose the posting to Paris, so he's going to investigate whether or not he can go on ahead and then I'll come over with the kitties as soon as I'm done with all of this. I'd rather take care of this on my own than miss out. It sounds doable. But can I just say it again, what a pain in the ass.

Thank you all for your kind words and wishes. I'm hanging in there.

Update: I've got an appointment with a surgeon at Georgetown University Hospital for next Tuesday, so all is good. Sorry for being so whiny - I'm better now.

Heavy Sigh

The fabric is washed but I have yet to actually sew. The dining room in the apartment is just plain dark. Cats are making use of the fabric anyway.

I still haven't gotten the results of my thyroid biopsy. Heavy sigh. Turns out the doctors have been consulting and now my endocrinologist needs to give me the news in person. That can't be good although it's not necessarily bad. It may just mean that the test was indeterminate and now I have to have some other kind of test like a surgical biopsy to know for sure. I can't get in to see the doctor until late this afternoon, so that gives me way too much time to worry.

This whole thing would not be such a pain in the ass if it weren't for our impending move. We're living in an expensive temporary apartment and just want to get to Paris. I imagine whatever the news is it's going to throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Sorry to whine to ya'all. Just needed to talk to somebody. Thanks for being here for me.