It has been some time since I posted, so it is catch up time...
Joey had his 6 month check up a couple of weeks before Christmas and his scans were CLEAR!!!! News we could have only dreamed of 6 months ago. He is feeling so much better. He still gets tired, but certainly getting stronger by the day. I have to say that I came home today from an appt in Portland and he was cleaning the refrigerator! He was so into the cleaning, he moved on to the pantry! God help me... Anyone need a very motivated employee????????

Moving on. I have had two surgeries since Nov. 1. My reconstruction is complete as far as any more surgeries. I have one small procedure left to go, but that isn't going to be for another 6 - 8 weeks. I am feeling great and must say, very happy with the results! Dr. Claytor gets a huge high five from me!

Now on another note, we had one more obstacle to overcome this past week. Caleb (our youngest..17) had to endure a mastectomy on his right breast. His surgeon is positive this is just soft tissue mass, but it has been growing over the past few months and she felt it needed to be removed. He is doing great and we can tell he is very excited to say home with the 'rents for a couple of weeks!! We believe only positive results will come of this.

Outside? It's 20 degrees...Inside? Sunny and 80! With a new year comes a positive attitude!
Until next time, God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...

Another update to let you know how my surgery went...all is well and I am right back at it (so to speak!). Surgery was on the 1st and had to stay in Portland until the 3rd for a check up. Dr. Claytor thought everything looked "fabulous"... which is what he always says to me!!!... and that I just needed to take it easy for awhile. I am in a little pain, but have not taken one pain med since the surgery! I do have one more surgery (which I did not realize there would be another one) on Dec. 29th. The FINAL one for sure.
Joey has his 1st 6mo. CT scan coming right up, so we are looking forward to that. He looks good, but he just wants some answers as to why he feels like he does. He leaves for FL in the morning and I leave on Sun. for a little R&R at our friends place in Venice.
After we got home from Portland on Wed. we got to celebrate Cam's 21st birthday. That was an experience to say the least! He is still living at home with us, but he is in the process of buying a home in Brewer. Hopefully the closing will take place when we get back from FL. He is really growing up!! Caleb wants to know if he can move in with his brother, thinking this is a great idea...I think NOT. We are just glad our boys are around and keeping our minds off ourselves. They are more entertainment than you can imagine!!
I probably won't be posting much until after Joey's scan so I'll fill you all in then.
Until then...God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...

It's been 2 months, so you'd think I'd have a lot to say...but acutally things are going pretty steady and uneventful here. First I'll tell you about Joey: He is doing great! He has gained almost 15lbs... only another 10 to go!! He is getting stronger every day. We go to the gym 3 days a week, so that has helped in many different ways. He has been doing a lot of work around the house and has mastered the laundry!! When I hear him complain to Caleb about getting his clothes down to the laundry room or the fact that he does not put away the clean clothes, it just kills me. Welcome to my world Joe!
My turn: I am scheduled for my final surgery on Nov. 1. I cannot wait to get this over with. It will require a couple of nights stay in Portland, but I am going to do my recouperating in Florida. Joey is headed down there on Nov. 5 and I am going down on Nov. 7 for a week. I think the sunshine and a little tan will help me get back on my feet for sure!! A friend needs some help decorating his new home, so I figure the shopping can be my exercise while I am gone!!
Dec. will bring the first 6 month scan for both of us. Please keep your fingers and toes crossed on this. It has been a long waiting period, so there is a little aprehension going along with this, especially for Joey. Positive thoughts, right??
Until next time, God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...

It has been awhile because there is nothing exciting to post really!! We are plugging along, taking one day at a time. Joey is getting stronger. He actually built an addition onto our deck with our friend Chris for my birthday! That was a present I've been waiting for. Who would have thought this would be the year that would happen!! (This is all part of the landscaping project we've been working on since June. It is lookin' good!!) However, that little incident left him totally under the weather for about a week.
I am doing fine. One more trip for my expansion, then we will plan for my next surgery. Nothing too exciting...out patient right at the office in their surgical center. Will require a night's stay in Portland though. Thinking maybe end of Sept., first of Oct.
I guess you could say no news is good news.
So until next time, God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...

Sunny and 80...ohhhhh yeah! Was a busy week, but a good one. Wed. night we went to our friends home in Bar Harbor for a cookout. Great time with lots of great friends. Thanks Greg and Julie!! Friday, (brother) Lee and Rose invited us up to their boat on Moosehead Lake for the day. The weather could not have been more perfect and the company was wonderful. Rode up with Mom and Dad...just a great day all around. Love the fam!!
Everyone has been so good in trying to get us out of the house and trying to keep us busy. Joey's stamina is still not where we'd like it to be, but he is trying every day to do some type of activity. Sometimes after we have had a really busy day (like Friday) the next day is a total wash. I try to get out and do the errands that he cannot tolerate on those days!!
We are almost at a completion point on the new gardens and walkway to the water. It is so beautiful. I just cannot imagine when I look out the window that this is our yard!!! Joey's nephew Larry, who owned his own landscaping business when he lived in Las Vegas, has done all of the work on his own. He is one talented guy! I cannot wait to post some pictures when it is complete. We are waiting on Joey right now to design the new landing off the deck and new stairs. Keep you posted on that part!
Another busy week ahead for me. Appointments every day for one thing or another and it's back to Portland on Thursday night for a Friday morning Dr.'s appt. Being busy keeps me sain!!
Will keep you posted as exciting news arises, so until then:
God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...

I know it has been awhile, so I probably should pass on an update...
Joey is plugging along. Just need to get him eating better so he can get his strength back. Trying to find projects for him to do to keep his mind off the fact that we no longer have Lynch Construction. Still very hard for him to digest. If I could just convince him that we were interested in selling this business 2 years before we got sick anyway, plus we were lucky enough to find a buyer (and a mighty fine one at that) in times like this and that it is all good. Joey has taken a hit in every aspect of his life that most of us cannot even comprehend so he is just trying to get one foot in front of the other. He has improved everyday. His health report is great, so with that said, I see brighter days ahead.
As for me, it has now been 1 week and counting on my new meds. I have seen no side effects what so ever, but that doesn't mean the guys haven't!! I don't think I have had any major mood swings yet anyway :D! I have noticed a little more hair in the sink in the morning, but I think after a couple of weeks, it is pretty much going to be a non-issue. Now, if I could just loose a few of those extra pounds the same way, I wouldn't complain one bit!! I am also having my last expansion the week after next. What a birthday present...I think :) Looking at my final surgery at the end of September. We are planning on heading to FL for some R 'n R in Oct, so that will be perfect timing for my recouping on that one.
So far this has been a wonderful summer with good weather and great friends stopping by to see us. We do get out in the boat just about everyday. We also just bought a jet ski, so the boys command our "spotting abilities" when they wake skate on a regular basis. That is always good for a few laughs!!
I posted this news on facebook, but for those of you who know our neighbor's daughter Casey (she is the one who created this blog, by the way), she and her husband Dave became parents for the 3rd time on Thurs. afternoon. His name is Jake Joseph (notice the name!!) and he joins big brother Luke and big sister Reese. These kids keep me sane as they are constantly swinging on our swingset and just hanging out around the house. I love our conversations. Life is always wonderful thru a childs' eyes, don't you think? Anyway, thanks Casey and Dave for adding to our sanity!!
Not much other news for now, so until next time, God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...

The verdict is in.....................NO CHEMO FOR ME!...only the drug Tamoxifen. This is a hormone therapy drug that is used to treat my stage/type of tumor. Because they removed my tumor and no lymph nodes were invaded, no radiation is needed either. That is certainly the good news. The not so good part of all of this is the fact that the dreaded "menopause" may come on sooner than later. My boys were horrified when they heard the words ... mood swings... I just don't understand. Everything will go just smoothly if everyone will just listen to me. I see no problem with this avenue we must all travel :D
As for Joey, he is doing well. Been out swimming during these hot/humid days plus he was seen flying across the lake a few times over the weekend on the jet ski! We've been taking the boys wake skating, too. (This is the new version of wake boarding. Just no boots to put your feet into. Only a board with a foam top that they just stand on. Pretty cool, actually). Joey's activity level is getting busier by the day. We've been walking almost every night, too.
All 'n all, doing pretty well here. Still working on the reconstruction, but that will be a work in progress for awhile. Finishing up the expansions, just in no hurry for my next surgery. Will keep you posted on that one.
Until next time...God Bless and {{hugs}} to all...