Sunday, May 15, 2011

Change of seasons

Last Saturday, I hosted a Farmers Market Breakfast for the ladies in my neighborhood. I held this breakfast a few years ago with the anticipation of making it an annual event. Unfortunately, I was a diagnosed with cancer and unable to host the event for a few years. This year's breakfast was more meaningful to me as it gave me the opportunity to honor all the wonderful friends in the neighborhood that supported me with prayers, gifts and meals throughout my battle with cancer. It was very emotional for me to let them all know how much each one of them touched my life. I was so thankful for the opportunity.

After breakfast, we braved the cold, rainy and windy weather and headed downtown to the Minneapolis Farmers Market for flowers, herbs and other goodies the market has to offer. We didn't stay as long as we would have if the weather was a little nicer, however it was enough time to purchase some flowers for one of my planters that sits outside of my front door. It is so wonderful to see flowers again along with the green grass and leaves on trees. I am enjoying watching the birds make nests under our deck again and the new goslings following their mother around on the pond. I have watched closely to see if the Blue Birds will come back but so far they are no where to be found. I think they have chosen to make their nests elsewhere. I am so ready for Summer to begin. This will be the first Summer in a long time that I will be able to enjoy without worry, surgeries or health issues.

Lately, I have been going to a lot of appointments with the doctors that will fix my teeth and hopefully fix my face. The appointments will continue until the doctors come to a safe solution for fixing my face. However, I have decided to avoid any surgeries until Fall so that I can enjoy my Summer.

At the end of April, I turned 40 years old. I had high hopes of celebrating this new chapter in my life. Unfortunately, due to a strain of strep that hit my family hard, I was hospitalized for one week battling cellulitis in my face. It was caused by the strep infection and it attacked the entire area of my face that was radiated. My face was extremely swollen, red and painful. I was placed on IV antibiotics and thankfully by the time I went home, my face was back to normal. I was released from the hospital the day of my birthday and because I was so exhausted from the lack of sleep during my stay I went straight to bed. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my 40th birthday. I can't remember the last time I celebrated a birthday not in the hospital.

Jason and I decided to celebrate all of the missed birthdays and anniversaries over the past few years, by going on a vacation just the two of us. I am so excited to spend some quality one on one time with Jason. We will be spending it at a beautiful resort where we can just relax and recuperate from all that we have been through over the past couple of years.

I am still enjoying a quiet and uneventful life. I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life. Surviving cancer and turning 40 has caused me to think hard about my future and what God's plan is for my life. I have yet to come to a conclusion on what this plan is, but I am excited about what God has in store for me. My next MRI is in June. I am hoping and praying for more good news.

I will update you when I find out the results of my MRI. Enjoy the beautiful weather and the change of seasons!

Love,
Sue