NC State Fair

The North Carolina State Fair is held every October in Raleigh, North Carolina.  It's always a fun time to go and see, and eat!  We usually go on "Hunger Relief Day" which gets you in free with the donation of five non perishable food donations.  All the donations benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.  Our daughter, Jen, works for the Food Bank (Digital Media & Database Mgr), and she's always there on Hunger Relief Day.  

We entered one of our marble rollers this year in the Toy Division, but, unfortunately, no ribbon.  That's ok, we still had a great time.

Here are some photos of the fair.  The gardens are my favorite!  

 Our blue marble roller, you can see in the background.  The winner this year was a wooden train.  

  Galen and I just had to try the fried mac and cheese!  

 

The cloggers.


 That would be me, and our daughter, Jen, having a pimento cheese BLT at the "La Farm Bakery".  

 ...and, of course, ice cream!

Hello sunshine! I did it!

Yes, I did it!  

It's been a long journey.  
Now I plan to get on with my life   
finally....
My last day of radiation was Friday.  Jen, my daughter and my granddaughter, Maddie, came along.  Galen was with me too, as always.  By the way, I got to hit that gong behind us!  Then I was officially discharged.  

My family has been with me and supported me through all of this and I know I couldn't have made it without them.  

We had a nice celebration afterward at a nearby restaurant with more family (that's my sister and me and Galen in the photo).  Check out that piece of chocolate cake!  

After a few days and time to settle in, 

I have found that little things mean more to me than ever before....like my old routine.  

I have a new appreciation for life.  

I'll have more time to spend with these guys.  

And to all my dear blogging friends that followed me during these last ten months of this long journey, I want to say thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers that kept me going.  I appreciate and love you all.   

A much needed trip

We have been planning a trip for quite some time now and just had to figure out how and when it was going to take place.  We wanted to attend our youngest daughter's baby shower in Brooklyn, NY.  Of course it had to be after my chemo and before my surgery.  Well, we finally figured it out, and last Thursday we packed our bags.  Our oldest daughter Jen, her husband Rob, and Maddie, our granddaughter, stopped by and picked us up early in the morning and we all headed north...first to Pennsylvania to visit family, and then on to NY.  

We had dinner Friday evening with my sister-in-law and niece at the El Serrano restaurant in Lancaster, PA.  It was great to see them after such a long time.  

We had a chance to spend time with Galen's mother and enjoyed a great breakfast Friday morning with her and also with Galen's sister-in-law and nephew at Gus's Restaurant in Mount Joy.  

After breakfast, a quick trip to Central Market in Lancaster and then we were back on the road and headed for NY.   


I love NY.  

We stayed with Amy and Bruno in their wonderful apartment in Brooklyn.  

They hosted a barbecue Saturday evening so we could meet Bruno's family.  ~And what a lovely family they are!  

~~The Baby Shower~~ 

The Baby Shower was held on Sunday at noon.  
It  was at the Vanderbilt Restaurant in Brooklyn and hosted by Bruno's parents and brother and wife.  

We played games, ate delicious food, and had a chance to meet with more family and friends.  

So much fun!  

It turned out to be a wonderful baby shower.  

Then....

After the shower some of us decided to drive to Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO area. Galen and I have never been there.  What a fabulous place!  It was a beautiful evening and a beautiful time spent walking around and enjoying the sights.    

Later we had dinner at the Coco Roco, a Peruvian Restaurant in Brooklyn, which was sooooo good. 


Unfortunately, Monday morning came too quickly and it was time to leave.  

Time to head south.  Homeward bound to Carolina.  


It was a good trip home, only a few travelling delays, and Otis and Riley were very happy to see us upon our return.  

What a great trip, 
and I was happy to have been able to take this break during all of the cancer treatments and doctor appointments.  

A wonderful and a very much needed trip indeed.  

Chemo # 2

Tomorrow (Thursday) is Chemo treatment #2.  We will go through the same routine as two weeks ago.  Up early around 5:30am and out the door by 7:00.  The car is packed, Otis and Riley are loaded up, and Galen and I head for the highway.  A stop for a breakfast sandwich and a Starbucks coffee.  Along the way we will pick up our daughter, Jen in Garner.  She has been going with us from the beginning and has been a huge help and wonderful support.  

By around 9:30 we are in Chapel Hill and drop off Otis and Riley at my sister's house.  Then off to the UNC Breast Cancer Center.  Lab work at 10:45am, an 11:20 appointment with my Oncologist, and then the infusion at 1:20pm.  This takes about two hours.  I pick up my pills for the week at the pharmacy and then we return to my sister's house for a relaxing evening and a nice dinner.  

Then off to bed.  

Next day, Friday, we head to the UNC Center again for my Neulasta injection to help boost my white blood cells.  This usually doesn't take very long and we are in and out in about an hour and a half.  I am then finished at the UNC Center until my next treatment in two weeks.

Finally, we head back to my sister's house, say our thank yous and goodbyes, pick up Otis and Riley and head for home.  We drop Jen off in Garner and get to see our granddaughter  and son-in-law for a bit, and then head for Wilson.  By this time I am feeling worn out and will no doubt be spending the next few days on the sofa.  

  

So this is my (our) routine and will be for the next 12 weeks ( 3 months).  

Hopefully it will go fast.