Th Ol' Switcheroo

So we go to Denver quaking in our boots, wondering what on earth they will have to add to the current retinue of bad news.... and we come home saying, "well it was more bad news, sure, but they tossed in some pretty good news along with it".

... let me interrupt here and say how much we've enjoyed all the comments and encouragement. I could sit there in those doctor's offices and feel the pressure of many hands and hearts. Thank you. So much.

Now this isn't absolute, unequivocal or irreversible, but for now this is what we brought home: They are VERY sure I have a separate breast cancer. In addition to ovarian. And it's spreading to other organs. Yeah. ... Isn't that thrilling? :{
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But that's the bad news portion. These doctors, believe it or not, are so excited about it that it rubbed off on us. The ovarian might be under better control than we first thought and it's now the breast cancer that's robbing me of health and to them that's superb news. These doctors are top-of-the-line, nationally-known breast cancer surgeons and researchers and they TREAT breast cancer, they don't just toss drugs at it and hope, which is what others are doing. (Or ignore me, afraid I'll ask what my prognosis is, or shake their heads and tell me not to bother, which was happening here.)

These Denver fellows were very careful not to lambaste my small-town docs, but they were also pretty clear that I needed different and better care and better quality scans to see what really is going on. For the first time since my cancer came back in May, we heard docs talking about the possibility of a few more years of good life; saying words like, "once we get you into a nice remission..." . You have no idea what those words feel like to us. It is indescribable. I was thinking this would likely be my last January, my last Spring to see colts born... and now that may change. So, most importantly, I must not lose that priceless lesson of the brevity of this life, but learn from it and go on with a little bit more lighthearted cheerfulness.

So ... the docs are writing their recommendations as we speak, I will get another permanent IV line placed on Monday and start chemo again SOON. But no surgery for now. Apparently the chemo should shrink the tumor first, plus there's no waiting for the surgery site to heal before starting the cancer-killing drugs. Surgery is still important, but it's not wise to do it now apparently. Thank goodness I didn't get that mastectomy done here last week!!!! They'd have opened me up, probably worsened things and I'd have had an even worse prognosis.
I'm rambling. Sorry. Anyway it's chemo now and they will, and I quote, "knock me for a loop, but knock the cancer for a loop too". So I'm preparing for baldness again, checking out some fun hats and wigs, planning for some down-and-out chemo days, but we'll think positive and hope for the best. Thanks all, for your parts in that, and please keep it up. Oh and Jeanie P - I am so glad to see the comment thing worked for you this time. Learn something new every day, eh? :)

We got to move our cows here today! We've been trying to calve out a neighbor's calves and it was getting to be a pain in the hind-end, running over there 10 times a day. So, the following photos are for Justin and Monte since they were asking if there were some easier and better ways to move cows. We've got it down pat boys, so pay close attention:
(hee hee hee and a wicked grin) ; }
1st of all, Andy Ray, driving ... (sort of. Hanging out the door, standing up, looking the wrong direction, and yes Jen, on the wrong side of the road ...is that driving?)

Then Michelle working very hard because these cows were just crazy, jumping fences right and left, as you can see in the photo:

Teaching the old girls about fast food. You gotta move if you're going to get anything:

Come on girls, don't be so shy. Climb right up on this trailer with me:

...sorry guys, just testing your sense of humor. What actually happened is, this neighbor we're calving for is new-fangled and prefers hay-trailers and 4-wheelers, so we snapped a few shots of our easy day. It was almost a laugh.

And here's another fun pet one just because they keep doing cute things and I can't resist them. Never in all my days have I seen cats and dogs who get along like ours do. They love each other. Really, they do. They groom each other, seek each other out for naps, play together, purr together .... it's crazy.