Good Prognosis, A New Swimsuit and a Playlist

I only recently realized that I really haven't give you an update on Mama's progress! It wasn't intentional. Though I did say that I didn't want this disease to take over everything in our lives, including my blog.

Mama had her masectomy and her lymph nodes were clear! There was also a spot on her thyroid they wanted to examine, but it too was cancer-free! The only cancer cells they found were in the tissue they removed. She has begun the second half of her chemo treatments and will take chemo once a week for twelve weeks. Side effects this time aren't nearly as bad. Mainly joint pain about three days after treatment. Her prognosis is excellent.

As Rob mentioned on his blog, I have been doing a new exercise program. And I have, quite impressively, stuck with it for 6 weeks. BUT. I have only lost 6 pounds. I can do the "move more" part of weight loss just fine. It is the "eat less" part I have trouble accomplishing. Yesterday, my new bathing suit arrived just in time for swim suit season. I have rather given up hope on purchasing anything without some sort of thigh/buttock covering, so I ordered a tankini with swim skirt. I optimistically ordered one size smaller than usual. That might have been a little too optimistic. Nothing like trying on a snug bathing suit to reveal all your little figure flaws, cellulite, and stretch marks. Hopefully this will kick the diet/exercise plan into high gear all over again!

Notice the new playlist on the sidebar. If you didn't already know that I have eclectic music taste.... you do now! Johnny Cash mingling with my punk-dressing youth idol Cyndi Lauper who in turn is hanging out with The Beatles and Ella Fitzgerald. Added to that is a little Nickelback and Nouvelle Vague and J.T.'s current favorite: "Let's See How Far We've Come." Only he sings (very loudly) "Let's see how far we go." Which is pretty appropriate for a 7 year old, don't you think? He has this funny dance routine to go with it and he does hairbrush singing like a champ! Abby just runs around in circles while he does this, kind of yelling along unintelligibly.

Rob and I are going to Savannah in two weeks for our annual Anniversary Trip. I am making a list of books I want. We usually spend more time in the bookstore than any other place on these trips. On my eclectic book list are: "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, "Eat, Pray, Love", "Wedding Survivor Book 2" by Julia London, "How to Knit a Wild Bikini" by Christie Ridgeway and Marianne Stillings' "Sighs Matter". And whatever else takes my fancy while we're there. The kids will get some new books of course. I spend about half my bookstore time combing the kids' section for new favorites and classics to add to their bookshelves.

I'll also be looking for some fabulous shoes, a few "necessary" items, a few things from Victoria's Secret and I'm sure that Rob will pick up some Star Wars/Comic things. We will end our day with a fabulous dinner at a Japanese Restaurant before returning home exhausted, feet aching with a car loaded down with purchases.