Thursday, November 08, 2007

Doing Well


This was me, from several weeks ago, when Mom and I were making pesto from the basil we grew in our front yard! I was all delighted to be up "cooking", but unfortunately, the trend did not continue, as you all know, I've had a few challenging weeks lately.
Anyway, I am doing pretty well now, recovering from the pneumonia. I am still quite tired but mostly I feel pretty OK, and the pain I was having is now under much better control, I'm taking more morphine now, and it seems to be doing the trick !
Good news from the whole pneumonia/hospitalization thing - the scans showed that the disease is still stable! Also, when I was sent to ultrasound to drain the fluid in my lungs (to see if it was infected), there was not even enough fluid there for them to drain! Considering that a few months ago I had a massive pleural effusion going on there, it really shows the success of the chemo I have been on. I'd be even happier if I was able to be up and around more, doing more "normal" things, but I must say that once I accept the limits of my fatigue and breathing, life is really very good.
Michelle and Craig are coming home this weekend for the long weekend, and we are excited to be seeing them again, looking forward to a nice family weekend.
Best wishes to all of you, and thank you for your continued interest in me and my well-being!
Joanne

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo,
Thanks for the update. Have a wonderful family weekend.
Darryl

Anonymous said...

Hi Joanne,
It was nice to have our book club meeting on Monday. I am enjoying out first mystery - timely with the current election events!

That is a heartwarming picture of you in the kitchen! Probably sounds warped to some but I know how much you miss those "normal" things.

Take care and have a wonderful lon-n-n-g weekend (I am hoping to draw it out.)
Laura

apprentice said...

Lovely picture. I bet that pesto tasted all the sweeter for being homegrown.

So glad to read of your results and that the pain is being managed better.

Here's hoping for a few days when you can enjoy things a bit more.

Love
Anna

Anonymous said...

Hi Joanne,
Hope you are having a great weekend with everyone. I'm so glad that things are on the upswing for you. The picture of you in the kitchen is great.
Hope you are getting some nice weather this weekend.
Patti

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo:

How 'bout those Riders!!! They gave us a scare but managed to hang on. Hope Craig and Brian enjoyed the game (and weren't too cold!). Enjoy the rest of the weekend with the family.

Karen

Jan Holland said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jan Holland said...

Hi Jo,

Hope you enjoyed a wonderful family weekend. We made it to the waterfront in Windsor yesterday and enjoyed a very touching Remembrance Day ceremony with the kids. We were home in plenty of time to watch the Big Green stomp the Stampeders! We'll be cheering from Ontario next weekend as they take on the Lions! Glad to hear things are stable at your end. Continued prayers from the Holland family to yours. Love to all.

Jan
xox

Unknown said...

Mmmm. Pesto sauce. I can taste it from here...

I'm thrilled to hear that you're stable and test results are positive. You're doing marvellously well, despite, or perhaps partly due to, the fact that you're always mindful of what you can and cannot handle.

Bravo to you, Joanne. And I hope your weekend with the kids was great!

xox
Joan

Anonymous said...

HI Joanne, I am so glad to hear that things are improving. I know how much you love cooking and I hope that you can do more of this. Also I hope that you had a wonderful weekend with all of your family around you. Talk to you soon.
Much Love Loretta

Anonymous said...

Hello, Joanne,
What a treat to see you up and making pesto with your own basil! It's especially good news to read the words 'stable' and 'minimal' for the pleural effusion. Hope you had a wonderful family week-end - and the Riders won! Wishing you many more times when you can be up and enjoying things you like to do.
love,
Pat.

Anonymous said...

Hello Joanne, Great to see the picture of you. I really appreciate that smile of yours. I have not made pesto - I do grow Basil - favourite recipe?? I hope your weekend was enjoyable with the kids home. Claire

Anonymous said...

Hi Joanne,
Thinking of you today as you start another round of chemo - hope it isn't too tough over the next few days. As always, we send our encouragement and prayers! Love, Nick and Lorraine