Happy New Year to ALL!

The New Year is so close!  I wanted to take this time to thank everyone that has been there for me, especially these past 7 months.  The numerous inspirational cards, amazing dinners, dinner gift cards, massage gift certificates, bracelets, books, blankets, scarves, hats, lunches  with the SDPD Lab Chick Cheerleaders! & dinners out with some of my awesome  girlfriends, weekends in La Jolla . . . oh my . . . the list goes on!  Everyone has been amazing.  The healing energy that I've received from all of you these past 7 months have made me a true believer.  I've learned a lot from this experience.  Eckhart Tolle's book - The Power of NOW - really put things into perspective for me.  "Whenever anything negative happens to you, there is a deep lesson concealed within it, although you may not see it at the time"  So true.  I've learned a huge lesson, and I continue to learn and grow, throughout this journey that I'm upon.  Listen to your body, live in the now, focus on what is good in your life.  Don't dwell on shoulda, woulda could of's.  I have my moments when I wonder off the "now" path and worry about stuff that just doesn't matter, I guess that's to be expected because that way of thinking has always been a big part of who I was.  I was a worrier, 24-7.  Like last night, I had a terrible night. Worrying about starting Tamoxifen.  This is a breast cancer treatment which I'll be on for at least 5 years.  It's a hormone blocker.  Since my cancer cells thrived on hormones, it's time to block them.  This drug will have side-effects and possible risks but those risks are nothing compared to what might happen if I don't take this drug.  I'm grateful for this treatment.  I really am.  I should have started taking this drug a week ago today, 3 weeks after my last treatment.  But I wanted one full week, with no drugs in my system.  The chemo has pretty much moved on out so it felt amazing to have no poison, no chemicals in my body.  I'll start this treatment tomorrow.  January 1st.  Seems appropriate to start off the year this way.  It you're interested in learning more about Tamoxifen, click on the title of this post.  :-)

Being a worrier really wore me down in many ways.  Feels so good to move on from that way of thinking.  I've replaced being a worrier to being a warrior, Milk Dud Warrior to be exact.  You all gave me the courage to be a warrior!  I'll be forever and a day grateful!  

Christian Northrup has a perfect affirmation for today:

Dietary improvement and exercise are doomed to failure unless they're accompanied by a great deal of self-love, humor, and personal flexibility.  I will make slow and permanent changes in my eating and exercise habits so that they become my new lifestyle, not a temporary diet or quick-fix plan.  

I sware, she is speaking to ME!  :-)

Thanks mom and dad for the Yoga dvd.  Love it!  And with the mini-trampoline that Jeff got me, I'm off to a great start.  Did you know that rebounding (jumping on the trampoline) is beneficial to your health?      This link has a great article about that.  http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/rebounding-for-detoxification-and-health.htm

We'll bring in the new year with friends tonight.  Can't wait!  Have a Happy and Safe New Year's Eve!  Watch out for the drunks on the road!  


Just had to add one more Eckhart Tolle quote from the Power of Now:
"Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be"


And Wayne Dyer:
"Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing"
"Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone." 


And Christiane Northrup:
Feeling grateful to or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.


GOOD NEWS . . . Rachelle won her appeal to have the Cyber-Knife treatments!  So happy for you, Rachelle!   WAY TO GO GIRL!


Love you all!


Nancy

Affirmations that I just had to share!

"Success is an inside job.  Being relaxed, at peace with yourself, confident, emotionally neutral, loose, and free-floating-these are the keys to successful performance in almost everything you do."  -- Dr. Wayne Dyer


"Focus on what's working in your life, the positive stuff, because that which you focus on and think about the most is actually what manifests in your life." -- Dr. Christiane Northrup


Have a peaceful night!  I love you all!  Can't wait for 2010!  Twenty-ten; two thousand ten; ten; not sure which phrase I'll use for the new year but one thing is for sure, it will be welcomed - with open arms! 


Love,
Nancy

More Christmas pictures!

Mom and Dad just got on the rode, they're heading back home to 29 Palms.  We had such a nice visit.  I miss them already!!!!    

Here's a nice shot of all of us!  Plus I added some pictures that dad had on his camera from their visit w/ Owen and Jeanette (Xmas Eve) and Mary and Craig's (Christmas Day)

Love,

Nancy

oh, and I added two pictures that I took Christmas day, using Wendy's super cool macro lens.  Wow, I had fun playing w/ that lens!  Thanks Wendy!

Christmas day - 2009

What a day!  We had a great time at Granny & Gaga's!  Here are a few pictures!  I'm so tired right now, way past my bed time.  I'll write more soon.  Love!  Nancy

Christmas time is HERE!

SUCCESS & ABUNDANCE

Be the Light

5 keys to brighten the holiday season.

Great article.  Please click on title to read.  Hope your day is perfect and peaceful!

Love,

Nancy <3

My words - 2009

Wordle.net created this word list from my blog.  check it out!  Love this! 


OK.  Now, it's time to bake!  <3


Love,
Nancy

Words

Wow, I can't believe it's Christmas Eve!  We have a full day planned.  Last minute shopping and baking to do.   


If you click on the title "words" you'll be linked to a cool website called wordle.net.  I cut and pasted my mom and dad's Christmas note this year and came up with this cool word list.  Love it!  thank you Jolie for telling me about wordle.net!


I'm excited for 2010.  Seriously, I get goosebumps thinking about it!  2009 was an eye opening year for me.  I have clarity now.  My eyes are wide open.  Life is unpredictable.  Each day should be lived to the fullest.  Live in peace.  Don't dwell on the past or fret over the future.  Be balanced.  Happy.  Thankful.  Spend more time with family and friends.  Exercise.  Eat healthy.  Be positive. . .   just to name a few. . .


I stumbled upon this Eskimo legend yesterday. . . I just love it!  I thought of Sue, my sister, right away, and all my loved ones that have passed away.  This gives me so much comfort.  

Perhaps, they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy. -- Eskimo legend

I wish you all a happy holiday!  May your season be Merry and Bright!!!!  I  Love Christmas time!  Mom, Dad, Mary and Jessica:  See you Saturday morning, bright and early!!!!  

Gotta run!  There are cookies to bake!  and presents to wrap!!!

Santa's coming to TOWN!

Love,

Nancy

A thank-you a day. . . Can keep sickness away - Dr. Christiane Northrup

Please click on the title to read Dr. Christiane Northups message regarding the power of being grateful! 


I'm continuing to feel well.  Just a little fatique and soreness.  I'm happy to say that my taste buds are almost back to normal.  Woo hoo!  Just in time for the holidays! 


This weekend will be a busy one.  Time to get serious about Christmas shopping! 


Happy Holidays!


Love,
Nancy

Polar Express Train Ride 2009

Today, we rode the Polar Express to the North Pole!  Me and the boys enjoyed the hot chocolate, signing Christmas songs and eating cookies on the train with Aunt Wendy, Uncle Brian, Aunt Erin, Granny, Gaga, Lia, Melanie, Hailey & Dylan!!!  Good times!!!  Thank you Granny & Gaga!

Tate and Dylan

Hailey and Nolan

Lia and Dylan

Melanie and Gaga

Soy might limit risk of recurrence

Click on the title to learn more about the benefits of Soy!!!!

Drinking alcohol may increase your risk of Breast Cancer reoccurrance

Click on the title to learn more. . . Eating healthy, loosing weight and exercising should lower my risks considerably so a glass of wine here or there should be fine.  I'll check w/ my doctor though.


Love,
Nancy

Radiology Oncologist Appointment

My appointment went really well today.  My Doctor is very nice and reassuring.  She is recommending 6 weeks of radiation.  Ironically, my first oncologist, who moved up to San Marcos, called me this morning (responding to an email I had sent him).  He told me that the radiologist oncologist may suggest 5, 6 or 7 weeks of radiation.  So I was prepared.  I start my treatments on Monday, Jan 4th.  I'll have 30 sessions.  5 weeks I'll go to Alvarado Hospital and my last week I'll have my treatment Downtown, SD.  I had a non-diganostic CT scan today to map out where the radiation will go.  I now have three tattoos.  Real tiny little dots.  Barely noticeable.  I'll have them forever though.  Side effects to expect:  Burn, possible weeping wound after 3 weeks or so of radiation.  I'm prepared.  Lisa and Ken gave me just the remedy.  Thank you!!!!  I should also expect to feel fatigue.  Nothing like chemo though.  My schedule is posted and I look forward to cross off each week as they go.  


Back to my phone call with my 1st Oncologist. . . I've decided to go full circle and be reassigned to him.  It means I'll travel to San Marcos every 3 to 6 months but that's OK. 


have a peaceful evening.


love you!
Nancy

"Our chakras not only metabolize energy, they also sense and put out energy. So, whenever you block an experience, you're blocking a positive emotion and that corresponding chakra. This means you project those deep-rooted feelings into your life to create your reality. By really tuning into yourself and your chakras, you can heal yourself and make dramatic changes in your life." --Deborah King on Truth Heals

Burrrrr

It's another chilly morning.  Chemo fog has lifted for the last time and I can't put into words on how happy that makes me.  The last lingering symptoms are sudden jolts of pain in my chest wall and ribs. Tylenol helps a lot w/ this.  Sore knees and ankles.  Every minute I feel a tiny bit better!  I'm grateful!  So grateful! 


Jeff and I will meet my Radiologist Oncologist tomorrow to go over my radiation treatment which should begin early January.


CWSL - Thank you for all the dinners you've brought my family during my chemo recovery!  We all are eating well, no doubt about that!  Loving it!   And we're extremely grateful!  


We have a busy weekend coming up!  Tate's soccer team made it to the Semi-Finals - he plays on Saturday!  We'll pickup our Christmas Tree!  Polar Express train ride!  Sunday - more SOCCER!  Love it! And decorate Grandma Spencer's Christmas tree.  And any free time will be spent Christmas shopping!  Love this time of year!  




Love you!  

We achieve so little, says A Course in Miracles, because we have undisciplined minds. Training our minds to think from a loving, faithful perspective is the greatest boost we can give to our immune systems, and one of the greatest challenges we can pose to our minds. - Marianne Williamson

Please click on the title to learn about adding Energy boosters to your diet.

Nancy

Dr. Wayne Dyer - Your present moments are precious.

Perfect message.  Please Click on title to read.  


Have a peaceful day!  


Love,
Nancy

Put a fork in it!

I'm all done w/ my chemo treatments!  And to top it off, this session was, by far, the best one yet!  KP was on time, I had the best nurse on staff (actually, they're all good), and it only took 4 hours!  Not the 6 hours we've gotten use to.  I even had a nap today!  Wow.  Maybe it was the cookies I brought all the nurses?  I'll never know. . . but I kind of now wish I had brought goodies every session!  Smile!


Thanks for all your great emails and text messages - they helped me get through this day!  Now it's time to recover.  Lay low.  Going to get lots of rest.  I was up at 2:30am.  The doctor suggested I take my Xanax if I wake up early again.  I'll also keep my iPod next to my bed, and chill out w/ some amazing meditation music that my Super Cool friend Lane gave to me!


I'm feeling great right now.  Kind of on a high from knowing I won't have to go back to the chemo lounge!  Thanks for your love and healing energy.  You all helped me through this.  All your well wishes kept me strong!  Thank you!!!!!!


Radiation should start early January.  I'm meeting my Radiologist Oncologist on 12/10.  This should be a piece of cake compared to my Chemo Trip!  Bring it!


Now its time to cross off 12/3!


Love,
Nancy

When human beings stand by one another, testify to their faith, and witness each other's pain, miracles happen. If we are loved enough, we are emotionally healed and spiritually made whole. - Marianne Williamson

to:  Nancy Graham
from:  Nancy's oncologist 
received:  12/2/09 9:36 AM


Dear Nancy,
OK to proceed with treatment if you feel ok:


WBC'S AUTO 3.5 12/02/2009
HGB 12.1 12/02/2009
HCT AUTO 35.9 12/02/2009
PLT'S AUTO 213 12/02/2009


Let me know if you have any question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Heck yes, I feel OK!  I'm ready to get this 6th round over with ALREADY!!!!

Each of us is born with a unique passion and purpose. And that purpose may be as simple as deciding to be happy! When you are fulfilling this purpose, you are contributing to the health of the entire planet. - Dr. Christiane Northrup

Nolan is feeling better, fever is gone.  But his cough is still bad and his voice is still gone.  We decided to keep him home at least one more day.  He's spending this time away from school resting on the sofa watching VH1.  I think we'll watch UP or ELF today.  Heck, we may just watch both!  

Today, I have an appointment to see my new oncologist.  I'm feeling peaceful today.  This morning, I had spurts of anxiety but I got over it by focusing on happy thoughts, taking deep breaths.  In other words, I meditated.  It worked.  I'll have my blood work checked today, to make sure my white blood cell count is at a good level.  It will be.  

I love Dr. Christiane Northrup's affirmation!  

Have a peaceful day!

Love,

Nancy