Being Normal...at least trying to be...

(Larry and I will be trying to learn how to use a new air fryer that's being delivered Friday... this will be me! lol.... More on how it's going, next time.)

Good morning, friends... Well, it's been a week around here.  Went to my consult with my surgeon and got all the preliminary things done, preparing for my surgery.  The doctor seems kind which I really appreciated.  I come back in for Genetic Testing on the 8th...non-fasting...blood draw...takes about an hour, all together.  It takes that long for counseling, signing forms and going over what the test itself is looking for.  Supposedly, it'll be a blood draw instead of saliva sampling or the buccal (cheek) swab.  They then go over my family history, past medical issues, symptoms I'm now having...and medications.  Now I understand "why an hour"!

After that, they want me to have an MRI...on a different day...just making sure the cancer is where it's supposed to be.  Thennnn...a few days before surgery, I go in to have some dye injected to make sure the cancer hasn't metastasized or grown into any other parts of my body.   Thennn...getting the date for the actual surgery.

Thennn...our sweetheart little Buddy, left us for home...last Thursday, the 27th of August.

Our hearts broke...but it was a natural passing.  He was just tired and wanted to go home.  Early on, when he started showing signs of wanting to pass, we refused to put him down!  So many times, they stay with you, weeks and months longer if you just let them.  But if he was in pain...we would have helped him cross.  I didn't mind the meds...extra special foods to prepare...when it was close to time, he just refused everything...took small bits of water but nothing else.  I knew then his time was close.  

We miss you baby boy!!  He's with the rest of our crew!  That makes us glad to know...Now there's only our pug, Libby.  She searched for him for several days but now has accepted his absence.  We are enjoying her all we can...she's 13...sigh

Our Libby....

I did manage to get my Exploding Pineapple quilt finished, labeled and binded.  I put a crazy, bright yellow backing on it...It works.  

Larry made me this binding wheel!  It works great...I put it on the right side of my machine and just pull what I need as I sew.

Can you tell what we're watching while we eat lunch?

Of course, thighs!  With cheesy potatoes done in the air fryer.

I made taco salad...really good!

Potato soup because I just craved some...

We ate at Longhorn Steakhouse after church...these chicken medallions were so good!

Breakfast was two eggs over medium...ish...lol...with hashbrowns & onions, and white gravy.

This morning's breakfast was a layer of fried onions...tomatoes...and cheddar cheese.  So good!

Larry made our Winter's quota of Gumbo!  Chicken & shrimp...We had some and froze the rest.

Well guys, I guess I'm off to tend to business...I hope you all are safe and happy and free from floods or fires!

Until next time...

Hugs,

Donna

 

Sometimes, life gives you surprises...

Yep...a surprise.  I went for my annual mammogram, and they found a suspicious area that needed to have a more through look... I got a technician that was fantastic.  She not only got me right in but after they found the lump, she got the doctor to do the biopsy right there and then!  That's not common.  

Okay...What they found...It's a 6 millimeter, in size, a baby pea....  That's very small.  The doctor said that if one has to have a lump, this is the size you'd want.  They found it super soon! (THANK YOU GOD).  

I have an appointment on September 15th with the surgeon.  I'll know more then.  I don't know yet, if it's slow growing or aggressive...the surgeon will talk all that over with me at my appointment.

How am I doing?  Well...this sounds strange but, I know God was with me...I felt absolutely nothing but extreme calm.  In fact, I was trying to calm the doctor and technician! lolol...

Now!  What have I always said?  Get Your Mammograms!!!  Do you know how close I came to putting off this appointment because I was feeling super busy and I could get it done later...later...NO!  IF you do this, you're playing with fire!  Just GO!  If it's been a while since you've gotten one, Make an Appointment today!  Well, Monday!  Just Do It!  The new machines are a breeze to use, and they don't do all that squeezing anymore...a little, yes but, not even close to what they used to do!

I'll let you know what the surgeon says...but for now, On With The Show.

This is why we do all those test...it's really not for us...it's for them...

Sloane at her Jujitsu awards ceremony.

I made this rag quilt at the request of my daughter Crystal, for a co-worker that found out she also has breast cancer...but further along than mine.  I put Psalm verses into the patches for her to read while she does chemo...say a prayer for her if you would...her name is April.

I did this one for daughter Crystal and...

this one for granddaughter, Sam...

I also finished the above quilt for my granddaughter, Sami...but I made those Rag Quilts all in about a week and a half!  She wanted one of those, as well.  Nervous energy I suppose.

Pork ribs and chicken thighs with sweet potatoes for lunch...so good!

Roast and potatoes...

Fish sandwich for lunch...

French toast at home...always so good.

What is UP with portions these days, of cereal?  They have shrunk Chex Cereal down to a dime!!

Well guys, I guess that's it for me today...gotta get ready for church.

Hope you all are well, happy and safe in this idiotic world... Love and be kind to those around you.  See you next time...

hugs

Donna

 

Steak? ...Competition Win!

I'm really getting bad about posting these days!!  I get so caught up in getting quilt tops finished...and most every other thing gets pushed aside!!  Bad Donna!

In my defense...lol...I have been to the Chiropractor three times this month!  Neck and back... felt like someone was turning a knife into my neck and right shoulder!  Dang...that hurt!  Doc finally got the bones to move...now if I can just not lift...do heavy chores...pick up granbabies...lol...I should heal okay.

Samantha picked up the girls the other day and Sloane thinks she needs to scream her love at us because we are old and can't hear...Lolol...Lordy.

We went to Cheddars after church for lunch this past Sunday...We ordered Country Fried Steak...don't...just don't...As you can see in the below photos, that's the "steak" we were given, covered in a thick and crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, country fried steak.  I tried to eat it...seriously I did...but, it just wasn't edible!  We were shocked because Cheddars has always been so good!  

The mystery "meat" was no thicker than about 1/4"!!

I contacted Cheddars Corporate to ask what was going on with their Waco Tx. store.  They are investigating and will get back to me...sigh...when they do, I'll update.  And yes, I am being Very nice about it...

UPDATE:

They, just now, emailed me a gift card for $50 bucks.

I replied:

"Thank you for the gift card but I wasn't asking for our money back...I wanted you to care enough to investigate and find out why it happened in the first place...Please let me know what you discover.

Yours Truly..."

I know I probably won't hear back...and that's okay to...

We like the chicken thighs done in the air fryer...

I cut up more bananas for our smoothies...

And I need to brag here, a bit!  Greatgran Sloane competed in and WON 1st in BOTH her competitions in Jui Jit Su... 

And apparently, Samantha (L in blue) won in her division, as well...I just don't have the photo for it...It was held 4 hrs. south of us in Brownwood, Texas, this past Saturday.

I swear they are twins...lolol

Sloane and Lottie's birthdays are in June and August.  This year, Sam and Everette planned a cookout and party for them both.  They enjoyed a joint cake...lol, It was pretty!

Guess who entered and WON a give-a-way at our new quilting shop?!

Had to be over $600 dollars' worth of items in that black (not blue) tote!!!  I am over the moon!

And lastly...my next quilt for Samantha...just a traditional one in browns and creams.

Well friends...I'm off to take the quilt I made for SIL Tim, to the longarmer.  He was a bull rider years ago...won some decent money.

Hope you all have a Blessed and safe week!!

hugs,

Donna