Thank you

The Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving, our pastor asked Jon to speak to our church family about our experiences over the past year. If you're interested in hearing what he had to say, click here. When you get to the page of audio files for Tri-City Baptist Church, select the file titled "PM Nov 25 2009 John Bixby Testimony". I did not speak that evening, but what Jon said is an accurate reflection of my heart too. The thanks that Jon extended to our church does not stop there. Many of you have supported us is different ways. We're thankful for all of you.

Jen did a great job. She trimmed my hair just a little (since there's just a little there), and gave me a lesson in how to man-handle hair like this. It feels nice to have my hair "fixed" again.

I know some of you who read my blog have been through cancer treatment, and I have a question for you. I'm loosing my eyebrows and eyelashes again. They are coming out in significant quantities. Is this normal? Am I just getting back into the cycle of growing and loosing hair?

Gilead has his first tooth! And he's diligently working on his second one (and third, and fourth). I'm having a hard time believing he's old enough to be getting teeth. But no turkey yet. He is eating cereal though and doing so well. He's eating much better than my others did when they first started cereal. He also rolls over from his tummy to his back and grins and giggles a lot. His big brother, John, is the very best at getting him to belly-laugh. John's such a clown, he makes us all belly-laugh.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of thankfulness.

Here are a few pictures of Gilead's progress over the months.

May 18, 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

A Big First

My hair started growing back in September. Now there's enough of it that I need my first hair cut in a very long time. I'm going this afternoon at 2:00! I don't know what I want now or in the future, so I hope miracle-working Jen has some very good ideas.

It's very curly now, and poofy in the wrong places. I have duck-tails around my ears and on the back and top of my head. Kind of like Betty Boop, I guess. But it's fun to have hair, and it still doesn't take too much time. I can't make it do anything besides what it wants to anyway.

It's been a year since my surgery now. I have so much to be grateful for. Everything is still looking good. I'll continue to see the oncologist every few weeks for various tests. My arm continually stiffens up due to the radiation, but I'm exercising regularly, and that should keep it healthy and limber. Some ladies aren't able to do much serious exercising after all the treatment, so I'm thankful I've recovered well. So far, I've had no incidents of lymphedema (painful swelling in the arm due to having lymph nodes removed). Changes in altitude can sometimes cause the onset of lymphedema. We are planning to travel to Greenville, SC for Christmas and that's quite an altitude change. I will be holding my breath.

I'm planning my annual day-after-Thanksgiving shopping trip! I can drive myself all over town! Last year, Teresa (my sister) and I went out for the day, in spite of the fact I had just had a mastectomy. We had a fun, fun day, and I felt pretty well. But it sure will be nice to be feeling normal on such a busy day.