A Peaceful Default

I'm afraid that my circle of friends and family are tired of hearing about each new chapter of my very long medical bio. So when the latest chapter started being written a few weeks ago I kept it to myself. I wanted to wait until I got more information before I shared. Today was very informative.

A few weeks ago as I was approaching my first post-op appointment I decided I needed to inform my surgeon that the pain on the right side of my neck had been increasing. I made an appointment with the throat specialist which didn't go very well...she was rude, dismissive, defensive, etc. Treating me as if I hadn't told her correct information 7 months ago when she first saw me. But she examined me differently and she made a direct hit on the painful area. She diagnosed an inflamed salivary duct and enlarged salivary gland and began describing surgery. She ordered a CT to look for a stone, tumor or other cause of the blockage.

Multiple phone calls, insurance denials, labs, roadblock after roadblock delayed the testing and thus the results. What I thought I would know before Christmas was put off until today.

The short version: NO stone! NO tumor! The gland is definitely enlarged probably due to overuse and isn't functioning properly. The only treatment is surgical removal.

But that was the good news.

The Dr, who had been completely rude a week ago, was suddenly compassionate. She proceeded to tell me that the CT also showed an incidental finding. My left thyroid has a very large mass. I would need bloodwork and a needle biopsy. We talked over the details and at my request, she showed me the pictures. I returned to the gland issue and asked what the next steps were for that problem and she said that all that needed to be put aside for now so we could address the thyroid.

I left the office in a total state of peace.
Should I call someone? No, not yet.
Should I cry? Nope, didn't need to.
When I got on the metro, I began reading my book as if nothing had even happened.
I was completely shocked at my reaction. This wasn't typical Jodie.

God continues to completely amaze me! Peace is an incredible provision.

My New Favorite Christmas Memory

I love Christmas. But I don't love the gatherings. Yes, I'm a true introvert.

My family gathering was on Friday, the 23rd. We held Part 1 at my parents' new (small) house. By the end I was tired, hot, grumpy, claustrophobic...done. We were holding Part 2 (dessert) at my sister's. When it was time to head to her house, my sister told her son, Drew (age 10), to go with me. My grumpies were about to disappear.

Drew and I walk outside. Ahhh...fresh air! It was actually quite chilly which just added to the holiday-ness. I had parked quite a distance away so we started down the street enjoying the Christmas lights in the neighborhood. Unprompted, Drew wrapped his arm around my waist. Comfort and joy! I love his sentimentality.

Being our youngest, he is our only remaining kid who still has that Christmas excitement in his eyes. You know...the kind that makes you want to jump out of your skin in anticipation. I had spent a few days with him and knew how excited he was for Christmas morning.

As we strolled down the street I squeezed him and said in a high-pitched enthusiastic voice, "Only two days 'til Christmas! Are you excited?"

"Yeah!" he replied. Then I asked, "What's your favorite thing about Christmas?"

There was about a 3 second pause (which surprised me) and then he replied...

"The giving."

I just about burst into tears. He was sooooo excited about giving his presents to his parents, sister and brother. He had picked out a PERFECT gift for each of them, paid for them with his own money, ordered them online (with mom's help), watched for the UPS truck daily, wrapped them all by himself and hid them secretly. And now he couldn't wait to give them away.

I hope I never forget this Christmas walk.

Drew and I the night before.

A little healthy competition, Romo/Flacco style.

Tendonitis

My plan for Saturday was to 1) winterize my yard/deck and 2) start my Christmas decorating. I only completed 1) and here's why...


BEFORE...



AFTER!



BEFORE...



AFTER!



BEFORE...



AFTER!






BEFORE...



AFTER!



BEFORE...



AFTER!




And the final total...11 bags. All dragged through the house, of course.



Icing the wrist today.

Asheville, 2011

I just realized that I never blogged about my vacation to Asheville, NC!























My favorite part of the trail was the tunnel. It was breathtaking!




Entering the tunnel was somewhat eerie. Alone. Dark. As I entered the blackness, the quiet was beautiful yet mysterious. Clammy, dank, musty. At the midpoint the temperature dropped drastically adding to the drama. I dismounted because I wanted to take some time to enjoy the experience.








Surrounded by rock. Cold. Water. Overwhelming silence. A spot of light in both directions. Exits I didn't want to take.

Tigers on the loose in Hampstead!

While sitting on my deck at dusk today, I was visited by several mosquitoes. I finally saw one land on my arm and thought it looked different than your average mosquito but I didn't think much of it. But after a few more landed on me, and I had a chance to really look at them, I noticed they were black and white. That was definitely unusual so I googled them and discovered that this was my visitor...













Asian Tiger Mosquito

Asian tiger mosquitoes were first found in North America in a shipment of used tires at the port of Houston in 1985. Thank you, Texas!

They carry diseases like every other mosquito. "Evidently, mutated strains of the Chikungunya virus are being directly transmitted through tiger mosquitoes particularly well and in such a way that another dispersal of the disease in regions with the Asian tiger mosquito is feared." Yippee! But I don't think I got bit. Will definitely be using bug spray regularly from now on.

Just thought my blog audience of two should know what killed me if found dead.

Would you like frogs with that?

Yesterday I saw the cutest little frog board book. It must have been written by a local author because google doesn't have a picture of it. I debated about buying it. Now I wish I had.

I am reading this book by John Ortberg, one of my favorite authors. In today's chapter he uses the story of the plague of frogs. Go figure. Pharaoh has an entire labor union of slaves, the Israelites, at his disposal. When he has finally had enough frogs in his cereal, in his bed, in his chariot, and in his bath, he asks Moses to remove them. Moses says, "You name the time." Pharaoh replies, "Tomorrow."

WHAT??!! Crazy, isn't it? Why wouldn't Pharaoh say, "Immediately!"

Ortberg puts it, "Pharaoh has learned - he can live with frogs. He can tolerate a frog-saturated life. It's not great. There's not much joy in it. But he can survive. He prefers it to the change that would be required by surrendering to Yahweh. 'I'll try another night with the frogs.' "

The most dangerous word is "tomorrow." We choose to stay with the frogs because we aren't willing to submit to God's presence available to us right here, right now.

"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts...but encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'today.' " Hebrews 3:7-8, 13

Am about to go on a hike. I'll let you know if I see a frog.

2011 Cycling Stats

After a frustrating, health-plagued 2010, I hesitantly hopped back on my bike in the Spring of 2011. I was anxious to see how this season would go. After my first few rides I was disappointed. I wondered if I had lost my biking fervor forever.

Then in May something clicked. I got my groove back!

2011 Goal: 500 miles
2011 To Date: 346 miles

April Total: 17 miles
4/8: 5m
4/14: 5m
4/28: 7m

May Total: 85 miles
5/1: 10m
5/8: 14m
5/12: 14m
5/21: 20m
5/22: 16m
5/25: 11m

June Total: 66 miles
6/3: 40m THE ENTIRE NCR!
6/14: 14m
6/18: 12m

July Total: 59 miles
7/1: 22m
7/4: 30m
7/27: 7m

August Total: 48 miles
8/18: 20m
8/22: 8m
8/30: 20m

September Total: 71 miles
9/2: 26m, New River Trail, VA
9/10: 22m, Virginia Creeper Trail
9/16: 23m with Tricia

October Total:
10/9: 8m with Kathleen


November Total:

Love My Fridays Off

My day started with an eye appt. Got the unusual news that my eyes have actually IMPROVED! Significantly! Crazy! Of course, that means a new script for my glasses. Cha-ching!

I left the office with pupils dilated, of course. Fun times running errands on a bright, sunny day.

But this glorious day couldn't be totally spent being productive. So I headed to the trail and was grateful to have eyesight for all these little unexpected blessings.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of blue and quickly turned to see a beautiful blue bird. I'm pretty sure it was an indigo bunting. I'm familiar with our other local blues, bluejay and eastern bluebird, and this was neither of those. I've never seen an indigo before.

I was riding along and happened to look down at the stream at one point. Along the bank were three men painting at easels much like this one. They all wore wide brimmed hats. It was so cute! You never know what you'll see on the NCR.

It's berry time on the trail! An unexpected treat! I ate as many as I could find which wasn't much after the birds got 'em.


Another first...a one legged cyclist. He looked like a pro in full gear. Btw, you'd be surprised how many pics google can provide you of one legged cyclists! Apparently, they aren't rare.

I went further north than I have ever gone. Don't be impressed. I also started further north so I didn't set any records. Just an average 22miles. In New Freedom, PA there is a cafe which has two of these cabooses (caboosi?) parked at it. They were awesome!

The closer you get to PA the steeper the incline. It's rough. But the reward is the return trip. DECLINE! IT'S AWESOME! The trail was so empty today so I decided to gun it and see how fast I could go on the way back. My max was 18.9 mph. So I didn't break any laws! It was so awesome! If I had hit a rock, or a deer, or a stick, or a chipmunk (which somebody did cuz Mr. Chip was belly up on the trail), I would have been thrown from my bike. I stayed above 15mph the entire 11 miles back. And my legs will tell you I'm not lying.

I retract my previous statement. It was a productive day from beginning to end.

First Fruits of the Season

I decided to try growing some herbs this year as seen in this pic from my previous post...

I knew if I didn't start using them they would go to seed.
So, having no plans for dinner, the basil made its way to the kitchen and voila!
The most delicious bruschetta ev-uh!

I think I can get used to this.