Happy Birthday Dena

Today is my sister Dena's Birthday. Dena has been one of my main supporters. Without question, she was at many of my chemo treatments and doctors appointments. I actually think she likes going to the doctor with me. I have a pretty entertaining doctor. She also makes sure I answer the doctors questions correctly and asks the right questions. We have spent quality time together this last year. I think I even turned her on to my favorite part of the morning, Kathie Lee & Hoda. Dena is also one of my proof readers so who knows what this will actually look like later. Thanks Dena and Happy Birthday.

Each week for me things are gets better and better. I was able to ski on Friday night with the kids and kickboxing on Saturday morning. This morning I went for a run/walk with a friend. I'm only hoping I can move in the morning. It's so nice to be active again and driving everyone else around me crazy because I'm willing to try everything.

And the Vikings had a great win this afternoon.

Happy Birthday Dena
Have a great week!!
Anna

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year.

Since my last blog things have gotten back to normal. Each week things get better and better. My dad will tell you that each week I get more and more stamina. I’m hearing less and less 'do you really need to do that?' Watch out world here I come!

Also, I never knew how entertaining watching hair grow is to some people. People are frequently touching or commenting on my hair.

One of the most exciting things is right before Christmas, Adam , one of my cousins, celebrated his 5th year cancer free. Adam has been lucky enough to answer my crazy questions through treatment and he more then understands what I have gone through. He’s one of a few people that hasn’t told me to slow down. Many people don’t understand what it’s like to be inactive for so long especially when I was so active before. We both got awesome Christmas presents.

I was able to go skiing with the ski club kids right before break (I had 12 days off for Christmas) and then Rolly, one of my cousins, and I went up to Spirit Mountain to go skiing. Spirit is one of my favorite places to ski in Minnesota. We went at night so it was actually pretty slow and we didn’t have to wait for the chairlifts very long.

Over my Christmas break I met my goal of not being home and trying to find stuff to do. Here are a few highlights of my week. Minnesota had a nice Christmas snowstorm and what fun it was to shovel the driveway. I am my dad’s daughter and I like having a clean driveway.

Christmas was three days long after it was all said and done. The picture of Jakob is one of my favorites from Christmas, he is pretending to be a present. The girls at the pool had a little gathering (thanks for hosting us Cathy). Not having to work, I made my biweekly trip to the Shortstop to hang out. It was wonderful seeing the Symen's family.

I went to Austin with my dad, he makes a trip to about every other week or so, to get the mail, check on the house, and work on projects. I basically supervised and helped him get some things ready for the Salvation Army. He did stop at Our House (one of the places my grandma stayed at) and got the last picture of Grandma, Dena, and myself. I also stopped at Grandma’s (Wetterlund) one day for lunch. She made our favorite Potato Dumplings followed by an afternoon of sledding.

The other exciting thing that I did during break is I finally set up my own facebook page. The pool girls, family and friends have been giving me a hard time for a while so I finally took the leap and did it.

I’m now wishing I was still on break, I didn’t get my list of stuff done or praying for a snow day. I’m also trying to decide if I should adventure and do a half marathon with a friend late spring or early summer.

Trying to get back to normal

Here is my update since my last blog entry.

My hair is back. I don't have to wear a hat every day. I still have a lot of hair but it's not the same texture as before or the same color. I must say I miss wearing a hat, do you know how much easier it is in the morning just putting on a hat.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, it was nice and relaxing. I had a lot to be thankful for this year. It's amazing how much ones life can change in a year. I'm very lucky to have such wonderful love and support. I was able to see "The Blind Side" during Thanksgiving break. What a great movie.

I had my last doctors appointment to have my heart rate check out right before Thanksgiving. I was given a clear bill to start working out and my Echo and EKG came back normal. I was told by my doctor to try to be active 30 to 60 minutes a day, to try and get my heart rate to drop.

Ruben came home from Hawaii for a long weekend last weekend. My dad and I were able to spend some time with him. Thanks for bringing us winter Ruben. I had to cancel my first ski trip of the year in early December due to no snow. It finally snowed last week.

I'm back to teaching Aqua Jog actually getting in the pool, some of the ladies I think thought I was going to melt the first time I got in. It had been a long time since I was able to actually get in and teach. I'm also trying to swim with the triathlon group on Wednesday nights. The key word is try. I can swim about 10-25 minutes and each time gets a little longer. The first time I got in I could only swim about 150 yards and I had to stop due to the crazy coughing.

Friday night I went on my first ski trip of the year. We had 50 middle and high school kids at Afton Alps. It was tons of fun, it helps when the kids are good. I actually skied quite a bit more then sometimes. No injuries with the kids so that helps me be able to ski more. The weather was great as long as you dressed for it. I was actually a little too warm.

Last week I got the crazy idea that I should try kickboxing again. I haven't been to kickboxing in over a year prior to being diagnosed. Good thing I know the instructor so I emailed her asking if I could just show up. She was excited to have me back, I think she likes to kick my butt. I can't wait to roll out of bed tomorrow morning feeling the pain.

Saturday night we celebrated my dad's 60th Birthday. He had a good time and it was great seeing a lot of our family and friends support. My dad truly has amazed me in the last year. He has gone trough a lot, first his daughter getting diagnosed with lymphoma (not knowing what to expect), my brother getting married (one thing to celebrate), and his mom getting sick and dying. He was one of my main supporters especially during chemo and my first few hours at home. He always without failure stopped at Target to get me my favorite Blue Raspberry icee on our way home and sometimes had to go out later in the evening and get me another one. He would frequently remind me to slow down when I didn't and don't want to. He spent many hours with my grandma taking her to the doctor, helping her find a new place to live, and being with her on her last days of life. My dad's actual birthday is on Wednesday December 16th. You can email him at dgabes@hotmail.com and wish him a Happy Birthday. My mom's Birthday is on December 17th she will only tell you she is 29 years old.

Overall I'm almost back to my normal. I still like to do way too much and end up paying the price in need of more sleep than my liking.

I'm wishing for more snow this week. I'm skiing again this Friday at Wild Mountain and then Rolly (one of my cousins) thinks we are going out skiing on Saturday some place.

Have a wonderful week
Anna

Exciting News

Here is the exciting update.

Yesterday my Dad and I went to the doctors (my family won’t send me to the oncologist alone). And Dr. Larson was actually on time. Dena and I have waited 45 minutes to see him. The exciting news is the lymphoma is gone. I still have three lymph nodes they are watching. I will be one of those people they are always watching. We also got to see my last scan. I do have some lung damage from radiation (I also had some before radiation) and he also said my two lungs won’t look the same any more.

He did ask about my cough and I said some days I cough 5 minutes a day and some days 5 hours a day. He asked if I want some medication and I told him no if it was prednisone. I have been on it long enough and I don’t like the side effects (weight gain).

Also Dr. Larson said I could start working out again. Even with a high heart rate (126 yesterday at the doctors, it should be between 50-90). He told me that I know what I can do. I’m sure my Dad didn’t like that answer, Dr. Larson doesn’t know me very well, and I can be a little stubborn. I have an Echo gram on Monday and a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday to have my heart rate check out.

We have our winter dog Bailey back. I think she is loving life.

It’s nice having a great report right before the holidays and I have a great three-month break from oncology.

Thanks for your prayers and support
Have a great weekend
Anna

The latest

Here is what I have been up to.
My cousins and Auntie Patty (everyone else please call her Pat) came to town for my grandma's funeral. It was great spending time with them. I just hope we don't wait another 9 years to see them. Before we left Austin we went to the Spam Museum, it was actually pretty cool. We (my brother and sister) have asked my dad for years to go to the museum, so we finally got to go. While Pat, Heather, and Renee were in town we went to Stillwater for some tea and shopping. It was a great afternoon on the river. It did take me some time to recover after they left (I didn't get all my naps in and I didn't want to miss anything).

The next weekend was Halloween weekend. Jakob and Kennadi (Bryan and Jessica's kids) came over to show off their cool costumes and to get their treats. The neighbors were excited to finally have some trick or treaters. It's been a few years since we have had any trick or treaters. We did have some excitement in the neighborhood on Halloween night, the kids down the street had a party with about 200-300 people at it and they had a stabbing around 1:00 am. Good times had my all. The police where still there at 8:00 am on Sunday morning.

Last weekend my family finally went out for my birthday dinner. We went to Pizza Juce in Downtown Minneapolis. I highly recommend the Mash potato pizza. I also had my birthday cake. One of my friend's 6 year old nieces was very concerned about me not having a birthday cake. On Saturday I went out for tea and shopping with Dena and Jeanine in Anoka. On Sunday one of the greatest things was having a 3 hour brunch with some of the girls from the pool. I did help my Dad rake the yard a little bit this weekend in the nice weather that we had. Yesterday (Monday) I went to the compost with my dad to help with the trailer full of leaves. While at the compost we had to leave laughing. There were two gentlemen in a pickup and trailer next to us who didn't know how to back the trailer and then they got out of the truck and needed a leaf blower to empty the trailer. It was like being at the boat landing and watching the crazy people. My Dad and I emptied our trailer quick and left as they were about half done.

Overall I'm still doing okay. I'm just fatigued most of the time. I still can't exercise much due to a high heart rate. I'm still coughing a little bit and trying to stay off the meds. I have a PET scan next week and a doctors appointment on Friday (11/20). Dena or my Dad will go with me to the doctor.

Have a great week
Anna,

Good and Bad News

Thank you for the birthday wishes. I had an uneventful day on Friday. It started with my Dad wishing me a Happy Birthday at 5:00 am before I left for work, followed by teaching swimming lesson and a nice long nap in the afternoon. In the evening I went shopping with my Mom followed by many “we need to slow down” and then a dinner at Chili’s.

I heard back from the doctor (she called while she was on vacation) on Monday afternoon. I'm still a "Mystery" right now they want me to wait and see what happens for a few months or I can go back on prednisone for some more fun. I chose to wait and see, but I need to call in right away when my breathing gets bad or I can't handle my cough anymore. What fun.

On Sunday morning Grandma Gabrielson passed away. My dad’s sister is coming to town on Wednesday evening with her two daughters Heather and Renee. David is coming in on Thursday and then we will all be in Austin for the visitation on Thursday evening and the Funeral on Friday morning. It’s been a long time since we have spent anytime together and Bryan (my brother) says he has grown up so he won’t bug you David at the visitation. It’s nice seeing family, I just wish it was for something fun.

Have a good week
Anna

Another Doctor's Appointment

Here is what happened at the doctors. I have been off prednisone for little over a week. And the doctor doesn’t want to put me back on it due to the side effects. That’s great for me. I have been coughing a little more now that I am off prednisone and I get winded when I’m walking the steps at home.

I went to the respiratory doctor on Wednesday and I have two tests on October 15th. The tests are CT scan and a breathing test. Both the test I have had before, to figure out what to do next. My heart rate was back up to 115 but my blood pressure is normal. So they are a little concerned about that. I have to try not to raise my heart rate. So no extra walking and I can't work out. I can go to Target but I can only shop for what's on my list, I can't look around. On the good note I lost 14 lbs in 6 weeks (that was when I was at that doctors last) and they figure most of that was since a week and a half ago due to one of those side effects.

They figure my other problem is a bad cold. And I just need to sleep like crazy. So I’m still 1 for 3 at the doctor’s offices.

Here are some other happenings in my life.

Bailey our winter dog made a one week visit so her owner could go to her class reunion. We also had Sally (one of Bryan’s dogs) the same week we had Bailey. They get along really well. It’s kind of amazing. Bryan and Jessica went on their honeymoon last week so we had their two dogs. Sally and Shadow are funny. Shadow is a puppy so it’s like starting all over again, her favorite place to lay is in the office on the futon. Overall the dogs get along really well, they just like to play like no tomorrow when they are in the mood.

On September 19th I read in a wedding. Good thing the dogs were around to hear me practice. The lovely wig came out one more time. A family friend got married, and then danced the night away. It was a lot of fun. Congrats to Katie and Jake.

Also I went to Stillwater last weekend with a friend (we went to get salted nut rolls but they didn’t have any) and managed to get ourselves in a new knitting store that wasn’t opened yet and I found some yarn to buy. You can check out the yarn shop at http://darnknitanyway.com it’s in a really cute location. Then we went to Aamondt’s and Pine Tree Apple Orchards for lunch.

The pool is back open so I’m working a few hours there. I start teaching Friday morning lessons this Friday. It’s nice to try to get back on schedule.
Work is in full swing of things.

Happy Birthday Anne Karson

Have a fabulous weekend
Go Twins and Vikings
Anna