Lazy day ...

  Actually, we did quite a bit of cleaning between our sessions of lounging on the couch.  It's rainy here.  No, seriously, it's rainy here in Seattle.  I know it's hard to believe.  I quite like the rain.  I, actually, love the rain.

  I've decided to add the whole "poll" option on this blog.  They might get a bit off the wall.  But, hell, that's why it is my blog and no one else's.  The current one is 3/4 my idea and 1/4 Kevin's.  He threw in the last option:  "being Kevin."  Funny stuffs.  I noticed that someone voted for him.  Debbi, you are such a good mom!

  T is having major hip surgery tomorrow.  Mama Anna is gonna be manning the helm for quite some time around the house.  Between the humans and the animals, it's gonna be quite the cluster-F(bomb).  I'm so glad to be here, in the house, to help her out.  She doesn't have close family up here.  But, her close pals are like her family.  So, they're all rallying.  I'll take her to the hospital tomorrow morning, head to work, get off work, and head back to the hospital.  Kevin and I will juggle the kid and animals.  Nothing new.

  Best of luck tomorrow T.  You're gonna do just fine.  And, I'm certain, that you'll not be in ANY pain.  So, you can give me the oxycodone for my hangnail.  It's horribly, horribly painful.

xoxo

Anna

www.danicamartinez.com

Please visit the above site.  It will give you more info in regards to a survivor girlfriend of mine.  She has leukemia due to the chemo she received to fight her breast cancer.   She desperately needs a bone marrow transplant.  The agency is willing to wave the testing fee if you say that you're getting tested "in honor of Danica Martinez."  No needles folks.  Just a swab to the inside of your cheek.  Please, please, please help us out.

Because we are cancer survivors, we are unable to donate.  

My nose hurts...

  Man, does anyone else have major allergies right now?  My nose is so sore I'm looking into getting a transplant.  

  Crusty nose aside, we've had a lovely week.  The pics show that.  Silas and Marco got to race on their bikes in the backyard on Tuesday.  Marco and his Mama just bought their very first home!!!!!!!!!!!  CONGRATULATIONS Heather and Marco.  I'm so proud of you.  We'll be moving in once you get settled.

  In just as exciting news:  MY OTIS IS HOME!  He is such a well-mannered gent now.  You can tell he's thrilled to be home.  Last night, as soon as he got in the front door, he ran through the kitchen and down the stairs to our door.  What can I say?  We're in love.  We're in love and coming out as a mixed-race, mixed-species couple.  Jerry Springer here we come.

  In the MOST exciting news:  Silas Levi Schumacher is potty trained.  He went all day, yesterday, at daycare wearing his big boy underwear.   He did such a great job.  We took him out to dinner for a treat.  Not even 2 and a half and he's being such a big boy.  I, now, wish I was still diapering him.   

xoxo

Anna

Happy Monday...

The rain is back.  It's lovely.  I adore rain.  So, I'm cool with the weather.  Had a long weekend settling into the new pad and getting all the last bits of our crap outta storage and over here.  Where I'm gonna put everything, I do not know.  But, it will work its way from room to room until it finds it's proverbial "just the right spot."

Had a great Saturday night.  Went to a party hosted by my dear Rick.  You know, one of my new loves from The Fourth of July.  I got to meet many of his pals.  They were great folks.  

Sunday, we had to say goodbye to our dear Kris ... you know, the guy from Norway that we called "Thor" that lives with Kevin's co-worker Jef.  We've, all three, become very close to him and it was much more sad than I anticipated.  He's one of the coolest folks I've met in my life.  So, he's on a plane right now heading to England for more school.   Great ! He forsakes us for those pasty people that see nothing but rain all year ... Wait, I'm in Seattle ...  We'll be able to see him again next summer.  Seems way too far away.

 Safe travels to you sweet friend.  

xoxo

Anna

Um .....

  Pissed and pensive tonight.  I've spent the better part of my day dealing with a billing company (from recon surgery) and my insurance company.

  I was assured, prior to surgery, that "everyone in that OR will be covered 'in network'."  

  Well, that doesn't seem to be the case, at this point.

  My plastic surgeon's head nurse was in on the surgery.  She did some "stitching up" in the end.  She was in the same OR that was supposed to have been covered by my insurance.  But, no.  It seems they are billing me for her being out of network.  Funny that.  She has done all of my fills since April and I've not been billed for those.   I don't feel like holding that over the insurance company's head, as I don't want them to rethink THAT billing.

  I've not cried in, nearly, a year about all of this shit.  I think I may have cried 2 or 3 times prior.   But, today, I'd had my fill.  I, for some reason, lost it on the phone with the billing lady.  She was telling me that I HAD to pay the bill.  I said, "you know what, I am having to pay a bill that I should not have to pay.  I made sure that all of this was covered and neither you or my insurance company are willing to budge.  I'm a young breast cancer survivor that has had to move (again) into a small one-bedroom apartment due to all of this crap.  And you're telling me that I need to pick up the pieces after someone else has broken the deal?!  This is on you.  It's not on me.  I covered my ass.  Did you?  No.  It's bullshit."

  Then, I spoke to the insurance company and said the same thing.  Basically, "shame on you for not standing up and sticking to your word."

  I have to appeal the whole deal now.  Great.  I spend my time writing letters and waiting for responses just so my credit doesn't get screwed.  I, apparently, have NOTHING else better to do with my time.  I've got great credit.  If these jackasses screw with my credit, they are gonna have their asses handed to them. I've been so subservient during this mess, in regards to bills and such.  But, someone gave their word.  She, by the way, doesn't even work there any longer.  LUCKY ME!!!!!!!!

  I'm ranting.  I'm just so pissed.  Kevin and I were just talking about how easy it would be if we divorced.  I would, then, be considered a single woman with a child and would have everything covered.  It would be covered if we broke our family apart.  How sick is that.  It's unbelievably sad.  We're the "greatest" country in the world and our people cannot get decent healthcare.  It's pathetic.

Night, night.  Think about your vote, people.  Please look at the healthcare issue when you vote.

xoxo

Anna

More Pics

Wow ... it's been a busy week.  So many pics.  So, my Cancer Club girlfriend Luchie moved back to California many months ago.  She did this whilst finishing treatment.  But, she came back up last week for a visit, as she still has family here.  We had a great girls' night at Smith, a great pub on Capitol Hill.  These are some pics from our wonderful visit with beautiful Luchie.  

She's another blessing that I "stumbled" across in my breast cancer journey.  We Northwest Young Survivors miss our Luchie.

xoxo

Anna

Lovely Picture...

This picture was taken at the Race for the Cure in June.  I was e-mailed by someone at Susan G. Komen about it.  Apparently, they want to use it for the cause.  Don't know where it will end up.  But, I know that they are gonna use it to publicize the organization.  Hopefully they focus on the young survivor and the children being affected.

I adore Silas' face in this picture.  Ain't he pretty?

Nighty, night my pretties.

xoxo

Anna

glorious garden

This is part of our "backyard."  What a beautiful place to live.  My friend Heather came over yesterday and she was stunned by how gorgeous it is.

Off to get my last b00b-fill.

xoxo

Anna

Happy Lord's Day to all ...

  Hey all.  Happy Sunday.  We're still lovin' the new digs and settling in for a long winter's nap.  You know it's upon us, yes?  Kiddies are heading back to school soon and I feel like summer just started.  Note to self, don't do that.

  Kevin's Mama, Step-dad, and brother came into town to spend the day with us.  Grammie, Grandad, and Uncle Levi took us out to lunch at one of our favorite places:  The Wing Dome.   I've been going there since I moved here 8 years ago.  I'm a frequent flier:  I, actually, have a card.  As a matter of fact, we were there last weekend with Sandi and Jeff.  "Jenny", our favorite server, asked if we would like to go to a Mariners game with her the following day.  Silas and I did.  Kevin, the hugest Mariners fan in the world, was hung over.  He's never turned down a ticket.  Sucks to be you, I say.   So, Silas and I met up with Jenny, her dad, her daughter, and Thea, another wonderful server from the Wing Dome.  We had A BALL!!!  We had beer.  We had way too much greasy food.  The Blue angels were in town.  So, they were flying over.  I feel like I've already posted about this.  Damned chemo.

  In any case, we went, today, to the Wing Dome and Uncle Levi proved to be his usual brave/moronic self in ordering "The seven alarm wing."  It's classic:  hot sauce that would peel the paint off of a barn.  I've done it.  I know the pain.  He continues to do it on a dare.  So, 2 of the pics here are pre and post 7-alarm wing eating.  Uncle Levi is a hoot.  Silas adores him.

  We had a wonderful day.  Got to see gorgeous pics of their trip to the Mediterranean.   Got some sweet gifts from over there.  Olive oils, clothes, and toys.  Oh, and Ouzo.  I'm certain that it will suddenly disappear and Kevin will act like he had nothing to do with it.

  We had a lovely day with our lovely family.  We're so lucky to have such great families.  And, as I've said before, you SHOULD be jealous.  

  We're, now, settling into our lovely new home.  Kevin just walked up to me and said, "I love this place."  We've never said that about ANYWHERE that we've lived.  So, I imagine, we're onto something.  Jack, Brandon's dog, is spending the night with us.  If you're a regular reader, you know that he's a pal and T's gardener.  Owns a fancy/hip nursery in Ballard.  It's really a funky garage.   If you didn't know that, either read more or go away.  The proverbial "shit or get off the pot."

  That said, I'm off to surf the Interweb.  I've got an addiction that needs to be fed.  It's that, or I sit at McDonald's all night and eat fries.  I choose the former.  The latter will only aid making my menopausal self a heifer. 

xoxo

Anna

Computer is working ... for now...

  My computer is dying.  Let's all say a prayer for my sweet lap-top that was donated to us by our sweet pals Rodney and Karen.  The computer has been heading downhill for the past couple of days.  It's been an amazing gift, however.  I would have never been able to play out my new interweb addiction without having been given this amazing gift from our amazing pals.  Tonight, it is standing strong.  It might just be rallying.  We'll wait and see.

  I went to my oncologist's new "venue" today.  Swedish, First Hill.  Love it there, as that's where I have gotten all my major surgeries.  But, I happen to have been "stuck" up in the tiny Cherry Hill Campus for my treatment.  I would go in for treatment and have ONE nurse do EVERYTHING for me.  Not only that, but we were all in Lazy Boy recliners laughing our asses off and telling off-color jokes whilst getting treated. It was like a keg party every time I went in.   Now, we're in "Gene Juarez."  One floor accesses our ports and takes blood.  Then, we get on the elevator and go to another floor to meet with our oncologist and his staff.  After that ... weight, blood pressure, temp, paper-work, questions/concerns ... we go BACK down to a different floor to get the actual treatment.

  DDDDAAAAMMMMNNNN....

  They were all very nice.  Nice as they could be.

  I just want to go back to Dr. Fer's office and sit in my lazy-boy chair and laugh my ass off.

  My nurses are on a vacation right now ... during the transition.  If anyone deserves a break, IT IS DOCTOR MEHMET FER'S NURSES.  They have saved my life ... and they are hysterical. I missed them today.   They, I think, are taking the move just as harshly as me.  We've all gone to war together.  We have all formed such an amazing bond.  Says a lot.  I just wish they were there today.  But, I'm, certainly, more happy that they are away and resting and on vacation.  They are my ladies ... my peeps.  I'm hoping the move is very smooth for them.  Once they get settled in, I feel certain that it'll be fine.  If not, as I've told them, "Swedish can't fire ME. I'm a patient.  I'm not gonna settle."  I've been getting fantastic treatment for, nearly, 2 years now in this institution.  If they choose to change things up, great.  If the new environment interferes with treatment: not good.  If I see that I'm not able to have contact with my original nurses, who are now thrown into a general infusion center that they are struggling with, it's even more NOT GOOD.  I'm okay with change.  I'm not a fan, but can deal.  But, if I don't regularly see the ladies that helped save my life, it's gonna be a problem.  I could care less about the institution condensing things.  I think that is fine.  But, Dr. Fer's office became infamous, in regards to how progressive it was, whilst being the smallest ... and most quaint ... infusion center in Seattle.  I happened to blessed in getting in on it.

  So we're a family.  I'm saddened that Swedish felt the need to move our home over to their mainstream center.  But, it is what it is.

  Once my nurses get off of vacation, I'm certain that they'll try to do whatever it takes to get my file first, just so they can be my lady of the day.  We've already made a pact.  I'm certain that they'll do it for all of my oncologist's patients, as we've all gone through this fight together.  No switching up nurses, doctors, floors of a hospital, etc.  I have to say that the nurse I had today was great.  She was a sweet lady.  Gave me a wonderful shot in the ass:  Lupron.  It shuts my ovaries down.  I get it every 3 months.  Just so happens that I had to get my shot today and a strange nurse had to give it to me.  Bare ass, new nurse, no undies (I tend to go commando  most of the time), LOVELY.   If nothing else, she did a great job.  Didn't feel it a bit ... and it's my butt muscle.   They are being very kind to us in the new place.  Very welcoming.

  A woman, drawing my blood, said to me today, "You know how I know that our new patients are Dr. Fer's?  They always ask for potato chips."  Hell, lady, that's us.  We have/had cancer ... the least you folks could do is feed our asses.  We like our chips/soda/ juice/cable TV.  We came from a keg party and are, now, having to fit into a debutant ball.  We are the bastard children of Swedish.  And, we could care less. 

  The great thing is that we get free bag lunches there.  At our old office, we would get chips and juice/soda.  Now, we get a REAL lunch.  I'm an eater.  I eat.  A LOT.   Still don't know where it goes.  Just got weighed today and the head nurse said, "um, you've lost a bit of weight."  She seemed concerned.  I said, "between my child, my work, my stress, and my moving my home in the past week, I think that's okay."  Oh, and I threw in that I was training for The 3-day.  That's not true.  But I said it, as I think I might try to train soon....

  Long post.  Long month/week/day.  Been terribly busy.

  Love that.  I'm busy = I'm alive.

xoxo

Anna

p.s. please send your thoughts/love/prayers/positive vibes to my dear friends Jon and Cathy.  I cannot describe to you how much I adore these two wonderful people.   Their son passed away at the end of July.  He led a very complicated life.  He was dearly loved.  He is at rest.  Please send your love.

  

We're in ...

  Save for a few odds and ins, we've made it into the place in record time.  I have to say that we would have NEVER been able to do this if it weren't for our AMAZING friends.  Those folks loaded up trucks and company vans and moved ALL of our stuff up and got it into the new place in one night.  We are blessed to have the friends we do.  I know that I've said this before.  But, I can't reiterate it enough.  It's amazing.

  We spent the rest of Friday night trying to relax.  This means beer/wine/etc.  

  We got to catch up with Sandi and Jeff and their boys.  They flew into town, after living in Japan for 2 years, on Thursday.  They spent their Friday night moving all of our crap over here.  Those people are warriors.  They didn't even deal with the jet-lag.  They spent their first full day here helping us move.  Who in the hell does that?!  They spent the night with us, as we all stayed up way too late.  It was fantastic to be with them.  It felt like those 2 years had never been missed.

  We're settling in just fine.  As a matter of fact, we're feeling like we belong here ... like this is the home that we were meant to have found.  I went upstairs and and shared a glass of wine with "T".  We chatted about her weekend at her beach house and our visit with Otis tomorrow.  He's still at Doggy Boot Camp.  So, we have to go and do a 2-week training visit.  Should be quite entertaining.  I miss him terribly.  Cannot wait to have him back and in my new place.  T has no hope of getting that damned dog back.  He's mine, I tell you!

  Silas and I caught a Mariners game today.  It was great.  Our favorite server at The Wing Dome asked us to come, as she had extra tickets.  It was fantastic.  The Blue Angels are here for Seafair Weekend.  They flew over several times.  So, it was quite the show.

  Okay, off to bed.

  Thanks to those that were our saviors this weekend.  You'll never know how much we love and appreciate you.  I cannot imagine that many people have the type of friends that we do in their lives.  What a shame.  If you don't, look for them.   Make yourself that person.  If you do, you will find them.  And when you do, your heart will, certainly, be at rest.

xoxo

Anna