Friday, December 18
Thursday, November 19
The End of Rochester. For the most part...
Hello everyone!
I finished Chemotherapy last Wednesday and finished radiation on Friday! Below is a picture of me ringing the "Bell of Completion" as I have been calling it. The grandparents arrived on Wednesday and were able to join me for pictures!
I finished Chemotherapy last Wednesday and finished radiation on Friday! Below is a picture of me ringing the "Bell of Completion" as I have been calling it. The grandparents arrived on Wednesday and were able to join me for pictures!
Over the weekend we visited family in Iowa. It was very nice to see everyone! Lindsay's baby shower was on Sunday, I wish her and the baby the best!
Dan and I are back in Port Townsend now. Not enjoying the rain too much but I guess it's better than the cold!
Friday, November 6
It's been a happy week. Renee has only six days of radiation left: one this afternoon and another five next week. The weather in Rochester has improved. Today it's sunny with a high of 59 degrees! The only dark moment of the week was Tuesday evening when Renee's iPhone was stolen. Bummer, yes--but the sunshine and beginning of a new month have kept us in a good mood.
I've been working in the portrait studio on Tuesdays. I also applied for a couple photography internships in Atlanta and New York. I'm really hoping the one in Atlanta works out. The photographer and his wife are great people and I think I could learn a lot from them. I've also been trying to learn Adobe Flash with the help of the Lynda.com tutorials. It cost $25 dollars, but I decided that was a low price for a new skill set. With so much free time I hope to have a new website up in the next week.
We fooled around on the lower level taking pictures earlier this week. Here are some photos...
I've been working in the portrait studio on Tuesdays. I also applied for a couple photography internships in Atlanta and New York. I'm really hoping the one in Atlanta works out. The photographer and his wife are great people and I think I could learn a lot from them. I've also been trying to learn Adobe Flash with the help of the Lynda.com tutorials. It cost $25 dollars, but I decided that was a low price for a new skill set. With so much free time I hope to have a new website up in the next week.
We fooled around on the lower level taking pictures earlier this week. Here are some photos...
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| From Renée and Rochester |
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| From Renée and Rochester |
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| From Renée and Rochester |
Tuesday, October 27
Rain turned to snow briefly last week. It happened quickly. A morning rain shower became snowflakes, then a small snowstorm within an hour. Luckily, both Renee and I had recently invested in fur-lined rubber rain boots and don't mind walking through snow.
I'm at the clinic now, in the "portrait studio" at the moment. Things have turned out a bit differently than I'd imagined, but I'm still happy to be working with Mayo. I've had one event photography assignment and will shoot another on Halloween night. The last two Tuesdays I've been in the portrait studio taking employee badge and passport photos. There are usually 5-20 people drifting in per day. At three minutes per person, we have plenty of time for reading. I just finished my book and have time to type a few paragraphs and share some photos between mug shots.
snow...
suits...
sister...
I'm at the clinic now, in the "portrait studio" at the moment. Things have turned out a bit differently than I'd imagined, but I'm still happy to be working with Mayo. I've had one event photography assignment and will shoot another on Halloween night. The last two Tuesdays I've been in the portrait studio taking employee badge and passport photos. There are usually 5-20 people drifting in per day. At three minutes per person, we have plenty of time for reading. I just finished my book and have time to type a few paragraphs and share some photos between mug shots.
snow...
suits...
sister...
Thursday, October 22
Week Four---Half way through treatments---
Today marks my half way point through radiation! I still am not having any side effects (including hair loss) and am exercising more than I did before being diagnosed.
I have been going to lap swim the last few days and swam forty-five laps yesterday. (Note: Yes I am bragging.) In the evening I took a Ballet class that was a little harder than I expected, as Ballet always seems to be, but the stretching exercises felt nice.
The weather includes rain, rain, and... rain. I am sort of enjoying the dismal weather, only because the leaves have not fallen yet and still have their color. It also helps to have rain boots to splash through puddles with along my way to the clinic...
I have been going to lap swim the last few days and swam forty-five laps yesterday. (Note: Yes I am bragging.) In the evening I took a Ballet class that was a little harder than I expected, as Ballet always seems to be, but the stretching exercises felt nice.
The weather includes rain, rain, and... rain. I am sort of enjoying the dismal weather, only because the leaves have not fallen yet and still have their color. It also helps to have rain boots to splash through puddles with along my way to the clinic...
Friday, October 16
Three 1/2?
Okay, time to update again....
Cousin Abby visited on Tuesday and Wednesday. We drove out to visit the Mayowood Mansion but it is only open for tours on Saturdays. Walked around Mayo to check out some of the many art pieces...
I am still feeling well and had enough energy to go swim today. We took the bus out to the Rochester Recreational Center and swam laps. I haven't been able to submerge my head in water since pre-biopsy and it felt great!
Dan is playing soccer tomorrow morning and has a photography shoot in the afternoon over at St. Mary's Hospital. I am hoping to sleep in and attend an afternoon ballet class. (Yes, it's a little different from my summer Hip Hop class!)
I also met with my RN care provider who is monitoring my progress and any possible side effects. She offered Dan and I her car for Sunday. We probably can't get too far away in that short of time period but it will help us to explore Rochester a little more. That is, if there is anything to explore in Rochester...
I am still feeling well and had enough energy to go swim today. We took the bus out to the Rochester Recreational Center and swam laps. I haven't been able to submerge my head in water since pre-biopsy and it felt great!
Dan is playing soccer tomorrow morning and has a photography shoot in the afternoon over at St. Mary's Hospital. I am hoping to sleep in and attend an afternoon ballet class. (Yes, it's a little different from my summer Hip Hop class!)
I also met with my RN care provider who is monitoring my progress and any possible side effects. She offered Dan and I her car for Sunday. We probably can't get too far away in that short of time period but it will help us to explore Rochester a little more. That is, if there is anything to explore in Rochester...
Wednesday, October 14
Week Three
The past week involved many appointments including meeting with a social worker, RN radiation "educator," a radiation care provider, and having a weekly blood draw, as well as continuing radiation sessions.
The social worker is available to provide local and nationally based resources. The radiation educator is helping to provide information about side-effects and prevention techniques. I met with the assistant to the head of the Mayo radiation department who will be monitoring my radiation treatments throughout the time I am in Rochester.
Abby drove up from Des Moines yesterday. Last night we went to dinner together, looked at photos on Abby's computer and went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. This morning we drove to see the Mayowood Mansion, walked around the clinic area a bit, and went to see the Rochester Art Gallery. It was great to see Abby and we hope to visit her in Iowa soon.
The social worker is available to provide local and nationally based resources. The radiation educator is helping to provide information about side-effects and prevention techniques. I met with the assistant to the head of the Mayo radiation department who will be monitoring my radiation treatments throughout the time I am in Rochester.
Abby drove up from Des Moines yesterday. Last night we went to dinner together, looked at photos on Abby's computer and went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. This morning we drove to see the Mayowood Mansion, walked around the clinic area a bit, and went to see the Rochester Art Gallery. It was great to see Abby and we hope to visit her in Iowa soon.
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