Proof of back to work

I am really back to work. This picture was taken on the receptionist's cell phone on Friday. The paper I am holding in my hand is "work". It is now the weekend and we just got back from lunch at Sizzler where I ate too much. Before that we had to take my dog Heidi to the vet cause some insect bit her and she started to swell up. She is OK now.

Back at Work

Today is Wednesday and I have been back to work for three days now and doing very well. I am doing my exercises and doing a lot of work. I went right back to my regular schedule of 9 hours without doing part time work. Also feel good to be out of the house and not watching 30 year old game shows on the Game Show Network.

People were happy to see me back, and now it is like I was gone for just a short while, and that is good. I just want to work without a lot of fuss. The cancer is gone and I am still here.

I have been trying to put narratives of my recovery on the various bladder cancer support where I am a member, to give other people encouragement and support as they deal with bladder cancer and possible bladder removal surgery.

Getting Ready for Work

Saturday went great. Friends took me to Appleby's in Alhambra for my birthday. Had shrimp pasta.

Now am shooting for Monday, April 14th for a return to work and am now trying to get up earlier to prepare. Today I tried getting up at 6:15 and getting a shower and was able to be "ready to leave for work" by 7:07 am. That timing should work. I can have a breakfast at work at my desk - maybe McDonalds. I am realizing now how bored I am staying at home all of the time, watching tv and reading the New York Times.

Today I see the doctor and have some blood taken. Then I might have lunch with an old friend but not sure. I didn't realize I had a doctor's appt. until after my friend callled and I don't know his phone number to call him back, just his email.

What A Two Day Period!

This has been a red letter week. Yesterday I got dressed in suit and tie and went into the office to say "hi" to all, and to see if I could sit in my chair for work. It was a great day and very successful. They also had a birthday cake for my 69th which is Saturday. It was nice to be dressed up for work and I think I will shoot for April 14th for my first day back, exactly 3 months from the day I went into the hospital!

Today I great news from two sources. A friend of mine in the Wellness Community reported that the new chemo she was having is working perfectly and instead of just giving her some more time, it is PUTTING HER IN REMISSION. A wonderful answer to many prayers.

Also a dear friend in Chicago sent pictures of her and her brand new baby girl. She had had a couple miscariages and I hadn't heard from her for a long time and was worried about her health and the baby. Again this was an answer to many prayers and I can't imagine anyone who could be a better mom that her.

Saturday I will be going out to eat Chinese for my birthday. WOW!

Nice Easter

Yesterday was a nice day. I got out of the house to a restaurant for the second time. Went back to Foxy's for turkey dinner, since it was so good the last time. Again sat up in a booth and felt OK. I did a bunch of "brainstorming" for ideas for my department's Expo and sent them off by email yesterday. I hope that some of the ideas solve the problems and keep the Expo on track. They do seem do-able.

Today I will get to a meeting and tomorrow will go to Tony's doctor's appointment with him. His appointment is 10 am near Beverly Hills, so we will have to leave at around 9 am. I want to get some early starts for my day, so I can begin to prepare to go back to work. I really can't afford to retire now, because of the medical coverage and other reasons. Even working one more year gives me one more point toward retirement and that means a couple hundred each month. Plus I really enjoy the work and the people.

I guess I always thought it would be nice to stay at home and collect the pay checks, but it really isn't so nice.

Good Day yesterday

Yesterday was a good day. I went to Foxy's Restaurant in Glendale, my first time to go to a restaurant since before the surgery!!

I sat in a booth and was comfortable sitting straight up and not on a slant like my recliner at home. It was nice to order from a menu and just be out of the house. I saw an AA friend on the patio and rapped on the window to get his attention. He did a double take and came in and we talked for several minutes, both of us happy to see each other.

Then off to an AA meeting where I saw two guys take birthday cakes - 10 years and 17 years - and was a nice ending to a nice day. Just being able to sit up again is an accomplishment on my road to recovery.

Also talked with my boss at work and worked out the timesheet information and I may even be able to give ideas on how we can put on my department's ACE Expo, which is in doubt now because of money. Even if no one likes my ideas, at least I can be thinking about something other than my surgery, etc. Also if I email something to them, they can't roll their eyes back as I make the presentation!

I also told him that people are free to visit or call me if they want. Monday my sister Marilyn will visit and I am looking forward to that. I also want to get a longer outing - yesterday I was out about 3 1/2 hours.

Just a little update

Went to the hosptal yesterday for physical therapy and learned the exercist I have to do each day. Talked with the Urology nurse and she reassured me about my recovery and we even had a nice talk about stained glass. She had made some pieces and I told her about the things I had made. I came home and took pictures of some of my windows and will take them in to her the next time I get over to the hospital.

I have been out of the house 7 times since getting home from the hospital, three doctor's appointments and 4 AA meetings. Maybe this week I will get over to get a hair cut.

I am still taking things a day at a time and that seems to work. This morning I seemed to have a little less pain in my abdomen, the site of the surgery.