I had surgery yesterday morning to remove my heart monitor.  It went well and I spent the rest of the day sleeping.  Well, almost.  I was tired, so slept.  There.  Around 7 p.m., the doorbell rang.  David answered it because I was in bed.  I didn't hear him talking to anyone, but a few moments later, I heard him close the door.  Odd.  He came into my room and told me to get out of bed and come see the front door.  Again, odd.  I did as instructed, however.  He said he saw a van drive away with its lights off, but saw no one.  However, our front door was completely covered with cards, notes, drawings, cutouts of snowflakes, a Christmas tree covered with chocolates (my personal favorite), etc.  Some of our good friends and their kids spent a great deal of time making decorations and secretly taping them all to our door.  And yes, I cried.  A big thank you goes to the Staley family!

No genetic tests yet.  Big snafu there.  So, no definite decision on what type of surgery I need.  However, I have a tentative surgery date.  I go down to Houston for blood work on 12/28.  Pre-op appt. on 1/4.  Surgery on 1/7.  No chemo prior to surgery after all.  4 week recovery from surgery, then chemo for 5 months, then radiation.  That's the plan so far.  I'm going to have chemo in Tyler because they will follow the exact prescription that MD Anderson gives them.  I will see an oncologist here soon.  Still working on paperwork.  I got the results of my cardiology tests, but I have no idea what they mean.  I reckon MD Anderson gets it, tho.  I'm not in the margins they provided, but perhaps I'm not odd enough to be a concern.

For those of you looking up stuff on the internet and asking me questions, they look for 3 markers.  I am: Estrogen = positive.  Progesterone = positive.  HR2 = negative.  I have a combination of ductal and lobular carcinomas.  Invasive mammary carcinoma.  KI67.  Slow growing cancer.

I'm still coughing, so MD Anderson wants to run some more tests.  Those tests need clearance from my cardiologist because they involve anesthesia, etc.  I received a copy of a letter they sent to him today.  The procedure was for a Colonoscopy.  I think they have the wrong end to find the source of the cough.  Go figure.

I spent this entire day on the phone with doctors, nurses, faxing, scanning, etc.  It was a very, very, long day for me.  Tomorrow is a new day.  I'm having a glass of wine tonight.  Ok, I've already had 2 and I'm headed to the kitchen for a refill right now.