MRI Images

No obvious uptake of contrast dye. Nerve wracking morning. The T2 flair appears to have increased, and the definitions have expanded in a couple of directions, but all-in-all we feel like there's no massively obvious area to panic about.

We (Dan and I) are not trained in MRIs and don't know what we're doing, we just like to compare my brain scans so that we can visualize what's happening in there. 

I would not surprised if the report comes back with bad news; we never like seeing more on an MRI, which is our perspective on the images. But I will not worry too much until I read the report, or hear from Dr L. For now, I feel relieved that the tumor appears to still be low grade, and there is no clear nodular area (that us laymen can recognize).

On a side note, my tumor area looks like a happy dog, panting...do you see it....it has hot breath coming out of the mouth.

The image on the L is April's MRI, and the R is today's. On these images they look almost exactly the same, but with the large screens, it does appear that July's scan is much brighter, and the lines may have expanded in areas. Guess we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, it's another moving day, sweet!!!! I'm all about fun distractions. Onward and upward!

New Home

Dan and I have been gloriously distracted by moving to our new home. It's so exciting! We started looking for a rental, and had become quite disheartened. Seattle's rental market is bloody, and vicious; it's been hard vying for a home out of hordes of people. 

Dan and I had been feeling the pressure of finances for quite a bit, and as people have been so generous with donations and by purchasing cherries, we have been anxious to find a tiny, safe, happy home where we can save money for shots and other medical needs. 

So after feeling disheartened, and fearing we wouldn't find a place for several months (and being rejected twice already), on Wednesday, after visiting Dan for lunch, I walked past my favorite home at Greenlake. Serendipitously, the front door was open and the place was empty. Mind you, I have been enamored with this little gem for two years, ever since we moved to Greenlake. I pass by it every time I head out for a walk. Anyway, there was no one around, but I had a good feeling about it so I sat down on the front steps with Emma. And sit we did. For just under two hours. Then the landlord arrived, and fabulously, fate had intervened. He brought doggie treats from his car for sweet Emma, and we hit it off immediately. 

I wanted to sign on the spot, but the gentleman wouldn't let me do it without at least showing it to my husband. I giggled and said, "Oh, you're right. But I just know he'll love it - we've talked about it many times." And you know what, it turns out I was right. We received the keys the very next morning, and have been cleaning, and moving (little by little).

It's less than 600 sq feet, so we are truly sifting through our things for only the necessary. But it's glorious, and the monetary savings are such a massive relief. I can't even express the excitement for our new home. It's funky and quaint, and makes our life so much easier. It is a happy home full of sunlight and surrounded by a thin garden full of gorgeous plants that I can nurture.

I'm serious about this, at each step, each turn, I continue to be amazed and grateful for the gifts in my life. Things constantly continue to get better and better. Even when times are tough (toom-ah), each day I'm blessed with gifts. 

Fingers crossed for a clean MRI tomorrow morning, but if not, there are more things I can attempt, more treatments, more tricks. I'm not going to fib, I'm terrified. This is a huge MRI since one of the three hospitals felt there could be progression. We will find out soon if they were on to something, or perhaps they jumped the gun. I'm going to need constant mental reminders to do my deep breathing. When in doubt, think of other people, and wish amazing things for them. It's always distracting. Some people call it praying...I don't really know what I call it. The only thing I do know is that it feels good to do.

Our new great room...