" I don't want a lot this Christmas,there is just one thing i need. I don't care about the presents, Underneath the Christmas tree.......All i want for Christmas, is you." All i want for Christmas is you, by Mariah Carey

i had my blood work done this Monday at my family doctor's office. they faxed it to my endocrinologist's office, and she was supposed to get back to me. my new rule, and  should be everyone else's for that matter, is to get a copy for myself. the nurse left it for me at the front desk. i do this because: one, my endocrinologist always loses the first fax or two ( she lost the one they faxed 3 days ago), and two, because i like to have one for my own records. besides, i can understand the data for the most part. i was a little anxious about my thyroglobulin/antithyroglobulin ab test. it was good the first time, but this one seemed more important to me. it is an indicator of the presence of thyroid cancer cells, to cut to the chase. could the I-131 have missed any? i have mentioned that i am having trouble with my salivary glands due to some damage from the I-131, but i would take it again in a second. it is the best defense against a recurrence of the thyroid cancer, in my opinion.

well, good news!! both my thyroglobulin and antithyroglobulin ab tests were good!! yeah!! i am getting a good feeling about things now. with every good test i have, i feel like i am closer to being cancer ( and worry) free. i have an ultrasound scheduled for march. i am not worried about this,though. once i found out that it was my salivary glands, and not my lymph nodes, that are swelling, i started to relax a little. i can deal with the salivary issue- sour candy, massage, and lots of water. better that than the alternative.

i have found out something about myself. i am a fighter! i had a second squamous cell carcinoma removed from my leg yesterday. not to worry, it is a " cut and done" thing. no further treatment. just aggravation, mostly. i told the dermatologist that i was going to Zumba right after he finished! he said, well, then, i will give you an injection of Maricaine( a long acting lidocaine) that will numb your leg for 8 hours. actually, it numbed it for six, but enough so that i got through my Zumba class just fine.i know that some of you may be tired of reading about my Zumba class, but it really has helped me get some of my strength back. and it is so much fun. an hour of fun, laughter, and shaking your booty! what could be better? to each her own,though. what works for me might not for you. you may prefer, like my husband, to do a spin class. why you would want to do that, though, is beyond me!

we had a rain storm last month, and because of that, i have a major leak in my dining room ceiling. i have my Christmas tree in there, and the dining room table that i was planning on using for Christmas dinner. it is my turn this year to have both my children and their spouses, along with my dad, for Christmas day.i told someone about the roof problem, and that  the roofer can not come until after Christmas because of the snow/sleet/ice we have had since then. they said, oh how horrible!! what will you do? well, i am not going to worry about it. the Christmas tree is getting plenty of water this year, LOL, although i can not put presents too near it. we will probably have to eat Christmas dinner in the kitchen, instead of my dining room. but you know what? big deal. we will all be together, and that is the most important thing. i really appreciate the fact that i am here and able to celebrate the holidays with my family. one more thing: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ( a little belated) HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!