A New, Old Hobby To Share...👀📸🌼🌹🌿🌻📷

I have always loved photography and lately I find that on my daily walk I usually see something that I want to photograph.  I find that my phone camera works best for me for lots of reasons...number one reason is that it is light weight and I always have it handy. Plus, I don't have to do too much to snap the picture.  Of course its not the best quality...but the fact that I love them is all the motivation I need.

Sometimes after my walk and while I am resting, I will review and edit them.  Some days are disappointing and I don't like any because of various errors or it just didn't capture what I saw.

I have started sharing them on Instagram but now I feel I want to share them here on a regular basis........Enjoy!

                        Magnolia Flower...one of my favorite shot and the scent was just divine!

 Love this purple flower but have no idea what the name is but it looked beautiful against a         white brick wall

Aaaahhh Cherry Blossoms in the Spring are soo beautiful.  I love Macro Photography and this is an attempt of that...not very good but I love it anyway :)

Surviving Is Hard...

Real Love

What is to come...

Waiting Room at the Oncology office on Wednesday

It's the wee hours of Thursday morning.   The long day that was Wednesday with  doctors' visits was over.... sleep was not my friend although I was extremely tired.  
I started at 9:00 in the morning and didn't arrive home until almost 4 pm.   The Oncologists' I met with are special people who really cared and treated me with dignity, understanding and warmth.  All of which I needed on this day as my reality began to set in.

I find that on nights like these instead of laying in bed with a million things swirling in my head, that it is better and more beneficial for me to get up and write down my thoughts.  Not necessarily to publish, but just to get them down on paper and sometimes things take a more rational perspective.

The good news is that I don't need chemo therapy!  Radiation therapy is recommended....5 days per week for 3 - 7 weeks!
I have to do another mammogram to determine that my doctor got everything out before any therapy can begin...not looking forward to that procedure either!

When I came home from the doctors I decided that for the rest of the day I was not going to try to be brave and strong but just to let it be...
It's these times I wonder why me and what did I do wrong to deserve all this???

I still try not to lose sight that things could be worse.  I have lots of great family support, I am still here, awesome friends and still enjoy life to max... still creating wonderful memories.

Nothing is perfect, and making the best of what is presented is my way of doing it but...

Life Keeps Ticking Along With Ups and Downs... but hanging in there!

View of my Hometown at night 

Since my first brain surgery in 2008, I had been steadily losing weight.  For me that is a big deal, since I am normally slender.  To date I have lost about 15 pounds and was still unable to gain or maintain my normal weight.

My goal to gain back the lost weight was not realized when I lived in Italy for three months.

Recently one of my brothers voiced his concern to my sister who in turn told me and suggested multivitamins and other measures. 

My doctor ordered prescription multivitamins and liquid supplements for me. 

My appetite is slowing increasing and I am so happy!   I have gained back 6 pounds so far!

A few weeks ago I had a followup mammogram.  Last year, more calcium buildup than normal was detected and I was advised to followup.  Turns out that this year the concern was greater and I was advised to have a biopsy, which I did a few weeks ago.  Thankfully it didn't detect cancer but I was strongly advised to do a lumpectomy in early December.  I was still recovering from the biopsy.  

The lumpectomy results showed very early stage of cancer!  I was not expecting this result at all!
I have not totally processed this new diagnosis yet.  In some ways I am still dealing with the shock because I simply thought I had more than enough on my plate already.

Next week I will meet with doctors for radiation and chemo therapy to figure out if I need further treatment.  My doctor said she got all of the bad stuff out but you never know.

Let's see what next week has in store for me...

New Discovery Makes Researchers Rethink CSF Absorption

The discovery of lymphatic vessels in the brain overturns decades of scientific dogma and provides a new target for scientific investigation. For hydrocephalus researchers, this discovery is extremely exciting because the lymphatic system represents an alternative route for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption.
Read more of this exciting discovery here:
http://www.hydroassoc.org/new-discovery-makes-researchers-rethink-csf-absorption/?vsmaid=3534

My Story Submitted and Published On Huffington Post - Voices Of Strength: How I'm Surviving A Very Rare Disease

In January 2008 I had my second miscarriage at five months. My husband and I were devastated but couldn't imagine what was to come next.

I was already having major, intense pain on my right shoulder, neck and unable to raise my right arm. I went to see a chiropractor but my symptoms just worsened. I told my doctor about it and requested a referral to a physical therapist. After several months of therapy without any success my therapist decided to write a detailed letter to my doctor urging him to order an MRI of my brain because the level of weakness on my right side was inconsistent with my age.

Read More Here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-brule/how-im-surviving-a-very-rare-disease_b_7985396.html?utm_hp_ref=voices-of-strength