Rather Excellent News

Matt had another CT scan last week & we got the results Tuesday. It was the first appointment I've missed since the initial diagnosis, which was kind of heartbreaking, but nothing I could do about it. Having to miss it reminded me of the day he was diagnosed. I don't know if many people know this, but I was working on 5th floor at SMC that day, and I couldn't be with Matt for the appointment. It was my awesome 5th floor girls that held me together when I got the news. Thank you, ladies, for your comfort and support that day and the many months that were to come! Anyways, great news today! No surgery!!! The one slightly enlarged lymph node is still about the same size, but Dr. Ansari says that unless we see drastic changes to it or the tumor markers, then we're golden! Surgery to remove the node is out of the question, and we'll continue with routine monitoring. And, Matt gets to have his port removed in October!! Yay!!! I know he's excited. Pride is also excited, as this means he can jump and play as rough as he wants with Matt again.

In other news- I have a job! I spent all week in orientation... blah blah blah. It was painful. I've never in my life had to work 5 days in a week, and it sucked. I vow to never do it again. I start real job stuff Monday, so that should be better. I'm working at Elkhart General Hospital as a Float Nurse- that means I don't have a home in the hospital, which also means I don't have to deal with all the political junk that happens on the different floors. I essentially get to fly under (or above, depending on how you look at it) the radar when it comes to snotty, haughty, prissy, back-stabbing people who work in a hospital! Yay! Also, I'll eventually get to work on the mother-baby unit, which is a great perk!

We moved into the house this past Friday/Saturday, thanks to a bunch of people from our church who helped. It took much longer than I thought it would, but regardless, we're in and sleeping so amazingly well in our *not air-up mattress* bed!! We've painted a couple of spaces, but no room is finished yet, so I'll wait to post pictures when they're done- this way you'll have the full effect of before & after! And I know you're wondering... Pride loves his new backyard! He goes out and runs and rolls and pees on all the bushes and just loves it! We played a little fetch today when I got home... it's so fun watching him enjoy the space and freedom to run again.

Sorry for no pictures today. Just a boring ol' post. 

Farmers Market Fun

I went to the South Bend Farmers Market today with some friends! You can check it out here. It was awesome!! Best FM I've ever been to! I bought all kinds of goodies & wanted to share....

Naturally, I got some yummy fruit & veggies... I can't wait to try the onions! The guy selling them had some samples & they were OH SO GOOD!

I also split a basil plant with a friend- I don't know the first thing about growing things, but she split it for us and then told me to take it home a plant it. And because I'm not a grower of things, I had to stop and buy a pot. I found this one at the dollar store- score!! I planted it, then sent her the above picture to which she quickly replied.... Looks great! Buuut, I was supposed to separate the plants more before planting, so then I dumped it all out and replanted. It looks like this now:

Pretty, huh? The lovely fragrance reminds me of The Wedge Pizzeria in OKC, and their delicious pizza with fresh basil. Mmmm!

So the mosquitoes are nasty in SB. I had been wanting to purchase some oil and make a spray to ward them off, but hadn't lucked into any yet. Until I went to the farmers market! A sweet lady, who I talked to for awhile while my friends so graciously waited, sold me some lemon eucalyptus oil. I was so excited!!! Just what I'd been looking for but didn't want to pay the outrageous price at the health food store. I found the recipe I had looked up awhile back and went to work- it smells awesome in our apartment right now!! The spray is made of oils and witch hazel and water, and I can't wait to try it out. Of course, it needs to be shaken before spraying, but you get the idea. Now if only I had outdoor plans this evening.....