Happy New Year..................

Well, as you can tell by the fact that I have not posted anything since Dec. 5, it has been a very busy month! This work thing is getting in the way of my blogging! However, I must admit that I am enjoying my new job and co-workers and getting a paycheck again is pretty cool too! I really wonder how I got everything done in years past though. I am only working part-time and I still find that I am on the go all the time. It's all good though because I can't imagine what I would do to keep busy otherwise. You can only clean closets for so long!

I completed my 21st radiation treatment this morning, and only have 12 more to go. As of yet, I have not experienced any real discomfort, and am hopeful that as I move into weeks 5 and 6 the side effects will be minimal. The docs say that I may get a bit of a sunburn in the last weeks, and that fatigue may also be an issue, but then again, who isn't tired half of the time? Either way, I am very happy to be nearing the end of what has been a fairly long treatment process.

When I complete the radiation stage of my treatment, I will have to decide whether or not I will agree to anti-hormone therepy, ie Tamoxafin or an Aromatas Inhibitor. As you may recall, my cancer is fed by the production of estrogen, and even though I removed my ovaries, the adrenal glands still produce a small amount of estrogen and the anti-hormone therepy will essentially stop that production.

Having consulted with 2 Medical Oncologists I am still uncertain as to whether or not I believe the benefits outweigh the risks. The problem is that each time I think I have made a decision, I then talk to the doctors and I get scared. This is the same reason I agreed to chemo and I now believe that it was the wrong decision. So as you can see, I have quite the dilemma in front of me. The good news is that I still have time to decide and am continuing to research my options. In the mean time I have been working with my brother David to determine what vitamin and natural supplements can best support my overall health. And so, the saga continues.

As I said earlier, it has been a busy month. The weekends have been full of christmas partys and baking. A couple of weeks ago, I got together with my friend Dani, and we baked cut out cookies with her grand-daughters, Meaghen, Olivia and Ana. It was wonderful and special day, as all of the girls are so sweet and fun to be around. It just doesn't feel like christmas unless you can share it with kids, and spending time with Dani and the girls made me feel just like I did when I used to bake with my Mom years ago. If Dani and the girls will invite me back, I just may have myself a new christmas tradition.

Other than the baking, it has been one christmas party after another. It's been such a busy year and the holidays have afforded us the opportunity to see many of the folks that we have missed through out the year. I really enjoyed visiting with everyone, and was again reminded of how very fortunate Tony and I are to have so many good friends in our lives.

As I look back at 2008, I hope that it can be said that I faced my particular challenges with a certain amount of grace and courage, but I am not foolish enough to think that I could have done so without the help and support given by my wonderful friends and family. Because of all of you, it has been a year filled with many blessings and the making of countless unforgettable memories.

And so, as I look to 2009, I do so knowing that although I still have some challenges in front of me, each and every one of you is by my side, holding my hand, laughing with me and sharing with me an unforgettable journey, and for that I shall be eternally grateful!

My wish for 2009 is that each and every one of you is blessed by the same good fortune as I have been and that it is happy, healthy, full of love and and the blessings that only family and good friends can provide. It's gonna be a good year!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With love,

Shannon

Hi Ho, Hi Ho............

It's off to work I go.............. Believe it or not, I got a job! I haven't exactly been the most employable person over the last several months, but fortunately my brother Steve still offered me a job. Isn't family wonderful? Steve is the Branch Manager for Environmental Products and Services of Vermont, and recently a postition for an Administrative Assistant became available so my wonderful brother offered me the job. How could I refuse? It's part-time M thru F, from 7:30am to 12:30pm, and they also allow me the flexibility to go to my radiation treatments and doctors appointments.

Now, remember how I was whining about having to go to my radiation treatments at 8 o'colock at night? Well, just after I accepted the position with E.P.S., my appointments got changed to morning, with the times varying from 7am to 8:15am. So guess what, can't be to work at 7:30am, can I? However, as I mentioned, Steve and all of the folks at E.P.S. have been terrific, and have allowed me the flexibility of starting work at different times each day.

So all in all, it just goes to show you that things really do work out for the best, if you just give it time. I even feel a little bad about complaining before! I am enjoying my new job and the people have all been really nice. It's good to have a place to go every day and a reason to get up and get going in the morning.

Honestly, if Steve hadn't hired me, I don't know what I would have done to keep busy all winter! I am also looking forward to getting a paycheck again. Given the fact that we are in a recession, (thanks for telling us a year later) and mine and everyone else's 401K's have tanked, a little extra money will be very welcome. Tony is awfully happy too, because now I won't be raiding his account every time I need a few bucks. Not that I don't know how to get to it when I need to!

As you can see, it's been a good couple of weeks. My port was removed on Wednesday, which was a huge milestone because it means that chemo is officially behind me. If I had it to do all over again, I am not sure that I would accept chemo as part of my treatment, but of course now that it is over, I am glad that I did it. Now all I have to do is decide whether or not I will take Tomoxafin when I complete radiation. Unless the Doc's have some pretty compelling reasons as to why I should take it, I will likely refuse the option.

Well that's it for now. I am on my own this weekend as Muzzle Loading season opens tomorrow, so I guess you know where my husband is................... yup, he's in Bradford. I however have had enough and so will forego the pleasure of cooking and hanging with the guys. I'll miss the story and the comradrie if someone gets a deer, but they'll call if they are successful and I'll share in their joy over the phone.

I have to go now, as I am awfully tired. I worked 25 hours this week ya know! Tee hee.

Hugs and love to all,
Shannon

Happy Turkey Day!

Hello all,

Can you believe that it is Thanksgiving already? The older I get, the faster the time flys! Either way, I find myself feeling thankful for many things this Thanksgiving, not the least of which is all of my wonderful friends and family. Although 2008 has been a very different year than I orignally planned, when I think about what has transpired over the last 11 months, I am amazed at the great good fortune that has come my way.

Now that is not to say that I haven't had my struggles, and have at times even felt a little bit sorry for myself. However, every time I was faced with a challenge, the support that I received from friends and family was more than I could have ever dreamed or hoped for. In addition, I can't help but be thankful for the fact that I have been blessed with best possible outcome in each of the treatments/surgeries that I have undergone.

The past months have made me realize more than ever that life is about how we overcome the obstacles we are presented with, and the folks who are there to give you a boost when you just can't quite get over those obstacles on your own. So that being said, I want to thank each and every one of you for being there to give me a boost when I needed it most!

As you can see from the above picture, Jessica has been hard at work painting my head yet again! I am also posting a something that was sent to me by my sister in law, Paula, which really says it all. I hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and "I wish you enough".

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the your final good-byes.

Much love,

Shannon

Color me confused .............

Hi all,

Well, it has been an interesting couple of weeks in regard to my ongoing treatment. As you may recall, the primary reason for having my ovaries removed was that Dr. Muss, (he's the guy who gave me the second opinion), advised me that, in his opinion, overy removal would eliminate the need for hormone suppression therepy (Tomoxafin), but would not eliminate the need for chemo, as I had originally thought.

His notes and evaluation of my condition were then sent to my Oncology Doc, who you would think, would then tell me if she had a differing opinion. Wouldn't you? Well, that was not the case! My Doc decided to wait until after my ovaries were removed, and chemo was completed before advising me that she did not agree with that course of treatment and feels that I do need to take Tomoxafin. Fine time to tell me!

So now, I am back in research mode. I have scheduled another appointment with Dr. Muss, to have him once again explain to me his thoughts, as well as what studies he based his conclusions on, so that I can understand (hopefully) why two well respected doctors, are offering 2 differing opinions. I will then meet with my Doc to hear what she is basing her recomendations on, and try to make a decision about what is best for me.

I unfortunately find myself very concerned and confused once again. Having spent many hours reading just about every clinical study done on breast cancer in the last 10 years, I still find that the conclusions they come to, say that ovary removal (Ovarian Ablation) in women my age, is a valid replacement for chemo! Nowhere do I find that it can be considered a replacement for hormone suppression therepy!

So yet again, I am in a decision making process and although frustrated, am at the very least thankful that I have the ability to seek 2nd opinions, and that ultimatley, I am likely receiving the best care possible. However, as I have said before, it goes to show you that if you cannot be your own advocate, it behooves you to have someone in your corner who can.

I have also set the wheels in motion to have my port removed. That's the little gadget that was implanted under the skin near my right shoulder, through which the chemo was administered. It means yet another minor surgery, but am very excited to have it out, as it really will mean that the chemo phase of my treatment is over. I am hopeful that the surgery will be scheduled for sometime in the second week of December. Good riddance!

Last but not least, Tony is still hunting, but as of today, has been unsuccessful in his quest for the elusive white tail. He is coming home Sunday, but will then head back to Bradford on Tuesday to continue the hunt. If perserverance has anything to do with it, then he will surely be successful before the season is over.

Today, I am posting the picture of Uncle Kenny and his son Michael that was taken last Sunday when he got his deer. As you may recall from the last posting, Michael got a 7 point buck opening weekend, and since he and his Dad are both awfully handsome, and because his success is part of the ongoing Munn legacy, I want to share it with all of you.

Much love.

Shannon

Radiation and Opening Deer Season

Hello my friends,

Well, the past week has been a busy one, filled with doctor's appointments and more hunting. As many of you know, this past weekend was opening deer season in Vermont, so I was in Bradford cooking for Heidi and the boys. Yes, Heidi hunts too! And the Munns are grinning ear to ear again, because our nephew, Michael, had a successful hunt on Sunday afternoon and bagged himself a nice 7 point, 125 lb buck!

Yet another example of what great hunters these guys are! They have spent a lifetime in those woods, and a successful hunt doesn't happen without time and effort. Unfortunately, Heidi and I had already left, so did not get to take part in the traditional gathering and the telling of "the story", but we will all be together again the weekend after Thanksgiving, and who knows, there may be a few more stories to tell by then.

Now about me! It is my blog after all! As you know, I have finished chemo, and have also completed all the preliminary work needed to begin the radiation treatments. I begin radiation on Dec. 1, and will continue treatment for 6 and 1/2 weeks; treatments being daily - Monday through Friday. I am however, quite frustrated because although I requested morning appointments, the only time they could fit me into the schedule was at 8 o'clock at night! @#$*%@. Yes, that is me cussing! No surprise to most of you!

It seems that because the hospital only has 2 machines, and so many folks (unfortunatley) need their services, their day time schedule is full. Now, I hate to be a whiner, but jeez Louise, who wants to go out every night at 8PM to be radiated? The good news is, that as people cycle out of the schedule, by week 3, I may be able to get an earlier appointment.

Although I am doing the best I can to accept the inconvenience of going to the hospital every evening, as you can tell from the above narrative, I have yet to fully come to terms with it. Either way, I remind myself that this is just one more step in the process, and this too shall pass.

Now for some good news. I feel terrific! The worst of the chemo side effects are over and I am starting to get my energy back. My legs still bother me a bit, and I still have some residual skin problems, but other than that, I have no complaints. My hair is even starting to grow back! Although it is only ablout 1/4 of an inch long, and still patchy in places, when I take my hat off, I can feel the wind in my hair. Now, that doesn't mean you'll be seeing pictures of me with my hair blowing in the wind anytime soon, but it's a start! Can't wait though, because I'm kind of tired of hats.

So, all in all, it has been a good week, and I have a couple more weeks before I have to think about radiation so I guess I'll just enjoy the respite and get on with life. I don't have any pictures for you today, but the next several weeks promise to be eventful and so will have more for you on future postings and one day, in the not too distant future, I'll be able to post that picture with my hair blowing in the wind!

I love you all,
Shannon

The 5th Generation of "Munn Hunters" is successful!

"The Munns always get their deer!" Never has a statement been more true! It is with great pride and love that I announce that Ian "Munn" Hrynyszyn, had a successful hunt over youth weekend and with the help of Grandpa, Mom, Steve, Uncle Kenny and Cousin Phil, bagged himself a nice, 101 LB, doe!

What an amazing and wonderful experience this past weekend was. As you know, it began on Friday morning with the news that Cousin Paul bagged a 6 pointer while muzzle loading in N.H, and so it was with great anticipation that we all converged upon the house on Goshen Road, Friday evening to hear "the story" and share in the joy of Paul's success. Now, "the story" is Paul's, not mine, so I won't recount it here, but suffice it to say that there was much laughter, excitement and back slapping as Paul elaborated on the highlights of his hunt.

As we all stood within the glow of the fire, the light from the shed shining on Paul's "plump, alfalfa fed, 145 LB, 6 pointer", I saw Ian's face and the the look of hope that he too would be standing in that same shed, telling his story soon. As I watched and listened, I was awed by the fact that the history of this family and traditions that began with Ian's Great, Great Grandfather, Waldo, were still being honored and appreciated by all of the generations. The comradrie, the stories from years past, the love of family and friends, this was their legacy and gift to Ian.

And so began Ian's journey to becoming one of the "Great Munn Hunters". It was not any easy hunt for our boy, because as is the case with so many hunters, he missed a deer early Saturday morning due to a case of "buck fever". However, he perservered and was on stand with Grandpa the remainder of Saturday, and was up at 4am on Sunday morning, excited and ready for day 2. And what a day! At 8:45 A.M., the unlucky doe, having been pushed through the woods by the rest of the gang, bounded into Ian's sites and with one shot, he had his first deer!

Let me tell you, it was one very proud family that stood at the checking station while Ian claimed and weighed his very first deer. Then it was off to the house for pictures and of course the tradition of gathering around for "the story". I will never be able to convey accurately, the joy and pride in Grandpa's face, or the just how brightly Ian's face shone as he told his tale, but I can assure you it was priceless! The bonds of this family were once again cemented because they had all shared in the hunt and Ian's ultimate success.

It is one very proud and thankful Nana that shares with you the pictures of Ian, the Munn family and of course the deer. The whole family is headed to Bradford again this coming weekend for opening gun season and a continuation of the traditions that began so very many years ago. The legacy continues.........................

Much love,

Shannon

A good omen for the weekend........

Hi All,

I wasn't going to update the blog today, but I got a very excited call this morning from Stephanie, to let me know that Paul was successful this morning and bagged himself a nice 6 pointer, while muzzle loading in New Hampshire. Now given we are headed to Bradford today in preparation of Ian's first "Vermont Youth Day", I just can't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, this is a good omen. One of Ian's ground stands is on Paul's Vermont property, and in fact is the same location that Paul got his very first deer back when he was a young boy. And since our Paul is one of the most successful hunters I know, we may just be celebrating again tomorrow. Man I think I would pee my pants, if only he could be that fortunate!

Whether or not Ian is successful tomorrow, we are always happy for any one of the Munn boys when they get a deer, so tonight will be a huge night in that Paul will have his deer hanging in the shed and we will all be anxious to share in the fun as he tells the story of his successful hunt. This is all part of the learning process for Ian as well.

As I may have mentioned in past postings, hunting has been part of the Munn heritage going back many generations when they had to hunt to put food on the table, and although there is obviously a great deal of excitement when one of the boys is successful, it is really more about the comradrie, remembering family members who unfortunately are no longer with us, and the continuation of the Munn traditions, and the history that we are all so very lucky to be a part of. This is what we all hope is being passed on to the next generation, which of course is Ian! So as you can see, we will be greatful for the meat as we all love venison, but in the end, it is really about family.

Love to all,

Shannon

One and done, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a day! My last chemo treatment, finally! I cannot tell you how very excited I am about this mile stone in what has been a very long road. If the past treatments are any indication, I should be fortunate in that I will likely have a few days of minor discomfort and lethargy, but then, things are looking up!

I have been thinking a lot this week about everything I have experienced this past summer. It started with a lumpectomy on July 18, and Tony and the Goose Family by my side, and as Goose said in her posting, ended with all of us doing the "Happy Dance" as we discovered that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes. I was so fortunate, because I was able to recover and go to Aunt Vera's birthday party the following day. How lucky was I?

We then progressed to ovary removal on August 12, (Tony, Goose and Brian were there too) and again after only a couple of days of discomfort, I was recovered and running at full steam again. I must admit that the hot flashes I now experience aren't much fun because they disturb my sleep, but yet again, given the alternative was to take Tomoxifen for the rest of my life, I can surely live with the hot flashes!

Next was my first chemo treatment on Sept 4. Man was I scared! (Goose and Tony were there) However, as has been the case for me, I was so very fortunate in that the side effects that I experience are relatively minor and although I am getting a little tired of being bald, as I have said before there is also something very freeing about it. Having always been a kind of vain person, ( I like being cute), there is no longer anything to be vain about and getting ready in the morning is surely a whole bunch easier. Again, in the end, a relatively positive experience. Besides, I loved seeing all of my brothers and my nephew Josh with their bald heads. How's that for support and love?

As I get ready to head to my appointment this morning, I find myself excited and looking to the future. I have my first radiation appointment of November 13, at which point they will do what is called a mapping and place a small tattoo on my breast, which will be used to direct the radiation on future treatments. I am expecting to start the actual treatments on the 17th, if all goes as I hope. Radiation will be 5 days a week for 33 treatements, and then I am done! So aside from the inconvenience of having to go the hospital every day, and a few minor side effects which include discomfort at the site, and a little bit of lethargy, nothing really to get my pants in a bunch about.

As of this morning, I find myself thankful to be taking this next step, and I know that I would not have been anywhere near as fortunate if not for all of the support and love I have received from my wonderful family and friends. So in the end, instead of being scared about my final chemo treatment, I am so very excited because in Bob Seager's words and as my friend Goose (Linda) always says, I am going to "turn the page"!

I love you all!

Shannon

Home again, Home again......

Hello my friends,

This is gonna be a long one folks! What a wonderful vacation! It's amazing how invigorating sunshine, good friends and family can be. Our friend Nicolle moved from Vermont to Florida about 5 years ago, and so we catch up with her every time we go down. The 3 of us spent Saturday on the boat, fishing and sunning ourselves and also went to lunch at a restaurant right on the water. You just pull the boat up, tie it off and head to the patio for a pitcher of beer and some great seafood. OK, so maybe we had 2 pitchers of beer, but we were on vacation after all! Anyway, it was wonderful to see Nicolle, and the good news is that she is planning to move back to Vermont in the next few months, so we will be able to spend a lot more time together.

On Sunday, Heidi, Steve, Ian and Shannon arrived at noon, and we bee lined it for the condo to change from winter clothes into swimming suits and shorts, and then off to the boat again. That first day together on the boat was absolutely amazing, as it seemed that the stars had all aligned themselves in such a way that the ocean and all if the creatures in it, had decided that Ian, Shannon and all of us would have the experience of a life time.

We weren't on the boat more than 15 minutes before the we started seeing entire schools of Dolphins. Now, Tony and I have always seen Dolphins, but this time several of them swam up right next to the boat; you could almost reach over the side and touch them! And if that's not enough we then saw them feeding in some of the more shallow areas, and believe it or not more than once they actually jumped right out of the water, and we even saw one do a flip! It was as if they were performing for the kids!

Well, Grandpa Tony also knows that where there are Dolphins, there are also other fish. We dropped an anchor and got the kids set up with their fishing poles and sure enough, we started catching fish right away. I no longer remember who caught the first fish, but the competition for who could catch the most and biggest fish quickly began. Both kids quickly became adept at baiting their own hooks with shrimp, and casting because they were so sure that they were going to catch the next big one. I really am not sure who ultimatley won the competition, but I know that both kids will tell you it was them!

Later in the week Heidi and I took Shannon shopping for her birthday, while Grandpa and Steve took Ian golfing. Ian drove the cart and aside from a couple of close calls, he didn't actually wipe out, so we figure he did a good job of it. The kids also got to go the Florida Museum, where they saw the oldest living Manatee at something like 62 years old. I guess that Manatee only live to be about 7 or 8 in their natural habitat, and man is their only predator. Kind of sad, isn't it?

In addition to the above, we spent an evening at the local roller skating rink. Although Grandpa Tony and Nana weren't the fastest or smoothest skaters, I think the kids were impressed with the fact that we at least got out there and gave it a try. We paid for it the next day though with sore hips, and stiff legs, but we wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The end of the week was again spent on the boat. The weather changed mid-week and became quite a bit cooler, so we didn't do as much swimming and playing in the water as we would have otherwise, but none the less were able to walk in the shallows, collecting shells for Shannon and discovering hermit crabs, sea urchins and the like. The fishing competition also continued, and both kids easily caught 20 or 30 fish each day, varying from Grouper, Red Fish and Pompano Jack, to a few Cat Fish and Lady Fish. All in all, we were six very greatful and contented people. Both kids even agreed that this vacation was better than their trip to Disney a couple of years ago. Just try to wipe the smiles off of Grandpa and Nana's face!

So now it is home again and preparation for my last chemo treatment and Ian's first deer hunt. My treatment is on Thursday, and although I have been very fortunate in that I have not had any terrible side effects, the treatments do have a cumulative effect on me, and I am definitely anxious to be done with them and start feeling like my old self again. Old perhaps being the operative word, but none the less more like myself.

The week ahead holds many things, but perhaps most importantly we head for Bradford on Friday in preparation for Vermont's Youth Day, which is the weekend before deer season actually opens. We are all so excited for Ian's first hunt, and Grandpa, Mom, Steve, Uncle Kenny and cousin Phil will all be there, ready to drive the deer to Ian in his ground stand. Grandpa will of course be by his side as he is not yet old enough to be in the woods with a gun by himself, but the bottom line is, there still has to be a deer within range, and Ian still has to be the one to shoot it. Fingers crossed, because it ain't that easy, and disappointment may be the outcome, but that's all part of being a sportsman.

Either way, we will all be there to give him the full experience, which includes opening morning breakfast at 5am, stories of years gone past and the comradrie of the wonderful Munn family. I must admit though, I hope he has his own story to tell the following weekend when the rest of the family heads out for their opening day. Wouldn't that be something?

So yet again, as I write this rather long winded posting, I find myself reminded of how very fortunate I am. The week just past was one I will remember for the rest of my life, as I can still see in my minds eye, Ian and Shannon next to Grandpa reeling in a big fish and the smiles on all of their faces, or the look on Ian's face as he drove the boat and learned about the channel markers from his Grandpa. I can still hear the shared laughter as we all danced to the music on the boat and simply enjoyed being a family. What more could a girl ask for?

Hugs and love to all.

Shannon

Florida here I come!

What a relief! I am past most of the side effects of the 3rd treatment, and am packing for Florida! I had hoped that the change to Nupigen would mean that I would not become quite as exhausted as I have with past treatments, but unfortunately that was wishful thinking. Sometimes you just have to listen to your body, and so I spent most of Sunday and Monday sleeping and reading. However, the good news is that I am not experiencing any kind of rash. Now, whether that is because of the histamine blockers or the Nupigen, remains a mystery, but either way, I am pleased to be itch free.

I did have a very nice weekend though, because the fatigue doesn't tend to be an issue until a fews days after a treatment. On Friday, Heidi took me to the hospital for our lesson administering shots of Nupigen. I am pleased to say that I was able to give myself the shot, and although Heidi was ready willing and able, I did not need her assistance through the weekend. It was really very neat, and I was very proud of myself for being able to do it.

On Saturday, I went to lunch with the girls from Verizon and was then very pleasantly surprised with a visit from my friend Teri and her daughter Amy. Amy is a very creative young lady, and took to heart my very first post in which I told folks that I was looking for clever and fun hair pieces. Let me tell you, Amy is hands down the winner in regards to creativity and fun, because she made me a neon pink, duck tape wig! It is sooo very cool, and as you can see by the picture above, no small task either. It is definitely going to Florida with us! Wait til you see the pics! Amy, I love my new wig, and it touches my heart that you took the time and effort to make me such an amazing, thoughtful and fun gift! You're the BEST!

Saturday evening was spent with Heidi, Steve and Tony in the back yard around our fire pit. It was a beautiful fall day, and we all decided to take advantage of it. We were joined for a short while by my brother David and his wife Laurie, who brought me a big bowl of Mazza Ball Soup. Dinner dilemma solved, because there is nothing better than Laurie's soup on a cool fall evening.

So all in all, a good weekend but one that I am thankful to be past as well. We leave for Florida on Thursday, and Heidi, Steve and kids will join us on Sunday. If I haven't mentioned it, this is a birthday trip for Shannon (Steve's daughter) and Ian. Ian turned 10 on Oct. 20 and Shannon will turn 11 on Oct. 22. We have rented a pontoon boat and plan to spend our days fishing, snorkeling, swimming and enjoying each others company. I know I've said it before, but I just have to say it again............... "I am one very lucky girl!"

Stay tuned for stories of our Florida adventures when we return on Nov. 1.

Hugs and love to all.

Shannon

3 down and 1 to go, with my "back up" in tow......

Whew, yesterday started as a bit of a nerve racking day, as I was concerned that I would have an accelerated allergic reaction to the chemo, given my experience with the rash last week. As usual, my wing man Goose (Linda), was by my side, helping me to focus on the positive. She took me to my treatment and got me all tucked in with my wonderful friendship quilt, and perhaps most important of all, kept me chatting, so I wouldn't spend too much time worrying.

As you know, I saw a Dermatologist on Monday, who speculated that the rash I was experiencing was indeed an allergic reaction to the chemo. He prescibed a couple of anti-histimines or histimine blockers which suppress the bodies ability to to react to the things it doesn't like. Good news because the rash went away, and I was able to make it through the rest of the week without any discomfort.

Well, it also goes to show you what worrying will get you anyway, because I had a very productive conversation with the Oncology Doc and her Physicians Assistant. They explained that although patients do often experience an allergic raection to chemo, it always presents itself within the first few days after chemo, and in fact 2 weeks later when I experienced my reaction, the chemo was very likely entirely out of my system.

They went on to tell me that they believe that it may be a reaction to the Nuelasta shot that I receive to boost the production of blood cells. So, we now have a new plan in place. I am to continue taking the histamine blockers that The Dermatologist prescribed, as there are no long term difficulties with these drugs, and bottom line is they are working. They also decided to stop giving me Nuelasta, and have prescibed Nupigen, which is a sort of derivitive of Nuelasta but not quite as strong. It's kind of cool too, because I will administer these shots myself! I always wanted to do something like that, so believe it or not, I am kind of excited to test my metal, so to speak.

So anyway, then it was on to the treatment, and I DID NOT experience any kind of reaction to the chemo, so I have to believe they may be on to something, even if it is kind of a guessing game at this point. Later this afternoon, I will go back to the hospital and my nurse (Sue), will teach me how to give myself the Nupigen shot. I will then administer two more shots to myself on Saturday and Sunday. However, as usual, my "back up" will be there in the form of Heidi. She will go to my appointment with me today, and just in case I am unable to muster the nerve to poke myself, she will be there to learn how, and then give me the shot if need be.

Lastly, I expressed concern to the Docs about my trip to Florida on Oct 23, and my worry that something may occur that interferes with our ability to enjoy ourselves and the time with the kids. She gave me a course of Prednizone and an Epi-pen, which I will take just in case I encounter a delayed reaction, as I did before. The Prednizone will act with the histimine blockers to minimize the reaction, and the Epi-pen will be used just in case I have a very severe reaction. Either way, I am now confident that everything that can be done, is being done, and I move forward feeling that I am recieving the right care and advice. So, just try to wipe that smile off my face as I board the plane for Florida in 7 days!

So all in all, yesterday was a good day. After I got home from my treatment, Heidi, Steve and Ian arrived to spend the evening with me. And my prayers were answered because Heidi brought her world famous chicken noodle soup. Let me assure you, much better than anything the docs could have prescibed! Ian also made me a card, and his sentiments were so heart felt and touching that it almost made me cry. Man, I love that kid!

In addition, Gooses's son Ryan, who has sort of adopted me, came over to do a little plumbing for me. I have been having trouble with one of the toilets, and he has become my personal plumber. All I have to do is ask, and he is there to help me, off the clock. He stayed for a visit and some of that amazing chicken soup and what started as a nerve racking day, ended with a nice little family dinner, and my knowing, how very fortunate I am!

I am posting a picture of Ryan and I, that was taken last weeknd in Bradford. As I said, the whole Goose family has taken me under their wing, and I really think Ryan and I look very cute in this shot. Besides, we love pictures of ourselves!

Hugs and love to all, and especially to my "Back Up".

Shannon

A rash, my ash..........

As the weeks have passed and I have progressed through my chemo treatments, I have been fortunate in that I have experienced very few side effects other than fatigue and muscle pain. Well now it seems that we have a new wrinkle in that I have started experiencing a rash on my face and body, which is due to some sort of allergic reaction. Although my nurse didn't seem to think it was an actual reaction to the chemo drugs, my friend Stephanie does Reiki for several people who are undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer, and she explained that several of these folks have experienced the same thing and were told that it is one of the side effects of chemo.

I have to admit, of all of the things I have gone through over the summer, this is perhaps the most difficult to get past. I have been taking Benedryl and applying cortisone cream, but that only calms the itching for a little while. The good news is that I am going to see a dermatologist today, and am hopeful for a solution soon.

Well enough about that. As you may know, we spent Columbus Day weekend in Bradford 4-wheeling, bow hunting, hiking, and enjoying the company of friends and family around the fire pit. My friend Dani and her grand daughter, Anna came up Saturday morning and then Goose (Linda), her husband Brian, their son Ryan and his fiance Amanda came later in the day. We all had such a good time, enjoying the view from our little house and sitting around the bon fire sharing stories and laughing our fool heads off.

Earlier in the day, Grandpa Tony, Ian and the gang took a walk to Ian's ground stand in preparation of Vermont's Youth Day. It is so wonderful to be part of this amazing rite of passage that Ian is experiencing, as he came back from their hike telling stories of when Grandpa was a boy, and went hunting with his Father. The excitement in his voice and the look on his face was worth a million bucks!

We also spent time getting the guns sighted in, and even though this was the first time that Dani and Anna had ever shot a gun, we did get a little competitive. Although everyone shot very well, I am proud to say, that while sighting in Ian's gun, I shot almost a perfect bulls eye! Anna also had an amazing shot and was just a smidge away from me! As you can imagine, we couldn't resist rubbing it in just a little! Way to go Anna!

Well, that's about it for now. I have my third treatment this Thursday, so am preparing for that. Fingers crossed that we get this allergic reaction figured out, as Heidi, Steve, Ian, little Shannon and Tony and I are headed to Florida on Oct. 23, and I don't want anything to interfere with our ability to enjoy our vacation. As with everything else, I guess I'll just keep a positive thought and know that it will all work out.

Hugs to all.

Looking forward to Columbus Day Weekend....

Good morning all,

It's 4am and Tony and I have a busy day ahead, so I thought I would make a quick post before I get to work. It's time to bring in all of the lawn ornaments, take down our porch gazebo, and get everything ready for winter. Even though Fall is my favorite time of year, I do so hate to to give up on summer, but since my motto these days is accept what you cannot change, and move on, that's what I'll do.

We are headed to Bradford for a weekend of bow hunting, 4-wheeling, hiking and bon fires. Very exciting because Grandpa Tony and Ian will be scouting and setting up his tree stand in preparation for Vermont's Youth Day on Nov. 8, which will be Ian's first time hunting. Our boy is growing up and it is such a wonderful time as this is a bond will last both of their lifetimes. I wouldn't miss it for the world, and I can't wait to hear from Ian all the things he learns at Grandpa's side.

I also wanted to thank all of you who have taken time to send comments and well wishes through the blog. It seems that several people in my home town of Roseau, MN have become aware of my situation and have been checking in on me now and again. I was pleasantly surprised the other day, to see that my girl friend from high school days, Pam Engelstad, left a comment letting me know she was thinking of me. Pam, I would love to catch up with you, but please post another comment including your email address or send me an email at munsey1962@verizon.net.

I am amazed on a daily basis by how many wonderful people have stepped forward to offer hope, help and hugs. Whenever I have a difficult day, I simply have to look at my blog or around the house at all of the amazing gifts and tokens of friendship and love, and I am very quickly reminded of how fortunate I am.

No pictures today, but rest assured I will be posting more after the "Bradford Gang" returns from the weekend. Who knows, maybe we'll get a shot of Grandpa and Ian in their tree stand?

Hugs to all,
Shannon

The Munns always get their deer...............

This last weekend was such a busy and eventful weekend that I find it necassary to make several postings at once. Sunday morning began with a very excited phone call from Tony (or Bob as he is referred to in Bradford), telling me that nephews, James and Phil had both been successful in their quest for the elusive white tail! Hunting, fishing and trapping are the very cornerstones of Bradford life and aside from the love of family, and strength of character that was instilled in all these boys by past generations, it is the very foundation that brings us all together at the house on Goshen Road.

Understanding that, you can also understand that an hour later Heidi, Steve and I were on our way to Bradford! What a glorious day for drive! The fall foliage is getting very close to peak in some areas, and so the anticipation of the the stories the boys would share was made all the more enjoyable by the drive and the amazing landscape that greeted us.

Well, we finally arrived at the house and after many hugs and high fives, we heard the stories of the hunt and ultimate success. As mentioned above, hunting is very fundamental part of why we love Bradford, but this day was made even more special because it is the first time "The Munn Boys" have had the good fortune to bag one with a bow and arrow. And that's going back over a hundred years!

Needless to say, we are all so very proud of Phil and James because they did it right! They have been walking those woods, planning their strategies, building stands and learning from their Dad, (Kenny) and Uncle Bob since they were little boys and to share in their success was a gift that we were all most greatful to be part of.

So, understanding that not all of you who read this blog are hunters and trappers yourselves, I still want to share a couple of pictures from the day. Please bear in mind, each of these family members is the most ethical of hunters, they also support and contribute to the preservation of habitat and herd management. We are one very proud family!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun with paint and Nana's head.........

Or as Heidi says ................. "Fun with Cancer"!!! OK, so I have told you that Heidi and Jessica with their creative and devious minds, had several plans for the pics they wanted to paint on the back of my head. Well, my "back up" came for dinner Friday evening and Jess arrived with a huge smile and plan. So although it may still be a bit premature...................

Happy Halloween to all.......... The little guy in the picture is Jessica's son and my buddy, Cole.

Kings of the River............

Tony and our friend Davey Shover just returned from a fishing trip to Pulaski, NY, and this morning he asked me to download the pictures of that trip for him. Now, we all know our guys, and how they love to be admired for their fishing and hunting capabilities. Understanding that, I was singing his praises and admiring the amazing Salmon he and David caught, while fly fishing on the Salmon River. Well, doesn't he perk right up, look at me with a big grin and say..........."are you gonna put a picture of me and my fish on the blog"?

How could I resist? Now you too can admire their amazing catch! Notes, emails and phone calls of admiration to he and Davey, are of course welcome at anytime. So here they are, feast your eyes and be in awe of the two BEST fisherman in the world! I hope it brings a smile to your face, just as it did for me.

By the way, they are strictly catch and release fishermen.

Hugs to all,

Shannon

Ian passes Hunter's Safety...........

Color us the proudest Grandpa and Nana in the world! Ian has been attending Hunter Safety classes for the last several weeks, and we are so very proud to announce that he passed the course with flying colors, and is now eligible to hunt and will be on stand with Grandpa for Vermont's Youth Day. I'm sure that Uncle Kenny and his cousins will be right there driving for him as well. Of course the fact that he passed came as no surprise to all of us, as we have known for many years that he is the smartest, cleverest and most handsome kid around! Anyway, just wanted to share a pic of my boy, showing off his certificate of achievement and his lifetime hunting and fishing lisence. Isn't he the BEST!

Shannon

Leaf Peeping with Heidi & Steve

What a beautiful weekend! I found that I was feeling pretty well on Saturday, and so Tony, Heidi, Steve and I decided to do a foliage run. We discovered that all of the little towns were having their Harvest Festivals and simply meandered from town to town, appreciating the amazing fall colors and browsing the farm stands. What a good day!

Shannon

My quilt of many colors that my friends made for me.......

Good morning all,

Well, I made it through another round of chemo and had my Nuelasta shot yesterday. So far, so good. Feeling a little bit tired like before, but most of that can be attributed to the fact that I don't sleep well at night due to hot flashes and having to pee 15 times a night because of all the water I drink to flush the chemo out of my system. In the big picture, nothing to complain about. For some reason the hot flashes seem to be exacerbated by the treatments, but do calm down after a few days.

I am hoping this second treatment won't exhaust me as the last one did, because the Doc told me to take Benedryl which as a histamine blocker is supposed to help with some of the side effects created by the Nuelasta shot. Just not sure if it's supposed to help with exhaustion, muscle pain, or both. I guess I will see as the weekend progresses.

As you can see from the picture, I took my beautiful quilt and pillow with me as I discovered that I get awfully cold while receiving the treatment. It felt so good to have it there with me, and know that each of you sewed it with your own hands, and therefore it carrys with it your special thoughts for me. I felt very strong and loved!

And you cannot believe the attention it got. They were calling nurses in from different departments just to see the wonderful quilt and the beautiful handi-work. For some reason, there was particular interest in the "The Pass the Trash" square. All thought it was very clever and I believe it gave them an insight to the personalties of me and my wonderful friends. I was very proud to display it and was once again reminded of how very precious your friendships are to me.

You know each time I sit down to write in this blog, I find that aside from a couple of paragraphs about how I am doing, the real story is about my family and friends. I had lunch with Sue, MaryLou and Bernie about a week ago and we had a wonderful time catching up as we hadn't really seen much of each other over the last few years.

Well, as seems to be par for the course these days, they came bearing gifts and good wishes. Sue, being the talented girl that she is, had knit for me a beautiful turquoise blue hat to cover the old noggin. Sue also explained that another one was in the works. MaryLou came with her home-made Rhubarb Marmalade, which is now gone, as it was so very tasty on toast in the morning and Bernie came bearing some amazing lavender roses which lasted and made the house smell wonderful for almost 2 weeks.

My sister, Debbie, also stopped in for a visit last week, and came with home-made Zuchinni Bread and Red Clover Bloossom Tea, which is good for cleansing your system. She also offered advice about a homeopathic remedy called Essiac, which is considered to be a native approach and a has strong history of being able to support the system while undergoing cancer treatments. Needless to say, I ran out and got the Essiac and have been taking it ever since and am also enjoying a cup of tea each day.

Brother Dave, has also been there to care for us. He is the computer guru in the family, and as Tony and I have been experiencing some issues, he has spent several hours keeping us up and running. Not so much fun, as I am sure most of you can understand. He was also in Minnesota recently, and brought me back a bear figurine, of some sort of native Minnesota stone, that is supposed to carry good energy for healing and strength. I hold it each evening and perform a bit of self-reikki before going to sleep. As you may recall, my friend Stephanie, gave me a Reikki attunement several months ago. So yet again, an example of how many people are looking out for my well being.

Now in addition to the above, as you have all probably seen (and if you haven't be sure to look at the older posts for the pics), several of my brothers, my nephew Josh, and my friend Josh, all shaved their head in my honor. Man that takes courage! And of course, my "Back Up", JoAnne, Heidi, Jessica, Linda and Dani are there for me on a daily basis to offer their support through phone calls, hugs, flowers, help with head coverings and care packages containing a host of things to help me through my treatments. But perhaps most importantly, they remind to laugh at the things that I cannot control.

In addition, I get frequent emails from my high school girl friends, whom I haven't seen in 5 years. Each of them reads the blog frequently and then will send notes of love and encouragement. After all these years, they take time to look out for me and send their good wishes across the miles, even as each of them works through their own particular challenges in life.

So, as you can see, this has very quickly become a story not just about me, but each of you and your good and caring hearts. I sometimes wonder what I have done to deserve such caring and love, but have decided that I can only attribute it to good fortune. Each of you chose to include me in your life and I am a stronger and better person because of that and I needn't look far to be reminded of where that strength comes from.

That said, as you can imagine, when I awoke this morning and decided to update the blog, my thoughts were not about what side effects I might encounter today, but about how each of you has contibuted to my ability to get past those side effects and look forward with a positive attiutude. I thank you for all for keeping me in your hearts, as each of you will always remain in mine. Each and everyone of you has contributed to a wonderful story of love and freindship and for that I shall be eternally greatful.

Much love and many hugs,

Shannon

Round 2 of chemo and more bald brothers/nephews........

Wow!! I woke early this morning to prepare for my second chemo treatment and check my email, and what did I find but more pictures of bald people! It seems that my brother Steve has been the catalyst behind the whole head shaving thing, and he and my nephew Josh got themselves a little hair cut last night, with my neice Jordan doing the honors.

What can I say, they must truly love me, as I am not sure that I would have the courage to shave my head if the roles were reversed! Good thing we are all so darn good lookin, or this could really be traumatic! I only wish we could all get together for a small Singer reunion, as that would be a family picture for the ages. It's funny, because as we have aged, I have found it harder to see the family resemblances, but when you get rid of all that hair it becomes readily apparent (to me anyway), that we were born of that same set of wonderful parents. I only wish they were still here to see what wonderful children and grandchildren they brought into this world. I am sure they know though and are watching each of us with pride and love.

So, although I approach today with a bit of trepidition, I am again reminded of the love and support that surrounds me. My only wish is that I was better able to express how much it means to me to be surrounded by so much love and caring. I am stronger for it, and know that my journey has been made so much easier because of all of you. So today, I will hold my head high, put on my baseball cap, and go to my second treatment with a smile on my face and so much love in my heart!

That said, enjoy the pics! I love you all!

Shannon

Brotherly love!

OMG! I got emails today from my brothers Shawn and Mike down in Atlanta, GA, and much to my surprise they decided to shave their heads too! I guess my little sweetheart of a neice Shannon, was considering shaving her head too, but realized how distraught we all would have been, and so changed her mind. Not so for the boys though. Now that's brotherly love for ya!

I love you guys!!!!!

Shannon

Hair today, gone tomorrow.........

As you can see from the several pictures that I posted yesterday, I won't need a perm for a while. I woke up on Thursday morning to find that when I tried to comb my hair, it was coming out in tufts. Rather than wait for all of those lovely bald patches to start showing, I decided it was time for Josh to get out his shears.

So, after spending the afternoon with Dani, making head bands from the material we purchased last week (she did most of the work), I went over to Josh & Jessica's for a nice little buzz cut. Admittedly, I was quite anxious, but as usual my back up was there to help me through this step of my journey. After having a few drinks, as I must admit, I just couldn't do it without loosening up a bit, Heidi, Steve, Jess, Josh, Karen, Tony and I, headed out to the fire pit for the grand unveiling.

Well, before I knew it, I was bald, or as close as you can get to it, and we were having a grand old time. Cole and Ian even thought I looked cool! My friend Josh, bless his heart, asked me to shave his head too, just so I wouldn't be the only one walking around hairless. Yet again, it goes to show you that when you have amazing friends and family like I do, you can do just about anything and have fun doing it.

And so yet again, I find that perspective is everything, and am discovering that being bald has really made me feel rather carefree. Whether I feel that way 5 or 6 months from now, when I am still waiting for my hair to grow back remains to be seen, but for now, I am OK with it!

So that's the latest in the saga. We are headed over to Linda's today to do some gardening and it's supposed to be wonderful sunny fall day, so I think I'll put on my baseball cap, and get to work helping Heidi make a beautiful little oasis for Linda to enjoy while she is convalescing from her knee surgery. Hope you all enjoyed the pictures. I think I'll pass on wearing the "Shaggy" wig you see in the picture above though.

Hugs and love,
Shannon

The Hair Cut!!!

Making fun of the soon to be bald girl!

Bald is beautiful...........

I get by with a little help from my friends!

Josh gets a hair cut too!

Go Red Sox!

Me and my favorite boys...........