Sunday, July 23, 2006

I couldn’t wait to post tonight. I’ve taken a week’s worth of pictures to talk about. I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s posts. Don will walk into the kitchen and be amazed, I’m writing to people I don’t know. I just look at him…’You have no idea…’

I finally did it. I made my first 10 mile bike ride with Don in years. .
I’ve been working up to it. Saturday I rode 5 miles took a 10 minute break and rode 5 miles home. Today Don and I tackled 11 miles non stop before it rained. I feel great. I used to ride with Don all the time. Then you have kids and we still rode some with them, but you worry about them getting hurt and someone is slower than someone else, and someone’s legs hurt…You get the idea. Well, back in March on my birthday, I go for my annual checkup. It’s religious with me. If I go the same time every year I don’t forget. Nothing is ever wrong. I have too many people counting on me so I do it. Well, in that one week, I failed a mammogram; they found a 2 ½ inch tumor on my thyroid and needed to biopsy my female organs. Great. Even the doctor says,” Mel, you were doing great until you saw me!!!’ The long and short of it, The mammogram was a false alarm, the biopsies came back negative, But I had to have half of my thyroid taken out. It wasn’t cancer…so I dodged a bullet.

I’ve just been kind of scared to do anything. There was always some reason I wouldn’t. Finally my son Eric says Mom, you don’t need to let your body go down hill because of this scare. You have got to get past this. So I started back working at it. I didn’t want to hold Don back by not being able to keep up. But this weekend he was so supportive. And I feel great.

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On the quilting front, I have the labels done for the 2 Americana projects for the kid’s teacher and my Mom. I’m going to be real detailed like ForestJane recommended with dates, Names, towns, pattern name and reason for making the gift along with who the gift is for. I know I have broken about every ‘internet rule’ I have set for my kids, but I’m still not comfortable with spelling it all out there in black and white on line.

I sewed the binding on the projects but I was tired when I did it and consequently I missed three spots. So that means unsewing and re sewing to get it right. But after that bike ride, I feel like I can do anything…

Until tomorrow – Live up today
Gratitudes:
1. Popcorn
2. Bicycles
3. Rain this evening (boy do we need it!)

18 comments:

Linda C said...

Good for you, Melanie for making that committment and sticking to it! I bet your whole family is cheering you on as well.

Shelina said...

You go girl! You really can do anything! That is terrific for sticking to your fitness goals and sticking to your bike ride. Keep up the good work!
Those labels are just so cute. I hear you about not wanting to post too much personal info. I too am guilty of sharing too much, but people are going to have to read all my posts to know it all!

Juliann in WA said...

The bike ride sounds like a great accomplishment - congrats! I had my thyroid removed 6 years ago and had to re-evaluate what quality of life meant - I am glad you got to making some changes sooner rather than later. Keep well.

Passionate Quilter said...

good for you! Glad to hear you beat the cancer scare. Sometimes that's what we need to get us going again. I started biking again too, since walking is a bit ouchy. And good job on the labels. I was talking to yet another quilter friend who has several quilts unlabeled. I had to go into my little speech again. So I was happy to see you do labels. :)

quiltpixie said...

way to go! keep at it :-)

Fiona said...

Well done, there'll be no stopping you now. I only cycle to the allotment, although I could cycle the 4 miles to work if I don't have any appointments out of town. It's a difficult line to judge about what you put in and leave out of a blog, isn't it?

Unknown said...

Congrats on the bike ride and clean bill of health! Great job!

The Calico Cat said...

YAY On dodging the bullets & on the bike ride! (I need to get a bike...)

KC Quilter said...

Way To Go!!! On all counts.

Nancy said...

Good for you for meeting your 10 mile goal!

I'm sooooo bad about not labeling anything. Guess I should try to at least put my name, location and date.

I don't like to give a lot of personal info online either. You'll notice my blog just has my first name, and city/state. Even the email address I've listed is a throwaway one. And if I take pictures of anyone else that I plan to use on my blog I always ask if they have a problem with their picture being on the internet. And with that picture I never post anything but their first name. Just too many crazies out there.

Patti said...

Well done! Your health is so important! I've let my body go dreadfully the last couple years. I need something to motivate me to get off my rear and do something like you did. The problem is always that it will cut down on my quilting time. You are a real inspiration!

Eileen said...

Melanie,
I give you so much credit for getting back into the bike riding! I should be doing something, anything; so I know how hard it is to start up again.

Laura said...

I have been trying to get back into biking myself! I was able to ride 3 1/2 miles Saturday, I thought that was good. Good for you for 11 miles! My legs would definately been aching by then.

Joanne said...

WTG, Melanie. I'm trying to get in shape too. Slow but steady progress -- I'll never be a biker -- hurts my knees -- but I can walk fast! LOL

Judy said...

Glad that you go each year and get everything checked out, even though we might not want to hear the answers, it's still good to go. I'm so glad that you are pushing yourself and enjoying the riding!

Congrats on the benign news. Now, from a thyroid cancer survivor ('93), I feel compelled to tell you that thyroid issues run in the family and are passed down especially among the women. My mom had thyroid cancer and her thyroid removed, my oldest sister had what you had...a benign goiter and 1/2 removed, and I had thyroid cancer and had mine removed at 32. But, the reason I'm telling you is this is that your daughter needs to have her neck checked each year on her yearly check ups too.Especially after she hits her 30's. Almost half of all doctors don't realize that it runs in families especially on the female line. My 2 younger sisters get checked each year. I have found alot of great suggestions and help at www.checkyourneck.com. It's a great website you might like looking around.

Sorry for the super long comment!

Tazzie said...

What a wonderful accomplishment, you sure must be feeling on top of the world with all those happy endorphins racing around your body!
I'm so glad that your health issue was not as serious as it could have been, it must have been scary at the time. What a huge wake up call.
I love your labels, they're lovely, and I definitely understand your caution about the online stuff.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Hanne said...

Well done on the biking ! More power to you ! :-)

Finn said...

Good for you Mel!! That is awesome to ride 10 miles...a big milestone for sure..*VBS*
Love the sewing boxes, both old and new. I know i would really treasure something like that, but alas, there isn't any thing like it. Just my mom embroidery thread and a partly finished table cloth, that I finished up, years later..*VBS*
Thanks for sharing the memories..Hugs, Finn