Continuing

Okay, I'm here. See? I actually went for a trim a few hours after I took this picture. It's now neater around my ears and in the back.

Medically, it seems that lately I just hop from one thing to another. I've been to four doctors this month, and by the end of September I'll have had two biopsies. I can't seem to get back to normal, and when I ask a professional, I hear, "That's normal." Nobody expects to find cancer with these biopsies, but because it's me, they have to check. And would you believe I managed to get diagnosed with a hypoactive thyroid, just as a fluke. This explains the previously inexplicable weight gain, but now I'm up to five pills a day. It's like I'm in my 60s, or at least like the many people I know in their 60s. Who are vibrant, active people, don't get me wrong, but they take a lot of pills.

My state of mind is like a roller coaster. Czerniecki always manages to freak me out, and he didn't disappoint when I saw him last week. I glanced over his shoulder at the computer, where it said I'm Stage III. I said I thought I was IIb, and he said no, the mass was too big to be classified that way, I'm IIIa. This is the difference between early detection and advanced stage. That's an adjustment for me. I think I'm getting there, though. I'll just let you know right now, it doesn't help if you point out that nothing has actually changed, I've actually been Stage III all along and my prognosis is still good. My mind simply doesn't work that way. Which is why I hid in my car at football practice last week and cried my eyes out, thinking I was alone until a mom whose children I've taught knocked on my window because she was worried about me. Humiliating.

In other news, I subbed yesterday, and I turned down an assignment today because I promised the rabbi I'd help him with some things. Sorry I'm late, Rabbi! I'll get there in about 20 minutes! The kids are off to a pretty good start with school. Allison is particularly busy. Marching band is so intense! Ken is traveling a bit, which means I run around like a crazy woman most of the time.

L'Shana Tova to those of you who know what that means. Have a healthy, sweet year. I'm hoping 5770 will be MUCH better than 5769, but considering the first week, I'm now pinning my hopes on the secular calendar.