Still in a holding pattern...

So it's been a couple of weeks since my last post because there hasn't been any new updates. I did find out that if you have a specialist or diagnostic appointment that requires travel outside of your home city (ie: Vancouver), you are eligible for reimbursement through Medical Services Plan. Since I will be taking a ferry to and from Vancouver for my PET Scan on April 13th, I requested a Travel Assistance Program (TAP) form from the requesting doctor and will now have my ferry costs covered.

It's been strange over the past couple of weeks because quite often I completely forget about my diagnosis. Usually the only time I remember is if someone else mentions it ... which isn't actually that often. Life goes on while the wait continues.

I am continuing with my strict eating regimen and have lost a significant amount of weight ... I think I'm finally at a healthy body weight. Still no sugar, coffee, red meat, low carbs and low dairy. Sometimes I get the odd craving for something sweet, but I've been able to extinguish it with some fruit or something. It's amazing how quickly you can adapt to a new lifestyle given the right motivation.

My dad and I have made some progress on the bathroom renovation ... I made numerous attempts to hire a tile setter to do the tiling work, but each time proved very frustrating. People in this town are either not available to do such a small project, or they just won't show up. That's why we decided to do it ourselves... and although it looks okay, there are a few small mistakes that could have been prevented if a professional had done it.

I've had a few out of town visitors stay with us, which has been great! It's that time of the year when the frogs and birds are so loud outside of our house that it feels we live deep in the forest. It's very soothing to fall asleep to the sounds of nature. I also got some beautiful flowers that a volunteer grew in her greenhouse. Spring has definitely arrived, and so I also planted some vegetables on my balcony so I can make some fresh salads all the time. Fortunately, we have quite a long growing season.

I guess I am both anxious and nervous to have the surgery. On the one hand, I want to put this all behind me and move forward. I am still looking for a more permanent source of income, and have an interview tomorrow for an amazing position. It's hard to think about these types of things when I have this medical situation hanging over my head. On the other hand, I feel very healthy and alive, so thinking about post-operation fatigue and possible side effects for 6 weeks is a little daunting. I rarely think that something will go awry during the surgery, but I know there's a slight possibility of that, as well. I'm pretty confident about my overall health and I have faith in the medical team so far. I guess I just need to keep focusing on today and visualize the outcomes I want to see... A seamless surgery (so to speak) and a quick recovery!

Sea lions at French Creek Harbour

Sea Lions at French Creek Harbour

Seal at French Creek Harbour

Flowers from a volunteer - grown in her greenhouse

One step closer to a finished bathroom