Well reading this last entry hit me like a ton of bricks! Mom died a couple of weeks after I wrote. I miss her so much at times but I am thankful we lived together for as long as we did and I have no regrets. Steve was hospitalized, had brain surgery and things were touch and go for a period of time this Summer. Brynn was born on the 4th of July and that was quite amazing. We had to put Sugar down and dad was hospitalized for a bit after falling from a roof. It's easy to see why I'm excited about ringing in the New year. Right now I'm looking forward to Tara and Dave coming home on the 22nd. All in all it remains a good day to live Macdougal!

Okay since Tara posted I guess it's my turn to give you my side of the story! First this was the first time we've stayed with anyone versus a motel and it went well. Colorado is absolutely gorgeous, majestic! As a parent it was wonderful to see how well liked Tara is. Everyone at her school commented on what a great human being she is. She is really someone I would choose to be like. Great sense of humor and a passion for life!!!! It was nice just hanging out with her and Dave but we did alot of things too. We went to the zoo, Garden of the Gods, Broadmoor ( let me tell ya this day is in my top 5. Tara and Dave so appreciated it that it was even more special). We climbed Mt. Cutler and went to Ute Park. Just absolutely soaked it all in. I can not believe that Tara and Dave just one day hopped in their car and drove across the country, what courage. Their apartment has the most breath taking views!!!!! Dave cooked us up a couple of out of this world meals. The time went fast and needless to say I sobbed as we left. Miss 'em already. Now it's the countdown to Brynn's arrival and that will be here before we know it. Steve and I are reading a book entitled One Month to Live :it's a book about living life without regrets. Perfect timing!!!!!It is indeed a Good Day to Live MacDougal

It's definitely Sarcoidosis but the doc doesn't want me on Prednisone yet and I'm thankful for that. I'm getting very excited about Brynn's arrival . It's hard for me to believe Brynn will wait until July because Em is getting rather big. I'm also looking forward to going to Colorado to see Tara and Dave. We went down to Middletown last weekend for Cam's third birthday and that was fun. We played what Cam calls Darbies for a long time. In my world these things are called Barbies. I got a 2008 Subaru so I put the Money Pit to rest. Riss is busy looking at colleges. Right now it's between Fredonia andFLCC. I guess that's it by way of updates. It's a good day to live MacDougal.

I had my biopsy on Monday and they were able to get a big piece of tissue. The pathologist took a look see and saw NO cancer cells. I have to wait until the 24th for conclusive results but for now that is good news. I have a nasty looking scar on my neck right now but it will heal. They think it's Sarcoidosis and I'll follow up with Dr. Tyner if it is and probably be on prednisone. I've gotten alot of cards and phone calls of support. Em brought me flowers and Tara sent me a couple of cards and a plaque. I'll tell ya it really makes youy do a life assessment. The things I used to think were important aren't so much. I'm also proud of the number of lives I've touched and been touched by. That's the measure of a life. It's a good day to live MacDougal!!!!!!!

Well in a flurry of excitement yesterday I received phone calls from Dr. Hartel, Dr. Luther and the lab. I knew something wasn't right the day before when I got a message from Dr. Hartel regarding my CT scan and they had told me it would take 2 days for him to get results. Apparently they found several enlarged Lymph nodes. I read the radiologist report and he thinks it's this big long word that when I looked it up said leukemia or lymphoma. So off to Dr. Tyner I go today at 9a.m.. He's a pulmonologist. At work yesterday Deb and Rach got me flowers, Vikki got me a stuffed animal and Jim ( the President) gave me this book called 100 things to always remember and 1 thing to never forget. NICE!!!!!!!! I was straightening out my bookshelf at work and I noticed there was a book wedged under all the others. I pulled it out and guess what book it was? That's right, Live Like You Were Dying. God has a sense of humor. Okay I'm getting ready to go so I'll keep you posted. It really is a Good Day To Live MacDougal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Early last week I got a call from the doctor's office saying that I needed to go for a CT scan because they found paratracheal soft tissue fullness. I go for a CT scan of my neck on Wenesday and I'm anxious about it. With me it's always been one test leading to another. I don't have a good feeling about this. We'll see what happens. Steve keeps reminding me that I haven't lost an ounce so it can't be anything too serious. He's good to have around for comic relief. Steve suggested when we visit Tara and Dave going White Water rafting and Tara's going to check it out. I'm mostly looking forward to hiking and just seeing Colorado. I didn't really do much this weekend which was fine by me. The sun was out today and that was awesome to see that yellow globe in the sky. I knitted a prayer shawl for Rachel at work. I used the leftover yarn and it's gorgeous. She's always cold and a couple of weeks ago she got some test results back saying she needed follow up so I thought what better time to start a prayer shawl. The thought behind it is that as you knit you pray for the person you are making it for. Can't wait to give it to her tomorrow. She's going for her follow up doctor's apointment in the morning so what better day? Okay no further news. It's a good day to live Macdougal!!!!!

Now that we know Em's having a girl it all seems very real and I am very excited!!!!!! Today I went to lunch and a movie with Riss and it was the first time we'd done that in quite awhile. It was fun. Hard to believe she graduates this year. Where does the time go? Today Em said something about Terry turning 50 this year and I said, " He doesn't turn 50 this year and then I realized Yup he does which led me to think about turning 50. Wow!!! Hard to wrap my brain around that one. 50 years on the planet. I can honestly say I've touched alot of lives. My greatest contribution to the world are my daughters and now they are on their journeys and leaving their marks.
I'm still going to the doctors for this cough. Now they are calling it vocal chord dysfunction and it's a new treatment but guess what? I'm still coughing. I'm even annoying myself at this juncture. The job is still delightful!!!!!! It is indeed a good day to live MacDougal!!!!!!

I absolutely love my new job. I'm so proud of myself for making the journey to Rochester daily. I remember when I was afaraid to take the thruway to Eastview and by the way folks that was just a few months ago!!!! Em and I went to see Riss sing at Cabaret night on Thursday and she was fantastic. I'm so impressed with her singing ability .I've decided to hold onto the Saab because I really do like that car and I'd like to get it paid down. It would be nice to not have to use my Social Security check to make a car payment. We're making plans to go out to see Tara and Dave in March and then in June/July I'll be a grandma. Pretty exciting stuff. Today in church Shelly was there with her 8 month old niece and someone in front of me asked if that was my granddaughter. I said no my grandchild is still baking!!!!!! I have my cough back again but I go see a specialist on Jan. 31st so hopefully I'll get some answers. Every year around Dec/Jan/ I start coughing and don't stop until April / May. This has been going on for 5 or 6 years. Every year I go to the docs try a bunch of stuff that doesn't work yada yada. I've been thinking of Tim alot lately and just how quickly things change. I find myself having so many questions like did he know he was dying? Did he tell anyone? Did he do everything he wanted to do? Sometimes I get angry with the whole thing. I guess I have nothing more to share and it doesn't seem apprpriate to end with my typical closing. So I will say simply, PEACE

Wow, looks like someone's behind the eight ball. I've been busy getting used to my new job which I love by the way.Tara and Dave came home on the 20th after alot of hassle with flights. It is sooooooo good to see them. Em is starting to show although she says she's not. We got to see Casey, Steve and Mike and of course Camryn, Catherine and Jenn on the Saturday before Christmas and that was great. Camryn loved her gifts and Mike has really matured into a nice young man. The weather gave me a run for my money on my first day of work in the city but after the first couple of days with bad driving I got used to it. I enjoy being in the Brighton area. It's really quite nice with lots of things to do around me. The thruway driving is lots different in a good way. East House people seem very nice and so far I've had a few laughs with a core group of people. I never know where the year will take me. In 2008 I become a grandma though and that's rather huge. Lookin forward to it. Today I read through a book Em gave me for Mother's Day when she was in college. Very touching and to think she's going to be a mom. Time marches on...... It's a good day to live MacDougal.