Big Time

The Klumphs and the Simes have hit the big time. We were a cover story on Christmas Day for the Albany Democrat Herald. Pretty much the biggest paper in the world. It rivals the New York Times. Ha Ha. I'll put a link at the bottom to the article so you can check it out if you're bored and need something online to look at. It starts off with calling dad "short and jolly." Hee hee.
There's another little part in the actual paper, but not online that mentions the pink t-shirts that my Aunt Linda made. My favorite "pink t-shirt picture" was from the Mohans who took the shirts to Yellowstone. There were doctored pictures with buffalo and moose wearing the tie-dye. It was awesome. Anyway, Aunt Linda, Mohans and my student body-guard Logan got a shout-out in the paper too.
Our Christmas #1 is done, we were going to Aunt Linda's house, but the snow in Portland area made that rather difficult, so my parents and Amos came here. We had a great time. Santa came and ate some cookies, we played some serious board games, I had a few tom & jerry drinks, it was very relaxing. Brent dominated the board game world, enduring my dad and Amos's creative accusations. Those of you that know them can imagine. :)
We are headed to Tillamook this evening for Christmas #2. Tillamook Christmas is always just as relaxing and fun as Sime Christmas, and always involves more food. Mainly seafood. Brent and I will leave Max & Cannon in Tillamook on the 29th and come back to Corvallis for the day for CHEMOTHERAPY #8 aka THE LAST ONE. What I have to remember is that it takes a couple days (or more) to recover so its not really "done" until a few days after, but wow I'm excited!!!
I also met with a physical therapist this week to discuss exercises and stretches I can do to help with some lymph node cording in my armpit (I'd explain this, but its gross) and to reduce likeliness of lymphedema. The stretches feel really good, so that was interesting. I go back sometime the first week of January to see if its helping and maybe for additional stuff. I also go to the radiation master on January 5th. They'll tattoo me to mark where to aim the radiation treatment. I always kind of wanted a tattoo... Not exactly what I had in mind. Everybody that I talk to in the medical field in Corvallis says the radiation doctor is really good, so I feel pretty good about her. I'm ready to be done with the chemotherapy stage and move onto the next one. I am very excited for my hair to grow back. I look the sickest right now that I have through this whole ordeal. Eyebrow hair and eyelashes are nearly non-existent. It sucks. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and its not a positive reaction. I just don't like looking sick. I don't feel sick (most of the time) and I don't need a pity look from strangers because I now look sick. Oh well, there are worse things. Have a great New Year!!

Ok - I tried to get the link to the article, but I can't seem to make it happen. So, go to democratherald.com, then there's a place to search on the left side. Search in the archives for Klumph and the article should show up. "A caring equation in SH." Witty! Either that or there will be seven links listed below because I actually did know how to do it, and kept posting the link over and over and over again. Totally possible.