March 2017

March 2017

PARIS - CINCINNATI - SURGERY

The day before our flight to Paris I got in for my MRI.  
My new OBGYN, the beautiful and marvelous Dr M.A. 
reviewed the results with me the next morning.  
She insisted I see a renowned (and busy) gynecological 
oncologist  -- medical director of the region's largest 
minimally invasive, robot-assisted, gynecologic surgery 
program --before I boarded our evening flight.  Dr N.L. 
surmised that the large ovarian tumor was only 50% 
likely to be cancer.  I was shaken but the doctor assured 
me that I should join my husband and enjoy a week in Paris.  
Before we left his office I scheduled a total hysterectomy 
to remove 2 sizable ovarian tumors. If one was malignant 
he would begin chemo through an abdominal port placed 
during the surgery.   

Lane and I raced home to pack for the flight.  

(We flew standby direct from Miami to Charles De Gaulle)

Week 1:

Hello stellar descendants,

Something quick.

Something French.

Week 2:

Here are some unusual postcards we spotted:

Top of the Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame Cathedral 

Bottom of the Eiffel Tower 

The Catacombs

Modern Art

Okay.  Now some more normal pics...

Real Art

The Bullocks are amazing travel partners.  

Blending in with berets.  ;o}

Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl.  She supported the King of France, 
and was later captured, tried and burned at the stake by the British 
at age 19.  Twenty-five years later the Pope declared her a martyr, 
and in the early 1800’s declared a national symbol of France by 
Napoleon Bonaparte.  I find her story sadly fascinating.  Many 
depictions of her continue in films, theater, TV, video games, 
music and performances.   

Playwright Maxwell Anderson wrote these lines for Joan of Arc, 
“Every woman gives her life for what she believes.  Sometimes 
people believe in little or nothing, nevertheless they give up 
their lives to that little or nothing.  One life is all we have, and 
we live it as we believe in living it, and then it’s gone.”

Our final day in France was spent visiting Normandy.  Here we 
remembered brave men who heroically sacrificed their lives 
to liberate strangers in the common cause of humanity.

Today, March 12th, Lane turned 69.  Still on the sunny side of 70.  ;o}

And in 2 days Stephanie and Jerel mark 21 years of wedded bliss.  

Thursday, March 23rd, is my surgery date.  However, if the GYN oncologist 
becomes available to perform it earlier I’ll jump on an earlier date.  
This tumor hanging from my ovary is hovering over my head.  
I want answers and healing to begin ASAP.  

Week 3:

Felicitations favored family,

A fun flock of five females marked Jami (Robison’s) 30th in her new town 
- Cincy, Cinti, The Queen City, Nati, Porkopolis, aka CINCINNATI, Ohio.  
Jami and her husband Chris were great hosts.  
This city is lucky to have the Robisons, who arrived 2 weeks ago.
And I am super lucky to be joining these amazing women - my daughters!

Quirky culinary concoctions - the grilled cheese donut.

Distinctly different dwellings - Loveland Castle is one.

Purple People Bridge - connecting Ohio and Kentucky, 
where neither the people or the bridge appear to be purple.  

If something is too far to see then it is simply PASTEURIZE.  ;o}

If you haven’t seen the new Beauty & the Beast movie, you should.

Hymns make good sermons.  The fight is real people.  
And so is God’s mercy.  Thank you Lord.

#197 Verse 3

Thy sacrifice transcended the mortal law’s demand;

Thy mercy is extended to ev'ry time and land.

No more can Satan harm us, tho long the fight may be,

Nor fear of death alarm us;  we live, O Lord, thru thee.

This Thursday I will receive a priesthood blessing followed by 
major surgery to determine the threat of a nuisance tumor.  
Faith and prayers are appreciated.

Coming soon:

     Danika Robison (Aunt Jami’s baby) will be 1 on Tuesday the 21st.

     Violet Hansen (Aunt Britni’s daughter) turns 3 on Friday the 24th.

Week 4:

Hola amigos and chicas,

Thursday’s surgery could not have gone any better!!!  
Everything went in my favor.  
So, so, so blessed.  
A world-reknown surgeon.  
No post-op pain or nausea. 
No post-op medication needed.  
A roast beef dinner.  
Plenty of rest.  
My own TV remote. 
I kept waking up from dreams at the Eiffel Tower, funny. 
 Outstanding family & friends checking in.  
THANKS!  
I went home Friday. 

I did take several pain pills Saturday.  During each day I try to 
take 3-4 short strolls on Lane’s arm.  He attempts to straighten 
my posture so I won’t appear so pathetic.   Our kind and 
thoughtful HT’ers brought us the sacrament today.

No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationary. ;o}

The recent General Women’s Conference addresses pointed 
me towards Jesus Christ, trusting Him and finding peace.  

My recovery goals have changed:

Whoever invented “knock-knock" jokes should get a no-bell prize.

I think this everyday...

What more could I possibly want?

Monthly wrap up:

My hysterectomy recovery has been one for the record books.  
Recovery time cut in half (3-4 weeks).  I’m certain that my 
surgeon will agree when he sees me tomorrow.  
It’s all due to Lane’s good care.  

I vaguely remember trying to dance from my prone position as I 
was wheeled into surgery.  Sure enough, the releasing physician 
commented about that and told me it was the power of the Jamaican 
music playing in the OR.  I think I am more impressed with myself 
then embarrassed.