Saturday, March 20, 2010

A Four-Dessert Evening and A Long Needle

We had lots and lots of fun last night and discovered that our dining room table will indeed seat fourteen people for dinner if everyone squeezes in tightly and doesn’t mind a bit of coziness.

Here is the table before the guests arrived. My very own personal husband whipped up the place cards. Is he a talented guy, or what?

IMG_2902

IMG_2909

He also helped with the dishes; twenty minutes after the guests left, our kitchen looked like this. Do you think he deserves a raise in his allowance?

IMG_2932

And speaking of my husband’s talents, he also a gift for creating arrows out of masking tape. He made these arrows as sort of a joking way to help with traffic flow. But even though he said it was a joke, if anyone had gone against the flow and gone the wrong way around the table? Well, it wouldn’t have been pretty.

IMG_2928

IMG_2929

I also wanted to show you a candle arrangement my dear childhood friend, Lorrie, sent me for my birthday. Is that cool, or what? I just love interesting candles.

IMG_2927

It was a great night—especially with four desserts to choose from. Life doesn’t get much better than a Four Dessert Evening!

_______________________

And on a totally different subject, I thought I would share a little info for anyone who may not be sure what a stereotactic biopsy is—that’s the procedure I’ll be having Monday morning. Although I had one about ten years ago, I did a little “refresher course research” to remind myself what is involved.

STEREOTACTIC BIOPSY

In stereotactic breast biopsy, a special mammography machine uses ionizing radiation to help guide the radiologist’s instruments to the site of the abnormal growth. At most facilities, a specially designed examination table will allow you to lie face down with your breast hanging freely through an opening in the table. The table is then raised and the biopsy procedure is performed beneath the table.

One of two instruments will be used:

  • A core needle, also called an automatic, spring-loaded needle, which consists of an inner needle connected to a trough, or shallow receptacle, covered by a sheath and attached to a spring-loaded mechanism.
  • A vacuum-assisted device (VAD), a vacuum powered instrument that uses pressure to pull tissue into the needle. (This is the one they’ll be using for me.)

Other sterile equipment involved in this procedure includes syringes, sponges, forceps, scalpels and a specimen cup or microscope slide.

stereotactic2

There now. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Pressure, tissue, needle, scalpels, ionizing radiation, vacuum assisted device—all words that just make me want to smile.

Sort of. Not really.

Maybe when they pull out the long needle, I’ll just cast my mind back to our Four-Dessert Evening. That will make me smile for sure!

9 Had Something To Say (Just click here!):

Anonymous said...

Will there be any medication given to relax you or to numb your mind of the "pain" while the bipsey is taking place (or at least attempt)? I will hold you in my thoughts and prayers, Becky. I hope you have results within the week.

MaryH said...

Becky, I will be praying like never before for you this weekend and esepecially on Monday. Do you have those pills that make you relax some? Can you take them? I am sure all your bloggers and prayer warriors will be gathering in the "Becky" waiting room, filling it with prayers and strength. On another note, please, what is pineapple casserole? Sounds very intriguing.

Kellie said...

Becky, I had that procedure done two years ago. Thinking about having it done was much more painful than the procedure. I experienced NO pain! Only a little discomfort after when the deadening wore off but the discomfort was minimal and only lasted for a day or two afterwards.
The worst part is the waiting game...as I am sure you already know this. My prayers are for peace to surround you and for good results to follow.

Anonymous said...

I am so impressed with you dinner party and how clean everything is afterward!
I will be thinking and praying for you Monday.
I came across this blog this week, and thought about you. Her husband is a pastor and her son was just diagnosed with cancer.
http://harperhouse4.blogspot.com/
Jill

Ann Martin said...

I'm impressed that you had 14 place settings of china and crystal and NAPKINS. Wow!!! I think I have 12 but no cloth napkins except for 4 Christmas ones. I'll continue to keep you in my prayers. Know what you are facing and the waiting is worse. I was blessed with my biopsy--no pain and no medication needed afterwards. Same true with the surgery I had a couple of weeks after the biopsy. God give you strength, peace, and a feeling of His love.

LizW said...

I thought I had left an earlier comment, but... Anyway, my prayers will be with you tomorrow. What I had said was similar to Kelllie's comment. My mom had the same procedure several years ago, and the apprehension of the unknown was much worse than the procedure. With God's blessings, your result will be a good one. Until tomorrow, how about some chocolate and an ativan! It definitely makes an MRI much less stressful for me, who is very claustrophobic!
I am also very impressed by your lovely table and the wonderful fellowship that I know took place around it.
Sorry if this ends up a double comment - it just means double the prayers!

Anonymous said...

Praying for you
Vicky in Indiana

janet said...

I hope everything goes well for you on Monday. I predict another long nap when you get back after the procedure.

As others have said, usually the anticipation is worse than the actual procedure, but the waiting for results is by far the most stressful.

Good luck!!

Beverly said...

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and praying for good results.

And I have to add that I find your husbands taped arrows both funny and handy!