Halloween 🎃 and Birthday Vibes ~ October 31st

When black cats prowl and pumpkins

 gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween...

 Sniff is all set to get his treats and he does not mind

 doing a few tricks either, but before any of that should

even  happen, he needs a little nap to refresh him.

Back in Florida and you know that living in a condo there will 

be no trick or treaters coming to knock on our door for candy.  I used 

to really love those days when little kids would come and we would give

 out candy.  This was before Arvid.  He's not into that kind of "stuff".

Today our youngest granddaughter, Amelia turns 2.  She is the

 epitome of what love is all about.  I sit here.  I picture her smiling

 and doing some of those funny, unique Amelia moves.  My heart is 

full and I just wish I could hug her.  Hug all three right now. 

Even if you aren't sure that witches are real, there's a little

 witch in all of us, there's no denying that Halloween brings 

out the spirit of magic in just about everyone and there's

 no better time to celebrate it then the spooky season.

Happy birthday to or youngest granddaughter, Amelia. 

 We love you more than you can imagine.  Same goes for Aleah 

and Vanessa.  Happy birthday and happy Halloween baby girl.

Time is going by fast and this little one is growing

 up right before our eyes.  We love you Amelia.

We wish everyone a night full of frights and a bag

 full of delights. A happy and safe Halloween to all 🎃👻

It’s Halloween. Everyone’s entitled to one good scare...

~Nadiya~

New Week ~🦋

Every day is a good day to be alive, whether the sun's shining or not...

 Last Monday in October and Sniff is so ready to take a break from 

all things Halloween related 😂  He has been my model throughout 

the month for my Halloween pictures.  Truth is, Sniff is my all 

time everyday model for everything.  He makes me happy.

Today I see two specialists.  I home the ENT will be able to give

 me a "cure" for my allergies/stuffiness that has been going on since 

April of this year.  It's been a long time and I'm ready for some relief.

The nights are the worse.  I usually have to get out of bed 

very early because I'm usually having a difficult time breathing.

  But I'm hoping today I will be better after seeing the ENT.

I will also be seeing a lung specialist.  I have also been

 coughing since April of this year, but I also believe this is related

 to my sinus infection.  So today I kill two birds at once.

A broken wing simply means, you have to find 

another way to fly. Have a wonderful day people...

~Nadiya~

Sunday October 29th~

Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story...

 Yesterday evening Downtown Fort Myers had a little Halloween bash. 

 It made sense to check it out and we sure were not disappointed.

It was fun to get into the festive mood all around us.  I loved 

seeing all the people having a great time and just loving life.

Today's blog is all about last night and the people we saw.

By the way, everyone was okay with the 

crowd raking their pictures.  They posed for many.

Halloween brings out that "other" side we all have 🎃

It's all just a bunch of hocus pocus 🎃

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers 

Some of the costumes were just hilarious, but so much fun to see.

It's Halloween; everyone's entitled to one good scare.

The world turned upside down–in a good way–for one black velvet night.

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.

If human beings had genuine courage, they'd wear their 

costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween.

On Halloween you get to become anything that you want to be.

Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it's

 about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves.

Where there is no imagination, there is no horror.

As October comes to an end, I just have to say that it's been a 

helluva a month.  We've been back home for a month now.  Branson

 seems so far away right now.  Definitely not missing the freezing 

weather coming up there, but I miss other things.  Greetings 

to all on this beautiful fall day from Sniff, Arvid and I

Hell is empty and all the devils are here...

~Nadiya~

Saturday October 28th~

He who is not courageous enough to
 take risks will accomplish nothing in life...

Flashback to the days when my hair was a bit longer.  This is

 Branson 2022 on our deck.  Looking through some pictures and deleting

 quite a bit, I realize I do miss being home in Branson.  I saw my wildlife

 and those eyes of the deer just looking at me.  For a few minutes there, 

I just wished I was there once again to feed them and see them.

Here in Florida my life is busy, and that's always good. My medical 

calendar for November is already filling up.  I finally got conformation 

to go ahead with the body scan.  It's a four day appointment with

 five procedures to be done.  Also in preparation for this scan, I will

 be doing a 14 day low iodine diet.  I did it before, I will do it again. 

 No other options.  Exciting to buy stuff I probably won't eat 😁.

Appointments are already scheduled:

NOV 13 2023 INFUSION 30 MIN.      NOV 14 2023 INFUSION 30 MIN. 

 These are injections.  The give you an injection of a radioactive liquid called

 radionuclide or radioactive tracer.  They inject it through a small tube in a

 vein in your arm or back of your hand.  It's a small amount or radiation.

NOV 15 2023 NM THYROID REMNANT INJ

Since I have  residual thyroid tissue remaining after

 my thyroid cancer, there is always a risk factor for

 recurrence of cancer.  Hence the full body scan.

NOV 17 2023 LAB DRAW 30 MIN

 Cancer Center Outpatient Treatment

NOV 17 2023 NM THYROID REMNANT SCAN

 @ Nuclear Medicine Center.  This will hopefully detect areas

 of abnormality, such as lumps (nodules) or inflammation.  Determines

whether the thyroid cancer has spread beyond the thyroid gland.

I'm so ready to get this over with.  Already planning on what

 kinds of foods to eat.  I usually read ingredients on everything I buy,

 but now I really have to read it and look out for some absolute no-no's.

  I hope Arvid is ready for this.  The last time I had this scan, Brutus

 was alive.  Arvid went to Chicago and after a few days

 I joined him.  When I was no longer "radioactive"

To me this is just another inconvenience that needs to be done.  Everyone

 is so very nice, so it makes the experience even better.  Best part is I meet

 people, we talk and I realize once again that I am very fortunate in life.  The 

most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, 

known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their

 way out of those depths. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

We may get knocked down, but we don't have to stay down.

 Being strong doesn't mean that you never break! Being strong means

 that even if you break into a million pieces, you still have the courage

 to pick those pieces up, put them back together, and keep going on.

My experiences remind me that it's those black

clouds that make the blue skies even more beautiful...

~Nadiya~

Friday October 27th ~

Every day is a good day. There is

 something to learn, care and celebrate...

Last night Sniff was being his cute self.. AGAIN.  Arvid

 got up (big mistake) from his chair to get a glass of water. 

 Sniff took the opportunity to sneak up and steal Arvid's chair. 

I have to say I was very surprised that Arvid sat on the edge of

 the seat for over half an hour while Sniff was just relaxing

 in the back.  Arvid said, "he's keeping me warm."

Yesterday was the last appointment for this week.  Of course the

 doctor added an new thing I needed to get done 😁 I never knew this kind

 of life before where each day was packed with one, sometimes two doctors

 appointments.  Looking forward to no appointments the next three days.  

Friday.  Maybe we will just take it easy and stay in this evening. 

 I don't mind.  Even Arvid is okay with that, but come Saturday,

 we would most likely be restless, so we may have to have a little

 Saturday outing instead 😂.  The day is still young so this 

may all change depending on how we feel later today.

Downtown is getting ready to party and some.  Will be be there for

 the party?  Only time will tell.  Most likely we will be home with Sniff.

A happy Friday to all and if you're going

 to party remember don't drink and drive.

It's Friday, time to let go of stress and 

have some fun. The weekend is calling...

~Nadiya~

Thursday October 26th~

Self-care is a really important aspect of our lives and we need

 to keep making time for it every day to nurture our well-being...

 Use your voice, passion, and dollars to help reach every 

woman and make sure she has access to the screening, support, 

and care she deserves.  Early detection is key to prevention.  

According to the American Cancer Society, when breast 

cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year 

relative survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes doing monthly

 breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams

 and mammograms  So far I am in my first year of the 5

 and I am happy to say that thankfully all is going well.

Thursdays are one of my favorite days.  I get to take

 a day off from cooking.  Everyday I make one meal for Arvid, 

one for me.  So yeah, I'm happy.  No cooking no cleaning. 

 Well not much cleaning.  I take that as a win-win 💕

A god day to all and remember that whatever you do do it with 

zest and with joy.  Our Sniff is all ready to trick or treat.

A good day to all and may it be as good as you make it.

~Nadiya~

October 25th ~

Everyone has highs and lows that they have to learn 

from, but every morning I start off with a good head on my 

shoulders, saying to myself, It's going to be a good day...

 It's that time of the year and of course I am making the

 most of my BOO t-cup.  For some reason everything

 tastes better when I am loving the cup it's in.

"Sadly" Arvid uses the same t-cups everyday.  He has a choice, 

but like with everything else, he's a stickler for ???  whatever he's a

 stickler for 😂  Arvid is set in his ways.  Not saying that's bad or good.  

It's just how he is.  Part of his charm also.  Most of the times 😂

As long as Arvid keeps bonding with Sniff in my book he can't 

do no wrong.  Every morning when we head out to the balcony to have 

our tea/coffee, Arvid calls out to Sniff, who of course is napping. 

 Sniff wakes up and comes running to the balcony.  To Arvid 💙

Yesterday was another doctors visit completed.  Of course another one 

was added.  Another specialist to my already too many doctors.  Arvid has

 already printed our calendars for 2024 so that we can keep track of all my

 doctors appointments.  He said to me, "boy with all these appointments,

 we can't go anywhere anymore."  Always my very best supporter😁

A good day to all.  Today I have a "rest" day.  More appointments

 await me tomorrow.  The way I see it, I have some alone time while 

I go to my appointments.  Arvid said he may go with me tomorrow 😬

I have been ready for Halloween since last Halloween, says Sniff...

~Nadiya~