Papillary Thyroid Cancer 101!

Lots of people have been asking me lots of questions about the type of thyroid cancer I have and what treatments are available, and what the prognosis is and whatnot...which is legit, because its ridiculously confusing and I had no idea what the thyroid even did until mine started trying to kill me...

However, to be completely honest, its kind of a downer having to relay the same craptastic news a bajillion times...

So, for your education pleasure, I present to you Papillary Thyroid Cancer 101:

http://www.endocrineweb.com/capap.html

If you have questions, please, ask me! This is just a general outline to abate some of the common questions I get repeatedly.

I have a consultation with a surgeon on January 4th, once that happens I should know a little more in the way of surgery dates for my thyroidectomy and whatnot, I promise I'll keep you all posted.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday, I know I did, despite all the nasty news. :)

Thanks to everyone again for the prayers, warm thoughts, well-wishes, and love and support!

Take Care! :)

Household chore I hate #186 - Ironing

Now, ironing does not seem like THAT terrible of a household chore. I'm sure that if one has a decent modern iron and a wee bit of time, wrinkles can be smoothed into submission from just about anything...but that is not me...my iron is from the 1800's...

okay, okay... so maybe 1961...

Anyways, it is old...and once you plug it in, immediately begins to smell as though it is going to burst into flame at any moment. Once upon a time, it probably had some sort of steaming function, but the doodad that plugs the chamber and keeps the water from spilling out has been lost long ago. Also, it does not have that nifty function most modern irons have that turns off the iron once it is hotter than the surface of the sun and simple millisecond of contact will cause it to scorch most any fabric. Occasionally it smokes, I would assume this was steam, but as aforementioned, it is no longer able to steam. I personally feel that it makes ironing more exciting...adds a sense of danger to it all...afterall, what would housework be if it wasn't just a tiny bit life-threatening?

I survived becoming a human pincushion, also, TOMALITO!

The use of local anesthetic makes a biopsy significantly less painful. It still hurts like mad and I still cried and nearly broke poor Zack's hand I was squeezing it so hard...but it hurt less than last time (when they decided not to give me local anesthetic), and I wanted to do this...

www.nataliedee.com

okay, so I still wanted to...but, they numbed me up really good this time and that was pretty awesome. Now we wait for results...a week...

In other news, I am once again employed, which is pretty rad. I start sometime next week...its non-seasonal, base rate + commission, and not clothing retail...which is good enough for me!

Last night I finally attempted the Sweetcorn Tomalito as a side dish for Zack's fajitas that I've been meaning to get to ALL week. Though it took an hour and a half to bake, the results were tasty! A sort of fluffy sweetcorn pudding. A great compliment to Mexican dishes, since the standard beans and/or Spanish rice would leave me quite ill. Also, the leftovers are delicious at breakfast, warmed, with a little bit of maple syrup drizzled over the top. :)

Here's the recipe:

Sweetcorn Tomalito

Ingredients

• 5 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1/4 cup masa (corn flour)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen, thawed
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. milk

Directions

1. In a small mixing bowl, mix the butter, masa, and sugar using an electirc mixer until light and fluffy. About 1 minute.
2. In a blender, blend half of the corn kernels with the water until smooth.
3. Combine this mixture with the butter mixture, stirring well.
4. Add the remaining corn kerrnels, corn meal, baking powder, salt and milk and mix well.
5. Pour the corn mixture into an 8 inch square baking pan. tightly cover with foil.
6. Preheat oven 250 degree F. Place covered dish in a larger roasting pan filled with so water is 3/4 of inch up side of baking dish. Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

So make some Tomalito, and if you happen to be in, near, or in the position to drive to Minneapolis tonight; board games and homemade cookies, our place, 8:00 PM! Hope to see you there! :)

Combatting the pre-biopsy blues...

Tomorrow, I go in for another thyroid biopsy to ensure if a newly present nodule is cancerous or not. If you have never heard of a thyroid nodule, you can read all about them HERE.

The biopsy is essentially this:

Once the patient is ready, a needle is inserted into the nodule. Most doctors do not use a local anesthetic.The patient holds his/her breath while the needle is rocked gently to obtain as much tissue as possible. The needle is then withdrawn and pressure is applied over the thyroid area to minimize bleeding. This procedure is usually repeated six to eight times to ensure that an adequate amount of tissue has been collected. After the procedure, pressure is applied over the neck area for 10 to 15 minutes to assure that the bleeding has stopped. The pressure also helps to reduce any swelling that may occur.

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am not at all a fan of needles, so the idea of being a human pincushion for 45 minutes is not a particularly comforting one. Also, last time I had a thyroid biopsy, it HURT, not "stung", not "smarted", no, it straight up HURT. I was crying, I was scaring the crap out of the poor med student assigned to hold my hand and he was crying...oh, such fun.

So, in nervous anticipation of tomorrow, I've been a pretty major wreck the past few nights. Zack took tomorrow afternoon off so he can be there with me tomorrow (because he is perfect and wonderful :), and tonight we're going to get some take-out from my favorite Vietnamese place and curl up on the couch and watch television for a relaxing, low-key night...and hopefully I will manage to get SOME sleep. :/

I had a pretty successful interview this afternoon, and although they couldn't offer me the position until they completed all their interviews, they said that I'd be a great fit. I find out tomorrow...wish me luck!

I finished Christmas shopping for Zack today, so all that's left is picking up a few things for the extended family and the tickets for mum and dad. I feel a little bad for not getting them much they can actually open on Christmas morning, but they're really excited about the Gaelic Storm tickets, and I think they'll really enjoy themselves. :)

Well, I'm going to curl up with Sasha-poof and relax.

I hope you're all staying warm!

I Heart Chai!

I am a coffee snob, I am a tea snob, and yes, I am a chai snob...so I was hesitant about this instant chai tea latte mix from Oregon Chai. Hey, I got a free sample from somewhere (which, to be honest, has been sitting in the cupboard for a couple months) so I figured, why the heck not?

I am sorry for ever doubting you Oregon Chai, your tea latte mix is delicious!

Creamy, subtly sweet, gently spicy, and CRAZY EASY!...hot water, a splash of milk, and you've got some dang good chai.

Don't believe me? Try it for yourself HERE for free! :)

Today it was -21 below, and I was not a fan...

Today, when I ventured out it was -21 degrees outside. People are always saying "That's Minnesota!" and "It'll only get colder, buck up!" and it kind of makes me want to punch them in the face, because, you see, these ridiculous people that embrace winter and love the cold are the same people that get to drive around in their nice warm cars...not have to take three buses to get where they want to go. Oh, and its winter, so although it hasn't been snowing for over 24 hours, the buses are still running WAY behind schedule. Oh, and bus shelters, bus shelters are fantastic, but not every stop has a shelter, especially not out in the burbs, because people that live in the burbs DRIVE CARS! *sigh*

So, I went on a magical adventure out to the burbiest of the burbs today, to be interviewed by a woman that I'm pretty sure was that same age as my little sister. The bus dropped me off at the last stop on Main Street and I then got to go a-wanderin', hoping beyond all hope as I went on that I was at least going in the right direction. I finally saw another person crazy enough to be walking around outside in the frigid wind. We met and pulled down our scarves only to speak long enough for the asking and receiving of directions, and I figured out I was walking in the right direction, but had another seven or so blocks to go. I arrived at my interview breathless, windswept, and looking like I had returned from some sort of Antarctic expedition. (Now, it may be unprofessional to show up to an interview in calf-high Sorel boots lined with fur and a Columbia parka, complete with Eskimo-esque hood trimmed in fur...but I do not care, I was warm, and THAT was what mattered...)

My interview was uneventful. The bus back was late, and was filled with what can only be termed a "mentally handicapped comedy troupe". God bless them, they were having a fantastic time, but they kept cracking jokes to me and other passengers that made absolutely no sense, and then laughing wildly. My personal favorite:

Man: What's your name?

Me: Christy

Man: Well if your name was Joe, I'd say let's go in there *as he points to Trader Joe's* and I'll get you some bananas! *raucous laughter*

Me: *confused look*

So, after my magical trip back on the 12, I decided to stop in at Steeple People, which is a nifty little thrift shop across the street, which I've been meaning to get to ever since we moved in (August...). What a wonderful place! I was in search of teacups for a Christmas project I'm planning, and I didn't see any that weren't in sets of china, so I asked a nice elderly lady. She introduced me to the "free box" and said I could have all the mismatched teacups I wanted...JACKPOT! I also picked up some lovely Victorian-esque ornaments for the Christmas tree and a fantastic kitschy coffee mug for myself that reads "Swedeheart"...so excellent!

We were thinking of making steak fajitas for dinner earlier, and I found a delectable recipe for Sweet Corn Tomalito to go with them, but its BRRRCOLD outside and I didn't want to venture out in search of masa, so we've postponed it for Saturday. Tonight, Zack has agreed to make his lemon pepper chicken with feta and couscous...mmm... :)

I'm going to curl up with some cocoa in my new mug! Stay warm!

The BEST Bread Pudding Ever, Period!

So, last night was the first real snowstorm we've had here in Minneapolis. To celebrate the fact that its finally starting to look like winter around here, I decided to make a pork roast, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, and an absolutely sinfully delicious bread pudding!

I found the recipe HERE and have also included it below...

Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk (or 2 cups half & half)
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark, depending on taste preference)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups bread, torn into small pieces (french bread works best)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

1. In medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk (or half & half) just until film forms over top. Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm.

2. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk mixture.

3. Place bread in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole.

4. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Pour batter on top of bread.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Serve warm.

If you make the sauce to put on top of your bread pudding, adjust the sugar in the bread pudding recipe, change it to 1/3 cups sugar (the sauce has the other 1/3 cup in it).

Bread Pudding Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. flour
dash of salt

Directions:

Mix everything together and bring to a boil for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside for 5 minutes, then pour on warm bread pudding.

It was absolutely delicious! All the warm, gooey, slightly spicy and sweet wonderfulness that bread pudding embodies, easily the best I've ever had! I would have included pictures, but most of it was devoured while still hot, almost immediately after coming out of the oven, and the rest was eaten cold this morning for breakfast! Mmmmm... :)