On the Way to Deuce by Way of Rome

Monday I had my Herceptin cocktail treatment number 7 out of 17. That is almost half way there to finishing this last flight of cocktails. In tennis terms, that means I am at advantage-out right now, but deuce is right around the corner, somewhere between 8-9 out of 17. And once I get to 9 out of 17, by my calculations, it will be Advantage Joules. I will have the edge.

Yesterday I had physical therapy and an x-ray on my shoulder. I had a different physical therapist that I really liked. Not that I don't like my regular one. But the one I had yesterday explained some things about some of the exercises that finally sunk in with me. I hope. I think I am impatient with a side of awkward and the exercises are precise and not a race. I guess this is one place my perfectionism doesn't kick in, because me trying to replicate the exercises they tell me, and use the precise muscles and relax others is like someone trying to dance fast with two left feet. I do this in tennis as well. I started playing about a year before this all happened, and since I have some natural athletic ability, it just clicked and I am a wee bit competitive so that helped, and I just really got in a tennis groove, 5-6 times a week. And I did ok. Now, I'm not saying this was a pretty groove. I've seen pictures. Hilarious awkward shots. Mystifying that they worked. But I don't think I was doing most of it properly. Really it was just a blast of a fluke that I could play well at all. But hopefully this "aha" I've had in physical therapy will translate to my tennis and I will be able to break it down, be a little less impatient and a little more precise, and be a better tennis player.

Speaking of, I got to take my racket to physical therapy yesterday, so she could monitor my shoulder on my forehand and backhand. And she gave me the green light to swing away with those two strokes. Not competitively, if I can manage it, but still, it's in the green box across the net from someone, hitting a tennis ball back and forth, trying to hit just one more shot than they do, to WIN!

Today I have an MRI on my shoulder at 1:15. The tests are just to have a look at the pinched nerve that doesn't seem to be relenting, make sure there are no tears that are adding to said excruciating pain, and make sure there are no other reasons that my right arm is being so troublesome in getting back into the game. We don't expect there to be any other reasons than just some scar tissue (from the surgeries) (not to mention the port sitting directly on my right pec muscle) inhibiting range of motion, and a very aggravating pinched nerve, which, thus far, has refused all attempts to be assuaged.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my breast surgeon's massage therapist, to also work on this pesky and persnickety pinched nerve.

And that, pretty much, is my boys' spring break, which I feel pretty bad about. But we have actaully had a pretty good week together so far despite it all. It has been nice not having the pressure of school. For me too. We watched our fam fave tv show: House and played Euchre past midnight Monday night. I took the boys shopping for prom digs yesterday after physical therapy. Today, the boys are still sleeping in as I type, so that's always a good spring breaky thing. Mikey and I are planning on going to hit some tennis balls after my MRI. Tonight is our other fam fave show: LOST.

My redheads have been amazing in rolling with things the way our rollercoaster has rolled. They really are the best. They are my angels. Amanda, Matt and Mikey, Mini-Mum is sorry you've had to roll the way you have, even if you have been fab about it.

Speaking of rollercoasters, there are a couple other twists to cover in this post: Amanda has changed her major from Biology on a Pre-Med track, to JOURNALISM with a creative writing certificate. My little apple, nestled right up next to me. Both she and Mikey have blogs if you want to wade into their worlds and words. Amanda's is: http://dreamingoffire.blogspot.com/ and Mikey's is: http://inomniaparatuss.blogspot.com/.

The final twist and turn of this post has to do with seven hills. Dave and I have finally re-booked our annivesary trip that got derailed by my mastectomy. We are going to Rome at the end of this month! It is technically our 20th anniversary trip, even though, we've had another anniversary since then and our now at 21. Which is a lucky number when you get a Roman Holiday out of it!

They say that all roads lead to Rome. Who would've thunk this crazy rollercoaster of one would? But I am so glad. And I can't wait!

And the Rome Masters are on tap while we are there! To see Rafa play on Clay! Maybe introduce him to my Port Rafa!

Cheers and Ciao.