Hi Folks!
I've been a baaaad girl!! LOL I've been told it's been too long between posts so I'm writing a drive by update so no one will worry!
Since I returned home, I've done a lot of sleeping, which I'm told is the best way to heal. I think I wrote in my last blog that I had to have emergency surgery to have my sick gall bladder removed. I was in the hospital for a week, and I've been home for a week. I had my staples removed yesterday....ahhhhhh....can you feel the relief? Now I can bend...almost! LOL I haven't done much else.
I did see my medical oncologist who told me chemo will resume next Thursday. I will miss the taste of food *sigh* LOL But I am going to enjoy the week of good tasting food, and the ability to eat WHATEVER I want until chemo begins again!
One strange thing that has been happening, when I look in the mirror I hardly recognize myself anymore. I'm losing my eyebrows. I didn't start losing my eyebrows when my hair started falling out, so I just assumed I wouldn't. People haven't mentioned it, but I can see it in the mirror. Strange, I wonder what I'll look like when they are completely gone? We'll find out I suppose after chemo resumes. I really don't think of myself as a vain person, but I must say, losing my eyebrows is bothering me. LOL I didn't think much about losing my hair, I think it bothered my hair dresser and my husband more than it did me, I could cover my head with a wig. But my eyebrows...now that's something else. Weird what goes through a person's head. LOL
I've been trying to stitch, but I haven't accomplished much, so no pictures today, but I'll try to get some done soon and update my pictures of them soon. I did put one strand of floss in my UFO last Thursday so I could avoid the wet noodle lashing, but since it didn't really amount to much, there is no use putting a picture here just yet. I've been working a little bit on my violet sampler (I was able to find substitutes for the colors I was missing) but it's mostly backstitching so again, it doesn't look much different. Sorry for the lack of stitching, I just can't seem to get myself motivated, but it will come back, after all I'm an addicted stitcher and I'll need a fix soon!
Next week promises to be a very busy week, with 7 appointments that I need to keep along with a chemo session on Thursday. Will I have time to stitch? I'm not sure. Keep your fingers crossed. In the meanwhile, I'm heading back to bed for my second nap today. I just can't seem to keep my eyes open! LOL
Oh, I finished a pretty good book called The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Though it had a lot of twists and turns (it took me several months to read it) I finally finished and was surprised at the ending. If you like mysteries (not crimes but just life mysteries) you might enjoy this book. I started another book called Wild Swans by Jung Chang. I'm really enjoying this book about the true lives of the author, her mother and her grandmother as they grew up during different ages in China. It makes me appreciate the freedom we have in this country (especially as women) and admire the strength of women in other areas of the world who are so suppressed in their cultures.
Ok, off to la la land. Hope you are enjoying your day!
This has been an amazing week....and I just love that word...verklempt! It means choked with emotion. And that's exactly how I feel.
So much has happened this week I really don't know where to start so I'll start with what is making me verklempt. I was supposed to meet Gillie last week on Friday. I had a busy week planned with lots of appointments and a chemo treatment on Thursday. I was going to pick Gillie up at the train station, spend some time stitching and talking and drop her back at the train station. Taxotere (the next chemo drug) is supposed to be less stressful on your body and I thought I would be able to handle meeting her on Friday.
Wednesday rolled around and I had two doctors appointments. One at 10 AM and one at 4 PM. I went for a "fill up" of my expanders and it went great. DH and I headed over to the mall because we had a little shopping to do, then had lunch. A wonderful cheeseburger at Rockin' Robins. YUM!!! About an hour later I started having pain in my back. Hm...DH being the military man that he was says "Let's walk it off" so we walked the mall for 4 hours. It continually got worse.
I had an appointment with my oncologist next. We headed over there and he asked how I was feeling. I told him the truth, that I wasn't feeling well, so he ordered a CT scan for the following Monday to check things out. He drew blood to have it tested and we got back on the road to go home and got stuck in rush hour traffic. FUN...NOT!! I went to bed when I got home but realized I couldn't lie on my back it was just too painful. So I called my oncologist back to ask for pain medication. He said if it hurt that bad I needed to go to the emergency room immediately. So I did. Sitting there waiting to be checked in they were asking those silly questions such as...."Do you feel threatened at home?" and " Do you feel any suicidal thoughts?" to which I replied "If I don't get any pain medication soon I WILL have suicidal thoughts!!!" LOL Finally after a sonogram, some morophine, and a little wait in the waiting room I was told I had a gall bladder attack and would have to have it removed the next day. WHAT??? I'm supposed to have chemo that day and what about Gillie's visit? I was so discouraged. But I had the surgery and 7 days later I'm finally back home.
What about Gillie you're asking? Is she still standing at the train station??? LOL No, my wonderful DH picked her up and brought her to the hospital so we could at least chat while she stitched....BUT!!! She brought something else with her. The ladies at Friendly Stitchers yahoo group made a quilt for me when they found out about my cancer diagnosis...and this is where being verklempt comes in! A few ladies from all over the world made tops and bottoms of biscornus and sent them to Mouse in England. Mouse pieced everything together and made the quilt. She sent it to Gillie, and Gillie made her way all the way from Michigan to Maryland to hand deliver the quilt. I cannot believe the trouble everyone went to to make this quilt for me. Even a mother and daughter (who is 10) each made one. The time, energy, compassion, thoughtfulness, expertise, and care that was taken just overwhelms me. I may not have shown it that day (I was pretty out of it....gotta love morophine) but I was truly touched by their act of compassion. I told Gillie when she laid the quilt over me that I felt like I was being hugged by everyone. What a feeling!! I cannot express in words how I feel and I cannot thank them enough. I feel like I am not in this fight alone, there are so many praying and lending support in so many ways that I cannot fail. So thank you, you amazing women!! I wish I could hug each one!!! So now you know why I'm feeling verklempt...are you feeling that way too? Here are a few pictures so you can see this amazing artwork! (I'm the one with the blue hat on...wouldn't you love one? I told everyone I was making a fashion statement but really, I felt like a huge blue mushroom... it was the only way to cover my chilly bald head! LOL)
I had a lot of visitors over the next few days. I hope those that visited read this part because I have to tell you, if it hadn't been for those visitors I would have gone insane. I'm not a patient patient, I am not one to lie around and wait and wait. I was so thankful to have distractions they will never know how much I appreciated each visit. And how sweet of them all to bring something.
Gail, a fellow sister in this struggle brought truffles (too bad I still can't eat them yet, but give me a few more days!)
Marie (who knows how much I LOVE chocolate) and her husband brought these and flowers (which I cannot seem to find on my camera...weird because I took pictures)
Sonya who took time even though she had a family emergency...
Alice who brought these hand made thank you cards after she heard about the quilt that I received. I wish I had everyone's address so I could send these. Alice is one of the most creative people I think I've ever met, and she's a fellow framer too! Her cards are WONDERFUL! Even her get well card was a "motion" card. You're amazing, Girlfriend!
Teresa who is also a sister walking the same path as myself and she brought these. Now there's a story behind these. She used to give m&ms to her kids when they were sick and had to take medicine. Now it's a running tradition to give them to each other when they are sick. I was touched by that because I feel like family to her. I thought that was sweet that she did that (no pun intended) not to mention they are one of my favorite candies.
When I got home...there was another surprise. Pat, you are going to spoil me!!! She knows how much I love violets and she found these beads with the violets. I LOVE them!!! She sent them to her sister who made this scissor fob. It's beautiful Pat, and it feels so smooth and nice when you hold this in your hand. Along with that was a Sajou bobbin all tucked nicely in a Sajou box. She sent the London card because we've both been to London and just loved it!! I hope to go back one day, for some reason the Queen wasn't home that day and I just know she's dying to have tea with me!! LOL
I hope I didn't bore you too much! The last picture is a surprise from DH. We didn't have time this summer to plant anything in the little round circle in the front yard I jokingly call our garden. He found these mums on sale and surprised me two weekends ago by planting them. I don't know how I got to be so blessed with him, he's been a trooper through this whole thing and I know he's getting so tired of taking care of everything. If you think of it, please say a prayer on his behalf. I couldn't do any of this without him. You're my rock, Honey!
Lastly, I just want to say, I'm amazed at God's perfect timing. When I look back at all that's taken place this past week, I'm just blown away by how perfectly He orchestrates our lives. I had my operation three weeks after my last chemo (my chemo treatments had been two weeks apart but we had scheduled this three week break in between changing medications). My body had enough time to "recover" so that I could have the surgery that I needed. It was ok to miss this treatment because we were in between changing the medications. I will still have to have four more treatments but I'll just move my "finish date" back a few weeks. Gillie was still able to visit which was such a blessing (just seeing her would have been enough but it was icing on the cake to receive the quilt). I was there over a weekend and could have lots of visitors which kept me sane. I am amazed at the wonderful women I've met along the way...ta ta sisters we call each other that God has planted so we can help and encourage one another as we travel. LOL God truly is great. Even though my path has been strewn with some hardships lately, just seeing how His hand is guiding things, I know I'm still being held gently in His hand.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but so much has happened and needed to be shared. Hope you are having a wonderful day (I know I am as the sun is shining, the windows are open, and I'm enjoying being home!) Take care!
Hi there!
I'm a bit slow, but I did finally take pictures...and here we go!!
I invited a few people over to stitch last Friday, but just two showed up. It was last minute, and I really need to invite people sooner, as folks already had plans. Understandable, since it was a holiday weekend. Oh well, next time I know better! We had a good time though, and I did make progress on my Violet sampler as well as the rose quaker. And here they are!! No wet noodle for me!!
It was one of those weekends though...pretty days, and after all the rain the flowers just outside my door were blooming! Yay! The sweetheart rose was a gift from my Mom and Sister. I thought it was going to die, but after a few weeks outside it started blooming again! I'm so glad!
These geraniums have a story. They are about 5 years old now, and each winter my parents would take them to Florida and enjoy them and bring them back in the spring. The past two winters I had to baby them inside, and they just didn't do as well, but they are the prettiest color, I just can't bear to get rid of them...
It was time to mow the lawn, so I had to get a picture of DH and his rippling muscles. Now I know you can't see them under his shirt...but believe me they are there *wink*...ok the truth is, I had to get a picture of him "working" to show my Mom that he actually does do the yard work! LOL Even Thomas came to the door and had to watch, it was an amazing sight! LOL
And lastly, I had to show you what I have to do to my arm now. Each day after my shower, I have to put these bandages on and keep them on all day and all night. Doesn't that look comfy? NOT!! And believe it or not, I have to do this myself. I think I do a pretty good job doing this one handed and getting it the right tension. It's still itchy and uncomfortable, but you gotta do what you gotta do (as my mother always says).
And, that's a wrap! LOL
I feel a little like David Letterman today...but here goes anyway! LOL
Top Ten reasons to be thankful for being bald... Ready?
1. Save money on expensive shampoos.
2. Save time by not having to style my hair in the morning.
3. Save the planet by using less water by not washing my hair in the shower.
4. Keeps you cool in the summertime.
5. Boost the economy by bringing hats back into fashion thereby creating jobs for hat makers and designers alike.
6. You don't have to wear one of those net thingies while preparing food for large quantities of people.
7. You bring a little "shine" back into people's lives.
8. No more bed head or helmet head!
9. Keeps drains running freely with no hair clogs.
And the top ten reason to be thankful for being bald....
10. Gray hair? What gray hair?
*giggle*
Good morning!
I was lying in bed last night thinking (dangerous, I know!!) about my week, and my life and how God has been there through all the trials and I was thinking how richly He blesses us each day. I'll admit I've been staying away from my blog on the bad days on purpose. I think in my head that no one wants to hear the discouraging stuff, or the ugly stuff that accompanies this disease. And I certainly don't want to remember it either! LOL What I do want to focus on, is how tenderly the Lord takes care of us, though we sometimes have to reflect on the little things to see it.
As I was lying there last night I started thinking about the week. How each day presented it's own challenges, but a few times during each day, I would receive phone calls. Phone calls from people I hadn't heard from in a while. They would each tell me, and I thought this was funny, how they had been a "bad friend" to me lately. They felt sorry they hadn't called me in a while. To be honest, who has had time? I haven't been here very often myself!! Anyway, the people who have been calling have been relaying stories of their summer, or remembering stories from our past and "tickling me pink" with laughter. I can't tell you how good I feel after a good "belly laugh"! So after this week full of "YUCK", I've also had phone calls of hysterical laughter. What better way to heal the sick? We all know laughter is the best medicine! As I was reflecting on my week last night, it dawned on me that those phone calls were strategically placed and timed in such a way that I had time to talk to them, we remembered happy times together, no phone calls overlapped, I got at least one phone call a day, sometimes more, and each one was the perfect length! Has God got timing or what??? Even though I was feeling like "yuck", I never felt abandoned, that people had forgotten me, so there was no time for a pity party. Isn't that amazing? God is sooooooooo good!!!
On that note, I have to tell a story that I was reminded of last night. A dear friend from college days called last night and we started talking about an incident that happened in chemistry lab. DS is taking chemistry this year and talked about the "chemical shower" they have in their lab room. It sparked a memory and when Ellie called last night I asked her if she remembered the time we tried to "blow up Hudson Hall". We were in bio-chemistry class just before and had been passing notes back and forth, and the last note was sent was "Well, it's time to "blow up" Hudson Hall" meaning that we were heading to lab class next. Our experiment that day was on distilling alcohol. We had an elaborate mess of glass tubes and rubber hoses all set up just as our book had told us to do. But!! And who would think this was important? When we went to get some of the "accessories" to set up this elaborate mess, we had to substitute a few things because not all of the "parts" were there. For example, we had to substitute a cork stopper instead of a rubber stopper. What difference would that make? *shrugging shoulders* Well, we had a thermometer stuck through the cork that was hovering over the bottom of a beaker full of acetone that was strategically placed over a flaming Bunsen Burner. As the acetone started to boil, it caused the cork to expand and that heavy thermometer suddenly slipped through the cork, breaking the bottom of the beaker, pouring acetone (did I mention how HIGHLY FLAMMABLE acetone is?) over the flaming Bunsen Burner. Hm...well now we had a flame thrower being fed by gas and accelerated by acetone. Of course the first thing I thought of was to turn the gas off to the Bunsen Burner, but guess what? It was on the opposite side of the flames from where I was. I turned to my lab partner and said "I was only kidding about blowing up Hudson Hall!!!" Fortunately our lab instructor was a volunteer fireman and he came to the rescue. I have to tell you I was minutes from rushing to that "chemical shower" in the corner and dousing the whole room in water! LOL Did I mention that the volunteer fireman was REALLY CUTE? My lab partner accused me of setting the fire on purpose so we could see his ripped muscles in action. LOL And you thought I had only become a Cheeky Girl recently. I've always had an appreciation for a well muscled man! *blush* We became known as the gruesome twosome after that. LOL Amazingly enough, the only "damage" we were responsible for was a broken beaker. WHEW!! I can only imagine what the cost would have been for the other equipment in that lab, not to mention a lecture hall in ashes. Ah....the good old college days. I miss them!!
Lastly, I wanted to share a little about DS the teenager. Do any of you have teenagers out there? Have they been reduced to one word answers to your questions? I know it's a phase but I'm constantly amazed at how quickly he fires these one word answers at me. It's pretty inventive. I wonder if he sits in school thinking up one word answers to dozens of questions I might pose to him when he gets home. Like....What would you like for dinner, hun? FOOD How was your day? GOOD What did you learn today? STUFF I'm serious when I tell you these are real answers to real questions. *sigh* But I was horrified to learn that DS is now taking American Sign Language as a course this year. I'm afraid those one word answers are going to be substituted with single motion gestures. It's going to be a quiet year. I was reduced to giggles though, when he told me he was multi-lingual now since he can speak English, Spanish, and American Sign.
And on that note, I'll bid you adieu. I'm off to fix some FOOD for lunch. Heaven knows what that will be. Hope he likes it...whatever that might be. Maybe I'll fix broccoli (he HATES broccoli) and that will be incentive to learn some gestures for his favorite food. LOL *Hugs*
Hold on to your seats! Yes, I've finally picked up my needle and thread and actually have some stitching to show you. *Fanning your face* Come on now, fainting....REALLY??? Has it REALLY been that long? LOL
So, are you asking yourself how I finally had time? Hm...well it's a combination of things. Let's see. I had to cancel two appointments this week to do it. Yes, it's been a very rough week. I'm not sure why, it's probably a combination of things, but each treatment seems to be a little tougher than the one before. This one seemed to knock me for a loop. I'm feeling a little bit better today than yesterday, so lets hope we're on an upswing now! In the meanwhile, when I've felt like it, I've pulled out my needle and have done a little stitching. It helps that DS is back in school and I have hours and hours of quiet peaceful time that I can devote to stitching. Don't you LOVE Back-to-school days? I have to admit though, I miss the big guy!!
I'm in LOVE with the Violet sampler!! Let's just say, I love working with silks. They were a little more expensive than I would have liked, but I believe they are worth every penny! The silk just seems to glide through the fabric, and seems to fill in the x's so nicely. It's been a trying piece with all the letters, but I've been working on them exclusively and hopefully when they are done, the rest will just be a piece of cake. I'm still missing two colors, but hope to get them ordered soon. Thanks again, Pat, this is a dream piece!!!
I've also avoided the "wet noodle" from the Friendly Stitchers by working on my UFO. I really adore this piece! I've worked on it one day each week for a few weeks to have gotten this far, I just haven't taken a picture in a long while, but here it is! I can't wait to finish this as I just love the colors. I took these pictures at night, so you might not be able to really see the true colors. However, I have to make hay while the sun shines...so here it is!
Ok, I'm heading back to bed. Whew, I can't believe how tired I am these days. Just taking a shower makes me weak as a kitten some days. On days like today though, when I'm feeling pretty yucky, I pull out my prayer list and pray extra long for others who are sharing some trying days themselves. It seems to put things in perspective and takes my mind off how I feel. Then one day, hopefully, mine and everyone's woes will be behind us all.
Hope the end of your summer is going well and that you are enjoying the last few days with the kiddies before they head off to school. *Hugs*
Hi Folks!
My goodness this has been a busy week!! Where has the time gone? I swear the older I get the faster time goes, although sometimes it depends on the day/week/month/year we are talking about LOL Where do I begin? Uh oh, chemo brain has taken over.
Let's go back to last Tuesday. I had a great day!! As some of you know I belong to a breast cancer support group. I've met some amazing ladies and continue to meet more and more as time progresses (sadly because more are being diagnosed). Anyway, one of our ladies is moving out west to have the support of her family while she battles this disease. She organized a day for us to meet and have dinner to say goodbye. Here is a picture of us after our dinner.
We shared our stories, talked about our treatments (as we are all in different stages of our treatments), talked about our triumphs and our setbacks. It was joyful and tearful all at the same time. I made up cards for us calling ourselves the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Ta Ta's" LOL I hope the others didn't mind, I couldn't resist.
I know that Karen, who found her cancer in the most unusual way, would love to share her story, and as soon as I get her permission I'll share it here. Cancer has a way of hiding itself, and when I heard her story it sent shivers down my spine. God had a hand in getting her diagnosed just as He did in mine! I'm praying everyone will continue to get their annual mammogram!! Ok, stepping off my soapbox.
Wednesday the guys went with me to my oncologist appointment. Have I mentioned that I adore my doctor? When I first met him he immediately put me at ease, but he seemed a bit stiff. When I asked for a prescription for a hair prosthesis, I told him I was thinking about getting a pink wig. His face turned shades of red and he couldn't look me in the face after that for a while. I didn't think he had a sense of humor until this week. I guess one of the ladies in the lab offered him a pen. He asked her if it was a trick pen and she said no...but when he tried to use it he got shocked. He was explaining the story, chuckling as he told the story, then proceeded to knock his pen off the desk, then the kleenex, and said his thumb was still numb. I was the last patient of the day so he said he was going to keep me just a little while longer because he wanted to keep the lady late in the lab to get her back for shocking him earlier. I said..."So you're the type that doesn't get mad, you get even? I'll have to remember that!" LOL I have to say, a few other things happened too and I was in stitches after I left the office. He talked about bringing a whoopie cushion into the office but thought it might be too unprofessional. I asked if he was going to use it on patients, he said NO, that he heard enough whoopie from some of his patients without that device. LOL!!! Chemo does have that effect on you. I have to admit. *blush* Thankfully it hasn't happened in public yet, and I'm sure the public would be thankful to know that too! ROTFL!! I learned that I'll be seeing this particular doctor for many years to come, but now that I know he's a character, I just might have to act on this. *wink* We all need to keep our humor!
We went out to dinner after that, then saw a movie... "The Other Guys". My son loved it, DH and I had other thoughts. It did have SOME funny spots, but I was expecting more. That was a very long day for me, and I was really tired. But I slept the whole night through!! That was a treat for me!! Still I was tired for chemo the next day.
I love going for chemo with Miss M. She and I always manage to laugh our way through the day. It sure makes the time pass quickly! DS came with us too, and we kept him busy making him run back and forth to the snack machine getting us one thing or another. I was a zombie by the time I left though. Thankfully this is the last dose of these particular medicines. The next medicine I've been told I won't even need nausea medicine. Inside I'm jumping for joy!!! The next doses will be three weeks apart so in theory I'll have one yucky week, then two good weeks. If that's the case I might actually get some working days in. I'm excited to maybe be getting back to work. YAY!
I have made some progress on my violet sampler, and when I feel up to it I'll get some pictures and post them for you guys!
DS starts back to school next week. I think we'll both be happy to have him back in school. He's missed his friends and I've missed my peace and quiet! I've been thankful to have him around for most of my yucky chemo, he really has been great about helping out, but I think sometimes there's a little too much togetherness. We both need our space. So next week will be a bit of a breather for both of us.
Guess that's all the news that's fit to print. Have a great day!! *hugs*
