Me and My Family

Me and My Family

13 September, 2011

I didn't see that comin'

Treatment #1 Round #2

I sooo did not see it coming. I have never felt sick during a treatment before, but yesterday!

Well, yesterday I felt so sick. My muscles were shaking, I got hotflash upon hotflash, nausea, lightheadedness. Finally had to call the nurse over to check blood pressure and give me something. She stopped the pumps for about 15 minutes to give me a break. My dear wonderful friend Lisa was there with me for this and took the afternoon off to stay with me when she saw that I wasn't feeling so Hot (get it? haha even though I was feeling really Hot. lol

So I then took a nap and felt much better when I was awake. Still though, my muscles were shaky and I felt like a lead weight when I stood up to go. I made it home safe and sound, went to bed early and feel much more human this morning.

The nurse said I shouldn't go through that every time....Lord, let's hope not!!!

On to regularly schedule tasks today!

Good news first....this new med will not give me cold sensitivity in my mouth so I can keep drinking cold wheatgrass juice, and smoothies. Bring it on!
love and hugs to all.
Dani

08 September, 2011

Round #2

It has been a GREAT break, but I will be starting round #2 of Chemo Monday. We met with the Doc. Things are progressing the same as they have been, slow and steady.
We would rather not wait until slow and steady turns into Fast and spreading so we (as in John and I) made the decision to go ahead and nip it in the butt. I am not looking forward to giving up my smoothies...can't tolerate cold stuff, and cold water.
It looks like I will be on veggie soup, miso soup, and salad diet now for the duration. At least I know that once Chemo stops, it won't take long for the cold sensitivity to wear off. The Doc thinks I shouldn't have to go 7 straight months again this time last round #1. I can probably do like 3 months, take a short break, and do a few more months and keep track of everything via CT scans.
So, one good thing is I will have the day of infusion to catch up on reading, and napping!!! lol
And at least this time I won't be scared like I was the first time I ever went to Chemo. I know the nurses, I know what to expect, and I am prepared.

06 September, 2011

who can take a nap...

Grrr....It's my own fault. I've been trying to take a quick 45 minute nap. Damon is at school and Ava didn't come today. I couldn't mow cus I found the mower empty!
I layed down, the dogs were right next to me, all was calm and quiet. Alas! I start to drift off in my cacoon under the blanket where it's cozy warm and I feel it. My bladder. It's full. Didn't I JUST go? I thought so.
But wait, I drank a ton of water this morning to go with the tall jug of contrast I also had to drink at 10.
Yikes. Nap is over! After getting up twice, I might as well just forget it. So here I am blogging about it instead. Nap sweet Nap. You will have to wait.
Even a whole day to ones self isn't enough when said ones self has so much she wants and needs to do and get done.
Oh well....Another day!
Ct scan is this afternoon, Doc appt tomorrow. Nerves couldn't possibly have anything to do with interfering with my nap, or not knowing what to do with my time alone. Time alone, anyway, what's up with that? It happens so rarely of course I don't know what to do with it.
Oh yeah, so the Doc see's me tomorrow and yes I am nervous, but then I always am. I feel that if there is bad news, like it's not already bad...lol, it's all my fault for being such a CHEATER on my diet this last month and a half.
With everyone gone though, it has improved tremendously. I don't have the cravings I did, I'm not snacking like I was, I can go back to buying just my produce and the things Damon and John like, and nothing extra if I don't want. It was psychological I am sure. It was like the day Kaili arrived I was in the pantry every 30 minutes looking for something, the day she left, I couldn't have cared less (well almost). lol
Sorry, it's not your fault Kaili, just some psychological trigger for me. Gotta work on that.
So, every day I will make it better. Produce produce produce.

An exerpt from a book I am reading:

"As we are not plants, we do not carry out photosynthesis and therefore do not produce any of our own antioxidants. Fortunately  the anitoxidants in plants work in our bodies the same way they work in plants. It is a wonderful harmony. The plants make the antioxidant shields, and at the same time make them look incredibly appealing with beautiful, appetizing colors. Then we animals, in turn, are attracted to the plants and eat them and borrow their antioxidant shields for our own health. Whether you believe in God, evolution or just coincidence, you must admit that this is a beautiful, almost spiritual, example of natures wisdom."
pg 93 The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas m. Campbell II, MD

Now to follow up with that, from the scriptures, because I do believe in God,

Genesis 1:29

"And God said, "behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yeilding seed; to you it shall be for meat."
In other words we should be eating a plant based diet as much as possible. yes? yes! The "meat" of our diet should be plants, fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, seeds.
Ok. moving right along. A few pictures from the weekend. love and blessings to you! Dani
Hiking up the Butte! This is just the beginning.

At the top! Pioneer Peak in the background. We R NOT doing that one. lol


Knik glacier in the background here.

Not exactly the smiles I was hoping for. lol

That's better.

Labor day drive to Talkeetna.

02 September, 2011

This could change things

Oh my Gosh!

I can't believe I did this. I forgot to pick up my contrast drink for the CT scan and they aren't open again until the morning of.

What a dork. I kept telling myself all week as I would prepare to run errands, "now don't forget to stop and get that yummy stuff to drink."

It's SO dang yummy that I kept not going to get it. then this afternoon John told me he would go get it. I asked if that would be now, or later. Later meaning not at all. I should have left him home alone with Damon and All three dogs and the baby girl I watch to just go get it.

Now I am mentally slapping us both! Plan B is to call them first thing Tuesday and see if there is something I can take that is fast acting. I imagine they might just reschedule me for afternoon, then I can get the drink, start it in the morning and be good to go by afternoon. The only glitch is by the time I meet with the Doc on Wednesday she will only have a preliminary report, not the full written one. Oh well. If she can at least discern what is going on and what might need to be done, then I am game.

It's just, do I really need this added stress through the long weekend? Oh, I can just hear some of you now....(dad) of course I do! lol

Of course you would think that. And maybe I do. Keeps me on my toes, but not really. If I was on my toes I wouldn't have put this off until Friday afternoon.

I got some new wonderful books.
"The China Study"~ Research revealing the implications for diet, weightloss and long term health.
"A life in balance" ~ a cookbook for a macrobiotic way of life by Meg Wolff
"Becoming Whole" ~ Meg Wolffs story of her full and complete recovery from Breast cancer.
All about how diet plays a role, and not a little one, in our health.  I am so into these books these days, all novels have been shelved for now. Sorry mom, but I will get to The Help soon. Thank you also for these wonderful books I am already them all.
I haven't started the book yet...still thinking...and planning in my head, which as evidenced by this last week is not a good idea. I really need to be writing these things down!

Writing, and making sure to remember things that are best remembered could change things. you think?!