Monday, June 18, 2007
Another A-1 day
For lunch we went "over the bridge" and ate at another one of our favorite seafood restaurants. And yes, more seafood. This time we all had fried clams. Haven't got tired of seafood yet!
After lunch, Barry and Tim rode their bikes along the Cape Cod Canal. It's a nice paved path, for bikers and walkers right long the Canal. I stayed behind with the truck and took some pictures. A lot of nice boats.
For dinner we had pizza. Geez, what a shock. No seafood. But we love this pizza. Only wish we had their recipe, we could make lots of money in Pennsylvania. For dessert, it's going to be Par-tee freeze sundaes.
And as I am typing this, a girl just rode by riding on her horse. As Barry said, a bit of our country in the neighborhood. I was too slow in grabbing my camera to take a picture.
Tomorrow's plans include perhaps another visit to the canal and to see Barry's parents one last time. And on Wednesday, we head to Boston with Barry's brother and sister-in-law. This will be Tim's first trip into Boston. Looking forward to it.
After lunch, Barry and Tim rode their bikes along the Cape Cod Canal. It's a nice paved path, for bikers and walkers right long the Canal. I stayed behind with the truck and took some pictures. A lot of nice boats.
For dinner we had pizza. Geez, what a shock. No seafood. But we love this pizza. Only wish we had their recipe, we could make lots of money in Pennsylvania. For dessert, it's going to be Par-tee freeze sundaes.
And as I am typing this, a girl just rode by riding on her horse. As Barry said, a bit of our country in the neighborhood. I was too slow in grabbing my camera to take a picture.
Tomorrow's plans include perhaps another visit to the canal and to see Barry's parents one last time. And on Wednesday, we head to Boston with Barry's brother and sister-in-law. This will be Tim's first trip into Boston. Looking forward to it.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Life is good
Slept very good last night.
The family went downtown to see a car show after breakfast, I slept in.
Later on Barry, Tim and I went to see Barry's parents and his brother Matt who was visiting there. We went out to lunch, and need I say where to? Of course to a local seafood restaurant where we had fried shrimp and onion rings! Driving 12 hrs. was worth the trip...
The family went downtown to see a car show after breakfast, I slept in.
Later on Barry, Tim and I went to see Barry's parents and his brother Matt who was visiting there. We went out to lunch, and need I say where to? Of course to a local seafood restaurant where we had fried shrimp and onion rings! Driving 12 hrs. was worth the trip...
Saturday, June 16, 2007
We have arrived on Old Cape Cod
After a 12 hr. ride, we left at 12:30 a.m., we arrived at my parents house. Did stop for our first meal of the trip at my brother's restaurant at about 11 a.m. It was great seeing him, but as usual, which is good for him, he was very busy. Got to chat with him for awhile.
We took naps when we got here, I don't know how Barry did the drive himself. We did stop at a rest area so he could sleep for about an hr. I was told that I even snored! I got to drive in the backseat, where I rested the majority of the way. Tim was elected copilot. At times I got to see his head be a wobble head, back and forth as he tried to nod off.
Went out to dinner with my sister and her husband, mom and dad. Lobsters were the main course. Delicious treat. Followed by upside down banana splits.
Well, 10 p.m. and jammies are calling me. Will definitely sleep well tonight.
We took naps when we got here, I don't know how Barry did the drive himself. We did stop at a rest area so he could sleep for about an hr. I was told that I even snored! I got to drive in the backseat, where I rested the majority of the way. Tim was elected copilot. At times I got to see his head be a wobble head, back and forth as he tried to nod off.
Went out to dinner with my sister and her husband, mom and dad. Lobsters were the main course. Delicious treat. Followed by upside down banana splits.
Well, 10 p.m. and jammies are calling me. Will definitely sleep well tonight.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Yeah. No chemo tomorrow...
Hard to believe that tomorrow is Friday and I DO NOT have chemo that day! My schedule is 3 Fridays in a row, and then off a Friday. Not going to know what to do with myself actually being at my job. Don't even have to have blood work done.
And I'm not sure, but I do think the tumor is shrinking. BJ saw it the other day and said that she thought it was. I had not looked at it in awhile, but I must agree. Won't have a scan done until about 3 cycles of chemo which equals about 3 months. Praying...
A friend of ours, Sue, delivered us a nice dinner tonight. Stuffed shells and cookies for the drive to Cape Cod. Thanks!
We leave for the Cape this weekend. We haven't been there since last June. A long time. I can't wait for real hugs from my family. My dad's been wanting to come visit us, but with my mom's alzheimers/dimentia it would be too much. So the next best thing is for us to go there. And an added benefit will be seafood. Mmmmm.
I've felt pretty good this week. Other than being a little tired by the afternoon, no complaints. And I don't think I scared anyone away with my bald head at my job. I went to a staff luncheon meeting today, and it was a lot of fun. Pizza and pop. While there a neighbor was talking of her daughter who had wisdom teeth out. The daughter was talking of wearing a veil to hide her mouth. I told her to tell her daughter about me. Forget about what you may look like, and just go out there. Bald or swollen mouth, just get out there. She laughed and agreed with me. You see, I'm not going to put a wig on just to "hide" what I'm going through. The way I look at it, I'm living through this cancer and holding my bald head up high.
And I'm not sure, but I do think the tumor is shrinking. BJ saw it the other day and said that she thought it was. I had not looked at it in awhile, but I must agree. Won't have a scan done until about 3 cycles of chemo which equals about 3 months. Praying...
A friend of ours, Sue, delivered us a nice dinner tonight. Stuffed shells and cookies for the drive to Cape Cod. Thanks!
We leave for the Cape this weekend. We haven't been there since last June. A long time. I can't wait for real hugs from my family. My dad's been wanting to come visit us, but with my mom's alzheimers/dimentia it would be too much. So the next best thing is for us to go there. And an added benefit will be seafood. Mmmmm.
I've felt pretty good this week. Other than being a little tired by the afternoon, no complaints. And I don't think I scared anyone away with my bald head at my job. I went to a staff luncheon meeting today, and it was a lot of fun. Pizza and pop. While there a neighbor was talking of her daughter who had wisdom teeth out. The daughter was talking of wearing a veil to hide her mouth. I told her to tell her daughter about me. Forget about what you may look like, and just go out there. Bald or swollen mouth, just get out there. She laughed and agreed with me. You see, I'm not going to put a wig on just to "hide" what I'm going through. The way I look at it, I'm living through this cancer and holding my bald head up high.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Bald is beautiful...
I started to lose the hair last Thursday, but have been procrastinating in shaving it. In the back of my head, I was thinking I needed to have hair to go see my family this coming weekend. But as I was taking my son to get his hair cut tonight and talking with him, he spoke the correct words to me: "Mom, it didn't bother you before when you were bald. So why worry about it now." Kids seem to know just what to say.
Had been getting tired of hair in tub drain and in sink, even at my desk at work. So, like 2 years ago (check out May 25 ish, 2005 blog archive for pics) I called my friend Retta to shave it off. Just talk to cancer patients and most will agree that shaving if off before it comes off in clumps is called taking control. You take control, not the damn cancer. But unlike last time, I shed no tears. Feels a bit liberating. It's amazing how much strength you get when in difficult situations. Am thankful that I'm not into vanity.
Just need to get my hats back and to borrow the scarves once again from my buddy Jody. Boy, those scarves have been on many chemo heads.
So tomorrow I walk with my head high and continue to be my old self with a new hairdo.
PS. Thanks for bloggin' me.
Had been getting tired of hair in tub drain and in sink, even at my desk at work. So, like 2 years ago (check out May 25 ish, 2005 blog archive for pics) I called my friend Retta to shave it off. Just talk to cancer patients and most will agree that shaving if off before it comes off in clumps is called taking control. You take control, not the damn cancer. But unlike last time, I shed no tears. Feels a bit liberating. It's amazing how much strength you get when in difficult situations. Am thankful that I'm not into vanity.
Just need to get my hats back and to borrow the scarves once again from my buddy Jody. Boy, those scarves have been on many chemo heads.
So tomorrow I walk with my head high and continue to be my old self with a new hairdo.
PS. Thanks for bloggin' me.
Monday, June 11, 2007
If you read my blog.....please post a comment
I was at work today when Suzie mentioned that she reads my blog. I did not know that. I explained to her how therapeutic writing down my thoughts has been. Not only is it a way to tell others how I'm feeling instead of individual emails or phone calls, but as a way for me to see where I've been and perhaps where I'm going.
Some people keep their thoughts to themselves, nothing wrong with that.
As I told Suzie this morning, I get an instant email when someone posts a comment to my blog. It means so much to me when I know you are reading my journal. So please, take a minute and click on Comments under my daily writings. You can post a comment under 'anonymous' and just type your first name. You don't have to join anything. It's free!
Thanks!
PS I know Barry reads this because he corrected me when I spelled avastin wrong! Sometimes this blog is a way for him to know what's going on....
Yeah. Internet up and running finally. I could not be Amish.
Some people keep their thoughts to themselves, nothing wrong with that.
As I told Suzie this morning, I get an instant email when someone posts a comment to my blog. It means so much to me when I know you are reading my journal. So please, take a minute and click on Comments under my daily writings. You can post a comment under 'anonymous' and just type your first name. You don't have to join anything. It's free!
Thanks!
PS I know Barry reads this because he corrected me when I spelled avastin wrong! Sometimes this blog is a way for him to know what's going on....
Yeah. Internet up and running finally. I could not be Amish.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
We've had no internet since Friday p.m.
We had a storm come through our town Friday p.m., and have had no internet since. I felt so bad cause I know people are concerned on how my chemo went Friday a.m.
My girl friend Joanne brought me. Actually first thing in the a.m., Barry, Tim and I went strawberry picking. Not many to pick, but at least we got a taste of them.
Then we went out for breakfast.
This treatment on Friday included Taxol and the new drug avastin, given to stop the blood flow to the tumor. The new drug took 90 mins. by IV, future treamtments won't be as long. As soon as I got home, I went to bed. It was a longer time at the Cancer Center this day, very tiring. I got woken up shortly after by the storm coming through. And boy was it a big storm. Lost a huge tree. It fell directly on the pad we had built which will be holding our new shed. Am quite thankful that the shed had not been built yet!
Saturday consisted of picking up twigs and debris from storm, taking Tim to soccer game, and attending 2 graduation parties. The parties were really nice. Lots of food, and I was able to gain a couple of lbs. which was good.
This a.m. I slept in. For some reason, my thumb aches like heck after each treatment, usually about the Sunday following it. And today was no different. Feels a bit better now.
Tim had 2 more graduation parties to attend today, but with a soccer game in the middle of both it was impossible to do it all. Instead of rushing to go for 20 mins. to one of them before the game, we both took naps. I did a bit too much yesterday in going to both parties. And today it caught up to me.
Well, as I said before. We still have no internet but am borrowing an internet connection to type my blog.
This week is no chemo. Yeah. We leave for Cape Cod this weekend for a short visit. Need to be back for my next chemo on the 22nd. I am so looking forward to seeing my family and to enjoy some seafood. I am so anxious to get away and to be with family.
My girl friend Joanne brought me. Actually first thing in the a.m., Barry, Tim and I went strawberry picking. Not many to pick, but at least we got a taste of them.
Then we went out for breakfast.
This treatment on Friday included Taxol and the new drug avastin, given to stop the blood flow to the tumor. The new drug took 90 mins. by IV, future treamtments won't be as long. As soon as I got home, I went to bed. It was a longer time at the Cancer Center this day, very tiring. I got woken up shortly after by the storm coming through. And boy was it a big storm. Lost a huge tree. It fell directly on the pad we had built which will be holding our new shed. Am quite thankful that the shed had not been built yet!
Saturday consisted of picking up twigs and debris from storm, taking Tim to soccer game, and attending 2 graduation parties. The parties were really nice. Lots of food, and I was able to gain a couple of lbs. which was good.
This a.m. I slept in. For some reason, my thumb aches like heck after each treatment, usually about the Sunday following it. And today was no different. Feels a bit better now.
Tim had 2 more graduation parties to attend today, but with a soccer game in the middle of both it was impossible to do it all. Instead of rushing to go for 20 mins. to one of them before the game, we both took naps. I did a bit too much yesterday in going to both parties. And today it caught up to me.
Well, as I said before. We still have no internet but am borrowing an internet connection to type my blog.
This week is no chemo. Yeah. We leave for Cape Cod this weekend for a short visit. Need to be back for my next chemo on the 22nd. I am so looking forward to seeing my family and to enjoy some seafood. I am so anxious to get away and to be with family.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
It's just hair....
and it's like clockwork. 2 weeks from first chemo and it's starting to come out. Didn't run to get it shaved today 'cause I had graduation to go to. Amazing how fast it changes. Earlier this a.m. I was doing the "pull" test, no strands of hair. Then lunch, it comes out. Powerful drugs. But I do know that it does grow back.
Graduation was really nice. Tim's girlfriend graduated, along with other kids we knew. And an unexpected treat was to see my friend Becky there. Her son graduated tonight. I had been sitting by myself and she invited me to join her family. Tim sat with his friends. So it was really nice.
Well, tomorrow is chemo #3 and I'll be getting a new drug this time, avistin. First time for me. Hoping for no side effects (except some shrinkage of tumor!).
Night.
Graduation was really nice. Tim's girlfriend graduated, along with other kids we knew. And an unexpected treat was to see my friend Becky there. Her son graduated tonight. I had been sitting by myself and she invited me to join her family. Tim sat with his friends. So it was really nice.
Well, tomorrow is chemo #3 and I'll be getting a new drug this time, avistin. First time for me. Hoping for no side effects (except some shrinkage of tumor!).
Night.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Power of prayer
Since waking up this a.m. I've been looking forward to going to bed.
Just had a phone call from a neighbor/friend who also works at the college. She said that we've been on her mind lately, and she was just watching a Billy Graham show on TV. Had to pick up the phone and call me. She called to pray for me over the phone. Meant so much to me to know that someone took the time to do that. Prayer, it is a powerful thing. I do question why these things are happening to us, and at times when people say we're an inspiration I wish the situation would change and I could just be normal. But there must a reason that only God knows.
Just had a phone call from a neighbor/friend who also works at the college. She said that we've been on her mind lately, and she was just watching a Billy Graham show on TV. Had to pick up the phone and call me. She called to pray for me over the phone. Meant so much to me to know that someone took the time to do that. Prayer, it is a powerful thing. I do question why these things are happening to us, and at times when people say we're an inspiration I wish the situation would change and I could just be normal. But there must a reason that only God knows.
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