My baby Anna

36 years ago at about this time I was fixing Efren' s breakfast and packing his lunch as always. I remember his instruction to have the baby Today, but i 😎only explained I had no control over these things, and the baby will come when it's ready!
 I felt a bit queezy, and couldn' wait to go lay down. he soon left for work, and I went to take a nap, hoping my rather large belly would settle down as I waited for the main event. I had no idea that you were trying to tell me it was time!😆
Around 8:30 I awoke from a restful sleep, and realized that these cramps were puzzling, and feared something was going on, that was not like the normal pregnancy discomfort. I didn't really believe I was in labor, because my due date was not until Jan 8th. I had asked the doctor, "How will I know?" several times, and he assured me that when I was truly in labor, there would be No Doubt about it!
 I started noticing that feeling a few more times, so thought it was time to call my mom and dad, so they could take me to get checked, thinking probably this was that false labor that the books talked about.

Mom and Dad soon arrived, and I invited them in for a visit, thinking these feelings would soon pass, but felt better with their presence, just in case.

I did a bit of housework, and my mom Sat with me as I cleaned the bathroom sink. I thought it wise to time what I now believed to be contractions, thinking that is probably the first question they will ask, when I arrive at the hospital. Let's just say there was little doubt as to what was happening now!

Mom used my Dads wristwatch for the official timing, and the first test showed 3 minutes apart. To confirm, as I was lifted into my toes with the next one, yup, 3 minutes-Holy Crap, we gotta go NOW!

I remember fairly rolling myself into the backseat of dad's 78 Thunderbird, and he took off for Lakewood General. I remember hoping we would make it in time, and as we neared So Tacoma way, I realized we would cross the railroad tracks, and slightly feared the "flight",as with this speed, the dip just may be my undoing! yup, quite a thrill added to the journey.

I was wheeled into a room around 11:30 and immediatly prepped, connected to monitors, and hooked up to the IV drip with patosin. My mom was by my side the whole time. She  was very intrigued with the monitorung, and shared each ride of the contractions. 

Patosin made me hurl, which i think ultimately deepened the strength of the contractions. I remember trying to sleep in between them, just to prepare. Before long, I felt the uncontrollable urge to Push. 

I told Mom to Get the Nurse! and after watching another contraction pass on the monitor, she did. 

Such efficiency, these nurses really knew what to do, and after checking me, called the doctor. I remember trying to be patient and hoping he would arrive in time, cause this baby was Coming Out!

The doctor arrived just in time, of couse, and the team guided me through the delivery part. My mom had the honor of cutting the cord, and shared the news that I had delivered a beautiful little girl! My heart soared as I watched them clean my little pink bundle, and tears of joy ran down our faces!

So Anna was born at 3:41 pm, 9lbs, 2 oz, 21 inches long, if my memory serves me correctly. I wanted to share my story here, on in the blog, so that if the memory ever starts to fade, we will still have our story of the most amazing day of my life! 

Happy Birthday Anna Maria!

Love JoMama

One foot forward

Sometimes I feel like one step forward, two steps back.
Recently I stepped outside my comfort zone, and had the chance to travel to Denver to learn rock climbing. From that experience, I gained some perspective into my life, and realized I had been neglecting my adventurous, and somewhat outdoorsy self. I got back into a vigorous exercise routine, and even returned to Scandanavian folk dancing.  Oh the feeling of twirling! Accomplishment, once again driving me forward to embrace or muddle through much needed home projects, a rekindled social life, and an occasional girls night out to keep me looking forward to what rewards await After the chores are done.
I dont even want to think about the communication issues I am experiencing with my husband of almost 11 years, and how i am not sure whether we will continue to grow older together. I don't want to recognize that my mom's health seems to be declining, or how my foot pain could be early signs of a serious problem.
In my mind, at least for now, I will keep putting one foot in front of the other, and remember the exhilarating feel of the dance.

Love the Harvest, Harvest the Love

Camp Courage friends

 My camp adventure ended at the base of 150 ft. climb, that we all repelled down. A fabulous ending, and our final acts of courage together in this trip.
I will cherish the harvest of love I received, and do my best to pay the feeling forward, again and again.

Upon my return home I was greeted by this wonderful garden bounty. I had more than this, and like to share with my neighbors. I hope they enjoy the fantastic freshness in their own homes.
I started my breakfast with coconut oil date of onions, some summer squash, and green beans from my harvest last night. I scrambled in some eggs, and topped it off with some feta cheese and heirloom tomatoes. I am always thankful for the dekiciis combinations that come from a little hard work, and perservierance.

My week has been filled with a harvest of love, in many ways.

Camp Courage 2016

I have the opportunity to attend Camp Courage🦁, a program through my work that is designed to help cancer survivors get back to a more normalized life, and make some new friends we might never have met.
The event is held this time outside of Denver, and I and 2 other survivors will be taught rock climbing!😮
As I waited for the Start of 'camp' I visited a family friend and got to know her better. That was the best part of my trip, being able to build a lasting relationship! From her house I toured Estes Park and took a leisurely Sunday drive down to Black Hawk. What a beautiful, cool drive through the mountain pass!
I awoke early and decided to tour the Denver Mint, learning all about the manufacture of coins and the jobs we provide by hording coins, as collectors. Nice to know we are doing our part to build the economy.
I am currently waiting to coordinate with my fellow passengers, and having fun taking pics for people on the chairlift display. ahhh the scrapbooker in me can't pass an opportunity to build memories!😆TTYL

Camp Courage 2016

I have the opportunity to attend Camp Courage🦁, a program through my work that is designed to help cancer survivors get back to a more normalized life, and make some new friends we might never have met.
The event is held this time outside of Denver, and I and 2 other survivors will be taught rock climbing!😮
As I waited for the Start of 'camp' I visited a family friend and got to know her better. That was the best part of my trip, being able to build a lasting relationship! From her house I toured Estes Park and took a leisurely Sunday drive down to Black Hawk. What a beautiful, cool drive through the mountain pass!
I awoke early and decided to tour the Denver Mint, learning all about the manufacture of coins and the jobs we provide by hording coins, as collectors. Nice to know we are doing our part to build the economy.
I am currently waiting to coordinate with my fellow passengers, and having fun taking pics for people on the chairlift display. ahhh the scrapbooker in me can't pass an opportunity to build memories!😆TTYL

I recently changed phones, and though I am happy with the upgrade, i was not able to transfer my pics, nor my notes. This gives me a chance to start with fresh thoughts, which I am sure you can't wait to listen to.(I am sure you hear my voice, if you already know me)

Today I am waiting for my flight to Denver. I have been looking forward to spending time with my bother's sister-in-law, and I finally have an opportunity to do just that.

My other reason for a trip to Denver is that I have been invited to attend Camp Courage through my work. The program is participating with First Descents, a program to teach me rock climbing. I know, I never would have tried anything like this in my own. Our company offers this excursion for cancer survivors, to help us conquer our fears, and share with others what amazing things we have already been dealing with. Pretty cool, if you ask me!

So as I embark on my adventure, I thought that maybe some of you have had the opportunity to take on a challenge that you never planned to include, and I'd sure like you to tell me how Fabulous you felt when you achieved your goal.

Ta ta for now!

A night at the Mandela

After having relatively low to no waiting around lately , the thought  occurred  to me that I can still Make  some time to write a bit.
So I'll share my favorite  day and one of the adventures and challenges I encountered on my vacation in November.
My husband Peter and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in  Puerto Vallarta the first week of November. Fabulous warm  weather, beautiful resort, super nice and accommodating people,  and great foods- just what we wanted in our vacation. The pool was refreshing without being cold, and the ocean seemed great for all those  who were swimming there. We made friends with a few other guest's and enjoyed laying out to work on our tans. There were  many organized activities, and one that we decided to join was a trip to town for dancing in the evening. We arrived with the other resort folks and after locating seats, we went to the dance floor. Was it ever fun to have a group of fun loving, dancing however we want to  people filling my evening with music and eye candy and smiles. After a margaritas filled day we really got moving with the crowd! All the music was from the US, so my karaoke sing along dream was also fulfilled.
Well eventually I used the restroom, and unfortunately took off my cross body purse, and you gessed it, left it hanging there, unbeknownst to me at the time, of course.
After dancing for what felt like a couple more hours, I returned to the restroom, had a brief moment of recognition and realized that I did not have my purse. Mild panic caused me to return to my original stall, and all the other stalls, to check for the missing article. Darn, no luck, so I also asked the restroom attendant,  and she knew nothing either, double darn. Now at this point the only other thing to do is report the missing purse, and hope someone turns it in eventually.
So I returned to our table after reporting the lost bolsa to one of the many security guards, with my limited spanish, and my deep seated knowledge that I will probably never see that purse again. Funny how losing something instantly had me taking an inventory of contents, and in that process, realizing how fortunate  I was for locking most important things in the room safe at the hotel!
So did we go home immediately? No way I was giving up a night of fun because of a mishap! After a few more dances, we did leave for the hotel, and Peter gallantly paid for everything the rest of the evening, too.
Upon our return, I found that I had not taken my phone- hooray! And after checking  the safe, my passport was still there, so all in all, a terrible inconvenience to cancel cards, but not nearly as horrible as getting through the first moments of loss!
My lesson learned was to NOT take off a purse, or better yet, not take one out dancing, and let my husband pamper me instead!

Never let someone be waiting for you

If someone is doing you a favor, make sure they are not waiting for you.
Wise words from my father, and I am sure to hear them in my head whenever  I  have the opportunity to meet someone, and especially if I have to wait. I will say that my experiences through this cancer journey has been a test of patience, an exercise of getting things accomplished while I wait, and a remarkable attestation that there are a Lot of very caring and considerate people in the health care community. Well worth waiting for, I have to say.
Often times I am updated on how much longer I may be expected to wait, and have been fortunate to have warm greetings and kind words upon my arrival to the Many appointments.
I am thankful that I  have had my many questions answered in detail, and any additional thoughts for my personal situation considered in my care. Who would have guessed that such an unpleasant turn of events could actually make me thankful? I feel lucky to have met the fun and generous groups of nurses who help to make each person feel special, and continue to care for people who are in need of not only the medicine, but the extra dose of compassion to see them through.
So as I wait today, I feel lucky to have a chance to share what may be a different perspective, with all of you, too! I'm glad I had the chance to wait for that!
Happy thoughts!

Port Removal celebration

 After I was diagnised, after my surgery, before the chemo, I had a big button placed under the skin with tube into the veins- port placement. Now most people get this placed discretely out of sight and it doesn't  bother their routine much and one gets used to having it. I was an exceptiion, and needed mine place higher on the chest, right about where the seat belt lays across your chest when you buckle up to drive.  I had gotten used to the irritation and dreamed of the day I could have it removed. Thankfully that day was today! (9/10)
Now I remember them telling me when they installed it that they put a little suture in to hold one part in place, and I relayed that tidbit during my surgery prep talk. I was told  they usually don't do that and probably what I felt  was just a part of the device. Luckily  when the expert un-installer man got tugging on the tubing, it dawned on him that there was a suture there and he clipped it, or whatever he did after tugging a few not so gentle times- gotta love an experienced man when it comes to things  like tugging,  especially when he kniw 's when to stop as I protest with a friendly hey Hey HEY!
I will say the area was well numbed and I didn't have to See any of the action,  so that was great, too. The procedure was quick and after icing and taking a pain pill, I can put another checkmark on my list of things to do with this dreaded disease. 
To all of you who may be going through similar unpleasantness, I say the best feeling is when it's over! Take good care of yourself and I'll see you soon!

More appointments=more information

Have you had your share of appointments this year? I am one of those folks who rarely has to do things that require an appointment time. Well all that changed with my diagnosis last November. I remember trying to take advantage of the holiday season to find openings for the multitude of tests that were required to look closely in my entire body to see if my cancer had spread farther than my breast and the underarm lymph nodes that had already been found. I am very fortunate to work for a company, and to hold a position that has really allowed me to take advantage of available time slots. It seems as though every Dr. has a full schedule and it is hard enough to figure out which dr to get referred to, to have whatever is needed authorized, and then shedule the appointment . Then we have to Remember the appointment and organize every other part of our life around it. If the first time slot is not convenient, sometimes it is 2weeks later until there is another equally inopportune time available. One has to see some humor in that part!
Well, for me that unpredictability can be frustrating, but I have been adapting. With my trusty phone to keep you all nearby, it is much easier to wait. I understand  that if they are running late it must be that someone else needed more help or an additional bit of  caring on a particular day.  I also find that coming into an appointment with a Great attitude and rembering to thank every person who I come into contact with can also help my future appointments go smoothly and they usually return my smile, which always makes me feel even better about aaallllll the questions I ask!  I encourage all of you to arrive prepared for each appointment too , as I have found that most information is available if we ask for it.
Time for this Dr to check my toenails again, so I'm going to ask if there are supplements to make them grow faster- little question, but may lead to a discussion on nutrition - my favorite  quiz of all!
Until next time- take great care of yourself and I hope you ask some

First Tattoos

Today I had my scan for my radiation plan. Super nice technicians and nurses and the    Doctor is amazing too.  As I was positioned on the scanning table, I kept wondering when they would administer the tattoos, how many will there be, and most of all, will they be very noticeable? Well I really didn't have so much to worry about as they are very small skin pricks, and pink! She used a black light to give a visual check so I'll have to find a low cut top and a black light dance floor to really show off my new tats!  So in other words all that energy wondering about if it would hurt, etc was unwarranted.
I have begun my radiation treatments last Monday, which puts me finishing about the first week of October. For that I am very excited as it will mark the end of another chapter in this old breast cancer story!

Moving Forward

Moving forward
Ever think about how that statement can mean so much? In some ways it reflects the mere passing of time. Sometimes it means getting through another day, and occasionally it means taking giant leaps into the unknown.
As I continue in my journey, my year or so in a fight against breast cancer, I am propelled into another of the 'unknown' category. I will begin the radiation therapy process next week. In many ways the next 7weeks seem overwhelming, and in other ways, they seem like not much time at all, compared to my last 7 months undergoing the oh so inconvenient 'chemo' treatments. It is hard to imagine my body having gone through so much already. The next part is hardly even daunting.
 I have adopted eating a yeast free diet, and am again walking 2 miles a day, plus any other exercise form I can add to that base. Going back into the office to work this past week was a big change to my routine, but was one of the key ingredients to getting my motivation back, too. I guess it is one leap towards returning to my former self, though that has changed too, it seems. I need to think a bit more about who I want to become, as so many things have changed from that person I used to be. I hope to keep the cancer from coming back, so if that means eating differently and exercising more, then that's what I'll embrace!
The exciting things that have been happening are worth the efforts. I have been losing a few pounds and keeping them off, and the exercise has given me more energy too, of course.
My hair is starting to come back which is great news. I think so far it will be a lovely platinum color, which may or may not stay, though I kinda hope it does. I'd rather skip the former mostly grey coloring, but am happy with whatever I get! I  have enjoyed my time not having to shave my legs, but actually look forward to having my eyebrows back some day! Who knew it was so hard to draw those on every day, and get them even, in an attempt to create a Look.
I have lately been wearing my short haircut wig and find that it is pretty comfortable, keeping me warm in all the office air conditioning- who knew! It takes me very little time in the mornings to whip through the shower, dress and pop my hair on, so it is a bit attractive to keep with that routine, even as my hair slowly returns. I miss my pony tail, but feel like at 53 I can perhaps stick with a shorter hairdo, and pamper myself with regular salon visits in the future. I have seen some pretty stylish hairdos while I wait for my turn to get a cut, and it won't be more than a few more months, till I can style something again.
Time seems to be moving quickly with all that keeps me busy, and I understand how folks older than me say they are amazed at how the years go by quickly. I attribute that to the many wonderful and interesting things that are filling my days, and how just having my family and friends actively involved, I have so many cherished moments. Thanks to all of you for following along with me while I wait for my next adventures!
If you have a chance, add a line or two in response to let me know how your time is passing, and what makes a special moment for you!  Enjoy today!

Last chemotherapy treatment day! Hoooraaaayyyy!

Hello again friends!

Today I'm having my last chemo treatment, and I am so looking forward to so many of the normal things in life! Well I have a month off before I start my radiation, and should be feeling much better in a couple weeks. At least the fuzz on my head will be starting to turn into short hairs, and I will be excited to see just how much glitter will adorn my head with this new growth! I have acquired a huge assortment of scarves for turbans and even have a couple wigs to carry me through till the fall. I imagine the short cut will be easy to manage and I aspire to the look of Carol, I the walking dead by Christmas , but whatever I get will be good, and the Sinead O'Connor look will do for a celebration vacation to warm weather!

Today I'm having my last chemo treatment, and I am so looking forward to so many of the normal things in life! Well I have a month off before I start my radiation, and should be feeling much better in a couple weeks. At least the fuzz on my head will be starting to turn into short hairs, and I will be excited to see just how much glitter will adorn my head with this new growth! I have acquired a huge assortment of scarves for turbans and even have a couple wigs to carry me through till the fall. I imagine the short cut will be easy to manage and I aspire to the look of Carol, I the walking dead by Christmas , but whatever I get will be good, and the Sinead O'Connor look will do for a celebration vacation to warm weather!

The challenging part of having no hair is trying to feel somewhat normal in appearance. No matter how cleverly I tie my scarf it always feels like, ugh, is someone going to ask me if I have cancer, Again?!

What I find is that when I go out to do my grocery shopping, I don't really want people to talk to me about my illness, and I would be happy if they conversed on apple variety, price of tomatoes, or Anything but my diagnosis. I hope that when I see a fellow survivor, I remember what it was like and talk to them about something that they might enjoy talking about, giving them some privacy  and maybe even respect or space they need for their time away from home. If they seem like they need support, I will mention I too am a survivor, and that may ease their mind. I usually direct them to cancer.org as a super resource, because I have had good luck with their connections of a free wig, the look goog, feel better program and they can even pair you with a fellow survivor that has had your same diagnosis, for talking through the unknowns. 

Since I was diagnosed, I find there are lots of us, we are strong people, and fighters, all! Makes me feel great to be among such a great group of individuals, and I hope I can help someone often. Only God know why we are in this, but we all grow in this together, which makes us even stronger. 

Prayers are always welcome wih chemo!

I will say that I am fortunate to be an outgoing personality, which helps me to initiate conversations with people I may meet while we are out and about. I encourage all of you to take a leap and say hi to someone you don't know, strike up a short conversation and get to know what makes the other unique- you may find a new friend, or you may just help someone through a challenging day! My thanks go out to all of you readers. I enjoy "talking" to you often, and will do my best to keep up our conversations- I'm sure I will be waiting for personality, which helps me to initiate conversations with people I may meet while we are out and about. I encourage all of you to take a leap and say hi to someone you don't know, strike up a short conversation and get to know what makes the other unique- you may find a new friend, or you may just help someone through a challenging day! My thanks go out to all of you readers. I enjoy "talking" to you often, and will do my best to keep up our conversations- I'm sure I will be waiting for something!

Fridays!

Do you look forward to Friday? I have always looked to the weekend for grounding, getting together with friends, and even catching up on housework! For some reason it always seems like those things are hard to squeeze in during the week, and all are good reasons not to stay in bed too late on Saturday or Sunday.
I find that early mornings are some if the most precious of the day, and I really hate to miss the birds singing, or even watching the sprinklers do their thing. I find I so relaxing to have no immediate time requirements.

As I shut the computer down when I finished working today, it dawned on me that today is Friday! And on my way to my next to last treatment, That dawned on me too, Double Yippee! And to top that off, my garden is looking good! Fabulous blueberries and vegetables are growing, weeds are almost under control, and it is summertime! What a great time to be alive! I truly feel blessed and very thankful to have the support of family and friends and great nurses and doctors for all the not so fun things going on right now.
For the most part, the little things are the best part of life, and we should celebrate every day- especially Friday!

Waiting for the weekend to begin

Waiting for the weekend to begin

I woke up today to the sun shining through my window, and had 2 whole minutes before the alarm was to go off. As I re-shut my eyes to enjoy every second of rejuvenation, I had a chance to be thankful for another beautiful day! As my mind began to focus I started planning my day, and my 3 day weekend!
Do you wake up with your mind racing through all that needs to be done for the day? Mine always has I think, and it makes me revv up from the time I open my eyes. Shower, coffee, dog, work- that is my morning routine. As I savor my first cup, I lay out the day in my head and sometimes make my lists, if there are just too many things to think about swirling around in there at once. I make lists to be able to prioritize all the things I want to either start or finish, and grocery lists, of course. What a great feeling to be able to mark something off and feel that burst of accomplishment to fuel me towards the next item on the list.
Along that line of crossing things off is that today is the 10th of the12 treatments in this round of chemo! I am hoping my visit with the Dr in a few minutes provides good results and I am able to continue without a break. I mean I am So Close to moving on to a recovery break, then the final step, radiation. I feel confident that I will Win this race. Not that the next part is something to really look forward to, but the forward progress is!
The nurses, as always, are cheery and very welcoming when I arrive, and fit me in almost immediately to get my labs drawn. And now I wait for my appointment with the Dr.
This waiting room could use a little festive feel right about now, but I hesitate to intrude on one couple as she does not appear to feel well, or maybe she is just opting for a quiet moment with her eyes closed. Her husband is by her side and though the support is admirable, some woman act differently around their spouse- maybe we all mirror the company we keep? I always hope others will mirror my optimism, or if I appear in need of a little boost, they can  offer some energy to me! After all, we are all on this earth together, so why not do whatever we can to make our days bright and our outlook sunny!
I hope I have given you a ray of sunshine and some interesting topics to ponder- make it a fabulous day!

Whoopsie-Last weeks impression

Interesting people we meet

How fun it is to initiate a conversation and find a friend. As I waited to be called back to treatment I noticed a woman reading a hardcover book. I merely asked her if it was good and our time started to pass very quickly. Have you ever noticed how much more pleasant waiting can be when you have an interesting topic and someone to share it with? I can tell you that I rarely mind waiting if I am in good company!
My new friend was also a member of a book club, and to my delight, lives near to me, too. We were aw to be "seated" together for our respective treatments after kidding the nurse about how we wanted to visit longer . My infusion routine was much different than hers, so we talked about our diagnoses and also about nutrition , gardening, spouses, local places we like to frequent, touched on grandchildren and generally lifted each other up with our time together.
So we never know how waiting for something may provide a hidden benefit, or in my case a new friend!

Look Good, Feel Great!

I signed up for a class today through the ACS, called Look Good Feel Better, and it got me thinking about other ways that we refer to this scenario. Dress for success, plan to succeed, and especially the feeling we get when someone says "You look great today!" I know this can make Me feel good, even if I'm not having such a good day.  Somehow if someone else believes in us with encouragement and a kind word, we really do get some warm feeling and a little boost! Some people have a hard time accepting a compliment, and I'll admit I had to practice saying Thank you, rather than denying their words or otherwise negating that feeling they gave me. I have found that when I intentionally look my best it is easier to be ok with the compliments, or even acknowledge my own feeling that Yes, I do look good today- on purpose! How uplifting it is, and I believe we really can feel better, or even Great!

These days we can all use a little help in the feeling good area. With many of us bogged down and/or stressed out with juggling work, families and our own activities, it sure helps to receive a compliment or a kind word from anyone!

With that, I would like to ask all of you who read my blog to give lots of compliments, to anyone you see.  It takes practice to notice some small detail about each person around us, and even more practice to voice those kind words to people we don't know. We all have an opportunity to brighten someone's day and by doing so We also feel better!
Thanks for stopping by to visit while I waited for my treatment!

Moving On

Today's treatment included a visit with my oncologist. We talked about my latest side effects, and then she let me know she was leaving Washington. Wah waH wah..... Our next visit would be our last. She is moving her family to Florida as the weather is more like her native, India.

 We then chatted a bit about warm weather areas around the country and our sometimes differing perspectives of each area. She spoke of her parents, and how they visit her family for extendedperiods which  moved us into some generational differences. As a late "boomer" I guessed her age in the 30s. She agreed and we talked about how my age people stay more often in the same place, job, etc. my observation was that people of her generation want to be moving at least every 5 years and get restless. She had not realized that it was noticeable, yet agreed, adding that she and especially her husband are always wanting more. She explained that in Washington they felt they "have it all", but wait, they didn't have sunshine year round! Hence the move to Florida, where it may feel more like home for her parents when they come to visit. Well, our time was up, of course I invited myself to a future visit ;-)  I mean why wouldn't she want a former patient to visit her and become a part of her circle of wealthy doctor folks, right? We all enjoy making connections and hope that she just might think of that one patient who she helped through cancer treatments, and someday remember that she made a difference by taking a few minutes to chat.

I hope you have an opportunity to chat with somebody soon. We all can make a difference with a funny story, or share some knowledge, or just to listen to a fellow human being. We are on this earth together so let's make all if our lives richer before one of us moves on.

Cute Summer Attitudes

What a beautiful day today!
I had lots of work to do for my job, so the day went quickly before my treatment. I logged of the computer, took my antihistamine and applied my lidocaine cream and rushed to my appt. I found a close parking spot nearby- Score! It was a short walk to the center and I felt wonderful in the sun, wearing sandals and a cute summery outfit to make my day fun!
Seems like the summer season has begun as the "check in" lady was out- back to the front desk I went,  but I was not the only one- there was a kind woman ahead of me, too, so as we went to the alternate location, I again encouraged her to go ahead of me to check in. I mean she was So Sweet! And I was able to have exactly the right amount of time to process a forgotten payment fill out some forms and answer when they called me back- whew!

I was able to get started almost right away today, and it did not seem as busy as usual. Funny how it still takes time between punching the port and actually administering the drug- so I am blogging as I wait! I'll have to find a nice way to inquire about if there is a waiting protocol toake it less stressful on the body.  Oh I just heard my gal say she can hang me- Very exciting!
The nurses are in a visiting kind of mood today, or maybe my super cute outfit is making everyone want to be around me, and sharing stories? The thing I like is that they do a great job of making all the patients feel comfortable, and relaxed while we are being infused. I know it must sound weird, but I Do sort if look forward to my treatments so I can catch up in the shared information/stories.

I see that when I and the nurses are chattering away the other patients may just feel a bit better too. I remember my dad having the gift of mood lightening where ever he went and I can only hope to attain his expertise as I have more experiences in my life. If I can brighten a few outlooks on my way through my days, I feel fulfilled, too. I have found that battling cancer is something that most of us will have a connection to through a friend or family member, or our own diagnosis,  and with positive experiences shared it may just make someone else feel better too. Hooking up now, so I'll talk to you again next week!

Live for today

I have noticed these last few months that I am more thankful for all the little things, every day. Until the possibility of not being able to do things, I sort of took for granted some little things in my life. Exercising with my friends at work, running the roto tiller and working hard in the garden,  traveling to touristy spots, going to the swap meet and weaving through the crowds for deals. Yes all of those things have been put on hold, and I may not get to ever run the machinery again, but I am still hopeful.

Now I garden lightly, for short amounts if time but really enjoy that feeling of accomplishment as I eliminate weeds and help the plants grow. Lots of times I take breaks after a few short minutes. With this chemo, the sensitivity to sunlight really seems to drain me. But, I return after rehydrating, and do a little more, then call it good enough for the day. The good part about staying home a lot is that I am home to do more of things that have been occasionally neglected in past years! I have been able to make a few quilts, organize the seeing room, cook more, and take some online classes the through the library.

My parents taught us that there is Always a silver lining in whatever comes our way, we just have to look for it. On to that I would add that we should do things whenever we have a chance and not put things off for another day.  We cannot predict if tomorrow might be filled with a new set of opportunities, so live for today!