What is Normal

Funny how these days it feels so special when I get to do normal things. After my surgery, feeling normal again was lifting my hands overhead and blessedly being able to sleep on my stomach if I wanted to.  With these chemo treatments, normal is my week after, when I don't have to keep taking anti-nausea meds, steroids and shots, and start to have more energy to do  normal things again.
Yesterday I got to go with my friends from work to a painting class, played some puttputt golf and had some laughs over dinner. What a rejuvenating day!
I had not thought about how the semi isolation from things had really been something so different in my life. I mean I don't do all that much, but it was more than these days! Most activities are best enjoyed in the company of good friends.  I do enjoy sewing, gardening, and paper crafting by myself most of the time, but realize I love to take classes and share my passions with others, too. So I think I will add some classes to attend in my near future.  With the usually smaller groups of people. I can still maintain my mostly anti germ, bubble like existence and sprinkle some rewarding, rejuvenating events to help the treatment regiment time pass more quickly.
So while I wait for the nurses to "hook me up" today, I will wish you all some happy times with good friends!

Waiting to feel better

Today I am waiting with my mama to see a Dr for her cough. I am so glad I took the extra precautions to mask up for our trip. Many people waiting, small space, not a great combination! With my immune system compromised from chemo, I have to do everything I can when I can't control my immediate area. I'm not antisocial, just more anti-germ than normal.
So as I wait for her to be seen, I think about how important it is for Everyone to remember not to "share" when they are sick, sniffly, or just under the weather feeling. Hard as it is to stay home, it shows respect to others to do so! Lets make it more OK not to join a celebration or go in to work when we are not at our best. And I can't tell You enough to wash your hands, block the cough, use hand sanitiZer! We never know how a germ will effect someone who may already have less to fight with. I can't wait for my body to be strong again!

Greeting the day

Well I am once again the first one up at my house, and I so enjoy the peace and quiet. As I let the dog out, I notice the tulips are announcing the day with brilliant hues of red, yellow and purples. What a lovely greeting for Easter!
We made our Easter ham dinner last night as Peter will be working later shifts today and tomorrow, so he can take his delicious leftovers and celebrate a couple more times. I'm not able to attend the church services this year but will see if I can at least have some time with family, even if it is next weekend. Our tradition is to have a get together and take our annual Easter pics, but this year we don't have a plan in place, yet- kinda snuck up on us! We are great at last minute coordination so it will all work out as it is supposed to. It is our time together that we record and our scrapbooked memories will easily be recorded no matter the day of our gathering!
Speaking of scrap booking, I printed out a bunch of pics yesterday's so I'm going to hop over to craftwithanna.com to get some ides for some cute layouts! Talk to you again soon!
Happy Easter !

Change is great!

What an exciting day! My final expansion, my 3rd treatment of this cycle of chemo, and a sunny, crisp spring day outside. Moving forward has always been invigorating to me, and this year I anticipate the end of this latest adventure eagerly. By this time next year I plan to be celebrating with a real cruise, on a Ship!
I had a few minutes to read a magazine article this morning that talked about embracing change. It helped me remember that if we didn't have unexpected challenges, we may never experience the joys of success. Through our losses we often gain a new appreciation for the things and people we have in our life now.  When my hair fell out it was devastating, but I learned that my mom and other people looked for my smile to recognize me, and my hair no longer mattered as much. I've now learned to tie scarves, and how to best support others who travel this path I'm on.
I've learned to allow/encourage others to help me, as my friends and family have a need to demonstrate their support, which enables them to deal with my illness. Plus it makes our time together special to us both. It is hard to be humble, but I am learning that it is ok for someone else to do the dishes once in awhile, and if the clothes aren't folded exactly how I do it, I can refold them or embrace the change!
Thank you again Anna, for reorganizing my craft space to a wonderfully inviting studio for recording memories! Thank you Becca for sharing "game time" with me, and thank you my friends and family for following along on this blog and sending me positive thoughts and prayers. It means a lot to me to know I have you all supporting me!
So next time Life throws you a curve ball, mourn as needed, and happily move forward.
Each day is a new opportunity to change!