Just maybe...

When we visited the oncologist today, we were told that the new oncology unit is slated to open on Jan. 12.  My last treatment should be Jan. 19 or 20th.  That means I should have the last treatment in the NEW FACILITY!  We won't count our chickens yet, but we can hope...

Treatment 3 coming

I am keeping a stiff upper lip and squaring my shoulders for the next treatment.  The last one was not fun, but the oncologist said you never know what the next one will bring.  Well, here we go.  Yes, I am half way done.  I am hoping by spring I will feel like getting into the garden.

We did have a nice Christmas.  We did go to the farm, but I won't be going there for awhile now.  I will just hunker down in my recliner and wait it  out.  I have been doing some reading the last few days, and that is fun.  I am pleased that I will finish reading through the Bible by the end of the year.  Some days I have not even been able to read my Bible, but I have caught up.  I found this wonderful verse recently in my reading:
     "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust in Him."
       Nahum 1:7

When I use the oven

 This is how I look when I open the oven door.

They say you can make your wig frizzle even from opening a hot dish washer.

I well remember my mom's wig...

and I don't want mine to look like that.

I usually keep a scarf tied around a kitchen chair so that I won't forget.

Paul is calling my wig "the wiglet."  Funny guy!

I have just cooked potatoes for making lefse tomorrow.

I didn't think that would get done this year, but I think it will!

Yeah!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

 49 years

WOW!!!

It was my wish to feel well enough to have lobster for our anniversary.

We have done that for the last few years.

Paul decided, to make things easier, he should buy it frozen, in a can.

It worked for us, and I doubt that we will get fresh lobster again,

unless someone comes from afar to visit.

I still have a week and a day before the next treatment.

It is a Christmas reprieve, since my regular time would have been Christmas Day.

It is on December 30, and gives me time to recover more until I am whacked again.

What's happenin'?

A beautiful flower arrangement from our friends, Dorothy and Jim

Today is Day 14 of Treatment 2

Day 7 was THE HORRIBLE DAY

and it has been a long journey up to this day.

Now I am feeling much better,

I can actually stand up without feeling my legs are going to give way

 and I have accomplished some things...

mailed Andy's cookies, or really got them ready for mailing,

mailed stocking stuffers to NC,

a little gift to one sister - the other one is on hold,
(in all these cases my care giver runs all the errands among other things)

AND cleaned the TV (my reclining room) room.

That was a BIG ONE and I am SO PLEASED TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IT!

On Tuesday I went to have my PICC line cleaned and flushed.

Usually we go just a few blocks away to the extra mural clinic,

however the clinic was FLOODED on the day after THE HORRIBLE DAY.

So now the floors and about 2 1/2 feet of wall board are being replaced

and the extra mural is set up in the bowels of the hospital.  I wasn't sure

exactly where to find them, so I wasn't dropped off at the nearest entrance.

I was worried about the walk to get there, but I guess it was good for me since I did make it.

My next treatment is on December 30.

That should give me a good Christmas.

Afterwards I may just be horizontal for days,

but that's OK.  There are lots of people who are having a harder time.

"Thanks be to God for His UNSPEAKABLE GIFT."

About that wig

As you know, I am very thankful for the FREE WIG I received from the Cancer Society.  Here is the REST OF THE STORY.  Last week we went into a wig shop to buy a wig frame to protect my (free) investment.  I thought it would be good to treat it well since we will be together for some months to come.  So I asked the saleslady about a wig frame or form or whatever they call them especially for drying it when I wash it.  This lady was a bit harried, being the only person working in the shop at lunchtime.  However that didn't excuse her behaviour in my opinion.  Now, I do have to say that I was prepared for the fact that someone working with wigs would know immediately that I was wearing a wig.  And she did.  She also asked if I was "in treatment," to which I said, "yes."  She then told me she was a "survivor," which I took to mean "cancer survivor."  Good.  We're on the same page.  Right?  She then proceeded to ask me if I had gotten the wig at something which was other than Cancer Society, but must have been what she meant.  She said, "Of course, they don't have the funds for the best wigs," or something to that effect.  But she proceeded to "fix" it up for me.  Didn't bother to ask if I wanted her help either.

We looked around the shop, and I must say they had gorgeous wigs.  Paul was especially taken by one.  When we inquired about the price of it, she said it was $600!!!  Yikes!  She said it was all hand tied.  Mine evidently was hand tied in the front top and worth about $300.  She then proceeded to tell me that if I took into account how much I paid to have my hair cut about every 6 weeks, it would pay for the wig.  I do have my hair cut about every 6 weeks, don't I?  I said that I did.  She asked how much I pay for a hair cut.  I said, "$15."  "$15!!  Don't you feel awful paying below minimum wage?"  No, I don't.  I told her I go to the hairdresser's house, didn't say it takes her about 1/2 hour, I get a good cut, she's home with her boys when they are out of school and she can do another cut in the other half hour.  I don't think $30 an hour, in your own home is too bad.  She probably gets to claim some business expenses too.  Also, this is A CUT, no wash, no styling, just the cut which is what I want.  If I do have it styled, I rush out to the car and put it into some sort of shape just as I did this time after her "fix."

It cheers my heart when people tell me the wig looks, good, natural, like me.  That is what I am aiming for right now.  While the $600 wig was absolutely lovely, I told Paul it doesn't look like me.  This is not my time for a make over, thank you very much.

So that's the rest of the story!  ***I forgot to mention that our insurance would pay $150 on a wig.  That still sounds like $450 to me.  I am very thankful for all the kind people who support cancer and, most of all, I thank the Lord who takes care of it all.  I am blessed!

THE MOST HORRIBLE DAY!!!

I suppose it is awful to be so negative, but here it is:  Yesterday was THE MOST HORRIBLE DAY YET! It was worse than Treatment 1, Day 11, which was the worst to that point, the only day to that time when I didn't get some clothes on.  But today is better, Praise the Lord!  I am showered, dressed, wigged, wearing  Christmas tree earrings and drinking a lovely cup of tea which I made myself.  I may even get that other batch of golden tassies put together and work on #3 project (one for each sister and one for Sara.)  I am sitting with the laptop on my lap, as snug as a bug in a rug.  THANK YOU, LORD!

Keeping a Sense of Humor

Paul told me that I would need a sense of humor when dealing with my hair loss.  At the time I didn't think it would be very funny, but I have changed my mind.  It has not been nearly as traumatic as I anticipated.  Today I washed the remaining hair, which takes approximately 30 seconds.  Then I told him that I look like an old man who needs a hair cut, but doesn't want to spend the money because it isn't worth it.  Ha, ha!

I'm still thankful for the wig and everyone who knows me thinks it is great.  At this time, the name of the game is to have things as normal as possible.  I am not needing a new look, just the old me.

I'm so thankful...

 All those who work in oncology are so very kind and helpful.

This may not seem like a big thing, but it is to me.

The pharmacist made this calendar for me of when to take the meds after treatment.

The pill container seems a little confusing especially with this chemo brain.

You can see how she even put in the shapes and colors of the pills to help.

How thoughtful!

 Cute hat my dear sister made me.  Thank you, Cheryl.

I love it!

I am wearing it in the house because I want to,

not because I am cold.

 This guy, what a helper!

He has learned to load and unload the dish washer, make a good cup of tea and bring me breakfast

and so many other things.

I love, love, love him!

A few bits of Christmas around,

even some projects being worked on

 A different look on the mantel this year.

The trees came up, but the nativity set didn't, so we are going with trees.

We will get more lights on the tree and ornaments whenever...

we are not obsessing about anything around here.

 A lovely new kitchen which is SUCH A HUGE HELP RIGHT NOW!

The floor...oh my!

God's timing is ALWAYS right.

And the dishwasher!

Where would we be without it?

This is Day 5 of treatment 2.  I'm not feeling too bad except the energy is absolutely gone.  I have made two batches of cookies to send to Andy, talked to Andy and Sara, generally get dressed and cleaned up in the morning, do a bit of meal prep and some of the finer points of clean up. :)  I am so thankful that I have a warm cozy home and a nice recliner.  Mostly I am thankful for friends who pray for me and let me know they are praying.  I think some people freeze up when they hear the C word and don't know what to do.  I am thankful for a dear lady who calls me every week just to let me know she cares, is praying and to see how I am.  Some people are afraid to bother me, but what woman can't lie on a recliner and talk without exerting too much effort?  I am thankful for those who send cards and e-mail.  Thank you to all who care.

(There is something in the works for Sara and family too, but she reads my blog, so I can't tell.  I guess she knows anyway.  We will miss them all during our quiet, home Christmas.)

This was last week, the snow is gone now

This was across the street.  Two little children live there.

Second Treatment

I'm ready but not hooked up yet.

This time they added some Benadryl to the mix because of the face swelling issue I had last time on Day 2.  It made me soooo sleepy so I didn't get much done even though I had a bag full of books and projects.  I did talk to the couple next to me and gave them a gospel tract.  They both read it and she put it into her purse.  I didn't get to talk with them about it because of all the busyness with the treatment and the sleepyness which overtook me.  Please pray that the Word of God will minister to their hearts.  The lady had brain cancer and it was not curable, just treatable for the time being.  They have been through a lot.

The face swelling started again on Day 1.  I took a Benadryl last night and this morning.  I have not heard back from the doctor, but it is better now.  I hope I can keep it under control and not have to pay another visit to the hospital.

The nurses and volunteers in oncology are very kind and helpful. My #1 caregiver is such a great encouragement.  God is good to me!  Thanks for praying.  Please keep praying for Carol.  Her road is much more difficult than mine.  She is now looking forward to 6 chemo treatments plus radiation.  She had 138 staples removed from her chest in two different appointments.  Ouch!  I had dissolving stitches.  Yeah Dr. Tait!

Ready for the next round

We've done the pre-treatment stuff and are ready for Treatment #2 tomorrow.  The oncologist said I am doing well.  He is going to up the steroids which should control the reaction I had after the first treatment.  Today I need to pack my bag with books, sudoku, and a project to keep me busy for however long it takes.  In the new oncology unit, each person will have a personal TV.  What luxury!  That will probably cut down on the friendly chatter between patients.  That's not a good thing.  I am hoping to get in on at least one treatment in the new unit.  Paul says that is not a reason to prolong the treatments.  If I don't have a treatment there, I plan to visit just to see all the wonderful things.

I am reading a missionary book, Climbing by Rosalind Goforth.  Now those people knew how to sacrifice!  It puts everything into perspective.    They would think my treatments are a cup of tea, and indeed they are with all the supports in place.  She quoted: "I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.  Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2  Sunday morning I heard Charles Stanley say, "What would you have for a guide book for life without the Bible?"  Where would we go?  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord, for your unfailing kindness. 
     "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 
     Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:"
     Psalm 146:5-6

It is dreary outside today, but sunny in our hearts!