I must be feeling better...

I am thinking about projects.  I even looked at a quilting book today.  However I did not sleep last night, at least not after 1:45 AM.  Went back for a nap around 11:30 AM, and maybe slept a bit.  I am feeling groggy, and my face is swollen even though I took a Benadryl.  I think a shower will perk me up.  I still don't have any of the nasty side effects, for which I am thankful.  I am basically weak, tired, and sometime shaky.

We have a good storm going.  Paul had to think of an excuse to run to the store.  He can't resist driving in a storm.  I am content to be inside looking out.  The snow is supposed to continue for most of the day.

A REAL Shower

It felt soooooo good!  I thought I'd  have to put a little bandage over where the PICC line went it, but I didn't.  It is just a little spot, and doesn't bother me at all.  I washed my few hairs in the shower too.  Last week Paul tried to shave those crazy hairs off with that little gizmo that pops out on an electric shaver, so we could start out even.  They were too fine, so he clipped some off with a scissors.  I'm really feeling good about having a wig.  Paul says it makes me look normal, and we want as much normal as we can get these days.

Right now I am doing well, except that I am weak.  I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  My kitchen helper fried them for us.  Now I am ready to get back to my recliner.  Thank you for praying.  Please don't stop now.  I may still face those nasty side effects.

A Weird Side Effect

I have a whole notebook full of potential side effects of chemo.  It seems like somewhere I read about peeling skin on the hands and feet, but, of course, I can't find it when I am looking for it.  Last week the bottoms of my feet started to peel, so I slathered them with Dermal Therapy for Heels, and put on some sox.  The next day, the soles of my feet were great, but my whole right heel was a dried up callus, which has come off in clumps.  Weird!

Yes, the storm is howling.  Fortunately it is light snow, not the kind to bring power lines down.  We had a new heat pump put in a few weeks ago, so we are toasty warm.  And I have an apple pie in the oven, but I am ready to sit for awhile.

The big blow has started

We are cozy and warm in our house and in our hearts.  Typically I feel well for the first few days after the chemo.  I try to get a little done, but Paul keeps telling me to sit down.  We are still praying that we will not lose our power, since we have high winds blowing.

I have decided to leave off my regular Bible reading for awhile and read the Psalms.  I read this last night:
     "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
      I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me."

Psalm 13:5, 6

HIP HIP HURRAY!

Here I am with my new quilt at my last treatment.

I really did smile when I thought the pic was being taken.

I intended to have Paul take another one when he came,

but I forgot.

LAST TREATMENT IS OVER!  The PICC line is GONE!  They just put a band above the PICC, told me to take a deep breath, and it was out.

The new oncology unit is wonderful.  However it seems they have some kinks to work out...or maybe we just lucked out in the previous treatments.  Anyway I am thankful.  Now on to the after effects, and hopefully normal life soon.

Now THAT'S ENCOURAGEMENT!

I received an e-mail from a friend who asked how I was doing so that she could pray more specifically for me.  She said that, according to her calculations, I would have finished my treatments.  First of all, I knew she was praying, but for her to let me know she had not forgotten meant so much to me.  Also she kept track of my schedule.  I let her know that things are off schedule, but we are going for TREATMENT 4, THE END tomorrow.  Looks like we can squeeze it in before a BIG SNOW STORM arrives.

I'm not saying who the friend is.  Knowing her, I don't think she would want her name published along with the blessing she is to me.  However, she is a true friend and I thank her from the bottom of my heart!  As I ponder how God can use this experience in my life, I trust that I can be an encourager and prayer partner to someone else in need.  I know what a help some friends were who could say, "I understand.  I've been there and I am in good health now.  The Lord was with me all the way."  And then to hear from someone who says, "I am praying.  I will keep praying."  One friend told me they pray for me three times a day.  Many pray every day.  Others have gotten on the phone, e-mail, FB to let mutual friends know of my need.  What a blessing!

Choose Thou For Me

I dare not choose my lot;

I would not if I might;

Choose Thou for me, my God,

So shall I walk aright.

The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine; so let the way

That leads to it be Thine,

Else surely I might stray.

Take Thou my cup, and it

With joy or sorrow fill;

As best to Thee may seem,

Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,

My sickness or my health;

Choose Thou my cares for me,

My poverty or wealth.

Not mine--not mine the choice,

In things or great or small;

Be Thou my Guide, my Strength,

My Wisdom and my All!

-Horatius Bonar

"For even Christ pleased not himself..."

Romans 15:3

Last Treatment Date

What happens when somebody having chemo therapy hankers for something?

You go to two different stores to find it for her, if you are really sweet.

He is sweet!

I can't wait until breakfast tomorrow.

 

And then if you are really, really sweet (which he is), you also bring her red roses!

 Hopefully my photography will improve before too long.

Yesterday I was given a new date for my last treatment: Monday, January 26.  Lord willing, that will be it, THE END!  I have definitely needed this extra time.  It has been a struggle all week, but the end is in sight.

WAITING A WEEK...

for the last chemo treatment.  And I am very relieved!!!  We saw the oncologist today and had all the pre-treatment treatment.  However he said we would wait another week for the treatment.  Two weeks ago I could barely stand because of the chemo.  Last week I was bombed because of being sick and then being on an antibiotic.  We had to wait a LONG time to see the doctor.  I finally laid down on the examining bed and covered up with my jacket.  When the doctor came in, Paul had gone to get me a warm blanket.  The doctor apologized for the long wait, but it did sort of spoil our first visit to the new oncology facility.

 I had a long list of questions, which were all answered.  After the last treatment, the PICC line will come out.  It doesn't bother me, has been a wonderful thing, but I will be glad to see it go.  No more plastic sleeve taped on my arm when I shower, and no more standing with my back to the shower.  You figure that one out.  I haven't really.

Also I have been puzzled about two IVs that I keep hearing I will have after the treatments.  They are infusions to strengthen my bones which will thin with the pill I will take.  The first IV (which takes just 1/2 hour) will be 4 weeks after my last treatment.  Then I will see the oncologist after 3 months before the next IV infusion.  I am not sure when the 3 months start or end.

One more thing that we cleared up made me VERY HAPPY.  The oncologist mentioned something about giving myself injections.  I didn't like the sound of that AT ALL.  He asked if I have injections after my chemo now.  When I said I didn't, he said then I don't need them.  HIP-HIP- HURRAY!  I hate to prick my finger to check my blood sugar.

A Very Pleasant Surprise!

Earlier in the week, I received a phone call from 

the Moncton Branch of Victoria's Quilts Canada

saying they had a quilt for me, could they drop it off?

Could they???

 

This is what it looks like.

It is BEAUTIFUL and

BEAUTIFULLY MADE!

It is beautifully machine quilted and lined with a soft cream-colored flannel.

That bag hanging from the chair is to carry it in to your chemo treatments.

Believe me, it is going with me for my last treatment at the new oncology unit at the hospital.

I knew exactly who was responsible: my friend Doreen.

Her twin sister went through months of treatment and Doreen stood by and supported her.

She has been a wonderful friend and support to me.

Her husband, Harold, has even gotten into the act.  They have sent me three wonderful meals,

and Harold is the cook.  Thank you Doreen and Harold!

These quilts are all done by volunteers who care about cancer patients.

I sent off a request for someone else today.  I hope they can deliver to her.

The US Victoria's Quilts are not taking any requests because they have too many to fill now.

Nice to live in more sparsely populated Canada!

Maybe after...

Doreen and I will volunteer to do some quilting.

Wouldn't that be fun?

Did we need this?

We spent Monday evening, from about 5:45 to almost 10:00, in the ER.  It started Sunday night with a cough that plagued me most of the night.  I don't know if I had a temp then.  I usually don't, but I remember that I felt sweaty.  Good thing I didn't check.  Monday I felt OK, better than the previous days, I thought.  Later in the afternoon, the coughing started and I developed a temp.  The rule is, that if you have a temperature for over an hour, you need to go to the hospital.  By the time I reached the hospital, it was higher.  So I got the full treatment: blood work, chest x-ray, etc., etc.  They also gave me Tylenol, which took the temp down and made me feel better.  Since then I have been given an antibiotic because it may be a respiratory virus or pneumonia.  This evening I am feeling somewhat better, thankfully, and I think I will sleep tonight.  The antibiotic is for 5 days, so hopefully I will be OK by Tuesday so that I can have my last treatment.  If not, I will just have a week's rest, or maybe just a few days.  The oncologist's nurse, the ER doctor and my family doctor all called to check on me.  The ER doctor and my family doctor were both concerned when the chest x-ray came back with a shadow or something which could indicate pneumonia.  I was especially happy to hear from my family doctor, because I have not heard from her since my whole cancer deal started.  She is very sweet!

Tomorrow, or whenever I have enough energy, I have something happy to report.  It involves a photo, and that is why I'm saving it for another time.

The light was very dim...

After my shower on Friday, I went to sleep, then ate supper and went to sleep again for the entire night until about 7:30 the next morning.  That 15 minutes to take a shower took a real toll.  Other than that I have only been up to the bathroom, but today I made Paul's Sunday Red River, coffee and toast.  Now I have washed up and even have the wiglet on.   :)  I am planning to work on my face so I don't look so concentration campish, and I plan to wear earrings!  I also stepped in the scale for the first time all week.  I usually do that every morning, but never even thought of it this week.  Tomorrow AM I have to go to the hospital to have the PICC line cleaned.  I think I can manage it, but I intend to tell them that, if I can't the week after my treatment, I just can't.  They had told me someone could come to the house, if need be, but they kind of reneged  last time.

I know people are big into diets at this time of the year.  I have a diet that REALLY WORKS, however, you don't want to go on it!  Today we are eating some of my cooking.  In between the last treatments, I was able to make a chicken broccoli casserole.  It is kind of people to bring in food, but if I had it to do over again, I would do all sorts of cooking before hand and freeze it in eatable portions for us.  My friend, Joy, gave us some wonderful meals like that, but alas, she went to Florida.  With all the stomach disturbances, there are things I can't look at.

There's some light up there

Today, Day # 11, I had a shower and changed the clothes I have worn since Monday night.  I look like a concentration camp internee, and really don't care.  It feels good to be clean, even though it was hard working up to the effort.  January 19 I see the oncologist in the NEW ONCOLOGY UNIT and have my last treatment there on the 20th.  However that ain't all.  There are two other IV treatments, which I don't understand and I couldn't deal with that info before now.  It's a howling storm here.  I tend to be COLD.  Two days ago, I wore mittens, sox, slippers, long johns, sweat pants, PJ top, sweat shirt and hat and three blankets.  I am so thankful we have heat, altho it is having trouble warming things up.

SOME REALLY TOUGH DAYS

hope to climb out soon.