Memorial Day Weekend

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday have flown by this week.  Today, I'm just chillaxing with Amber.  Did a little flow yoga (Sunday church with Jamie) at Shiva Center this morning, ate and shopped at Whole Foods, came home took a nap.  Ahhh.... the perfect day so far.  I'm glad it's a 3 day weekend.

Wednesday, Willie and I went to a "chemo class".  It was 3 hours long.  The nurse talked about eating right, drinking lots of water, and taking care of yourself.  The rest of it was pretty much what you'd expect.  There were two other people in the class each going through their own private hell with cancer.  I couldn't quit thinking about Ileen who had ovarian cancer.  She is 69 and had a 13 pound tumor removed a couple of months ago.  She had ovarian cancer when she was 37 and has lived 32 years cancer-free.  She was having a lot of remorse over not removing the other ovary way back when.  She cried a lot, already had started taking the anxiety meds and still hadn't decided IF she was going to do chemo (even though 3 doctors told her she needed it).  The other gal had lung cancer and a broken arm that she got at work lifting a box and her arm just broke because of the weakened bones from the tumor.  That sounded just horrible.  She had already gotten in her "port" which is the little channel that they will administer the chemo medicine into.  They both were having the same type of therapy where they go for 4 - 5 hours and then every 21 days for 6 treatments.  My treatment is different drugs than theirs and the nurse thought I might not even lose all my hair because I have so much of it.  Although, she said for a lot of people that it's pretty traumatic and emotional when your long hair falls out.  I'm not that worried about it either way.  I'll just have to wait and see.  I don't know when I get my "port" put in.  I need to ask about that.

Thursday morning started out with a CT scan.  I got to drink a couple of bottles of berry flavored barium. Then, I got to slide in and out of a medium sized donut this time for some more cool pictures of my insides.  That was to get clearer photos of tumor size and location.  In the afternoon, I met Willie at St. Mark's and we met with Dr. Murday, the surgeon.  I really enjoyed meeting with her.  She seemed competent, confident, and was very informative.  She encouraged me, told me I would be okay, and that she is the back up plan only.  This kind of cancer is treated quite effectively with chemo and radiation.  I didn't know that it's the radiation that shrinks the tumor and the chemo just helps to make that easier for the radiation.  She measured the tumor, confirmed there is just only one, took lots of notes, and sent me on my way with a hug.  Willie and I both got a yummy chocolate before setting my next appointment with her on August 21.

In between these doctor meetings, I've been working.  Friday was no different.  I went into work early for a meeting at the East Broadway branch with my renovation specialist, Lisa.  Then, worked on all the applications as I usually do.

The highlight of week is that my friend Tera came down from Bellingham for a visit.  She brought some goodies for me.  We were able to spend some quality time hanging out, organizing, and wig shopping.  Amber came down from Bear Lake for a much needed visit too.  And, even Christi and Olivia stayed over for a couple nights.  It was nice to see everyone.  I enjoyed it a lot and got lots of much needed hugs.  

Amber cut her hair on Thursday and donated it to "Locks of Love".  Isn't that sweet?  Now both of my kids have donated their hair to a good cause.  Sam did it in 2009 (on his birthday in Boston) after growing it out for 2 years after leaving the Navy.

And the final photo..... of me trying on wigs just in case..........  

NOPE!  :-)

Too Courtney Cox, but maybe in a different color.

I like it.