Beware the Ides of March

As I reflect over the past months, the highs and the lows, the pessimist in me wonders what obstacles today will bring. My mood is somber, not sure if it's the result of left-over dream sequences stuck in my brain, the fact that my CT scan results are still hanging over my head or just the fact that it is mid-March already, spring is in the air and I haven't managed to work up the interest to give a damn.  For some reason, I am experiencing a feeling of foreboding and if there is anything this whole experience has taught me, it's that I NEED to follow my gut b/c my intuition tends to be eerily accurate. (Must be the Pisces in me.) 

Well, I have no choice but to get out of bed and meet the day head-on. There is so much to do today - lots of chores around the house that have gone by the way-side due to chemo after-effects and a general sense of apathy toward housework. Tim flies in tomorrow night for a quick weekend visit (I cannot wait!), and the perfectionist in me wants a spotless house when he gets here. Lots of errands today and hitting the gym for a workout with Keke, so I will be extra cautious on the roads, will lift with my legs and be sure to screen my calls in an effort to avoid any trouble. (How's that for cautiously optimistic?) ;-)

The Toxic Twins...

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize a milestone for one of the best friends I have ever had - today is Nancy's 6th and FINAL CHEMO TREATMENT!  It is by no means the end of her canser journey, as she still has some radiation treatments to do and some surgical tweeks, but it is the end of the chemotherapy road for her.  It has been a long 6 months for her, but she has handled this disease with more grace than I ever could have imagined possible and selfishly, she has been an incredible source of support and guidance for me. I honestly don't know what I would do without her some days...
Congrats Pretty Lady, I am so proud of you and incredibly blessed to have you in my life. XOXO

Cuter than Steven Tyler and Joe Perry? I think so....

Happiness is a Warm Puppy...

Kristie and Sophie just popped by with their new puppy...no name yet but how damn adorable is he? 

Poor little guy was whining and missing his mom - it could be a long night at the Heil's.
Kris thinks Soph might be a little jealous over the next few weeks, but she looked pretty happy today.

CT DONE!

I just got home from another fun road trip to St. Paul's Hospital - not my favorite building as you can imagine. I haven't been there since my surgery and really could have done without ever going back, but whatever.  Telly took me to my early morning appointment and snapped a few pics on her iPhone to commemorate my joy....

Drinking the contrast and trying not to toss it back up...

Waiting for the IV installation...

Chantelle doing her best to make canser fun!

So, if you've never had a CT scan before, let me enlighten you as to what you can expect. I was lucky enough to have Nance give me the heads-up the first time.  Generally you have to drink copious amounts of 'contrast' in a relatively short period of time. I have had 3 different scans now and the contrast has tasted different each time, ranging from tasteless, to a chemically-tasting-grape-pop-like-deal to today, when it tasted like something you would find in the bottom of a urinal.  Yuck. AND it was freezing cold which you would think would make it easier to drink, BUT not so much when you have cold sensitivity due to chemo. Then they install an IV in your arm with a tube of a different type of contrast that they shoot through your veins while taking the pictures in the scanner.  First of all, the St. Paul's CT is quite wonderful as it has a Saskatchewan Roughrider logo on the top of it - makes one feel at home. (Go Riders!) They lay you down in the scanner, ask you to raise your arms above your head and then your body is pushed in and out while an electronic voice tells you when and how to breathe.  THEN they inject the contrast into the IV and you feel a general hot flush all over your body - the most shocking part of which is the intense feeling that you have just wet yourself.  It's true. I just want you to be forewarned in case you ever have to have one, because it can be quite alarming if you aren't expecting it.

SO, now I am exhausted. I'm going to lay down for a quick nap and think positive thoughts about my results on Monday morning.  Have a good day everyone... 
P.S. Is it Friday yet?(Tim's coming in - YAY!!)

Tasty Gluten-Free????

Quick hats-off to Merriam-Webster because man, do I have a case of the stupids today. This previously self-proclaimed, anal-retentive, detail-oriented, grammatical and spelling fanatic couldn't remember how to spell "tasty."  Yikers.

It's been a quiet few days as 5 and 6 tend to be.  Lots of sleeping and laying around.  I had a few visitors today - Mardi, who once again brought me a gluten-free meal! So awesome on these days when the last thing I feel like doing is cooking.  The good news is that the old taste buds seem to be coming around again and the soup actually tasted GOOD!

Chantelle popped by just before supper with, you guessed it....a Booster Juice! And some good conversation - it perked me up a bit.  I REALLY should be asleep already since she is picking me up before 7am for my CT scan but for some reason the noggin doesn't seem to want to slow down yet.  For a girl who's gotten used to getting up whenever the hell I want, this 6am wake-up could be a little tricky, especially since I had to drink two cups of 'contrast' before bed and now I will likely be up several times tonight. 

The port is still ugly as sin, but the bruising seems to be fading a bit and again, it's itchy as anything so I guess that means it's healing.  I am looking forward to what the weather reporters suggest could be an 18 degree day tomorrow! In Saskatchewan! In March! I am NOT holding my breath, but stranger things have happened....

Conquering Day #5 of Mambo #5

Well everybody, Dad-dio just left and that's a good sign - he refuses to leave if I look like death-warmed-over, so I must be winning this round too!  It took a while to get going today, but once the bath was over and the make-up was on, I managed to take Arnie out on a road-trip to Costco and Princess Auto.  Costco was as busy as I have ever seen it HOWEVER it's much easier to navigate when you are rolling with a senior citizen with his own Wheel Chair Parking sign.  Small wins, people, small wins.



 

Anniversary Wishes

Happy Anniversary to Chantelle and Kelly!