Day 439 - Merry Christmas! Yes, Christmas.

Tonight was our Christmas dinner. Mom & I had a big blowout last night & thankfully we 'kissed & made up'. We got started on the dinner in the morning right away. That's when my arm started to hurt. My picc site started to ache. I got a little worried, as tomorrow I'm off to Cuba. I do NOT need to get into trouble health wise while I'm out of Canada!

We finished as much as we could & Mom drove me to Black Diamond. We saw her friend, Dee Dee, who just got engaged. It was great to see her! I saw a Dr. Ray (I think!) & he was really nice - in true Black Diamond fashion. The nurse was also nice, she did my last & final (!) neupogen shot for me! Yay! I took Kingston & Easton with me so they could make an appearance at the hospital. Dr. Ray basically told me he didn't think it was a blood clot, but if my arm started to swell & turn purple below the picc site, I needed to get on a plane & head back to Canada. Comforting!

On the way to Black Diamond, I grabbed Mom's phone to call someone & saw that Al & Wilma had called. I said, 'Oh! Al & Wilma called! I wonder what they wanted...' & dialed their number before Mom could interrupt. As it was ringing, she said, 'They are probably calling for directions. I invited them for dinner tonight & was going to keep it a surprise!' Whoops! I blew it!

We stopped to pick up a few last minute groceries & headed home. We weren't home very long & the guests started arriving. (!) Mom2 & Dad2 were the first to arrive & they helped A LOT! They put all my boxes in the back of the truck & helped with the dinner preparations. We hadn't expected to be so long in Black Diamond, so we were running behind schedule! (And we're always late!)

Dinner was at 1800. I think we ate about 1930? At least everyone was hungry by the time we actually sat down to eat it! It was a great meal & we had a wonderful visit with Al & Wilma, Kevin & Roxy, Mom2 & Dad2 & of course, Mom. And thank you for all your help! We made a great team!

Speaking of teams, the guys streamed the highly disappointing Canada vs. Russia hockey game on Mom's big computer. They were happy to watch the game while the ladies whipped up a frenzy in the kitchen!

Roxy & Mom both liked their pendants that I made for them, so I was happy about that! I'm always nervous making something for someone. I don't want them to feel awkward about it if they don't like it!

I did my best to pack my bags for Cuba after everyone left, but it was late & I was quite tired... The bone pain was also settling in again. For one last time!

xxxxMaria, Valentina, Oceana, & Adios

 Kingston & Easton help make the stuffing

Mom hard at work already! 

 Tweet Pea & her gingerbread man.

 Kingston & Easton in the hospital with me.

 Al, Wilma, Mom & I

 Roxy, er, Britney

 Rihanna

Kevin & Roxy - thanks again for your help!

Day 333 - Jacqueline!!!!

Well, today wasn't off with a very rosy start. I woke up with even MORE pain than the previous days. I was in dire need of a good toe stubbing to take my mind off the pain in my arm. It has escalated from a dull ache to a stabbing, throbbing pain. This sucks. 


After much resistance, I finally cracked & took a Tylenol 3. Just so you know & if you ever (Heaven forbid) have to take chemo drugs, the anti-emetics are constipating. Tylenol 3 is too. So, to combat the odds against me, I took 4g of Vitamin C in the morning & 4g of Vitamin C in the evening, along with a banana, orange & several large slugs of apple juice. Here's hoping! 


As for the rest of the day, Jacqueline came to visit! Yay! I met Jacqueline in March of 2009. She was about to leave Canada for South Africa with one of her girlfriends. Her Mother was petrified of her 'baby girl' going to a far away & scary land such as SA, so when my Mom & her Mom found out about the SA Connection, we all met for coffee so I could tell her Mom about SA & that is wasn't really that scary after all! Jacqueline & her friend, Adele, were volunteering at the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town & then traveling up the coast. 


Jaco & I were getting married in SA in April, so I invited the two of them to the wedding in Arniston. They came! Then, when we had the wedding in Waterton, Jacqueline made it to that one too! We've been wanting to meet up for quite some time now to talk about SA & share photos & stories... Today was finally the day! 


We had a wonderful visit over rooibos tea & some ginger cookies. FYI - Rooibos tea is from South Africa. If you haven't tried it, do yourself the favour. It's AWESOME! WAY yummier than green tea & definitely black tea! It's pronounced roy-boss (red bush) & South Africa is the only place in the world where you'll find it. Well, the actual bush - you can find the tea in the tea aisle at your supermarket - if they're a good shop! :o) I found a particularly wonderful green rooibos at Teaopia in Market Mall. The green rooibos has even more antioxidants because it hasn't been roasted yet. 


Jacqueline is studying at Mount Royal right now, but next summer will find her back in Africa. On top of Mount Kilimanjaro! What a gal! I'm so envious! And to top off the trip, she'll be chillin' on the beach in Zanzibar after her incredible expedition! We'll definitely meet for rooibos after that! :o) 


We made plans to get together for supper once her Mom comes back from her latest trip... I love meeting likeminded people who share a love of the same things you do. It makes live that much sweeter. Thanks for the visit Jacqueline - you made my week!


xxxxMJV&O

If Jaco & Jill doesn't sound funny enough... Try Jaco & Jacqueline! :o)

Jacqueline is driving away as Jaco closes the gate & the dogs chase a cow around the corner of the house. Talk about an action shot! 

Day 332 - The Arm Pain Escalates

Yesterday Jaco told me to take some Advil & Tylenol for my arm pain. I ignored him. I want to know WHY I have the pain before I'll just pop any old pill. This morning I was in tears. The pain was so bad. Usually Jaco is up LONG before me, but not this morning. I hardly slept because of the pain. It kept waking me up & I couldn't find a resting pose that was quite comfy enough to stay in. 


I decided to call the Health Link. (403) 943-LINK in case you ever need the number. They have nurses on call 24/7 to help you with your health issues. Lana ran through plenty of questions with me & ultimately told me I should see a Doctor. (The one I was married to didn't count, apparently) So, I called Dr. Daly's office & left a message. A while later, the nurse called me back & asked me a few questions. I had just fallen asleep (finally) when she called me back & said I should come in to see Dr. Daly. 


Away we go. I will describe the symptoms. Dull ache, weakness, shifting from my wrist to my forearm to my elbow to my bicep to my shoulder. No redness, no swelling, no external signs of anything. Dr. Daly tested my strength & of course, the right was just as strong as the left. It just felt weaker from the pain. What does he tell me to do? Take some Advil & see if things change over the next few days. Gee, where did I hear that before? So I pop some Advil & away we go. I saw Sam for a moment & she asked how the dogs were... I told her great & I'd see her in a week! 


I must add, I wore the blonde wig today. Apparently it's a real head turner! The photos I took were at night, so the flash makes it 'glow', unfortunately. It was a ton of fun observing people's reactions! The Doctors & Nurses were priceless! I told them I'd wear the afro wig next week! I've decided redheads have more fun, but blondes certainly get checked out a lot more! (sad, isn't it!?)


The pain seemed to be much worse whenever I laid down. By the time I was ready for bed, it was quite bad again. I took Advil & Tylenol. And I still don't know WHY I'm having this pain. They think it has something to do with the chemo & my veins. Dacarbazine is quite hard on the veins & I certainly attest to the discomfort it causes on injection. It just seems pretty bizarre that 5 days after it's injected, I get excruciating pain! So much for a quick recovery & enjoying the 'in between' days! Oh well... Let the living resume once this is over! Nearly half way! 


Love & Hugs (with my good arm),
xxxxMJV&O


Jaco likes the blonde one best so far... ;oP

Day 330 - The Office

So over the past week or so, Jaco & I have started watching The Office. Or should I say, Jaco started watching The Office & after the first 2 seasons, I have now started watching The Office. Most people enjoy it. I hated it. Argh, Michael Scott is so stupid & annoying. I couldn't watch it. The show never made sense. It seemed to be a lot of nothing. Eventually, Jim & Pam warmed my heart & I couldn't help but laugh at the pranks they would pull on Dwight. So, now, I am officially an Office Convert. 


It's nice to be able to laugh & share some fun times with Jaco. We've had so much time apart, it is refreshing to share this time together & remember why we love each other. I am very grateful for his help while I have been sick. Granted, I can't ask him to help much in the kitchen unless it's oranges, nutbars or chicken, but then, look who's talking. 


Speaking of cooking, did I mention I was reading The Kind Diet? Quite interesting... I haven't made it to the recipes just yet, but I'm so close I can taste it! (ha ha) I'll let you know how I get on with the kitchen... worth a read if you've got an open mind! Or a really empty stomach!


Last night I started to get some strange pains in my arm/wrist/hand. It's kind of a dull ache that doesn't want to go away. It's not gone yet, but I'm hoping it will leave soon. Just when I start to feel better, I get another ache & pain. This is really getting old now. And so am I.


Anyhow, I should hit the hay...


xxxxMJV&O




Just another lazy Saturday night...