Day 427 - The Last Round!

I survived. It's over.

Today was rough. I usually go to sleep as soon as they start the chemo, but today Sam was my Nurse & I wanted to talk to her. She confided in me that she was getting married after the New Year. (!) I can say that now because she's married already! I couldn't fall asleep after that news! Very exciting! She has been a very special person to me these past 6 months. She is genuine, beautiful & strong. Just what I needed when I felt weak, ugly & lost!

When she saw me taking oral Dexamethasone, she commented, 'You take oral Dexamethasone as well?' I asked her what she meant. She said I was getting it be IV also. I asked if that was bad. She said no, only that it would help me to keep my appetite & I wouldn't lose any weight. AH HA! So that explains why my pants don't fit so well these days! Sigh.

I drifted off to sleep a little later, only to wake up to Mom2 sitting beside me. I couldn't really sleep after I had woken up, so I tried to visit. But the nausea hit. I don't normally feel sick. At least I hadn't been since round 7 or so. I actually got sick to my stomach - just a little - before the end of the treatment, which has NEVER happened. They ended up giving me 2 more anti-emetics via IV. I've never had that much before!

We took the girls to PLC today to show Sam. She has 2 dogs of her own & we always talk about our pooches. I asked Mom to dress the girls in their Christmas dresses & bring them to the side door so Sam & the Nurses could see them. Needless to say, the girls were a hit!

Dr. Lategan took my Picc line out. Here's the video clip. Someone asked me WHY I recorded it. I guess I don't plan on ever having a silicone tube shoved up my vein again. Not a video for the faint hearted - it made me gag the first time I watched it! But crazy to think that modern medicine has the technology to put a tube inside your vein & run it all the way up to the central vein entering your heart. When you look at it that way, it's pretty cool, I think! Enjoy & let me know how far you can watch!



Mom drove me home & I don't remember anything past Barlow Trail. Next thing I knew, I was at home. She helped me get to bed & then left to go get Ken. They drove back here & spent the night. They were waking up early to watch Ken's grandkids open presents. Apparently tomorrow is Christmas! I know I won't be appreciating any turkey at this point! Just my Ondansetron!!! Every 8 hours like clockwork!

Merry Christmas & I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I hope you remember WHY we celebrate CHRISTmas & include that in your festivities. Family, friends, giving, celebration... I'm happy with my best present ever. NO MORE CHEMO!

xxxxMVO&A

 The Beautiful Sam!

 Out cold & cold out.

The girls keep me warm on the drive home.

Day 207 - Sick As A Dog

No really. Today I was sick as a dog. It's a short post. I woke up with the chills, feeling achy & tired. The weak feeling that settles in your bones. I felt slightly nauseous, with a bit of the trots. It got progressively worse & by 2100 I had a raging fever. I went to bed & burned under the covers. 


Mom had been gone most of the afternoon & evening, but when she called before she drove home, I asked for chicken noodle soup. Like the great Mom that she is, she made me soup & I felt better instantly! Well, except for the burnt tongue...


She put essential oils on my back & I was about to go back to bed, when... I picked up my shirt & noticed 2 wet spots on it. Did Mom spill oil on it? Sniff, sniff. Ugh. That's not oil. OCEANA!!!!!!! Mom! You dog pee'd on my shirt! Wait! It's all over the.. 
1. Pillow & case
2. Another pillow & case
3. A blanket
4. Another blanket
5. Another blanket
6. The duvet (yes, I sleep with a lot of blankets!)
7. The duvet cover
8. The sheets
9. The mattress cover
10. The mattress
11. Don't forget my shirt


It was 2330, I was sick & tired & the last thing I needed was to clean up urine & find new bedding! Ugh! That's it! The dog is not allowed in my room again! (She'd pooh'd by the bed the night before!) I was so angry!!! But I suppose it paid off. My fever broke I got so mad! To all the dogs out there - I don't recommend this technique to help your owners get better! It's not worth it!


And that was the day, or rather night. Keep warm & keep well... I'm huddling under 3 throw blankets & sleeping on the decorative heart pillow tonight. Here's hoping this icky feeling is gone tomorrow!


xxxxoooo
Maria & Valentina

Oceana's last nap in my bed...

Day 114 - Brave Heart Women

Okay, so today started rough. 0600 I was getting intimate with the Porcelain Throne. The malaise started about 0430 at which point I woke up & couldn't fall back asleep. I would get up, go to the bathroom & nothing would happen. This was a 20 minute cycle. Valentina shares the bed & every time I leave the bed, she moves into the warm spot. You can imagine after 4 trips to the bathroom, there wasn't much bed left for me! Thankfully I was able to fall asleep until about 1000.


Today Mom, Mom2 & I were off to this 'thing'. You see, I wasn't quite sure what it was, but it sounded interesting. I received an email while I was on the ship with Jaco, inviting me to this event with a Doctor who did some healing & was also an inspirational speaker. There were 75 free VIP tickets for the first gals to respond. Hmm. Free. Healing. Inspirational. Sure, why not! So I responded & asked for 3 tickets. Today was the day.


It was quite interesting. The guest speaker, Dr. Sugar Singleton, helps women heal on a cellular level. Your cells all have a cellular memory & most often it is subconscious. Dr. Sugar helps you remove these blocks to become '_________' - insert your favourite positive adjective here!


It was interesting to hear what she had to say, however, I was slightly turned off when I heard how much it would actually cost to experience the 'healing'. Yeah, sure they pick me up in a limo & I spend a few days in a nice mansion in Arizona with a personal chef. But. $4000? Hmm. I felt like I'd been had. Sure, I'd love to go & I'm sure it would be very empowering & uplifting. Perhaps I will one day, but tomorrow doesn't look like the day! So it was basically an exciting advertisement for what COULD happen...


Dr. Sugar did talk about a social network for women, called Brave Heart Women. Apparently you can go to Brave Heart Women & sign up, FOR FREE. Here you can find like-minded women who want to make a difference in the world & want to pursue a lifetime of growth. They want to inspire, live with passion & find their purpose. As cheesy as it might sound, I think it's pretty neat. Thinking about it, why not join together & start working to make the world a better place! I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a way to help Africa & now, here's my chance! Regardless of your cause or your chosen issue you keep close to heart, there is someone else out there who shares your passion & why not do something about it! In fact, the irony of this was the lady who sat next to me. She was friendly & we chit chatted a bit. At the end of the presentation, we started to visit a bit more & I brought up my plight of SA & Zuma. We talked about Africa in general & she then revealed to me that she is working to build a school for girls in Ghana! How great is that? I was excited to know that here we sat, only two women, but there was obviously something we could do! Hah!


Of course, the Moms enjoyed every minute of it & are anxious to get to AZ ASAP! We went to Original Joe's afterwards for a quick bite to eat. I found the ill feeling returning again & by the time we left, I thought I ought to have a baggie nearby just in case! I'm pleased to report that I'm feeling much better as I'm typing this. I still have this annoying tickle in my throat - must be all that opera I've been practicing lately. Just kidding. I did listen to Katherine Jenkins yesterday though. Does that count? Perhaps I have cellular memories of trying to sing opera & it hurt my throat... Okay, I'll stop now!


Tomorrow is Invictus & Roughnecks Lacrosse... I just love to see 80 year old Grannies up & out of their seats yelling 'WHACK 'EM!!!' at the top of their lungs. I go for the music & the crowd. Don't ask me anything about the game, except that it's rough. Sleep well & see you tomorrow night!


Happy Valentine's Day & may you share your love & affection with those that matter most to you. Big hugs & kisses,
Maria & Valentina
xxxxxxxx
Eat some Lindt chocolate for me!

Tweet Pea looking tweet!

Dr. Sugar

Dancing with my 'Sistas'

Moms & I