April 22, 2009
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Another Fire to Put Out
I will punctuate this entry with random pictures and captions under the pictures.
ALSO, I'm going to print a disclaimer today: Chemo brain means fuzzy thinking and squinty eye sight. Typos go uncaught and words come out of my fingers that aren't what I intend to type. It IS (and will become MORE) tedious to try to edit my blogs for perfectionism (that trait I'm learning to let go of) and so I will just say,
I HOPE WHAT I TYPE, FROM NOW ON, IS CLEAR ENOUGH TO READ!
I don't want to stop blogging and having fun because I'm feeling stress about catching all errors. AND, I need to be doing other things besides spending my time editing a short blog spot for errors.
Last night, Jesse had the girls moving firewood (I guess AWAY from the house) and Annamarie ended up with something in her right eye. I was totally unable to help her and (AGAIN) was so glad (sil) JoAnn was here to help Jesse. Annamarie is at the state's best "Eye Institute" this morning (with Jesse & JoAnn) to see if she has a foreign body lodged in her eye. We tried to rinse it with saline, put a soothing ointment in her eye, and cover it with a patch; but, we felt it was best for her to be seen PROFESSIONALLY this morning. With her PDD, she isn't understanding what is happening to her and wants the patch off so she can go outside and play. Last night, she thought she was being punished and cried when we asked her to lie down and listen to music. She has no depth perception with one eye covered, and we didn't want her falling over something or getting a headache from watching TV. It's tough - explaining just enough to her for her to be able to understand what's happening and not TOO MUCH information so that she becomes scared. I tried to explain that if she heard the doctor use the word "SURGERY" today, it didn't mean they would cut her eye - just "remove something" and that's considered "surgery" in the world of an eye doctor.
HEL-LOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, Wednesday! Or, is it "really" Saturday?!!!
My wig (NOT STYLED) which is a close color match to my own color. It has dark roots (which draws out my eye color) and I think I'll adjust to it, EVENTUALLY. I doubt I will go in public for the next 4 years or so without longer hair and a headcovering. So this has to last.
The style of headcovering I will most likely wear. And, perhaps the hair in a looped ponytail like the picture on the left.
I DO know how to style a wig and make it look natural, but just quickly threw it on to show everyone the color and length. I cut a few wispy bangs in case I choose to wear a taupe eyebrow pencil when my own are gone.
They make "wig paste and tape" so the wig will stay close to my scalp at the behind the ear area and forehead, should I have a "slippage" problem. Do you know they actually make fake eyebrows? I can't imagine being in the Oklahoma heat this summer and my eyebrow glue melting and the end of an eyebrow flapping in the breeze!!!! I used to wear false eyelashes in high school and I know the glue is good for only so long. Hot, humid conditions shorten the glue's life. What a picture to contemplate! Half an eyebrow flapping in the heat of the Oklahoma summer!!!!
(Birthday flowers from my youngest sister, Nancy.)
Jesse took me to 2 thrift stores yesterday to look for some blouses/t-shirts for Annamarie. I'm looking in the junior or ladies departments for her, now. She's pretty much out of children's sizes. I found about 8 potential tops for her. I say potential because her "eye accident" happened and she hasn't even been shown the tops to try on.
After the thrift stores, which I navigated through very shakily and SLOWLY, we went to Wal-Mart. Although I had a short list and intended on breezing in and out of there, Jesse didn't realize how weak I was and how hard it was for me to be patient while he read the packaged details of GE light bulbs vs. Great Value Wal-Mart brand light bulbs. I began to feel like I was going to crater as we stood in the light bulb aisle. Then, an overwhelming smell came over me.
Sun tan lotion? Nooooo . . . What was that smell?
I leaned against a support pole that held up the roof (and, now, me) and covered my nose. The smell was intense. Then I looked at the pole. It was a pole with a scanner for the customer to do a price check AND a set of wipes were affixed next to the scanner (approximately 1 inch from my nose)! Aha! The culprit! I kept thinking they smelled like a pina colada drink and then wondered how I knew what a pina colada smelled like, AND . . . why *anyone* would use a coconut scent on industrial clean up wipes.
Last night I took a bath and used my Jergens Shea Butter Lotion and there was that sweet smell again. I thought, "Oh no! And, *I* have to sleep with me!"
But, the fragrance soon faded and I, again, was left to contemplate the offensive Wal-Mart wipe fragrance. I assume there was something in Wal-Mart's wipes to softened the skin.
I made it through the detergent aisle (which used to smell good and fresh to me) and the next battle was the coffee aisle. Coffee wouldn't have been bad to smell, but French vanilla and hazelnut were predominant scents, and I tried to breathe through my mouth so I wouldn't have to bury my face in my sleeve.
Like I said, we made it through Wal-Mart with me clinging to the cart for support and trying to breath deeply. I never felt nauseous enough to throw up. I just had an offended sense of smell and broke out in a sweat trying to walk for exercise and not moan, "Eeeewwww" every other aisle we walked! I guess that would be called, "Nausea with dignity"???!!!
I'm determined to get SOME exercise each day and to get dressed - even if it's 2pm by the time I finally get my clothes on. At least they will last longer that way!!!
I have Luci's laundry in the washer and have pulled a few "summer" clothes from our garage clothes bins. It's supposed to be 90° today. A few more days of that and then we'll bump back to more "usual temps" and some rain, maybe, this weekend.
My last birthday smile for Rissy, as I became playful and silly!
Today's To Do List:
* Finish some of the girls' laundry and wash light weight play clothes
* Get dressed (you might as well get used to seeing that on here - it's now a chore!)
* Enjoy feeling good (despite still being a bit sleepy)
* STAY AWAY FROM PINA COLADA SCENTS!!!!!!!!Be Blessed ~
Comments (12)
Don't worry about typos on my account. I see them but have learned to read thru them!
I got such a giggle out of you talking about eyebrows flapping in the breeze! The wig looks good!
Hope Annamarie is doing better. Smells... oh, my! I remember when I was pregnant... people would walk past me & I'd almost gag from their perfume! It was especially predominant w/ Darci, but to some extent, w/ the rest of them. (W/ Darci, I couldn't walk thru our galley kitchen w/out heading straight for the bathroom. Smells were H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E!!) I know it's not the same thing, but I can totally empathize w/ you! ((((HUGS))))
You had me really LOLOLOLing! Eyebrows flapping in the breeze (LOLOL) I love the wig...you look like a real blonde bombshell! Prayers for Annamarie and that she's doing better. God Bless.
Me too. . got me laughing imagining the eyebrow's flapping in the breeze! Too funny. I think the wig looks really good!
Your flapping eyebrow makes my day!
Hello dear friend~ I listened to our cd yesterday....and it was so soothing as usual. Perfect for a rainy day.
The wig looks nice, and you are right, the dark roots do bring out those dark brown eyes of yours.
God is keeping your heart light and happy so far! We'll be here for you if and when you reach some low days as well. ((HUGS)) Shanda
Oh, and I hope Annamarie's eye is okay! Poor girl!
What a full plate you have right now - taking care of you AND everyone else! Just like a mom. I like the color of the wig - it's very natural looking. And typo schmypo - who cares! I hope you get some sleep - I empathize with that one!
Very nice wig, and I hope Annamarie is okay!
That wig looks very nice on you & a 100% natural at that. Great choice.
Love the wig--I had one that color, too, as well as a dark auburn one. I did know about fake eyebrows--saw them in a catalog they had at the cancer center when I was getting treatments. I wonder if the glue now is better than when we were in school? Poor Annamarie! One of our twin granddaughters is also PDD-NOS, & I understand completely the steps you have to go through to keep her calm. I am so sorry you are having the problem with smells. You continue to be in my prayers. Maybe you need to be in one of the motorized chairs at Walmart, especially if it seems it's going to be an extensive visit. I know--"but I'm not handicapped!" Actually, in a way, you are--temporarily. It's a thought, anyway.
@PatSJ1953 -
Re: Motorized cart
I've really pondered this and feel I must TRY to walk. I literally "walked" through that debilitating spine disease that was supposed to take my life (about 10 or so years ago). It might have taken me two hours to dress and two hours to make dinner, but everyday I got up and was determined to "act" healthy . . . it was part of the healing that brought the final cure. Determination and belief that I COULD do things.
Jesse pointed out, "If walking is too much, I'll do it, and YOU need to stay home and rest."
Point well taken!
@cherylyn_p - That is definitely understandable, & a good point, but you need to know your limits, I guess.
Oh dear Cherlyn, I haven't been on here for a very long time and I am amazed by you! I can't even begin to fathom the emotional stress you and your family is going thru, but for you it is even more then just emotional its physical also. You seem to stay upbeat and I really admire you for that.
Have a great day, Sarah
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