July 29, 2009

• Gettin' Along

  Hello!  I haven't floated off of the face of the earth, yet!  Don't worry!  I'm still around . . . just not very active.

                                        
                                          JanaLyn is finally "6" and has the ribbon to prove it!!!!

  I've had more of a problem with digestive upsets this time after chemo - I was warned.  Not nausea or vomiting, just that full-up feeling . . . Like if I drink one more sip of water or eat one more bite of food, and bend over, it will spill out.  I'm sure it's the fact I wasn't in great shape going into my last chemo treatment, and the oncologist DID warn me this last treatment might be a little more rough than any of the others . . .  The pain has been the same - moments of severe pain, but not intolerable or excruciating.

   
  Her "beach theme" cake at the pool party.                         The part of the cake I got to see and sample!                      
  
                                             
                                                Her brand new bike with bells and whistles!

  I've spent a lot of time in bed - just, "in" bed - not sleeping.  Not reading.  Not watching anything on TV.  My vision became blurred a few weeks ago, and even the weather forecast numbers on TV are difficult for me to read.  That should all be better by the end of the year.  It took this long for the chemo drugs to change my vision.  Since I'm not a huge fan of TV, it makes for some long days with not much to do.

                  
  Always a little camera shy, you have to wait to "capture the moment" to get a good picture.  This gift bag helped!

  Stephanie came over and sat with me yesterday while JoAnn took her grandchildren somewhere special.  We didn't talk much, Stephanie and I.  Just sat together and touched on a few subjects (my mouth is really dry, thus the reason for not talking much!) and I had the comfort of her sitting near me and holding my hand.  A *great* comfort to me.  Ask Emily and Lori K!!!!

  
  There were gifts at Stephanie's place & lots of guests (the first party JanaLyn's had that wasn't for family only)
   

    
  and there were a few gifts and cards here, at our house.  I love the pink with purple flower gift sack!!!

  
  I wasn't able to be part of the birthday party fun (it broke my heart, it's the first time I've missed a party) but, after the early morning swim party, she came here for a brief time to open some gifts from Auntie JoJo and us.  Stephanie said JanaLyn wanted a "mermaid birthday" and the only thing Stephanie came up with to make it "mermaid-ish" was to have a pool party.
  
  
  
  Her dad (Rob) helped her opened the gifts inside the gift sacks from us . . .

                                       
                                                AND, with *some* items - she needed NO help!

  No plans for me today.  I'm going to "hang low" for the rest of the week and try to regain as much of my energy.  I'm very happy that they will no longer be knocking the energy out of me!  Very, VERY happy!

      
  School supplies for fall.                                  A new clock for her room.

  JoAnn will be leaving soon (a few weeks) and I will be on my own again as far as managing my house.  So many things are different - just by the fact someone else has been doing my job - and so many things will have to change because of my physical limitations.  It will be interesting to see how this "new way" unfolds.  I haven't any grandiose ideas, nor wonderful plans . . . but, I'll pray about how to best manage my household and family with my new quotient of energy. 

    

  No plans for today.  Not even dinner plans.  I don't have ANY appetite, even though I know I need to eat and *will* eat, and I have no sense of taste - except that of nickel or penny coins in my mouth . . . YUCK!!!  Stephanie made two scrambled eggs and some toast with strawberry jam yesterday afternoon for me . . . I was still full when I went to bed, after only eating a Granny Smith apple for dinner.  A few more weeks . . . and this too shall pass!

  It's a gloomy and cloudy day.  The girls are swimming in the little backyard pool before the "great rains" arrive later tonight and for most of the rest of the week.  At least the temperatures are low 90s and upper 80s - much nicer than 100 or more!!!!!  Not that I go outside in it or anything . . .

           

  Be Blessed  ~              
         
  

  • 2:42 pm
  • 5 Comments