IcyHot Linebacker

4/30 /11 – Happy Saturday all.

I’m afraid that y’all are in for a stretch of tired and serious blogs.  Boring, I know. 

Today I woke up and felt a little better.  Todd and I went carpet shopping one more time.  Third time’s a charm.  I picked out some more carpet samples and we bought paint for the man room. 

After searching for carpet and paint we headed to the grocery store to stock up on cheat day items – chocolate milk, check!  By the time we got to check out I was ready to go home.  I was tired and starting to feel the wear of a busy morning.

When we got home I took a nap and woke up feeling worse.  How is that fair?  Aren’t naps supposed to revive you?  I think it was just later in the day and I tend to feel worse as the day goes on.  Still not as bad as the last few days and my temperature has started to slap off.

I am feeling better but I am very sore.  Breathing still hurts at times.  I am lathering myself constantly with IcyHot.  I smell like hair products and mint.  Sexy.  Todd was sitting next to me and started sniffing.  He said “you smell minty.”  Yep, the IcyHot.  It’s been a lifesaver for my sore muscles.  Since my throat has hurt so much I have over compensated with my shoulders and the back of my neck making me very sore on top of being puny.

Enter the IcyHot.  Todd says that it’s like sleeping with a linebacker.  As long as it works I honestly don’t care that I smell like a sweaty huge dude who gets to hit lots of people.  There might be some perks to the comparison.  I would be considered powerful and people would probably run from me.  I’ve been told that my hair is scary when I wake up so I’m pretty sure that people already run at the sight of me without having to be a linebacker too.

Last night after reading my blog, Kristina came over and surprised me with Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Part I.  She had just bought it and thought it might lift my spirits.  We had an impromptu movie night which really made me feel good since I was home alone moping that the nurse said there was really nothing wrong with me.  I felt much better once the movie started it completely wiped away all that the nurse had told me.  100 is not a temperature – puh-lease.  Well, maybe I’m still dwelling on that one.

Tonight I’m resting once again watching the Underworld series.  I have an addiction to vampire movies. 

Have any you seen the zoosk commercial where the girl is dating an “athlete” – a dart “athlete”.  I LOVE that commercial.  He stretches (“getting stupid loose”) and has sponsors but the best part is when he does his little “get psyched” yell – ca ca COW!   I can totally mimic that entire commercial.  I think I should dress up as that dude for Halloween.  It would be awesome.

This is going to be a short blog.  Hopefully as I get better I will come up with more interesting topics again.  Maybe I’ll rewatch Top Gun and do another critique?  Anyway.  If I could have anything to eat I would like a rice krispy treat.  My song of the day is “Just Can’t Get Enough” by The Blackeyed Peas.

http://grooveshark.com/s/Just+Can+t+Get+Enough/3DWIEH?src=5

Night y’all!

And the story continues...

4/29/11 – Hey, hey blog readers.

Unfortunately my symptoms haven’t improved – bummer.  The whole bruise being poked description has escalated to the bruise being punched phase constantly.  I’m surviving on will power and Percocet. 

I went in to work Thursday morning because my computer wasn’t working and I needed to get it corrected in order to work from home.  We had an all day training meeting that I wanted to try to attend.  My Percocet from the night before wore off at 7:00 so I was safe to drive and go in to work for a while.  I joined the meeting and stayed as long as I could.  Around 10:45 my symptoms started to get worse.  I called it quits from the office at 12:00 and migrated to the house.

Once I got home I checked my temperature and then called my doctor to tell her that my symptoms had gotten worse and now I was sporting a constant temperature. Great.  She called me in a prescription for antibiotics just to cover all our bases.

Today hasn’t been much different.  I started to go downhill around 12:00 and am still hanging on to the temperature.  I haven’t taken any Percocet yet.  I’m trying to make it as long as I can.  Today doesn’t feel as bad as yesterday but I haven’t been moving as much. 

My doctor’s office called to tell me that my throat culture came back negative.  What does that mean?  I don’t have strep and my throat culture came back negative.  I’m pretty sure I’m not making this up and I do have a small temperature.  The nurse told me that it is probably a virus and that I need to keep taking my medicine.  They haven’t really had enough time to kick in.  Oh, and she also told me that 100 is not really a temperature.  If I develop a fever of 103, though, I’m supposed to go to the ER. 

My thoughts on this:

-          There’s no way I have nothing wrong with me.  I know my body and I know I shouldn’t feel like this.  I mean, I have some serious pain going on.  I’m taking Percocet for crying out loud.

-          100 is not really a temperature?!  I generally run below 98.6 and it takes a lot for me to run a temperature so I do consider it an important fact.  Kinda felt like a slap in the face to me. 

-          I just want to feel better before chemo, and I don’t like feeling like I was told there’s nothing wrong with me when I KNOW there is.  That hurts my feelings.

Fortunately I’ve been texting my oncologist’s office and keeping them updated on what I heard and how I was doing.  They think that I may have thrush.  I normally don’t do this, but I looked it up online and thrush can affect people with compromised immune systems – ding, ding, ding.  Like cancer patients.  It can be painful and can last several days.  Since my sore throat is down in my throat I can’t see any of the other symptoms to know for sure.   

So that’s me.  That’s been my last few days. Depressing, right?  Don’t worry it gets worse.  I’ve been watching a lot, lot of Lifetime TV.  Oh, yeah… I went there.  So basically I’m lying on the couch, drinking lots of fluids, constantly checking my temperature, and on top of that I’m watching sappy love stories with an occasional betrayal thrown in there.   Fun times.

Hopefully my medicine will start to work sometime soon so I can quit complaining about how bad I feel.  Thanks for sticking in there with me.  If I could have anything to eat I would like a smoothie.  That would feel really good to my throat right now.  My song of the day is “A Little Bit Stronger” by Sara Evans.  Yep, I’m still in a country mood.  LOL!

http://grooveshark.com/s/A+Little+Bit+Stronger/3GSZLH?src=5

Night y’all!

Sore Throat Dialogue

4/27/11 – “Poor, poor pitiful me…” 

Guys, I’m in some serious pain here.  You know how I mentioned that I had a sore throat yesterday?  Well it has been kicked up a notch.  The sore throat got worse before I went to sleep last night.  I actually made the mistake of taking a deep breath and felt a stab of pain in my neck and chest.  This is no usual sore throat.  I’m talking the mac daddy of sore throats here.

I’m not gonna lie, the pain from breathing freaked me out.  What if I have some sore in my throat and it closes up over night?!  That really did run through my mind.  My throat did not close up but the pain got worse overnight.  Basically what I’m experiencing feels like I have a huge bruise on the outside and inside of my throat that someone is constantly poking – painful, right?  I also get sharp stabs of pain when I accidentally take a deep breath, laugh, or bend.  Yes, I said bend.  Earlier today I reached down to pick something up off the floor and felt this sharp pain run through my throat.  So weird.  I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

As soon as I woke up this morning I sent my oncologist a text (yep, we are on texting terms).  I listed out my symptoms and asked if this could be related to the chemo.  She said there were a lot of viruses and colds going around and that if I got worse I would need to come in.  Luckily I was already going to my primary care for a prescription refill – I could kill 2 birds with one stone.

I suffered through the day until my appointment.  I was swabbed for strep – negative, not strep.  I then got swabbed again for a full mouth culture.  Sounds gross, right?  That’s what I was thinking.  Someone needs to come up with another option to swabbing.  That is a terrible feeling.  What I really want to know is, are there people who can suffer through that and not gag?  I think it’s impossible.  I should hear back from my test results tomorrow.  My doctor went ahead and wrote me a prescription for what she thinks it might be.  I will take ANYTHING that gives me some relief. 

After the appointment I hoofed it over to Kroger.  All that poking and prodding made me feel even worse.  Just walking hurt.  I waited a little longer than the 5 – 10 minutes that they told me it would take, but I didn’t care.  I just wanted to get home and shove those pills in my mouth.  (Something’s wrong with that sentence, don’t you think?  It’s true though.  I already have a counselor so don’t worry about me and popping pills.)  By the time I made it home the pain was excruciating.  I know that’s probably hard to believe for a sore throat but just think about the bruises reference and imagine someone is now punching the bruises. 

Fortunately I am a walking pharmacy.  I sent my oncologist a text to let them know what was going on and asked if I was allowed to self medicate – Percocet please.  I was given the green light so I am now slightly (only slightly) more comfortable.  I haven’t taken Percocet in a while so I’m definitely feeling the effects.  Kind of like drinking 2 glasses of wine but without the headache. 

I now have developed a low fever that I can only assume will increase as the night goes on.  Why is it that when we are sick we usually feel worse after the sun goes down?  There has to be some medical reason for this.  It’s always been that way for me.  Maybe the vitamin D contributes to the feeling of wellbeing more than we know?

I’m hoping that my medication starts to heal whatever I have going on inside.  Don’t worry about me.  I’m ok, just in pain.  I am VERY glad that I didn’t get this during my chemo week.  That would have been terrible.  If I could have anything to eat I would like some broccoli cheese soup.  My song of the day is “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” by Teri Clark.  The meaning’s different but I’m pretending that it applies.  Plus, country music fits my situation. 

http://grooveshark.com/s/Poor+Poor+Pitiful+Me/2ZmLY?src=5

Night y’all!

Sore throat, doctors, food, and over priced houses

4/26/11 – “My throat hurts.”  I think I’ve said that at least 27 times to Todd over the past 5 hours.  I’m not sure what is going on but I have the weirdest sore throat.  Generally sore throats start with my tonsils, but this one is like somewhere down in my throat hurts.  I know this may be TMI, but I’m supposed to share how I’m feeling with you guys, right?  I don’t know if this is a chemo thing or not.  I think I’ll text my doctor tomorrow morning just to make sure.  As of now I’m guzzling my gross magic mouthwash that I’m allowed to swallow.  It’s disgusting.

Speaking of doctors I get to see my normal primary care doctor tomorrow.  I think this is funny that with all the doctors I’ve seen in the past 6 months I even need to go to a primary care doctor.  You would think the others would have everything all taken care of.  I would like a one stop shop doctor please.  There are just too many to keep track of.  Don’t worry, nothing is going on with me, other than a slight case of cancer I’m fine (joking).  I’ve had high blood pressure since I was 16 – I guess I’m just strung too tight?  My blood pressure medication ran out of refills so I have to go in to get a new prescription.  Sunday I refilled my prescription and when I looked at the bottle I saw “NO more refills”.  I actually said “Great, another doctor I get to go see, just what I need.”  

In a funny sort of way I’m looking forward to going to the doctor tomorrow.  When I was in the hospital my primary care doctor called Todd to see how I was doing and say she was sorry she hadn’t caught this herself (I had been in to see her when all my stomach problems first started – remember?  I thought I was lactose intolerant).  She had heard from my GI doctor all that had happened and wanted to make sure we weren’t upset and that I was ok.  I wasn’t upset, I was just glad that I finally found someone who would “fix” me.  I thought it was nice that she called.

I have such a different relationship with my doctors now days.  I text one of my oncologists and I call my other doctors on a regular basis if something goes wrong.  The office staff at my surgeon’s office treat me like they’ve known me for years and we are all good friends.  Such a difference from what my relationships were pre-everything.

Today was my cheat day and it was heavenly.  I ate all the bad things that I could get my hands on – cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk, pizza, chocolate, tacos, fried green tomatoes, cupcakes, caramels….  It was great!  I felt bad eating it though.  Is a cheat day supposed to include guilt?  Aren’t cheat days supposed to be guilt free?  I seriously have a furrowed brow thinking about this.  I thought it was supposed to be more carefree.  Oh well, it’s back on the wagon tomorrow – back to my celery and peanut butter splurging. 

Tonight Todd and I used a Groupon that I bought and had a date night at Noche in Virginia Highlands.  We circled the block 3 times before we finally found the restaurant.  Tonight was a night of wrong turns.  We sat out on the patio and enjoyed a yummy dinner.  It was nice to sit, relax, drink a sangria or two, and just talk.  I’ve decided that weeknight date nights are the way to go.  It is easier to get into restaurants, you always need a way to relax through the week, and it frees up time during your weekend.  Win, win, win.  Done.  After dinner we continued with our wrong turns and wound our way to Cami Cupcakes in Buckhead.  We picked out several cupcakes that sounded yummy and packed them off for home.  A few wrong turns later we made it back on to Peachtree St. and headed home.  The wrong turns were a theme of the night and were kind of funny.

When Todd and I were leaving Noche we noticed a house across the street that was for sale.  We both saw it and said “I would love to live down here”.  Since we were out having a little fun we decided to call the number on the sign.  It sent Todd into a prompter to list the size and cost of the house.  I said that the house was probably in the $300,000 range because it was in a great part of town but it looked like it needed some work.  Todd thought the cost would be less – I guess he was thinking about the down market.  The prompter sent us both into shock.  The house had just been reduced significantly and now only cost $600,000.  Holy cow!  We both started laughing – if only.  But the story continues…  As we were navigating our way back to Peachtree Street Todd received a call on his cell.  He answered and it was the real estate agent.  He asked about our interest and said he hoped the prompter reflected the new lower price because the owners had reduced it significantly from $750,000.  Todd thanked the guy and said that really we were just looking casually.  We have now learned a lesson.  Do not under estimate a good location and do not ever call the number on the sign unless you are ready to be disappointed. 

On that note, I’m going to drink some more gross mouthwash and call it a night.  If I could have anything to eat I would like some fruit – I’ve eaten too much raw sugar.  I can’t handle anymore.  My song of the day is “Born this Way” by Lady Gaga.  I’ve heard this song all day – on the radio and on Glee.  I love how it says “I'm beautiful in my way, because God makes no mistakes”.

http://grooveshark.com/s/Born+This+Way/3xWhGE?src=5

Night y’all!

Love affair with a chocolate bunny!

4/25/11 – Greetings blog readers!

I am happy to report that today was a good day – success!  After a touch and go weekend I really wasn’t sure what Monday held for me.  My last Monday after chemo was rough to say the least.  I didn’t know if I would wake up and still be sick, but I’m happy to report that Mondays are “up” days once again – well, at least this time.

I spent my day working from home.  I find that it is best to work from home on Monday’s after chemo just to kind of protect myself in case I don’t feel great.  Working at work is tiring.  Working at home is much more chill.  I prefer to work from work, which is why I will be returning to my half day in the office/half day at home schedule tomorrow. 

So, I’ve mentioned how Todd and I are watching what we eat.  (Remember?  Yet another horrible experience on the dog scale at the oncologists?  I hit a new high – literally!)  Anyway, I’ve been eating ultra healthy all week.  Just to give you an idea, celery and organic peanut butter is splurging!  This diet should be compared to a new form of torture.  I mean, take Snickers and diet Coke away from a girl on chemo, that’s hard core.  But, it does work.  I’ve already lost 4 lbs.  I guess I can be a little uncomfortable to avoid constant disappointment on the dog scale.  Dog scale here I come.

With our diet we are allowed a cheat day once a week.  Cheat day!!!  Oh my gosh!  I cannot wait.  Cannot wait!  I am going all out.  I fully intend to consume a week’s worth of calories all in one day.   I may set a world record or something.  I’m doin’ it.  You can’t stop me.  Twinkies, Snickers watch out.  I’m hungry and I’m coming for ya!

In all honesty I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I’ve already planned out my breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.  Cupcakes.  I’m getting cupcakes.  That’s the only real thing that I’m being a stickler about.  I have to have something sweet.  Todd and I actually went grocery shopping just for tomorrow – how sad is that?  Did I mention the chocolate bunny?  I got a chocolate bunny yesterday that I plan to eat as soon as I wake up!  Holla!

Today has been good.  If I could have anything to eat I would like a grilled cheese sandwich.  My song of the day is “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.  I heart this song.  Love!

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Rolling+In+The+Deep/3HFAow?src=5

Night y’all!

Unusual Easter

 4/24/11 – Happy, happy Easter.

Today hasn’t been a usual Easter for me.  Easter usually involves ham, potato salad, and lots of other yummy foods, eggs and time spent with family.  This year is a little different.  Todd and I spent the day just the two of us and had spaghetti instead of ham.  Since this was my chemo week I didn’t feel much like traveling and it was nice to just have some time at home.  It was my first time trying spaghetti squash instead of the usual noodles and I think it was a success.  Do you ever wonder who was the first person to see a spaghetti squash and think that they could use it instead of noodles?  I mean, who looks at a squash and says “The inside of this squash looks like spaghetti noodles.  I think I’ll eat it with marinara.”

To celebrate Easter Todd and I planted our garden and worked in the yard.  I love working in the yard.  I was also hoping to even out my tan.  I made sure to wear a hat because I could totally burn the top of my head these days.  That would be embarrassing.  We planted sweet potatoes, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, banana peppers, cucumber, and an egg plant.  We’ll see how it turns out.  I love planting a garden.  I usually try to get flowers that are drought resistant because I’m really good at watering at the beginning of the season but slack off toward the end.  Drought resistant just makes it easier.  It doesn’t quite work that way with a vegetable garden but I make an exception for food.  I should have a sign that says “Will water for food”. 

I heart sparkles – no big surprise there.  There is something about sparkles that just make me smile.  One of my coworkers told me about some Olay lotion that has shimmer.  I decided to buy some to treat myself.  I love it.  It smells great and the shimmer is pretty and doesn’t make me look like a 15 year old.  I was slightly worried that I would sparkle all over like huge chunks of glitter – that would not have been flattering.  So, instead I shimmer (note: shimmer is acceptable, glitter is unacceptable).  Kind of like Edward on Twilight!  I shimmer when I step into the sun – hmmmm…  No, I have nothing to announce, but I did recently change my diet.

Today has been another productive day.  Church, Lowes to buy veggie plants (nope, didn’t pass out but I kinda felt like it), home to eat and work in the yard.  Now I’m relaxing on the couch watching Ghost Busters II.  Can you believe I’ve never seen Ghost Busters?!  “Something strange goin’ on, something’s wrong….”  I’m close to the beginning of the movie so I have no real critiques yet but I do have an overwhelming desire to yell at some slime.

If I could have anything to eat I would like a chocolate donut and a latte.  My song of the day is “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/The+Lazy+Song/3dwZ4K?src=5

Night y’all!

Good Friday & Saturday

4/23/11 – What a good Friday and Saturday – well, relatively speaking that is.

I’ve been feeling worse for longer periods of time.  I’m not gonna lie, it stinks.  I sleep until about 11:00 every day, which sounds glamorous, but it’s not.  I think the reason I sleep so late is because (1) I’m very tired and (2) I’m in denial about how horrible I feel and have zero desire to climb out of bed and face the day. 

Friday I spent the day convincing myself that I felt good enough to go to the Good Friday service at Verizon Amphitheatre.  Todd and I went for the first time last year and enjoyed it so much we decided to make it a yearly ritual.  My day went something like this – “I think I can do it; no, I’m gonna puke, I really think I can make this work; nope, not gonna happen.”  In the end I manned up and went.  There is something about putting on real clothes and makeup that peps me up.  I think being around friends also helps. 

The Good Friday service is really cool because there are a ton of people all singing praise and worship songs together.  It is a truly unique experience.  Everyone was standing and singing and I was sitting and singing.  I was happy to make it there so sitting was completely ok with me.  Kristina sat with me so I didn’t feel like such a loser all by myself.  The concert was great and the time with friends worshiping before Easter was even better.

So, how about today?  Today started slow.  Todd had his usual little league games so that allowed me to sleep until 11:00 as has become my norm.  I woke up when he got home and fixed myself breakfast/lunch.  Generally I would be ashamed to admit that I combined the two, but in this case I think I’m allowed a little latitude. 

Todd and I determined to have a productive day so I got ready to face a full day.  Todd got his hair cut and then we headed to Home Depot to look at carpet samples.  Carpet samples.  There are just so many to decide from.  We looked and looked.  Somewhere around the time we walked in to Home Depot and 2 minutes after we started talking to the associate I started to feel a little funny.  My knees didn’t feel so stable.  My head was a little funny.  I was VERY tired.  “Focus Shea.  Focus!  Do NOT pass out in Home Depot.  Maybe I should sit down?  Maybe I should get a Coke?  I can do this.  I can do this.  Do NOT pass out.  Todd, hello, I’m about to fall out here.”  Finally the guy stopped talking and I was able to tell Todd I couldn't stand much longer.  We had found some good samples so we headed out.  I got in the truck and laid my seat out.  Rest.  Rest.  Just as I got comfortable Todd said “I just wish we could check out Lowes…”  Ok.  I can do this.  Let’s go to Lowes.  Once we got to Lowes Todd bought me a Coke and after a few sips I was good to go.  No repeats of Home Depot, thank goodness.  We looked at more carpet samples and found a few that we liked.  After Lowes I was still hopped up on Coke so we headed to Kroger to get some groceries.  I made it through grocery shopping alright but as soon as we walked out the door I started to crash.  Good timing.

I had a once in a lifetime celebrity spotting at the gas station at Kroger.  Once in a lifetime!  I saw Manny from Modern Family.  I can only assume that the little guy that I saw was Manny because it was sunny and 80 degrees and this kid had on a suit.  A suit!  Total Manny style.  Now the real Manny would have had a pocket square and probably wouldn’t have been sporting tennis shoes with his suit, but come on, I’m pretty sure this was a legitimate sighting.  No regular kid would rock a suit on a day like today.  It was awesome!

All in all today has been difficult but good.  I’ve enjoyed having a productive but quality Saturday at home.  If I could have anything to eat I would like a cupcake – 2 maybe.  I’m watching what I’m eating so I would pretty much eat anything that is bad for me.  My song of the day is “Forever Reign” by Hillsong.  This was one of the songs from last night.  Love it!

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Forever+Reign+radio+Version+/2W4lGY?src=5

Happy Easter everyone!  Night!

Stinkin' Thursdays

4/21/11 – Thursdays, oh how I dislike you.

In very simple terms, Thursdays suck.  There is nothing that I like about Thursdays other than the fact that they lead to Friday, which leads to Sunday, then Monday, then my wonderful feel better Tuesday.  Thursdays are just hard.

I woke up this morning and drug myself out of bed.  Well, to be honest Percy’s barking at Stella was driving me crazy and I couldn’t lie in bed and pretend I felt ok any longer.  Time to medicate.  I popped some anti-nausea meds and fixed some breakfast.  It was then time to get ready and head to the cancer center to get my port de-accessed. 

Jen drove me to have my port de-accessed this time.  It was my goal to stay awake the whole time.  It is very hard to stay awake on Thursdays.  Once my port is de-accessed I get very tired.  I stuck to my goal and stayed awake until I got home.  I then freed Percy from his baby gate prison and tried to watch a little television.  Television wasn’t doing it for me and I couldn’t fall asleep.  I decided to put in some chair time.  Chair time always makes me feel better.

Around 6:00 I called it a day and wandered back inside to try to fall asleep.  My usual Thursday night ickiness was starting to set in.  The feeling of extreme fatigue, nausea, and gross throat.  I guzzled some of my medical mouthwash but it can only numb my throat so much. 

Todd made it home and we cooked some dinner.  Afterwards I have just tried to survive.  That is basically my game plan for each Thursday – just survive it.  If I can make it through Thursday I can make it through anything.  So, now I am sitting on the couch drinking a glass of wine convinced that it is actually helping my throat or at least numbing my senses a little which I consider a positive.  I’m very tired and slightly emotional but I’m surviving.  This whole treatment thing is getting harder but I’m half way finished so I can handle it.

If I could have anything to eat I would like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and something cold to drink.  My song of the day is “Defying Gravity” by Glee.  “Some things I cannot change but until I try I’ll never know.”

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Defying+Gravity/2ZxJcx?src=5

Night y’all!

Pretending to be a carrot

At the cabin enjoying a night ride.

4/20/11 – Second blog of the day.  Trying to get caught up again.

Today was the day after chemo and as Todd terms it I usually feel ok on Wednesdays.  I think the term ok is relative.  I don’t feel horrible yet, but I definitely don’t feel up to my usual fabulousness. 

Sometime around 4:00 I started to drag.  I decided to call work quits and basically pretended to be a vegetable.  I layed around and folded up a few clothes.  I basically tried to move as little as possible in hopes that my ickiness would go away.  After I got over my denial of actually feeling sick I took some anti- nausea medicine, which doesn’t work but I paid for it so I consider it throwing money away not to take the pills.  Maybe they do work a little and I would only know if I stopped taking them?  Not a chance I’m willing to take because I already feel nauseous enough when I do take them.

Around 6:15 I pulled myself out of my vegetable state and decided to have some chair time.  I find that doing little things or just moving around the house gives me some energy or something different than just lying on the couch pretending to be a carrot.  The fresh air and looking at my flowers helps too. 

Todd and I have started a new diet.  I know dieting is probably not all that good of an idea when you’re going through chemo but when I stepped on my nemesis - the dog scale - this week my weight had gone up yet again.  It’s driving me nuts.  Todd had wanted to try this new diet which is simply a 30 day cleans.  It’s always easier to diet together and goodness knows I will cry if that number continues to go up.  I got my Target bathing suits this weekend (of course they were exactly what I ordered, unlike Jessica Simpson Collection) so now I have some added motivation.  Bathing suit season is upon us!

Every time I go to chemo I always pick out a place I want to eat afterward as a treat.  I try to change the places I go because once chemo is over I don’t want to hate one particular place because I would associate it with chemo treatment.  I usually go to Chick-fil-A, Krystal, Quiznos, McDonalds – ya know, healthy stuff.  This week I felt like Arby’s – curly fries please!  Todd and I went through the drive through and I knew exactly what I wanted a beef and cheddar and curly fries.  Todd got the meal so he could have my drink and then ordered off the dollar menu.  He saw these things called “Jr. Buffalo Sandwich”.  He didn’t even hesitate when he ordered.  “And I’d like 4 Jr. Buffalo Sandwiches”.  Four?!  Wow.  He said that since they were “Jr.” they would probably be really small.  Wrong.  These were 4 regular size sandwiches!  Hey, at least we got a great price on them. 

I have also gotten a new phone.  I’d had my iPhone for 2 years and it was on the blink.  Let’s face it, it had been on the blink for a long time.  I should have taken it into the Apple store but I was too lazy for that.  Todd would call me multiple times and think that something bad had happened to me up my phone had simply blacked out.  I would do that for 15 minutes to a full 24 hours.  What’s the point in having a cell phone when it doesn’t work?  I think 2 years is good for a cell phone.  It was time to move on.  I wanted nothing to do with another iPhone so I switched to an HTC Inspire.  First impressions – I love it. 

That’s really all that is going on in my life.  My sister in law is getting married in less than 2 months and I have to make sure the dress I ordered fits and plan her mini-bachelorette.  I feel so behind.  I’m usually more on top of it.  I blame the chemo.  My focus is on next week and when I will feel better again.  If I could have anything to eat right now I would LOVE a smoothie.  I know I sound like a broken record but except for the cold sensitivity thing it would make me feel so much better.  My song of the day is the theme song to Veggie Tales since I was feeling like a vegetable earlier.  Enjoy!

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Theme+Song/32FTfk?src=5

Night y’all!

Better Chemo Day

Just Relaxin'

4/20/11 – Well, I guess I’m a day behind on my blogging.  Chemo makes you a little tired.

I had chemo yesterday.  Fortunately I wasn’t dreading it as much as I was the time before.  It seemed too quick to go back, but better to get it over with I guess.  I think the reason why I didn’t dread it as much as the time before is because I didn’t have as much time to get back to feeling good.  It’s hard to go into something like that when you feel so good.  I also had Todd with me.  I love having people come with me to chemo but Todd is my life line.  I always wish it was him with me – sorry guys. 

Yesterday was also my half way point.  Treatment 6 out of 12!  I don’t know if it seems like a short amount of time or not.  I see it both ways.  I started treatment in January and it is already April – time flies.  I should finish in July and then all my follow up fun starts.  One thing I am worried about it is that when I’m finished everyone will think “Oh, Shea’s done, she’s back to normal now.”  I’m not sure I agree with that.  How do you just go through something so life changing and go “Oh, I’m done.”  I mean, it’s still there.  There are still the follow ups and the possibility of recurrence.  I know my life is forever changed.  I just hope others realize that.  I guess I’m just afraid that people won’t take what I’ve gone through or what I’m going through as seriously once the constant treatment is over.

Treatment yesterday went well.  I got a little nervous at my appointment because I had to wait, and wait, and wait.  I’ve never had to wait so long to see the doctor.  I kept thinking “Oh, no!  Something is wrong with my blood count again.”  I started to catalog all the things I had eaten and done since my last visit.  What could cause a problem?  After 30 minutes I went and asked the nurse if I had been forgotten.  Nope.  The doctor was out so his partner was filling in on all his appointments and I was the last patient of the morning.  “Whew!”  I’d much rather be last than have something wrong with my blood count and screw up my whole schedule.  Schedules are important!

I have another funny “small world” story.  My friend Tara had to have IT come and look at her work computer last week.  When the IT guy got up there he saw one of her pictures and said “she looks familiar” pointing to a picture of me.  Tara went into the whole story of how our close friend passed away and how I was currently going through cancer treatment.  The guy said “Oh, my wife works at Longstreet Cancer Center”.  Tara sent me a text letting me know the connection and it just so happens that his wife is one of my chemo nurses and was actually my nurse for chemo yesterday.  Crazy right?!  It’s amazing the simple connections people can have in the most random places.

If I could have anything to eat I would like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a large glass of milk.  My song of the day is “Set Apart this Dream” by Flyleaf.  I had on a twirly dress yesterday during chemo (my motto is to look cute for chemo because it’s the last day I’m going to feel cute during the week) so this song is fitting.  This is also Todd’s song for me.  “Close your eyes little girl You're a princess now, you own this world, Twirling in your twirly dress, You're the loveliest far above the rest.”

http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Set+Apart+This+Dream/2zr3Uf?src=5

Later!

Cupcakes, Shopping, & Flight Frenzy

Me at Eastern Market



4/19/11 – Hey everyone!  Sorry, I took 2 days off on the blogging.  Let me catch you up on everything.

Sunday morning Erin and I woke up and headed to Georgetown Cupcakes – it’s the cupcake store on D.C. Cupcakes.  I don’t even watch the show but I knew I had to try a cupcake.  Erin and I got there when it opened but we still had to stand in line.  We probably stood in line 45 minutes but it wasn’t that bad because the weather was beautiful and Erin and I could just talk.  I ordered a strawberry cupcake for me and a lava fudge cupcake for Todd.

To be honest the cupcakes at Gigi’s are better.  My strawberry cupcake was very moist and tasted great, but the Gigi’s ones are larger, have more icing, and taste just as good.  I’m glad I waited in line because it was all about the experience.  I had a good time talking to Erin and the cupcake was good.

After getting our cupcakes Erin and I headed back to the apartment.  Mark made us some brunch.  Love brunch! 

We then headed to Eastern Market which is on Capitol Hill.  The area is beautiful.  It is especially beautiful this time of year because all the tulips are blooming and the cherry trees are gorgeous.  I loved Eastern Market.  There were tons of cool things to look at.  There is a headband lady who has ton of decorative headbands.  I heart headbands!  I picked out two.  I also have a thing for hats during the summer.  I found a really cute hat that I couldn’t live without.  Todd found this cool old map of Alabama and Georgia.  All in all it was a fun experience and a good shopping trip.  No homeless dudes to cuss out Todd either.

It was starting to get a little later in the day when we left Eastern Market.  Our flight was at 5:00 and it was already 3:00.  We planned to pick up Mark, go see Jefferson, and then go to the airport.  Erin kept assuring us that the airport was very fast and it was so easy to make it through security. 

We picked Mark up and headed down the road.  Traffic – c’est la vie (maybe I should say c’est ma vie – not sure if that is correct French…?).  Anyway.  It took us an hour to make it to Jefferson.  Have I ever told all of you how I get really nervous about flying now?  Once upon a time I had an airport security worker ask me if I was ok because I looked anxious.  Ever since that experience I have become very anxious whenever I am flying.  Let’s review – it was 3:00 when we picked up Mark, 4:00 by the time we made it to Jefferson, and our flight left at 5:00 – anxiety here I come!  When we got to Jefferson Todd, Mark, and I jumped out of the car.  I think we set a world record for the fastest tour of a landmark.  We paused to take a picture behind Jefferson, power walked around and up the steps, looked at Jefferson, and then booked it back down the stairs, took one more picture, and then power walked back to the car.  We were in and out in about 10 minutes.  If there weren’t so many people around we probably could have done it faster. 

We hopped in the car and took off for the airport.  Erin and Mark dropped us off around 4:20 and we scooted in the airport.  Of course all the check in kiosks where jammed except for the two that had people at them.  I’m not sure what determines who is good working a check in kiosk and who isn’t, but I always seem to have someone who has no clue in front of me.  Once the couple in front of us moved the screen was completely frozen and wouldn’t work.  Great….  Anxiety…!  We waited for the other kiosk to open and finally checked in to our flight.

Erin had promised that making it through security was very easy and there was never a line.  We ambled downstairs talking about how we would probably even have time to grab a burger before getting on the plane.  I looked up and saw this line of people.  Nah… that couldn’t be where we were going.  Erin said the lines were short.  Atlanta has shorter lines than that one.  Wrong.  That was our line.  Wait.  Worry.  Wait.  Worry.  Worry.  Worry.  “What is up with these kids in front of me?”  “Why does it take them so long to take off their shoes?”  “What? Do I have a plastic bag for your liquids?  Are you serious?!”  “Move!”  Finally I made it through security.  I slapped on my shoes and started power walking to my gate.  I felt like I was forgetting something.  “Is that someone calling my name?”  “Oh yeah!  Todd!”  I had completely left him.  I was listening to the loudspeaker.  It was announcing final boarding at gate 21.  “Gate 21!  That’s our gate!”  Todd and I booked it to our gate and boarded. 

One drama over, on to the next.  As soon as we boarded I knew this wasn’t going to be one of my favorite flights.  I was tired, frazzled, and hungry!  Todd and I hadn’t eaten since brunch.  We hadn’t had time to grab anything to eat in the terminal because we were in such a rush.  Once we got on the plane the stewardess – stewardess Nazi – informed Todd that he needed to consolidate bags.  Fine.  “Can we do it when we get to our seat?”  “No?  Well, aren’t you helpful….”  Since we were some of the last to get on the plane we knew there wouldn’t be any overhead space.  Todd asked the stewardess Nazi if we needed to give them our bags to go under the plane.  “Not available?  Well, you better make something available.”  Todd had to walk all the way to the back of the plane to see if there was any space that was available back there.  Pointless, of course there wasn’t.  He finally came back up front and the Nazi moved other peoples stuff and put one of our bags in first class.  She really was not a pleasant person.  I wonder if anyone really likes her? 

One good thing about the flight was that I actually got beverage service – the time before the lady overlooked me.  Peanuts to hold me over and Todd and I began to plot out our dinner plans – double everything!

I was so glad to finally be home.  There’s just something about home that feels good.  Comforting.  Todd and I hopped on Marta for the ride home.  We picked up our car, called Sunshine for a pickup, got our Chinese food, and then picked up Percy.  We were home, had food, and one of our dogs.  A good ending to a great weekend. 

I plan to write one more blog today to catch up on everything.  If I could have anything to eat right now I would like some raw veggies.  I’m not feeling very hungry, just munchy.  My song of the day is “I’m in a Hurry” by Alabama.  Fitting, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6slibTD9MF0

Later!



Georgetown (D.C.) Cupcakes!