Thursday, September 3, 2015

Numero Ocho...is Done!

Here is the awesome Nakia
again. So happy to have her!
Yup, number 8 is complete, done, finished, off the list, link off counting chain torn off and in the trash!  Today my dear friend Wendy took me at the early hour of 7AM! At least the traffic was better. I had my favorite port nurse Alex do my blood work and port hook up and then I had my favorite nurse on the floor do my treatment! I really appreciate Nakia for her kind and patient ways (that takes a special person for this lady...I ask a lot of questions!) but I also appreciate her attention to detail and great communication! She is awesome! Wendy and I snuck in breakfast between the two procedures.

Every time I need to use the
bathroom I have to take my
pole with me. Here's a little
pole dance action for your
enjoyment! ;o)
It is amazing how quickly the time goes when I'm in there. There are constant vital checks and changing of bags, my needing to pee at least 2 times, phone chats with my kids and of course there is some serious visiting going on and coloring of course. Did you know that coloring is very calming to the mind, body and soul and it also uses both your right and left sides of the brain. I am getting hooked on it! 

Joe was able to leave work and come by on his lunch and stay to the end. That was backwards for him since he usually comes at the beginning and has to leave as the treatment starts. This time he got to see part of the other half of things. I am just glad he was there, I know it is hard for him to get away from work.

Some serious coloring time going on here! We were
freezing in there today and both got yummy
warm blankets!
Afterwards Wendy and I went into the Bamboo garden for my Rosary Time. I thought it was really cool to blend some of Wendy's way of getting into giving thanks with my way of doing it. It made me so full of peace to see her in her meditation pose as I did my Rosary. Afterwards she was very gracious to listen to why I do the Rosary and what it is all about. Wendy is the most open person to learning and respecting other's choices that I know! Then she drove me Whole Foods where we had some lunch and I explored the store. A great day with a great friend!
Wendy doing coloring therapy!


My favorite pics of the day. Wendy in her meditation pose
and then me with my Rosary in some great company! By the
way, my knees would NEVER let me get in that pose!

Getting Better in Time to Get Worse

I am improving my emotional/mental state little by little and I am very thankful for that. Of course God has the most to do with it but so do my family and my friends. Everyone's incredible support, love and understanding has meant the world to me. (okay some meds helped too! ;o)
I have proof of this improvement ...on Tuesday my car broke down twice and I didn't even freak out or loose it. I held it together, didn't have a melt down and even went back to the salon to do hair afterwards! Beth, a week or two ago would have face planted to the pavement and curled up into a sobbing ball! Both Christian and Kendall came to rescue me so that really helped but I was alone trying to handle things for quite awhile before any of that happen! Aren't you proud of me! (insert patting me on the head here). I do have to say that Christian is an amazing gentleman and I can't thank him enough for his help. He waited for the tow truck and got my car to the shop that night!

What do I mean "in time to get worse" in the title? Well, the body part is going to be getting harder soon. I have been truly blessed to be holding up so well physically so far. It has been tolerable (I will admit the loosing the hair little by little is still pretty tough...working on that though...more later about that in a later blog). My physical symptoms or reactions to the treatments have been what I would describe mild. The treatments are accumulative so they get harder each time. I finished 8 out of 12 today of the Taxol. Then the tougher stuff comes, 4 treatments of AC. At least they are spaced out more for recovery time. I need to keep my emotional/mental state improving from now to then so I can handle the added physical reactions. Whew...keep those prayers and good thoughts rolling in...I can feel them my little prayer warriors!

Blessings

I took myself to Our Lady of Mt Carmel for some prayer time later. I had some really fulfilling time there (not that I don't usually but it was extra today for sure). Once again I love love love being there alone or in the company of just a few others. It is so peaceful and so easy for me to really get into a deeper way of prayer. (I am sure some adult ADD must play a role in my usual distraction! That and the need to be checking out peoples hair cuts in church...I am a hairstylist after all).

I had a neat thing happen while I was doing the Rosary earlier that day and wanted to talk to God about it a little more. I was reading the Thursday Luminous mysteries and at one point the page had moved in the wind and I read the wrong one (divine intervention I am sure). It was the one about Jesus being lost and Mary finding Him in the temple. It made me realize how lost I have been at times through this and how God is always there to "find me". I guess maybe I should also say, I always fine Him as well. The peace in knowing that no matter how lost I have been at anytime in my life, I have always made my way back and find He has never left my side. No matter how bad it is or how forlorn I may feel I am not alone. I just need to turn and see that. How comforting is that!?!?! How wonderful to be "found!"

I have shared before about my special connection with Mary and how she has helped me throughout my life. Losing my own mom when I was 20 made Mary a great choice to attach to and I think it makes a lot of sense. Once again for my non-Catholic friends, I do not worship her but I do love her dearly and find great strength, peace, grace and comfort in talking to her. And she is the one that truly led me to deepen my relationship with her Son through this. And He has led me to a deeper relationship and understanding of God and the Holy Spirit. What a gift and it all started with Mary for me...thank you Blessed Mother!

I love you all mucho! Good night y'all!





2 comments:

  1. Another great report. I know you have your ups and downs through this process but you are doing so well! And through it all, you are a blessing to so many others. You are a remarkable woman, Beth.
    Xoxo
    Priscilla

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