Being Strong & Handling Chemo Side Effects...

So far, each day that my dad has been here; we have gone on a bike ride which always seems to make me feel so much better. It gives me more energy and it seemed to work especially today. I may not be feeling the whole effects of the chemo just yet; but I did have chemo yesterday and my dad sat with me the entire time and it was nice. The ironic thing was just across from us and another father and daughter were together for chemo. The daughter was there for her father who was getting chemo and me a daughter right across from them getting chemo with my dad sitting there. He told me so much how he wished he could trade places with me.

Well here is a photo of me getting my chemo which my dad took with my iPhone. Anyway, I wouldn't want any of my family to have to endure the hell I have to go through daily. It really sucks sometimes; unpredictable bowels and of course the abdominal and other types of unpleasant pain in unpleasant places. We have had a good visit so far and he has to go home tomorrow and then on Thursday; my in-laws with be visiting (mom and sister). We are quite busy this entire week which has kept me away from the computer. I just haven't had the energy to blog lately; I started this post and thought I would finish and then have another updated one on more things going on.

On Sunday, I got to go see a good friend of mine in the city and Miss Blue Belle got to run and play on the beach. She just zipped all over the place and stayed close by and was never an emergency recall away. Now most dog trainers and those who have trained their dogs would know what I was referring to. It was great to see my friend and my father thought it would be good for my honey and I to have some alone time while he had a blast with some of my neighbors who had cooked a wonderful meal for him. He got to watch all the football that he wanted to see and we got to have to blast together in the city. Blue Belle had so much fun just zipping around doing her little "Sheltie Zoom Zoom, Zoom!) She also didn't quite understand why this Lab was chasing a stick. Now she loves to play with frisbees and balls but never understood why anyone would be so excited over a stick. This other dog getting excited over the stick fascinated her and she ran up to the dog and the stick and then chased excitedly after them as if to herd this other dog. She didn't want the stick but it was still very exciting to her. She barked at the dog in her very feminine way and had her tail up and out just like a flower. Her tail always looks so beautiful when she gets excited at something.

We had also stopped and picked up some medicine for my chemo on Monday which I was running low on and so far it has been working great for the nausea I had been feeling. I was able to go on another bike ride with my father today and we had gone on one just before we left for my chemo treatment that was scheduled at 2:30pm on Monday. I hope I am able to continue to ride each day for the rest of this week!) So far knocking on hard wood the nausea is able to be controlled somewhat. I still have some energy but we will see how I feel tomorrow. The 3rd day is most often the worst day and my dad leave's tomorrow. Blue Belle's test is tomorrow too for her Therapy Dog International Certification (TDI)

My weight did get up to 120 on Sunday but I am down to 116.5 (with my clothes on) so hopefully I won't loose much more weight. Here's to some easy on the chemo side effects and Peace & Love to everyone else! All of you with Chemo; here's to a cure in near future with Health Care for all the good hardworking people!)

Blue Belle's Birthday Celebration

Well today is Miss Blue Belle's 21st Birthday! She's actually 3 years old today and since Shelties are a breed of dog that normally lives longer than most breeds; the seven years for each year should hold true. Hard to believe this little ball fur is all grown up!

What a great day it has been for her. My husband and I awoke around 9:30am and was able to take her to play with her boyfriend Jagger just a little before 11am. We took along our neighbor's daughter. This little girl is a 9 year going on 10 years brain cancer survivor. She has been in remission over 9 years and what a miracle this little girl is. She loves to hang out with us and just can't get enough of Blue Belle. Anyway here is Blue Belle enjoying a good romp and she also had a little somersault session. Afterwards she went to her favorite Pet store for some snacks and then home for a nap.



What a great day it has been for her. My husband and I awoke around 9:30am and was able to take her to play with her boyfriend Jagger just a little before 11am. We took along our neighbor's daughter. This little girl is a 9 year going on 10 years brain cancer survivor. She has been in remission over 9 years and what a miracle this little girl is. She loves to hang out with us and just can't get enough of Blue Belle.

Anyway here is Blue Belle enjoying a good romp and she also had a little somersault session. Afterwards she went to her favorite Pet store for some snacks and then home for a nap.



Me and Amanda (my neighbor's daughter) went out for lunch and some shopping. We even bumped into my favorite photographer friend who had photographed those gorgeous photos of myself, Blue Belle and of course the love of my life. A friend at work is getting married and was trying on some wedding dresses at a shop near by.

I also finally paid off my bike that has been on layaway after so many months; I finally have my own beach cruiser, only I have to pick it up tomorrow sometime. Once we got back from all of that; we picked up Blue Belle and Tonto for their bath. Tonto does cry some but he doesn't struggle hardly at all like most cats I have seen. He may not appear all that happy but after his bath he is always completely and totally loving. I think he feels very pretty as does Blue Belle. What a sweetheart and of course Blue Belle is so sweet too!




Oh almost forgot, Blue Belle also got to play with Tess a little Yorkie Terrior; Tess. Tess loves Blue Belle and especially loves to kiss Blue Belle. She's very much in love with Blue Belle and me and her owner always joke about Tess being Blue Belle's lesbian lover. So now (the video is still uploading on Youtube) you get to see first hand what we are always joking about.



As the day wore on my indigestion/ heart burn just got so incredibly painful; it has been mostly in the evenings. Yes, despite all the fun I have in my life; I often do suffer in pain. It's a good thing I don't totally focus on the horrible pain but instead on all the fun things in life I so enjoy experiencing. I did have to take some medicine for the horrible heartburn and after Amanda had left for the day I finally smoked a bowl out of my pipe which really helped. Oh GOD it helped!!!!!! All the horrible things the government says and does about this life saving medicine; I will never, ever, ever begin to understand. I just see it as pure evil and greed. That's it. It's saving my life right now. I tolerate pain at work and around this sweet little girl. Even though it never makes me at all dangerous to be around; I just refrain from using.

After I had smoked; I was able to get thirsty enough to drink some water which in turn helped things in my intestines to move further down their path. Yes, it's just another reminder and scare of the whole stoma situation (shit bag or puke bag?) I may have to face this in the near future. I do have that scan appointment on Friday, March 6th which could be 2 hours or 8 hours? Hopefully only 2 but we will see. More proof that now is the best moment and to treasure it as much as possible. It was overall a very fun, fun day!)

Almost forgot the Sharks won another game:
Today they beat the Atlanta Thrasher 3-1
Thursday, LA Kings lost 2-4 (Sharks)
Tuesday, they beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2
Sharks are back to kicking butt!)