White Picket Fence

Last Chemo!

I finally took my last chemo treatment!  I'm so happy and thankful it's over.  I never thought I would be so excited to ring a bell but that was special!  Sorry I've been missing but just not feeling well over the last week so I've missed out on lots of posts over what I've been working on.  I'll try and catch up on some of them.  I have lots to show :)

I did manage to get a couple more squares cut out for my patchwork quilt I'm making. I can't wait to get this quilt put together.  I have so many plans for next year one being to sell our current house and build a qaint little farm house.  This quilt will go on our master bed along with this gorgeous patchwork pillow! I bought this beautiful patchwork pillow cover over at Dandelion Dream Co's Etsy shop and just need to get me a nice pillow to go in it!  You need to check Andrea's shop out because she has the most colorful patchwork pieces and everytime I visit her shop I keep seeing something else I want! The colors she uses is just bright, happy and cheerful, the kind that makes my heart sing :)

Well that is all I have to share today but I will be back this week with more crafty goodies!  I know it isn't much but hopefully this picture of Frannie will hold you over until I can post more :)

Ta Ta til then

Barb

Update

Well it's Thursday and just as my doctor told me I felt good Thursday and Friday last week but noticed today I'm weaker and my hands are shaky.  Very mild nausea but it is tolerable.  I'm very tired and have been laying around lately.  More to come as soon as I feel a bit more able.

Tomorrow is the big day!

Tomorrow is my first chemo treatment.  I'm a bit nervous but I'm sure everyone is the first time.  There has been so much wonderful advise on the inspire website from my teal sisters.  I guess this should be the post to tell my story of my ovarian cancer.  Last year I had been having some pain in my lower abdomen and in March 2013 I went into see my doctor.  She ordered a ultrasound to check out my ovaries and found one to be enlarged and "cystic" since it wasn't terribly large and I took it as I had a cyst I didn't go back until my normal appointment in November.  The doc thought it was still big so ordered another ultrasound scheduled for a month later.  After getting the results of that one it was determined that it had grown from 5 cm to 13 cm and it would need to come out.  She had spoke with one of the other doctors and they both agreed that it most likely wouldn't be cancerous.  So I was scheduled for surger on 1/9/14 to have it removed.  The day after surgery it was determined to be endometroid carcinoma and I was referred to my new oncologist for an appointment the following week.  Luckily I found out that it was at an early stage but I would still need to have yet another surgery and chemotherapy.

On 2/5/14 I ended up having the second surgery to remove my other ovary and to have staging biopsies done.  I ended up having no other signs of cancer and have a final stage of 1C grade 2.  So now here I am today waiting on tomorrow morning to come.  I'm worried but yet more feeling like I just want to get this started and get this chapter behind me!

I have been doing a little house work over this week and finished straightening :: somewhat :: and vacuumed  and now I officially declare it time for a nice, relaxing soak in a bubblely bubble bath!

Wish me luck!  I normally hate selfies but I scrapped up the little bit of nerve I have left and took one this morning so I can look back on this and say after it's all over you go girl!  Leave those nerves behind and start enjoying....

 

A lot of little things

Wednesday nights are knitting night for me and I really didn't know what I was going to work on.  I'm working on several projects right now and many of them are getting too large to carry anywhere.  I almost had forgotten about a log cabin blanket I had worked on some time ago and decided that would be perfect.  So I took it and worked on one of the squares.  It's coming along really well.  I have all of my current and past knitting and crochet projects on my Ravelry page.  I just love Ravelry but I need to use it more to my advantage.  I really wish there was something like it for cross stitching projects.

Yesterday I had my appointment with my oncologist and was taken on a tour of the facility.  Really nice I have to say.  The staff was really nice and helpful.  The appointment took a lot longer than I thought it would, 3 hours but it was well worth the time to see everything.  I guess everything for my next part of treatment is set for next week.  My first chemo treatment will be Thursday next week.  I think I'm about as prepared as I can be and actually feel fine and strong now.  I know I can handle this!

Today I'm planning to work more on my log cabin blanket and I really want to get started on a quilt pattern I got early in the year.  I don't know what I'm waiting for to start it.  My mom quilts all the time.  I was telling her I have a thing about not liking to cut the fabrics.  Isn't that just crazy!  That is what keeps me from starting.  I just need to get past that and go for it.  I only have one more week before I return back to work so I better get moving on and get that started.  Part of me is ready to go back to work and another is not wanting to ever go back.  I hate that I feel that way right now.  I've never not wanted to go back but perhaps it is just that I'm enjoying staying home and getting to spend a lot more time with my daughter.  I'm going to really miss that.  I see a change coming in the next few weeks.  I want to spend all of my time after work more with Anna. 

 

Lazy Day Tuesday

Since I've been out on medical leave my days have been very relaxing.  I do have a touch of cabin fever but we got to go out on a small road trip Saturday so I'm continent again.  I made my normal breakfast this morning of oatmeal and it was delicious! 

Lately I've been eating just toast with peanut butter.  Easy to make but not so good since I am diabetic and have to watch how much bread I eat but considering it was the easy thing to do that has been my norm lately.

I have an appointment with my gyn/oncologist this week on Thursday.  It is at the new cancer center here in town.  I normally see her at one of the other hospitals here in town but I will be having my Chemo at the new center on Thursdays.  I'm a bit nervous but I hear that it is so much better than it use to be years ago.  I know I will lose my hair but that will grow back after I'm finished with my treatments.  I've cut my hair in a really short cut which I don't really like but I figured it would be easier to deal with the hair loss and shaving my head once the time has come.