Half way there

  

Today, a milestone. I'm half way in treatment, but not in this journey. 

    

I continue to work on the Blacksmith quilt. It's getting closer. . . . 

That is until I hit a wall last night, 3 strikes and I'm out.  Text messaged a friend way too late and she replied this morning. Deanna you're an angel in disguise.  She is a professional embroiderer.

Shortly after school started last fall, Lizzie was here with homework. She left the room and I flipped forward in her notebook and wrote this message. Monday I got this picture from her, Grandma, look what I found today!!

Tuesday we celebrated her 10th birthday. 

Oh what a joy she is. 

Now onto the next 10 treatments. 

The best medicine yet!!!

Today my bff Margie drove 3 hours in the wee morning hours to spend the day with me!

She arrived shortly after 10 AM. She and I along with the blacksmith caught up on life since we were last together in person.

At 11:30 Margie and I headed to town. She wanted to go with me for my treatment. We were in and out of the cancer center in 15 minutes flat. I’m now 1/4 of the way finished!!!

It was then lunch time. We both love Mexican food so to Holts Summit we went. 

4 treatments down.

Today started off a little late. I slept way too long. I missed my favorite activity of the week, QUILTING.  However I realize, it's time to take care of myself. So I go at a little slower pace. 

Well so I thought.

We were headed for treatment and two doctor appointments today. I was driving, I allowed plenty of time to be there on time. 

Until . . . . 

    

I  saw this in my rear view mirror.  Yep I knew I was doing 40 mph in a 30 mph zone.

So what's a girl to do but . . .well I played the C card!!! I told the officer I knew I was wrong, I was headed for radiation at noon, if she could please make it quick and painless. 

After she returned from checking my drivers license and getting the right insurance card (I really needed to clean out my glove box!) she told me to be careful and she left me off the hook.

Thank you God!

Someone told me later in the day, the card is worthless unless you use it.

Both doctors had good things to tell us. I did learn that what my boob is experiencing what is called Zingers.  Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls!  It's good to know.

In between doctor appointments we went to the Chemo treatment area. There we met up with our friend Cathy who is the hubby's classmate. She and I were also in 4-H together decades ago.  She has one more chemo treatment to take. Our husbands visited with each other while Cathy and I talked about C, life, and God. Together Cathy and I will conquer! 

We return to regular blogging now.

On Saturday morning my quilting friend Janet, called to tell me I could come get some beef bones. These to us are like gold. They can hardly ever be bought in your local grocery store. I froze about 7 packages. Now I need to buy some whole barley to make some beef barley soup.

Sunday I roasted some of the bones at 350 degrees for about an hour and a half. Then threw  the grease away. I boiled the bones and made vegetable soup.  OH MY Gosh, was it delicious.

Here's my current sewing project (I must say daily trips to town really cut into my sewing time). This will be for the blacksmith auction in May. The center is still being created. I'm thinking of paper piecing the name of the association, we'll see.  The flower basket pattern has never been interpreted as an anvil with fire!!

Until next time, peace out

Meet my new best friend!

This gal and I have a date for the next 19 week days.  I got the first one done today.

I thought I was at Disneyland, machines going around me, sounding off occasionally, only there were no screams, laughter or cotton candy!

Day one went good, I got another tattoo. I know tats are habit forming. I'm just carrying on a tradition. My dad had them, my oldest brother has then, as does my son. So I'm just keeping it in the family.

Before treatment, we went shopping for more drapery fabric for the Casita camper. They are looking so good!.  This being in town everyday might not be such a bad thing. #shoppingeveryday

Get 'er done!

Tattoos!!! No Chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY  today we got the call that the last test results were in and  called for no chemo.

Let the radiation begin.  So they got us in just a couple of hours later. I had a scan and got the tattoos. I have always thought about getting a tat of a spool of thread on my wrist. However I couldn't talk the technician into it. Besides she only had black ink.  Just don't ask me to show you my new tattoos!!!

Now as soon as they get the plan worked up for the machine that administers it, I will be ready to go.  This Thursday at the earliest, otherwise Monday.  It will be a total of 20 treatments, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. 

We are so ready to get this show on the road, after all I need to be well for our big blacksmith conference the first week of May.

Being on the ailing list is something I am not accustomed to. However I have had the best of support from hundreds of you all. 

Some of this is birthday, some thinking of you . . . 

Rita not only brought us dinner the night of surgery, but also these cookies, and she had a thermal cup made just for me and my Casita! Did I mention she kept the hubby company at the hospital and was there when I came to in the recovery room.     

Thank you Rita!!!

 

I receive cards almost daily. It makes going to the mail box so heart warming to know all of you are praying for me. 


My surprise birthday party held by some of my quilting peeps was a little late, duh, dang surgery on my birthday. However they did manage to pull some surprises on me. 

It was antiquing, Mexican for lunch, with a little free entertainment, fabric shopping and

 . . . . . of course Central dairy for ice cream was a must. 

They all had on these matching shirts and I got one too. Thank you girls.  It was a fabulous day and not once did they mention C!

Tammy sent me special Red Rose teas. She introduced me to Red Rose years ago, and I've been hooked ever since.. 

Tami,     . . . . not to be confused with Tammy, sent me this angel she made. It's hanging in my kitchen window with another piece of her work.

She also sent this hand carved this bird, made by her friend. It is such a soothing thing to hold in your hand and rub. It takes your mind off of the unpleasantness of thinking of the big C.

Friends Terri and husband Alan from Minnesota sent this fantastic pillow to me that was a gem after surgery. It's pretty special, Terri buys second hand clothing to make them. My green is an Abercrombie and Fitch lime green sweater. We know Alan and Terri through our blacksmith association.  Thank you both!

Cousin Mindy in California sent some organic herbal teas from her cousin's farm in Oregon. Check it out Oshala Farm. There were 7 varieties with amazing taste!

My BFF Diane gave me this personalized charm bracelet. Along with hazelnut roll cookies!!! Yum!!! 

Each charm she picked by hand has a special meaning, a sister charm, a believe charm, a cross, and a heart with my birthstone. 





I received a card with this religious metal of Mary, from my friend Mary. The metal was blessed in Medjugorje. It fits on my new bracelet from Diane!

Neighbor Judy and her granddaughters brought us warm chocolate chip cookies.  They went too fast for a picture.

During this waiting time that took forever, but that's another story, I kept sewing to keep busy. (That was so I didn't do the nervous eat everything in sight trip).  I made this for Tami's birthday which is this week. I thought it was very appropriate since she makes stained glass for me.

So I want to say thank you to everyone for all your prayers, hugs, phone calls, gifts, pep talks.  I (WE) feel the love. 

So until next time . . . Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.