Hair today . . . Bald again tomorrow!

After several months of growing short little fuzz to cover my head . . . it's all falling out again! I have to admit I'll miss it. It was nice to feel that softness on my head and it was even getting to the point where the wind blew it a little. (Never under-estimate how wonderful that can feel!) However, I knew this could happen and was prepared for it. I still have new eyebrows and lashes . . . at least for the time being, so all is not lost in the hair department.

This time it isn't all falling out in one felled swoop, just little by little. I'm not sure which is worse! LOL At least I don't have the trauma of seeing all of my locks laying in the sink or on my clothes. And, this time I won't have the problem of alien-like tufts sticking out from my otherwise bald head. (That was scary!)

I got through the last treatment pretty well and would have done even better if I hadn't had the Neulasta injection to maintain my white blood count. Oh, it worked really well and I never had a big drop. However, it did cause a whole lot of bone pain. The pain wasn't as intense as it has been in the past but it was much more disseminated ~ primarily in large bones like the femur and spine. Before my legs or arms or fingers would ache but this time it was everywhere, even in my neck. It lasted a week or ten days and then eased off. So, it could have been worse.

I also had a problem with my digestive system. There were days when I couldn't look at food without feeling icky. I had to have an ultrasound of my abdomen to check for problems but none were evident. Now I'm taking Compazine (for nausea) throughout the cycle instead of just for the first few days after treatment and that seems to have helped a lot. Even with this irritant, it sure isn't as bad as many cancer patients had to endure before they had all the new drugs to combat nausea and vomiting. My heart goes out to them. I remember how sick my dad got; it was terrible.

I'm having my second treatment in this round later this morning. That's the only one scheduled at this point. In the next few weeks I'll have another CT scan to find out how the tumors have reacted and we'll go from there. It's always a "wait and see" game.

Next week I'm having another MRI ~ this time of my spine. I've had some pain and Dr. Mehrotra is just ruling out a compressed vertebrae, a pinched nerve or a spread of the cancer. We don't think it's the later but we have to make sure. Pretty soon I think I'm going to start to glow in the dark from all of these radiological procedures! ; )

It's just beautiful . . .

Our backyard is blooming! The lilacs, dwarf crab apple tree, and my phlox are all in bloom and it's so pretty! We had the pond cleaned out and it's gurgling away, the water splashing gently over the falls. This is probably the most beautiful time of the season and I get a lot of enjoyment and inspiration from looking around at all of that beauty.

I take my lessons from nature. A few weeks ago, trees and plants looked spent and dead but now, here it is, vibrant and alive in glorious technicolor! It's just further proof that things are not always as they appear. I apply the same process to my disease. Yes, there are very bad times but if I work my way through them and don't give up hope, better times, beautiful times, bloom around the bend. No matter what hardships we're going through, if we just keep fighting we're rewarded with better days.

The hummingbirds are finally back and I love watching them. They're another example of beating the odds. It's amazing to think that such a tiny little bird is capable of making the very long trek it does every spring and fall. Those fragile, beating wings carry it thousands of miles each way and each spring the return of the hummingbird is a further illustration of what all of God's creatures can accomplish if they have the determination.

And then there are my "people" . . .

Yes, I have "people" ~ my support angels ~ and I think I'm wearing them out ~ Jenn has contracted a virus that's in the same family as mono and Dave seems to be tired all the time. I guess it's about time I started feeling better so I can take better care of them. They have been just wonderful to me and have done so much for me during the last several months ~ I don't know what I would've done without them. Sometimes I feel guilty for having to depend on them so much but I know they want to be here for me and that makes me feel better. Of course, I also get tremendous support from John and his family and my sister, Sherry, not to mention all that you guys send me. Who could be luckier?

Time to go . . .

Well, guys, it's time for me to start getting ready so I won't be late for my treatment. We have to leave a little early this morning since we're dropping my grandson, John, off at school first. He's leaving for 4th grade camp today! The kids always have a blast and I'm sure John will be no exception. Then, it's on to Seton Cancer Institute and 5 hours of chemo. Wish I was going to camp with John! : ) Since the steroids I have to take before treatment kept me awake the better part of the night, hopefully, I'll sleep through most of that treatment.

Thanks for stopping by to check up on me and I hope you'll come back. : ) Make your days happy and productive ~ yeah, watching hummingbirds does qualify as productive!

'til next time . . . keep your eyes and your heart open to the beauty around you.