Just another day in paradise...

It's Monday morning & I've got absolutely nothing to do...no doctor's appointments, no errands to run, no nothing.  It's a free day all to myself & I don't know what to do with it.  I surfed the web, checked my email, farmed on facebook...gee, I guess I could curl up in bed & watch some tv or I could jump on the treadmill & do 20 minutes of cardio while watching tv.  Anyway, I'm just thankful that I've got some free time to myself.

Did I tell you that my daughter started school?  And, that she loves it?  I chose (not my husband-he has different views & opinions) to send her to a private school rather than a public one.  With all these budget cuts & furlough Fridays, I don't feel completely confident in our public school system.  Yes, private school can be costly, but I figure if I invest in her now, the rewards will be greater later on.  Hopefully, if she decides to go to college, scholarships will be available to her. 

Well, I can't think of anything else to write...until next time...

Hyper, not sleepy...

From my last entry, my chemo was delayed...once for shingles & a second time for a fingernail infection.  Also, my viral load for my hepatitis b is slightly detectable, so they are changing my medication.  I pray for no more delays in my chemo schedule.  For some reason having that stuff running thru my veins makes me feel safe.  Weird I know, but very true.

I just had my first chemo of the new year, & instead of it making me sleepy, the next day I was very hyper & full of energy.  So much that I managed to clean the house, did a load of laundry, cooked lunch & dinner, & washed a lot of dishes.  I'm wondering if it's the steroids that they give me?  I'm also very, very thirsty & my taste buds are slowly changing for the worse.  For about 10 - 15 fifteen days I lose my taste, everything taste like cardboard.  But, something also very weird happens, for some reason the sweet & the salty are intensified, so much that it ruins anything that I'm so used to eating.

Anyway, I hope you all had a great holiday season.  Santa was very generous to Kanoe this year & got her everything she wanted & then some. She is enjoying everything especially the Hello Kitty bike & V Tech camera.  It's neat looking at the pictures she takes, it's like the view of the world thru her eyes.  She is in school now & loving every minute of it.  I'm glad we were able to get her into preschool even though she missed almost 3 months from us being in Texas.

Well, that's about it for now.  I'll try to blog more often.  Sorry for the delays.  In the meantime, take care & God Bless!

Up & coming....

So, this week I get another round of chemo...number 6 to be exact.  The doctor will be running tests after the new year to ensure everything is running smoothly as planned.  I'm hoping that it is almost all gone.

My dear grandma (my dad's mother) has passed & has gone to meet our maker.  I'm hoping she'll put in a good word for me to stay on this Earth a little longer.  God only knows how much I want to see my mini me grow up & graduate from college & get married & have more mini mes.  That would be awesome!

I guess since I've had so much chemo, it takes me much longer to "bounce back."  This last time I was "down"for about 2-3 days, my taste buds came back after day 15 rather then day 10, I was more tired, more swollen especially my legs & feet, my feet & hands tingle & are purple in color.  I am still bald, the hair has chosen to not grow back in between chemos & I don't have any eyebrows.  I miss my hair & my eyebrows the most.  I could have my eyebrows tattooed on, but I don't want to go through the pain, it's not worth it.

My Christmas was great!  I am so blessed.  I am very thankful for my family & all the love & support they show me daily.  Well, I hope your Christmas was great & that your New Year is even better.  I'll blog again later.

What else is there???

Hi, and so sorry you all had to wait a long time for another entry to my blog. Things have been good...just trying to enjoy the season since I no longer have to work it.  :-)

My last chemo that I received on the 8th of December was actually at the Queens Canter Center & it was great!  I was actually treated like a "queen." There was a tv, a recliner chair, and they provided me with a lunch.  Again, it was great & the staff was great also.  I am never going back to receive chemo at the doctor's office.  No way jose!

So, because of my chemo, my blood counts were low.  I received 3 neupogen injections & a procrit injection, & then I developed a rash which turned out to be shingles!  So, now I'm on antibiotics...really, what else is there?

I know, it could be worse.  At least the shingles are on my back & not my head or face.  I am really trying to be positive here.

Black Friday

For the past 9 years, I have worked on what the retail world calls "Black Friday."  I don't remember much except for all the chaos & crowds.  I don't know about you, but the simple thought of looking for parking makes me want to stay in bed all day & eat Thanksgiving leftovers. But, there are a lot of people out there looking for bargains.  And they are crazy enough to wake up at 3 in the morning to get a decent parking at the mall by 4:30 am because the mall opens at 5am.  That's power shopping to me...anyway, I think I am done with my Christmas shopping with only my immediate family to shop for.  Can you believe that I did the majority of my Christmas shopping online?  It was easy, quick, & painless.  And now, whenever I go to the mall, I don't have to think about gifts.  I can go shopping for ME!!!  I love shopping, especially when it's for me.  I know, I'm terrible, but at least I'm honest.  Thank God I don't have to work today!

I miss Texas....

Okay, so I miss Texas...weird!  I think I miss the shuttle & the ease of going to the doctor, I miss the "queen" treatment, I miss the doctor & her team,  & I miss the ono filipino food on the weekends at Aunty Sylvia's.  I don't miss being hospitalized, I don't miss missing my husband, & I don't miss the crazy drivers.  

I just recently had a"lightbulb" moment concerning my treatment & made an attempt to email the patient advocate at Queen's Medical Center.  I got the response I wanted & they promised that they will forward my email to the doctor, as well as partner with her to make sure my concerns are addressed & resolved.  Their only concern for me is that they hope I don't get treated differently by the doctor or her staff.  Gee, if that happens, the doc doesn't know who she's messing with & will be sorry.  My next appointment to see the doctor is on the 30th...I will let all of you know what happens, if anything.

My last treatment was on the 16th & usually for 10 days after that my taste buds disappear & I don't have much of an appetite.  I do eat though, but small portions & sometimes I skip a meal here & there.  It's hard to chew something that tastes like cardboard.  Also, my muscles ache, especially the ones in my legs, & my feet hurt.  My feet & hands are discolored, they're dry & sometimes they peel.  That's where "ped-egg" comes to the rescue.  If you haven't tried ped-egg yet, what are you waiting for, the thing works!  Anyway, I use cetaphil, bath & body sleep, or aloe vera lotion every night with socks to ease the dryness.

Anyway, my next treatment is on the 8th, & I've requested it to be at the Queen's Cancer Center rather than in her small, stuffy office.  Fingers crossed for a bigger, more private room & trained oncology nurses that don't make me bruise when drawing blood from my port.  Until then, thank you all for your kind words, prayers, & support. 

Home Sweet Home...

We are finally home!!!  We arrived to Honolulu on November 6 at about 10 pm.  We had a long flight with 2 layovers in between & I think altogether we spent an entire 15 hours traveling...but it didn’t really matter, as long as we were coming home.  I’d like to thank all of you for your continued support, prayers, & goodies we received while we were on our journey in Texas.

The doctors in Texas are wonderful & extraordinary!  I definitely will miss the “queen” treatment I received while there.  Until you go, you will never know just how many people around the world that are affected by this disease.  It is shocking, but somewhat comforting to know that I am not alone.  And thanks to Kanoe’s outgoing personality, we have met many people that have touched our lives.

Anyway, I receive my first chemo treatment in Hawaii on November 16 at my doctor’s office.  I am praying that everything goes as smoothly as it did in Texas.  My doctor is smart though, so I’m sure there is nothing to worry about.

Ten things that I learned from my trip:  1) just when you think your situation is bad, God introduces you to someone who’s situation is worse, 2) just when you think you can’t take it any more, God picks you up & moves you forward, 3) there IS power in prayer, 4) patience, 5) I AM a lot like my mother, 6) my daughter IS extremely creative, smart, & talented, 7) my husband DOES love me, 8) there is more to life than just work, 9) despite the baldness, I am still beautiful, & lastly...10) there are so many wonderful people in this world.

So, yes...we are finally home & I am finally “back!”  I feel really good, strong, confident, & full of life.  This cancer doesn’t know who he’s messing with, but I guarantee he will regret messing with me!  Thank you all again for your prayers & support.