Happy Hallowe'en!!

Don't you just love Hallowe'en??!! I'm so excited about seeing the young trick or treaters tonight!! I can hardly wait! I'm hoping they'll let me take their picture so I can share them with you tomorrow.

Of course, I have my own make up loving fiend...so I'll be taking pictures of him too!! I can hardly wait to see how the pumpkin carving turns out!!

While I have had a pretty good week, it's been a bit rough at times. So, when I might have been working on an update for the blog, I was taking a nap instead...I know you'll all forgive me and read on!!

On Wednesday, I got a really nice delivery from the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellington. As some of you may know, until very recently, I sat on their Board of Directors, and found it to be a great experience. Patti, who is their Executive Director, came to see me with a gift from her and the rest of the Board...to let me know they are thinking about me and wishing me well. Got to love a very yummy Edible Arrangement!! Thank you!!

While it stinks that my treatment schedule to fight this cancer means I have to forego some of the things that were so rewarding for me, it sure does help knowing life goes on and others are willing to step in and move forward in my place!

I had a great time on Wednesday night with the non-Book Club girls. We had a great visit! It had been quite a while since we last got together, and I so loved catching up with them!! I may have stayed a little longer than I should have and that, coupled with a busy day on Thursday, did me in! I spent Friday chilling on the couch trying to right myself. Damn chemo drugs taking me hostage! Yes, I still get frustrated with my limitations...how many more treatments again??!!!

Thanks to my good friend Firmina for coming to see me yesterday. We had great plans to work on a Christmas gift...but I was still catching up from earlier in the week and didn't last very long (or manage to be very productive while she was here). I might need a do-over Firmina!

I want to send out BIG thanks to a bunch of our neighbours, who rang the doorbell last night while we were watching the baseball game (and the hockey game) with their hands full of food. There was a neighbourhood dinner last night which we did not attend (since I don't do crowds) and they graciously wanted us to share in the grub with them! Looks like we'll be enjoying some wonderful dishes for dinner tonight!!

Thanks to Tracy & Avelino for the wonderful lunch today. We loved it! And loved having a chance to visit and catch up!! Thank you so much for your hospitality (and the belated birthday present)!!

I got a great package in the mail this week from my step-brother Bob and his wife, Amber. Bob sent me a note telling me he thinks my blog is awesome and thought of me when he came across "The Book of Awesome"...so he bought it for me. It's this great little book with lists of things that make you happy and that don't cost any money! Things like hitting a bunch of green lights in a row, dangling your feet in water and laughing so hard you make no sound at all. I love it!

Look around...there are good things everywhere to make us smile!

xoxoxoxxoxoxo

Working Up a Sweat!!

So, I thought I should show you what exactly it is that I do when I go to fitness!! I took my camera with me today and Jeff (a University of Waterloo student who volunteers with the program) kindly took a bunch of pictures of me exercising!!

I'm pretty sure I don't know the technical terms for most of my exercises without my cheat sheet in front of me...so consider these "best guesses".


This is a chest pull-down. I grab the bar above my head, lean back a bit and pull it down to my chest. I could probably up the weight on this exercise...
That's Maddy beside me. She sets up our programs, cheers us on and makes us work harder!!


I have no idea what this exercise is called. I call it my "Tree Hugging" exercise. I lie back on the bench with my arms out to my sides holding the weights. I bring the weights up above me and am supposed to have my arms like I'm hugging a tree. I find it hard to keep my wrists straight for this one...


This exercise is done on a cable/pulley machine. The pulley has a sling attached, and I have to stand on one foot, and put the other foot in the sling (you can see how high my foot has to go - chest level), and you push down with that foot to the floor (almost) and than push backward. I'm increasing my weight on this machine next time. I find it sort of awkward.



I think this is called a latereal raise. Starting with my arms to my side, I lift them straight up (with arms out) and lift the weights to shoulder height. Looks like I need to work on this one a bit since my arms are above shoulder height...oops!!



Kind of like a bicep curl, this is a hammer curl. The difference between a bicep curl and a hammer curl is how you hold your hands. With a hammer curl, your wrists are turned to the inside (i.e. next to your body). Looks like my wrists didn't stay straight on this one either...look at how beneficial these pictures are turning out to be!!


Yep...don't know what this one is called either...but we increased the weight today by one pound and HOLY CRAP!! Who knew a change by one pound would make such a difference. Silly me telling Maddy it felt a little light!! Anyway, I have my elbow bent and then straighten it out behind me.



Ah yes...the side bridge. My new nemesis!! I'm up to 55 seconds (on each side)...but that means I now have to progress from doing it from my knees to my feet. That means my time is going to drop dramatically since it'll be way harder...




I think I mentioned that when I go to fitness, I wear a heart rate monitor. This would be a photo of my monitor right after I finish the side bridge. Holy crap!! I think my target heart rate is supposed to be 90-120. Yep...gotta love that side bridge!



I guess every good exercise program has some lunges!!

I actually do these at the very beginning of my program...sort of a warm up of sorts!






Lovely shot of me doing leg kicks. I put my hands under my lower back (for support)and than start with my legs apart, and then cross them. The next time I cross them I switch which leg is on top. The higher my legs, the easier it is (note how high my legs are!!).



I finish up with a little cardio on the bike.

Thanks to Maddy, Stephanie and all the volunteers who work with me each time I go to make my program perfect for me!! You sure have helped me to enjoy something I usually have nightmares about!!

xoxoxxooxox

Hockey Girl!!

I got an email today from Matt's hockey loving niece, Kathryn. She wanted to let me know she had played a game of hockey for breast cancer and she had some pictures she wanted to share!!



Doesn't she look great? I'm so proud of her and am inspired that at nine years old she already understands how important it is to raise awareness.



Way to go, Kathryn!! Keep up the good work on (and off) the ice!!

I had a great day today! I dug out the Hallowe'en decorations today and put a few around the house. We have our pumpkins, we picked up our candy when we were grocery shopping yesterday...I'm really starting to get excited about seeing all the smiling faces of our trick or treaters next weekend!!!

We also went for a walk today. We walk most days, but today we went a little further and even conquered a hill. Ok...it was a small hill, but it was still a hill. I thought I'd walk over to my friend Heather's to say hello, but she wasn't home. I was also looking for some bright fall colours for a photo op...



We didn't find any super bright colours, but we did get a photo. Me and my man...enjoying the fall colours!!

xoxoxxoxoxoxo

Feeling Pretty Good!!

So, it's been a few days since chemo and I'm feeling pretty good. My legs are a little achey...but not too bad. The new drugs must be doing their thing! And the other thing that is helping a lot is a nice big heating pad that my friend Tammy lent to me. It is making a HUGE difference!!

I went with Matt to get groceries today. And when we got back home, I sat outside on the front porch (with a blanket wrapped around my legs) and read the paper...at least until it started to rain. It was nice to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful colours. The burning bushes are changing colour and are becoming such a pretty red.

Have I mentioned how totally spoiled I am?? Every time I have a chemo treatment, I receive a beautiful delivery of fresh daisies from my friends Judy, Barry, Rachel & Chris. As you all know, daisies make me very happy and every time I look at them I can't help but smile and feel the love and support from my friends!!


I got this delivery this afternoon!! Daisies are definitely the friendliest flower ever!!

We also went to Herrle's today and picked out a couple of pumpkins. Next weekend we'll have to think about carving them...

Mine is the wee pumpkin and Matt's is the big pumpkin. He says he is going to carve his so it looks like the Demon (aka Gene Simmons). I'm not sure if I will carve mine or not - it's pretty small.

Yesterday I was feeling a little glum and needed to get out of the house. Thanks to my friend Jodi for meeting me for lunch and endulging my need to do a little shopping. It was exactly what I needed!!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and taking in the beauty of Fall.

xoxoxoxoxoxxo

Six Down...Two to Go!!

Hey Sports Fans!

I'm home from Treatment #6 and VERY VERY happy to report that it went really well. My doctor had prescribed another drug to be injected via IV prior to the Taxol (the Taxol is the chemo drug). So before chemo I had some steroids, some benadryl and some hydro cortisone. I was very sleepy from the benadryl...but am so happy I had no reaction to the chemo drug. Actually we were chatting with the pharmacist today and found out it's not actually the Taxol that causes the reaction, it's the base material that they mix with the Taxol so that they can use it that causes the reaction.

In fact, the pharmacist told us that the bark of the yew tree is where the chemical for Taxol came from. They have now figured out how to create this chemical without having to kill any trees...crazy eh? See how Mother Nature takes care of us??!!

I'm super happy that I only have two more treatments left and than we can move on to the surgery...my nurse Pat will call my surgeon after my next oncologist visit. I'm a little anxious to find out if the surgery will be before Christmas or after.

So far I don't have any aches or pains...but last time it took a few days for them to set in, so I'm expecting I may feel it over the weekend.

I think it's time for a nap. Thanks for all the positive energy I know so many of you were sending my way this morning...it definitely helped!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Good Friends...Good News!!

Last night there was a reunion of old friends!! I often get to see my good friend Kim (who I have been friends with since my family moved to Shelburne in 1978 or 1979!!). Last night, another friend of mine from elementary school and high school came to see Kim and I. My friend Dave (who now lives in Mount Forest ... and Toronto ... and Marmora) came to K-W for the evening and we had a great time. It was so great to sit and visit with two people I have known for thirty years (am I seriously old enough to have had friends for thirty years???) and catch up on what's been going on. Thanks for coming to see us, Dave! Come again soon!!



Today I had my lab work up and appointment with Dr. Califaretti. I got the go ahead for chemo on Thursday - Treatment #6!! Dr. Califaretti gave me some new drugs to help with the achey legs and feet and is making some adjustments to the drugs they give me when I get chemo to help my body accept the chemo drug. I'm hoping that means no reaction on Thursday!!

And some good news today!! Although the main purpose of having the chemo first is to conquer any cancer cells that may have escaped my boob, a great side effect is that the tumour has shrunk some more. Today the tumour seems to be about half the size it was before we started chemo!! It's tough to know for sure what the size is because it's not uniform with defined edges. But we do know it has shrunk a lot and is not near as obnoxious as it was at the beginning of August! For this I am grateful!

I found out on Sunday that one of my scrapbook buddies is almost my neighbour! Thanks for coming to see me Kelly and for the treats you brought with you - loving those peanut butter Lindors!!

Thanks also to our next door neighbours, who delivered some very yummy homemade chicken soup on Sunday! It was a great complement to our dinner and I have been enjoying it for lunch this week as well!! Thank you Tices!!

It has been a great week for me so far. I've been crossing some items off my list and feeling a little more organized than I have for a while! This makes me happy!!

After Thursday's treatment I only have two left! How's that for good news??!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy Saturday!

So, I know I haven't posted much this week...it's because I have had kind of a mellow week!! Not much going on.

I did start a new program at fitness - and have graduated from the front bridge to side bridges!! Also, all new weight exercises...I like that they don't give you a chance to get bored with your routine!!

I've still been managing the side effects from last week's chemo. While it's true that there hasn't been much nausea to complain about, my body is definitely feeling this new drug. Achy legs, feet and hips. I definitely have a larger case of chemo brain (my concentration and attention span are still crappy...and now I seem to have lost some of my problem solving skills as well). Thanks goodness I have already confirmed with the oncologist that this will get better again once chemo is over!! The fatigue is the same ... and somehow I've gotten away from my afternoon naps this week ... need to find those again! I am hoping next week's treatment will be easier now that I have a better idea of what to expect!

I love hearing from people who are following the blog and joining me on my journey! It really makes me happy. This week I got a really nice email from Matt's cousin, Andrea. She wanted to wish me well and let me know she was following along. And she noticed my love for Great Big Sea in a couple of my blog entries and wanted to share her love of them too! It turns out at the PERL Fundraiser (an environmental fundraiser to help protect the Escarpment) last year, Andrea organized the concert and Great Big Sea and Sarah Harmer performed AND she got to meet them!! Once I got over being jealous and wishing I could have been there, I had to tell Andrea that my favourite Great Big Sea song is Captain Wedderburn and my favourite recording of it is on their live album "Road Rage". I love love love this album...but my favourite song on it is definitely Captain Wedderburn, and Sarah Harmer joins them on that recording! It's awesome. So, Andrea sent me this YouTube link from their fundraiser. It made my WHOLE day!! Thank you Andrea!!

This morning we are going to an exhibition of Ardythe Campbell's work. You may remember I mentioned in an earlier blog that she is Matt's cousin and I really love her work. And check it out...it's a little excursion for me today!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Much love to all of you!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Feeling Very Grateful...

I know Thanksgiving weekend is now behind us, and we've all had our fill of turkey and the fixings...but since I didn't get a chance to blog about how grateful I am, I decided I needed to extend the Thanksgiving festivities by one more day!!

I spent most of the long weekend recovering from Thursday's chemo. I felt pretty good on Friday, but by Saturday (and Sunday and Monday) the muscle aches and pains were driving me crazy!! Specifically my legs and feet were so sore I couldn't get comfortable, changing my position constantly trying to find some relief. Yes, I took some Tylenol 1 to help me out, and it did offer a smidge of relief. I think at my next doctor's appointment I'll be asking for something with a little more stink!

I am happy to report that even feeling crappy I was able to partake in some turkey!! Matt, Lauren (who is home from York University this week), Alex and I went to Matt's parents in New Hamburg on Sunday for a very yummy turkey dinner! Matt made his award winning fluffy buns, I made some mashed potatoes and Matt's Mom took care of the rest! It was awesome...and I ate way too much. Our friend, Jeannie, also came for dinner and brought me my very own raisinless butter tarts! Jeannie is famous in our family for her butter tarts - they are so good! I felt particularly special since she made me my very own (and told me I didn't have to share if I didn't want to). And I loved not having to pick out the raisins!! I did share them...sometimes my generosity amazes even me!!



So, while I have been feeling less than stellar the last three or four days, I'm grateful that I'm now on the mend. I'm grateful that I have such a wonderful family who helps me through the bad days and friends who are forever checking in. I'm grateful that I live in such a great city, with everything I need to fight this thing called cancer. And I'm grateful that this chemo (which is driving me crazy) is doing it's job and fighting right along with the rest of us to make me well!!

I have so much to give thanks for every day. I'm glad for Thanksgiving...I like the reminder to stop and count my blessings for those days when I might forget.

xoxoxoxxoxoxo

I Survived Number Five!!!

Yesterday was chemo treatment #5 and the start to the new chemo drugs. I'm extremely happy to report that it went well and now I only have three chemo treatments left!!

With having had the flu last week, my chemo treatment schedule got changed up and Matt's schedule was jammed for this week...so my good friend Kim joined me on my trip to the GRRCC yesterday. Kim and I have been friends since we were 11...I figure she's seen me at my best and my worst for the past 30 some odd years...surely it would be good to add a little chemo to the memories!!

I did do fitness before chemo yesterday, thinking a little extra oxygen running through my veins would be a good thing...well, it wouldn't hurt anyway.

We had teachings with the pharmacist first where she explained the new chemo drugs (as well as the drugs they give you to help your body accept the chemo) and the possible side effects that could happen (both during the administration of the drugs and after I got home). The side effects don't happen to everyone, in fact, some people have no side effects at all. Kim & I took some notes and they gave us a handout and off we went to the chemo suite to get hooked up.

I am happy to say my wonderful nurse yesterday (and I did have a great nurse yesterday) found a vein with no problem!! Yippee!! She hooked me up with the pre-chemo drugs (benadryl and a steroid of some kind), we waited about half an hour after these drugs were administered for them to get into my system and than we were off to the races with the Taxol (that's the chemo drug).

We got about 7 cc's into me (of 500) when I started to react. They had told us a reaction would come on fast, so to make sure we let the nurse know as soon as I felt anything strange. So I said to Kim, "I think I feel something funny" and off Kim went to get my nurse...who was just turning to come back to me. Suddenly I felt this tightness on my chest and was having a little trouble breathing (it felt like a box on my chest)...and than I had this huge flush of heat, and I mean serious heat. I thought my ears were on serious fire. The nurse quickly shut off the chemo drug and threw me on oxygen. That helped a ton!! They gave me Ativan (a pill under my tongue) and Hydrocortisone via my IV (for the allergic reaction). We waited half an hour for the Ativan and Hydrocortisone to take effect and than started the Taxol (the chemo drug) again but much much slower this time (at 25% of the original rate). Then every five minutes she increased the rate by 25% until I was at 100% and doing ok with no reactions at all. No trouble after that and I felt fine. I slept quite a bit (which was a great way for me to pass the time)! Kim enjoyed my People magazines and watching the characters/people who were hanging out in the courtyard outside the hospital - it's great to have a spot by the window!! It was a long day - we had the pharmacy teachings around 11:30 and it was after 6:00 when Kim brought me home.

Today I feel pretty good. I'm tired and I have a little bit of irritation where the IV was yesterday...but that's really it! I'm looking forward to several naps today!!

The side effects I'm watching out for now are numbness/tingling in my fingers and toes, joint and muscle pain, loose bowels...and yes, more hair loss!! They also have warned me that my finger nails may turn an orangey colour, get brittle or bumpy and may even fall off. So far I'm good on all fronts...and the pharmacist gave me a kit to take care of my nails yesterday so I'll be diligent with that for sure!!

Big thanks to Kimmy...it was awesome to have you with me yesterday. Thanks for keeping me company and being so patient with the long day! And for keeping me calm and laughing with me when I reacted to the darn drugs!!

Thanks to all of you out there for the positive energy you sent my way yesterday. I know many of you were thinking of me yesterday afternoon with fingers crossed that everything went well...and it did!! I thank you for being with me in spirit!!!

xoxooxoxxoox

Green Light - It's a Go!!

Yep!! It's true!! I did my blood work today and got the green light for chemo tomorrow!! Yippee!! I'm back on track!! And a little more good news...the tumour has shrunk a little more!! It's a good news kind of day today!!

I am feeling pretty good too. I still have a little cold, but mostly I feel good. I returned to fitness yesterday (after being off all last week) and maybe over did it a little bit...I had a little bit of a rough day yesterday. Of course, it could have been the pounding and hammering as the roofers worked away. Man were they loud. Don't they know I was trying to rest??

My friend Mindy came to see me and brought me a lovely care package - complete with some new teas and homemade potato leek soup. I had no idea if I'd like the soup or not and am very happy to report it is very yummy!! Thank you so much, Mindy!! And you know I love that new tea egg!!

I am a little anxious (not hugely...just a little) for my chemo tomorrow. New drug, which means new side effects. The good news is the nausea should be less...I'll keep you posted on what side effects I do experience. I'm also a little nervous about finding a good vein to administer the drugs (keep your fingers crossed for me that this is not a problem!!) and then of course, there is the fact that my treatment is scheduled to take place over five hours - FIVE HOURS!!! That's over twice as long as my previous treatments. I am definitely taking snacks with me!!

Well my friends...wish me luck tomorrow!! As Arnold would say "I'll be back"!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Zoom....There Goes the Weekend!

It's kind of funny I would even notice the weekend zoomed by...considering I don't have to go to work tomorrow...but it's true! All of a sudden it's Sunday night and the weekend is over. Oh, and I realized I haven't updated my blog in a few days!!

Yes, I had a good weekend. The Rangers won against Erie on Friday night (but lost against Owen Sound on Saturday). We watched Robin Hood (starring Russell Crowe) on Saturday night - I totally enjoyed it. Russell makes a great Robin Hood and I loved Alan Doyle as one of the Merry Men!! I know he'd make me pretty Merry too!!!

I received a beautiful gift from my friend Pam. She is such a great supporter to me and never misses a chance to tell me how well she thinks I am doing. The card she gave to me said "Life Happens. Love Helps." I think that sums it up nicely!

Today was the CIBC Run for the Cure. I know my niece Brooklyn and my cousin Kerry, along with lots of other people, did this run with me in mind (or others they know who are fighting this stupid disease or have fought it in the past). I want to tell you about our neighbour Alex. I think he is 5 or maybe 6. The doorbell rang this morning and there was Alex. He was all by himself and was bringing me the bib that he had from the CIBC Run for the Cure that said "I'm running for" and there was my name. SUE. They had signed the bib (him, his brother Gabe (who is 3) and his Mom & Dad). He told me he rode his bike the whole way! He wanted me to have the bib. And he also had a little note in an envelope that just said "Love, Alex"...with a button that also said "I ran for Sue". Sometimes the love is overwhelming.

Thank you to my friend, Sharon who came to see me today...and thanks for the treats!! You know me so well!!

Some exciting news...today I actually left the house for a big excursion to the Region of Waterloo International Airport. OK...I've left the house for small periods of time this week, but really have stayed away from any "crowds". And ok...maybe the "crowds" at our little airport are small, but still it was exciting for me!!



We were at the airport to pick up Matt's Mom & Dad, who returned today from a big vacation to the west. Beth & Bill spent the last 18 days in BC and Alberta...travelling, seeing the sites and visiting family and old friends. It sounds like they had a fabulous time! We brought supper with us so when we got to their house, we had supper on the table pretty quickly and got to hear all about their trip!! Glad you had such a super time and are home safe and sound!!

I am feeling much better...the cold is lingering a bit but is getting better. I am determined to improve every day so come Wednesday, my doctor will give me the thumbs up for chemo this week!! Keep your fingers crossed!!!

My heart is full because of all of you who do so much to support those of us who need it and appreciate it!! Walk on!!

xoxoxoxoxoxxoxo