I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, in July 2012. Not being one to solely rely on conventional medicine, I researched natural ways to beat it. In this Blog, I will share my journey with you.
Ok,
so…it’s update time; again, sorry it's been so long between Blogs. I bet the title of this Blog caught your attention, didn't it?? LOL!
Let’s back up, just a bit, first. Many of you know, I was admitted back into the hospital, for more surgery (last month). Cancer got aggressive on me, and even surprised my Oncologist; so I am now the proud owner of two cages, and a thoracic/lumbar fusion bar (it has taken the place of my spine, between my rib cage and my hips. Surgery went well, and I spent a
few weeks in ICU (mostly because they didn't have a room for me, elsewhere).
I’m
in so much pain, with my new and improved body; the surgeon practically gutted me,
to do what he needed to do! The staff at the hospital were amazing, as always;
they took real good care of me! The healing process will take some time, but this too shall pass!!
Everything’s
a learning experience, now…getting in and out of bed is the hardest part. I
haven’t quite got used to pushing myself up to a sitting position, while
struggling through the pain of movement. But, it’s only been a few weeks, so I’ll
just have to give myself permission to struggle. Log rolling is ridiculous!!
LOL!
My back is at a point where I can’t lay flat, at this time, because the
pain is (once again) unbearable; so, I've made that a goal of mine. I will
become strong enough to lay down, flat, in bed. I wish you could've seen the look on my face, when I woke up from surgery, and discovered that I was laying down...in a bed. I was elated!! Just knowing that I could lay down, in bed, was amazing!! LOL!
I've moved into a place called Pebble Creek Nursing and Rehab Center, to recover from surgery and regain some mobility; they hooked me up with
Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy; the Speech Therapy is more for
learning how to swallow my food. I was intubated, for surgery, so the muscles
in my throat got weak. She’s helping me learn to take baby bites, and has
encouraged me to drink after each one; I've also noticed, my appetite has
changed! I can’t eat as much as I used to be able to…bonus!! This will,
undoubtedly, help me lose weight!
Whatever
I do, throughout the day, gets me all sweaty, now…and this is no exaggeration!
I can break a sweat, doing my deep breathing exercises! I think I scare the
staff, sometimes, with all that. Here, again…you never really know what the
body is capable of doing, until you can’t do it, anymore. Last year, I had to
re-learn everything, from the start; this time is no exception. I am, literally,
re-learning the art of being a human; limitations and all. They’ve got me all set
up, though…lots of equipment, and tools to use, to help me out. Stellar staff,
here, too!!
And,
yes…yesterday, I walked! This whole time, I’ve been struggling to move around,
thinking (and starting to believe) that I wasn’t going to be able to move,
much, now. God’s been dealing with me on a wide range of emotions, during this
part of my journey!
Yesterday, during PT, my coach said, “I’m gonna go get the
walker, and we’re gonna take a few steps. Just to see where we’re at.” She
joined me in my struggle. As I began to move my feet along the floor, she
smiled at me…first two steps, done. I kept going; not paying any attention to
anything, except….every time Jesus told a crippled person to get up and walk,
they did. I’m not crippled, just temporarily set back.
My
Therapist’s face lit up, once she heard me say I needed to sit back down; she
had another Therapist walk with us, and bring my wheelchair along. They were
both pretty impressed with me! It wasn't me…it was God; the only thing I can
take credit for is the praying I do.
God doesn't want me stuck in bed, for the
rest of my life. I have things to do, people to see, and a life to live! I have
a message to deliver for Him; and I can’t do that, if I can’t get around.
Yesterday, I walked about 3 ft.
Today
is a brand new day! Enjoy this day, and be blessed!!
Greetings!! I am compelled to tell you, I'm back in the hospital. There seems to be a tumor, on my L-1 vertebrae, that insists on causing trouble for me. My Surgeon tells me I'm going to lose that vertebrae, as well. Looks like I'll have a matching set of cages, now! LOL!
All joking aside, back in March, I wrote a Blog about my addiction to processed and convenience foods; in the last five months, my condition went from great to "uh-oh", because I slipped back into my old eating habits. You can read that Blog, here. When I recover from this surgery, I'm going full-on health freak, and never looking back!! Orthorexiahere I come! God said "this sickness will not end in death", last year. I'm holding Him to it!!
I WILL NOT LOSE MY LIFE TO THIS!!
If I'm going to live, and bring glory to God, I'm going to have to practice what I've been preaching to you. I can't be The Savvy Survivor, if I'm not outsmarting a disease intent on killing me! I've even written a few Blogs about keeping your pH balanced, and how that's been proven to stave off diseases. So, I need to get serious about this, or my Granddaughter will grow up, not knowing who I am! And, THAT is not an option!!
I apologize to all of you, as well. Being a slave to unhealthy eating habits, as I post Blogs, and messages on Facebook, about clean eating, and how to fight off cancer with this approach and that nutrient, makes me a hypocrite; and I am ashamed of myself for that. I hope you can forgive me!
I will keep you posted, as events take place. Have a blessed day!
Everyone experiences change, from time to time. Our lives changed, the day we got diagnosed...when someone gives birth, when someone passes away, when someone gets married, or divorced...things change; even our everyday lives are different, from day to day. It's how we progress through life.
Yesterday,
I announced on my Facebook page, that there were some big changes about to take
place in my life. Today, I’d like to share what they are, with you. A couple
things you may already know about.
As I've mentioned before, I’m legally married (Lee is my maiden name); my
estranged husband and I haven’t seen each other for over a year. Our lives are
moving in two different directions; and, I've encouraged him to file for an
annulment, since he’s the one who doesn't want to be in the marriage, anymore.
He was the one who suggested the separation, and shortly after that, he left
Ohio.
The only time I've ever heard from him is when I've e-mailed him, and he
sends a reply; and all he’s talked about are his dreams of owning a house for
himself, and making a life for himself…no mention of me in that future, at all. And, he certainly wasn't all that concerned, when I told him about my diagnosis; he told me he wasn't sure what I expected him to do about it, but he was sorry I was going through this. So, I’m waiting for him to file the annulment, and send it to me, so I can sign it; in one of our previous e-mail conversations, I gave him my
address, but I have no idea where he is.
I’m
also making plans to move to Knoxville, TN, sometime this year. The sooner, the
better, as far as I’m concerned; however, I still have to remind myself that
all things happen in God’s timing, not ours! LOL!
As I’m making these plans to relocate, I've created a Wish List for myself; it’s comprised of all the things I want for my
new home. I think it’s a complete list...there are a few things I intentionally left off the list; I can get them, the day I move into my new apartment. You can see my Wish List here; and, if you would like to help me fill it, I appreciate that! Thank you, very much!!
The shipping address is different than mine…I’m having my things
shipped to Knoxville ahead of me, so by the time I get there, I’ll only have to
move in, rather than spend the day collecting furniture and things. That just makes more sense to me! If you've decided to help me fill this list, and can't find the shipping address, please let me know!
My
oldest daughter, her hubby, and their families live in the Knoxville area, so I’ll
have familiar faces around me, even though my surroundings will be unfamiliar
for a while. My oldest daughter’s Dad and I have been friends for years, even
though our marriage didn't work out, either. And, everyone’s excited about me
coming to live there! The storage facility I rented is at the company she works
for…she’s the Assistant District Manager, at Storage Pros and works at the facility on Sutherland Avenue! If you ever need a
storage unit, in Knoxville (or know someone who does) I highly recommend
Storage Pros…and you can tell them I sent you!!
And,
as you may know…in July, my youngest daughter will give birth to my first
Grandchild! It’s a girl, by the way! I've already begun picking out frilly
little dresses, and hair bands; and I’m in the process of crocheting a blanket
for her…the nursery colors will be pink, brown and white!
My daughter has even been
discussing some “raising baby” rules with me, for when I have her to myself. She’s
going to be such a great Mommy; I'm so proud of her!! She’s also talked about plans that she and her
boyfriend are making to take the baby on trips, and to museums, amusement parks,
the zoo, etc. Everyone is SUPER excited, and very anxious for the baby’s
arrival…July can’t come soon enough for us!! LOL!!
The
last big change will happen gradually; I’m hoping to be able to lose at least
80 lbs. by this time, next year. I’m looking forward to being lean and healthy,
once again… I've been overweight, and unhealthy, for far too long!! Look out
world…here comes the “New Me”!!
And,
there you have it! These are the big changes that will soon be happening in my
life. I have a feeling life is going to be one great big adventure, with all
these things taking place; but, I think I’m up to it! LOL!!
Thanks for being part of that adventure! Have a blessed day!! oxoxox
Mark16:5-7 when they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe
sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t
be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go
and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to
Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
As
I reflect on what this day means to me, I’m reminded of the moment I received
the gift of salvation that Jesus bought for us. I was raised in a Christian
home, but lost my interest when my Dad died; I was 13 years old, then. I told
God I wasn't interested in serving a God who would steal a little girl’s daddy
away from her. I didn't know much, then; I now know, my Dad wanted to go…he had
been sick for so long (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol), and he just wanted relief. I believe he’s in Heaven, and
I’ll see him when I get there.
After
I had walked away from God, I spent the next 18 years of my life, living for
myself and struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy. I became a wild child!
In today’s society, those children aren't looked down upon by many. They drink, do drugs, have sex with multiple partners, party too
much, cuss at everyone and about everything; they’re disrespectful, rude,
selfish, and spiteful. But, sadly, that’s the norm, these days….they’re just
kids. I was one of them, back in the 80's and 90's, and my life was going
nowhere, fast!
Fast
forward to the year 2000. At the time I was reacquainted with God, I was living
in a homeless shelter, and my two younger children were in Foster Care; my
oldest daughter was living with her Dad. The powers that be were telling me I’d
never see the two who were in Foster Care, again. I’m still not saved, at this
time, so I believed what I saw, heard, felt, tasted, and touched. It was the
lowest point in my life…no matter how hard I struggled to get back on my feet,
the voices of reason were telling me it was hopeless. And, I was losing the
will to fight.
While
I was a resident of that shelter, I met a lady who was down on her luck; as a
result of her misfortune, she became a resident, as well. She was a firm
believer in God, and taught me about Jesus. She laid hands on people and made
them well, when they were sick; she even gave one lady peace enough to cause
her to sleep for 12 hours, after being awake for 4 days, straight. Every time
she touched someone’s life, she’d say “In Jesus’ name!”, and she stood firm on
the belief that God was going to make things right for all of us! I’d witnessed
God’s power, and decided that wanted that in my life; she told me the only way
to live in the power of the Holy Spirit was to get saved, and allow the Spirit
to guide you.
I
gave myself to Him, without hesitation! It was a moment, I can honestly
describe in the words of Van Halen’s song, "Love Walks In"…
Contact
is all it takes To
change your life to lose your place in time Contact!
Asleep or awake Coming
around you may wake up to find Questions
deep within your eyes, Things
you've never realized
[Chorus:]So
when you sense a change Nothing
feels the same All
your dreams are strange, love comes walkin' in Some
kind of alien Wait
for the opening
Simply pulls a string…Love comes walkin’ in
A
huge weight was lifted off my shoulders! I could BREATHE!! Everything looked
different, too…the sky was bluer, the clouds were fluffier, the sun was
brighter; and the birds sounded better, too! In prayer, the night I got saved, God
told me to stop listening to the voices telling me I’d never see my kids again…He
said I’d get them back. He was right!! Not only did I get my kids back, I got a
job and a place for us to live! This Child of God was loving her life, once
again!!
Since
becoming a Believer, however, I have had moments where I've done things my own way,
instead of the way God wants me to do; and those moments have always resulted
in loss, confusion and a human struggle I could barely survive. The Bible warns
us not to do things our way…
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) Trust in the Lord with all your
heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
I guess my wild child habits were hard
to break! LOL!!
The
latest realization of this, being my recent diagnosis. I was supposed to begin
eating as a flexitarian about nine years ago; God kept prompting me to change
my diet, and only eat certain things; but, I always treated those moments as a
time of fasting, rather than a lifestyle change. It was during this time that I
got heavy into soy products, as well. Not listening to God’s instructions about
my eating habits for that long, I’m now in the fight of my life…for my life!
Lesson learned, trust me!!
With
that said, I’d like to explain a little about what this day is all about. Jesus
told Nicodemus, who was a Teacher of the Law of Moses, that in order to get to
Heaven, we must be born again; and He explained what that meant, because
Nicodemus was a little confused about it.
John3:1-17 (NLT) There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was
a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he
said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are
evidence that God is with you.”
3
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see
the Kingdom of God.”
4
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into His
mother’s womb and be born again?”
5
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being
born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the
Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say,
‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can
hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you
can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
9
“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
10
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t
understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have
seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me
when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell
you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But
the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze
snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so
that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
16
“For God loved the world so much that he gave His one and only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent
His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through
him.
When
we surrender ourselves to God, and receive the gift that Jesus bought us, by
way of His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are born-again
(or saved); we will be the ones going to Heaven, when we die. There is no
preparation necessary for this moment; you don’t have to “clean up your act”, start
going to church, give to charity, or anything. You just simply need to want
what Jesus bought of you. Life will still be life, and at times it will be
difficult…but having God on your side makes even the difficult moments, easier
to navigate!
Let
me back you up a little, and explain WHY we need to receive the gift of
salvation…Romans 5:12-21 explains it pretty clearly:
Romans5:12-21 (NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought
death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned
even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was
not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the
time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as
Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to
come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious
gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even
greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this
other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very
different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to
condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even
though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused
death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift
of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and
death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18
Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of
righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other
person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
20
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as
people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So
just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s
wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting
in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And,
Paul mentions the purpose of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, in his letter
to the church at Corinth, in 2 Corinthians 5:15-17…. "He died for everyone so
that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves.
Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we
have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we
thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know
him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new
person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
I
have been a new person, since the year 2000…it’s about time I acted like it!!
LOL! I do regret not living as that new person, until now; but the Bible says
God can turn anything in something good for those who love Him.
Romans8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good
of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
And,
He has…as a result of my decisions, and my recent diagnosis, I have the chance
to get to know you! I've been given a great responsibility to not only share my
story, and guide you to a healthier life, through proper nutrition…but, also to
share Jesus with you! He truly is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6).
I
realize now, how much more complete my life is with Him. As I surrender myself
to Him, daily, and learn to listen to God’s instruction, I am blessed more and
more. It’s true, my life isn’t all that great…I have a terminal illness. I’m
going to die, some day. But, while I live out the rest of my life, I will live
for Him; and I’ve discovered that life isn’t all that bad, after all! LOL!!
Please
consider receiving the gift of salvation that Jesus bought for you. I would
love to see you in Heaven, some day! Don’t worry about not meeting me, in our
human forms…we’ll recognize each other, there!
Let
me also encourage you to watch The Passion of the Christ. It’s an account of
what Jesus went through, the last few days of his life…and in giving Himself up
for us. You'll want to turn the captions on, because the movie was done in Aramaic (I think). It is a bit graphic, as well; but, that only serves to drive the point home. He
went through physical Hell, being beaten and hung on the cross; and then descended
into Hell, itself, to beat Satan and free us from ourselves! There was an
earthquake, as soon as Jesus died…I believe that was everyone who was in Hell,
running for the door, when Jesus came in and asked, “Who wants to go Home with
me?” LOL!!
Some
scientists say they believe that this particular earthquake was global, and
that it was responsible for creating all of the fault lines we now know about.
The Bible does say the earth shook…
Matthew27:51-54 (NLT) At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and
tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised
from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into
the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
54
The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by
the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the
Son of God!”
He
is the Son of God; He loves you, and He wants you to know Him better…give Him the
chance to transform you into a new person, today! And, don’t worry if you screw
up…just ask for forgiveness, and put it behind you!
I’m
what’s known as an emotional eater…I eat when I’m sad, when I’m nervous, when I’m
stressed out, and even when I’m happy. I don’t eat, because my body needs nourishment…I
eat because it feels good. I've struggled with this most of my life; and even
more so, now that I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
I
recently watched a video (there's an article, too), detailing how the food industry cons us into eating
the things that we know aren't good for us, but we find ourselves powerless
against the cravings for these things; pizza, chips, fried foods, the Value
Meal, macaroni and cheese, snack cakes, soda pop, etc. They are chemically
altered, on purpose, to get us addicted to them. And, I’m an addict. On this
video, they interview a fellow addict, and she briefly discusses how difficult
it is to abstain from all of these gloriously wonderful foods. Trust me, she’s
not kidding! I encourage you to check it out!
Father
God, please forgive me… I've fallen off the wagon, again! My sister said to me,
the other day, “there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a treat, once in a blue
moon”. Under normal circumstances, she’d be right…one slice of pizza, one
small fry, or a small handful of chips, won’t hurt at all; and everyone knows
you should never deprive yourself. That’s the easiest way to fail.
Unless you’re
me; the easiest way to fail, in my case, would be to indulge…even if it’s just
a small amount. In my case, it would be like telling an alcoholic that one
little glass of wine, with dinner, isn't going to hurt. Everyone knows, to give
an alcoholic ANY alcoholic beverage…even just a sip…is to set him back in his
recovery, and will cause him to fall, again. And, I've been indulging, lately.
I
don’t have the will power to stop at just a small amount. I've been indulging,
from time to time, because there are those things in my sister’s house…and I've noticed I've been wanting more, and more. I've got to stop! I don’t want to “die
happy” as so many people have said, when faced with the responsibility of
giving up their junk food…they’d rather die happy. I’d rather LIVE happy, thank
you very much! And, eating any amount of junk food is a trap, for me. I've got
to stop myself!!
I
can feel myself slipping back into old habits…and, I don’t want to go there!! I don’t
want to die from Breast Cancer!! You don’t understand….I CAN’T say “No!”,
unless I don’t see it. If I know it’s there, I want it; if I want it, I’ll eat
it. I've been doing pretty good, so far; but I feel like I could be doing much
better. And, just because someone who loves me gives me permission to indulge
on rare occasion, doesn't mean I should. Father God, I need your help!!
Here’s
a picture of me, before I was diagnosed. I weighed 251 lbs. This is what giving
in to those foods has done to me…because I can’t stop at just a small amount.
I
had my sister take a picture of me, this morning; it's been a little over a year, between photos. The darker hair, in the first picture, was a dye job.
Today, I weight 231 lbs. I don’t think my body has
changed all that much, but I feel different; and I do look smaller, in comparison. I can sense that changes are
taking place, and I don’t want to ruin that, by going back into my old habits. I
want to document my weight loss, because that’s part of my recovery journey.
Losing weight will help in preventing a recurrence.
Now, I
don’t fault my sister for trying…she means well; and love her for trying to make sense out of a situation that clearly doesn't. But, I know what my weaknesses
are, and I know what I have to do to keep from falling off the wagon, again. I
also know, I can’t do this without God! In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says “And
He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so
that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
That’s
me…I’m a weakling; a mere mortal. I know this, I’ve accepted this, and I can
use this to bring glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This
is a list of some of the triggers I've had to come face to face with, lately…
I
have Stage 4 Breast Cancer
My
estranged husband is being difficult (Lee is my maiden name)
I’m
making plans to move south, but I’m not sure if I’m going to TN, or to GA (I
have family in both states)
I
also don’t know how I’m going to get there, or how I’m going to go from
homeless & broke, to self-sufficient & independent
I
want to have a job, but my doctors have me on disability, which hinders that
whole independence thing
I
need to get to the gym, so I can lose weight; but I’m dependent on a driver who doesn't like driving in bad weather (we've had a lot of that, lately)
As
you can see, there’s really not a lot for me to stress out about (LOL!). Oy! I
know God never gives us more than we can handle, but sometimes I wish He didn’t
have so much confidence in me! LOL!!
This
too, shall pass!!
Thanks
for listening today. Have a blessed day, everyone!! oxoxox
Today, I thought it would be a good idea to take you back in time, a little. Back to the beginning of my journey...well, not the very beginning, but shortly after surgery. I was encouraged to start a journal on a site called CaringBridge, as a means to allow my friends and family access to my daily struggles and triumphs; I didn't use it for long, because I found that journaling on Facebook was a better avenue.
I wanted to take you folks back to that time, since you've only known me for a short while. So, I'll post my journal entries from CaringBridge for you to see. By the time I started this journal, I was out of the hospital and living with my sister. Welcome to my journey! ~~~~~~~~
My Journey
Written Aug 7, 2012 2:12pm
First journal entry!
Ok...further updates. I had surgery, on July 11, 2012, to remove my 5th lumbar vertebrae because it had become diseased. The cancer in my body had metastasized and moved into my lymph nodes and down my spine, before it was discovered. I have what they call a "cage" in the place where my vertebrae used to be (I also discovered that I have 6 lumbar vertebrae, instead of 5, like the body is supposed to have! LOL!).
So, in 4 days, it will be a month since the surgery...and I'm still recovering from it! I was told it would take a decent amount of time for everything to heal, so I'm expecting a couple more months of pain, discomfort and strict limitations. No big deal!
I'm also going to be starting chemo treatments at the end of this week. I've already been briefed on what to expect, what the side effects might be, etc; not sure what to think about the possibility of being bald! LOL! My appetite might be affected by it, as well....I sure hope not, because I love food!! But, we'll cross that bridge, when we get to it.
I hope you follow me on my journey, as I battle and conquer this disease! I will live on...I'm going to survive!!
My Bucket List
Written Aug 7, 2012 5:15pm
This is a work in progress; as I think of things I will be doing, before I die, I'll add to the list!
Live to be 92 years old
Visit Ireland, Scotland and Wales (my heritage)
Become a "clothes horse"
Write a book and get it published
Grow a flower garden, and a veggie garden
Take up pottery
Become self-employed and be successful at it
See a Broadway play
Visit, or be visited by, all of my family members (both sides!)
Be used by God to change someone's life (for the better, of course!)
Good Morning!!
Written Aug 8, 2012 6:02am
I woke up, this morning, around 5:15am...in serious pain!! When the pain gets real bad, I can't potty as well as I need to; and my entire midsection is bigger than normal. It's really no fun!!
As soon as I was able, I took some Ibuprofen...and I'm still in considerable pain, at this moment. I've had to liken the pain to carrying an elephant around my middle. Sometimes the elephant isn't so big....sometimes it's huge! The hospital has a numeric system to rate the pain...1 is not bad at all, all the way up to 10, being the worst pain you've ever felt. This morning, the elephant was a "size" 8.
When I'm in that much pain, it's hard to move around, too; I'm not very good on my feet, and very slow. Ah, the joys of recovering from major surgery! LOL! I'm sure I'll be fine, once the Ibuprofen kicks in....but waiting for that moment isn't any fun, either!
This afternoon, I get my Medi-port put in; I've been told that it's normally put in in the chest, for adults. No problem...when I undergoing surgery, I had what's called a central line put in, on the left side of my chest. For the purposes of chemo, they may decide to put the port in on the right side.
Stay tuned....more updates as the day progresses!
The Day Begins
Written Aug 8, 2012 10:30am
Breakfast....check! Shower, and dressed.....check x 2! Notice how big the elephant is....check (it's a size 4, now! Yay!) An elephant (the level of pain I'm in) under a size 6 is tolerable....anything higher than a 6, and it's NOT NICE!!
By the way....have I mentioned how much I don't like shoes?? Thanks to a medication I'm taking (Tamoxifen) my feet swell up super huge, which makes it uncomfortable to wear socks and shoes. This medication has a long list of side effects, of course, but it's job is to shrink the mass in my left breast. As a result of the swelling in my feet, I've learned to only wear socks and shoes, when I have to go somewhere...if I'm staying home, I'm barefoot! <3
I'll update, again, when I get home from my Medi-port appointment!
Medi-port Appointment
Written Aug 8, 2012 5:47pm
Just got home, and my appointment was at 12:45pm! Tons of paperwork, of course...and more incisions!! The Tech who put my port in stuck me 4 times with Lidocaine....OWWWWW!! She was great, though....talked me though the whole process, as she was doing it.
She went through my neck, to find the right vein for the port (that was painful, too!); and she apologized every time I yelled "Ow!" My port is purple!!! :D
It's threaded up my neck, then down toward my heart. I have two more scars in the making, thanks to this procedure! LOL! My neck feels like it's 4 feet thick, and it's super sore from being still for an hour, during the procedure (I had to look off to my left, the whole time I was on the table).
I was given a list of instructions on how to care for the incisions, and what to do for swelling and pain, etc. And now, I think I'm gonna go lay down on my bed, for a while.....it's been a LOOOOOOONG day!!
Love ya!!
Good Morning!!
Written Aug 9, 2012 7:02am
Up at 6am...still in my jammies, as I write this! LOL!
Today, I have chemo class, at 9am, so I can learn all about the type of chemo drug(s) I'll be getting through my port, what the purpose is, any side effects I should look for, etc. Excited about this!!
But, I think I should go get dressed, and eat my breakfast, before it's too late! LOL!! I will give you another update, when I get home from class!
Chemo Class
Written Aug 9, 2012 11:00am
Home, again!
Chemo class was uber informative! (my head is swimming!) And....the info packet they gave me is in a PURPLE file binder!! :D I love how God is giving me all this purple stuff, to keep me in good spirits, because He knows purple is my favorite color! <3
I'll only be receiving one chemo drug (Taxol), instead of a combo...yay! Most likely, I'll start going bald within about 2-3 weeks, so I was also given some info on where to get a great wig (always wanted to own a wig!) My treatments will be once a week, for 3 weeks, and then off for a week....don't know how many months I'll be getting treatments, but I can always ask my Oncologist, when I see him next time.
I was even told that I'd be allowed to bring in a laptop, because the hospital has Wifi, so I'll be able to keep you all updated as my appointment lingers.
Just an Update
Written Aug 9, 2012 3:42pm
Wowwie.....my neck hurts! The incision spots on my neck and chest are itchy, and the one on my neck is painful! They should both be healed up in a few days, but in the mean time....owww!!
I can also add burping to the list of bodily functions that now hurt! I just did, a few minutes ago, and it hurt my neck!! Love the fact that my nerve endings work....thank You, God!!! LOL!
Sleepless Night
Written Aug 10, 2012 7:05am
I've been up since 4:20am, and was up and down all night, last night! (it's 7:05am) Don't know why, either!
Today is my first chemo treatment, and I'd like to be well rested when I go....I hope I can get some sleep, before I have to leave! If not, I'm gonna be napping in the treatment chair! LOL!
Hopefully, my body won't be bombarded by side effects, either...the Tamoxifen has a laundry list of them, but I've only experienced two, and they're not interfering with anything. So....let's hope that my body can handle the chemo drug just as well! Some of the side effects of Taxol sound scary, and painful!! I encourage you to read up on it!
Now, the first thing they're going to do, when I get to my appointment, is draw blood to make sure I'm well enough to get the drug...they'll do this at every treatment. If I'm not well enough for a treatment, at any time, it will be postponed until my body can handle it. I've also been told that my blood count will be at its lowest 7-10 days after treatment, so I may have to get these treatments every other week, instead of every week for three weeks. We'll see!
I'm gonna go eat some breakfast, and see if I can get some more sleep....further updates, as they occur!
Naps Are a Wonderful Thing!
Written Aug 10, 2012 9:25am
I got some sleep!!! I also figured out what it was that kept me up most of the night....I had consumed four glasses of water, between 6pm - 9pm, last night. Three trips to the bathroom, in the middle of the night, and my body thought 4:30am would be a good time to get up and stay up!! LOL!
Need to finish my mid-morning breakfast...I'm sure my sister wants to leave on time, since my appointment is for 11am. TTYL!!
In the Office
Written Aug 10, 2012 11:11am
Waiting for the Nurse to come take my blood....can't start the treatment, until they know I'm healthy enough! My blood pressure is a tad high, too....hhmmmm....I wonder why! LOL!
Late Update
Written Aug 10, 2012 9:09pm
Sorry guys....I didn't have a chance to update, after I came home, this evening. So...here it is!
When I got to my chemo appointment, I had a huge stack of paperwork to fill out; then, they drew my blood....my levels are great!! After the results from the blood tests came back, they gave me some pre-meds, to help combat any possible reactions to the chemo drug...I reacted more to the pre-meds than I did to the chemo! One of them was Benadryl....I had fun with that one! LOL!!
The treatment, itself, only lasted an hour....but, we were there from 11am - 3pm, as a result of the whole process. Next week's treatment won't be such a long experience, because I won't have to fill out any more paperwork....just a pain management survey, blood work, and the treatment (if my levels are strong enough).
And now...it's my bedtime! So, I will post another journal entry, when I get up, tomorrow! Good night, and God bless!!
Good Morning!!
Written Aug 11, 2012 8:15am
I've been up since 7am! Only got up once, in the middle of the night (between 2 - 3:30am)...I like nights like that!! LOL!
So far, so good....no side effects from the chemo drug! They said it might take a few days, so I'm watching...not that I'll have any, of course! LOL! For real, though, they said they were more concerned with me getting fatigued, than experiencing any other side effect. So, fatigue is what I'm watching for...and I may not lose my hair for a couple weeks.
And, since I've been up for this long (it's 8:15am), I think I'll go get some breakfast! See ya, later!
Good Morning!!
Written Aug 12, 2012 5:44am
I SLEPT ALL NIGHT!!!!
Yes, that actually IS an accomplishment for me! Typically, I'm up at least once or twice, to go to the bathroom! LOL! This is the second time, since coming home, that I've actually had a full night's sleep! Yay, me!!
Father God, thank You for seeing me though all of my accomplishments, as I regain my independence! Teach me to become more interdependent on You, as well; and, give me the boldness to speak of You, when You unction me to speak. I have a testimony, and I want the world to know how faithful You are to take care of us, even when we live our lives as if we don't need You, anymore! In Jesus' name, I pray...and give You all the glory, praise, and thanks!! Amen!
Today is a sleepy day!
Written Aug 12, 2012 1:23pm
I do believe I'm experiencing one of the side effects of the chemo drug....I'm sluggish, and tired! It started last night, around 7pm; I noticed I was super tired, and looked at the time, thinking it was bed time....not at 7pm, it's not! LOL!
Today, I've been....well....run down. If it continues, or becomes more noticeable, in the coming week, I'll know it's a side effect, and not just me. Right now....I'm going to go take a nap! zzzZZZzzz
The End of My Day
Written Aug 12, 2012 7:31pm
For those of you who are wondering....yes, I did nap! I was asleep for 3 hours, this afternoon! LOL! It was wonderful!!!! <3
During dinner time, I sat and talked to my sister about goals I want to attempt....one of them being taking a shower without my shower stool. I want to see if I can handle washing myself, without sitting down; I figure I could stick my feet up on the inside edge of the tub, still using my handle sponge, to wash my legs and feet. I'm gonna try that, tomorrow morning.
I'd like to attempt a whole day without my brace on, but that will have to wait until I see my surgeon again, on August 28th. This brace is almost becoming a hindrance, now that I can do so much on my own! However, I am totally thankful that braces like this exist, because it helped me get strong, when I was weakened by the surgery! Thank You, Father God!!
For dinner, I had left over fried chicken and jo-jo's from Giant Eagle....yummy!! Because I'm in the process of healing from surgery, and now with my ongoing chemo treatments, I need a ton of protein in my daily food intake; it is the building blocks of the body! I have lots of different protein sources available to me, too....whole grain pasta, meat, poultry, beans, Greek yogurt, and Boost. And I always make sure to have some form of protein with every meal!
Again, feeling tired this evening.....even though I had a 3-hour nap. I think I'll go watch some TV, until 9pm, and then take my Tamoxifen and go to bed. Thanks for keeping up with my journal; it means a lot to me to know you care about my journey!
Glad to see the sunrise!
Written Aug 13, 2012 8:20am
Had a rough night, last night....I was up twice, to go to the bathroom, and couldn't! Still waiting....
I think I'm going to write to my Mom, today; I haven't spoken to her about what's going on, and I'm sure she's heard any manner of "news" from our family's grapevine. My sister said Mom should get the low-down straight from the horse's mouth. I have to agree with her, on that!
This morning, I really wasn't in the mood to eat breakfast (feeling constipated, and all), but I did manage a small bowl of Raisin Bran. And, today I will attempt a shower, without the help of my shower stool! Should be interesting! LOL!! I'll let ya know how it goes!
VICTORY!!!
Written Aug 13, 2012 12:38pm
Guess what!!! I took a shower all on my own!
My sister playfully called it a "big girl" shower....no shower stool, no assistance (getting in, getting out, drying off, etc), and the removable shower head stayed perched on its handle! I even applied lotion to my legs and feet, after I dried off.... By! My! Self!
I am super excited about this!!! If I could....I'd dance! LOL!!
When I got out of the shower, I sat on the lid of the toilet (with a towel between me and the lid), to dry my legs and feet off; then I crossed my legs in order to reach my feet and put the lotion on. Granted, when I crossed my legs to get at my feet, my leg muscles protested...and I'm feeling it, right now, as well! But, that's why my wonderful doctors prescribed Ibuprofen for me! LOL!!
You should see the big grin on my face!! <3
Enjoyed the Day!
Written Aug 13, 2012 7:16pm
Had a GREAT day, today!!
In addition to the triumph of my "big girl" shower, this morning, I also walked what I think to be the equivalent of 1/2 a mile....two blocks up and back down the street, this evening. And, the difficulty I had going to the bathroom, earlier this week, is no longer a difficulty! Yay, me!!
Perfect end to the day.....breakfast!! My sister cooked eggs, bacon, home fries and toast for the two of us (her hubby's on the road....work). It was DEEEEEELISH!!! I'm sure I'll enjoy the rest of my evening, and sleep like a baby, tonight!
Good night, everyone! Love ya!!
Good Morning!!
Written Aug 14, 2012 6:59am
I've been up for almost an hour (it's 6:59am, now), after only getting up once during the night, to go to the bathroom! Yay! I'm also beginning to get hungry! LOL!
I noticed something odd about my legs, yesterday....it seems I've developed a rash of some kind on both of them! It doesn't itch...but it's spreading; I showed my sister, too, and she is about as clueless as I am as to what it might be. I wasn't going to mention it, at all, until I noticed the rashes had spread, last night (just on my legs, though)...must make sure to mention it to the ladies at the Cancer Center, on Thursday! I could be having a reaction to the chemo, or maybe this is a side effect. Who knows!
Anyway....time for some breakfast!
What a day!!
Written Aug 14, 2012 8:40pm
Another rough day, today.....bummer!
This morning, my body developed an annoying stabbing pain; it only happened once in a while, at first...then, by this afternoon, it was more frequent. By the end of my day, this stabbing pain has become a constant pain, that throbs!
I don't know why this is happening...but I sure wish it would GO AWAY!! I've taken Ibuprofen a couple times, today, but it only dulls the pain...I can still feel it. If it continues to happen, I'll be adding that to the list of things to mention at the Cancer Center.
I'm also hoping this pain doesn't keep me awake, tonight! We'll see!
Good Morning!!
Written Aug 15, 2012 5:52am
Well....I think it is, anyway! I've been up since 4:30, after having a restless night!
Still in pain, from yesterday...I'm trying to see if I can figure out the cause, but I just don't know. It could just be my body giving in to the effects of last week's chemo treatment. I've never gone through chemo treatments, before, so I can't say how my body's going to deal with it.
The pain I'm experiencing doesn't seem to go completely away, when I take my Ibuprofen, either....I still get the stabbing sensation, even though the steady pain is lower in intensity. And it's a different type of pain than the "elephant" I mentioned in a previous journal entry. It feels like cramps,or gas, or something like that!
But I guess I shouldn't complain too much...at least my nerve endings are working!! Praise God! LOL!! One thing's for sure....I will be taking a nap, today!
Good Morning!
Written Aug 16, 2012 5:51am
So sorry I didn't post anymore, yesterday...I was dealing with some issues that kept me from my journal.
I'm still dealing with that crampy, stabbing pain...and trying to figure out why it's happening. My sister asked if maybe it was being caused by my back brace, because the location of the pain is right where the brace rests on my hips....hhmmmmm....ok, so I'll ask the folks at the Cancer Center, today, and my Surgeon on the 28th.
I'm also dealing with some very unpleasant emotions, brought on by a situation that is well out of my control, but not so much with another. This person, whom I appointed as my Power of Attorney for Healthcare...has all of my things, including some very necessary documents that I've been asking for these past 6 weeks; and said person has yet to "find the time" to locate my documents among my belongings. Granted, this person has a house full of young kids, and a business to run (practically on their own!), and is also in college....but, even with that busy of a schedule, I would've brought those documents to someone, by now!
I'm so angry!!! And I'm beginning to feel like I'm not as important to this person as I once thought I was! These documents I'm asking for are my identification documents....namely, my social security card, birth certificate and photo ID. As long as I don't have them, I can't finish my paperwork for Medicaid or for Disability; and my bills are coming in!! I have also asked this person to return my laptop to me, which has been on loan to them since April, of this year...they were supposed to buy themselves a laptop with summer semester's student funds, so I could have mine back; fall semester starts at the end of this month, and I still don't have my laptop!
In my anger and hurt, I publicly posted a prayer to God, on Facebook, complaining about all of that and how it was making me feel...I let my emotions determine my actions, and ended up hurting a few people in the process. The resulting apology was also public. But I'm asking whoever's reading this....if you're one of the people who was hurt by that post, I do apologize; but, put yourself in MY shoes, and tell me you wouldn't feel the same way!! I know there are a few people who are sincerely trying their best to help me be reunited with my documents, and I'm sure having to go through the person who's holding things up is not pleasant....but think about this through MY perspective, just for a minute!
I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness (still hate that word!), I spent a whole month in two medical facilities, as a result of a serious surgical procedure to alleviate some of the difficulties that illness had caused. My life has been turned upside down, because I went from being totally independent, to having no other choice but to depend on someone for my daily needs! And the drugs I'm being given to end the life of this terminal illness might actually cause me MORE suffering!! This is a scary time for me, folks!!
Meanwhile...the person whom I elected to take care of my medical needs, if I'm not able to do so, has decided that I'm not worth their time, anymore. They're "too busy" to take the time to find my documents, and instead, have placed all of my belongings in the basement of their business....behind some other things. Remember....this is how I'm feeling...this is my take on the situation. So, yeah...you'll have to forgive me if I get a little rude, arrogant, or bratty about it; but, taking care of it should not have been THIS difficult!!
I digress....I've also noticed that all day yesterday, I was hungry at appropriate times, but had no desire to eat. I did eat...I just didn't want to! That's happened to me, at times, during my "normal" life, too. In fact, I've been up since 4:30am (it's 5:51am, as I explain this part), this morning...my tummy just rumbled, and I just don't feel like eating. Don't worry....I'll eat something! LOL!!
I have a chemo appointment, this afternoon. My sister cut my hair super short, last night, too...I'll have to post a picture of it, soon! We were told that hair loss is much easier to deal with, when the hair is shorter before it falls out. It's less traumatic, they say....we'll see! I should start losing my hair within the next 2 treatments.
I'll close this journal entry, here, and go find something to eat for breakfast. Thanks for letting me rant, earlier!! Stay tuned for further developments! LOL!!
Updates
Written Aug 16, 2012 5:54pm
Finally got my State ID and my social security card (yay!!)...still waiting for my birth certificate. I even got my laptop back, and my purse, too!!! (happy dance!)
Just got back from my chemo appointment...now I have to watch to see if I get any side effects. I didn't get hit too hard, last time, but this is the second treatment; I've been told that it may take a few treatments before I'll notice anything unpleasant. The dogs are sniffing me....I must smell different, since the treatment! LOL!!
Hungry!!! I haven't eaten much today, because I'm just not in the mood to eat....but my sister says she's going to cook some pork shops and broccoli for supper! Yummy!!!
I even had a nap, while I was hooked up for the treatment...so happy about that! I was beginning to feel sleep deprived! LOL!! Well, I'm gonna see if she needs help with supper....see ya, later!!
End of the Day
Written Aug 16, 2012 9:09pm
Super tired, so I'm gonna make this short....
My Oncologist gave me a Rx for my Tamoxifen ....and I can refill it 11 times!!! I'm gonna be on this pill for a while! LOL!! Makes me wonder how long I'll be taking chemo treatments! I think I'll ask, next time I go for a treatment!
Time for bed.....good night!
Good Morning!
Written Aug 17, 2012 9:09am
I've been up for a while...got up around 5am, after only 6 hours of sleep. But....they were 6 consecutive hours!! Yay! Yeah, I did say "good night" at 9pm, last night, but I didn't get to sleep until 11pm....and I'm feeling a little sleepy, at the moment.
It's Day 2 of the 2nd week of chemo treatments....feeling fine, other than a bit sleepy. Thank God the only side effect I seem to be experiencing is fatigue!! I did ask the Nurse at the Cancer Center, yesterday, about those red dots on my shins...she said it might be a reaction to the chemo, and to keep an eye on them; if they spread up my legs and to other parts of my body, she said to notify my Oncologist.
Breakfast, this morning was a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, Greek yogurt, and pink grapefruit juice...yummy!! I may have leftover supper, from last night, for lunch this afternoon....pork chops, broccoli and mac-n-cheese. Yummmmm!!
End of the Day
Written Aug 17, 2012 9:46pm
LOL! After 2 consecutive late nights, talking to my youngest daughter on the phone, I'm up past my 9pm "bed time" and she didn't call!
Lunch was as planned....pork chops, broccoli and mac-n-cheese leftovers from last night; and for supper, this evening, I had chicken, carrots and potatoes! Yummy!!
Haven't heard from my son in a while, so I sent him a message on Facebook. And, I'm missing my husband something fierce! We're separated, at this time....it's a long story, and I'm sure I'll share it, someday; I just don't feel like sharing, right now. I just wish he was here.
Since it is past my "bed time"....I should get to sleep. Still keeping an eye on my system, to see if I get any side effects from the chemo; it's only day 2, out from my second treatment. So far.....so good!
Good Morning!
Written Aug 18, 2012 6:42am
Totally blessed to see another day!! Although, this day is starting out rather oddly....both of my hands are itching, like crazy!! I have no idea why this is happening....but it is.
I had to take some Miralax, this morning....haven't gone in a few days. It'll be all good by this afternoon, though! I can pee just fine, on my own, but my bowels seem to need assistance....I think that system forgot how to function, after my surgery! LOL!!
Yesterday was a rather emotional day, for me....I'm missing my hubby, and all my kids. I keep in contact with my kids, through Facebook, but I miss seeing them. It was nice to have seen all three of them, when I was in the hospital....even though the circumstances weren't all that great.
I hope today is a better day!!
Noticing Myself
Written Aug 18, 2012 3:47pm
This is the second Saturday, that I've needed a nap....it happened last Saturday, too; and I seem to nap for about 3 - 3 1/2 hours. I have chemo on Thursdays....could it be fatigue? I didn't eat lunch, before my nap, this time....and in a little over 2 hours, we'll be having supper.
End of the Day
Written Aug 18, 2012 8:05pm
I ate a little bit around 4pm, and we had supper around 6pm....and even though I had a nap, I still feel worn out; so I'm thinking this must be the side effects of the chemo. I pray that this is the only side effect I have to endure! Just being tired, all day long, is no fun....I don't want to know what dealing with any other side effects, on top of this one, might feel like!
Have a wonderful evening....see you, tomorrow!
Just an Update
Written Aug 19, 2012 10:10am
When I began taking Tamoxifen, I was instructed on what the side effects might be....swollen feet and ankles (got it!), nausea (nope), fatigue (got it), hot flashes (not even one!), etc.
Hot flashes were pointed out repetitively, because this pill can cause menopausal symptoms...but I haven't had any, thank God!! They also stressed that I need to notify my Oncologist if I skip my period, for the same reason. I had one, while I was at the hospital, in July; and my wait is over! I started, this morning! Yay!!
Never in my life, as a woman, have I ever been happy to see my period happen; until now! LOL!! But, I know now, my body is not going menopausal...praise God!!
Late Start to the Day
Written Aug 20, 2012 8:29am
When I got up around 4am, this morning, I decided to go back to sleep for a little while, thinking I was only going to get another 2 hours.....I woke back up around 8am!
Fatigue is a wonderful thing! LOL!! (sometimes)
Good Morning!
Written Aug 21, 2012 7:30am
I didn't take a nap, yesterday, because I had slept in....but this morning is no fun, at all!
It seems that my body is still trying to form a normal sleep pattern. For the last couple days, I've enjoyed 7 consecutive hours of sleep....last night was a different story. I went to bed around 9:30pm, and only slept for 4 hours! I've been awake ever since.
I hope my body allows me a nap (or two) today! I could certainly use one!
~~~~~~~~
That was the last journal entry...and to this day, my body is still trying to find its rhythm. I'm able to do almost everything I was able to do, before this all started, but I have a loooong way to go, before I'm back to normal. And, I may never be that level of normal, from what I'm being told.
There may be a new normal for me, in my future! And, I'm still dealing with emotional moments, from time to time. Sometimes, I don't even need a reason...I just start crying.
This is when I'm thankful that I have God in my life...when I'm feeling weak and vulnerable, I can get with Him, and hide from the world, and my own emotions.
And, I still don't have all my things from that person I mentioned, in my journal...but life (and all its business) is currently taking precedence, and this time...I'm ok with that! I'll get the rest of my things, when I'm meant to be reunited with them. It's all in God's hands
This is as bald as I got, while on chemo...and in the middle of winter, it wasn't really all that fun! LOL!
I never got my wig, but I had plenty of hats!
And, this is me now....taken on my birthday (Feb. 27)!
This photo was taken with my new camera! My birthday present to myself! LOL!
Thanks for letting me share this moment with you! Have a blessed day! oxoxox
