Done With April

When I first started treatments, I didn't really look at it in terms of weeks or days. I looked at it in terms of months. It didn't seem as bad that way. I had one week in February, all of March, all of April, all of May and one week in June. Well guys, I am done with April and I just have May and a week in June left!! It sounds odd, but it's actually gone by pretty fast. This past weekend was pretty icky. I felt awful on Sunday, but Monday morning I already started to feel way better. It's hard to believe that I was diagnosed 5 months ago. It just goes to show that life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Thank you, Ferris Bueller. I go for my radiation consult this week and I am sure will blog an update for those of you who are interested. If you are ever feeling blue, I challenge you to look at the picture below and not feel happy, or at least smile a little.

2 Left!

I am done with my 4th treatment and only have 2 left!! It's very bittersweet. As much as I am looking forward to finishing chemo, I really enjoy going to the treatment center every 3 weeks. The nurses are all so sweet and it's so nice to have human interaction outside of my apartment.  During my treatments, I met a very aggressive, but sweet woman who was getting treatments as well. For some reason she latched on to me and comes to visit me every time. She stands super close to me and is very chatty, but she means well and we exchange side effect stories. And today she brought gingerbread, so I couldn't be too annoyed with her. Today was her last treatment and I am so excited for her. So far, I am feeling good. No nausea, no fatigue. I am sure it will set in this weekend and that is when my bff Vicodin and I will spend some good quality time together. No guilty pleasures yet today, but for your enjoyment, I am attaching a picture of my cat, Lola, laying upside down. You're welcome.

May the Force Be With You

I have my 4th treatment tomorrow and then only 2 more after that! My scans came back good and I am ready to be done on June 6 (with the chemo part).  I treated myself to some popsicles yesterday at a place called...wait for it.... Suck It Sweets in Studio City. Everything is made with natural ingredients and they have vegan and dairy free options and they were delicious.

I was toying around with the idea of wearing the wig below to one of my remaining treatments. The nurses would get a big kick out of it but I don't know if I have the balls. Thoughts? (sorry for the duplicate picture for those of you who are on my Instagram).
P.S. do my buns look uneven?

I Dreamed a Dream

I had a dream last night that I became pals with Britney Spears. She was playing at a friend's birthday party (just her and a guitar, totally normal) and I pulled my chair right up to her while she sang. We started chatting and wouldn't you know it, instant buddies. I also had hair in the dream, but it was in a ponytail with a scrunchie. When I woke up, I decided I want one of those things to become a reality soooo when I have hair again, I'm going to bring back the scrunchie. You watch, everyone is going to be wearing them.

A Letter To My Eyebrows

Dear Cagney and Lacey (that is what I have chosen to name my brows),

Before you leave home, can we talk about it? Tell me what I did wrong. Tell me how I can fix things. Over the past 2 months, you have been slowly moving your things off of my face. You have been very subtle about it, perhaps hoping I wouldn't notice. If you want to live part time with me and part time with your dad for the next couple of months, I am totally fine with that. I just don't want you to move out all together. He can't take care of you like I do. He can't groom you and pencil you in. I guess I understand if you need a break from me for a little while. And I know you've been talking to your eyelash sisters and convincing them to go with you. I just can't handle all my babies leaving me at the same time!

xoxo,
Mom

 My brows now

My brows before

The New Normal

A week and a day after my last treatment, I finally feel "normal". I seem to have more energy, my stomach isn't being an asshole and my tongue doesn't feel like it's got a winter coat on.  I am going to make myself take a walk today and eat some green, healthy foods to get me back on track. But first, I am going to eat this giant chocolate chip cookie from EVO Kitchen because it's delicious

Blah Blah Black Sheep

This past round has definitely been a bit tougher in terms of "recovery", which the doctor said would happen.  I still feel blah. I had my one week checkup today and all my levels look good, which is great. I just have very little energy and I have been having stomach problems. Plus my mouth feels icky so I haven't been able to eat a ton.  I have pretty much been in my apartment since last Friday and if cabin fever were an ailment, I'd for sure have it. The good news is my nails haven't turned gross and I was told I can paint them soo I have been spending a lot of my free time looking up nail trends. My new favorite is the moon manicure (picture below).  It's actually kinda hard to do, especially on your right hand (or whatever hand you write with). I've read you can use paper reinforcements (like the kind you used in high school) to get the perfect moon shape.

I will say this in every post, chemo is do-able, and I have had flus worse than this. They just don't happen every 3 weeks hahaha.
I haven't treated myself with anything today, but here is what I'd like to treat myself with: 14 s'mores, a bag of Doritos, a margarita, ribs, a cheese plate and some gummi bears

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

This round was a bit tougher than the last. Usually, I don't feel blah until the Sat/Sun after, but it hit me on Friday. I was/am realllly tired, which the doctor said would happen and I feel as achy as I did the first time.  I felt gross on Friday, felt okay yesterday and today I'm back to feeling gross. But it's still do-able and I have had flus worse than this. When I start to feel down, I tell myself this is all preventative and it's only temporary. I have become a warrior and a fighter. I never considered myself a very strong person, but my yoga teacher put it best...she said "the quickest way to get healthy and become strong is to get sick" and she is right. It changes you. It makes you want to live life. Makes you want to be a better person, a more positive person. I don't sweat the small stuff, or at least I am better at sweating the small stuff (baby steps). As I mentioned in an earlier post,  the hair that is still on my head is growing and that makes me so happy. It could still fall out, but for now, I will take it. I made a joke to John yesterday and asked him if he thought my hair was long enough to put in pigtails. I still got it folks!
Today's guilty pleasures: Wicked Single, The Real Housewives of Atlanta Reunion and a Vicodin

Halfway There

I had my third treatment today and everything went great. If all goes as planned, I will have 3 left and then I'm on to radiation! The port makes is so easy. I think I mentioned that in one of my other posts. I didn't feel a thing. I actually really enjoy going to the chemo center. I have met so many wonderful nurses there who feel like family now. I am looking forward to going back tomorrow for 2 hour hydration. I am not looking forward to that bone marrow shot though ahaha.
Today's treat: a burger from The Counter with fries. I am craving it and the nutritionist said right after chemo to eat whatever sounds good

Take A Hike

2 great things happened today...

1) I had enough energy today to go for a hike in Fryman Canyon. I took it slow and John and Bert accompanied me. My legs are really sore because I'm not exercising a ton, but my lungs were perfect. I was able to walk up the hill without really getting out of breath.

2) We saw Jane Lynch on the trail!

3) Tricked you, there were 3 great things. Wait for it...........WE SAW A SNAKE!

Lashing Out

In my last post, I mentioned how my eyelashes are falling out. When I wake up,  a few are on my cheek that have fallen out during the night. Today I curled and put mascara on them for the first time in a couple weeks and realized just how sparse they are. Nothing anyone would notice unless I pointed it out (I don't think), but I notice. As I have mentioned,  I wasn't blessed with long or curly lashes, but they were full. Now, not only are they short and straight, but there are spaces in between the lashes. I'm not complaining, just reporting. I have had it pretty "easy" with chemo so if losing hair is the worst of it, I will take it. Thankfully there are products like Latisse and lash growing mascaras out there that will help these bad boys come back when I am done with treatments.