Zoey's 1st Trip to the Beach...

Thought I better write before I lose my audience. My strength has been low...not able to eat much right now...but between blocked bowels and the latest switch up on chemo...we were able to get a long fun weekend in. We traveled nonstop to Tampa Bay to see our good friends the Heinly's. I raised their children...she was pregnant with Sean when they moved into our old neighborhood and I started babysitting Tammy & Heather. Let's see Sean is now 31. Mom went on the trip too...we all had a good time...just a few small challenges but one big adventure for Zoey and I. We feared our fear and did it anyway...


Yes...that would be us ParaSailing!

We even landed on our feet and the boat was really crusin'!

Saturday was a beach day...had lunch at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill on the Beach...then back to the beach...







More to come...but right now is night-night time!

Happy Birthday to Me!

#44

I was being bugged as to what to do for my birthday over the weekend. I never plan much ahead anymore...something seems to come up.

I had chemo on Thursday...no longer a hospital stay...just 1/2 day in the Infusion Room with my old pals again. On Friday, I felt pretty good so I thought it might be safe to plan something for Saturday night. I figured a sports bar to watch a playoff game and hang out would be okay...so I made the calls Friday morning...letting others know. Sunday is the actual day...but all I wanted to do on Sunday was watch playoff games and play cards with my card playing crew.

Hit me like a rock. One minute, I'm dancing around the house...the next...I was doubled over, throwing up and calling Mom...another blockage was taking place. It was 4pm on Friday...I called my nurse and she said not to go to the emergency room and just go straight to Main 5 at the Hospital to be admitted...of course, I couldn't start off my birthday weekend without a visit to see my friends there.

It took a good couple hours but they finally got my pain under control. They basically give me this pain killer which helps me relax all over...and quickly...just getting the orders from the doctor is what took so long...she was delivering a baby. I've never had a baby but I guarantee you the pain has got to be equivalent if not worse than labor. My Aunt Jo has had 5 blocked bowel issues and she agrees that it is worse than child birth.

Once the drugs were administered about once an hour...I finally got to the point by Saturday morning that pain drugs were no longer needed but they wouldn't let me go home until I had held down some liquids and passed gas. Mission accomplished by late afternoon...I was headed back home.

Zoey had spent the night at the Bird's...they brought her home with birthday cupcakes and Mom spent the night with us.

Morning came and I was another year older...I appreciate that...unlike most years, you dread seeing that number go up...I'm thankful that it has this year. Sunday was a beautiful sunny chilly day...spent with Zoey and Mom...then Denny, Dan, Davis and Cookie joined us for dinner,football and cards. We threw cards around until about 10:30pm...awesome game of spades...for Da Broads!

Happy Birthday to Me...here's to seeing many more!

To Travel and Feel Fine in 2009!

So long...farwell 2008...I'm not gonna miss ya!

I know I haven't been to verbal lately...I'll try better this year. As most of you already know...I spent another bout in the hospital with another bowel obstruction around the middle of December. They did a CAT Scan and the tumor in my abdomen had enlarged a little...and Dr. D. said a little...which means a little...if it had grown alot...she'd say so. Regardless, she doesn't believe the Taxol/Cysplatin combo chemo cocktail is doing the trick. Time to do something different...now we are trying Doxil/Ceytoxan combo...only 5-7 hr. ordeal at the Dr.'s office vs. 30+ hour chemo hospital stay...so there's a positive. The more I'm in the hospital the sicker I feel...whenever I'm home...I don't consider it much. Life is going on...I'm still here and I'm here to play and stay for a while.

Right now, I'm about 75 pounds lighter and that helps. It hasn't been intentional and I'm trying to slow it down but I'm getting along better. Walking outside...working with resistance straps...little dumbell weights. Since the bowel blockage...I don't eat much bread or pasta...they recommend a high-protein, high-calorie diet...my stomach is smaller because I eat probably 1/3 to 1/2 as much right now.

I do thank everyone for the prayers and thoughts...I do want to ask you to continue praying for me...of course, we all want a cure...the right cocktail to get this crap under control again...but I also just need for you to pray that my strength stays strong so I can have fun with Zoey, family and friends in 2009!

2009 is going to be a year of travel and recovery. My goal for 2009 is to stay healthy and strong while traveling with family and friends...making memories of a lifetime.

First trip...Zoey has never been to a beach...so we are going to Tampa Bay, FL to see my friends The Heinly's from January 22nd - 26th. Nonstop roundtrip flight for $165...hello, can't NOT go...Mom's even joining us!

****I plan to Para-Sail over the Ocean...walk the beach...hunt for seashells...bury my kid in the sand and just be in the moment.****

Second trip...Easter in Connecticut...the Bird's & Davis plan on making this trip with us to see the Wickham's in their new New England world. I have been to Atlantic City but that's about all I've experienced in the Northeast.

****I'm not sure what we'll plan but we'll plan it together and that's all that matters.****

Third trip...we'll shoot for Alaska again this June/July...we still have a credit for the flights last year...just couldn't make it because we switched up chemo treatments and I had all those lung issues last June.

****I plan on 4 wheeling...fishing...sight-seeing...and hanging with the cousins.****

I know it's an aggressive plan...that's why I'll need your prayers for strength. I've planned dates around chemo treatments so I'll be on my good weeks. Keeping my sinuses clean is key...I'll travel like a bandit on planes with face masks and all..."baldheaded masked woman on board"...pull out the cancer card wherever possible.

So right in this moment...I'm feeling stronger and looking forward to reaching my goals!

Ask me again next week after chemo......