I love to scrapbook, and I love scrapbook magazines. So, I faced a real dilemma when I got the notice that my Creating Keepsakes magazine subscription was about to expire. It was time to renew for another year. The thought that kept running through my mind was, "Will I be here for another year?" I've already beat the odds by having such a miraculous response to the chemo, and the cancer staying stable. Would I be tempting fate by assuming I would be alive for another year??? No one should have to think about that, but certainly not a 29 year old gal!
I threw caution to the wind, and not only renewed my subscription, but renewed it for 2 YEARS!!!!! I'm not going to live my life afraid of dying. I am going to be optimistic and assume I am going to be here for many, many years.
(And at least if I don't make it that long, I will have enjoyed the time I was here!)
Easter 2008
I love Easter. I love spring. Usually when it is Easter the flowers are all blooming and it is beautiful, so I am sad that Easter is so early this year. I check my flowers outside every day and can't wait until they start blooming.
It is simply unbelievable that it has been 10 months since I was diagnosed with cancer, 5 months since I had my mastectomy and hysterectomy, and 2 months since I finished radiation. Time just keeps flying by. Everyday that I am here, and stable, is a blessing. I didn't know if I would live to see another spring, and I am so glad that I am still here.
We had a busy Saturday. We do all of our Easter Egg Hunts and parties on Saturday so we can focus on Jesus and the Resurrection on Sunday. Never before have I felt such a profoundly deep gratitude for the gift that Jesus gave to all of us. The promise of being resurrected as He was gives me so much hope. There have been several women who have passed away from breast cancer that I have gotten to know through the website breastcancer.org. It breaks my heart that they are separated from their loved ones, but I take comfort in my knowledge that families can be together forever. I wish that everyone could have that peace and comfort from that knowledge.
Happy Easter!
I know I need to do a better job at keeping my blog updated. There just isn't a whole lot to report when it comes to my cancer treatments, but I guess I could just talk about our daily lives.
I got another blood clot this last week in the vein where my port-a-cath is. Tuesday morning when I woke up, my shoulder kind of ached, like I slept on it wrong. As the day went on my fingers started tingling, and the pain got more intense with burning and throbbing pain. I had a sleepless night, and called the doctors office first thing Wednesday morning. Of course they had me come right in.
I had some pretty painful days with my arm swelling and throbbing. Dan has been having to give me daily lovenox injections to help break the clot up. I really detest those shots. Dan has to inject them into my stomach, and they burn like crazy, and give me bruises. At least they do the trick.
Blood clots are a scary thing, especially when they are in a major vein that goes straight to your heart!!! I'm just so glad that this didn't happen while we were in Puerto Rico. Of course, the kids have all been home for spring break. I haven't been able to do anything fun with them because I have had to stay down with my arm elevated. Luckily a sweet older couple from our church ward took the kids on Friday so could rest. They went to the Treehouse museum in Ogden, and then to the park for a picnic lunch. It was such a treat for both me and the kids!!!!!
I hope to post some pictures tomorrow of all of our Easter festivities. And I promise I will try harder to update the blog a little more frequently.
Wow, time has been flying. Sorry it has been so long since I updated my blog, but no news is good news, right?
An update on my condition first: Right before Dan & I went to Puerto Rico I had X-rays done and my tumor markers blood work done. The cancer in my hip, pelvis, and back is stable. My blood test tumor markers actually dropped from 43 to 28. That is wonderful news. I hope I will stay stable for years and years!!!!
Puerto Rico was fabulous! It was so beautiful and warm. The beaches were absolutely gorgeous!! I felt so much better in the warm, plus Dan was really good at keeping me on top of my meds so I wouldn't be in pain. Swimming in the Caribbean was amazing. The water was so warm, and I could just float forever. That was the best pain relief- that weightless feeling while swimming.
Part of the time we stayed with a family Dan knew from his mission, the Hernandez's. They were so nice, and it was wonderful to get to know them. They feel like family!
The other time we stayed at a bed and breakfast right on the beach. We had a balcony you could go out and watch the ocean waves crashing on the beach. We had a yummy breakfast every morning, and we met lots of nice people who were also staying there.
We took a sailboat trip to some islands, and snorkeled along the coral reef. We saw so many beautiful fishes, and we even saw a dolphin from the sailboat. We got a little seasick on the last part of the trip, so I may be hesitant to sail again any time soon.
All in all, it was a very relaxing and wonderful vacation. It is always nice to come home; I really started to miss the kids the last 2 days. Of course, as soon as I get home the are fighting with each other, plus all of the homework, housework, temper-tantrums, cooking, teaching piano lessons, and all the other joys of being a stay at home mom that makes me want to hop on the airplane and fly back to paradise. Such is life though. If we didn't have to deal with all of the trials of life, we wouldn't appreciate the precious moments as much.
The sunsets were so breathtaking. You could literally watch the sun sink in the horizon. The sunrises were equally beautiful. Almost every night we would eat dinner at an ocean-side restaurant. The food was amazing, and we enjoyed non-alcoholic pina-coladas.
This picture is Dan & I at the top of a watchtower in in the El Yunque Rainforest. This place was totally amazing. It was so lush and green, and you could hear so many birds chirping in the background. There were waterfalls, and beautiful flowers.
El Yunque Rain Forest
Beach front restaurant where Dan had lobster. We are with the Hernandez's, the people we stayed with.
Dan with his whole lobster.
Old San Juan
Balcony at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed at: Luquillo Sunrise Inn
RSS Feed