Honoring the American eagle

It's been said before by numerous people but it is worth saying again .... hair loss is D I S G U S T I N G.

All the literature I received said that hair loss would occur in 14-21 days. Right on target.

As I sit here on day 20 of my chemo adventure I can tell you They nailed it. My hair loss in the last 48 hours overwhelmed me. I was really hoping I would benefit from my genetically thick hair & just keep it thin and sleek.

I decided this morning when I woke up and LOOKED like a cancer patient that I'd had enough.

The girls & I had fun this morning trying on wig options. Georgia could pass as Billy Ray Cirus' child.

This afternoon I accepted I will be bald for Easter ... & yes, I am planning on painting my head. As such, I decided to get this freaking hair off my head and got my head shaved this afternoon. I decided I would rather be bald than look like a chemo patient.

As always, there still an upside. The American cancer society has contacted me about doing a news promo spot for the Pantene wig I received. I could become famous! Hahahaha

Batter up!

1st cancer chemo treatment cycle down. #2 round today & then only 6 more to go - yippee!

So everyone asks how ya doing? All I can say that chemo "is not my favorite" ( as Gigi likes to to say about things that she hates like broccoli).

I was blessed with round #1 with minimal side effects. I'm praying that my luck continues with round #2. Plus this time I know what to expect & WHeN to expect it...

Day 1 - queasy. Antibnasua meds take care of it

Day 2 - nothing exciting to report. Waiting for excruciating bone pain to happen - nothing.

Days 3&4 - good but sooo tired. 3 naps a day help!

Day 5 - back to work. Tired but good.

Thought I was home free. Surprise!

See, what the med peeps don't warn you about is the ~timeframe~ for everything. You might be some ideas that certain things will happen on certain days but I had some surprises ...

Neulasta! I took the warnings seriously when both my physician and nurse warned me about bone pain after the Neulasta. I was told to expect is Saturday night. it came & went & I thought I was home free. what they failed to mention was that it may also kick in when your white cells bottom out 8-10!days later. Mine began day 7 after the dose and persisted for 2+ days. imagine random pains in my sternum (crushing chest pains ) you might be having a heart attack followed byrandom back spasms which felt like I thru my back out, followed by worstmenstrual cramps ever, followed by a walking like a ninety year-old with rheumatoid arthritis. Aand having it last for 2 1/2 days. :)

Now I wait on my hair. I still have it!!! Now I still have another 1- 5 days before it may happen. I just keep tugging on it in the morning and so far it's staying put.

I feel grateful my body feels great - that's my good news!

In celebration of still having hair. Here's a "so good, so easy" for you that involves hair

ANGEL "HAIr" AGLIO OLIO
Maggiano's Little Italy Copycat Recipe

Serves 2

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 pound angel hair pasta, cooked

Add to skillet oil, garlic, red pepper and saute for 3 minutes. Add cooked pasta and 1/4 cup of pasta water, salt and black pepper, toss and server immediately

Swimming with Manatees

I've been thinking about my "bucket list"of items recently; more specifically, I want to swim with manatees -and also Dolphin - okay maybe not swim with them. More like go to Seaworld and sit on a dock and feed them & pet them on their noses. I think this is because I've watched too many episodes of Good Morning America's Sam Champion's Sea Rescue show. Perhaps because its much more entertaining to daydream about these wonderful moments than focus on reality.

Lately I've been PETed, MUGged & today I start my first round of chemo - Cytoxan + Adriamycin (also known in cancer circles as the "red devil").

I mean, who want to take drug named that?! I figure the one thing I have going for me is I am sure several old boyfriends probably called me the Red Devil on occasion so at least we are evenly matched.

I am not happy to have this disease, nor is anyone who has it. So what do I do?

I surround myself with amazing people who pray for me, who bring me meals or get take-out chinese to show up magically at my door, send me cards (some everyday), clean my house, offer to scoop my dog poop, check in on me constantly, drive me places when I can’t, offer their homes, offer to take my kids to kidventures, offer support to my mother and sisters, come over to keep me company or go to lunch with me, offer their friendship and love . . .

I consider myself the luckiest person in the world because I have kids that tell me they love me again and again and again, who offer me sweet kisses and melty hugs, who make me giggle when they tell me I'm "cray cray" becuase I'm acting too silly & "Um-barrassing"them, who want to help by making me luke-warm hot cocoa for a treat at night, who have mastered the art of a cup of tea & even know that I like milk in mine though they do not, who think its extra fun to tuck ME in at night if i am so tired i don't have the energy to tuck them in ...

I am grateful to have been blessed to have a family who loves me, even when l act like an idiot, who cry themselves to sleep at the thought of losing me & say, “I wish it were me,” and they mean it . . .

So I continue to thank God for my life just the way it is! I have had a good life, and I intend to live for many years to come. I plan on seeing my Girls grow up. I plan on kissing a manatee, I plan on going whitewater rafting again the minute! I am able, I plan on going to northern Michigan as much as I can to stuff my pockets with petosky stones from my Aunt's Secret beach and as many free samples from Cherry Republic as I can get!

In the meantime. Found a recipe you might enjoy-

Red Devil Cocktail

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Southern Comfort
1 1/2 oz Vodka
2 oz Triple Sec
1 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
2 oz Orange Juice
1 splash Grenadine
Best served in a Highball Glass.