Raggedy Start, Decent End

Well, this morning I had high hopes for church.
My poor beleaguered gut had a different agenda.
Guts won. No church for me.
Later said gut allowed me out to do errands.
Thus continued the scramble and search for 100% Aloe Vera Gel - which has been a wonderful balm for my radiated skin.
My original bottle was from Trader Joe. Their brand. Which, it turns out, they only make 'seasonally', and the 'season' is over.
Next stop, Walgreen's. I had seen some aloe gel on line at their store, but no, it had alcohol and stuff in it.
Next?? back home, called a Trader Joe store near St V's. Nope. None left. None in the warehouses.
However, the nice staffer there suggested New Seasons.
Yep. Right down the street. I called, they had, I went. But they didn't have. But they will have. Tomorrow.
I will not whine. I will not complain. I am grateful there is any 100% aloe gel to be had anywhere, never mind just down the street. Besides, it's the only place to get Chocolate Rice Dream, and I need to lay in a few more of those before . .

Chemo starts up again . . . tomorrow.
Back to sludgy, and sleepy (even more sleepy??) and oh, forget the rest.


I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Un - Wilt

Well, I am pleased to report that today felt reasonably normal and my energy seems to have returned - enough to manage the activities of daily living, including errands, house maintenance, laundry - that sort of thing. Did NOT get to work. Hopefully my energy will be there again tomorrow and I can get some very important me-only chores done there.

This is from two days ago:

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Went out on the deck and pulled hair and tossed it to the breeze. I do not like to look at how much I'm getting. I just pull for awhile, stick my hat back on and continue my day. There is still enough sticking out of the hat, and a quick peek at my reflection in the sliding door reveals there is still enough hair to be far from bald. So, thanking God for small favors, I go on with the day.

I've done this for two more days. Strange morning ritual. I don't think I'm quite getting tufts anymore, which means I will have hair enough to frame my face under the hat, at least until sometime after chemo 2 when the cycle of hair loss may start again. 

Oh, and I managed a little shopping yesterday. A few new hats from the local Thrift Store, although the adventure ended abruptly with an episode of runs. These drain my energy every time. Just one episode today, which is why my energy is back, I think.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,

to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!

Psalm 92:1-5

Tomorrow is church. Maybe I will be able to sing a few praise songs, since my mouth is all the way healed.

Encouragement

It started out discouraging enough.
Hair is still coming out in tufts, although it is amazing that there is at least enough to look nice poking out from under a hat. I am rather vain about my hair and have started wearing a hat 24/7. Yeah, last night I slept with my hat on. I don't like the look of me with increasingly wispy hair, or the feel of it either.
Um, and then there's been the runs that have refused to respond to the 'brat' (banana, rice, applesauce & toast) diet.

Dr. H, Radiologist, is the encouragement star of today.
He said, just take an Imodium (anti diarrhea) pill for your runs. Bought the stuff, took a pill immediately, and have not had an episode yet. Man, having the runs was debilitating - I amazed and grateful for the simple fix. Hooray for drugs.
Then, he said I am doing extremely well tolerating the radiation treatments. As in my skin is in good shape. It's nothing I have any control over, except maybe for faithfully applying aloe gel to the affected area, so, really, I have God to thank for giving me a body that is tolerating radiation unusually well.
Tomorrow officially begins the second half (more or less) of radiation treatments. Of course, this means the more difficult half. But I'm doing well! Praise God and focus on one day at a time.
Four more days before chemo starts again. Praise God and focus on one day at a time.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

James 4:13-15

Wilt

Tired - a bit wilted, as it were.
The flowers from work are doing better than I am, although they are showing early signs of wilt.
I'm not walkin' as fast.
Still choosing the stairs though!
Restin' and sleepin'
Doin' a puzzle or two.
Watchin' part of a ball game. Darwin Barney, Murray Hill LL Alum, plays second base for the Chicago Cubs. Saw one at bat. He struck out. Looking.
Ready for bed.
Zzzz

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Hair Today, Hair Tomorrow?

Lots of hair gone again today, but, amazingly, it still looks OK.
I have yet to see the legendary huge wad of hair on my pillow that I have heard about so often. For me, it's sort of like brushing the cat. I brush, out comes hair, and I hope that keeps the shedding down during the day. With the cat, when I brush her she leaves less hair all over the place and doesn't get hair balls. Glad I am not under threat of hairballs!

The apostle Paul writes these challenging and encouraging words in Philippians 4:11-13
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, weather well fed or hungry, weather living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 

Hair loss, impending chemo, increasing radiation discomfort -  

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Boring?

Without the adventures of the baseball team to add spice to this blog it is in danger of becoming a litany of symptoms. Thankfully, I have only one symptom worth mentioning.

That would be hair, shedding at an accelerated rate. Three weeks after chemo. Yuck. I still have enough to look ok, but I how much more will go in the days ahead and I wonder about what round two of chemo will do. Maybe I'm one of the chosen few who will loose a lot of hair. All of it? What ever. I'm sure I will cope. But it is not pleasant seeing the amount of hair that's come out the past two days.

To those of you who may have prayed, I made it to the office today and logged a productive three hours. Thank you! I had just the right amount of energy, and took care of all the 'have-to's' but one. I had intended to go yesterday, but an unscheduled nap and a couple of longish phone calls made mincemeat of that intention.

My biggest challenge is strategizing for chemo treatment 2. Things to get done before it starts. Supplies to lay in. I guess that's it. Just two lists. Not too bad.

Well, that is about all there is to my life these last two days.
I am very grateful that there is nothing awful in it.
I am most grateful that I feel basically OK. Tired and somewhat sore, but OK.
Grateful there's not more than 10 (maybe more like 5!) hours of work per week that has to be done by me. Grateful for the others who are willing and can understand and do the rest of the work!
Most of all grateful that what ever comes my way in life, God is Lord over all of it and is there to carry me through, as a shepherd carries a wounded lamb.
All praise and thanksgiving be to our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ!

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:20-22

Relatively Easy Days

Relatively easy days, although the couch is still the venue of choice.
There is a seemingly endless amount of internet stuff to do.
I still haven't begun to read a book. What has the world come to?
Much of the ease is attributable to ibuprofen.
Actually managed to take the car to the shop, work three hours, and get rad zapped.
Then I came home to my couch and slept!

Yesterday the we had the End of Season party for the Murray Hill Little League All Stars.
It was a nice party and a good closing event for them.
The food was great, and I ate too much.

This is a link to a local news story about the championship game:

http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/sports/story.php?story_id=131126818872317500

Or, just Google: beaverton valley times July 21, 2011 raleigh hills.
It is a short account, but mentions all the plays, including Kaleo's 'perfect' bunt.

Treasuring the nine more days I have before chemo starts again.
Oncology says I should get about the same reactions. Radiology (Dr. Lu) rolled her eyes and said, you are more run down from the first treatment and from the radiology treatments and it will likely be worse.
So I'm planning on holing up, drinking liquid food and swishing with mouth-number and sleeping as much as possible and using my brain as little as possible until it's over.

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:8-10