Friday 30 December 2011

Seasons Greetings

and hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas.  Our plans for both weekends all changed at the last minute.  Never a dull moment!

Christmas because Holly caught a bug so we were banned from going to Worcester. Gutted as we all were,  we know it was the right decision.  Then I had no one to go to the pub with to toast Colin on his anniversary on the Friday.  Holly was adamant she didn't want to come, which I am sure will change in a few years time, so I kidnapped Donna for an hour.  It was a really odd feeling I had at one point as I didn't think I would get  there.  It only cleared up when we ordered our mulled cider.  Thanks Donna  and I am pleased you enjoyed your first mulled cider x

Thankfully the bug cleared up and I didn't catch it so Holly and I still went to Devon and had a wonderful time.   Big Thank you to  Karen Chloe and Teri xxxx

New Year has changed as the ferry's to Jersey have been cancelled due to the weather conditions so we are staying in a lovely cottage in Bude instead.  Bonus - Indoor heated swimming pool and Karen is popping over for the day :-)

Tuesday, after my CT scan at 8:30, I'm taking Holly, Mel and 2 other of Holly's friends, Chloe and Eloise to Bournemouth for a One Direction concert.  Excited doesn't cover it for Holly.  I keep imagining how excited I would have been if I was their age and going to see Donny Osmond, however I am considering using headphones :-).

 Happy New Year everyone and here's to a gripping January  xxx

Saturday 17 December 2011

Some funnies that have made me smile!

I am always laughing and smiling at one thing or another and thought I would share some with you.

Halloween I was running late getting home as Sarah S was calling in for tea on the way home.  We had our pumpkin out and Holly was off out with Mel scaring people.  I answered the door to a corpse bride and a very scary Alice.  Their accompanying adult went on to say they were expecting me to get dressed up like I had 2 years ago as I had made them cry and they had been seeking revenge since.  We all laughed at the memory and I explained I was a week out of hospital and had little hair. Tracie had done my make up so I was the scariest one opening the door.  I do  remember making the younger ones step back and go to their parents and these girls had been waiting to seek revenge since.  Been on a hunt but did find the photo. I'm the one on the right.

                   

When I was at the Beacon Centre next I got chatting to a lady in the second waiting room who has just started chemo and she was discussing the operation she was due to have when this finished and she wanted to know amongst other things what it felt like afterwards.  I mentioned my blog as a resource for her and she asked me if I knew one of her friends that was a nurse.  I didn't and we carried on talking and another lady that had arrived joined in.  It came up that I worked for the Trust and she asked me if I had a young daughter and it then transpired that this friend had mentioned me and my blog to her as I had met the friend when I was having treatment in 2009.  She wanted to know if I was still using my wonderful sense of humour to keep me going through all this rubbish.  We all laughed and I thought what a lovely way to be remembered.

Finally my lovely daughter sprung a birthday surprise inspired by initially thinking I was going to be 50. I was so nervous coming home to find the house empty with a note on the door telling me to get ready, hair and make up as taxi was picking me up at 6:45 I had no idea what was going on. Thanks to those who helped her and turned up it was lovely.  I have said I will help her next year so she can hire a hall and I have suggested we turn it into a fundraiser so watch this space....

I did have another planned joint birthday celebration the following weekend in Worcester and love the next picture cos it's not a bad one of me.



I am enjoying the preparations for Christmas as we are going to be in North Devon with Karen, Chloe, Teri, Rachel, Laura and Holly.  Not sure if Karen is allowed to go sledging down sand dunes after last year when her knee found the rock but we might still have a go.

Well I'm off to finish my cards and make another list.  Have a good weekend everyone xxx

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Date for Chemo set

for the 4th January 2012.  The hormone tablets are not working and my liver fuctions have got worse.   2 weeks ago I was saying I would be gutted if there is no improvement in my liver functions with the change in my diet, however reflecting over this last weekend I realised that what I am doing is never going to shrink the tumours but the fact I feel so much better I will continue regardless. 

My Oncologist advised further to the Macmillon fact sheet given to me at my last appointment, that the worst sideffects they see are the skin drying on the hands and feet and the taste in the mouth being very unpleasant and Diarrhoea. Since the last meeting I have been finding the forums in the Breast Cancer Care extremely resourceful so I asked about the Udder cream and mouth wash and they hold stock at the hospital.  Being prepared is half the battle.

I am dissapppointed with this news and I have to give it a try.
There are other drugs if the Capecitabine doesn't work.  I will have to take tablets for 2 weeks then a week off.  The success of this chemo will be measured by blood tests and I will have another CT scan before I start. There are women who have been on this chemo for 8 years and enjoy a good quality of life!

The good news in all of this is that I will be drug free for 4 whole weeks whoo hoo!

I did sneak into the League of Friends shop on the way back and bought a small pack of tooty friuties, mini cheddars and a small bar of dairy milk. Sshh don't tell Holly.  xxx