3.22.23

One more chemo treatment left

Yep. ONE more!!!! <insert happy dance>

Yesterday’s appointment went well! The ice hurt my fingers about the same as last time.. maybe a little longer and a little more intense?? But I’m telling you, I have one more. I can do this!

I brought a friend along this time, Erin. It’s always fun getting to show others what all goes on during chemo. Afterwards we went out to eat at the Olive Garden. Some of you know Adrienne and her family. She has a private facebook page Walking with Willow: Watching for the 😉. I thought of them yesterday when I had a little wink of my own from God. 🙂 As we entered Olive Garden there was a lady (Jackie) and her daughter (I’m assuming she was her daughter, I didn’t ask.) leaving. She had a breast cancer support shirt on that said Peace, Love, Hope (the H in hope was a pink cancer ribbon). So in true dad fashion I took a side step towards her, leaned over, and said, “Nice shirt.” She looked down to see what shirt I was complimenting her on said thanks and then asked if she could give me a hug. 💗 “Sure!” As she left I was thinking that was so sweet. Then my photography brain kicked in and I’m like hey I should see if she’s ok with getting a picture with me. So I ran back out side and sort of chased her down… 🫣🤣🙂 “Ma’am! Ma’am. Would you be ok with taking a picture with me? I’m doing blog posts to help keep everyone up to date with my cancer journey.” (or something to that effect) She said sure and then we took the picture. Then guess what!?! I got my wink. She asked if she could pray with me! 💗 What an unexpected blessing!! It amazes me how God can use a seemingly normal (boring even) moment and make it something special. If I hadn’t leaned over and said “Nice shirt.” None of that would have happened… Or maybe it would have if she had noticed me. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say most people aren’t going to approach me about cancer with my “bald” head… 🙂 Although, I think it’s safe to say she isn’t most people. 😉🙂

I was warned that I would lose hair everywhere… including my nose. Do you know what it’s like not having hair in your nose? Let me tell you: Your nose drips. Doesn’t that sound fun?!? 😬 I thought I might have missed out on that little experience, nope. It took until now, it’s not a constant drip, but it sure doesn’t take much to get it going! On the plus side, I know you ladies will appreciate this, I haven’t had to shave my legs! Too bad I could’t have at least taken advantage of that little perk during the summer! And, one more thing, since we’re on the topic of “hair” I don’t know whether this is an embarrassing tid bit or not… (I’m totally not high maintenance… or at least I don’t think I am?? You can verify that with Aaron 🤷🏼‍♀️. I don’t know if women do something about this or not??) I noticed last week all the little peach fuzz on my face is gone. Most of the hair on my arms is too! Another fun little fact for you: not having the normal body hair has made the fabric on my skin feel weird. Isn’t that crazy? I only notice it if I actually rub my arm. Or I’m snuggled down into the sheets. That saying: as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Yep that’s me. 🤣 (Except for the top of my head because I still have some fuzz up there! I definitely wouldn’t have been able to not cut it, but I don’t look like Mr. Clean either!) I’m just really hoping that when the peach fuzz comes back I won’t be giving Aaron a run for his money in the beard department! 🤪

And in the spirit of ‘I hope I don’t have to do this much longer’ I thought I’d show you what it looks like filling in my eyebrows vs not. Does anybody know how long it takes for eyebrows/eyelashes to grow back?? It is amazing what a little eyeliner and a brow pencil will do when you are missing your eyelashes/eyebrows! I am definitely looking forward to having those back! I can’t believe how sickly a person can look by not having those two features! 😬 I give a lot of props to all the women who have to fill in their eyebrows! I’m terrible at it! I was late to my chemo appt because I couldn’t get them to look right! 🤣

Ruth brought me some flowers when she came for the kids’ piano lessons Monday evening, a Happy First day of Spring surprise. 💗 They are too pretty not to share so I snapped a pic for you all to see. And Evie snapped a picture of me after I got home from chemo. For some reason I seemed a little more tired after getting home, I’m guessing it is just accumulating in my system. So glad that next week is my last one!!! 😀🙌🏻💗 We got this!! 🙂 As for prayer requests: Continued prayers that my last one will go well too! I have a follow up with my oncologist and the radiation oncologist April 4th. You can pray that those both go well, especially the radiation oncologist appointment. We’ll be talking over what they are recommending for a treatment plan with radiation. I’ve shared some of my concerns about radiation with a few people in person. Pray that if that’s what I’m supposed to do I’ll feel peace about it. Knowledge is power. I plan to ask more questions to get a better understanding on why they are recommending it. I will say that most of the decisions I’ve had to make are ones that I haven’t wanted to, but when it came time to make the decision we just knew that was the right decision for us. I’m so thankful for God’s hand in it all and all of your prayer support! 💗

 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t judge me! Haha. I was stuffed, but the Freckled Lemonade Cake was calling my name… and I HAD to go by on my way home so I picked up dessert to go! 🫣🤣 I was too tired last night to enjoy it. But when I do, I’ll make sure I take a “pretty” picture of it too! 🤣