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Saturday, February 18, 2012

I'm done! Hip hip, hooray!

And so the second phase of my treatment ends!! Goodbye to hospital stays, with mortifying cafeteria food, smelly sheets, loud hallways, beeping machines, sleepless nights, sad white walls, long boring days, poking needles, uncomfortable beds, and last and certainly least, IV pole. You will certainly not be missed! I know we had our many many days together, yet I wish to not drag you around anymore for I hope to be a very long time.
After coming home from my last hospital stay I was challenged by sick nauseous feelings, stomach aches, and loosing my excitement for food, which is by far the worst for me. Dr. Ivan of course had me on a strict schedule which was simple, yet so difficult for me to do, relax. After getting used to all the energy burning through my body these past few weeks I wanted to do the exact opposite. But, I knew the only way I was going to recover and get back to my skipping and jumping was by taking it easy and getting some much needed rest. So I did, and managed to quickly recover within a week :) just in time for a wine tasting party Ivan and I had planned on attending with some friends, which was a fantastic way to celebrate.
I also started a new additional job this past week as a tutor. My fist session went very well. I have a small group of kids twice a week that I will be tutoring in English. Hopefully I can find a teaching job for next year within these next couple of months. The market seems rather empty though, yet I'm sure the right opportunity will come along when it's supposed to.
I started my marathon training back up this past week. It was a little challenging after taking a week off, but became easier after the second day. I'm just glad and thankful I was able to feel well enough to go back to training! I will continue keeping you all updated on how that's going.
This past Wednesday Ivan surprised me with tickets to a Warriors basketball game. I've always wanted to go to a professional basketball game, and was so excited when I found out we were going to one. He had planned it with some friends of ours and made all the arrangements without me finding out. He even ordered us shirts to wear. He is not into the whole valentines day very much, which is fine because the game was way better than any box of chocolates or plush teddy bear!
Well, I must go to bed. Its way past my bedtime, and i must get some rest for my long day of training tomorrow. It feels so great to be done with the worst part of my treatment regimen. I definetly feel that things can and will only get better from here! God bless you all and keep following.

Friday, February 3, 2012

I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done!

Well, it happened. The displeasing ring from kaiser permanente sadly showed up on my phone yesterday afternoon. I mean, I knew it was coming. Last week my doctor called me to inform me that my counts as well as my liver had recovered enough for me to begin my final IV treatment. She was even so kind enough to give me the option to pick which day I preferred to be admitted the following week. I grunted in disapointment and replied "ummm I guess Thursday." I guess I wasn't lucky enough to get that late Christmas gift. But I guess it's good news afterall. I mean, it is the last (I hope)IV chemo treatment.
As I unenthusiastically packed my usual bag of clothing and belongings for my much dreaded 5 day stay at the Kaiser 3 star hotel, I couldn't help but fear the sick feeling of that poisonous bag of liquid dripping into me for the last time. I have been sticking to my marathon exercise plan, and feeling fantastic lately! I've had so much more energy and sleeping well at night. I'm scared for having to start all over again, and recuperating myself back up once again. But, "I have to get it done," I've been saying to myself. Afterall I can't stop when I'm tired, I must stop when I'm done (my friend Mena shared this quote with me the other day), and I'm certainly not done yet, so I must push through my tiredness and my feeling of giving up just as I have been while training for this marathon of mine.
With that thought, I got up this morning, ate breakfast, placed my running shoes on, headphones, and walked the crap out of this hospital. I walked and walked and walked. I felt like I was on one of my recent runs on my last lap feeling exhaustion at its fullest, yet the only thing keeping me from moving my legs is my mind and uplifting music telling me I can and will go further and finish. I must finish this last cycle, push through, stop complaining, and finish stronger than any race I've ever ran!
I have a new recent hobby development. That's right, another pastime to keep me occupied as I wait patiently for my life to restore itself back to the working full-time pattern. I'm sure most of you have heard about the clever little website called Pinterest that can suck the days out of your life. I'm a newbie to this website, and let me just say, it was made for people like me!! I mean it's pretty darn genius. Something so simple as sharing photos of just ideas via online boards has brought on an even larger desire for me to cook and make everything. Just this week alone I've cooked 4 recipes and made 2 crafts from this life changing website. I do not exagerate when I say its life changing. It has seriously changed my life. Yes, I know this may sound a little pathetic of me, but if you had the chance to try one of these delicious recipes I've discovered on here, would you change your mind?

Keep following! God Bless!