Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Busy, Busy


Since I last posted, I've been pretty busy.  

Friday we went to see my Dad and watch the baseball game with my sister and her SO who were down for the weekend.  

Saturday was a day of extremes. I baked an apple crumb pie that turned out spectacularly.  But not a single pair of pants in my closet fit me now except for the elastic waist knit pants I've been wearing since my surgery. I put on a pretty sweater set that I hoped would distract from the pants. :-o  Given that it's my midsection that's the problem area, it's going to be a tough task finding pants that will fit in the waist without being baggy through the hips and thighs. In light of the cancer, this is a minor concern, I know ... but it's still a frustration.  The banquet was a success ... and all three Ts came home with MVP awards for their age groups. 

Sunday DH and I toured an open house ... it's just across the street from the house behind DD's. We are seriously considering moving to their neighborhood.  That would allow us to maintain our independence but still be a minute or two away if anything changes. This house had been beautifully renovated, but alas it was just too much house for the two of us ... with the "kiss of death" being all the stairs.  The bedrooms are upstairs and the laundry room was in the basement.  Between my health issues and DH's arthritic knees, there was no way we would be able to manage all those stairs. There are many single-story houses in their neighborhood, and we are praying that one of those will go on the market.

Monday we moved the rest of our stuff back here from DD's.  Ok - DH, DSIL and T#1 did the moving ... but everything is back and in its place.  I spent most of the day in the sewing room.  I finished pairing up my tumblers ... I ended up with 174 pairs, which I am thinking of setting 13x13 (26x26 single tumblers). I then started to piece the pairs into "foursies" ... only to discover that as I was chain piecing my pairs, I wasn't paying attention to how I was matching up my natural and print tumblers.  I had a couple dozen pairs that wouldn't match up to the others, no matter how hard I tried ... which meant I had to unstitch those pairs. 



My chemo resumed Tuesday morning, and so far, so good.  Unless you call a sleepless night "good".  This first session included Taxol and Carbo ... and a dose of Benadryl and steroids.  While it's not uncommon for steroids to cause a "wired" feeling, it isn't all that common for Benadryl to cause the same reaction ... but it does in me.  There were times when I thought I was ready to go to sleep, but they didn't last long ... and I was wide awake.  Obviously a nap is on my agenda for today.  Tuesday's session was uneventful, and I haven't felt any side effects yet (other than the aforementioned sleeplessness).  Each week, I stop on my way to the Infusion Center and admire the view from the 13th floor.  Yesterday I decided to take a picture ... unfortunately it was cloudy yesterday, so you have to really look to see the Gateway Arch. Perhaps if you click on the picture, a large version will open so you can see the Arch.



We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend ... Spring has finally decided to stick around.  Even with all the clouds yesterday and with the rain forecast for today and tomorrow, it's still in the 70s.  It'll,be sunny and even warmer by this coming weekend, which will be perfect as it looks like we'll be heading to Paducah on Friday. Our dogwood, which was looking awfully puny last summer, is enjoying this gorgeous weather. 


I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

18 comments:

  1. My sister took Taxol on her first round of chemo....they also gave her nausea meds along with the Benedryl and steroids.

    Your dogwood is beautiful! I once moved into a house before spring and the trees were all so ugly! Then when they bloomed out, they were gorgeous.....I didn't know at the time they were dogwoods!

    There is a brand of pants with elastic waist that look nice and I think they are called Allison at Dillard's. Also, Chico's has a nice line of elastic waist pants in their travelers collection, although they are a little pricey. If you go to their online site, they are sometimes on sale. Chicos.com

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  2. Good morning! Well yes lady you have been very busy, and I am so glad to hear it! I haven't baked a pie in quite a while, but that sure sounds good. I only wear elastic waisted pants as with my irritable tummy I can't stand anything tight. IF they should ever be loose in the thighs or bottom that would only be a good thing, haha! I am so glad your back all settled into your house, but agree wouldn't that be nice to be so close to your daughter? I will join you in prayer something turns up. I am LOVING your tumbler quilt so far! I am just starting to look for fabrics and a pattern idea etc. for a quilt for my daughter's 30th birthday that will be coming in July. That is always the hardest part for me. Your dogwood is sooo beautiful. Have a wonderful, wonderful day Kathy!

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  3. It did my heart good to read your post and see that parts of your life are getting back to normal. As far as the elastic waist pants go, I'd get whatever works. So glad the T's continue to succeed. Our great 'summer' weather has now turned to 'spring' weather. No complaints though. Great pictures of the Arch and the dogwood tree. Nice to see your tumblers and to hear that Paducah is a possibility - yay! Enjoy! ~Jeanne

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  4. finding pants that fit can be such a bother, I was just looking yesterday and didn't find one pair I liked that fit. Good luck on house hunting when you are well. I did the same thing with tumblers when I made them and ended up having to take several apart to fit them right. I am glad that chemo isn't getting to you too much as I always hear of so many that are very very sick from it - why take Benedryl with cheomo? I had not heard that before it can at times leave me wired also if it is in a large dose.

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  5. It's great to hear that you are feeling well enough to resume your busy life. That is quite the view you get to take in on your way to the infusion center.

    The stairs would be my turnoff too. I hope a single story one goes up for sale soon for you.

    Congratulations to the Ts.

    I despise shopping for pants. Every body is so different and it must be really hard to make all of those adjustments.

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  6. Apple pie - YUM!!! Nothing better than homemade apple pie still warm from the oven and topped with fresh vanilla ice cream...my mouth is watering :*). Hope you enjoy your Paducah visit. I'm really looking forward to it this year after having to miss it the last couple of years. And really happy that it looks as though you will be able to tolerate your new rounds of chemo! Benadryl and all drugs like that do the same thing to me. If I take them at night, I can't sleep a wink. It feels like my insides have been plugged into an electrical socket :(. I will be praying that they will be able to adjust it for you so you can sleep - and also that you find just the right home for you and DH :*)

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  7. Go load up on some comfy yoga pants :) You deserve comfort. & honestly, with the right top, they look like some good blank pants that you can dress up.

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  8. Sorry about your issue with pants. With my many years of using steroids I have to wear elastic waist pants. Hope you find something that you like. Glad to hear that you are all settled in at home and hoping that a one story house becomes available in DD's neighborhood. That sounds like a good plan. Happy to hear that Spring has arrived.

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  9. I am glad to hear the chemo hasn't effected you too badly. It sounds like you have been busy! What a wonderful idea to move closer to DD and the T's! Love your tumblers! I have had the same issue while working on my tumblers, I had to make sure I had the dark tumbler positioned with the wide part at the bottom each time I sewed a pair together. I hope you have a wondeful time at Paducah

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  10. I'm glad you were able to get back home, I know it has to feel good. We have stairs in our home and we already having the discussion about the need for a change. Glad you tolerated your chemo well, spring is finally here as well

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  11. Hi dear friend, I well remember how tender the midsection was and how swollen-seemed like quite a while. I found draw string pants and a skirt at Walmart and wore them until I could fit in my regular pants. I totally understand how you are feeling. Also I remember my sister took those drugs too and the steroids-oh my. Glad you got some sewing in; I finally figured out some of my issue-I like to trim too much, so every thing looks nice but also didn't understand the word Finished...so now I know.
    Hugs,
    Noreen

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  12. Oh, I hate it when that happens with the chain piecing and we won't even talk about how many times I've done it! Congrats to the T's for their awards, and sorry that house didn't work for you. There will be a better one when the time is right!

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  13. Sleepless nights are frustrating--but I never have them if I have had a dose of Benadryl! It makes me fall asleep no matter where I am or what I am doing.
    I'll be praying for you to continue to tolerate the chemo well.
    Oh, I'm glad you are going to get to go to Paducah!

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  14. Well, hope you had a good and restful nap today. It's so good to read of you sewing, getting out and about and feeling better. Hoping the good days continue!

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  15. I'm so happy for you that you get to go to Paducah! We got to go to Charleston with my son and daughter-in-law for 3 days. First vacation we haven't had to cancel in a long time.
    Enjoy the quilts!

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  16. Kathy, I am late in learning of your illness and subsequent treatments. You are on my prayer list. Ever since starting the mission church I have been stretched thin... posting on my own blog occasionally but negligent in checking others. You are on the top of my prayer list for health and healing. I am rejoicing in the positivity flowing through you in your words and actions. Enjoy every minute and every quilt that you see in Paducah! Hugs~

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  17. Evidently, that stuff does the same to me. I've had 2 treatments and both of those nights were extremely restless. I wondered if it might be from that.

    Glad you are doing so well. I'm still praying.

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  18. You HAVE been busy, Kathy! I'm impressed that you baked a pie. Even if it has been 4 weeks since your surgery, it seems like you're doing a lot. We are in a home with bedrooms on the second floor and the laundry area in the basement. At our age I think it's wise to consider a one floor plan to avoid the steps. We will if/when we ever move.

    Those little tumblers look like they can be squirrely. I hadn't thought about the need to arrange them in a specific orientation before sewing. Good you caught it before you'd sewn too many of them.

    I'm glad your chemo's going well and hope that this week is (was, since it's already Tuesday evening as I write this) easier than last week.

    Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

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I am SO glad you stopped by! No proving that you're a robot here ... I want to hear what you have to say! ;-)