Since I’ve started Cisplatin my hair has been growing in a little! Most of my hair loss was from the other chemo drugs I took. It’s growing in kind of spotty still…..but I asked Lisa to take some photos today to mark the progress since I had some energy back.
Boo asked to be included in the photo…..that’s a first. Be still my heart.
Cutie.
Yep….still pretty bald though:
After Lisa took some photos the next thing I knew…..my arm was swelling up. There were little menacing fang marks. My arm didn’t hurt at all but it looked crooked due to all the swelling. No biggie. Lisa called my primary doctor…..who just happened to be out of town for spring break. She told me to go to Urgent Care. Ugh. I had to cancel my first colonic appointment. I was looking so forward to that today. I thought I was done with doctors for at least a week! Guess not. I got a nice little nap in at least as I waited for the doctor. Look at that nice spider bite on my arm:
I love filling out the forms:
The doctor gave me some antibiotics to take to keep the venom from spreading up my arm. I still have to get a tetanus shot. What are the odds that I get bitten by a poisonous spider? High I guess. I’m glad I went…..I don’t want to wake up with gangrene in a week. I got in and out of the Urgent Care in about 45 minutes…..that’s enough to make me shout for joy. The only thing I worried about the whole time was catching some disease there….so I slathered my hands, arms, iPhone and handbag constantly hand sanitizer…..and I opened the door handle with my butt cheek (a perk of being 5’11”).
As I was picking up my prescription I picked up some of these:
Love these popsicles. They remind me of the pool snack bar when I was a kid. I think I’ll have another.
Ouch! What luck! Hope you get feeling better soon! 🙁 You deserve not to be bitten by mean spiders.
I can’t believe with everything else, you got bit by a spider! Yikes!
Hoping the bite heals quickly with NO after affects!
Oohhh!! Your head is sooo cute! Maci’s {my daughter’s} head looks just about as long!! We can’t stop rubbing it! {our excuse: scalp stimulation…lol}
You are always in our thoughts and prayers….
~*Jessica
Dude, they had those at my pool clubhouse too. They had them in banana and chocolate, which were my fave!
hey they must be healthy- they are made with fruit juice!
hope the bite heals soon!
Ok, so don’t take offense to this…
Looking at your picture up there with hair, and then the one below with none, I think you are much prettier without it!! :]
All that hair was hiding your gorgeous face! But seriously, you’re beautiful either way.
And no fun about the spider, I hope you found it and squished it!
p.s. I think this is the first time I have commented on your blog…
We had black widows around the house last year, I was SURE I would get bitten!! Praying you are all healed up soon 🙂
Really? Spider bite? I agree, what the F?!!! You and Boo look so beautiful and we’ll take you, Bald, hairy or anything in between!! 🙂
“What the F.” – lol!!!!! New slogan.
So glad you are okay!! Love that Boo wanted to be in the pictures~! So cute!
What the F is right! Geez, a spider bite. Gotta be kidding. Glad you are ok and love those frozen pops to 🙂
You are joy personified! I have said it before and I will say it til the cows come home! “You are the brightest beacon of God’s love I have ever had the privilege to witness!!!!!” The most amazing thing to me is that you are so, so beautiful on the outside, but need to multiply it to the 10th power to get how beautiful you are on the inside! Sending nothing but loving thoughts! I am so thankful that my prayer for your healing (on all levels) has already been answered! I do believe it with all of my being. Have the best Easter yet. Keep smiling and thank you for being you!
OMG………..seriously?….hopefully after the spider bit u it went off and died from toxic poisoning….!!!!! Nobody who’s had as much chemo as you’ve had deserves 2 b bit by a spider….!!!!!
Love the pics with the new hair!! Laughed at how you filled the forms out!!!
Love it! Nothing makes you feel better than a popsicle!
Hey… you and Boo are 2 beautiful gals ! – I am sure you got a good lecture on how to take care of the spider bite. Just make sure you keep a very close eye on it and make sure you keep it clean. You may end up with a good size hole in your arm where it bit you. I have been bit 3 times over the years by Brown Recluse Spiders (aka BRS) and they can become a very serious wound. I was lucky that I did not loose anymore than nickel size area of skin each time that was about 1/8″ deep. It took each bite a few months to heal up. If it was a BRS that bit you then you may feel pretty sick from it. You can get flu like symptoms and shooting pains up through your arm. It may take a few days before you feel that. Your doctor should have advised you to take a marker and draw around the red area to outline it. That way you will know for sure if the toxin is spreading. Sorry I am not trying to freak you out, but they can be very serious. oh and BRS’s can live just about anywhere these days. A black widow spider is just as bad as a BRS. (some folks think the BRS is worse than a Black Widow spider)
Well girl you keep us entertained even if it’s harmful to yourself “STOP IT” You take care and watch out please 🙂 keeping you in my prayers.
Of all the luck! Glad you went to urgent care even though it was the last place you wanted to be. It will be interesting to see how your hair grows in. My best friend has been fighting cancer for over 20 years (clears up in one place and then shows up somewhere else). The last one she had a few years ago was a double mastectomy and she had both radiation and chemo. After her thin fine hair fell out, it grew back super thick and curly! It is gorgeous! Happy Easter!
Those are the best!!! It reminds me of mardi gras. After a day on saint Charles ave watching all the parades go by to finally sit back and have a firecracker or 2!!! Enjoy and choose joy 😉
So sorry about the bite – but love that you filled out the forms so honestly. 🙂 I will have to try that! You and Boo look great together!
Dang girl!!! STILL… your sense of humor remains <3
Goodness lady, what are the odds? I’m glad urgent care was quick but yuck! And I loooooove firecrackers as well 🙂
they are fat free and they have vitamin C, I think you can have a third one!’
== dalis
Read about your spider bite this afternoon on fb. I am glad you got it checked out. Just wanted to say your so beautiful! Hair is over rated. I myself have most of my head shaved as a hair style. Some people can pull it off so beautifully and your one of those people!
I just want to say you are BEAUTIFUL, bald or not…I just felt that you needed to hear that. I have read your blog and you are awesome.
Your daughter is sure cute too:)
I cracked up when I saw how you filled out the Urgent Care form. I once inhaled a staple at work (don’t ask) and the employee care form asked “how could this accident have be prevented” I wrote DON’T buy cheap staples.
My Hubby Robert said it probley was a black widow, which makes a red mark like that did. Glad u went to urgent care and good it was near your wrist cuz the furtherest from your heart. I do hope u feel better and have a great week away from the Dr office love to you all and I will be praying for you. Have a bad girl week do all the stuff you want to do. love you from Cheyenne in Henderson Nv . Oh i still need your snail mail address to mail you some goodies. Or i could drive there and give them to you in person . let me know ok love you where would you suggest to get a sm yorkie i want one real bad not as sm as yours thats too small but sm maybe 4-5 pounds would be great a girl maybe tow of them sister n bro or tow girls . let me know both ok Blessings to you all
I’m so sorry to hear about that nasty spider! And…yes, your daughter is a beauty, just like her mom! And…I laughed out loud when I read “What the F.” You are hilarious!
Yuk! Feel better now.
I love the “How did it occur?” part. lol
Always making me smile 🙂
I hope that spider consumed all of the cancer while he bit you. You are so inspiring and I love your humor! Keep smiling.
You are the most incredible person, you always choose joy. You make my day with your blog keep on spreading cheer and go strong!!!!
Just be careful after having such a reaction with a bite you might have strong reactions to insect bites after this (that is what happened to my son).
Prayers from Mexico City.
I just had a flashback of a horrible field training incident with a black widow spider. Nasty stuff. At least it wasn’t Boo though, I always would rather get bit or stung rather than have it happen to my boys.
Just wanted to say that you are beautiful! You inspire me to be a better person and choose joy! thank you.
Oh girl you are nuts!! I love those popsicles. When my husband and I first started dating we would make spaghetti and bagged salad for dinner and then have firecrackers as our dessert. Very budget friendly meal for 2 college students. 🙂
Hey Ash! Beautiful pics of you and Sienna! LUCKY!… I wanna be able to open a door with MY butt cheek! You have a wicked sense of humor ,my dear….right up my alley! And if it makes you feel any better….with all the drugs you’ve had in your system lately, that spider most likely died! Silly spider…looks like you picked on the wrong girl!
<3
mmm….. mmm…… mmm……. love the Firecrackers!!
Love the pictures – you are a very beautiful woman, no wonder Boo wanted in the picture with her pretty Mommy.
Bleah! To the spider bite – not nice at the best of times – not something you ‘needed’!
Patricia
I’m so allergic to spiders and bees that a bit like this would have guaranteed me a trip to the ER after an epipen shot … Good thing you are not allergic
Now the important question is did you and Boo compare tongue colors after eating the firecrackers??
Glad you are doing better 🙂
Caroline
Ashley, I know you can see the humor is most things so I’ll be rude and ask, did you noticed anything peculiar in the third picture down (the close-up of Boo)?? She looks adorable as always but your head looks like an off-colored boob resting on her forehead!! lol Your nose is in just the right spot I guess!! =) And I will totally agree with the others, you look absolutely BEAUTIFUL bald!! =)
Hahaha! It does look like a boob! Thank goodness for the context of the other pictures o no one would know that was my head!
Ouch! Those spider bites are nothing to fool with, so take care. I have been bitten (they seem to love us for some reason or other) – got blood poisoning once, huge reactions three other times. Once the whole side of my face was swollen, another time the little bugger bit my left boobie, then a bite to my leg that set me on fire! Happy to hear you are up on the tetanus shot – you reminded me to go get mine!
I am glad to see your hair is growing back in, though you do look great without hair! And, of course, you haven’t lost your sense of humor; great choice on the popsicles. Praying that your spider bite is a non-event and heals immediately!
I was hoping for a pic of the bite…is that wrong? 🙂
I HATE that you found yourself back at the dr office when you thought you had a break, but I am glad you went. Your attitude is so great.
Love those little hairs coming in. I called that stage “Grandpa Sprout” hair. So fuzzy, my kids loved touching it.
Boo looks edible. So cute.
Oh, and your butt cheek comment…FUNNY!
Seriously? Let us know if you gain Spider Woman abilities from it, OK?
I’m tall, too, and loved the butt cheek comment.
Hi Ashley…
I came upon your site today.I am 42 and am fighting Cancer
as well. I am in my 27th round of Chemo and Rad. I have been fighting for 6 years off and on…brain..breast..kidney…spine…and other spots throughout. I have also done a lot of experimental as well…..I’m a single mom of 2..daughter 18 a senior..a boy 16 a junior…
I just wanted to say I really know wha at you are going through..you are in my thoughts tonight and prayers!
Christie
330-907-5329
Stow OH 44224
HOW DO I GET ONE OF YOUR BRACELETS?
Yeah!!! Your hair is growing back! Can’t wait for that to happen to me! 2 more rounds of chemo! I can do it!
I find it funny that your blog for today began with your hair growth.
Today I received a card from Locks for Love. My daughter had donated her hair months ago and we finally received her card. While reading it to her she asked me
“Mommy, did the lady who shaved her hair off get my hair?”
She was pretty sad when I told her you didn’t get her hair.
I am the same about going places like that. It’s so risky and you’re just sure you’re going to catch something terrible because your defenses are down and your immune system is weak. I’m glad you went in. With everything you are going through it could have been worse than usual if you hadn’t gotten treatment.
Wow Mujer Araña!, de verdad admiro tu energia, y tu alegría, y sobre todo tu gran humor, como me vendria bien abrir la puerta con las nalgas, pero desafortunadamente, mi tamaño me lo impide, voy a pedir de regalo de dia de las madres unos zancos que me permitan cerrar la puerta del carro de la oficina, del cajero de banco, del hospital, de los baños publicos con mis propias nalgas.
Por otro lado, tal vez aparezcan esas maravillosas cualidades del hombre araña, lanzar teleraña y viajar rapdiamente a comprar telas, ademas ya es tiempo de tener una pelicula con la mujer araña, no crees?
Por otro lado, se ve el nacimiento del cabello, ahora habra que buscar la manera de que crezca rapidamente y vuelvas a tener esa cabellera de barbie que te hace ver igual de bella que sin pelo.
Con amor Claudia
Seriously?! I can’t believe you got bitten by a spider. Maybe it WILL give you super human strength. You’re already my Super Hero! I hope you feel better.
I forgot to mention, my twin girls went off to school today wearing their cute Easter Skirts made from Target dish towels. Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial. I also picked up some knee high sock at Target and am off to whip up some bunnies! 🙂
I am petrified of spiders!!! Ash, you handled that with such grace. 🙂
You are gorgeous, inside and out. Love these pictures of you and Boo. So special.
xoxo,
Jenn
you are beautiful. sucks about the spider bite…. so glad those treats helped!
You crack me up, I am always smiling when I read your blog. I told my husband the story of the sick puppy and all the dirty towels. That one had me howling out loud. Thanks for helping to lighten my day.
Beautiful pictures…Beautiful Soul…..
Sorry about that nasty nervy spider!
Yes, Boo is a cutie, a beautiful blending of her parents.
Stinkin’ spider! …but, hey, you got a treat! We call those “bomb pops,” and they are my favorite! I’m going on 41 years old and I still love to run out when I hear the icecream truck in the neighborhood….that’s the only place to get the really big bomb pops! 🙂
Hope you’re spider bite clears up fast.
Oh, and those pictures of you and Boo….beautiful!
Blessings,
Malaika.
You have an infectious smile….:)
You are getting stronger by the minute! Won’t it be perfect to be a year ahead and be able to read through those old posts and remember how tough you were. Thank you for your positivity. Many prayers to you and your family. Enjoy the weekend and God’s blessings this weekend. You are stronger than you ever imagined. Keep going and watch out for mean spiders!
You and lil Boo are both beautiful! Hair does not make the woman. You are very brave and I hope you stay strong.
Love you, Ashley! Oh, Christina Shaw, my heart goes out to you, too! I’ve ordered a whole big batch of Choose Joy bracelets and I’ve shared a lot with my friends but I would be happy to share a bunch with you! My email address is [email protected]. Please know that if you want some but money is tight, I would be happy to share with you! I am here to pray and support you and your teenagers too! Hugs to you all! Meghan
I’m behind!!! So glad you are ok! Those pictures of yall are beautiful!!