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Photos of the Day: Stargate

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I had some CT scans today. I always just drive myself because I’m on a mission to get in and out so I can get back to life as quickly as possible. I always ask the nurses to take photos for me. Ever seen the movie Stargate? That’s what the scanner reminds me of. (have you ever noticed I relate everything in my life to movies?)

 

 

It is SO freezing cold in that place.  I love when they bring me a warm blanket right out of the blanket oven as they hook up the iodine.

 


 

Is it just me or is there’s something so wrong about all the warning labels outside the door as you go in.

 

 

I didn’t wait to hear any results. I meet with Dr. L on Thursday so I think I’ll just wait until then to hear them….unless he decides to call me for some reason. I’ve got fun stuff to do this week and my time before chemo on Thursday is precious.  I’ll let you know when I know…..promise.  Tomorrow I get to babysit my little niece Courtney…..you know the one…..the little cutie in my rite of passage video. She’s spending the day at Lil Blue Boo so my sister-in-law Carolyn can spend some quality time with my other niece Cari.

 

 

4 Pounds

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So last night the auction ended that Team Ashley put together….to help pay what seems to be never-ending medical expenses. My family and I are still overwhelmed and without words tonight at the outpouring of support. It. Is. Incredible. Thank you from the very deepest bottom of our hearts. Words just don’t seem enough…..but thank you to everyone who donated and everyone who participated. I want to say a special thanks to Team Ashley who put it together…..they put in so much work it makes me anxious to think about it. I can’t believe how much goes into such an auction….they are still sorting through orders, trying to straighten things out, answering email and email…..even talking to accountants about tax ramifications. Just their time alone spent on the auction has brought me to tears.  We are truly humbled by your generosity and support. We continue to CHOOSE JOY every day and hope you will too. Pray for a BIG FAT ZERO in my tumor markers this week so there will be an end in sight to chemo.  I should know something tomorrow. I’ve got some CT scans scheduled for Monday too so we can see what’s going on inside. Also, please pray or anyone else going through something similar in their lives. Please check into the Lil Blue Boo Facebook page on Monday because I’m paying it forward to another family….with 100% of proceeds from any pattern sales Monday going to help them out.  I’ll need your help!

Note: Team Ashley wanted me to mention that the FEAR WILL NOT RULE TEES will begin shipping next week!

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So what did I do today? Well…..I’m back home from a full day of chemo. 8:45am to 5:30pm. I weighed myself this morning 139……I weighed myself when I got home: 143  I gained almost 4 pounds today just in fluid! No wonder I feel a little achy and bloated…..I’m swimming…..and that doesn’t include the gazillion times I went to the bathroom! Mr. LBB says I’m DEFINITELY yellow….from the neon yellow Methotrexate.

First of all…..I was feeling so good this morning first thing that I put  on a wee bit of eye makeup this morning. It’s a little bit of a botched job….I think it might be time to install lighting over my sink.  Notice I still have my eyebrows!  They’ve just thinned a bit and now they just look all scraggly. I’m not plucking ONE hair….even if I just eventually have 4 eyebrow hairs left. I haven’t had to shave my legs, bikini area, underarms in weeks though! That’s awesome.

 

Ugh…I was stuck a gazillion times though. My veins did not want to give any blood today. They ended up going through a small vein in my hand…..it grossed me out a little…..I usually watch while the needles go in….but I couldn’t watch that.

Notice I am the last one there today. All the other patients were long gone. That’s Nurse L doing a victory leap that the day is over haha.

Mr. LBB and Boo came to pick me up and they wouldn’t let me leave yet. So Boo played games on the computer and talked REALLY loud to disrupt a nurse’s meeting:

We picked up some bread sticks on the way home for dinner. That’s what my body said it wanted:

I’ve crawled in bed and I’m going to watch a movie to fall asleep.

Times Two

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Good afternoon! Oh where, oh where did the last few days go?! Well it’s official….chemotherapy is cumulative. The longer you go the worse it gets. I’m finally feeling a little better today. I fell asleep at 8pm last night and didn’t wake up until 8am this morning…..and I joked to Mr. LBB that I woke up with bed sores…..and I almost did. I don’t think I moved once all night and my joints were so sore. Getting up and around my limbs feel like jelly….I feel so disoriented and clumsy! It’s a cycle….I lay in bed for about 30 minutes then get up thinking maybe I can do something…..and then realize I can’t so I lay back down again.  Compazine makes me sleep…..thank goodness…..I just try to sleep away the bad parts of my day…..but it seems like such a waste.

 

Here’s my buddy Boo this morning….watching Iron Man with me….her favorite movie (I have to fast forward through about 8 parts). She’s afraid of Disney movies (I don’t blame her…..most are pretty dark) but not Iron Man. Go figure.

 

I woke up and was craving Keedy’s breakfast. So even though Mr. LBB and Boo had already eaten they took me to breakfast. We sat at the bar and our waitress Debbie had just finished telling us how she paid our last breakfast forward to a sweet local family….and a few minutes later she came back with the hugest smile on her face that someone had paid for our breakfast AGAIN. I knew who it was this time…..our good friends the Millers who just happened to be there the same time as us. They are so sweet. We handed our money to Debbie again to pay it forward to someone else and she just laughed and laughed. We’ll see how long we can keep it going.

 

 

Try doing something unexpected for someone this week. Maybe they’ll pay it forward…..and then maybe those people will pay it forward….you never know!

Now for the big question of the day….what should Boo and I make with all these pretty felt balls?

 

 

XOXO,

Ashley

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