Making a poor man happy.......

   Was visiting with Daddy and Mom yesterday and Daddy was telling me of a segment on the news that he had watched the day before.
   It begins as the Dad was standing along the highway holding a sign stating that his family needed a roof over their head and he would accept any help. One lady stopped and told him she had an extra room at her home and gave him the address. He hurried to his family and they made their way to her home. It showed the family in a small bedroom with everyone setting on the bed. Mom, Dad, the five kids and the family dog. Everyone was smiling and happy to have a roof over their head. The Dad stated they we all so happy and thankful of the kindness that the lady had shown to them. The kids were laughing and caring on as kids do with not a care in the world. He told of how another lady had offered him a job of parking cars at an amusement park for $10 an hour and he said that was the most he had ever made for an hours pay. He said he felt like "king of the world." His family was warm and dry and all together. Actually, they felt as if they had just won the lottery.
   Daddy said that it don't take much to make a poor man happy. Everyday folks complain that their car isn't new enough, their house doesn't have enough room or they need a swimming pool. We're never satisfied with what we have. We as a nation always want bigger and more pricey items. We complain every day about not having what the neighbor has. How many times today have you said  to yourself...Oh, I wish I could have_______.
   Here was a family with hardly nothing but a few clothes and they were happy just to be all together in one small room with only one bed. We don't know how good we have it. We take for granted all the little things that we have and always want more. Is your health good? Are you happy? Do you have food for supper tonight? Do you have a roof over your head?
Look around....look at all the things that you have that so many folks dream of. You're a rich man to them. They proably wish they were you. When you lay your head down tonight in your cool house think of that family and the many other familys who are sleeping in their cars or under a bridge or in the park covered with a card board box. Look up and say thank you Lord for all that I have been blessed with and help me to help someone tomorrow.

Rain on Monday...

Do you remember the song back in the 70's by the Carpenters--Rainy days and Mondays always get me down--was the chorus. I still have that album. You remember those vinyl albums don't you? How many of you still have your collection. Thomas and I still have ours and our 45's. I still have some of Sarah's. Sandra never owned any, she was in the cassette era, she has a couple of shoe boxes at the house filled with cassettes.
Anyhow--the sun is out and no one should have the rainy day Monday's blues.
 It's quiet in the flower shop. Not much going on. It's nice to have days like this. You can get caught up on things and do some cleaning.
Was out at lunch running errands and went to Sandra's office to check on her. Today was her first day back to work. I could tell she was back to her bubbly self...as I entered her office and headed down the hall I could hear her say..Hey, Mommy...whatcha doing??
Thomas is off on vacation this week and he has a couple of things that he wants us to go and see. We didn't get to go to Florida for 15 days as we usually do. Chemo kinda got in the way. But we will do some mini vacation days here and there and we have some things planned this fall for a couple of days.
Let me know if you still have your album collection!!!

Farmers Market

   I got up early this morning so that I could visit the Farmers Market before heading into the flower shop. As I was almost ready to leave home Sarah stopped in and we set on the porch and visited awhile. It was a beautiful morning. The air was cool, the Cardinals were feeding on the corn feeder and the back yard had a few rabbits out feeding.  My two Mallard ducks, Darrell and Darrell were heading to the pond.You needed a sweeter to take the chill off. Sarah and I had a good time laughing and catching up on her week. I tried to talk her into meeting me at the market but she had some errands to run
   As I pulled into the parking lot folks were already buying fresh potatoes and lettuce buy the bag. I could smell fresh baked bread and hand made soap. I visited with a couple of friends who had purchased some soap and they were telling me how the one kind is good for removing soil stains from a hard day in the garden. We gave each other a hug  and I headed to the herbs and checked them out. I  made my purchase of bread and looked through the vegetables. I was looking for fresh fruit, I knew it was  a little early but was hoping to find some.
Lingering at each booth and checking out all the goodies is good for the soul. At one booth they were selling wooden items and a young man was playing his banjo and singing an old George Jones song and I began to hum to myself as he played. The morning couldn't have been any sweeter...

Finally Friday.....

It's been a long week...... Sandra is feeling better and on the mend. Talked to her today and she was feeling lots better. I'm just tired. Wednesday wore me out. I called one of my many nurses today and talked to her about how bad Wednesday was and she's going to check with the doctor to see if or how we can change the next chemo treatment. I told her things had to change somehow. I ask a lot of questions...why was I given two Tylenol & why was I given Benadryl.  Lydia states,with the drug Rituxan there is a side effect of  your heart rate dropping or your blood pressure dropping to low and the Tylenol and Benadryl  somehow keep that from happening. Then I ask, do you know for sure that would happen to me-- maybe I'm different--maybe I'm not like everybody else. She just laughed and said well, maybe you are. I just know that I don't want to hallucinate and be a zombie for 12 hours the next treatment.
I'm not a pill taker. When I have a pain I don't take pills, never have. I just deal with it. I don't do well with Tylenol or Excedrin I always have a nervous reaction to them.
I"m in control here, not the cancer. I call the shots--not cancer. I refuse to let cancer ruin my summer. They all need to get together and figure this out. So, they have a till July 6 to get all their ducks in a row.
I"ve been discussing it with Sarah, she is my book of knowledge when it come to science and health. Who knew that her degree at Ball State would come in handy one day.
It's time to call it a day and set on the back porch with Thomas and forget about cancer for a while.....

Nothing but a blur....

   Yesterday was chemo day and I don't remember much. Thomas and I headed to Seymour about 8:30am.
I got settled in and my nurse Debbie came over and we chatted for a bit. She starts by giving me two Tylenol and then a dose of Benadryl through the vein. The Benadryl will make you sleepy and calm your nerves. Looking back last week I had a reaction to it, but I never gave it a second thought. I have restless leg syndrome. I sometimes have to soak in a hot tub to relax the nerves in my legs after being on them all day. It's just one more thing that you learn to live with. 
Debbie begin giving me the rest of the chemo drug, Rituxan. I began to relax from the Benadryl and then I just kinda went into a disco fever dance. I was a nervous twitch. My legs began to twitch, my arms were shaking and I felt like I didn't have any control over my limbs.
Thomas was trying to hold my hand and comfort me. He helped me stand up and the nurse came over concerned. I told her I can't take much more of this. She gave me a shot of something and it was suppose to void out the Benadryl. Still to no avail there I set shaking my arms, twitching my legs. Thomas at this point was becoming really concerned. Debbie came back over and I was in tears by now. I told her I can't do this. I"m having a nervous reaction to it and I don' want to feel like this. She gave me another does of what ever she gave me before and I began to feel calm. After that last dose I remember nothing. I don't remember the ride home, nor getting into bed. Thomas said Daddy talked to me and I answered his questions about my day but I don't remember even seeing my Daddy. I really don't remember nothing till about 3am this morning. I slept 12 hours and was out like a zombie.
I"m glad Sarah and Sandra were not with us. I wouldn't want them to see me like that.
As I set there twitching I tried my best not to cry. I tried to put my mind in another place, like walking on the beach last summer with Thomas. But I could not calm my self. It's an awful feeling not to have control over your body.
   Today I'm a little better. It was a rough start but I got it all pulled together and I came into work. I was glad that Heather and I  were busy and we almost ran out of flowers. Keeping your mind busy is a good thing. Talking to customers who have no ideal what your going through is a blessing. They talk to you like your normal. Most of the time they also have health problems. They say, "You're so lucky that your healthy"  I just smile......

Monday update....

   Just got Sandra home from hospital. She did great. Everything went as planned and now she can get back to playing volleyball on Wednesday nights.
   I"m glad I was feeling better today so that I could be with her. Saturday and Sunday were bad day's for me. I had zero energy. I felt like I had been hung on the clothes line and beaten with a broom.  I said my prayers this morning and told the Lord that I needed a ton of energy today for my little girl. Thanks for hearing my prayer, Lord!!
   I go back this Wednesday for the other half of my chemo from last week. They wanted me to ease into the stronger drug. I take two steroid pills each day  five days after each chemo so today is day five. Makes you wonder why they would give steroids to an already over weight woman who has cancer. It's just one more thing to worry about. But at least it's only five days. But they figure I need to keep my strength up. But I've lost nine pounds, so I can't complain. I also take a pill to ward off shingles and chicken pox. I never had chicken pox when I was a kid. Sarah and Sandra had them when they were little but I never caught them. Sure don't need them now.
   With my cancer my immune system is shot and I can pick up any kind of germ. I wash my hands all the time and when I have to shop I wash the cart down with those wipes. The chemo kills even my good cells that fight off germs so I can't win for losing. They tell me not to even shake hands with folks. But I'm a hugger so maybe I won't have to touch peoples hands. I would rather hug than shake hands--:)

Everyone have a good evening....I"ll be back in a few days!!

Supper with Linda...

   My bff Linda and I headed south last night for a girls night out. It was good to get out and escape from chemo. Linda needed an update and then we didn't talk about it for the rest of the night. We had a fun time. We ate dinner and took our time. We must have set there for two hours. The waitress must have come back seven or eight times to check on us. We always told her we were fine, but she did kept our drinks (water & tea)  filled. There was about a 45 minute wait for a table but we had to wait and we figured everyone else could wait too.
   We got caught up on our kids and life in general. Linda talked of her collage days and we had a big laugh. Sarah tells me of things she did when she was at Ball State and some of them I would rather not know. Funny how your kids tell you the things they did years afterwards. Guess they figure you can't punish them now. I just shake my head.....
   Not much on my agenda today with the rain. Daddy made me a new birdhouse so maybe the rain could hold off for abit while we mount it.
   Hope everyone enjoys their weekend and takes time to set, relax and laugh with your family.....