4 down - 4 to go

Ok so October 6 marks the 5th chemo and a new drug - taxol -suppose to be slow drip on this one - not looking forward to being there for 5 hrs and hoping it doesn't make me sick!!! Th oncologist said this is the drug with the least side effects - ok
I just can't wait to feel normal again - so tired be having no energy an don being able to taste.
Potassium level was low this time around and I wonder if it is because I am not doing the dinner smoothies?? I have no energy to make it - guess I need to drink more Gary null drink mix and eat spinach salads!!!!!
It's been a hard week with side effects and tiredness!!! I have been going to work but did leave early yesterday!!
Going to NJ this weekend - if it doesn't rain!! Looking forward to a day with Susan and Joy
Susan sent a flyer from a girl in her office that is doing a cancer run/walk in support of me - how sweet and her friend Jo and her daughters did one in portland in support of me too - people/strangers can be so nice - funny how friends seem to disappear!! Not all of them but the ones you thought you could count on!!! Whatever I know who my true friends are and we all handle things differently - peace love and photography to all!!!!

Ready for another day

People say I am strong - I am just trying to carrying on. I wish I had to opportunity to stay home and rest during this journey through chemo but I have to work - I need the paycheck and the benefits!!!!! This is chemo week so I will have chemo tomorrow -thursday - and work from home on Friday and Monday because of the fatigue!! It's not easy there have been side effects that make it harder to carry on but I do!! The women I have connected with have all been great sharing stories but one really stands out and that is Diane - I think we have had all the same side effects of this poison called chemo so it's great to talk with her!!

I have an Photo exhibit coming up in October - glad it's only 12 photos but still I needy come up with 12 photos to hang!! I will pull it together and decide on the images - maybe even do one for the journey inamgoing through!!! I put everything on hold but this slipped by me!! Ha!!

I have to get my pet sitting and photography business built up again!! So inn2012 I am ready to rock - I haven't had to energy to process images from may and June and July that I took for people so bad of me!!!!!!!

Ok so tomorrow is chemo #4 - woo hoo!! Only 4 more to go after tomorrow.....

3rd chemo treatment down - 5 to go!!!!

I am so behind and I am sorry - the fatigue from the chemo is really bad for me!! I had my 3rd treatment on Sept 1 and of course mother nature had to show her face too!! Dr. K said i should stop getting period and I hope so cause the fatigue is like 12x worse!!!!!!!

I was actually headed home to SC to see my family on August 24 - but we had thunderstorms here that delayed flights and as I sat at the airport feeling worse and worse I knew I had to cancel my plans. thanks to the lady at the USAIR desk who said I should just go to baggage area 2 pick up my bags and call Greg - she had already given me credit for my ticket - sweetie that she was!! Hurricane Irene came and went - we didn't get damage - thank goodness!! it was a crazy weekend though!!

Saw Dr. K yesterday and he says I am doing great. I am on the whole food diet(fruits and veggies) and green drinks so I know that helps!!! My 4th treatment is on Sept 15 then 2 weeks off due to the Jewish holiday. Hoping to go to NJ with S and J for a day at Grounds for Sculpture!!! love that place!!!

I got some great cards from some friends and a bracelet from my childhood BFF. A good friend and fellow cancer patient sent me a couple of hats ( so cute and sassy) - it's nice to know people care.

Ok I am going to try to be better with the blogging I promise!! I have to get more organized at home - I told Greg we look like hoarders with all the stuff in the bedroom that we brought up from basement in case of flood from Irene and of course I didn't get to unpack from my canceled trip home and just having no energy to clean!!

Peace Love Photography

Postcard Swap

I was part of the Liberate Your Art postcard swap thanks to Kat at Kateystudio.com!!  
It was a great experience for me because I got some beautiful postcards from some great women and emails from the ones who received my postcards.  It was extra special for me because I am on a journey through breast cancer right now and had started chemo when I was receiving some of the postcards so it help to get beautiful art in the mail on not so great days!!
below are photos of the postcards I received front and back

Thank you ladies for helping me get through this difficult journey with your art!!!

Peace Love Photography 

celebrating the baldness~~~!!!

Photos from 8/21-24!!!

I went to Long Beach on Sunday 8/21 to relax and enjoy the sea breeze before it got too hot and sunny

On this journey I am going through you have to take good days when you get them - so I decided that Sunday 6am was a good day to walk on the beach!!!

I decided to dye my hair pink on Friday before it all fell out 

 

Peace Love Photography

the drift wood below looked like a foot on the beach!!!

the water felt so good at 7am on Sunday morning - would have loved to have gone in!!!

think I will be wearing skull caps - alot!!  t-shirt saws it all raw fruits and veggies are the best!!!

a friend a work made this for me so I won't be cold during chemo!! 

My friend Karen gave me this cute cat after I cat sat for her!!!!

My friend Jen and her baby gave me the Pink bling as a gift!!!  love it

I will be flying to SC tomorrow and have to be prepared - not good to get sick while one chemo and germs are everywhere.... People on the plane will love me!!!!

Chemo #2 is complete

I went on 8/18 for chemo #2 - as I sat in the car I was pulling handfulls of hair out - they say it starts after 2nd treatment.  It's part of my journey and I know it will grow back so I have decided to dye it pink!!!!

The handfull of hair that came out in the car before 2nd chemo

Below is the needle in the port!!!

Below is the 1st chemo drug going in the IV!!!  yes I pee red after this lovely treatment but drink lots of water to flush it out!!!

Below is me after treatment - feeling good and going to get the hair dye!!

Picked up my favorite magazine to read this weekend while I am resting!!

Found the dye!!

Below is the bleaching job.

 The bleaching job looks good - want to just do pink stripes or highlights but then did whole head!!

below is the final pink hair - Fetish pink!!!  love it - got to be different before the hair falls out and I go to the bandanas and skull caps!!!

August 10 - still feel yucky

ok so no one warned me about having your period right after a chemo treatment - IT"S NOT FUN!!!!
I have been in a foggy state since Saturday my chemo treatment was Aug 4 - just thought it was part of the chemo toxins and poisons but then this morning I got my period - oh that explains it - the chemo magnifies  everything by 5 times!!!!!!   I am feeling a little better - need to rest but doing some work for work from home!!
Had my dentist appt this morning - good to see Greg's uncle he cleaned my teeth and said they were in good shape let's hope they stay that way.
Ok no one told me about the acne break out due to chemo either!!!  probably due to period but times 5!!! Chemo is not my friend.......

so here are some photos i haven't posted yet - enjoy......

 arrived at Hair Klaudt on July 28 to get the hair cut off in preparation for Chemo!!!

 Before haircut!!!!

 After haircut!!

 I love Uptown Charlotte!!!

 my good friend Lisa - she came to hang out with me before I went in to see Rocky Horror - rock n' roll girls together!!!!!

 Peace moblie at Rocky Horror!

 Going into Rocky Horror!!

 the Rocky Horror Cast was great!!!

 My BFF gave me this great bracelet!!

 this is me and Mrs. Epps - she's 94 yrs old and still going out to bars to see her son play his guitar!!

 Almost Famous at Steve's!!

 view as I was walking one morning!!!

 gotta walk to keep my mind clear and body in shape!!!

 went with my sister to hang photos for my Exhibit at WSOC in Charlotte, NC on July 29!!!

 me and my mom - dad in background - always good to be home with them!!

 this is in Charlotte, NC - another reason I wish I lived there - we don't have a place like this on Long Island!!!!!!!