Hans would never let me mow the lawn.  He is a do-it himself kind of guy.  Always keeping busy and always doing a great job at it.  You probably thought he just cooks.  But with his recent surgery and the guy that did the cutting the two weeks prior wasn't availble (he was busy becoming a dad of a beautiful baby girl), I said I would give it a try.  Now I will be doing it as long as Hans is recuperating.

Fresh Thyme Tour w/ Cancer Support Community~

On this day we were invited to attend a Fresh Thyme Tour of it's Greenwood Store.  They prepared for us snacks and salmon from their Bakery and Deli.  It was so nice to have this opportunity to be introduced to the store as we were just beginning to frequent that particular store.

Thank you Cancer Support Community Center for having such wonderful events.

~

Nail Day~

Got my creative nails on today.  This is with using the stickers I got at the Dollar Tree.

Using the NO CHIP top cover helps it to last more than the package says it will.

Liberating the drugs!!!

I feel so liberated today. I called the doc back after he left a message and wanted to talk to me personally. It was the doc. I ignored picking up the phone in hopes to not talk to his blasted nurse again. He says he certainly did not want me to take anything I am not comfortable with. He has sent in the referral to the endocrinologist. He said to hold off on the other medication that was sent in for me. Let my numbers ride a bit. Let's start clean he said. I expressed to him how unhappy I was when his nurse told me I was going to be on shots if I didn't take any of the options she was giving me per the doc. In the last email to him I explained that my mom was victim of being a pharmaceutical junkie. She didn't know enough to say NO. I don't want that for me. He said he agrees. After 6 years with him, I think he knows by now why I am not fond of drugs.

We are going to start back on the South Beach Diet. It worked for us till we had to have a family member move in with us and always had to bring in the sweets. Temptation and not wanting to eat like us ruined it for us on the diet the last time. The only thing I won't give up is my WHITE RICE. What kind of Filipino would I be if I did that!!! Have a good day.

Falling apart.

Started with a phone call from the nurse of our doctor. I had let them know I am not doing well on the Januvia. I ended up handing the phone to Hans. I just can't talk to that woman anymore. I know when something isn't working. Don't sit there and tell me I need to take it or I will be doing the shots next. IRRESPONSIBLE!!! That was the second time she had said that to me in a week. I tried to say, the common thing not working is the 1st med the Metformin. We need to change that. She wouldn't hear that. It was like I never said it. I have tried two secondary meds to go with the Metformin. Strike two!!! I won't let them use my body for experimental use. I can't end up like my mom. Her aneurysm was (I believe) because of prescription inconsistency. Prescription Junkie is what I call it. I won't go there. After the call we went to the gym and when we pulled up into the driveway, I just broke down. Hans is very worried. I am very worried. Yes the meds withdrawals is making me very depressed. That part I can get past. But this part is very scary with them just wanting to keep masking what is going on. The Januvia gave me a persistent cough. I didn't take it last night and it went away. The nurse tells me to go ahead and not take it for a week and then try it again. Uh, NO!!! What part of that makes sense. If a pill gives me a side effect that isn't good, I am not going back on it EVER. Sorry. So she said then you have to get on shots daily. So being the spoiled brat about meds get me to that decision? My support group is all about breast cancers or cancer in general. So now I will have to find one dealing with Diabetes. This disease scares me more than the cancer did. I know my husband is there for me. But there is only so much he can do.

It was a beautiful service. She is another one of the young ones that fought so hard. She was in the mist of planning her wedding when it all went south for her. She was feisty and tough till the end. Lupus mixed with cancer is a very hard thing to over come. We have another Angel to help us with the fight.

Adult Bibs~

While my friend Sandie was making Adult Bibs for some of her friends, I asked her to my one for my step-dad, CAUSE he needed one. He was fascinated by the idea and said I could make a fortune. Didn't want to steal her idea so I made my own. Of course her's are fancier, but I am having fun creating them myself. They are reversible and I am working on whether to do buttons or velcro. Had a little trouble with the velcro ones. So this is my button one.

I gave the very first one to my friend Diana for her news about remission of the cancer. I told her since she was sticking around longer, she'll need this for when she is old. heart emoticon

 — in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sunshine and Dreary Day~

Well, today isn't starting out so great, but yet it is. It will be busy and a lot to get done. There were no takers for our TV's so we are taking them up to the Julian Center. Grocery shopping, mow a friend's lawn and go to the gym.

My Journey Continues~

So the last month I have been weening off some meds that were helpful during my cancer journey. Curious thing is that the doctors don't just tell you when to stop taking them. You have to be your own advocate. I am off two types of meds and all the supplements I was taking. It's been hell being around me so I stayed home mostly or just did things by myself. Didn't want to snap at my friends when I am normally calm about certain things. If you think you are on too much, question it. All that kept happening is my blood pressure kept rising and another drug would be added. My sugars would keep climbing and another drug would be added (not replaced, added). My weight kept climbing and I wasn't happy with that. I wasn't even this heavy when I was pregnant with my twins. I was over 30 pounds lighter when I moved here in 2009.

As soon as I went off the supplements, my sinus problems in the morning went away. I never wanted to do the nasal spray that was prescribed to me. A couple of months ago I even asked the ENT doc about it. His reply was to use the spray or the other option was to do surgery. Of course, I blew off his answer and still rarely used the spray. It didn't fix my problem. I am so glad I didn't accept it. I am happy to be off the supplements.

Next was the Effexor, which helps the nerve damage I have (permanent and stationery condition) it is also an anti-depressant. Even though I weened off it slowly, it played hell on my emotions and moods. I am so happy to be done with it. I do have to deal with the pins and needles that the neurapathy brings. But I am happy to be able to cry again.

Next was the Gabapentin. DONE~ Finish!!! So happy. Still walking a tight rope, but not ready to jump off the bus. True all these things can be helpful in a pinch. But I am not good with drugs and my body loves to reject them.

Last thing I have to watch on this journey is my liver. I am not a big drinker at all. Maybe once in a blue moon do I do it. So we will see the test results in a few weeks. If they aren't any better the Oncologist will refer me to a specialist. So my hope and prayers are all riding on the meds were doing it.

I am so thankful for the husband I have. He has been through all my ups and downs in this illness. He is my rock. heart emoticon

Root Run Indy

Please pass the word Indy~

I am excited about this fundraiser that I am on the ground floor in the planning. I am honored to do it.

When going through cancer, most people don't think about their teeth and what can happen with the dry mouth and chemotherapy. Most don't have the funds on top of having to paying for their cancer treatments. So I am honored to be working with this team and help fulfill the dream of this program to come alive. You'll hear more about it soon. Check out the website and be amazed. See you there on May 30th for the event.
www.rootrun.dentistry.iu.edu

 — in Indanapolis,Indiana.

www.rootrun.dentistry.iu.edu

Thank you in advance.