Monday, Monday…

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Note to self, do not write that you aren’t feeling well on FB. You will send your mom into a panic. Truth is, I did feel like shit. My head ached, my jaw ached, I have my first mouth sore, my throat was sore and I have this dam cough (caused by the tumor). Although I was able to sleep thanks to some NyQuil, it wasn’t a very restful one. However after gargling with hydrogen peroxide, taking some aspirin, eating, taking a shower, drinking a protein drink (thanks Gerri) and then taking some Mucinex, I feel better. I do want to thank everyone who was worried, it was me just being pitiful. Sorry Mom. :)

My goal today was to go into to the office to do some work. However at 10am I got a call from The Boy’s Camp telling me that he wasn’t feeling all that good. Wonderful. I got him on the phone and he didn’t sound his usual self and the counselor agreed. So off Timber and I went to pick the boy up. We then had some stops to make. My office, Publix, the bank and Petco.

By the time we got home I was sweating something fierce and was ready for lunch and my bed. After eating and resting, Timber and I went out to check on the girls and play some ball. The key to playing ball with Timber is bring 2 balls. I stand in the shade and throw one and he will bring it back, drop it and then I throw the other one. It worked out great and didn’t tire me out. In fact he was the one who called it quits. He is now sitting in front of my desk panting like crazy. Someone got a good work out!

Last night I updated the blog a bit. There is now a page labeled Is There a Hotel Yorba? It tells about the hotel and why I have chosen to name my blog after it. Check it Out! Also, if you have or know someone who has a product/item/book they want someone to review, please send them my way! I would love to do some more reviews one items that my readers want to read about! You can contact me at myhotelyorba@gmail.com.

I really want to make this blog a place where people can share stories, ideas, products etc. To do that, I need your help! So help a girl out. Cause really, I have cancer….AGAIN! :)

To steal a phrase from one Mr. Christen Grey…..Laters Baby

 

Have I told you how cool my friends are???

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Have I told you how cool my friends are??? I know I have but it goes without saying, I got the best ones. Yesterday we had a friends over to hang out and go swimming. True to course, the weather here in the ALT was kinda shitty so just the kids went swimming. But hey, at least the pool is getting used!

So, I will admit it, I overdid it yesterday. By the time everyone came over around 2pm, I had driven myself to the Farmer’s Market, whipped out the leaf blower and work on the patio/pool area and mopped part of our wood floors. (some cat, (Simon) made a mess with his dirty paws). When everyone came I made a corn and tomato salad with basil, olive oil and lemon juice.

When I took my temperature it was 99. Well my 4 nurses sprang into action! Nurse Rebecca, Amy, Devra and Calanit moved me into the family room, got me water, a wet wash cloth, insisted I put my feet up and not move. This went on all day. I admit, I wasn’t feeling good and it was nice to have friends call me out on it and take care of me. Rebecca even gave me an pedicure. I have not

Rebecca hard at work!

Rebecca hard at work!

So pretty!

So pretty!

How nice is that? I have pretty pink toes! The Boy had a great time with his friends and My Man got some much-needed relaxation time with his friends. The Boy went home with his BF Corey and this morning went to church and the to White Water Atlanta. Afterwards they are heading to Amy’s community pool and will have dinner with them. This is giving me some much-needed rest time since at 4am me and My Man were in the ER. It was a false alarm. I haven’t been sleeping well or in some cases at all, I did too much earlier in the day and a temperature came on. I got as high as 100.5 but what we found out is that our thermometer is about a degree off! While at the ER I never got past 99. We got home around 7:15am and both went back to bed. I am going to be calling the doctor on Monday and will ask for something to help me sleep. This can’t go on.

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When I woke at noon my body was killing me. I felt like I had been hot by a truck! My back hurt so bad and my phantom pains where f-ing unreal. Hurt so bad. The only good thing about this is that My Man does not have to give me my shots anymore! Woot!

Whatcha Reading

My friends Aimee sent me this book and I just started reading it. Here I thought I had a rare cancer (sarcoma makes up less that 1% of all cancers). The author’s has a cancer that only .01% of the populations gets. WOW.

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I am on chapter 3 and am enjoying it so far. It would be a great book for caregivers to read too.

Shout Outs!

Jennifer S. Thanks for dropping off food for us! I look forward to my soup and pizza. I already started eating the strawberries. Sorry I didn’t come to the door, I wasn’t in the best shape. Glad you got to meet Timber!

Gerri- The soup hit the spot this afternoon! Very Yummy!

All my ladies Yesterday was a lot of fun, even though I overdid it! You guys are the best!!

Some Highlights from Friday

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Some Highlights from Friday

  • Bathed before 1pm today!- I had a conference call for work at 11:30am so I thought I would shower before hand.
  • Wore clothes today!- Again, I thought it would be nice to not wear my PJ’s during the call. I know, how would they know but it was time.
  • Stayed downstairs all day! When it came time for me to rest, I laid on the couch and watched my tivo’d DCI Banks (Side note, GREAT show. Airs on GPB here in the ATL)
  • Had three visitors today. Nice to see Calanit, Gerri and the Elley Family. Gerri, thanks for the soup. Can’t wait to try it! C&K, loved the food! Very Yummy. So nice to see Baby K. Have a great trip! Calanit, thanks for everything you are doing for me and the family.
  • Went out in the world today!- I road with My Man when he went to pick up The Boy from Camp. Started pouring down rain halfway there. Timber and I stayed in the car.
  • Took off all the bandages that were covering my port.- Have mentioned how gross and FREAKY this thing is. Gives me the willies thinking about it.
Freaky!!!!

Freaky!!!!

  • My Doctor called me!- What the what? He said he had been worried about me for the past two days and said what the hell, I’ll call. We talked about how I was feeling, my crazy ass dreams and what is to come. If all goes well, which it will damn it, I may go through SIX cycles of chemo. Oh. Six. Ok…. Shit. No hair for Christmas…
  • I took Timber for a walk!- My Man suggested it and came with me. We didn’t do our usual walk but made it about halfway. It wore me out but it felt good to out there with My Man and Timber. Timber has been by my side since I got home and it was nice to take him out.

Things I learned

  • Everything needs more salt. Now, one of my motto’s in life has been “Salt makes everything better” and it does, it really does. But now, I need it even more! Which is crazy cause I use a lot as it is. My slat taste buds must have been the first to go. :(
  • After talking to Dr. R and my buddy Gerri, this is just the beginning. So far this round of chemo hasn’t been all that bad. But from what they say, I think each one will get harder and the impact on the old bod will be worse. That means I am going to enjoy how I feeling right now (not 100% but not 50%) and prepare myself for the next round. I am going to take them one at a time. That means I might be calling you soon SK!! Get a plan ready for me!

Enjoy you Saturday!!!

Product Review

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Review of Reed’s Peanut Butter Ginger Candy

Reed's Peanut Butter Ginger Chews

Reed’s Peanut Butter Ginger Chews

When I heard I was going to have most likely have to undergo chemo, I did some reading and read what most people do. That I will get super bad nausea and that ginger is great at easing it. So, when one of my nieces suggested I buy some ginger candy while we were at Trader Joe’s. I thought what the heck! I eat ginger when I eat sushi and have cooked with it many times. Well, I had to throw out that piece of ginger candy before I had even had half of it.

UCK! BLAWK! ICKY ICKY!

So gross and it burned people! It burned!! Thing is, My Nieces and The Boy couldn’t get enough of the stuff. Guess I was too old for it.

Fast forward 2 weeks. I now have a ton of ginger items. I have ginger pills, which I take and that may or may not be helping. See, I am also taking medication for the nausea so who knows what it doing what. I also have some sugared ginger candy that I like. I like the sugar and I like how the ginger fire (much milder than the TJ’s) stays with me for a while. But I can eat a piece or two of it a day. The Boy loves that stuff too. I also have some ginger tea and ginger cookies which are yummy but I can’t be eating cookies all day.

Then one day this week I got a care package from my gal Jaime G. In it was a cool T-Shirt from her band The Mudbugs, some lavender oil and two boxes of ginger candy. More ginger! One of them was the regular kind of candy and the other was Reed’s Peanut Butter Ginger Candy.

First reaction= GROSS! Why would you screw with peanut butter like that?!? Now I love me some peanut butter and have been on a peanut butter kick for a while now. I just could not see why you would ever, ever want mix the two. I called The Boy in and asked him if he wanted to try a piece with me. I told him it was candy and since he is an 8-year-old, he said Ok!

OMG! It was really good! Chewy but not two much. At first you taste the peanut butter flavor and as you continue to chew the ginger “fire” starts coming through. It is not over powerful and though the ginger “fire” stays with you, it is only for a few minutes and won’t ruin your palate for any other foods or drinks you may want. Only bummer is that there is only like 9 pieces in a box and well I had to share with My Man too. Total buzz kill.

If you know anyone who likes ginger candy or is going through chemo, send them some. It’s Yummy! And I like that the box looks like a deck of playing cards! Thanks again Jaime!!

My Boy can pick a friend.

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My Boy can pick a friend.

The Boy goes to camp run by our the gym we belong to called LifeTime Fitness. It is a very cool gym and he has enjoyed going to their summer camps two summer’s now. He has met a lot of different boys who go to schools around our area. Last month a boy came up to me and asked me if I was The Boy’s mom. I said yes. He said Hi. He then walked away. Boys? Who knows. I asked The Boy who that was. “Oh that is Emiliano. He is my best friend”. Ok good to know, the dog is in the car gotta go.

Yesterday The Boy came home and I could tell he had something in his hand. I asked him what it was. He asked me if I wanted the card first. Sure. Who is it from?

“Well, you know Emiliano, my best friend? I told him you were sick and wanted you to have this.

Emiliano's card. So Sweet.
Emiliano’s card. So Sweet

Oh My God. He then handed over a small box that held a rosary in it. I didn’t know what to say. The kid is like 9 or 10 years old! I have met him once and NEVER have met his family. And look at his handwriting! It’s wonderful (The Boy’s—not so much). I wrote Emiliano a thank you card telling him how much I enjoyed his card, that he was a good friend, had very nice handwriting and to do well in school. I also told him I would keep the rosary close to me.

Camp is almost over and I am not sure if I will ever see him  again or meet his mom (I need to tell her that she is doing a WONDERFUL job raising him) but I know I will never forget him and his kindness.

PS. The rosary has been placed inside my pillow case and last night when I was having trouble falling asleep, I took hold of it and counted the beads.

 

Good Day today!

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Lunch

Today I made myself two small salads for lunch. When I say “made myself” I only made one of them. The other I transferred from the container to a bowl.  The first was left over from last night that my friends Dona brought over. It came from Hearth in Sandy Springs. It had arugula, blue berries, peaches,  almonds and parm cheese with a vinaigrette. Very Yummy! Thanks Dona! I had never had that salad from there before but will add it to my list!

The one I made had heirloom cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mozz cheese with salt, EVOO and a balsamic glaze. The cool thing (for me) about this salad, is that I grew the tomatoes and cucumber! Woot! Yep! Finally getting some goods from the garden.

Go out and get some!

Go out and get some!

I used the a balsamic glaze from Trader Joes that my friends Rebecca and Amy told me about. I had no idea they had such a thing! I love it and have used it many times since. Only issue: I tend to use to much!

Hair Update: Still Got It!

Later in the day…

Timber and I spent some time with the Girls. It was nice a sunny out and they were able to get some good scratching done. I threw the ball to Timber a bit and pulled a couple of weeds in the garden. The rain and the cancer clusterf*&k has taken a toll on my poor garden. It is doing ok but I have such high hopes this summer!

I did not do much “work” today. Tomorrow I have a conf. call, so maybe I can get a bit of work done. Going to try the yoga later tonight.

Dinner

While my parents were in town watching The Boy, they made a few soups for me from the book I got from my friends Chad and Kristen.

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Tonight I had the Brocoli and Potato soup. It was really good!  Way to go Mom and Dad!! I also had some grapes and a little gluten-free parmesan risotto I made. My tummy is happy.

My Man is still giving me my shots in the tummy. I may have to get up to 10 of them. However, if my back starts hurting I am to stop! My Man can’t wait till my back starts to hurt.

Today’s Shout Outs!

Jaime- Love the shirt! Love the goodies and the Yummy oil! (I just smelled my wrist)

Tia- Thank you for the lovely scarf!

Carol- Love the card and thank you for B&N gift card!!

Alison- Love the scarf and Blue Monkey! I will do my best to make sure he doesn’t end up like Timber’s Blue Monkey

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Thanks for reading.  I’m out!

The Sun is out and Shining

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Good Morning Y’all!

I am moving faster this morning. Yeah! I got up and came downstairs and made myself a morning smoothie and it only took 30 min for me to do it al!!

Smoothie:

1 cup vanilla protein powder

1 cup Dynamic Greens

1 frozen banana

frozen mixed berries

a little frozen spinach

8 ounces of water

It isn’t to fancy but very yummy and full of good things for my bod! You can put anything in a smoothie. I think it is the best way to get the fruits/veg/protein your body needs but that you may not want to eat individually all in one drink.

I am back downstairs working on the Mac. I am having issues with the D key on my laptop and the connection down here is much faster. Plus, I love my Mac! I have made some goals for myself today. I would like to finish up a financial plan I have been working on, do 10 sun salutations, hang out with The Girls for at least 30min and maybe clean up our room a bit. My side of the bed is a mess. I also want to rest, I would like to be able to get out and drive on Monday!

One thing I thought I would do is review a few of the items that have been making my illness a little bit easier, so I will be working on that too.

The sun is out here today in the ATL! I hope it is where ever you are! Sending good vibes to my dad who riding in a 5K time trial for the Senior Olympics in Cleveland, OH in about an hour! Go Daddy!!

Go out and enjoy your life and love hard!