It's raining, it's pouring

Sept 16-Visiting with Shana

Sept 26- My new lomography fisheye camera.

Sept 25- Me

Sept 25- I am not a fan of the flu vaccine, so I will be taking these herbal supplements to keep me healthy.

Sept 24- Modeling my new hat and t-shirt that my neighbor brought me from Florida. There are sailboats on the shirt.

Sept 23- My dogs enjoying more time with Darla.

Sept 22- Painting, painting, painting...

Sept 20- I have wasted a whole box of film because apparently I don't know how to properly load it.

Sept 20- We keep these binoculars on the table so we can get a closer look at the mockingbirds at the feeder in the backyard.

Sept 19- Getting a bite to eat after the funeral. Allison was so strong through everything.

Sept 18- This was the day of Ally's mom's viewing. I of course did not feel like taking any pictures today. Here is a picture of Allison and I from happier times in 2008 in New Orleans.

Sept 17- Dog sitting the cutest puppy I know, Darla. She refused to let me take a good picture of her, she kept trying to eat the camera.

Sept 15- RIP Paulette

Sept 14- Driving to Dallas

oral chemo

I am now on oral chemo (etoposide). It is one of the same drugs that I was receiving through an IV from November to July. It is a lot easier now because I am just getting one drug not a cocktail, and I can take it at home. I should only have to go to Anderson every 3 weeks. I also do not feel nearly as bad as I did a few months ago. The nausea and fatigue are easily controlled with meds and naps. I will do this chemo until January. As of now I am still on medical leave from work. I want to complete the first round (21 days) and see what effect this kind has on my counts. If it drops them I will stay off work until I am done. The last thing I need is to catch an infection. I'm not thrilled about 4 more months of chemo but if it keeps me in remission then it's worth it. Since I am feeling better I will try to use some of my time off to travel. I'm looking forward to eating some fried cheese in Wisconsin with sister!

In Loving Memory

This week has been very challenging for me. My dear friend Allison lost her mother after a long battle with cancer. Allison and I became friends in kindergarten and her mother was our school nurse until 6th grade. Some of my best memories from all stages of my life: childhood, teen years, being a young adult involve Allison and her mom. I can't help but smile when I think back to all of the great times Ally and I have had together that her mom was apart of or made possible- sleep overs*Galveston Galveston Galveston!* beach house* ham sandwiches* introducing me to Pear Tree tea room*the smell of apple cider tea before school*coupon books*big white suburban*truly understanding my battle with cancer*our last lunch at Gringo's.

Thank you Paulette for gracing this world with your presence. Everyone who has had the chance to know you is better because of it. Allison is family. We have been best friends for 21 years. I will look after her and I look forward to being her friend for the rest of my life. Know that she will be taken care of. Rest in peace Ms. Adams.

http://www.claytonfuneralhomes.com/obits/ Please take a moment to read her obituary.

catching up on pics

Sept 13- I had my port removed!!!! I still have the CVC line. The doctor said I can have it out in a month if I am doing well with the oral chemo.

Sept 12- I had this cute munchkin for a whole night. She looks peaceful, but this is because she exhausted herself screaming. Best. Birth control. Ever.

Sept 11- Almost better than zofran (nausea med), it really helps the nausea

Sept 10- The Holga. My new toy.

Sept 9- My chemo in the pill form. I keep it in the fridge.

Sept 8-My new favorite snack. I am stressed and sad and eating these Canollis make me feel better.

Sept 7- The pretty bridge over the ship channel. I was driving back from Baytown where Allison's mom was at an in patient hospice.

Sept 6- Candace and I after church.

Sept 5- Sunset

Sept 4- I have been painting a lot. I am not a painter, it's just fun and therapeutic.

Sept 3- Enjoying breakfast outside.

Sept 2-Going to visit Allison's mom and bringing her a drink from Starbucks.

Sept 1- My yummy omelet that I cooked all by myself. First thing I have cooked in quite a while.

Aug 31- Michaels, one of favorite stores. I'm loving all of the fall items.

Aug 30- I can finally drive, only up to 40mph and no freeways but I can still get around.

I left a part of my heart in El Paso

Last week I had to take a trip to El Paso for personal reasons. Yes, it was very difficult to travel not even 3 weeks after surgery but I had to do it so I did. The week and a half was difficult not only physically but mentally. I know this will seem a little confusing to those of you who do not know what I'm talking about. I'm sorry for this. In a nutshell, it involves the months I went through before being diagnosed with cancer. One day, when the time is right, I will explain further.

I want to publicly thank 12 angels in El Paso. You listened to me, you heard the truth, you were offended by lies and justice was served. You have helped to stop a bad person from hurting others. You have helped heal a part of me that was broken. Blessings to you all. Thank you for joining me in my mission.

Aug 29- I, sadly, did not win the Mega millions. Bah.

Aug 28- My dad put up a hummingbird feeder. I have never seen Hummingbirds before and now they are everywhere. The nectar is like bird crack, they can't get enough.

Aug 27- Back to MD Anderson. My goody bag filled with supplies.

Aug 26- Me

Aug 25- Chelsea is my first name. This street is also where I was sitting in a restaurant when I got some of the best news of my life with 2 great new friends.

Aug 24- A little retail therapy to ease my soul.

Aug 23- Back in El Paso

Aug 22- On my mini weekend break back home I was able to attend Ms. Allison's home warming fiesta.

Aug 21- Being driven through the mountains of El Paso.

Aug 20- The hotel van that I rode a few times.

Aug 19- My Applebee's menu and room card. I guess since the restaurant is in the same lot as the hotel they find it necessary to flood the rooms with menus and pictures of their gross food.

Aug 18- Downtown El Paso.

Aug 17-First day in El Paso and I ate here. I hate Applebee's. This is not an exaggeration. I gave them another chance and they failed miserabley...again!

Aug 16- The beautiful view from brunch at the Galvez in Galveston, Tx.

Aug 15- Taking a few pictures of lines and scars that I needed for El Paso.

Aug 14- Getting ready for fall.

Aug 13-My new wig that will be returning to its home. It looked so cute on the model, I'm not sure what happened when I put it on my head.

Aug 12- My "cough pillow". I hold it against my insion when I cough and between me and the seatbelt in the car. The give one to all heart patients at Tx Children's.

new heart, fresh start!

I feel brand new. The surgery is behind me and I have been at home recovering. The heart defect was successfully corrected and the tumor was removed with CLEAN MARGINS. This will most likely mean that I do not need radiation. I will not know for sure until I see my oncologist in 2 weeks. I feel pretty good. The pain is a lot less than what I was expecting. Because the sternum (chest bone) was cut I have to follow sternal precautions for 4 more weeks-no lifting anything over 5 pounds, no driving, no repetitive arm movements-basically I have to chill out for another month. My 2 week house arrest is up tomorrow (I had to stay at home for 2 weeks post op to avoid infection) so at least I can leave the house now.

Aug 11- Bye sister. She left to go back to Wisconsin. I am all alone again : (

Aug 10- Camille (sister) baked dark chocolate, white chocolate and coconut cookies. They were delish!

Aug 9- Had a few visitors at the house and I watched movies with their kids all day.

Aug 8- Some of the cards I received...thanks to everyone for the encouragement.

Aug 7-A cute little tree one of my dad's co-workers gave me.

Aug 6- Sister came home bearing the gift of Sprinkles.

Aug 5-This is in the early hours of the morning. I had to take a trip to the MD Anderson ER because I was dizzy with a temp. Some fluids and antibiotics made me all better.

August 4-(pic from spring 09) Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Aug 3- The pillow I sleep with after chest surgeries. It is too uncomfortable to lay flat so I sleep sitting up.

Aug 2- The incision. The derma bond makes it look wider than what it really is. It is one of the nicest incision I have ever seen, it so thin. I am very pleased.

Aug 1- I was doing well so I was released from the hospital earlier than planned. My neighbors met me with balloons and warm muffins.

July 31- The chest tubes used to drain fluid from my chest after surgery. They were about to pull them out. I was pre medicated with morphine before they did this.

July 30-The drains attached to my chest tubes.

July 29-My platelets were too low for surgery so I was admitted to the ICU the morning of to get platelets before the operation.

July 28-The pretty flower art in the lobby of the hotel I stayed in the night before surgery.