March 12th, 2009

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Is it spring….or winter?

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Hmmm…good question, right?  Beautiful flowers are starting to come out, yet we might get some snow tonight!!  Interesting weather, we’re having, and I’m loving it!  After my walk today, I played with Jameson and Guinness in the front yard, and I noticed all the blossoms opening up, so I took some pictures to share with you.  The cherry blossoms are only starting to open, and some of the magnolias should be fully open in a couple days.  The daffodils are, of course, the first flower of spring, so they’re already gorgeous!

Have I told you my feelings about daffodils?  I can’t remember.  Following my first treatment for leukemia in 2005, I became addicted to the show “Miami Ink” (about tatoos).  Before this show, I never wanted a tatoo, but after watching it, I realized that many of them aren’t just body art; they also have great meaning to the person wearing them.  I thought, “Well, I would like a tatoo”!  I didn’t want it anywhere conspicuous though.  I watched the show every week, trying to decide what tatoo I would want.  I learned that some people use them to cover up scars, and it came to me!  I should have a tatoo to cover my bone marrow biopsy dots on my back (in the hip area).  Don’t ask me how I learned this, but I discovered that the daffodil is acknowledged as the first flower of spring.  It breaks through the tough, cold soil to show off it’s beautiful yellow bloom.  I thought, “Now THAT would have a lot of meaning for me.  I can cover up my bone marrow dots with an artistic chain of daffodils (in color, of course!), because after all I’ve been through, aren’t I a bit like a daffodil?”  I felt like I had, in a sense, been reborn because I conquered leukemia (and the fact that the daffodils come back every year, despite the environment, seems exactly like a rebirth).  Then, I learned about the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Daffodil Days (where you can donate to  ACS and they will send daffodils to you or a loved one.  You can even make a contribution to have them delivered anonymously to someone in the hospital…I thought that sounded really cool.  Anyway, if you want to learn more, check this out: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/Content/PAR_4_1_Daffodils_About_Daffodil_Days.asp or get in touch with a local ACS office).  Sooooo, on with my story.  I learned 1)they were the first flower of spring and 2)they were the symbol of hope for the ACS…I figured I made the right choice for my tatoo.  I would wait until my blood counts came way up before getting the tatoo, but I was really excited.  Unfortunately, the leukemia came back before I could have it done, but daffodils symbolize something very special for me now.  I don’t think it’s worth it now to risk any possible problems with a tatoo, so I won’t be getting one.  Seeing them bloom outside is enough to bring a smile to my day…well, that and cutting a few to put in my room…it adds such a warm yellow glow to any space.  :)  That’s a long story about daffodils, don’t you think?  But maybe now when you happen upon some while you’re out driving or walking around, you’ll stop and give them the notice that they deserve.  They’re strong and forgiving of a harsh environment, and their bright yellow color is enough to bring some sunshine to a rainy day.

Moving on from my daffodils monologue, I tried some speed walking today (arms and all!)!  It felt so good.  I love the feeling of twisting my waist while walking because I can almost sense the inches coming off.  Yup, speed walking is perfect for whittling the waist.  Not that I want to lose a lot of weight…I need to lose about 7-10 pounds to be where I was before my transplant.  I need to get rid of my muffin-top (you know, when your belly hangs out over the top of your pants?), and I need to fit into my pants!!  :)  I’m not technically watching what I eat, because I love food.  I rarely drink Coke though, and you know that’s huge for me!  For the most part, when I’m thirsty, I make myself drink water first.  If I’m still thirsty after a bottle of water, I’ll treat myself to a Coke.  I’m picking up some snacking ideas from magazines, and I have a hot chocolate with marshmallows/Reddi Whip for my dessert most nights (after all, I have to eat something chocolatey!!).  We’ll see how long it takes before I can fit into my pants perfectly!

One more comment for today.  So you all know that I watch TV (I’m trying to cut back on that too!), and I’m pretty sure you know how I feel about commercials.  Except for a select few, I mute them.  The most annoying commercials to me?!—eassssssy to answer that one.  The ones with the guy that yells.  I think you know to whom I’m referring.  I googled “yelling commercial guy” and found some more info about him (aren’t you excited?!).  His name is Billy Mays, and apparently he will be in a reality show called “Pitchmen”.  It premieres April 15th on Discovery.  I can’t think of a more relaxing way to finish up tax day, 2009.  Hahahahaha  yeah, right!!!!!  Check it out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/20/billy-mays-commercial-sup_n_120019.html.  From the little bit of research I did, he seems to have lots of fans…how can that be?  Am I missing something?  Sure, sometimes he does make me want to buy the product, but is it really because he TALKS SO LOUD?!  Perhaps the show will tell us more about what makes him so successful.  Don’t forget…April 15th!  I expect reviews of his new show!

Anyhoo, I’m off to watch “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” (that whole not-watching-tv-as-much rule doesn’t apply on Thursday nights).

Have a wonderful Friday!

Love,

Julie

Dusting off my bike

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Yup!  You read it right!  I went to see an orthopedist today about my knee, and he recommended that I start cycling.  I can still walk for exercise, but he said that biking (or cycling, as he corrected me :) ) would be good for my knee.  So I’m breaking out my bike!!  I don’t have a stationary one, and I’d rather be outside given the choice, so soon I’ll be out and about, helmet and all.  But I definitely plan on keeping up with the walking!!  He also recommended doing some exercises that strengthen my quads, so I will be concentrating on that too.

He didn’t see any problems on the various X-rays, but if I continue to have pain, I will have an MRI.  By the way, the X-ray technician was this really cute guy.  I had to put one of those gowns on, and when he came back to get me, I had to tell him I was having a little difficulty tying up the gown –and nooooo–it wasn’t my way of hitting on him (I mean, seriously, is there anyone out there who can tie one of those?  It’s like some sort of puzzle)!  Anyway, I failed, and I told him of my troubles and asked if I was the only patient who struggled with it.  He replied that the gowns themselves were simply defective, so I felt much better.  He was kind enough to get me another gown that I put on in the other direction, so nothing was hanging out!  He was probably thinking “This girl has more problems than just a sore knee!!”.  :)  hahahaha  No, he was really nice.

So I need to work on creating an exercise plan to see whether that is all I need to relieve the knee discomfort.  I go to my orthopedist again in four weeks.  As I wrote above, if I’m still having pain, he’ll order an MRI, and the next step could possibly be a Cortisone injection in the knee (with the approval of my oncologists, of course).  I hope I won’t need it!  MOTION IS LOTION!!  That’s my new chant.  :)  I told him how important it is to get my knee back in good working order so I can continue participating in TNT events! :)  Oh, and some good news he shared with me:  I look young!  That’s right, folks…he said I must get carded all the time, and that I don’t look 31.  It’s good because, of course, I want to look young, but it’s bad in that I’m indeed old if someone comments that I don’t look my age and it’s a compliment.  When you’re younger, you always want to appear older, you know?  When you’re old, you want to appear younger.  I’ve arrived at that point.  Oh well!  At least he didn’t think I appeared older than my age.  :) …I know, not even related to my knee, but it was good news to hear nonetheless!

So what else has been going on here…Aunt Bitsy left today, but we’re looking forward to another visit in May once her classes are done (in case you didn’t know, Aunt Bitsy is a professor of nursing…and a darn good one, I might add!!).  I let my neighbors’ dogs out and played with them for a while.  It was gorgeous out there today!  On my walk back home, I picked up another neighbor and friend, Mrs. Dowdy, and we walked back to my house.  We’re looking forward to being walking buddies!  We talked about everything, and there was one comment she made that I really wanted to share with you, because I thought it was so beautifully worded.  She said she likes to think of my time and treatment in Seattle as a big wave, one ready to crush anything in its path.  Instead of being trapped by its fury, my mom and I are surfing the top of the wave and riding it into the shore (I hope I did it justice, Mrs. Dowdy…I know I didn’t remember it word-for-word!).  I absolutely love that image, and I think I’ll incorporate it into my visualization.

The ocean in general seems to be a good analogy for a disease…I know, sounds weird, but hear me out.  Its waters (cancer, in my case) are incredibly powerful, and it’s important to acknowledge this before leaving the safety of the beach (the epitome of good health).  You might just get swept right out there without any warning, and you have to submit and go with the flow of the water to keep afloat (acknowledge your disease and seek treatment).  It’s important to keep the shoreline in focus (remission!!).  Respect the power of the water and the creatures that live beneath it’s surface (arm yourself with knowledge about your disease), but don’t forget to smile and delight in dolphins or clownfish (e.g.Nemo) or any positive distraction that comes your way (find something good in each day).  In the meantime, wait patiently for that kayak to bring you back to shore (the doctors, nurses, friends and family who guide your way).

I firmly believe I’m walking along the shoreline now, still wary of any crabs or jellyfish that could lie underfoot, but I’m smiling up at the horizon.  The sun is warming my shoulders (that are covered in sunblock, of course!), and I can just make out the beach house where we used to stay every year in the Outer Banks.  The dunes are damaged a little bit more than before, and the house doesn’t look quite as new as when we first discovered it, but I see my family on the various balconies, sitting in the hammock, playing on the beach, and I sigh with relief and joy to know that my life continues on, and the memories keep piling up.

Wow…I’m being deep tonight, huh?  (oops, anther ocean reference!  :) hahahahaha)  Seriously though, those are just my thoughts.  I definitely don’t automatically think of the ocean as a disease (or I wouldn’t like to go the beach much, would I?), but I figured it could make for another good analogy.  Maybe I’m just tired and all of this won’t sound as good when I re-read it tomorrow.  hmmm…

Speaking of, I guess it’s time to hit the hay.  As I wrote that, I wondered where the phrase came from, so here’s a link I found….verrry interesting.  :) “In 1902, mattresses were often sacks stuffed with straw or hay (hence the similar phrase ‘hit the sack’).The phrase ‘hit the hay’ seems to have originated in the US sports scene. The Oakland Tribune, July 1903, reported this: “‘Sam’ Berger, the Olympic heavyweight … was sleepy and he announced that ‘he was going to hit the hay.’”  In 1905, Paxton Sport USA included this:  [the baseball player] “has a language of his own. Going to bed for him is to ‘hit the hay.’” “…fascinating, don’t you think?  Now that I’ve shared that very important tidbit of information, I’m off.  I hope everyone is doing well!

Love,

Julie