pour some sugar on me (ha! good luck getting rid of that earworm)

Last weeks chemo treatment was a little different because there were no doctors there that day.  With no doctor there, I can't have a couple of the drugs they usually give me.  I call them the "heavy hitters". They are the ones that are supposedly most effective...and also the ones that make me the most sick (and sometimes react to).  In any case, in the absence of those 2, i actually managed the treatment pretty well. Didn't throw up at all (!!!) and was pretty much ready to be up and eating the next day. Good things.

Eating.  My weight has dipped pretty low (for me anyway).  Since the pain came back my appetite hasn't been great and so I had dropped a couple pounds before I started chemo again. Then the first treatment knocked me down for about 3 days and even by day 4 I was still struggling a bit trying to eat anything. Lemme tell ya...that's a vicious cycle! If I don't eat and barely drink anything for 3 days (and puke up anything that is in my body), I get very weak and dehydrated...which makes me feel sick, which makes me feel like not eating or drinking.  Oof.  I stepped on the scale the Monday after and was pretty appalled at the number that popped up. I know I can't go into a treatment with a weight that low...so trying to gain back some weight is important.  In addition, i'm trying to eat 'better'...really trying to limit sugar as much as possible and have also decided to go a little more vegetarian.  In all the books, online articles, etc that I read they all recommend eliminating animal products (most suggest going vegan - but I just can't go quite that far) and eliminating sugar. So there's that too.  I'm not that big of a meat eater anyway, so that part doesn't seem too difficult.  Sugar however...another story.

Now, having said that, yesterday was Mother's Day and I really wanted lemon poppyseed muffins.  So I ate them. Gotta allow myself little "celebration" treats I think.  My birthday is this week and my mom is making me a cake. I LOOOOVE cake. And dang if I'm not gonna celebrate my birthday...
not on my actual birthday though.  That's Friday and I'm pretty sure I will be in bed or in the bathroom. Ew.
I will be celebrating this week and probably a little next week.

For now, i'm feeling pretty good.  Pain is still an issue. The weather is shaping up and I'm insanely jealous of all the people i see walking/jogging/riding bikes on the lake trail.  What I wouldn't give...
Fortunately, I am fairly comfortable sitting down, so i can still go out and plant flowers etc. That's on my agenda this week.  My mom has been buying me all kinds of beautiful things to put in my garden, and Ben and I went out to the nursery Saturday and I picked out some things for myself as well.

THAT was something to celebrate.  I went to the nursery and walked around and got to look at all the beautiful plants and flowers. And THEN Ben Tyler Sam and I all went to the grocery store together (Charlie was at a ball tournament). Don't ask me why, but something about going to the grocery store as a family gives me incredible joy. I took a cart and did all the produce shopping. That's one thing about not doing my own shopping that I don't like.  I like to pick out my own fruits and veggies. The boys took off with Ben and conquered the rest of the list and managed to throw in a few things that I normally would say "no" to.  :)
Sammy's comment "i like shopping with dad...he doesn't say no to stuff"

There's baseball, elementary track meet, warmer temps, and birthday celebrating these next 3 days. I will fill up my bucket til it's absolutely overflowing before Thursday gets here.


Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.                              1 Thessalonians  5:16-18