THANKS-LIVING

So much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday.  Well, for every Thanksgiving holiday actually.  But this year feels just a bit more "thankFULLie" (I just made up that word; kind of like my husband does in Words with Friends).  

I am really thankful to be feeling well for the holiday.  I will be able to enjoy my time with family tomorrow with energy and focus and I will be able to enjoy our feast.  One of the side effects from the chemo is that I have a dry mouth and nothing tastes good.  But in the last couple of days my taste buds seem to have recuperated a bit and things are tasting better to eat and drink.  AND it's a long holiday weekend that I look forward to having some fun with Tanner.  I plan on ThanksLiving-it-up all weekend long!

Some may look at themselves as unhealthy when faced with a disease...but I am still so very thankful for my health.  I have cancer but I am still healthy in so many ways and I still take pride in taking good care of myself to stay strong in body and mind and to do good things for my body.  Every good thing I put in my body and everything I do for my body feels like a big slap in my tumor's face and I love that!  Gives me a little surge of ninja power.  

I am so very thankful for my family, my friends, my neighbors, my acquaintances, Tanner's teacher and school, to YOU for reading this .... everyone I know.  Thank you from ALL of my heart to all of you who think about me, pray for me, bring meals, call me, text me, send me cards, send me gifts, come visit me .. oh my gosh just thinking about the outpouring of love brings tears to my eyes.  How did I get so lucky?  

Thank you so much loved ones.  I wish you a most happy, grateful Thanksgiving holiday ~ live it up!

*My Pop-Pop is an avid reader of the "funny pages."  For many years now he cuts out the ones he likes most or the ones that remind him of me and saves them in an envelope to give me when we see one another.  A couple of weeks ago I was so surprised to receive in the mail an envelope from Pop-Pop with the funnies.  This is the first time I can ever remember him mailing them to me.  It made my day!  Do you think I'm thankful for my Pop-Pop?  You betcha I am!  Here's a Thanksgiving related funny for all of you ....

HAIR I AM!

I disappeared for awhile .... so much has happened since I last blogged.  Instead of writing a long catch-up post I am just going to take some time to make some back track posts.  

So I'll begin with the latest and greatest of what is going on with me.  Today Steve and I went to my wig place together for "the releasing of my hair" (no kidding, that is what they called it) and my wig fitting and styling.  Another way to say "the release of your hair" is TO.SHAVE.YOUR. HEAD.  My hair started to fall out on Wednesday of last week.  First just in some strands here and there but by this morning literal clumps were coming out in my hands in the shower and on my brush.  Lucky for me that I have so much hair that even though I could tell it was thinning, there were no bald patches showing up.  Regardless of that, I was still pretty anxious to get there and to have my head shaved and be done with this falling out hair business.   

Bonnie (owner of wig salon) turned me around away from the mirror as she shaved my head.  She did not shave it down to the scalp to avoid any nicks.  The doctors don't want you at any risk for infections so you have to minimize any injuries no matter how small.  It was interesting to discover that I have two scars on my head!  I have no idea how or why I have these scars.  I texted my Mom to ask about any accidents when I was a little kid but she doesn't remember any reason that I should have scars on my head.  Of course now I am wondering if maybe, just maybe these scars could be the result of some drunken debauchery during my 20's (?)  Yes, I know .. I need to come up with a better story.  Or maybe there is a really good story here but I just don't remember it!  Obviously, I have brain damage and the scars to prove it.

Bonnie and her assistant Randi and Steve were all saying what a beautiful head I have, blah, blah, blah and then Bonnie turned me around to look in the mirror.  I had a very quick reaction of almost crying but I took a deep breath and the urge disappeared.  It's kind of fascinating really to see .. well, so much of your FACE.  That's the first thing I noticed .. wow, there's my face, my whole face and nothing but my face.  My head is indeed, well formed (thank you Lord) and it is small ... I have a small head.  Kind of always knew that but now there is proof.  Because I'm losing my hair it is patchy in places which is not so pretty but after my next treatment on Thursday I'm pretty sure there will be no hair-survivors.  

I wanted to just sit and look at my head in the mirror for (hours) but no time was wasted getting me acquainted with my new friend Miranda.  (This is what I have named my wig - Miranda).  Miranda is actually very pretty and I think I may go out with her more than I originally thought I would.  Steve likes her so much that he took us out to lunch!  I got the scoop on how to take care of her and off we went.  

I kept Miranda on my head the rest of the day until I picked up Tanner at the bus stop.  So I guess I had her on for about five hours and not once did it feel uncomfortable.  Tanner said he liked my wig and that it looked like real hair.  The minute we walked in the house he wanted me to take it off and show him my bald head.  He is fascinated with the head mannequin thing that Miranda takes naps on and only after investigating that and the wig OFF of my head did he really look at me.  He petted my head and said it was soft, said that I still had more hair than Daddy, gave me a big hug and a kiss.  No biggie.  Isn't he just too cool for school?  I love this kid.  

Last week Tanner asked me "Mom, when are you going to be bald?"  I replied, "well, soon I think because my hair is starting to fall out and in 5 days I'm going to get my head shaved."  He was quiet for a minute and then said "soon me and Lula are going to be the only ones with fur on our heads!"  Yes, laughter really is the best medicine.  And a person requires a lot of laughter when going through this fight.

Me and Miranda

"Make a muscle Mom!"

With these two by my side I can do anything!