Did you just say "sewing machine"?

Another week buzzing by. Enjoyed these days at work and home...  Might be offline for a few weeks except a word here and there. Leaving my laptop at home while we travel this time. I'll have my iPad but am not as comfortable typing on that.

Grateful I booked an appointment with my acupuncturist on Tuesday. I was in a bit of pain in my back and chest. Plus my stomach wasn't treating me very kindly... the day after acupuncture treatment I felt incredibly better. Qigong that evening helped as well I'm sure... starting to make qigong part of my daily routine.

This afternoon I met the lymphedema specialist to see if there was anything I need to be concerned about or careful with and was quite reassured by the end of the appointment. I learned how to give myself a lymphatic massage and also he whipped out his sewing machine and created a compression garment that looks like half a corset made of stretchy fabric and foam cut to shape for my breast that has been painful since September. Just for sleeping though. Woo hoo to a solution that doesn't include something going over my shoulders. Thrilled. Presently I don't need to worry about my arm/legs but I need to be aware and careful of how they are feeling/doing.
If needed for friends in Hong Kong: Nathan Bridgeman was professional, thoughtful, helpful, and reasonably priced. http://www.cltvr.com.hk/mavista/cms/en/About_Our_Therapist
*I'm not quite over how quick he created the compression garment for me, this guy was a talented, experienced expert and I was thrilled to watch him make some of it on his sewing machine! Shall see how it helps me out. Doesn't feel like a torture device, just feels supportive. Plus, it was nice to work with an American who I didn't have to stumble with for communication...

There's nothing like having goals. Presently, there are many... but I'm not overwhelmed, yet.
First: trip to Bali. Grateful we were able to shift tickets and make this an affordable possibility. Especially happy that I have a break from treatment and can enjoy this with my family without being in a partial chemo stupor. (Fully admit, most of the first week of our trip to the Philippines I was knocked flat by chemo I'd received the day before our flight.)
Second: transition preparation. Getting thru paperwork. Getting thru purging. Going thru library projects so that things can be fantastic for the next teacher librarian and my lovely library assistant who has patiently dealt with project after project this term. I packed two boxes at school of personal items (bringing quite a bit less back to the US but that's ok). Going to begin using the postal system and mailing boxes home on a weekly basis.
Third: Chemo. Get thru the last to rounds. Meh.
Fourth: focus on the move to the US. We're down to 104 days until we're home. Wow. It is really going quick.

I'm trying to put cancer aside and enjoy the days. My husband did have to talk me down from a ledge last night when I started worrying about when I'd get the last two chemo treatments, etc. Shall see. He reminded me that worrying and wondering was useless until I see my oncologist in a few weeks.

Hey, there's more hair there!

It is funny to get so excited over hair. But I am. I got a little jolt when I noticed my baby fluff hair on my neck. Loved seeing my eyelashes back in full force. Nose hair? Meh, made me laugh. But having the hair on my head growing back makes me happy. It is odd how it is growing back but I see and feel curls! Hooray hair.

It is starting to hit me how much I will miss Hong Kong. I love the people I work with, they inspire me. I love my librarian friends, they provide such support, love and energy. I adore my Jewish community friends and am heartbroken to leave a community that I feel special and welcomed in... We have other wonderful friends that I'll miss too... Sigh. I know I've missed Oregon for the same reasons plus I miss my family a ridiculous amount but man, I will miss Hong Kong, it has embedded in me and there are so many things I think about on a daily basis that have helped me grow, stay calm, and learn over the past three years. Sigh. Had a good conversation today with my human resources contact who has helped me deal with the insurance nightmare and is quite kind and friendly... She was so relieved when she found out that I'm returning home to a job (I don't know what yet, but I'm hopeful/excited/happy) and that I'll have insurance. Yes, that is a big thing to be reassured by. She also liked that I'd be 5 minutes from my parents house... excited to move back into our old home... Very sweet woman. Appreciate the people that have been there for me and saved me over and over since August '13. 

I'm still glancing at my VirtueScope every day. (Helps to have it on the wall next to my side of the bed.) This is my month to focus on "resourceful"... Well, I've always felt that I'm pretty resourceful, but it has been a nice word to think about every morning. As a teacher librarian, I'm all about resources. As a blogger, I feel resourceful when I'm recommending books and websites and such. Hmm. Next month? Dignified. Hmm.

I sat down and counted out weeks. I've worked for 11 weeks now. Without needing to take a sick day. Wow. I didn't think that would be possible. Especially with still going thru chemo treatment in the beginning and all thru the darn radiation and side effects. 11 weeks. 5 1/2 weeks were radiation... After this holiday there will be 11 weeks more of work. Shall see how those weeks treat me. So grateful to my amazing recovering body. 

Well, thanks for journeying with me... shall try to post here and there while we're on this trip but never know about internet connectivity.

Monday thru Friday thoughts

A lovely friend who has visited me multiple times over the past 6 months came and gave me bone soup and the brand new magazine- Healthy Living Asia magazine! I'm a print published book reviewer now! So exciting. I'm working on reading two books for the next issue... I also was interviewed in the magazine about this cancer journey, honored to be part of a very fascinating/worthy publication. Friends in Hong Kong, look out for this magazine, you'll love it!
Here's a link to see the cover and read about how my wonderful friend created the magazine with a fantastic team of people! http://thehkhub.com/featured-posts/healthy-living-asia-magazine/

Monday: Tonight I was listening to my beautiful sister sing (lucky me getting to do so) and then I started listening to other music on iTunes. I came across one of my favorite singers- Sting (we share a birthday, folks!) and listened to Seven Days... loved the storytelling of the song. Thought it was appropriate to listen to this when I'm working my way through the next 6 weeks...
Appreciating wearing my own slippers. Day 5 done. 25 is a smaller number... Will see how I'm doing by the end of the week. Was told I shouldn't feel fatigued already. Hmm. Also appreciated learning that my skin was being spared this time since they are aiming for the internal area but I was still allowed to use the Radiagel if I wanted. I said I would for my own mental stability. Nervous about germs at work. My assistant was home today with a fever. Wash, wash, wash those hands... Hand sanitizer galore... Plus some essential oil drops to defend against germs will help too!

Tuesday - Enjoyed taking time for Yoga Nidra this afternoon right before treatment. So kind of a friend to come by and read me through it. I plan to use the audio on my iPhone other days when I feel I need it. Celebrating small successes tonight. First qi gong session where I didn't have any thought or need to sit down. Baby steps of chemo recovery- noted. Radiation day 6 done, appreciating the lack of side effects so far (beyond fatigue) and carefully monitoring myself. One really heartbreaking moment that is weighing on me is learning that a former Oregon Battle of the Books colleague has passed away after dealing with cancer treatments for a really long time... heartbroken for her family. She was an inspiring, touching, kind person who gave her all to anything she committed to. Really loved working with her... so I'll be celebrating her life in my mind for a while ahead...


Wednesday - Got thru the day. Lovely walk with a friend down to treatment. Got thru treatment. Noticed that it had been a week since I've had a bloody nose. Wow. That's another baby step recovery from chemo...

Thursday - Thanks to two friends for walking with me... Another day, enjoyed family time in the evening, especially snuggle time with the kiddo. He and I are really enjoying the novels we're in the middle of... Had another revelation... tried a new toothpaste this past week (Sensodyne) and FINALLY after 4 months I'm not hurting where I have the receding gums... Actually being able to bite into things on both sides of my mouth is a beautiful thing to experience again. Around lunchtime today my heart broke again for an Oregon friend who lost his husband after medical struggles... Sending love his way.

Friday - Treatment number 9 done! Woot. 21 is a smaller number. Thanks to my friend for giving me a ride to treatment... Amazing how much easier it is with someone helping me get to the appointment. Grateful to realize this time, the last two radiation rounds were a blur but this time I'm certain I'm more positive. Shall see how next week goes. Today was dragging along. I know other colleagues were tired today as well. Shall see. Temp, blood pressure, and O2 level checked multiple times this week. I really appreciate knowing each time that I'm "normal". I went to an evening support group at CancerLink. We had an interesting presentation about something called VirtueScope- really appreciated the special ideas and insightful comments shared. It is a card game with different virtues to focus on throughout the year. I just love the perspective. Enjoyed discussions and the cards/depth of virtue ideas... What amused me- people's view of me - card pulled? Resourceful (yes, that's what I've been told...) I'm Pure-Hearted as my foundation for the year and driving force... ok. Dignified was pulled for what supports my pure-hearted foundation... I also appreciated that I share Determined with others - here's the card's explanation of determined: "Single-minded, yet flexible, I keep on moving with love and purpose towards my destination." Interesting to read- was told to post with all the months labeled for the year with a focus each morning to look at the virtue. Then at the end of the year the outcome for me would be Tolerant "maturity to let go of expectations and love to keep on giving." Loved the positive attitudes of those in the group. Had a fascinating conversation with one person from Washington who was diagnosed 15 years ago (stage 4) and told he had 7-9 years to live but has lived well for 15- and we have the same oncologist, grateful for the chat. Was reassuring. VirtueScope link for an online version: http://vscope.memebot.com/

Now excuse me while I watch the finale of Parenthood (sob)... I still love that show... Will probably watch the finale a few times before letting go...

Thanks for journeying with me.