I woke up this morning just a little less refreshed and strong feeling than I felt yesterday. I don't have any reason for it, but I don't feel bad really. I had an hour walk before we came to the clinic, so it hasn't kept me from doing anything I need to.
I am sitting in my Duke blue recliner here at the clinic getting my antibiotics. My lab numbers just came back about the same as yesterday except for the platelet count which is up enough to be sure my bone marrow is working well. The HgB today is 9.7; the white cell count is 0.5; and the platelets are 18,000. My other numbers are good including my electrolytes which were checked today. My weight was steady, but not up :-( at 118#. So I do still need to eat more. Somehow I am not doing a good job of turning ice cream into Teresa. Maybe I just need to eat a little more frequently. I don't think I can eat any more food at one sitting than I am right now. I'll have to work on the weight thing.
My Dad made us a lunch of shrimp salad and soup. He wanted me to make sure I told everyone. So I'm telling you.
I smelled the best fragrance on my walk today and realized it was a giant magnolia tree in a yard on my loop. I love all of the old plants of the south-magnolias, hydrangeas, peonies, camellias, azaleas. Thank God for all those sweet-smelling, flowering bushes!
I am sorry that I don't have much to say today. IF I get more inspired, I'll write more later.-tree
5 comments:
Tree,
No need to apologize for feeling uninspired. YOU are inspiring--the way you have approached this bump in the road and jumped head first into treatment and recovery. Thanks for sharing your insights with us on the blog. And by the way, thanks for sharing Holly with me last night--we had a good time cathing up, crying on each other's shoulders and laughing. We had a walk in the dark around the neighborhood with Ely, so she also says thanks you and Quigley for sharing Holly with her.
I'm glad you are able to take morning walks. I too love the sights, sounds and smells of nature and sometimes consider walks or hikes to be walking meditation. If I'm by myself, sometimes I will focus a word while breathing in, and another word while breathing out--like "beauty" (in) and "peace" (out).
One favorite old-time shrub of mine is the gardenia; the frangrance always reminds me of Mama Heaton, my grandmother on my mother's side. Every home she and Daddy Heaton had in Atlanta always had gardenias. So gardenias remind me of many things Mama Heaton: sweet tea, stewed peaches, lucious home grown tomatoes, tender roast beef, sweet corn, slow-cooked green beans, coconut cake and cool, sweet watermelon.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend with Asheville friends!
Love, Julia
I think considering the run of bad days you just came off of, having a few mediocre mixed in with the good and great is pretty normal. It's reassuring to know your counts are doing what they are supposed to do, you've got the antibiotics on board, and your body appears to be following the rules for the most part! (It's nice when it happens that way, huh?)Maybe all this newfound energy and walking was a little bit much and you just were getting a message to take it a little slower. Regarding the weight, I am sure if you had just a little of my DNA you would gain weight simply by looking at ice cream. The protein shakes aren't a bad idea as little between meal snacks if you can tolerate the taste! When are you allowed to have fresh fruits and veggies again?
I'm getting ready to start a run of working eight of the next eleven days but I'll check in! Love you, friend.
shannon
Hey Teresa,
Like Julia said, no need to apologize for feeling uninspired. I am SO inspired by your incredible spirit and energy. What a gal you are! Glad to hear your numbers are improving and that your dad is there cooking you such delicious treats. I don't know how things work now...but if you need platelets I would donate them for you. Back in the day (in my 30s) I gave platelets for a colleague/friend of Linnie's who had cancer and they called me a 'platelet machine'. Let me know...
You sound completely surrounded by light and love which is so good to hear.
Thinking of you and Holly.
Love,
Karen
PS - We had a male Scarlet Tanager in our cherry tree relishing all the cherries. It was the first time I've seen one. What a beautiful bird!
I want to thank all of you for leaving your comments. Julia-
for sharing your memories of gardenias. Karen's mother loves them too and they are certain;y in the sweet smelling group, up at the top. Also, for the words to meditate by. I like that idea.
Shannon-thanks for the permission to take things a little slower. Don't kill YOURSELF either with all that UCC work.
And Karen-for weighing in& letting me reminder the beauty of the scarlet tanager.-tree
Teresa, Don't know your friends leaving comments but wanted to leave one from Piedmont. I am sorry we never took the time to get to know one another better, always felt like I wanted to. Hopefully there will be an opportunity in the future. I am very inspired by your sharing and look forward to reading it and keeping abreast of your progress.
Darlene
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