So, the end of the Summer holidays looms and Miss Tilly Clarke starts back at the village school very soon – Tuesday, to be precise. And boy is she ready to return after the last week of attitude and chat-back, testing our sanity levels to the max! Yep, she’s definitely ready to return to her buddies and the excitement of class one. But are we? Are we ready to get into the morning routine again? The battle for eating breakfast, brushing teeth, hair, getting dressed, all against the clock to turn up presentably before you get the ‘look’ from the headmistress on the door. Mmmm, judging by the fact that Tilly awoke at 9am today and we had breakfast at 11am, I’m guessing that (logistically) that’s a no. However, emotionally and for mental health reasons, all I can say is: yes, yes, yes! And it’s only been a 5½ week holiday this year and I’m not totally sure I’m ready to lose my little girl back to the routine and dictatorship of school… but, equally, this has indisputably been the Hardest (yes with a capital H!), most challenging summer holidays we would care to experience as a family. We are officially broken, on the edge, shattered, damaged and almost ready for the white jackets! So, let’s throw in the towel and quit while we’re just about ahead methinks! Let the Autumn term begin!
Don’t get me wrong, there’s been some fun times scattered into the hard times too. We've made it through three treatments, had a holiday and given it our best shot trying to maintain familiarity for the girls as much as possible but right now I’m feeling that C has taken a lot away from our family. Whilst physically and emotionally crumbling at the strain the treatment has put on our day to day functioning as parents, I feel we have been robbed of the laughter and happiness that usually resonates around our lives and had it replaced with stress!. To start with, despite being eternally grateful to Wayne for being my co-pilot at home (I truly don’t know how I’d have coped without), it’s actually very tough being under each other’s feet each day. Some days we get into the groove and have ‘our roles’ and others it just goes to pot - usually when I’m not feeling too good or being particularly cranky! Plus, my confidence as a mother has been battered, generating more guilt than ever that I’m not able to give the children what they need right now. I’m constantly more agitated and defensive – a by-product, I guess, of the treatment and sleep deprivation - and feel I’m unreasonable to live with most of the time! It hurts on the bad days, knowing that I’m not coping with the children, having to turn on the TV that little extra for sanity, losing my patience and shouting. As a mother, this is not how you wish to be! I’m sure I am being hard on myself but it’s hard not to. It’s hard not to feel like you’re failing - especially when Tilly can pull on my heart strings so easily!
My dear Tilly, it’s surely not been easy for her either, having to cope with her Mummy not quite being on par, seeing the tears, sensing the anxieties and being thrown into life with a baby sister who wants EVERYTHING that she has and more! She now notices every call I have to take, the conversations, every email I have to write and texts that I send. She notices time that is not spent on her. On the one hand, she is so aware and, on the other, blissfully ignorant (I pray) to the troubled minds of her parents. Despite her trying mood at the moment (and who knows if this is connected with our situation or just 'normal' 5 yr old stuff), I’m so proud of her on every level, so proud of her for being her and facing the daily changes and challenges in our lives, keeping us on our toes – let’s face it, I’d only be feeling sorry for myself if she didn’t give me a reason to be busy each day! I just hope that this entire journey becomes a distant memory to her and to us all very soon.
We've also made if through what seems like the endless run of summer birthdays, trying desperately to celebrate as normal – which, I must say, is a strain in itself with chemo brain at its worst! Despite dreading mine this year, my birthday was a huge distraction, which brought back some of the happiness, smiles and love into the dark days, helping enormously. So, really, it’s hooray for birthdays - we’ll keep them coming for now!! Especially as we accelerate towards the big one, the princess of all parties, the final summer birthday…….Tilly’s 6th……The thought alone is exhausting! May I just add two words here……PARTY ENTERTAINER!
And so, whilst some therapy is almost a given for both of us, lol, some emergency attention is needed to a broken husband who is barely hanging on right now. It’s been hard on him, the father that gave up work to be a house husband for a week, our lives then turned spectacularly upside down by this god damn, unforgiving disease. He never really got a taste of being a house husband, did he? And right now he needs to be repaired, rejuvenated, away from the worries of his sick wife, demanding children and money/work stresses that plague him daily and keep him awake at night. And so, he’s off next week for some sanity, some quality buddy time, a spot of surfing and coastal walking before a return to work for him is nigh. Bon voyage dear husband - wish me luck being a solo mummy to two. It’s been a while.
By the way, to this day, Wayne still jokes about the lengths I went to to have the summer holidays off with the girls… So, I guess my positive side is screaming about the silver lining of having this irretrievable time with them this summer (albeit car crash at times). However, I will continue to dream the dream about ‘life after cancer’ and how summer 2014 will bring back the happiness and laughter we so rightly deserve.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Post 3rd dose, post Birthday - Sunday 25th August
As I’ve mentioned in the previous post, a big thank you to Granny again for holding the reins on Dose 3 day and thereafter. All went well. I was a bit knocked out on return from hospital but the next day no sickness again - BIG hooray - and I'm coping with the other side effects well. Trying to embrace the dreaded steroids again, on the second night (which seems to be when they kick in) I got 2 hours sleep, 3 hours awake and then snoozed for another couple of hours. Last night was similar but I was up today at 5.30, cleaned downstairs and did lots of blog catching up! I even hammered a picture nail into the wall at 6.30… sorry, neighbours! Quite hilarious really! It’s a bit of a pain but I seem to be at my most productive for the day! So, apologies if you receive FB messages/texts at random hours but strike while the brain's hot, right?? Or while the brain is actually working! Needless to say, I start to lose it slightly as the day goes on but, hey, that’s why my cosy bed is up there to catch me when I fall! In fact today was a classic, I stood in the shower, about to turn it on, fully clothed! Yep, officially bonkers. And according to Wayne, I can now add amnesia to my list of ailments. Triffic!
We managed a wonderful Birthday, thanks to Wayne and the generosity of so many friends. Delicious, scrummy fry up and company in the afternoon and I lasted until 9pm and then crashed. No bubbles this year but I'm looking forward to plans of celebrations/parties when this is all behind us. Ideas welcome!!
Day two of celebrations today at Granny's house with Sis Emma et al and Bro Rupert. I cannot wait to see Tilly again. She’s been massively entertained by Granny, looking after the neighbour’s chickens and having to go and put them to bed each night, wake them up in the morning and collect eggs. What an adventure! Made even more so by Granny's traumas with misbehaving Bantams…giggle! Not sure she will be investing in her own any time soon!
We managed a quick walk into the woods today before leaving - not a huge amount going on, just oodles of blackberries waiting to burst, beautiful ferns and lots of surrounding hay bailed fields. It feels like I am definitely up and running faster after each dose – and long may it last too!
We managed a wonderful Birthday, thanks to Wayne and the generosity of so many friends. Delicious, scrummy fry up and company in the afternoon and I lasted until 9pm and then crashed. No bubbles this year but I'm looking forward to plans of celebrations/parties when this is all behind us. Ideas welcome!!
We managed a quick walk into the woods today before leaving - not a huge amount going on, just oodles of blackberries waiting to burst, beautiful ferns and lots of surrounding hay bailed fields. It feels like I am definitely up and running faster after each dose – and long may it last too!
My favourite oak tree in Oaksey.
So, now I’ve done the first 3 doses (sorry for repeating this SO many times!!) the chemotherapy changes to a new one for the next 3 doses - TAXOTERE. I'm a little apprehensive, to say the least, and have heard mixed reports about the side effects but I'm hoping I can carry on with the same amount of normality I’m experiencing at the moment. Please, please, please! Yes, yes, yes!
The mind of a small child
Just a little update of the kiddies coping mechanisms through all of this chaos!
Wilma the wig made her introduction to Tilly and it went down well. She was highly amused as I put the wig on and we played a trick on Daddy to see if he noticed Mummy’s new hair. He did…immediately - boooo! Mainly because my hair has never looked so neat – unless, of course, it's the day I step out of the hairdresser's (for about 45 minutes till the wind/rain gets hold of it!) So, yes, no need to straighten, style or do anything really - a neat, perfected look in an instant!
We talked about embarking on the loss of Mummy's hair with Tilly. We simply told her something along the lines of: ‘Mummy will be receiving some medicine to make her all better and, can you believe it, that medicine will make Mummy's hair fall out. How funny is that? But, don’t worry, it will all grow back etc.’ She then launched into a fab conversation about how chefs have to wear hairnets to stop their hair falling out and they also wear blue plasters and baggy checked trousers. Got to love the way their minds work. And that was that, onto the next conversation and not fazed in the slightest.
When my head was shaved, Tilly saw it the next day. She was again quite amused - and who wouldn’t be! She wanted to have a good feel and said: ‘You look different, Mummy. You don’t look like you.’ She played with the scarves again and helps me choose a different one each day. She’s handled her friends amazingly well and sometimes asks if they can see some of my head: ‘Look at Mummy’s hair now.’ In fact, in Devon, she rushed over with Edward and Megan and a couple more friends in excitement for them to take a look. Then, when Wilma comes out, it creates a little confusion for some of the kiddies but Tilly just announces: ‘Don’t worry, that’s just Mummy's wig!’
At times, when I wear nothing on my head around the house, she comes over for another feel or cuddle or comes out with another random comment about how funny I look now. But, generally, she seems to be taking it all in her stride and is totally unfazed by it all. I’m just a little apprehensive about what she may decide to tell her friends/teachers at school about Mummies hair/lack of it and wig! Let's face it, we have no control over what they decide to talk about with friends/teachers and the stories they concoct are often quite a hoot so watch this space for ground-swallow-me up moments in the playground!
As for dear little Lila, she could actually be the embarrassing one. She looks at me with constant confusion and tugs playfully at Wilma when on. Oh dear…eeek! She looks at each headscarf with puzzlement, especially as I’ve sometimes changed it while she’s been napping - a women’s prerogative right? Well, after all, I have to get the outfit right which often takes a few attempts, ha! So, she’ll not miss an opportunity to take a tug at the scarves too if I’m lucky, especially if I bend down anywhere near her!
Tilly has also been fascinated by the PICC line, asking many questions and wanting to know how it all works. She thinks it highly amusing that I have to wrap it in clingfilm to have a shower. What we try to do over chemo days is arrange for a couple of exciting sleepover nights for her and, having just returned from Granny's, this seems to work well and gives us a little respite to get back on our feet. Plus, Tilly has huge adventures and does more than she would at home with a tired, insomniac Mother! I’m hoping she doesn’t regard it as being sent away - it doesn’t appear this way from her response as she is such a confident little character.
So, who knows what the right way of coping with all of this is. I know there are no rights or wrongs when dealing with children wrapped up in their parents' C world but we have taken the approach of 'less is more' and let her come back to us with the questions. So far, it seems to be working for us - there were a few wobbles in the beginning during operation and we get the occasional 'I want my old mummy back!' Although not totally convinced this is due to the situation, a bit of clever emotional blackmail and heart string tugging perhaps? Needless to say it works! But nothing that some quality mummy time, toe painting, creams and beauty talk doesn't solve!!! See..... 5 going on 15! Beats moshi monster obsession for 5 mins though!
So, did I say this already?…….ONLY 3 MORE DOSES TO GO! Then we’ll move onto the logistics of the radiotherapy but I'm not going to think about that yet! Not enough brain space, ha ha!
Wilma the wig made her introduction to Tilly and it went down well. She was highly amused as I put the wig on and we played a trick on Daddy to see if he noticed Mummy’s new hair. He did…immediately - boooo! Mainly because my hair has never looked so neat – unless, of course, it's the day I step out of the hairdresser's (for about 45 minutes till the wind/rain gets hold of it!) So, yes, no need to straighten, style or do anything really - a neat, perfected look in an instant!
We talked about embarking on the loss of Mummy's hair with Tilly. We simply told her something along the lines of: ‘Mummy will be receiving some medicine to make her all better and, can you believe it, that medicine will make Mummy's hair fall out. How funny is that? But, don’t worry, it will all grow back etc.’ She then launched into a fab conversation about how chefs have to wear hairnets to stop their hair falling out and they also wear blue plasters and baggy checked trousers. Got to love the way their minds work. And that was that, onto the next conversation and not fazed in the slightest.
When my head was shaved, Tilly saw it the next day. She was again quite amused - and who wouldn’t be! She wanted to have a good feel and said: ‘You look different, Mummy. You don’t look like you.’ She played with the scarves again and helps me choose a different one each day. She’s handled her friends amazingly well and sometimes asks if they can see some of my head: ‘Look at Mummy’s hair now.’ In fact, in Devon, she rushed over with Edward and Megan and a couple more friends in excitement for them to take a look. Then, when Wilma comes out, it creates a little confusion for some of the kiddies but Tilly just announces: ‘Don’t worry, that’s just Mummy's wig!’
At times, when I wear nothing on my head around the house, she comes over for another feel or cuddle or comes out with another random comment about how funny I look now. But, generally, she seems to be taking it all in her stride and is totally unfazed by it all. I’m just a little apprehensive about what she may decide to tell her friends/teachers at school about Mummies hair/lack of it and wig! Let's face it, we have no control over what they decide to talk about with friends/teachers and the stories they concoct are often quite a hoot so watch this space for ground-swallow-me up moments in the playground!
As for dear little Lila, she could actually be the embarrassing one. She looks at me with constant confusion and tugs playfully at Wilma when on. Oh dear…eeek! She looks at each headscarf with puzzlement, especially as I’ve sometimes changed it while she’s been napping - a women’s prerogative right? Well, after all, I have to get the outfit right which often takes a few attempts, ha! So, she’ll not miss an opportunity to take a tug at the scarves too if I’m lucky, especially if I bend down anywhere near her!
Tilly has also been fascinated by the PICC line, asking many questions and wanting to know how it all works. She thinks it highly amusing that I have to wrap it in clingfilm to have a shower. What we try to do over chemo days is arrange for a couple of exciting sleepover nights for her and, having just returned from Granny's, this seems to work well and gives us a little respite to get back on our feet. Plus, Tilly has huge adventures and does more than she would at home with a tired, insomniac Mother! I’m hoping she doesn’t regard it as being sent away - it doesn’t appear this way from her response as she is such a confident little character.
So, who knows what the right way of coping with all of this is. I know there are no rights or wrongs when dealing with children wrapped up in their parents' C world but we have taken the approach of 'less is more' and let her come back to us with the questions. So far, it seems to be working for us - there were a few wobbles in the beginning during operation and we get the occasional 'I want my old mummy back!' Although not totally convinced this is due to the situation, a bit of clever emotional blackmail and heart string tugging perhaps? Needless to say it works! But nothing that some quality mummy time, toe painting, creams and beauty talk doesn't solve!!! See..... 5 going on 15! Beats moshi monster obsession for 5 mins though!
So, did I say this already?…….ONLY 3 MORE DOSES TO GO! Then we’ll move onto the logistics of the radiotherapy but I'm not going to think about that yet! Not enough brain space, ha ha!
PICC line insertion
PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters) line insertion - Tuesday 20th August.
Mmmm, I still haven't really made up my mind but think this is the right thing to do - with a little encouragement from darling Stella, my District Nurse friend! It's got to be really as the veins in my hand are sore and bruised from the previous doses of chemotherapy and the ones in my arms are looking a little gnarly too. A PICC line should prevent further damage – it's a narrow catheter inserted into the vein in the upper arm, using ultrasound. The tip of the line will lie in the big vein just above my heart. Mmmm, it’s a wonder I was ever a nurse as this part makes me squeamish each time I think about it. No chance of going back on the wards for me! However, the pros are that all future bloods will be taken from it (and, believe me, there are a lot of blood tests going on!), so no more stabbings and all Chemo will be given through it. As for the cons... mmmm, I'm not really going to go into those as it's the usual scary stuff!
So, off I go, escorted by Sarah and God-daughter Emily (18 years old and fascinated by the whole procedure!). After my initial sob – yep, rubbish I know - I decide to go ahead and get it done and haven’t looked back yet, except when I had to return the next day due to a puffy hand. Thankfully, it hasn't developed into anything but will be monitored. Once given the local anesthetic, the procedure got going and took all of about 40 minutes. Next came a chest xray to make sure it was in right place and hadn't gone up the neck… yikes! This resulted in the line needing to be pulled back 2cms as it was too far into the heart… yikes again! Then, job done, one PICC line inserted. Now it will just need to be flushed and re-dressed each week and it should look after itself hopefully. Another hurdle over.
Mmmm, I still haven't really made up my mind but think this is the right thing to do - with a little encouragement from darling Stella, my District Nurse friend! It's got to be really as the veins in my hand are sore and bruised from the previous doses of chemotherapy and the ones in my arms are looking a little gnarly too. A PICC line should prevent further damage – it's a narrow catheter inserted into the vein in the upper arm, using ultrasound. The tip of the line will lie in the big vein just above my heart. Mmmm, it’s a wonder I was ever a nurse as this part makes me squeamish each time I think about it. No chance of going back on the wards for me! However, the pros are that all future bloods will be taken from it (and, believe me, there are a lot of blood tests going on!), so no more stabbings and all Chemo will be given through it. As for the cons... mmmm, I'm not really going to go into those as it's the usual scary stuff!
So, off I go, escorted by Sarah and God-daughter Emily (18 years old and fascinated by the whole procedure!). After my initial sob – yep, rubbish I know - I decide to go ahead and get it done and haven’t looked back yet, except when I had to return the next day due to a puffy hand. Thankfully, it hasn't developed into anything but will be monitored. Once given the local anesthetic, the procedure got going and took all of about 40 minutes. Next came a chest xray to make sure it was in right place and hadn't gone up the neck… yikes! This resulted in the line needing to be pulled back 2cms as it was too far into the heart… yikes again! Then, job done, one PICC line inserted. Now it will just need to be flushed and re-dressed each week and it should look after itself hopefully. Another hurdle over.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Can I reach for the Gin? - Sat 17th August.
Continuing straight on from Devon, can I just tell you how bloody hard things are right now - a real crash back down to reality for us! An excitable teething 1-year old that screams and shouts constantly and has decided she doesn’t want to go to ANYONE else when Mummy is around, let alone be put down… A phase, I know, but exasperating at the best of times! And a 5-year old (almost 6) who’s decided she doesn’t want to listen to anyone at the moment and has developed the attitude of a teenager!! Please let this be another quick phase! Plus, we haven’t managed a conversation - or, at least, to finish one - in an age and we are constantly deranged from the day-to-day treadmill and stumbling of this GD C experience. I hope I’m not judged on this - to be fair, I think it must be a 'normal' experience we are having (summer holidays and all) and despite all this chaos, I thankfully still wake up every morning waiting to hug and kiss the little bunnies. Oh, the constant trials, emotions and guilt of motherhood, hey!
Thrown into the mix is insomnia again (GD I HATE Mr Insomnia!) - this time not steroid induced so why oh why???.....dark nights, tears and thoughts keeping me awake – the usual things….the future (a biggy!), money, work, Wayne returning to work, coping with the next dose and the impending appointment of a PICC line insertion (see next post). And this time Wayne too......we toss and turn together, both having nightmares, both troubled by insomnia. Me listening to the radio most of the night and then even more narky and short tempered in the day. I have resorted, reluctantly, to sleeping pills - but guess what.......they seem to laugh in the face of insomnia too! Grrreat! Oh, it's all so much fun at the moment. Never the less, we continue on for the children and do our best to navigate the pathway, helped out some days with supportive friends, Granny and the boost of a return visit from nomadic traveler, Vince (Wayne’s bestest buddy) after 6 months of adventures (thanks to his lovely chauffeur sister Anna – yep, 4th Anna!).
All of this gets me pondering again about stress levels and how vital it is to manage them to support recovery and maintain a healthy C-free future. Plus, sleep is said to be fundamental for recovery, body repair etc. My body and mind just wants to heal. Fat chance right now! Hard not to worry about it all really, especially with the children keeping us on our toes like this! Will keep taking my chai seeds and papayas and hope for the best methinks! – See C whisper below.
Meanwhile, consciously trying to manage the stress, days pass by, and I'm rapidly approaching my 3rd dose. I try and spend some mindful time doing gardening, endless weeding, enjoying the beautiful nature around, combine harvesters chugging in the next-door fields and tending to our poorly neglected vegetables…eeek! Quick Monty Don update: we are munching our way through the potatoes, delicious lettuces, have beetroot and carrots to harvest and, new to this year’s repertoire, some celery (I’m not sure how edible it's looking right now) and corn that’s looking like it could represent a meal pretty soon. Raspberries are coming on and rhubarb is resembling a triffid! And, might I add, having struggled with this lot over the last two years, Wayne is now talking about adding an allotment to our collection. WHEN would we ever find time for this?? It's a yes to chickens though - desperate for them!
Before we know it, the next Thursday D-day arrives. Confronting dose 3 is foremost... but, weirdly, this is the day that Wayne and I actually seem to manage conversations, catch ups, reacquainting ourselves and generally making important life decisions that we all have to make now and then! I can’t quite believe we have started to look forward to a day in hospital together - a break from the children and time to ourselves. What on earth has our life come to, I ask? It cannot be right. I guess, though, that it's a silver lining to what can become a grueling and anxious day.
C whisper: I just have to mention chai seeds - another nutritional super seed (South American), helping to boost our antioxidant levels, proteins, minerals and Omega 3 fatty acids. Recommended at the beginning of this journey by someone, I take it daily, mixed into porridge. Who knows… but something is keeping me going and I'm too scared to stop now, ha! Go try them - can’t do any harm, right? But be warned, if you mix them in wrong they tend to resemble frog spawn eugh!
Along with papayas to ease the digestive tract and cut through the metallic taste during chemotherapy – again, seems to work.
Manuka honey also for the digestive tract - lashings of it on toast, in drinks and on the spoon!
Oh, and lemons! Lemons in every drink to keep the taste buds under control. Works wonders, especially to put the fizz back into me with a bit of carbonated water.
http://www.organicauthority.com/health/superfoods-to-eat-during-chemo.html
Also, I highly recommend a good mouthwash, something to keep working to keep those ulcers at bay.
Plus, a good dusting of bronzing balls - for those peaky pale days they work a treat!
Thrown into the mix is insomnia again (GD I HATE Mr Insomnia!) - this time not steroid induced so why oh why???.....dark nights, tears and thoughts keeping me awake – the usual things….the future (a biggy!), money, work, Wayne returning to work, coping with the next dose and the impending appointment of a PICC line insertion (see next post). And this time Wayne too......we toss and turn together, both having nightmares, both troubled by insomnia. Me listening to the radio most of the night and then even more narky and short tempered in the day. I have resorted, reluctantly, to sleeping pills - but guess what.......they seem to laugh in the face of insomnia too! Grrreat! Oh, it's all so much fun at the moment. Never the less, we continue on for the children and do our best to navigate the pathway, helped out some days with supportive friends, Granny and the boost of a return visit from nomadic traveler, Vince (Wayne’s bestest buddy) after 6 months of adventures (thanks to his lovely chauffeur sister Anna – yep, 4th Anna!).
All of this gets me pondering again about stress levels and how vital it is to manage them to support recovery and maintain a healthy C-free future. Plus, sleep is said to be fundamental for recovery, body repair etc. My body and mind just wants to heal. Fat chance right now! Hard not to worry about it all really, especially with the children keeping us on our toes like this! Will keep taking my chai seeds and papayas and hope for the best methinks! – See C whisper below.
Meanwhile, consciously trying to manage the stress, days pass by, and I'm rapidly approaching my 3rd dose. I try and spend some mindful time doing gardening, endless weeding, enjoying the beautiful nature around, combine harvesters chugging in the next-door fields and tending to our poorly neglected vegetables…eeek! Quick Monty Don update: we are munching our way through the potatoes, delicious lettuces, have beetroot and carrots to harvest and, new to this year’s repertoire, some celery (I’m not sure how edible it's looking right now) and corn that’s looking like it could represent a meal pretty soon. Raspberries are coming on and rhubarb is resembling a triffid! And, might I add, having struggled with this lot over the last two years, Wayne is now talking about adding an allotment to our collection. WHEN would we ever find time for this?? It's a yes to chickens though - desperate for them!
Before we know it, the next Thursday D-day arrives. Confronting dose 3 is foremost... but, weirdly, this is the day that Wayne and I actually seem to manage conversations, catch ups, reacquainting ourselves and generally making important life decisions that we all have to make now and then! I can’t quite believe we have started to look forward to a day in hospital together - a break from the children and time to ourselves. What on earth has our life come to, I ask? It cannot be right. I guess, though, that it's a silver lining to what can become a grueling and anxious day.
C whisper: I just have to mention chai seeds - another nutritional super seed (South American), helping to boost our antioxidant levels, proteins, minerals and Omega 3 fatty acids. Recommended at the beginning of this journey by someone, I take it daily, mixed into porridge. Who knows… but something is keeping me going and I'm too scared to stop now, ha! Go try them - can’t do any harm, right? But be warned, if you mix them in wrong they tend to resemble frog spawn eugh!
Along with papayas to ease the digestive tract and cut through the metallic taste during chemotherapy – again, seems to work.
Manuka honey also for the digestive tract - lashings of it on toast, in drinks and on the spoon!
Oh, and lemons! Lemons in every drink to keep the taste buds under control. Works wonders, especially to put the fizz back into me with a bit of carbonated water.
http://www.organicauthority.com/health/superfoods-to-eat-during-chemo.html
Also, I highly recommend a good mouthwash, something to keep working to keep those ulcers at bay.
Plus, a good dusting of bronzing balls - for those peaky pale days they work a treat!
Delicious Devon - Friday 9th August.
Our great friends, Anna and Dave, move out each summer from their town house in Exeter to a holiday house by the sea in Shaldon 20 mins away. So, courtesy of their incredible generosity, we are taking over their town house as a base for a few days. Come Friday, we’ve somehow managed to pack up the car (a challenge in itself using the small one – did I tell you the other has been written off? Perhaps a story for another day… and not by me shall I add… Ahem, Wayne! Oh yes, things are NEVER dull around here!), get organised and hurl ourselves onto the M4/M25. Tilly was such a great sleeper in the car that, naturally (and stupidly?!), we assumed Lila would follow suit and left at morning nap time, which is normally a two hour cosy sleep in her cot. Oh no, … 45 mins into the journey she's wide awake thanks to stationary traffic. ARGH! So, having left at 11am, we finally arrived in Exeter at 16.30, a lunch stop, a loo stop, tears, tantrums (from Mum!) and completely frazzled parents. Why, oh why, don't we live in Devon anymore? Never the less, we picked up the keys and headed straight for a lovely afternoon/evening on the beach to join the gang. I had to literally fling Wayne into a kayak for an emergency paddle to go and de-stress around the waters of Shaldon. Are other hubby's the same after car journey's?? Thankfully, thankfully, Tilly was an angel in the car - think we only had two or three instances of "are we there yet?" - and SO super excited to hit the beach, running with her buddies Edward and Megan… .literally. Major phew on account of one of our children!
Soothe hubby soothe!
It was a fab week. Lovely weather except one day (ideal.... haircuts and school shoes), but otherwise day trips to our favorite beaches at Puttsbourough, Wollacombe, Bantham and Shaldon and a visit to our lovely old haunt of Topsham, bumping into old neighbours, doing the goat walk (my old stomping ground when Tilly was a baby, many a time spent pacing around getting her to snooze!) and generally a good nose around. The first day trip to Bantham was hilarious - on being let out of the car, Tilly literally ran and ran down to the sea, which was on the out tide so miles away, and just went for a flying leap and jumped in! So divine to watch, not so divine to leg it after her through the crowds! What a deprived child with no sea at home!
So, all in all, a fantastic week and a heavenly change of scenery in our old stomping grounds. But sadly, as we all know, things can be quite exhausting with the kiddies out of sink from home, different beds etc and lets face it, holidays really aren't holidays anymore with little kiddies are they? So, as the week went on tiredness accumulated and everything began to take its toll on me, naturally impacting on hubby - especially Lila in the car journeys, kindly giving us on average one hour before total meltdown. By the end of the week, we fell back down the motorway (at a crawl again may I add…..Grrrr!) and collapsed back into our house and familiar beds into what then led to be a very tense, irritable, argumentative week on my part! So sorry Wayne! Oh, the highs and lows – quite exhausting and at times extraordinary. I certainly won’t miss the unpredictability of this bloody journey! Sometimes it really feels like I've been hurled around on a sea voyage, bashed around on the sides, dizzy, confused and so disorientated at times.
Soothe hubby soothe!
It was a fab week. Lovely weather except one day (ideal.... haircuts and school shoes), but otherwise day trips to our favorite beaches at Puttsbourough, Wollacombe, Bantham and Shaldon and a visit to our lovely old haunt of Topsham, bumping into old neighbours, doing the goat walk (my old stomping ground when Tilly was a baby, many a time spent pacing around getting her to snooze!) and generally a good nose around. The first day trip to Bantham was hilarious - on being let out of the car, Tilly literally ran and ran down to the sea, which was on the out tide so miles away, and just went for a flying leap and jumped in! So divine to watch, not so divine to leg it after her through the crowds! What a deprived child with no sea at home!
Sssssh Lila, we're trying to bird watch!
I managed a night out with the lovely NCT girlies Anna P., Anna D and Helga (I realise I talk about lots of Anna’s through this blog. I now officially know four and two of them have Edwards…so sorry for the confusion!) in a restaurant overlooking the nighttime sea. Just heaven and such a pick-me-up as ever. A chance to wear Wilma wig (and gain a little confidence with her), cold beers and a break from bedtime duty - yey! Incidentally, on the bald issue...leg hair stopped growing just in time for holidays. Well, there's a first time. C being convenient? About bloody time I say!
So, all in all, a fantastic week and a heavenly change of scenery in our old stomping grounds. But sadly, as we all know, things can be quite exhausting with the kiddies out of sink from home, different beds etc and lets face it, holidays really aren't holidays anymore with little kiddies are they? So, as the week went on tiredness accumulated and everything began to take its toll on me, naturally impacting on hubby - especially Lila in the car journeys, kindly giving us on average one hour before total meltdown. By the end of the week, we fell back down the motorway (at a crawl again may I add…..Grrrr!) and collapsed back into our house and familiar beds into what then led to be a very tense, irritable, argumentative week on my part! So sorry Wayne! Oh, the highs and lows – quite exhausting and at times extraordinary. I certainly won’t miss the unpredictability of this bloody journey! Sometimes it really feels like I've been hurled around on a sea voyage, bashed around on the sides, dizzy, confused and so disorientated at times.
Friday, 30 August 2013
Pass it on.
Its official - I need to squeak..... up and over 2000 page views since launching the blog. Very exciting to a novice like moi!
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