Restless Feet

I haven't been blogging regularly for a while and I have been thinking about this issue. I am extremely busy these days now that my energy is back and I don't have much time to sit down as I am constantly on the go and loving every minute of it, after all, I have alot of making up to do.

However... I am begining to feel like moving on from Cancer Aint Gonna Beat Me because I feel as though cancer is in my past. I had it, I kicked its butt and now its almost time to move on. Blogging on Cancer Aint Gonna Beat Me has been a blast but while I continue with this blog I feel as though I am being caged by cancer.

Don't worry, I am not leaving the blogging sphere! I still take part in the Friday My Town Shoot Outs www.fridayshootout.blogspot.com and I am in the process of starting a new blog www.sarasfightback.blogspot.com but I am having a few technical problems, trying to put badges on etc, I have forgotten how to do it. Once these hitches are sorted I will be moving over to that blog but don't worry, I will "tip you the wink" before I do.

Phew! So what has been going down in my busy life? I have been enjoying my pony Cola more than anything. He is my therapist and my personal trainer! I have lost half a stone in the last couple of weeks just by cycling to see to him, mucking out and lots of riding or walking. It is down to him that I have my strength and mobility back in my shoulder. He is the best thing that could ever have happened to me.

I had my teeth sorted out a week or so ago so now I have the smile I always dreamed of, three years of brace work and pain was certainly worth it in the end even though I had to delay the restorative work for a year.

The herceptin is going well, I have had 10 treatments so far so only have 8 more to go! My fingers are still swollen and my nails are flaking and splitting but that is such a small detail!

I am back to my support group Talk 4 Talk for parents of children with speech, language and communication problems and I am back in control. I have already found out about a service that my son can get access to in order to help with his reading. He is 9 next month and he still has the reading age of a reception pupil. I have told the school about the service he needs access too but as usual they are dragging their heels. Therefore I am putting my request in writing and copying it to the Local Education Authority and seeing as how it is election time, I may copy my letter to some MP's - yes! I am back in the driving seat!

I am looking forward to the Race for Life next month although my training has been hampered. I am still running and I can manage a mile but I have the rest of my life to get back to where I used to be and as long as I enjoy running then I will keep doing it.

So life is good, getting better and better with each day!

An Eclectic 24 Hours!

What a varied 24 hours!!!!!

Last night, I was in the Golden Lion Pub, Rossett celebrating the Breast Cancer Support Groups Christmas Party. Pictured above are the founders of the group, Pauline and Barbara who started it around 18 months ago. Its a fabulous group of ladies of all ages, really down to earth, nice people who are fun to be with. Our meals were very nice but the only gripe really was the fact that the "Christmas Mess" had too much cream and not enough meringue!!!!

This morning saw the departure of my youngest son, Harry on his school trip to Nant BH in the Snowdonia ranges. He is eight years old and autistic so you can imagine how anxious letting him go there has been for me. However, his favourite teacher is going, Mr Lloyd along with his classroom support assistant, Mrs Pattingdon. Mrs P has given up her own time in order to accompany Harry, and if she hadn't have gone, I doubt whether I would have let Harry go either. He was off with a wave and blew a kiss. Once in school, he is in school so I knew that from then on he would be happy.

I went out for my run which was excellant, I am getting fitter and stronger by the day and after that we drove to Cheshire to collect a parcel for a friend then on to Beeston Horse Market....

When I first walked into the thick of the auction, I was overwhelmed. Choked with tears, I just had to get out of the building. I couldn't be a part of that scene, those poor horses and ponies; scared, worried being pushed around, prodded..... It felt like a scene from Anna Sewells Black Beauty.

My husband talked me into going back in, asking me to make some ponies day a little brighter by stopping to fuss them. I did that but I can tell you, it broke my heart. I lost count of the thin and undernourished animals there, probably over run with worms and other things! Some destined for slaughter, others possibly to be transported in inhumane conditions across Europe in order to be served up on plates in resteraunts.

I will not go back there again.

I was quiet going home. Feeling quite emotional because of Harry and what I had just witnessed.

We decided to stop at the Grosvenor Garden Centre for a good cup of coffee. They serve up a lovely Americano!

On display are the "home baked" mince pies and to the right are the flapjacks. All of the food is hand made on the premises and its open cooking so you can actually watch the chef prepare it all. It is delicious!

I was happy with my lovely coffee but Jason decided to have the caramel shortcake (his favourite).

We purchased some "Grumpy Mule" filtered coffee from the shop which was quite apt given our day!

This afternoon I clipped and bathed Wilbur and took all of his "feathers" off his legs. I do like him looking like a proper schnauzer; being a dog groomer, I like them to be clipped to breed standard but Wilbur..... He is a full on "action pup". He is the original "Million Hours a Day" dog. He lives life in the fast lane..... All things considered, he runs or sleeps and I am fed up with him bringing half of the woodlands home in his fur. He is nice and neat now and must feel so much better. At least he won't have to suffer me pulling bits out of his hair all night.

All in all, its been quite a different 24 hours!

Aqua Jogging!

Most of you know how much I love running and how frustrating that through treatment I just wasn't able to keep it up. I am into week five of my beginners running programme, I have never had to start at the begining before! I have injured my right ankle, I think its a strain so I have spent today using embrocation, cool gel and a tube grip for compression.... so far so good! I am not due to run again until Friday so I am hoping my ankle will be better by then.

Today I used my aqua-belt for the first time and it is fab! fab!fab! It enables you to stand upright in the water and not touch the floor with your feet. In this position you then run as you would outside but in the water. Yes its slow but ...... oh it is hard, hard work. I could feel my leg muscles working. This great thing about aqua jogging is because it is a no impact work out, it will not affect my ankle.

So my training programme tomorrow involves me doing any type of exercise for 30 minutes. I will either try to get to acqua aerobics in the evening or I may just try to get a mix of acqua jogging and swimming in.

Today has been productive. I enjoyed my visit to the Grosvenor Garden Centre for this weeks My Town Friday Shoot Out. I love that shop, it is wonderful. I enjoy going there for a mooch or to buy gorgeous gifts. I love the decorations during the Christmas season, they are the best which is why I chose to use that shop for my shoot out.

So now I am about to set off for my Breast Cancer Support Group..... Bye for now folks!

Session 2: Dr Who

Wow! More good news! Someone is looking after me upstairs! A special NEW episode of Dr Who tonight! We are all excited at the Williams temporary home! So...... pizza and Dr Who - life doesn't get much better and isn't David Tenant just GORGEOUS?!

I cut my steroid dose in half as Gwen advised yesterday and yipee, I got a full nights sleep. Mind you, we did have a couple of glasses of red wine so that helped. I was woken at 7am by...... yes, you guessed....... Harry, telling me how much MORE hair I had lost. He then spent the next five minutes plucking it and pulling it and making it into a not so attractive pile on my pillow..... children!

We had a nice day yesterday but I was so tired. We drove to Morfa Nefyn and had a gorgeous cup of coffee in a wonderful local cafe just next to the national trust car park. Joe had a chocolate cookie and Harry had chocolate icecream with marshmallows and sprinklers. They had a selection of original paintings for sale, they were great but nearly £1000 per piece! Out of my league I am afraid!

While Jason took the boys onto the beach, I reclined the car seat and actually managed to fall asleep. They came back with wonderful tales of sand castles, rocks, horses on the beach. However, I didn't feel sad because I was too tired to have appreciated those things and the sleep did me good.

We stopped off at the chip shop in Pwllheli and took our bounty back to the caravan. I had fruit because I just couldn't face stodgy food. Apples, grapes, strawberries and sharon friut.... nice.

Once the kids were in bed we watched 3 episodes of SHAMELESS before bed and a wonderful nights sleep.

I must thank all of my friends for their prayers, reiki, messages and support. I log onto face book or Weigh Watchers NCU site and I am surrounded by care, friendship and support and I swear that is what is allowing me to cope with chemo so well. THANK YOU!"

Chemo Session 1 Day 6

At last, I got a bit of sleep last night! I swear it was the Glenn Harold CD that did it!

Had lots of fun on face book and loads of giggles with pictures of the Bandana Brigade, loved the dogs the best! Memo to self: Must, Must, Must get a photo posted of me in my bandana.

My 7 year old asked me if I was going to be bald, did I want to be bald, did the doctor want me to be bald. I explained to him that I didnt want to be but that is what the medicine may do to me. He accepted that and went back to playing with his lego.

I went to my support group "Talk 4 Talk" today for the first time since my surgery and it was wonderful to see everyone again and touch base. Lots of new faces as there always is there but lots of my old faithful friends too! I was able to report on good progress made with my boys in spite of my health worries - very productive! I did find the session quite tiring and my "Chemo Brain" made me feel silly and foolish but everyone understands there.

Managed to make it onto the school yard to pick up the kids today as well, nearly got blown away in the process mind you!

Health wise I am ok, still tired, still bloated and now I have a sore gum with a swelling starting just underneath. I will have to keep an eye on that and make sure it doesnt get worse.