So now what?

The euphoria of remission is still running wild, but now what do I do?  I'm trying to pick up, bit by bit, but I was trying to do that before.   There's that stamina thing that needs rebuilding.  The best way for me to do that is by walking, but it is hard to walk in a monsoon.  It was supposed to clear up today, but it has been dark and overcast all day.  I love the rain, but it's keeping me from the walking agenda.  Picking up isn't all that exciting either  The millions of games on Facebeek have lost some of their charm.  Maybe I'll just put all the tasks that need to be done on slips of paper and pull slips of paper out of a hat till everything is accomplished.  No, then I'd really have to DO something.  I've got three more weeks till I leave for Canada--I could start packing--but it is just pathetic when it takes you longer to pack than you will be gone.  I'm guessing that things will eventually fall into place.  Till then, I'll just wander around the house and look for things to keep me entertained.
xxooxx

What's a nine letter word starting with an R...

That word would be REMISSION, and that's where I am officially.  Yahoo!!!!!  I'm not cancer free, I will never be cancer free, but I'm in remission.  Just to be on the safe side, I'm keeping my port in--that means periodic flushings, but that is no big deal.  I'll have a repeat CT scan in two months and we'll watch it, but for right now, I'm in remission and I'm happy.  I'm going to have to figure out who I am, now that I don't have cancer hanging over my head every minute, but I think I can do that.  Thank you all for the prayers and the support.  I'm sure I'll need it again.  Right now, rejoice with me.
xxooxx

Catching Up Again

This is so sad--I had to find my spa itinerary to remember what treatments I had.  Thursday started out with a Spirulina Body Wrap with Bill.  It isn't the least bit glamorous but it does heavenly things to your skin.  I had a Watsu with Glen in the afternoon and ended the day with Bill and a Thai Massage.  I had an early dinner then back to the room for the end of the BCS Championship with a fire glowing in the fireplace.
Friday--how did that happen?  I looked forward to the week for so long and now it was winding down.  I had a Sonoma Lavender Kur with Laura.  Midday treatment was Reflexology with Reike with Diane--my preview to next week's CT scan.  Diane says I'm not out of the woods yet but I will beat this thing.  Rudolfo did my manicure--new color--Keys to my Karma--a kickass red that is holding up quite well.  I closed my day with a custom blend aromatherapy massage with Glenn.  Friday night I packed everything sort of neatly.  I was up and out of the room early Saturday morning.  I had the bellman load up the car before breakfast.  I had one last day of cottage chese lemon pancakes then headed to the spa for my last treatment--Stone Pedicure with Bebe.  Bebe also does reflexology and stopped at one point and said, "You're better!"  Hope she's right.  Toes painted the same kickass red, I went out to the lounge to sid and read (and nap) while my toes dried to the point that my socks wouldn't leave fabric marks on them--about an hour.  Leaving is the hardest part, but I had a baby shower to get home to, so it wasn't all bad.
I've been resting since i hot home.  Pampering is hard work!  I'm trying to pick up, a little at a time.  The mess I live in is starting to annoy me.  I still get tired very quickly, so it is a little at a time.  Winding up bits of yarn and putting them in a bag for people who use them for crafts.  I'm finding treasures in the pile.  Elaine gave me a picture box, so I finally unloaded the prints I had from our trip to England and France in 07.  I think it was the last trip I used film.
Today, I got myself up reasonably early to get into the city for a hair cut.  I now look terribly glamorous.  Two cuts ago it was too short, the last cut came about a week before the growth spurt, so it was too long.  I think this one is just right.  I don't want to sleep on it--but I will.
That's it for now--one more week before the CT scan.  I'm aprehensive about it, so keep up the prayers.
xxooxx

Back at the Spaaaaaahhhhhhhh

The days went by very slowly, but finally it was Monday, January 4.  The day started with getting my blood sucked and my port flushed.  No problem there.  I went home and finished my packing.  Glenn loaded the car, and I was off.  I can't remember if it was 11:20 or 11:40.  I went by way of Great Highway to avoid the 19th Av traffic.  Before I knew it, I was at the Highway 37 turn off, then I saw the Sonoma 18 mile sign.  I got here before 1.  I'd requested an early check in but didn't expect my room to be ready that early.  "Good afternoon, Mrs. Carlson, we've been waiting for you.  Welcome back, here's your key."  Next thing I knew, my luggage and I were in Mission Suite 932.  My only treatment Monday was a Watsu with Soledad at 5, so I had lunch and a bit of a nap.  I made my way to the spa with time for the bathing ritual.  What a wonderful sense of homecoming.  As I've said before, a Watsu with Soledad is the perfect way to start your week at the SMI.  You dump all your cares and woes before you get in the pool.  A Watsu with Soledad is a spiritual experience that leaves you ready for whatever comes next.  In Monday's case, it was a dash to the locker room and a hot shower--while the pool is wonderfully warm, by six o'clock it was probably heading down into the 40's outside.  I had dinner then watched the end of the Fiesta Bowl and started setting up for Tuesday.  It was then that I discovered that I had left my Ambien at home.  Oops.  What a perfect week to find out if I can live without it.  So far, so good.
So, Tuesday, I started off with breakfast of Lemon Cottage Cheese Pancakes, then off to the Spa for serious pampering.  I started with a Chardonnay Olive Oil Sugar Scrub with Mary.  Mary is little but she is mighty.  There were months of dead skin cells to scrape off.  My skin felt yummy--smelled good, too.  Next was the Tandem Massage with Soledad and Lani.  Nothing should feel as good as the Tandem Massage.  After that, I grazed on fruit and nuts followed by the Bathing Ritual and a facial.  A dinner of rack of lamb and back to the room to try to stay awake through the end of the Orange Bowl.  Today, I started with a Rejuvenating Kur with David, a Gingerbread Scrub with Arlene--a special they are running for the holidays that leaves you soft and smooth and smelling like a ginger snap--good stuff.  I had lunch, a nap, and a Sonoma Stone Massage with Soledad.  Soledad got several hugs and lots of love after the massage.  She and her husband are leaving at 4 in the morning for a two month vacation in Asia.  Good thing I came this week.  I would have hated to miss her.
Here I am, back in my room, fire burning in the fireplace, getting ready for bed for yet another day of non-stop pampering.  I hope I'm up to it.
xxooxx