I Am Not Tech Savvy...

Blog Helper of the Day: Madeline

Hey Guys,

Well, for today's post, I had wanted to create a little photo slideshow of sorts since I've got pretty many pictures to post. However, due to the fact that I am NOT technically literate (and can actually barely figure out how to use most of Blogger's simple tools) I couldn't figure out how to get the damn slideshow to work! Oh, well... you guys all just have to see the pictures lined up as opposed to tucked away in one nice little place.

Which brings me to this first photo - sorry if it grosses anyone out, but I realized that I haven't actually posted what my port looks like under my skin (at least... I don't think I have...) So I decided to take a snapshot of it's prettiest moment thus far - my first post-tape rash! Woohoo! So far, I haven't had any problem with all of the tape being removed while being deaccessed - it's come of pretty smoothly and painlessly, and this is the first time I've developed any kind of reaction. Although - this picture doesn't really do it much justice. It's now Thursday, and it's still red and itchy. I'm glad I have two more weeks before my next treatment & I don't have to put MORE tape back on top of it for awhile...

Anyway, I didn't post yesterday because I'm been feeling hella crappy. Im pretty sure I accidentally drank some bad milk yesterday because I couldn't tell that it tasted wrong (everything is tasting & smelling a little sour, so I didn't think anything of it when the milk I had a breakfast tasted off... bad choice) I was basically in bed or on the couch the whole day, on the edge of puking... Not a pleasant feeling. It wasn't until Andrew casually mentioned that he thought we should probably get new milk because the milk tasted weird that I realized what had been pushing me so close to the edge all day. Well, that and the chemo... But I'm pretty sure the milk contributed a lot. Lesson: always have someone taste the milk first! Or better yet, just don't drink milk when your taste buds are messed up...

I had some pretty awesome caretakers though... One of my FAVORITE things to eat in the whole world is the chunky veggie soup from First Watch. They don't have it all the time, and when they do I could eat bowl after bowl. It's SUPER chunky and has all kinds of great things in it like zucchini and tons of beans and chickpeas... mmmmm...

Since they don't always have it, and I'm trying really hard to eat a balanced diet with all of my restrictions, Brian and my mom decided that they were going to recreate this soup for me. Oh. My. God. The whole house smelled SO GOOD for hours - they made it all with fresh veggies and herbs from my mom's fledgling herb garden in the backyard.

Brian slices & dices

The End Result: can't you smell it from here?

In addition to my human caretakers, I had two very furry helpers (there's a third cat in our house, but she doesn't like me much...)

Winnie spent a ton of time with me out on the screened in porch on Monday afternoon, chilling out and protecting me from whatever kinds of bugs might try to penetrate the screen...

She also gave me a helping hand with my Snowie (best sno cone in the world) and also with perusing Brian's new yearbook... she just tucked herself up there under the covers (probably to make sure that I didn't fall off the couch in my Ativan-induced confusion)

After jealously watching from the ottoman for about a half hour, Madeline (my baby - she's 13) joined us, despite her intense dislike for Winnie (The Intruder) and we happily napped for a couple hours. As much as I fear becoming a Crazy Cat Lady, I like having them around... especially at times like this!

William came by for a little while last night, which was fantastic. I'd really hoped that by the evening I'd be feeling better and had planned on calling to see if he wanted to hit up Dollar Burger after work, but alas. I was thrilled when he called to see if I wanted him to bring over the second half of Angels in America. We're still not all the way through it, but I fall a little more in love with Mary Louise Parker each time I see more of her. It also reminds me how much I love Meryl Streep, and how much I need to go out and rent some of her older movies... (someone remind me to do that next time I'm feeling crappy!)

Finally, I went shopping with my mom at Kenwood Mall last week and stopped to take a look in Arhaus Furniture. I found the chairs below, and although they are WAY out of my price range, and I don't really even have a place to live, I've decided when I DO finally get my own house I am buying ONE chair (or a cheaper version & asking my grandma to recreate the upholstery) and decorating my entire house around it. I can't stop thinking about the vivid colors and patterns - it's even effecting my recent clothing choices. I've been ditching the blacks & greys I've been wearing continuously all summer for the HUGE stash of near-neon I have at the back of my closet & the bottom of my drawers. SO different than the IKEA modern style that's decorating my apartment in Berea. I definitely need something more cheerful.

photo courtesy of Arhaus Furniture

Well, t-t-t-that's all, folks! I'm off to get some bloodwork done to make sure I don't need any GCSF shots (so far, so good - those steroids are good for something, I guess...) and then to pick up a couple books from the library so we can continue with the Paper Gown Book Club. Yay!

Lots of Love,

Lauren