So much for my blogging weekly! Oops! 3 weeks has literally flown by.
I'm back at work part time until October 1 when it will be full days/full time once again. It feels great to be back in the real world! After spending so many months in a bubble the real world is simply amazing. So full of life, living and love. I feel more and more like myself everyday... but an even better me. I've definitely come through this a changed person. Changed for the better :)
Health update... hmmm, let's see... I had a mammogram 2 weeks ago. There was a small scare but it all turned out a-ok. Monday I will be having an MRI on my low back due to regular back aches and I will also have my first post-treatment PT scan. I believe the backaches are simply because my abdominal muscles are weak still but Dr. X wants to make sure. The PT scan is the big test and when it comes back clean I will be doing cartwheels in celebration!!! Thursday I will have a colonoscopy, NOT FUN but a necessary cancer screening. Dr. X assured me there would be plenty of screenings in my future and she wasn't joking! I saw my surgeon this week and things are good in that department. She told me I can start exercising and building my core strength as long as it doesn't hurt. That was good news :)
I feel amazing! Sometimes this whole thing seems surreal... I know I went through a lot but I'm feeling so good and so normal it's hard to believe sometimes. It truly is amazing what our bodies are capable of enduring and it's amazing that we can heal so well. I'm truly blessed.
HAIR! I have hair!!! The last week or so it's really taken off... I sort of feel like a Chia Pet! I can't really tell what color or texture it's going to be just yet. It is really dark though... stay tuned!
Well, it's Friday and I hope you all had a really nice week. Enjoy your weekend!!!
Much love, Reba
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
It's been a GREAT week!
Hi Folks!
Do you like the new picture?! It's me and Jennie before the Melissa Etheridge concert this past Wednesday. My hair is still sparse but it's really coming in! I've decided it's time to bare it all and not worry too much about head wraps, caps or my wig. The exception being when I'm going to be outdoors for any length of time because of course I still need to think about sunburn ;)
So Melissa Etheridge... Jennie won tickets and graciously invited me. It was at Morongo Casino near Palm Springs. The venue was very small so there wasn't a bad seat in the place. We were at the back of the room dancing and singing, having a ball basically. Melissa starts singing her survivor song, "I Run for Life"... no, I didn't cry... I suddenly became very brave and grabbed Jennie's hand and marched us right up the center isle to the front of the stage! We were about 4 people back when a girl in front of me looks back and says you should be closer! She squeezes us up in front of her so now there's only 1 person between me and Melissa's mic stand! I was literally just a few feet from her. SO exciting and so fun. Melissa did make eye contact once and winked at me. Good times!!!
Last Sunday I was at the the La Jolla farmer's market with my wonderful friend, Jiea, and two different vendors identified themselves as survivors. One four years and one, are you ready for this?, 28 years!!! She said her chemo was before infusion so she had regular shot injections over the course of 3 years... whoa! She was awesome and actually embraced me... so sweet.
I'm getting stronger everyday, emotionally and physically :) I'm excited about returning to work on the 15th! Life is feeling more normal every day and for this I am very thankful. I have some cancer screenings coming up... colonoscopy, mammogram, MRI and at the end of September my first post-chemo PT scan (that's the biggee). I've been busy scheduling all of this around my September work schedule.
Well my dear friends, that's about it for now. I will catch up with you all again soon! Happy Labor Day weekend, be safe but have loads of fun. Much love, Reba
Do you like the new picture?! It's me and Jennie before the Melissa Etheridge concert this past Wednesday. My hair is still sparse but it's really coming in! I've decided it's time to bare it all and not worry too much about head wraps, caps or my wig. The exception being when I'm going to be outdoors for any length of time because of course I still need to think about sunburn ;)
So Melissa Etheridge... Jennie won tickets and graciously invited me. It was at Morongo Casino near Palm Springs. The venue was very small so there wasn't a bad seat in the place. We were at the back of the room dancing and singing, having a ball basically. Melissa starts singing her survivor song, "I Run for Life"... no, I didn't cry... I suddenly became very brave and grabbed Jennie's hand and marched us right up the center isle to the front of the stage! We were about 4 people back when a girl in front of me looks back and says you should be closer! She squeezes us up in front of her so now there's only 1 person between me and Melissa's mic stand! I was literally just a few feet from her. SO exciting and so fun. Melissa did make eye contact once and winked at me. Good times!!!
Last Sunday I was at the the La Jolla farmer's market with my wonderful friend, Jiea, and two different vendors identified themselves as survivors. One four years and one, are you ready for this?, 28 years!!! She said her chemo was before infusion so she had regular shot injections over the course of 3 years... whoa! She was awesome and actually embraced me... so sweet.
I'm getting stronger everyday, emotionally and physically :) I'm excited about returning to work on the 15th! Life is feeling more normal every day and for this I am very thankful. I have some cancer screenings coming up... colonoscopy, mammogram, MRI and at the end of September my first post-chemo PT scan (that's the biggee). I've been busy scheduling all of this around my September work schedule.
Well my dear friends, that's about it for now. I will catch up with you all again soon! Happy Labor Day weekend, be safe but have loads of fun. Much love, Reba
Monday, August 23, 2010
No news is GOOD news.
Hello All!
I was visiting work the other day and ran into a couple of people that commented on how infrequently I blog these days... my response was "no news is good news!". I've been feeling great and just using my days to catch up on things, visit people and work on getting my strength back. I haven't actually gone back to yoga since that so-called gentle class kicked my booty but I am planning on attending a yoga class for cancer survivors this Wednesday. Stay tuned for the results on this second attempt. Ha ha ha!
My official return-to-work date has been set :) I will be going back 9-15-10 and working part-time until October 1st when I will resume full-time. I am actually very excited about going back. It will be nice to have structure and a purpose again. Returning to work will normalize my life real quick ;)
No health updates really... I have a regular check up with my oncologist this Friday. My next scan will probably be around the 3rd week of September. It will be a PT scan and when I clear that I will be really confident and my being "cured". Keep your fingers crossed for me!
The big news this week is HAIR! I have a nice growth of fuzz at this time and I have a feeling within the next 4 - 8 weeks I will have what should pass as normal hair! As long as no scalp is showing, even if it looks like a super short man's cut, I will be thrilled to no longer have to wear head covers. I rarely wear my wig (too itchy and binding) but I do wear caps or bandanas. Speaking of which, do any of you know anyone who has actually used Ovation Cell Therapy for hair growth? I'm wondering if it might work to speed things up for me. I'm going to ask my doctor Friday also.
Ok, I'm off to eat a really yummy lunch. Brenna's mother-in-law, Linda, made me stuffed peppers! I've never had one so I'm pretty excited :)
I hope this note finds you all HaPpY! Have a great week everyone!
xo Reba
I was visiting work the other day and ran into a couple of people that commented on how infrequently I blog these days... my response was "no news is good news!". I've been feeling great and just using my days to catch up on things, visit people and work on getting my strength back. I haven't actually gone back to yoga since that so-called gentle class kicked my booty but I am planning on attending a yoga class for cancer survivors this Wednesday. Stay tuned for the results on this second attempt. Ha ha ha!
My official return-to-work date has been set :) I will be going back 9-15-10 and working part-time until October 1st when I will resume full-time. I am actually very excited about going back. It will be nice to have structure and a purpose again. Returning to work will normalize my life real quick ;)
No health updates really... I have a regular check up with my oncologist this Friday. My next scan will probably be around the 3rd week of September. It will be a PT scan and when I clear that I will be really confident and my being "cured". Keep your fingers crossed for me!
The big news this week is HAIR! I have a nice growth of fuzz at this time and I have a feeling within the next 4 - 8 weeks I will have what should pass as normal hair! As long as no scalp is showing, even if it looks like a super short man's cut, I will be thrilled to no longer have to wear head covers. I rarely wear my wig (too itchy and binding) but I do wear caps or bandanas. Speaking of which, do any of you know anyone who has actually used Ovation Cell Therapy for hair growth? I'm wondering if it might work to speed things up for me. I'm going to ask my doctor Friday also.
Ok, I'm off to eat a really yummy lunch. Brenna's mother-in-law, Linda, made me stuffed peppers! I've never had one so I'm pretty excited :)
I hope this note finds you all HaPpY! Have a great week everyone!
xo Reba
Friday, August 13, 2010
Small speed bump
I came down with a slight head cold which I was managing nicely. Then the night before last I was up all night vominting like mad :( I called Dr. Xavier just to run it by her and she had me go to the hospital (out-patient infusions) for some fluids. They ran a bunch of labs and everything was okay. Must have been something I ate? So with fluids and lots of sleep I am feeling much better.
My sister, Katie, was here from Oregon for 6 days. We had a lot of fun. I probably wore myself out just a smidge but it was well worth it. Love you Katie and I miss you like mad.
Happy birthday to my big brother James today! I love you!!!
Reba
My sister, Katie, was here from Oregon for 6 days. We had a lot of fun. I probably wore myself out just a smidge but it was well worth it. Love you Katie and I miss you like mad.
Happy birthday to my big brother James today! I love you!!!
Reba
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
It's a GIRL!
BIG shoutout to Brenna and Travis, they are having a GIRL! Late Jan/early Feb 2011 I'll be a grandmother to a sweet little baby girl, Grace Margret. I am overcome with JOY and LOVE.
Reba
Reba
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