Okay. So, my CT scan was moved to today. I was able to get the Telebrex yesterday. As directed, I took it at 7:30 a.m. I arrived at the Hospital at the assigned 9:15 a.m. and checked in with Xray. I took my seat in the waiting area. A young technician I had never seen before came out and called my name and in I went. I told him about my "power port". That's when the fun began. After making a couple of calls, I was instructed to head up to the medical day unit (oncology), so that they could "put the line in" for me. Off I went. Unbelievably, they were not busy. The gals tried 3 times to "put the line in", but could not get any blood return. Blood return means its into the vein, and into my system. I have had blood return both times it has been used for chemo. So, in order to be sure it was in, I was sent back to CT where they would have to run some dye in order to see whether it was in. Back to the ground floor, where CT referred me to xray. I waited in xray. Then a lovely gal called my name! Call my name, call my name, while others who had been sitting there when I arrived, glared at me. In I went, and Dr. Hoffman actally stayed in the room and did the procedure to make sure that the line was in. He told me it did give him some resistance. Then back to CT, through a secret short cut I had never seen before. Right in, change, come back out, door to the main area open - prepare to see Frankestein - well Mrs. Frankin anyway - no hair, one boob, I think you get the picture - hide in corner, quick. Into the room, get me settled, figure out the right connection for the line, put me into the machine, then remember I hadn't signed the consent form, back out, signing the form with my hands over my head, back in. Rush of warmth, scan the chest and abdomen. Back out, flip around, scan the head. You're done with CT! Back to medical day on the 4th floor to have the line taken out. Every chair in the chemo clinic is full and there are people waiting to get in. Okay - alright - waiting room here I come. Luckily I have "Edgar Sawtelle" with me and other than being hungry and tired, I can amuse myself til those angels in medical day can see me, hear my story about the port, and take out the line. The gals told me it is not unusual for a port to behave this way. It is better I had it done today. If it would have happened before my next chemo treatment, I would have had to wait, as they can't combine the dye and the chemo. The gals in chemo told me that I could call Dr. MacLean for a verbal on the CT scan. I'll put that in my back pocket and try calling on Monday. I am having my next chemo treatment.
I treated myself to a prepared salad from McDonald's on the way home and was greeted by the best little girl, waiting to have a trit and a trot and a pee. I'm off to see Kathy Roy at Spirit Garden now. Life Energy Balancing.
Peace to you all,
Emma Lee
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Breeze This Morning
The breeze this morning touched me. Such gentleness. Sitting here, listening to quiet music, eyes closed, it reached through my front window and softly caressed my face - a most beautiful gift. Slowly opening my eyes, I relish another gift - the view. The early morning sun is lingering, laying a gorgeous hew atop the trees and roof tops of the West Side. There is a dance in the air. I close my eyes. The breeze is with me, and it has with it a swirling royal blue.
Peace to you all.
Emma Lee
Peace to you all.
Emma Lee
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Two Things!
1. I referred earlier today to the drawing of the beached dragon boat. To make it even better, Philip titled it: Women A Like A Stuck A River! (aka Women A Like A Breast A River.)
2. My friend Lloyd coined a term I like today - Em-ergy. I'm going to keep it! I'm putting it to use right now!
Peace everyone,
Emma Lee
2. My friend Lloyd coined a term I like today - Em-ergy. I'm going to keep it! I'm putting it to use right now!
Peace everyone,
Emma Lee
Second Chemo Done, Coping Strategies, Wedding Bliss, People To Miss
Well, got through another one. Actually met with Dr. Samantha Gray yesterday at the oncology clinic at the Aberdeen Hospital. My next treatment, if all is well, will be on the 27th and then the next CT scan will occur so that we can see what's what. I had my "list" of complaints and questions with me and after we reviewed them, Dr. Gray gave me a couple of good strategies for dealing with some of the side effects. I met with Alice too. She "triaged" me before my meeting with Dr. Gray. I cannot believe the quality of the staff at the clinic. And the volunteers are amazing too. I arrived a bit early yesterday and was able to chat with a couple of other gals going through similar adventures. There was quite a gang at the clinic yesterday. It is eye opening.
Both volunteers yesterday were from the Dragon Boat team. We were laughing about the "beaching" of the boat and in fact, I was presented with a "cartoon" drawn by Philip that is hilarious, showing the boat, the beaching, and the couragous gals who actually got out, stood in the East River, and tried to free us. The local fire department rescue boat couldn't even accomplish that. It took the Stevensons, Joel and Crystal to come out and rescue us at the end of the day! I'm going to frame that picture and put it with my other dragon boat memorabilia.
I'm into my 10th to 14th days again and so am taking it easy. Thank you folks for your emails and cards. I'm having lots of laughs and tears. Also, thanks for the books that are being dropped off. I'm learning a lot, and enjoying some great fiction as well. With the help of Kate, I may even get a room set-up for meditation purposes.
This lunch time I am meeting with someone who may be able to help out with Honey! Can't wait. I hope Honey behaves herself.
This past weekend Jim and I attended Leslie 2's wedding to Trevor. What a fabulous day. The weather could not have been better and the bride was a picture of loveliness. Leslie's sister Lisa sang a couple of songs, the second of which was Ave Marie. She did a bang-up job. Between wedding and reception, Leslie 1 invited us to her home. Do you know that her little darling was in that church the whole time and didn't make a sound. Reid is his name and he is a darling. Reid had a good time socializing. So did I! What fun I had, even getting a couple of dances in before coming home. It was a great gathering and so wonderful to get Mac staff together for a happy occasion. On Sunday I was lucky enough to join Lloyd's music team at Trinity for contemporary worship. I also got to work on the actual service with Marie. The theme was "Restore Us". I think I'm sort of calling that out right now. The music was great. I had a blast. Later that day, Lynn and Linda arrived with some more grub and we had a wonderful dinner.
It was a great weekend. Honey was very happy because both of her guys were home. She's looking at the door again. Every now and then she lifts her head, cocks her ears and trots out to have a look. She'll have to wait a bit longer yet. I think she does get a bit tired of hearing my songs though, the latest of which is "A Tritter and a Trot and a Trot and a Tritter (With You)", supplemented by the occasional "Hang On Honey, Honey Hang On!" If I had a Mac, I'd be doing a song a day too, directed to my cat and dog!
Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Exhale quietly. You are loved. Deep Peace to you all.
Emma Lee
Both volunteers yesterday were from the Dragon Boat team. We were laughing about the "beaching" of the boat and in fact, I was presented with a "cartoon" drawn by Philip that is hilarious, showing the boat, the beaching, and the couragous gals who actually got out, stood in the East River, and tried to free us. The local fire department rescue boat couldn't even accomplish that. It took the Stevensons, Joel and Crystal to come out and rescue us at the end of the day! I'm going to frame that picture and put it with my other dragon boat memorabilia.
I'm into my 10th to 14th days again and so am taking it easy. Thank you folks for your emails and cards. I'm having lots of laughs and tears. Also, thanks for the books that are being dropped off. I'm learning a lot, and enjoying some great fiction as well. With the help of Kate, I may even get a room set-up for meditation purposes.
This lunch time I am meeting with someone who may be able to help out with Honey! Can't wait. I hope Honey behaves herself.
This past weekend Jim and I attended Leslie 2's wedding to Trevor. What a fabulous day. The weather could not have been better and the bride was a picture of loveliness. Leslie's sister Lisa sang a couple of songs, the second of which was Ave Marie. She did a bang-up job. Between wedding and reception, Leslie 1 invited us to her home. Do you know that her little darling was in that church the whole time and didn't make a sound. Reid is his name and he is a darling. Reid had a good time socializing. So did I! What fun I had, even getting a couple of dances in before coming home. It was a great gathering and so wonderful to get Mac staff together for a happy occasion. On Sunday I was lucky enough to join Lloyd's music team at Trinity for contemporary worship. I also got to work on the actual service with Marie. The theme was "Restore Us". I think I'm sort of calling that out right now. The music was great. I had a blast. Later that day, Lynn and Linda arrived with some more grub and we had a wonderful dinner.
It was a great weekend. Honey was very happy because both of her guys were home. She's looking at the door again. Every now and then she lifts her head, cocks her ears and trots out to have a look. She'll have to wait a bit longer yet. I think she does get a bit tired of hearing my songs though, the latest of which is "A Tritter and a Trot and a Trot and a Tritter (With You)", supplemented by the occasional "Hang On Honey, Honey Hang On!" If I had a Mac, I'd be doing a song a day too, directed to my cat and dog!
Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Exhale quietly. You are loved. Deep Peace to you all.
Emma Lee
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wondrous Power from the Boulter Road
I have connected on Facebook with my cousin Click. We are double first cousins. (History lesson: Our grandparents and parents grew up a mile or so apart on the Boulter Road, Glenwood, PEI. My father Calvin married Claudette's father's sister Rebie. Rebie's brother Garfield married Calvin's sister Doris. My Aunt and Click's mother Doris still resides in O'Leary, PEI.)
Click inquired last week whether a "fly past" could be ventured this weekend. I said yes! I love the company of the Islanders. On Sunday the Islanders arrived. Couldn't believe it - cousin Click, friend Treena, cousin Joan and my father's sister Shirley. Aunt Shirley. I couldn't believe she made that trip. I love them all. It was a great visit. Honey was performing. Jim was answering the phone and adding his two bits. And we were sharing laughs. I was told how the "girls" take these road trips fairly regularly.
They brought not only their lovely presence, but they also delivered to me two of my father's mother's - my Grandmother's Bibles which had been in the possession of cousins Joyce and Wayne. My paternal Grandmother's name was Caroline Etta (Cain) Boulter. She was proud to tell you that she was a born again Christian. She could recall very clearly the time and place of that rebirth. My cousins Wayne and Joyce wanted me to have these Bibles in order to absorb Grammie's strength and faith through them.
When I hold them it is very surreal. I am taken back to summer vacations on the Island in Grammie Boulter's beautiful house. It was beautiful to me. I can almost smell it. She made bread and cookies pretty well every day (the best ever). If you were lucky enough to be up early you could be part of her getting ready for the day. She had beautiful long hair, which she combed each morning, then braided and then put into a bun. She always wore a lovely dress and apron and practical shoes. And she sang while she worked in her kitchen. The kitchen had a wood stove, which was always going, despite the heat of the summer. After breakfast almost every morning, once dishes were done, whoever was there would gather together and pray and read scripture. And when we prayed, we prayed on our knees. I know she used these Bibles during that time. After supper we would be invited to play cards at her wonderful round dining table - Bible cards.
Today I will be sitting in a rocking chair on her front porch, on a dirt road in the west end of Prince Edward Island, with nothing but the birds, the wind and love.
These Bibles will be cherished. My Grandmother not only used them for worship, but they are a treasure of family history, containing names, birthdates, etc. of relatives, many of whom I never knew. Thumbing the same pages my Grandmother loved will be a very spiritual experience for me.
I am deeply indebted and grateful. Deep peace to all.
Click inquired last week whether a "fly past" could be ventured this weekend. I said yes! I love the company of the Islanders. On Sunday the Islanders arrived. Couldn't believe it - cousin Click, friend Treena, cousin Joan and my father's sister Shirley. Aunt Shirley. I couldn't believe she made that trip. I love them all. It was a great visit. Honey was performing. Jim was answering the phone and adding his two bits. And we were sharing laughs. I was told how the "girls" take these road trips fairly regularly.
They brought not only their lovely presence, but they also delivered to me two of my father's mother's - my Grandmother's Bibles which had been in the possession of cousins Joyce and Wayne. My paternal Grandmother's name was Caroline Etta (Cain) Boulter. She was proud to tell you that she was a born again Christian. She could recall very clearly the time and place of that rebirth. My cousins Wayne and Joyce wanted me to have these Bibles in order to absorb Grammie's strength and faith through them.
When I hold them it is very surreal. I am taken back to summer vacations on the Island in Grammie Boulter's beautiful house. It was beautiful to me. I can almost smell it. She made bread and cookies pretty well every day (the best ever). If you were lucky enough to be up early you could be part of her getting ready for the day. She had beautiful long hair, which she combed each morning, then braided and then put into a bun. She always wore a lovely dress and apron and practical shoes. And she sang while she worked in her kitchen. The kitchen had a wood stove, which was always going, despite the heat of the summer. After breakfast almost every morning, once dishes were done, whoever was there would gather together and pray and read scripture. And when we prayed, we prayed on our knees. I know she used these Bibles during that time. After supper we would be invited to play cards at her wonderful round dining table - Bible cards.
Today I will be sitting in a rocking chair on her front porch, on a dirt road in the west end of Prince Edward Island, with nothing but the birds, the wind and love.
These Bibles will be cherished. My Grandmother not only used them for worship, but they are a treasure of family history, containing names, birthdates, etc. of relatives, many of whom I never knew. Thumbing the same pages my Grandmother loved will be a very spiritual experience for me.
I am deeply indebted and grateful. Deep peace to all.
Getting back to the old new me, or should that be the new old me?
I think I've made it through! Yay!! Is it a coincidence that the sun is also shining today?
Honey and I had a great brisk walk this morning,around the same time as the construction workers were arriving to start their noise. It was so lovely out there. The air is definitely cooler though. I love it. I think Honey likes it too. She had quite a strut on throughout. We stayed out for a while.
I cannot believe it is Thursday already. So much has happened since I last posted, besides the balance of my hair screaming to leave me.
Suzie Vinick was in town to play a house concert and I was secretly hoping I could go. She called me to check in that night. I could not have sat through that concert. But she's doing great. One of the great women of folk in our country. I bet it was a dandy night.
Lynn and Linda arrived with some fabulous grub.
Jakki checked in several times this week. Lee is away, and so Honey and I are holding down the fort. Jakki's also a great woman of folk.
Dragon Boat weekend was wonderful. I had a blast on Saturday. Highlights - seeing everybody; being able to be part of the "visioned" race - which we won; cheering for MacAttack; cheering for Women Alike and Boat 2; having lunch with the "survivors" - reconnecting; dancing on stage while Fleur was rocking it (another great woman of music); being able to head down to get the boat and paddle it up and wait for the final race - WHICH WOMEN ALIKE WON;being part of the pink carnation ceremony; getting beached in the East River for at least 15 minutes and howling with laughter at the way life works.
I also had a visit from Ruth, such a kind and loving heart. She remains in my thoughts.
More later, peace to all of you. If you are reading this post, you are in my prayers. Connect with your heart. What is it telling you today?
Honey and I had a great brisk walk this morning,around the same time as the construction workers were arriving to start their noise. It was so lovely out there. The air is definitely cooler though. I love it. I think Honey likes it too. She had quite a strut on throughout. We stayed out for a while.
I cannot believe it is Thursday already. So much has happened since I last posted, besides the balance of my hair screaming to leave me.
Suzie Vinick was in town to play a house concert and I was secretly hoping I could go. She called me to check in that night. I could not have sat through that concert. But she's doing great. One of the great women of folk in our country. I bet it was a dandy night.
Lynn and Linda arrived with some fabulous grub.
Jakki checked in several times this week. Lee is away, and so Honey and I are holding down the fort. Jakki's also a great woman of folk.
Dragon Boat weekend was wonderful. I had a blast on Saturday. Highlights - seeing everybody; being able to be part of the "visioned" race - which we won; cheering for MacAttack; cheering for Women Alike and Boat 2; having lunch with the "survivors" - reconnecting; dancing on stage while Fleur was rocking it (another great woman of music); being able to head down to get the boat and paddle it up and wait for the final race - WHICH WOMEN ALIKE WON;being part of the pink carnation ceremony; getting beached in the East River for at least 15 minutes and howling with laughter at the way life works.
I also had a visit from Ruth, such a kind and loving heart. She remains in my thoughts.
More later, peace to all of you. If you are reading this post, you are in my prayers. Connect with your heart. What is it telling you today?
Monday, August 9, 2010
I'll Touch Base with You in a Bit
The last treatment is proving a bit more intense than my first. I was lucky to ignore it long enough to enjoy the Race on the River and be part of a very moving pink carnation ceremony. It was emotional friends. Anyway, we zigged when we should have zagged and ended up beached in the East River. I will write more as I feel well enough. Didn't know you could hurt in so many places at once. Must be working. I'll be in touch in a bit. Mary et al. will be baking cupcakes tonight - to be sold at the Midsummer Cupcake Sale on Wednesday, August 11th - Parade Square in Halifax. She is part of Tunes at Noon. If you're in the City - it starts at Noon and she will be there with homemade cupcakes for the cause - they are vegan to beat, PLUS her fabulous original music. Peace to you all. Be back in a few days, with luck.
Emma Lee
Emma Lee
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