Viva La Fiesta

Well........Fiesta has officially started in Santa Barbara. Coincidentally, I started my new chemo regimen yesterday~ Taxol & Carboplatin. We were at the Cancer Center for a LONG time! (7 hours!) (9:30- 4:30) Thankfully, i had intermittent visitors, "The Week", "Matrimony", & drugs. Basically, it was Eat, Pray Love. Really! (& sleep). Susan was with me for the first 5 hours. We wanted to make sure that the meds & I were compatible. I had heard that Taxol can have some reactions that are unpleasant ( such as suffocation, shortness of breath...) Was I worried? YES!
I took the 20 MG. of Dexamethasone the night before (to help prevent any adverse reactions) & I must say all went really well!
Susan & I set "up camp" at my Chair. After all the pre meds were infused (Benadryl, Zofran, dexamethasone (more!) & saline, we were finally ready for the Taxol. Started it slowly... no problems. Received a beautiful TEXT from rosalie (from India) I shall treasure it ALWAYS! Then I got sleepy (between the Ativan & Benedryl~ certainly not all the steroids!) I started to read "the Week" & fell asleep. Linda (my boss) came by to say hi. very kind. Lindsay(my sister in all of this) came for a bit & brought a yummy Turkey sanwich from Fresco~ Perfect! Susan went to work at 2 when we both felt that I was tolerating the chemo. Thank you honey! xo
Kat came at 2 & sat with me until 4:30! Thank you, Kat, for being so present & positive! Theo came for awhile too. We took the IV pole outside to the garden & walked a bit. So nice to feel so loved. Finally was unhooked & sent home. So Happy to see Luka & Bailey.
Debbie b. came by in the afternoon & we had an opportunity to chat. She is my other "sister" on this journey & so willing to share. Thanks Deb! She also brought Enchiladas & Blueberry squares. YUM! And, Autumn came by with Baby Harper (plesant surprise). so nice to see a newborn.

Last Tuesday, I had a fantastic experience. I went to see a hypnotherapist (& new friend, Tanya) she worked with me on my issues about the cancer center, nausea, & fear. It was truly a remarkable & positive experience! I think my mantra, the lavendar,& positive thoughts really helped this experience & 5th chemo drip! AND, meeting Tanya & her partner ,Sandra, were 2 new "gifts" in my life. Thanks to Jill & Barry for the intros!
Speaking of Jill & Barry............ A group of friends all met at Chase Palm Park Thursday evening for the last of the Free concerts. Spencer the Gardner played (with Gary Sangenitto~ my ex & father of our beautiful children) We had a blast. great music, yummy food, & lots of friends/ family. Theo, susan, Lindsay, Jill, Barry, Tanya, Sandra, Edie, Kat, Liz, Mercedes, Liz's friend, Liz, & her baby, & some "others' who stopped by. It was so much fun to be out on a lovely evening enjoying the music, the weather, the energy, & our friends.
On Saturday, Susan & I drove to LA to have Breakfast with my family; Stan, sheila, Norm, Val, Nick, Sheri, Dave, Staci, Brian, & Ryan. It was wonderful to spend time with the family. It was especially dear to see sheri & Dave as he has a brain tumor (diagnosed a month before me). This guy is truly a "gentle giant" 6 foot 7 & now with a shaved head & his dizziness & feeling blah I can only imagine the hell he is going through. I hold you both so close in my heart!
After breakfast we went to Ikea (didn't really need anything..... but we were kinda close...) So we did a lot of walking through Ikea. Bought some stuff. A new desk chair for Theo that is so uncomfortable! what were we thinking?! Does anybody have a desk chair that they would like to sell/give away? he is a big guy & needs a comfy chair. It is not comfy for ANYBODY! BUT, it looked cool on the showroom floor! After IKEA we drove to the Camarillo outlets. That took forever as there were two horrible vehicle accidents on 101 (South side) BUT, of course 101 North was VERY VERY slow because EVERYONE had to look! I must admit both accidents were awful. We finally made it to Camarillo. We walked all 3 outletts. I am talking miles, in heels, in 95 degrees! What was I thinking. I am sure I was dehydrated & exhausted. AND, then to Target! What was I (we) thinking??? Enough already.
Needless to say I had a hard time getting up sunday & had a slight temp. I took a Tylenol & went to the Vedanta Temple. So glad I went . The Swami spoke about KARMA. It was a perfect lesson for me to hear. We went to Costco in the afternoon (more shopping!) & went to visit Rachel, alok, & Pilloux's new home!

I came home & crashed! Big time! Monday morning I could barely move! I had a temp, lethargy & felt like I had the flu. I went to acupuncture & Laurie said "You overdid it"! You think???!! I went back to bed for 24 hours. I rested & drank lots of water. That is exactly what I needed. I felt so much better by noon on Tuesday. My labs before Chemo showed that I am anemic. I can work on that.

I am hoping to enjoy a tiny bit of Fiesta today. Just a tiny bit. A little lunch at DeLaGuerra, perhaps some Pinkberry................I will enjoy feeling good right now............... Viva la