Stephanie's Journey

Sunday, August 3, 2014

The Joy's of Being Pampered

I'm 29 and up until a few days ago I've never had a Manicure/pedicure. How I managed to go so long without succumbing to this time old ritual, I have no idea. So what prompted me to get one recently? Well, I've heard that they feel fantastic, for one. For 2, I felt like being adventurous and trying something new. People are constantly telling me that I should take some time to pamper myself. I figured what better way to accomplish all that than by getting a mani/pedi .

So, I asked my husbands boss if she could recommend a place. I called the recommended salon up and made my appointment! I waited excitedly for the day to arrive. I was excited to see what all the fuss what about, because all I've ever heard is how wonderful they are. The day finally arrived and I felt a thrill of excitement go through me as I typed in the address to my GPS. I arrived right on time. Walking through the door of the salon, I was impressed. I expected it to smell like nail polish. But instead it smelled of lotions and perfumes. I sat on an overly stuffed chair sipping a glass of water when the lady came to take me for my pedicure. I'm sure you all know what goes on during one, so I won't bore you with the details. Let's just say, I enjoyed it a lot! Next were the finger nails. The lady cut them and shaped them. Painted them and then told me to let them dry. I asked how long and she gave an indifferent reply. I sat there at the table alone in the room, staring at my nails... Finally, I couldn't stand the waiting any longer and I made my way to the receptionist. I paid, what I felt, was an outrageous amount of money. All they did was massage my feet and hands and paint my nails!

I went out to my car. Got inside. Put my seatbelt on. And in doing so, I ruined on of my nails! I hadn't even left the parking lot and I had ruined my manicure!

This is what I concluded: mani/Pedi's are really nice for special occasions. But ridiculous to get on a regular basis. I thoroughly enjoyed being pampered, but I would rather spend $6 bucks on nail polish and paint my own nails, than shell out that kind of cash for something that doesn't even last.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Oh to tan!

In the past tanning was not an issue. I'd go out in the sun all day and not care! Of course I would use sunscreen, but it wouldn't prevent the great tan!
Well now that I'm sick and taking chemo, I can kiss the natural tan goodbye. :( I'm only allowed 15 minutes in the sun. Then it's sunscreen spf 30. I have to be extremely careful in the sun now...
So, what's a girl to do?
Well, this girl decided to take a risk and do an at home spray tan from neutrogena. Yep. I said it! I could turn orange... I'll take a picture once it sets. Needles to say, I'm hoping for the best.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Check in

I realize it's been a while since I posted, I apologize. I've never been one to journal or write about myself.
Life has become more routine. I have more energy and more motivation. I go to the doctor once a month for blood work. Every three months now for scans, tests and to see my oncologist.
I am now allowed to drive up to a 2 mile radius from my home by myself. Farther if someone is with me and I'm not on pain meds.
My hair is starting to come back :) slowly, but surely. I have most of it in except for at the top. There's hair, it's just more thin. I got my hair cut today for the first time since going bald. It felt unreal walking into the salon and putting my name down on the list. I sat in the chair unsure what the hair dresser would do. I mean, let's face it, my hair was maybe an inch long. How much can you do with that?
She sat me down, wet my hair and started working her magic. She was able to trim my hair into an actual style (if you can call it that, it's so short).
I still have that dark patch of hair on the back of my head. The hair dresser and I are planning on dying my hair to match if the color doesn't even out. :p
I just had a doctors appointment. It went really well! Things are continuing to clear up and improve! I'm so blessed to have all of you praying for me! I couldn't do this without them.. And consequently without you. God is good all the time! I am blessed to have Him on my side fighting with me. By His stripes I am healed! Amen
God bless you all! I'll do my best to post more regularly :)

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

God Never Ceases to Surprise

Remember my writing that I had been put on antidepressants? Well the other part to compliment the drugs was for me to go to counseling.
Today was my second appointment. And so far, I really like my counselor! She herself is a breast cancer survivor. So she can relate really well with what I'm going through. She encourages Keith to join in our sessions, because she wants to make sure he's still handling everything ok. She made the comment, "after all, you are a team".
But the thing I love the most about this counselor is that she is a strong Christian! At the end of our session today she asked if she could pray for us, and with us. Of course I said yes! So, right then and there, she stopped, bowed her head and prayed for us!
Isn't God just full of surprises!?
My non-believing doctor and his staff picked this counselor out for me. They picked her because she is a cancer survivor.
How blessed am I? A cancer survivor and a Christian! I'm pretty happy right now :)

Monday, March 31, 2014

Like Riding a Bike

I recently received permission from my doctor to drive! Granted I'm only allowed to drive short distances. And I have to drive with Keith. It feels like Drivers Ed all over again. :p

Yesterday I drove my car for the first time in 6 months! I sat behind the steering wheel hoping and praying that driving would be like riding a bike. Everything would come back naturally.

Granted I only drive a couple blocks, but I didn't do half bad! I was so happy to find that it was like riding a bike! OK, so I almost hit a small pole. And my park job was a little lacking. But I did it! And all 3 of us are in one piece, (so is the car)!

I'm excited to drive some more! Watch out people! I'm back on the road!!

Monday, March 24, 2014

"The Third Eye"

I think I mentioned that my hair was starting to grow back. Well, here is a shot of my progress :)

Needless to say, it's coming in very patchy! I have pretty much no hair on too of my head. Although that is starting to change :) Keith jokingly refers to my dark patch on the back of my head as my "third eye". Lol

I just have that one song line running through my head, "she's a very freaky girl" :p

Friday, March 14, 2014

Unbelievable Results

Looking back on when this all started, I can still see my doctors expression when he told me I had stage 4 lung cancer. I can still see the look of sadness as he told me I had 6-8 years to live. I never thought I'd see that look of shock again.

Well, today I saw it again but for different reasons. The news I got today shocked everyone! My doctor pulled up side by side images from yesterday and 2 months ago (when I started the chemo pills). They didn't look like the same person! One was all polka dotted with cancer cells of all sizes. The other was so clean and clear. Not perfectly clear, mind you. But clear enough to floor the doctor and make him speechless! He said, "I've never seen anything like this before! Your lungs should not look like this after just 2 months! It's amazing!"

Needless to say, I'm ecstatic! To hear news like that makes me want to fight even harder!

Now I'll always be considered stage 4. But there's a very good chance now that I could be considered, in the future, as stage 4 NND (no noticeable disease). or in simpler terms, remission.

I've said since the very beginning, "I've got this beat! My body just doesn't know it yet!" Well my body is starting to figure it out!

Praise be to God for his continued faithfulness! God bless you all! Thank you for all your prayers and support! :D