Sunday 6 May 2012

Day 11 - 6th Chemo Cycle

What a wonderful Spring day it was today!  I'm so glad to be alive!  I don't have a lot of energy yet but I'm starting to feel better.  I did a load of laundry and hung it outside.  Then I spent the rest of the day sitting outdoors on my patio.  I watched all the animal and bird activity in our backyard.  I also started experimenting with our camera and taking pictures of the various flowers that are currently blooming as well as the pear and apple blossoms that are out in full force on my trees.

The calico-coloured squirrel made a visit to my yard today.  He didn't hang around very long though.  I heard him chattering and complaining in an adjacent yard a little while later.  All afternoon a couple of mourning doves were coming and going throughout the backyard.  I felt sorry for the little female as the much larger male dove did not seem to get the hint that she wanted nothing to do with him.  He was very persistent.  It was a relaxing and fun afternoon shared with my husband.  It was a little frustrating that I would get dizzy just by going around the yard taking pictures.  So obviously my stamina and energy is not very high but at least I'm feeling much better today.

After a wonderful barbecued pork roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and caesar salad, I returned to the outdoors.  It is just so peaceful to hear all the birds singing that I didn't want to be indoors at all today.  I did eventually succumb to the coolness of the evening and return indoors.  Not long after, a longtime friend came to visit with her daughters.  I haven't seen them all together in many, many years.  They dropped by for a brief visit that was much too short.  It was so nice to see them and share many laughs again.

While I spent my time outside today, I made sure to keep myself covered from the sun.  One of the side effects to the chemotherapy is a heightened sensitivity to the sun.  I'm very fair skinned and sunburn at the best of times.  Now I have to make sure that my skin is covered completely by clothing.  Yesterday I had thought I was fully covered but I noticed this morning that there is a small v-shaped area at the base of my neck that got sunburned.  So today I did a better job of covering myself.  Or so I thought.  I notice tonight that the back of my hands are a little sunburned.

It's been a great day and I'm weary.  I hope that this will help me sleep soundly tonight despite any night sweats that occur.

1 comment:

  1. What a wonderful day, Cathy. It's almost poetic how the days have gotten sunnier and warmer around the time you finished your chemo sessions. Maybe the heavens above are smiling down on you. Hope all the days up ahead are just as lovely.

    ReplyDelete