I get up early and take my last shower for the next few days. I try to get everything together that I will need today, I don't want to forget anything. I am not in the mood for the sandwich cart, so I bring some grapes and cheese with me.
My appointment is at eight twenty which means I could get out early if all goes well.
Today is supposed to be my last folfox treatment. Steve and I talk about it as we walk in. I am nervous that my white blood count will be too low today. I am afraid they won't be able to treat me.
Steven and I split up at Fifth Street. He goes on to Seven Stars to get me some olive bread to have with my lunch, I head over to the Fain building. Faye takes me in as soon as I get registered, and since I am one of the first in, I get my pick of all the rooms. Because they are expecting such a busy day today, we are in the Mega suite, and I choose the same penthouse pod I had last time.
I get my blood drawn and then see Bess to get have my blood pressure checked and get weighed. My blood pressure is very low. If only I could give a little of my low blood pressure to Steve. My weight is back to where it was pre-all of this stuff happening. Even a couple of pounds more. I liked it when it was a few pounds less, but know my current weight is good. It is better to be a little over before I have surgery.
We wait for Dr. Safran to see us. He tells me my white blood cell count is a little low, but he thinks it will be okay to treat me anyway. It is close to borderline, which he decides is good enough. He tells me that even though this is to be my last folfox for now, the side effects will most likely continue to get worse before they get better. I can expect them to worsen over the next two months, then they should gradually subside.
I ask if he has counted the spots on my liver, and he invites me to see my scans, the first from June and the second from October. In the first scan, there are a lot of spots on my liver. A. Lot. There is a big blotch where those veins are exiting my liver. It looks pretty scary. I can't believe how bad it looks. In the scan from October, things have shrunken down considerably, but it is still pretty messy looking. The last scan was six weeks ago. I will have another on twenty ninth to see how things look now.
We discuss the liver and the colon surgery. It looks like Dr. Charpentier and Dr. Lentrichia don't operate in the same hospitals. I tell Dr. Safran that I don't want to switch surgeons, that I would like Dr. Lentrichia to repair my colon, even if it means an extra surgery. He likes this idea.
We make an appointment for the thirty first, New Years Eve. By then he will have the results of my CT scan, and we can make a plan for the next phase of my treatment. I think this will be a good way to end this year.
While I am getting my chemo, Dr. Safran stops by to tell me my cea level is two. In a person without cancer, five or below is considered normal. This is more good news.
In the evening, Kaileigh, Alex, Steven, Jill, Brian, and I take Sara out to Flatbread Pizza to celebrate her birthday. None of us have been here before, and we enjoy everything about it. We finish our meal with some cupcakes and a round of Happy Birthday.
This has been a most excellent day.
In June 2014, I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. What this means in regular language is that I have colon cancer. It has also spread to my liver. I am currently being treated for stage 4 liver cancer. Here is my story...
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Sunday, December 14
When I get to church this morning, the first person I run into is Martha. She has something for me. She was hoping to give it to me last night, but she didn't see me. I wondered what she was talking about. She had been to the Sr. High Youth Group Coffee House. It had completely slipped my mind. I had every intention of going to that, and then, completely forgot about it. Completely. Chemo brain is such a weird thing. I hope that when I am done with this my memory comes back.
Martha gives me a bag with something wrapped in tissue paper. When I slowly unfurl the paper, I find a fine red felt fox. She is beautiful. Martha runs the Girl Effect sale, and saw her when she was ordering. She only ordered one, just for me. This is just the sweetest thing. I think I will name her Martha.
It is funny, because I looked at the felted animals that were available at the sale and thought that if there were a fox I just might have to get one. Martha is a foxy one!
We learn about Hanukkah in Sunday school today. We play dreidel and make some paper menorahs to help us celebrate when it begins on Tuesday. It is our last class before we break for two weeks, so we also make felt Christmas Trees. The children are all so excited about the holidays. Some of then celebrate both, some are just learning about Hanukkah. It is a magical time of year, anyway you celebrate it.
By the time I leave church, my feet are so achy, and I don't feel so well. I am invited to a birthday party for one of my daycare children, but decide it will be best to go home and take a nap. Friday I am supposed to get my last folfox treatment, and I don't want to push myself and get sick. Instead I go home and take a long nap.
When I awaken, I still don't feel that well, and my sisters are coming over for dinner this evening. With much help from Ayla and Alex, we manage to get everything ready before they arrive. My sister Jill had a birthday just after Thanksgiving, so we are having a little party for her. She doesn't know, so it will be a surprise for her. Ayla makes one of my sister's favorite meals, mac and cheese with sausages and broccoli. For dessert, a cake from Pastiche of course! It is a delicious celebration.
After dinner we test out a game for the table on Christmas morning. It is called WhatchamaDraw it. There are cards with drawing cues on them, things like draw an animal that has a chicken head, a pineapple body and duck feet. You then have three minutes to draw. It is hysterical to see what each person comes up with. There is a competitive facet to the game, but we chose to enjoy each creation rather than be judged. We do challenge one person to figure out who has drawn what. This makes it very interesting.
While everyone is still playing, I go out driving with Allie. We need to get some night time driving in, and is not just dark, but also a little rainy.
When I get home, Steven and the kids are still playing the same game. It is sure to be a hit on Christmas.
Monday
Allie and I go to driving this evening. She takes me to Bed Bath and Beyond to do some Christmas shopping. She is very helpful in advising me about a gift I want to get for my sister Sara. Since we are in Seekonk, we decide to go to Target too. I am on a mission to find a hot water bottle for someone with cold feet. At both Bed Bath and Beyond and Target the sales people think I am talking about one of those sippy cups grownups carry tea or coffee around in. This is very amusing. Neither store has what I am looking for though.
Tuesday
We make paper Hanukkah menorahs today. They are made using rectangles of paper for the candles, pasted onto a backround which has a larger rectangle menorah. We keep one candle which has a paper flame on it stored on the back of the paper in a pocket with the flames for the other candles. This is the shammos candle, the one which is used to light all of the other candles. Each night, the children can light one more candle until they are all lit. This evening is the first night, so everyone will have a paper candle to light. We also play dreidel with chocolate gelt. This is so popular, even my two year olds figure out how to spin the top to play.
In the evening I have knitting, although I arrive late. I don't get much knitting done, but I do get to eat cookies! Linda has been baking and brought some in to share. Lonnie, Sarah and I make a good dent in the cookie supply. Someone has left some yarn for us today, a nice bag full. It has some good soft wool that will be perfect for items for our mitten tree, and some needles that will come in handy when we teach newbies how to knit.
Wednesday
I have a nine thirty appointment with Dr. Lentrichia today. He does the usual inspection of my belly, my bag and my stoma. Everything looks good. We talk about my chemo and how that is going. I tell him about my visit to the liver surgeon, my MRI, and my last visit with Dr. Safran back in October. It all seems so long ago.
He tells me he has had patients who have had great success with the folfox treatments. When things go very well with the treatments he tells me there is often nothing there to remove when he checks in on their colon. He thinks this may be the case with me. This is great news. I love that Dr. Lentrichia always takes time to sit down and understand what is going on with me. I appreciate his attention and sympathy to my situation.
I leave with an appointment for next month, and a big hug.
When I get home, I find that I an locked out. I have dropped Steven off downtown to cover a story, and forgot that I didn't take my keys on the way out. My feet are still feeling funny, so I sit in the car and clean out my handbag while I wait for Sara and Alex to return.
In the evening, Julia and I go shopping on Thayer St. I am still looking for that hot water bottle and am sure Pleasant Surprise is the place to find a cute one that looks like some kind of cute animal. I don't have any luck, but we do have a good time.
Martha gives me a bag with something wrapped in tissue paper. When I slowly unfurl the paper, I find a fine red felt fox. She is beautiful. Martha runs the Girl Effect sale, and saw her when she was ordering. She only ordered one, just for me. This is just the sweetest thing. I think I will name her Martha.
It is funny, because I looked at the felted animals that were available at the sale and thought that if there were a fox I just might have to get one. Martha is a foxy one!
We learn about Hanukkah in Sunday school today. We play dreidel and make some paper menorahs to help us celebrate when it begins on Tuesday. It is our last class before we break for two weeks, so we also make felt Christmas Trees. The children are all so excited about the holidays. Some of then celebrate both, some are just learning about Hanukkah. It is a magical time of year, anyway you celebrate it.
By the time I leave church, my feet are so achy, and I don't feel so well. I am invited to a birthday party for one of my daycare children, but decide it will be best to go home and take a nap. Friday I am supposed to get my last folfox treatment, and I don't want to push myself and get sick. Instead I go home and take a long nap.
When I awaken, I still don't feel that well, and my sisters are coming over for dinner this evening. With much help from Ayla and Alex, we manage to get everything ready before they arrive. My sister Jill had a birthday just after Thanksgiving, so we are having a little party for her. She doesn't know, so it will be a surprise for her. Ayla makes one of my sister's favorite meals, mac and cheese with sausages and broccoli. For dessert, a cake from Pastiche of course! It is a delicious celebration.
After dinner we test out a game for the table on Christmas morning. It is called WhatchamaDraw it. There are cards with drawing cues on them, things like draw an animal that has a chicken head, a pineapple body and duck feet. You then have three minutes to draw. It is hysterical to see what each person comes up with. There is a competitive facet to the game, but we chose to enjoy each creation rather than be judged. We do challenge one person to figure out who has drawn what. This makes it very interesting.
While everyone is still playing, I go out driving with Allie. We need to get some night time driving in, and is not just dark, but also a little rainy.
When I get home, Steven and the kids are still playing the same game. It is sure to be a hit on Christmas.
Monday
Allie and I go to driving this evening. She takes me to Bed Bath and Beyond to do some Christmas shopping. She is very helpful in advising me about a gift I want to get for my sister Sara. Since we are in Seekonk, we decide to go to Target too. I am on a mission to find a hot water bottle for someone with cold feet. At both Bed Bath and Beyond and Target the sales people think I am talking about one of those sippy cups grownups carry tea or coffee around in. This is very amusing. Neither store has what I am looking for though.
Tuesday
We make paper Hanukkah menorahs today. They are made using rectangles of paper for the candles, pasted onto a backround which has a larger rectangle menorah. We keep one candle which has a paper flame on it stored on the back of the paper in a pocket with the flames for the other candles. This is the shammos candle, the one which is used to light all of the other candles. Each night, the children can light one more candle until they are all lit. This evening is the first night, so everyone will have a paper candle to light. We also play dreidel with chocolate gelt. This is so popular, even my two year olds figure out how to spin the top to play.
In the evening I have knitting, although I arrive late. I don't get much knitting done, but I do get to eat cookies! Linda has been baking and brought some in to share. Lonnie, Sarah and I make a good dent in the cookie supply. Someone has left some yarn for us today, a nice bag full. It has some good soft wool that will be perfect for items for our mitten tree, and some needles that will come in handy when we teach newbies how to knit.
Wednesday
I have a nine thirty appointment with Dr. Lentrichia today. He does the usual inspection of my belly, my bag and my stoma. Everything looks good. We talk about my chemo and how that is going. I tell him about my visit to the liver surgeon, my MRI, and my last visit with Dr. Safran back in October. It all seems so long ago.
He tells me he has had patients who have had great success with the folfox treatments. When things go very well with the treatments he tells me there is often nothing there to remove when he checks in on their colon. He thinks this may be the case with me. This is great news. I love that Dr. Lentrichia always takes time to sit down and understand what is going on with me. I appreciate his attention and sympathy to my situation.
I leave with an appointment for next month, and a big hug.
When I get home, I find that I an locked out. I have dropped Steven off downtown to cover a story, and forgot that I didn't take my keys on the way out. My feet are still feeling funny, so I sit in the car and clean out my handbag while I wait for Sara and Alex to return.
In the evening, Julia and I go shopping on Thayer St. I am still looking for that hot water bottle and am sure Pleasant Surprise is the place to find a cute one that looks like some kind of cute animal. I don't have any luck, but we do have a good time.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Today is my grandmother's funeral. I have given Sara the day off so she can go to the whole thing. Steven and Filipa will cover for me so I can go to the morning service and the grave. I get to the funeral home just before they leave for the church service, so I am directed to get in the car line up and wait. I am glad I have joined the procession, since I have no idea where the church is.
When I arrive at St. Aidan's, my two sisters are already seated in the last row. I join them and we wait for the service to begin. From this vantage point, we will know what to do, when to sit, when to stand. It will be much easier than the last time we were in a catholic church together.
The church is large, not the same one I remember visiting with Grandma when I was younger. It has lots of light and colorful stained glass windows. It is very clean and modern. When the priest comes in I notice his vestment is adorned with the same floral pattern that embellishes the cloth they cover the casket with. This seems like such a fancy detail to attend to for such a somber event, but it looks nice.
The drive to the cemetery is full of twists and turns, and I wonder if I will find my way out. The cemetery is maintained by a local Catholic parish. It is nestled in a neighborhood of ranch houses, not far from the Massachusetts border. It is long and narrow, growing wider and more dense as you travel down Curran Road to the main part of the cemetery. My grandmother is to be buried next to my grandfather, Fredrick W. Boyd Jr, who my father was named after. His grave is located in an older, less dense section of the cemetery. Curran road runs along one side here, and some woods on the other. The surrounding area is more interesting than the main section where there is nothing to be seen but graves in every direction.
It is cold and the sky has been threatening to snow all morning. As we arrive, gentle white flakes start to fall. The funeral director hands out umbrellas to people as we pass by. The casket is already in place by the time I join the group of family and friends gathered. The priest says a few final words, and invites everyone to the Filibuster club for refreshments.
I stop to give hugs to family before I returning home. As people file out away from the graveside, a group of young women have gathered around a basket of flowers set by the casket. They are plucking pink roses from the large arrangement, because their Nana would have insisted on it. They are laughing as they say this, uttering the same words they have heard her say in the past and knowing this is just what would have made her happy.
t doesn't take me too long to find my way back to familiar roads as I leave. I blast the heat and am grateful for the hand warmers hidden in my mittens. I return home to happy children, just in time to start lunch.
I skip stained glass this evening so I can spend some time with Julia. I don't want her to feel like she has moved into a house where we will not be here for her. She goes out to have dinner with Ayla and Chauncey, so I work on the basement until she gets home. We talk until we are too tired to talk any more, then go to bed.
Friday
All is back to normal this morning. In the evening, we go to see The Hunger Games movie with Ayla, Chauncey and Julia.
Saturday
I clean the basement for a little before going shopping with Anna, then do a little more after. Everything that was wet is out now, and the floor is dry. I am still trying to dry out the area rug that is down there so I can remove that. There are so many things that need to be sorted and gone through still. I have a mountain of craft supplies, wrapping paper. games and other odds and ends piled on the table the rug is on. Time to start sorting and putting things away. I do this for as long as I can before I get too bored, cold or tired.
In the afternoon we go to my friend Elizabeth's to bake Christmas cookies. She supplies the sugar cookie dough, I bring the gingersnap dough. Our children, her four, my three, Josh and Chauncey cut and decorate the cookies. Elizabeth and I get them baked and cooled and try to keep the mess under control.
We started baking cookies together when our kids were much younger and always enjoyed it so much. We haven't been able to get everyone together for the last few years, but this year through the determination of Ayla and Malani we found a time that would work for everyone.
Before starting our production we power up on some delicious Indian food Elizabeth and Sundar, her husband have prepared. We feast on home made dosas, thalis and somosas I have picked up from Not Just Snacks. Once we are filled with good food, it is time for the cookie making to begin!
Cutting out the cookies is done as quickly as possible, so the kids can get to their favorite part, decorating. This is always fun, as everyone comes up with their own style and theme. Alex has cut out a few shapes by hand and creates some very unique treats. Some add accents with candies, others are just into the frosting, which can range from lightly iced to loaded. In the end they are all colorful, fun, and most important, delicious.
I
When I arrive at St. Aidan's, my two sisters are already seated in the last row. I join them and we wait for the service to begin. From this vantage point, we will know what to do, when to sit, when to stand. It will be much easier than the last time we were in a catholic church together.
The church is large, not the same one I remember visiting with Grandma when I was younger. It has lots of light and colorful stained glass windows. It is very clean and modern. When the priest comes in I notice his vestment is adorned with the same floral pattern that embellishes the cloth they cover the casket with. This seems like such a fancy detail to attend to for such a somber event, but it looks nice.
The drive to the cemetery is full of twists and turns, and I wonder if I will find my way out. The cemetery is maintained by a local Catholic parish. It is nestled in a neighborhood of ranch houses, not far from the Massachusetts border. It is long and narrow, growing wider and more dense as you travel down Curran Road to the main part of the cemetery. My grandmother is to be buried next to my grandfather, Fredrick W. Boyd Jr, who my father was named after. His grave is located in an older, less dense section of the cemetery. Curran road runs along one side here, and some woods on the other. The surrounding area is more interesting than the main section where there is nothing to be seen but graves in every direction.
It is cold and the sky has been threatening to snow all morning. As we arrive, gentle white flakes start to fall. The funeral director hands out umbrellas to people as we pass by. The casket is already in place by the time I join the group of family and friends gathered. The priest says a few final words, and invites everyone to the Filibuster club for refreshments.
I stop to give hugs to family before I returning home. As people file out away from the graveside, a group of young women have gathered around a basket of flowers set by the casket. They are plucking pink roses from the large arrangement, because their Nana would have insisted on it. They are laughing as they say this, uttering the same words they have heard her say in the past and knowing this is just what would have made her happy.
t doesn't take me too long to find my way back to familiar roads as I leave. I blast the heat and am grateful for the hand warmers hidden in my mittens. I return home to happy children, just in time to start lunch.
I skip stained glass this evening so I can spend some time with Julia. I don't want her to feel like she has moved into a house where we will not be here for her. She goes out to have dinner with Ayla and Chauncey, so I work on the basement until she gets home. We talk until we are too tired to talk any more, then go to bed.
Friday
All is back to normal this morning. In the evening, we go to see The Hunger Games movie with Ayla, Chauncey and Julia.
Saturday
I clean the basement for a little before going shopping with Anna, then do a little more after. Everything that was wet is out now, and the floor is dry. I am still trying to dry out the area rug that is down there so I can remove that. There are so many things that need to be sorted and gone through still. I have a mountain of craft supplies, wrapping paper. games and other odds and ends piled on the table the rug is on. Time to start sorting and putting things away. I do this for as long as I can before I get too bored, cold or tired.
In the afternoon we go to my friend Elizabeth's to bake Christmas cookies. She supplies the sugar cookie dough, I bring the gingersnap dough. Our children, her four, my three, Josh and Chauncey cut and decorate the cookies. Elizabeth and I get them baked and cooled and try to keep the mess under control.
We started baking cookies together when our kids were much younger and always enjoyed it so much. We haven't been able to get everyone together for the last few years, but this year through the determination of Ayla and Malani we found a time that would work for everyone.
Before starting our production we power up on some delicious Indian food Elizabeth and Sundar, her husband have prepared. We feast on home made dosas, thalis and somosas I have picked up from Not Just Snacks. Once we are filled with good food, it is time for the cookie making to begin!
Cutting out the cookies is done as quickly as possible, so the kids can get to their favorite part, decorating. This is always fun, as everyone comes up with their own style and theme. Alex has cut out a few shapes by hand and creates some very unique treats. Some add accents with candies, others are just into the frosting, which can range from lightly iced to loaded. In the end they are all colorful, fun, and most important, delicious.
I
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Sunday December 7
This morning I get to church early to shop at the Girl Effect sale. This raises money to help girls in developing countries gain access to education. There are so many beautiful things to consider for Christmas gifts here. I make progress with my shopping, and feel good that I have supported a worthy cause.
As I walk with the children to chapel this morning, my feet feel swollen and fizzy. This must be from all the dancing I did last night. I feel like I am waddling across the floor, my feet tender and unstable. I make it though the morning with no other problems until it is time to leave. My feet are throbbing now. Alex has come to pick me up, I walk slowly out to the car. I am feeling fragile and aged.
When we arrive home, my other visiting nurse, Summer, is at the door ringing the bell. I have made it back just in time. She unhooks me, freeing me from my backpack. Even though I have had this pump and backpack twice a month for three days for the past five months, I still forget it is attached to me and try to walk away from it at least once a day. It is a bother to have to dress around it, pump going through my clothing first, then me, and to have it on, then take it off and put it on again every time I add a layer of clothing. I have started wearing it in the car, because this is often where I forget I have it, and leave the pack on the floor as I start to get out, only to be reminded by the tug to the port near my shoulder I have forgotten to pick it up. It is a small, but nagging thing. It grumbles every few seconds as the medicine is delivered to my veins. I need to be aware of where it is all the time, so I don't pull on my port. I have become very good at sleeping on my back, checking to see where my line is before I turn on my side, and remembering in the dark of the night that I need to carry this baggage into the bathroom with me when I go. At one point I thought I had come up with a good substitute to the backpack, a hoodie pocket. This only works if the hoodie has a spacious pocket, which many of my hoodies lack. It may seem at this point it is not worth complaining about, but I am getting tired of it.
Francis stops by to visit just as I finish my lunch. She has found some tea for me with a picture of a fox on the box! Such a thoughtful gift. We sit and visit for a little while, Francis sipping tea, and me finishing the hot cocoa I had been working on before she rang the doorbell.
Having friends stop by for a quick visit has been one of the sweetest gifts this cancer odyssey has given me. Normally I am so busy, and seldom home to enjoy random visits, but I love when people just drop in. They may stay only ten minutes, sometimes more, but each visit is this little cozy point of contact that is precious and appreciated.
I find out later in the day that my Grandma Boyd, my father's mother, passed away early this morning. She was 92.
Monday
My nephew Brian comes to play with the children at daycare. It is fun to have him visit, and nice to have a place he can come and have some fun. It gives my sister Jill the opportunity to get a few things done without help from a four year old, which she seldom has the chance to do in Ohio.
Today we are starting to work on gifts for our parents. We are painting bowls which we will later fill with some kind of tasty treat. I love to see how each child mixes their paints and dabs color on their project. They are all as unique and beautiful as the child who has created it.
It is forecast to rain all week, so we want to get out for a nice long walk today. We take a candy walk to get everyone on board with this idea, and get a red or green m&m when we reach each corner together. We look for new holiday decorations that have been set out over the weekend, and see a few snowflakes falling from the sky.
Kaileigh comes down later in the day so we can go together to visit with a friend who is in the hospital. Ayla, Chauncey and I stopped by to visit last night, and Kaileigh wants to come with me tonight. I had been planning on going out to eat with my happiness friends to celebrate the holidays, but cancel.
Tuesday
There is as nor'easter coming, meaning rain most of the day. It is not too cold out, so we manage to go for a rain walk around the block today. Somehow, we don't get too wet.
This evening I know there are not going to be too many people at knitting, so I decide to cancel. Between the weather and the number of knitters who can't make it, I don't think anyone will be too upset. My friend is still in the hospital, so Ayla go to visit. Things are looking better, tomorrow he will be heading home.
When I get back to my house, I check the basement for water. Occasionally when there is a nor'easter we get a little water down there, just a small stream running from the west to the east. I had checked before I left and all was dry, so I am totally unprepared for what I find when I open the basement door. There must be two inches of water at the bottom of the stairs! Steve and I start in right away cleaning it up, he vacuums, I start throwing away books and papers that have been saturated with water. We can't figure out where the water has come in from.
I help out until eleven thirty and go to bed, Steve is determined to stop when he empties the wet vac twenty times. He empties it at least thirty before he gets to bed.
Wednesday
I get up at six and start straightening. As soon as Sara arrives I descend into the basement to continue the cleanup. I only get a little done before Steve hears me and comes down to help. I go back upstairs to help bake cookies.
My niece Julia is coming by to stay with us today. She has been having a rough time at home, and needs a little time away. Since all of our spare rooms are filled at the moment, we put an air mattress in the upstairs hallway. This is where Josh and Kaileigh sleep when they stay in Providence. It is tight, but we make it cozy with blankets and pillows. She should be comfortable here.
Grandma Boyd's wake is tonight. It is at the same funeral home my dad's wake was held at. It is nice to see all of the Boyd relatives again, the second time this week. The circumstances could be better though.
My aunt tells me that grandma passed early Sunday morning, after Sara's party. She was with family, at home and surrounded by people who knew and loved her. What a beautiful ending to a life that was filled with family, good humor and loving family and friends.
When I get home, I go down into the basement to get more cleaning done. Steve takes a pile of wet clothes to the laundromat. On his way there, he forgets about the huge pot hole on the side road and drives through it. Just as he reaches the laundromat, the tire goes flat. A tow truck comes to take the car away, but he still needs a ride home. My niece comes to his rescue, and picks him up. What a day.
As I walk with the children to chapel this morning, my feet feel swollen and fizzy. This must be from all the dancing I did last night. I feel like I am waddling across the floor, my feet tender and unstable. I make it though the morning with no other problems until it is time to leave. My feet are throbbing now. Alex has come to pick me up, I walk slowly out to the car. I am feeling fragile and aged.
When we arrive home, my other visiting nurse, Summer, is at the door ringing the bell. I have made it back just in time. She unhooks me, freeing me from my backpack. Even though I have had this pump and backpack twice a month for three days for the past five months, I still forget it is attached to me and try to walk away from it at least once a day. It is a bother to have to dress around it, pump going through my clothing first, then me, and to have it on, then take it off and put it on again every time I add a layer of clothing. I have started wearing it in the car, because this is often where I forget I have it, and leave the pack on the floor as I start to get out, only to be reminded by the tug to the port near my shoulder I have forgotten to pick it up. It is a small, but nagging thing. It grumbles every few seconds as the medicine is delivered to my veins. I need to be aware of where it is all the time, so I don't pull on my port. I have become very good at sleeping on my back, checking to see where my line is before I turn on my side, and remembering in the dark of the night that I need to carry this baggage into the bathroom with me when I go. At one point I thought I had come up with a good substitute to the backpack, a hoodie pocket. This only works if the hoodie has a spacious pocket, which many of my hoodies lack. It may seem at this point it is not worth complaining about, but I am getting tired of it.
Francis stops by to visit just as I finish my lunch. She has found some tea for me with a picture of a fox on the box! Such a thoughtful gift. We sit and visit for a little while, Francis sipping tea, and me finishing the hot cocoa I had been working on before she rang the doorbell.
Having friends stop by for a quick visit has been one of the sweetest gifts this cancer odyssey has given me. Normally I am so busy, and seldom home to enjoy random visits, but I love when people just drop in. They may stay only ten minutes, sometimes more, but each visit is this little cozy point of contact that is precious and appreciated.
I find out later in the day that my Grandma Boyd, my father's mother, passed away early this morning. She was 92.
Monday
My nephew Brian comes to play with the children at daycare. It is fun to have him visit, and nice to have a place he can come and have some fun. It gives my sister Jill the opportunity to get a few things done without help from a four year old, which she seldom has the chance to do in Ohio.
Today we are starting to work on gifts for our parents. We are painting bowls which we will later fill with some kind of tasty treat. I love to see how each child mixes their paints and dabs color on their project. They are all as unique and beautiful as the child who has created it.
It is forecast to rain all week, so we want to get out for a nice long walk today. We take a candy walk to get everyone on board with this idea, and get a red or green m&m when we reach each corner together. We look for new holiday decorations that have been set out over the weekend, and see a few snowflakes falling from the sky.
Kaileigh comes down later in the day so we can go together to visit with a friend who is in the hospital. Ayla, Chauncey and I stopped by to visit last night, and Kaileigh wants to come with me tonight. I had been planning on going out to eat with my happiness friends to celebrate the holidays, but cancel.
Tuesday
There is as nor'easter coming, meaning rain most of the day. It is not too cold out, so we manage to go for a rain walk around the block today. Somehow, we don't get too wet.
This evening I know there are not going to be too many people at knitting, so I decide to cancel. Between the weather and the number of knitters who can't make it, I don't think anyone will be too upset. My friend is still in the hospital, so Ayla go to visit. Things are looking better, tomorrow he will be heading home.
When I get back to my house, I check the basement for water. Occasionally when there is a nor'easter we get a little water down there, just a small stream running from the west to the east. I had checked before I left and all was dry, so I am totally unprepared for what I find when I open the basement door. There must be two inches of water at the bottom of the stairs! Steve and I start in right away cleaning it up, he vacuums, I start throwing away books and papers that have been saturated with water. We can't figure out where the water has come in from.
I help out until eleven thirty and go to bed, Steve is determined to stop when he empties the wet vac twenty times. He empties it at least thirty before he gets to bed.
Wednesday
I get up at six and start straightening. As soon as Sara arrives I descend into the basement to continue the cleanup. I only get a little done before Steve hears me and comes down to help. I go back upstairs to help bake cookies.
My niece Julia is coming by to stay with us today. She has been having a rough time at home, and needs a little time away. Since all of our spare rooms are filled at the moment, we put an air mattress in the upstairs hallway. This is where Josh and Kaileigh sleep when they stay in Providence. It is tight, but we make it cozy with blankets and pillows. She should be comfortable here.
Grandma Boyd's wake is tonight. It is at the same funeral home my dad's wake was held at. It is nice to see all of the Boyd relatives again, the second time this week. The circumstances could be better though.
My aunt tells me that grandma passed early Sunday morning, after Sara's party. She was with family, at home and surrounded by people who knew and loved her. What a beautiful ending to a life that was filled with family, good humor and loving family and friends.
When I get home, I go down into the basement to get more cleaning done. Steve takes a pile of wet clothes to the laundromat. On his way there, he forgets about the huge pot hole on the side road and drives through it. Just as he reaches the laundromat, the tire goes flat. A tow truck comes to take the car away, but he still needs a ride home. My niece comes to his rescue, and picks him up. What a day.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Saturday, December 6
I wake at four this morning which is my usual time the day after chemo.
I love this time of day, and miss having the energy to get up this early more regularly. I love to see the daylight start to creep into the darkened sky, to watch the stars slowly disappear. I appreciate the shorter days for this, it is something I often miss in the hazy, long days of summer.
I wake up with chemo stink. something I haven't had to endure for the past few weeks, thanks in part to a cold, and to having a week off. I am not feeling as tingly this morning, when I wake up there is no buzziness or fizziness. The extra week has been good for my body, mind and soul.
Anna picks me up to go shopping, we missed last week, so it is nice to have this time together.
Allie picks me up shortly after my shopping trip, and we head out to Allie's Donuts in North Kingston. She has been craving a treat from here, and we decide it is a good destination to have to practice highway driving. Even though it is a Saturday morning in December, a time the roads could be crawling with holiday shoppers, the highway is not too crowded, and she does well. We each get a donut, Allie picks up a few extra for home. We agree that these freshly made donuts blow away thosen from Dunkin Donuts.
When I get home, my younger sister Jill calls to see if I can help transport balloons. She is throwing a surprise party for Sara tonight at the Filibuster Club in Cumberland. I am very nervous about this party, since my sister Sara has told me she does not want a surprise party. Jill and I disagree about what this means this, I am trying to be helpful anyway.
Steven and I meet Jill at the party store to pick up one hundred balloons she has ordered as the decoration for the space. When we go into the store, it is obvious that they are not done with the order yet, in fact they are only about half way though. Jill and I wait until they have enough strung and bundled for us to cram into the two cars we are using. I manage three bunches in my car, Jill fits two in hers. We drive to the club, unload and go back for the remaining bunches of balloons. Steven and I drop the balloons off and return home. I need to bake some brownies to bring with me to the party this evening.
Sara has been told that there is a pot luck celebration being held to celebrate my dad this evening. I need to make this look authentic, so I bake brownies that we don't really need. The event is being catered, complete with dessert, as well as a birthday cake. Sara is bringing bakery pizza and calzones to the party. I put the brownies in the oven late, so we won't show up at the party too early. We are supposed to be there at six thirty, but Sara is coming to my house at six. Steven and I timed how long it takes to get to the club from my house, and even though it is in Cumberland, it only takes a little more than ten minutes if we go through Central Falls. The brownies are done just as Sara gets to my house, so I ask her if we can let them cool for a few minutes before we leave. We arrive at the party, with a texted warning to those waiting that we are on our way, just as the clock in the car hits six thirty.
As we walk in the door, Sara spots the balloons and slows down. Everyone yells surprise as she makes her way through the second set of double doors. I believe she is! The biggest surprise comes when Jill sneaks up behind her with her son, and taps Sara in the shoulder. Sara didn't know that Jill was in town yet, she was expecting her later in the week.
The room is filled with family and friends. It is lit with icicle lights, and there is a Christmas tree. Each table has a white tablecloth on it with a balloon bouquet in the center. There are other balloons scattered around the club. It looks very festive. Jill has hired DJ's for the event, Phil and Dave, who were good friends with our Dad.
The night turns out to be a nice party for Sara, and a joyful celebration of my dad as well. We eat delicious food, mingle with family and friends and then the dancing and karaoke begins. Singers of all ages line up to karaoke.: young cousins, teens, twentysomethings and beyond. Since many of the people at this party knew my dad and spent time with him here, Phil and Dave play music from his personal playlist. My dads friends sang some of his favorite songs, and the DJ's played a compilation of songs he loved too. It was a touching tribute to our dad, and made it feel like he was with us, joining in the celebration for my sister.
Once the music a started, I quickly realized why Dr. Safran didn't think running would be the best exercise choice for me. Every step I danced sent a sudden intense fizziness through my feet and up my ankles into my calves. It probably would have been better if I had stayed on the sidelines and just enjoyed everyone else as they danced, but that was not what I chose to do. I got up with my children, Steve, and Filipa and danced. We were joined by other family and friends, and we had a blast. It was so much fun to let go and move to the music. We even tried the line dances that we didn't know. My nephew, Will decided to help with the music and chose some tunes just for us. We were all psyched when they played What Does the Fox Say?
By nine, it is late for this dancing chemo girl. As I go around the room to say my goodbyes, Filipa gets up to sing a karaoke song, Don't Stop Me Now. What a good way to end the evening.
I love this time of day, and miss having the energy to get up this early more regularly. I love to see the daylight start to creep into the darkened sky, to watch the stars slowly disappear. I appreciate the shorter days for this, it is something I often miss in the hazy, long days of summer.
I wake up with chemo stink. something I haven't had to endure for the past few weeks, thanks in part to a cold, and to having a week off. I am not feeling as tingly this morning, when I wake up there is no buzziness or fizziness. The extra week has been good for my body, mind and soul.
Anna picks me up to go shopping, we missed last week, so it is nice to have this time together.
Allie picks me up shortly after my shopping trip, and we head out to Allie's Donuts in North Kingston. She has been craving a treat from here, and we decide it is a good destination to have to practice highway driving. Even though it is a Saturday morning in December, a time the roads could be crawling with holiday shoppers, the highway is not too crowded, and she does well. We each get a donut, Allie picks up a few extra for home. We agree that these freshly made donuts blow away thosen from Dunkin Donuts.
When I get home, my younger sister Jill calls to see if I can help transport balloons. She is throwing a surprise party for Sara tonight at the Filibuster Club in Cumberland. I am very nervous about this party, since my sister Sara has told me she does not want a surprise party. Jill and I disagree about what this means this, I am trying to be helpful anyway.
Steven and I meet Jill at the party store to pick up one hundred balloons she has ordered as the decoration for the space. When we go into the store, it is obvious that they are not done with the order yet, in fact they are only about half way though. Jill and I wait until they have enough strung and bundled for us to cram into the two cars we are using. I manage three bunches in my car, Jill fits two in hers. We drive to the club, unload and go back for the remaining bunches of balloons. Steven and I drop the balloons off and return home. I need to bake some brownies to bring with me to the party this evening.
Sara has been told that there is a pot luck celebration being held to celebrate my dad this evening. I need to make this look authentic, so I bake brownies that we don't really need. The event is being catered, complete with dessert, as well as a birthday cake. Sara is bringing bakery pizza and calzones to the party. I put the brownies in the oven late, so we won't show up at the party too early. We are supposed to be there at six thirty, but Sara is coming to my house at six. Steven and I timed how long it takes to get to the club from my house, and even though it is in Cumberland, it only takes a little more than ten minutes if we go through Central Falls. The brownies are done just as Sara gets to my house, so I ask her if we can let them cool for a few minutes before we leave. We arrive at the party, with a texted warning to those waiting that we are on our way, just as the clock in the car hits six thirty.
As we walk in the door, Sara spots the balloons and slows down. Everyone yells surprise as she makes her way through the second set of double doors. I believe she is! The biggest surprise comes when Jill sneaks up behind her with her son, and taps Sara in the shoulder. Sara didn't know that Jill was in town yet, she was expecting her later in the week.
The room is filled with family and friends. It is lit with icicle lights, and there is a Christmas tree. Each table has a white tablecloth on it with a balloon bouquet in the center. There are other balloons scattered around the club. It looks very festive. Jill has hired DJ's for the event, Phil and Dave, who were good friends with our Dad.
The night turns out to be a nice party for Sara, and a joyful celebration of my dad as well. We eat delicious food, mingle with family and friends and then the dancing and karaoke begins. Singers of all ages line up to karaoke.: young cousins, teens, twentysomethings and beyond. Since many of the people at this party knew my dad and spent time with him here, Phil and Dave play music from his personal playlist. My dads friends sang some of his favorite songs, and the DJ's played a compilation of songs he loved too. It was a touching tribute to our dad, and made it feel like he was with us, joining in the celebration for my sister.
Once the music a started, I quickly realized why Dr. Safran didn't think running would be the best exercise choice for me. Every step I danced sent a sudden intense fizziness through my feet and up my ankles into my calves. It probably would have been better if I had stayed on the sidelines and just enjoyed everyone else as they danced, but that was not what I chose to do. I got up with my children, Steve, and Filipa and danced. We were joined by other family and friends, and we had a blast. It was so much fun to let go and move to the music. We even tried the line dances that we didn't know. My nephew, Will decided to help with the music and chose some tunes just for us. We were all psyched when they played What Does the Fox Say?
By nine, it is late for this dancing chemo girl. As I go around the room to say my goodbyes, Filipa gets up to sing a karaoke song, Don't Stop Me Now. What a good way to end the evening.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Chemo # 11
Friday, December 5
My appointment is early this morning, eight o'clock. I am in and all hooked up by eight thirty. My white blood cell count is good this morning, in the fifteen hundreds, yay! The extra week off has been good for me.
Steven and I have walked in this morning and I am in a pensive mood, not in the mood for talking or listening.
Carolyn is my nurse today, and since I arrived so early, I get my choice of pods. They are expecting a busy day, so I am in the Mega Suite, where the rooms are larger than where I usually am. I choose the one in the corner, which has lots of light. It is like the penthouse suite of pods here, extra window and floor space. There are two visitor chairs here, and it is just big enough that I can't toss my trash into the basket from my lounge chair. This is something I usually have no problem with in the other pods.
I got up late this morning and barely had time to get everything ready before I left, never mind eat breakfast. It was a chilly walk over, so I am hoping there is hot chocolate mix and something breakfasty to eat in the snack area. Steven goes to see what is available, while Carolyn and I talk about holiday plans and how we are doing with our shopping and wrapping. There turns out to be nothing for me in snack land, nothing that would pass for breakfast.
Steve decides to go to Seven Stars and get me a hot chocolate, with whipped cream. He also surprises me with a pecan sticky bun and a chocolate croissant. I take the sticky bun and let him have the croissant.
It is a quite day for us at chemo, I knit, and Steven tells me what has been going on in the world of face book and on the internet.
I am not excited about lunch today. The thought of the food cart makes me feel a little nauseous. This is one of those conundrums where the solution to the problem also becomes the problem. I need to eat to keep the nausea away, thinking about the food I am offered to eat makes me feel nauseous. In the end, I get an egg salad sandwich, and eat it very slowly.
I have forgotten to bring my backpack which contains the pump I need for receiving my infusion over the next few days, as well as my psi bands. Steve goes home to get them for me while I am eat. By the time he returns, I have managed to eat my sandwich, but that is the best I can do. I put on my psi band and get ready for the chemo induced stupor to begin.
I am hooked up to my pump by quarter to two, which means I will finish getting my infusion by quarter to twelve on Sunday. This will be before I get done at church, so I should remember to call Sandy on Sunday morning.
This evening Allie is in a play called Harvey. I have been invited to see it with her mother and grandmother. Steve usually comes with me to her plays, but has a story to cover this evening, so I accept the invitation.
Allie has been telling me she doesn't have a big part in the play, but I have learned from past experience that our definition of importance of parts differs. It turns out she is on the stage for the whole first scene, part of the background action, but on the stage never the less. She is also in another entire scene, playing the doctor's wife, which may not be the lead role, but is certainly substantial. Her humbleness is so sweet.
I have never seen the movie this play is based on, but I enjoy it very much. I appreciate how quaintly dated it is, and how it is still relevant to today. It has been fun to watch it with Allie's grandmother, who is an avid theater goer, and hear her opinions about the performance. Along with Allie's mother, we discus things we liked and disliked about the play and how it was presented. In the end, we all agree it was well done. Our little fan club/theater discussion group has had as pleasant a night out as we would have had going to a well known theater.
My appointment is early this morning, eight o'clock. I am in and all hooked up by eight thirty. My white blood cell count is good this morning, in the fifteen hundreds, yay! The extra week off has been good for me.
Steven and I have walked in this morning and I am in a pensive mood, not in the mood for talking or listening.
Carolyn is my nurse today, and since I arrived so early, I get my choice of pods. They are expecting a busy day, so I am in the Mega Suite, where the rooms are larger than where I usually am. I choose the one in the corner, which has lots of light. It is like the penthouse suite of pods here, extra window and floor space. There are two visitor chairs here, and it is just big enough that I can't toss my trash into the basket from my lounge chair. This is something I usually have no problem with in the other pods.
I got up late this morning and barely had time to get everything ready before I left, never mind eat breakfast. It was a chilly walk over, so I am hoping there is hot chocolate mix and something breakfasty to eat in the snack area. Steven goes to see what is available, while Carolyn and I talk about holiday plans and how we are doing with our shopping and wrapping. There turns out to be nothing for me in snack land, nothing that would pass for breakfast.
Steve decides to go to Seven Stars and get me a hot chocolate, with whipped cream. He also surprises me with a pecan sticky bun and a chocolate croissant. I take the sticky bun and let him have the croissant.
It is a quite day for us at chemo, I knit, and Steven tells me what has been going on in the world of face book and on the internet.
I am not excited about lunch today. The thought of the food cart makes me feel a little nauseous. This is one of those conundrums where the solution to the problem also becomes the problem. I need to eat to keep the nausea away, thinking about the food I am offered to eat makes me feel nauseous. In the end, I get an egg salad sandwich, and eat it very slowly.
I have forgotten to bring my backpack which contains the pump I need for receiving my infusion over the next few days, as well as my psi bands. Steve goes home to get them for me while I am eat. By the time he returns, I have managed to eat my sandwich, but that is the best I can do. I put on my psi band and get ready for the chemo induced stupor to begin.
I am hooked up to my pump by quarter to two, which means I will finish getting my infusion by quarter to twelve on Sunday. This will be before I get done at church, so I should remember to call Sandy on Sunday morning.
This evening Allie is in a play called Harvey. I have been invited to see it with her mother and grandmother. Steve usually comes with me to her plays, but has a story to cover this evening, so I accept the invitation.
Allie has been telling me she doesn't have a big part in the play, but I have learned from past experience that our definition of importance of parts differs. It turns out she is on the stage for the whole first scene, part of the background action, but on the stage never the less. She is also in another entire scene, playing the doctor's wife, which may not be the lead role, but is certainly substantial. Her humbleness is so sweet.
I have never seen the movie this play is based on, but I enjoy it very much. I appreciate how quaintly dated it is, and how it is still relevant to today. It has been fun to watch it with Allie's grandmother, who is an avid theater goer, and hear her opinions about the performance. Along with Allie's mother, we discus things we liked and disliked about the play and how it was presented. In the end, we all agree it was well done. Our little fan club/theater discussion group has had as pleasant a night out as we would have had going to a well known theater.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Monday, December 1
This has been a quiet week in my journal. I don't have many details written down, only bits and pieces of what has been going on. At home, life goes on as usual, but there are bigger things in the world to focus on: protests reminding us of how much we still need to learn about how to treat our fellow human beings, news of disease, unrest, and war.
Still there are a bright spots that stand out.
At daycare we start thinking about the upcoming holidays, crafting simple things like paper trees decorated with markers, stickers and circle shaped ornaments. We make paper chains, and look for decorations while we are out on our walks.
It has been a funny fall. The weather has been so warm we still find pumpkins scattered throughout the neighborhood. The appearance of evergreens and holiday lights on porches adorned with pumpkins seems wrong somehow. I remind myself that it is still fall after all and the pumpkins can enjoy their time, as I secretly hope a squirrel will come along and feast on the out of place fruit.
Julie is still in town until Wednesday morning, and before knitting on Tuesday, we go out to dinner at one of her favorite spots, Rue De L'espoir. She has been missing fresh east coast sea food that is not available in her Rocky Mountain home, especially scallops. It is delightful to sit with her and watch her enjoy this food she has been missing. Julie gets a side of scallops and a bowl of cheesy and delicious onion soup. Sticking with the sea food theme, I get fish and chips, something I have been craving for a while. There is warm, fragrant, crusty bread served by the waitperson from a large, woven basket carried over her lower arm. Inside is a large linen napkin lining keeping the bread soft and warm. The waitperson carefully picks out a slice with long tongs, and places it on a plate. It is a treat to inhale the scent of this beautiful bread, and heavenly to eat, especially when it is spread with soft butter that melts into the interior of the bread.
When we get to knitting, we are glad to have skipped dessert. Alison had mentioned that she would be bringing her traditional pumpkin pie in this evening, but we were in for a tasty surprise when Nancy, remembering that I had been looking for a good yellow cake recipe, not only brought in the recipe, but also a sampling of the cake!
It was a full house this evening, some occasional attendees stopped in to spend time visiting with Julie. This was the perfect night for it, and with the food, there was a celebratory.
Thursday it is chilly, so we make pizza to make the house feel warm and cozy.
In the afternoon the weather is drizzly, but it clears up in time for the Hope Street Stroll happening in the evening. Kaileigh and I go to quickly check things out before we head to stained glass. Part of me wants to stay, I know there will be fire juggling and the What Cheer band is scheduled to play along with other enticing entertainment. Many of my daycare families will be there, and it is always fun to run into these friends out in the world. I try to stay focused, there are projects we need to finish, and if we skip tonight, they will not be done on time.
We walk the through the whole festival once, to take it all in. It is early, so there is not too much going on yet. We spot a living dreidel dancing along the street, and a sleigh with singing elves stops to create some mischief. There are so many families out to enjoy the evening, and there are kids everywhere! The air is cool and and the ground is damp, but there is no rain. The reflection of the lights on the damp pavement adds to the atmosphere and makes things look beautiful. The petting zoo is getting busy, everyone wants to pet the small furry animals hopping around the fenced in area in the bank parking lot. The bunnies don't even seem to mind being handled by their young visitors. There are Hanukkah crafts to be made, cookies to decorate, and soon, Santa is scheduled to make his appearance.
Our real goal on this stroll is to grab some dinner from one of the many food trucks that line the street. Steven is out this evening, and getting dinner together on busy nights doesn't always work out so well. The food trucks offer a delicious and quick alternative. After much deliberation, I get a pulled pork sandwich from Noble Knots. It is spicy, but not overly so, and the meat is very tender. It is served on a knotted roll, hence the name of the food truck. Kaileigh gets a vegetarian version of my meal from the Ohh Mommi! vegetarian truck. It is a pulled portobello mushroom sandwich. Her sandwich has coleslaw on it, which makes gives it a satisfying crunch. She declares it delicious. What we really love from this food truck is the fresh made french fries. They are unbelievably good. I have to restrain myself from eating too many.
Things are starting to roll at the festival, so I need to leave before I find I can't extricate myself from the fun. We stop in the parking lot of the bakery to watch a short children's animated film presented by the Providence Children's Film Festival. They have set up an inflatable movie screen with hay bales to sit on and scattered some heaters around the area to keep the chill away. Kaileigh has never seen this theater set up before and thoroughly enjoys it.
We manage to leave after one short, and make it to stained glass just a little later than we had planned.
Still there are a bright spots that stand out.
At daycare we start thinking about the upcoming holidays, crafting simple things like paper trees decorated with markers, stickers and circle shaped ornaments. We make paper chains, and look for decorations while we are out on our walks.
It has been a funny fall. The weather has been so warm we still find pumpkins scattered throughout the neighborhood. The appearance of evergreens and holiday lights on porches adorned with pumpkins seems wrong somehow. I remind myself that it is still fall after all and the pumpkins can enjoy their time, as I secretly hope a squirrel will come along and feast on the out of place fruit.
Julie is still in town until Wednesday morning, and before knitting on Tuesday, we go out to dinner at one of her favorite spots, Rue De L'espoir. She has been missing fresh east coast sea food that is not available in her Rocky Mountain home, especially scallops. It is delightful to sit with her and watch her enjoy this food she has been missing. Julie gets a side of scallops and a bowl of cheesy and delicious onion soup. Sticking with the sea food theme, I get fish and chips, something I have been craving for a while. There is warm, fragrant, crusty bread served by the waitperson from a large, woven basket carried over her lower arm. Inside is a large linen napkin lining keeping the bread soft and warm. The waitperson carefully picks out a slice with long tongs, and places it on a plate. It is a treat to inhale the scent of this beautiful bread, and heavenly to eat, especially when it is spread with soft butter that melts into the interior of the bread.
When we get to knitting, we are glad to have skipped dessert. Alison had mentioned that she would be bringing her traditional pumpkin pie in this evening, but we were in for a tasty surprise when Nancy, remembering that I had been looking for a good yellow cake recipe, not only brought in the recipe, but also a sampling of the cake!
It was a full house this evening, some occasional attendees stopped in to spend time visiting with Julie. This was the perfect night for it, and with the food, there was a celebratory.
Thursday it is chilly, so we make pizza to make the house feel warm and cozy.
In the afternoon the weather is drizzly, but it clears up in time for the Hope Street Stroll happening in the evening. Kaileigh and I go to quickly check things out before we head to stained glass. Part of me wants to stay, I know there will be fire juggling and the What Cheer band is scheduled to play along with other enticing entertainment. Many of my daycare families will be there, and it is always fun to run into these friends out in the world. I try to stay focused, there are projects we need to finish, and if we skip tonight, they will not be done on time.
We walk the through the whole festival once, to take it all in. It is early, so there is not too much going on yet. We spot a living dreidel dancing along the street, and a sleigh with singing elves stops to create some mischief. There are so many families out to enjoy the evening, and there are kids everywhere! The air is cool and and the ground is damp, but there is no rain. The reflection of the lights on the damp pavement adds to the atmosphere and makes things look beautiful. The petting zoo is getting busy, everyone wants to pet the small furry animals hopping around the fenced in area in the bank parking lot. The bunnies don't even seem to mind being handled by their young visitors. There are Hanukkah crafts to be made, cookies to decorate, and soon, Santa is scheduled to make his appearance.
Our real goal on this stroll is to grab some dinner from one of the many food trucks that line the street. Steven is out this evening, and getting dinner together on busy nights doesn't always work out so well. The food trucks offer a delicious and quick alternative. After much deliberation, I get a pulled pork sandwich from Noble Knots. It is spicy, but not overly so, and the meat is very tender. It is served on a knotted roll, hence the name of the food truck. Kaileigh gets a vegetarian version of my meal from the Ohh Mommi! vegetarian truck. It is a pulled portobello mushroom sandwich. Her sandwich has coleslaw on it, which makes gives it a satisfying crunch. She declares it delicious. What we really love from this food truck is the fresh made french fries. They are unbelievably good. I have to restrain myself from eating too many.
Things are starting to roll at the festival, so I need to leave before I find I can't extricate myself from the fun. We stop in the parking lot of the bakery to watch a short children's animated film presented by the Providence Children's Film Festival. They have set up an inflatable movie screen with hay bales to sit on and scattered some heaters around the area to keep the chill away. Kaileigh has never seen this theater set up before and thoroughly enjoys it.
We manage to leave after one short, and make it to stained glass just a little later than we had planned.
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