Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Number Five is Alive

Did you see the title?  I was sitting here trying to figure out what to name it when I remembered we bought Short Circuit a couple weeks ago and I will never forget that sentence lol.  So, voila!  Today's blog is named!  Sorry it took a little bit longer then I anticipated to get back into the swing of things.  I did remain faithful to my dress rule!  I want to pat myself on the back :)

We left for Houston on Wednesday.  I think I slept the whole way.  Almost anyway.  We were able to actually get to my aunt's and uncle's at a decent hour.  We visited with them for awhile, it's always nice catching up with them.  My aunt makes the best meals (sorry mom).  So dinner every night was very nice.  Thursday I had test, after test, after test.  Some people think all I do is sit around in doctor's offices and wait.  On test day's I literally am called to the back the moment I pick up my book.  Grrr.  I run from test to test.  I pretty much sleepwalk actually.  No running is actually involved.  I sleep during every test every time.  Some think that's nuts and how can I sleep through all that, but when you have had as many tests that I have, it's just natural.  On test days I usually go back to my aunt's and uncle's and pass out.  Which I promptly did.  Then Friday is the fun day.  I get to see the doctors and get results of tests.  See, like I said, fun.  

The results weren't horrible, but weren't good.  My heart decreased in function, that was the news from my cardiologist.  Then a couple tumors increased in size but it also looks like they could have been growing and then are about to respond to treatment.  So my oncologist is going to give it two more months, then I go back for retesting and if anything has grown or appeared then we will try a different treatment.  The heart problem has me going back in a month.  I guess if my hear efr decreases anymore then we have to terminate the treatment and talk of anymore options. And steadily wearing a dress every day :)
This isn't the same day as in Houston but I did wear this same outfit on Saturday.  I have yet to upload pictures.



I wasn't going to get into this kind of stuff on this blog but I find it hard not to.  So, onto Madisyn.  Madisyn has been having funky blood work for a couple months now.  Maybe more, I can't remember.  We have been repeating it to see if it was a fluke or if it stayed steady.  Well it stayed steady.  I don't really understand what's going on yet.  Her pediatrician is sending us to a specialist at New Orleans Children's Hospital where the only doctor is who see's children in the area.  What's his specialty? I don't know.  This we found out on the day we left for Texas and I'm not worrying.  Until I know what's going on I really don't know what to worry about.  All I know is her doctor said "I did all the tests I can do.  We did the Lupus test and it came back negative.  I'm sorry, Shannon."  I put quotes but suddenly realized I don't remember the exact way she said it anymore.  Basicly she apologized because she wasn't able to find out what it is, so it's something worse.  Apparently Lupus was kind of, what we wanted it to be?  Okay, like I said, I don't know.  Then when the nurse called to give me the information about the hospital and what number to call, etc, she ended it with "good luck".  So all of that put together has me confused and just going with the flow for now.  So just keep her in your prayers.  In one way I'm kind of happy we find the cause of her getting sick all the time.

So back to dresses and red lipstick :)

Confession time.  I didn't wear makeup today.  I didn't do my hair.  It's the day after chemo so there's a lot of things I don't do this day.  Here's a picture of July 9th's day after chemo.  They are all pretty much like that but today wasn't as bad as that day.  I didn't wake up until three so that may be why :)
  Until next time....

Shannon

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Day Four is Poor

Today I am not going to lie.  I am in stretch pants, a pajama top, a pajama sweater thing, and none other then my sock monkey hat.  On my feet are the most outrageous slippers, given to me by Santa. I look like I could be the Grinch in these things.  I in fact call them my Grinch slippers.  Sooo today doesn't count lol.  No pictures of today.  

I will be out of town until Sunday.  I have doctor appointments at the Mays Clinic, M.D.Anderson's, in Houston all day Thursday and Friday.  Plus we ARE staying to go to Kemah Boardwalk on Saturday.  I'm sure it will be packed but maybe not lol.  Because of my meds I kind of have to be that person walking around with long sleeves and a sun visor (hat).  But don't worry, I picked one out that's light and goes with a dress!  Exciting right?  I don't know how much most of you like this blog, but I love it.  I am packing for tomorrow and it's so fun.  I have dresses lined up and I'm trying to decided what for what day.  Then the shoes, the nail polish.  I'm allergic to most earrings and such.  I have a medical alert necklace I wear everyday which I'm not allergic too.  So when you see pics and you're like, "why did she pick that to wear?", that's why.

So today wasn't a very bad chemo day.  The most frustrating thing was the coldness.  I was so bundled up.  Right now the other side effects are starting.  The redness at least.  It was weird.  I didn't sleep through today either.  I will probably sleep in the car tomorrow.  Sorry this is so boring.  :-/

I forgot to tell you!  I told you I was going to tell you something else I was doing.  I have been red lipstick.  Like RED.  I got the idea from Taylor Swift (of course, if you know me you know my love for that girl).  But it's a bold statement.  It takes guts for me and it makes me feel stronger.  Invincible almost.  HaHa, we all know I'm not invincible.  Cancer buttface (spellcheck wanted me to change this to butterfat.  I almost did just cause.  Wouldn't that be funny.  Cancer butterfat.) 

Well I have some cruddy news.  Somehow I didn't get approved for being an Amazon Associate with this blog.  I am with my non active other one but not with this one.  I sent an email asking for them to reconsider but, we will see. 

I don't have internet where I stay (my aunt's and uncles) so it's going to give me time to catch up on blogging and editing pictures.  So when I get back I will be posting like a fool, well I hope so.  Is it silly how excited I am to be able to do that?

Oh I almost forgot!  I found out my brother and his wife are moving to Houston.  On August 9th! Or something really close like that.  It's good in a way because maybe I can go stay there and visit every now and then but I had kind of hoped they weren't really going.  I love them.  I'm going to miss seeing them when I do get to.  We had started to have holidays there and it was just really nice.  They might not know because I always had to leave earlier then everyone because I get worn out so much.  Then I would be comatose when I came home.  But it was fun.  So, Casey and Yen, I will miss you guys.  Please let me stay there sometimes!!

Well it's late and I really should finish packing.  My mom would kill me if she knew I was still up and not even finished packing.

Oh I almost forgot something else!  Does anyone have a keyboard they aren't using?  Can't I plug it into my laptop and it will work?  I have two keys that really try hard not to work.  That or they print a million of them.  My fingers hurt from pressing on them.  I never noticed how many words consisted of the letter h.  G is the other one but it doesn't seem to get used as much.  This H key is killing me.

Here's a video for you.  Maybe you can tell me what I'm doing there.  I'm either going to or coming back from Houston because of the bag in the back but it's so funny.  Well funny in a boring way.



Anyway, until next time.  Stay Beautiful.

Shannon

Monday, July 22, 2013

3rd dress to impress

Okay, sure I'm a little behind on the whole 4th of July thing but I wore this on July 6th, which is close to July 4th.  Notice anything?  Does it look familiar?  Okay I won't keep you guessing.  I wore a very similar dress actually on the 4th of July.  When I bought it my mother was fighting it so bad.  She was just like, "it looks way too much like the other one".  She didn't want me to spend my money on it either, well it was Plato's Closet...I think..but it was really cheap and I told her it wasn't the same dress, so there!  This is another day I just couldn't get someone to take a picture of me.  I did it again, I accidentally put the camera on record first so you know I have to show you that.

Get your dress here!  I know, that isn't the same dress, but what is that?  It looks like she has the dress on all wrong!  

Haha, this is fun.  While I was searching for the plaid dress or something similar this came up.  If you look at the title and then the toy it's hilarious.  Because the first thing I think of when I look at that doll is how lifelike it is.

I tried and tried but apparently I don't know how to search on Amazon.  Here is the closest I could find, so if you want to get the look Shannon is wearing, click here!  I know, it's nothing like it.  That's ok you can borrow mine!

So here are the pictures from this awkward, let me take my own picture day:

I made it pretty for you :)
Just a tip.  Don't ever go searching for a dress like this on Amazon.  Our maybe you know the right keywords.  I had to see some stuff I was not prepared for seeing.  

This day was the day I got a glance of myself in the mirror and decided I was pretty.  I may not look like I used to but I still am pretty and all I have seen for so long is the bad parts.  If I took a good pic it would be a random miracle and that was that.  But looking in the mirror that day I was satisfied.  I still have my extra large arm, my protruding belly, but gosh darn I am cute as a button lol.  

More awareness: I feel happier, kind of.  When I am all dressy I feel happier. If it's a sick day, it's a sick day, and no dress is going to change all that.  Like the first couple days after chemo.  So, Monday, chemo.  Let's see if you guys here from me any day until Thursday or Friday.  Crap! I forgot.  I head to Houston on Wednesday for Thursday and Friday appointments.  We may stay and go to the Kemah Boardwalk, courtesy of The Pink Daisy Project.  

Now is the time to start rewearing the dresses.  Don't worry, when I get paid a portion may go to some more dresses. 

If you would like to donate to the project I am an XL and a 14 for the most part.  If you have some you want to see me in, send them my way!

Monetary Donations accepted.  In the note tell me exactly how you would like the money spent.  If you don't I may decide I need shoes, or nail polish, or hair stuff, you get my drift.

Until next time...give lots of hugs and lots of love

Shannon

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Day 2

The only dress that has a date attached with it is the 4th of July.  So the next day to my experiment I wore another dress, I'm sure.  I think it was the day we forgot to take a picture.  I think it was me at the end of the day in the mirror with a camera.  Crazy, I have problems getting people to take pictures of me.  Like it's suuuccchh a hard thing to do.  I love my peeps I do but come on I suck at taking my own pictures. 

I just looked at the calendar and realized I have been doing this for 17 days.  This is going to be a trip trying to make sense of all this. So maybe they won't be the exact days.  Like today for instance.  I fell asleep almost immediately when I got home from P31 last night...makeup on..meds not taken...nothing on the chargers..on top of everything.  The dress for today was fabulous.  But I couldn't get out of bed till 3.  I put it on.  But there's no makeup involved, no hair done, and just a whole look of disheveledness.  Somehow I made it to the kitchen, made pancakes (dress and my apron, loving it) despite the time and vegged out to some Glee that I was behind on.  Then caught up on the George R. R. Martin Clash of Kings book I have been reading and unable to put down.  So, plan is, put this dress on tomorrow, take pics, then put on the dress for tomorrow.  Maybe I'm taking this too seriously lol.  Maybe I will wear this another day.  No one saw me.  Except Madisyn, and the neighbor I borrowed eggs from, and all the people who were outside when I was.  It's ok.  




I've learned a couple things so far.  One, if you don't put on the makeup and do the hair you won't take it seriously and will remain frumpy all day, just in a dress.  Two, do your nails the night before, and shower the night before.  That's two things knocked off your todo list right there.  Three, I stopped biting my nails.  Painting my nails made me stop I guess.  Four, I tend to use correct posture while dressed up.  All that stupid stuff my dad told me growing up. Sit up straight, shoulders back, etc..etc.  I do it without even thinking about it.  Weird.  Five, if I use gel, people think my hair is thicker and looks fuller.  That's all I can think of right now.  


Next time I will tell you about the other experiment I have been doing.  This one I have been trying to do all year but sometimes I forget.  It's not huge so I'm not telling yet.  Even if it was I wouldn't tell you.  :-P  


Hey, here's a project for all of you...send me your best vegetarian meal and I will let Madisyn be the judge.  If you know my daughter she is the double of the boy, Mikey, on that cereal commercial from the 80s.  You know, Mikey likes it!  Fact just learned! It first aired in 1972 and then went on to air 12 more years.  Didn't know that.  Off topic.  So, get your recipes ready.  


Tell me if you don't have an expensive blender thing how do you blend veggie smoothies?  Will a regular blender do it?  Buying those things are way too expensive but I need them!


New with this blog is my amazon associates title.  So if you see something highlighted that goes to amazon, well, it means buy it.  I get profit off it.  The links on the side of the blog as well.  I will put this on the blog so you don't forget.  :-P

Until next time...

Shannon





Friday, July 19, 2013

Dress One

I am starting this blog today but it actually started on July 4, 2013.  As some of you know,  I have been undergoing cancer treatment for the past 8 years.  Throughout these years I have undergone tons of changes.  Not just mental (ha-ha I promise I'm not mental...well not too mental) and spiritual but physical.  Pretty much I have been hiding in my house.  Well not really hiding, I would stay home because I wasn't feeling well.  I laid around in sweats, pajamas, and whatever else I could grab out the closet that fit.  That has been my problem these years.  Every different medication I I would be taking would reform my body into whatever it felt it needed to be at the moment.   One day I would be one size/weight and no joking the next day I would be 20 pounds either way.  Mostly the weight has gone up but there was this time I actually lost weight!  But that medicine made me so sick I would have rather die then be on it.  A few of you watched me as I tried to start back on that medication at the beginning of this year.  Probably scared some of you to bits, I'm sorry about that.  Scared me too.

Okay, I have lost the point of what I'm doing here.  One day I threw on a dress and went out and did my day.  Doctors appointments,etc.  Once I made it home I realized how good I felt.  Not because physically I felt better but because I was wearing a dress.  I wasn't self conscious at all.  I wasn't feeling physically better but it didn't matter.  I felt good.  I wasn't dressed up for anyone.  Just dressed up for myself.  I reminded myself of my mother on Sunday's.  She would cook, still be in her dress from church, with her apron on and everything.  I throw my apron on over my awesome dresses and cook and clean.  Well sometimes clean comes; let's say, the next day.


The date of this blog is July 4th, 2013.  Lol, at least I tried for it to be.  My first dress was July 4th, 2013.  A red, white, and blue dress. See it below?!  I chose to wear a dress and those who are around me on a regular basis know that is unheard of.  I have been scouring Plato's Closet, clearance sales, and thrift stores.  The Purple Cow, Goodwill, and some just named thrift store.  Garage sales on Saturday, and I dig.  I'm that person, the digger.  Pray you don't run into me.  :-P


I hope you find this blog inspirational, entertaining, and enlightening.  It sure has for me already.


Since I began this "experiment", that's what I call it, I have noticed a change in myself.  I can't wait to get dressed in the morning (uh, what?), I lay out my clothes the night before (who am I?), I try to get makeup done before I have to go and I paint my nails!  I almost shaved the other day (giggle giggle, I will today).  I wear my dresses and have no self esteem issues.  I just feel beautiful.  So, come and take this ride with me.  No pants aloud, not even pant suits, just dresses.  Days like Thursday I didn't get dressed.  It was the third day after chemo and I slept through it.  I woke up, ate cereal, made coffee, walked up to my bedroom, put coffee on bedside table, and didn't wake up until around 8 p.m.  My coffee, just wasted.  We are almost out. I don't get paid until the fourth.  Maybe stay away from me until then.  I may have some instant but nothing is comparable to River Road Coffee.
Happy 4th of July!  USA!!