It's been some time since I posted. Sorry. I've found that Facebook is a better format for a more interactive discussion. If you'd like to keep in contact, find me there. You will find pictures and comments to keep you updated. If there are some of you that really object to Facebook, let me know through a comment below or an email. If there are enough of you that actually check the Blog and don't want to start a Facebook account, I'll consider keeping it more current. Thanks and CHEERIO!

Fab Day

Yesterday I made fried plantains w/ ketchup and mayo for lunch, per Lynette... mmmm. It doesn't taste like banana at all. It's more like a winter squash flavor with a heavier texture, but delicious all the same. After I was done Deb told me she had an excellent banana ketchup for dipping. Banana ketchup! What will they think of next?

Yesterday I swam 40 lengths... bruised toe and all so today I swam 48... in 30 min. It felt very good with minimal stretch at my incisions. I do believe I am up to my pre-mastectomy speed. I can now walk with minimal limping but I still prefer to use protective shoes... and slippers in the house. I'm thinking I might lose that toenail... gross!

I now have 1/4" of hair growth. It's very soft and NOT CURLY. I feel jipped (sp)... but at least I HAVE hair. Vickie tells me hers didn't show up curly right away either so... there IS hope yet.

Just finished my Lumosity task for the day... working on the post chemo course. My memory is now nearly 90th percentile and my attention and problem solving have moved into the 80+ percentiles. I can definitely say I've noticed these improvements in my day-to-day life. What I cannot say is if the Lumosity is helping me do that or just giving me a number to prove that my brain function is improving. Who cares... as long as it's improved. Thanks Mark!

Darumas and Stubbed Toes

Tapwe made mac 'n cheese for dinner tonight. Not the healthiest but we needed some comfort food today. 14hr work day and creamed my toe early this morning on the bed frame...

I decided my Daruma had done his job of minimizing my chemo side effects so he got his other eye today!

Thanks, Courtney!

Natural Corset Defied

Tonight we had Szechuan stir fry. Included endive, a slightly bitter lettuce, baby bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, celery, red and orange pepper, leek, asparagus and ginger. A little advice... don't add a lot of ginger with Szechuan stir fry sauce. It makes it pretty spicy. Anyway, we had it over long grain Basmati white rice. Dessert was our favorite... fresh baked pineapple with Nutella and cashews or sunflower seeds. I was going to take a pic for you all but got so excited about eating that I forgot. I'll try to do better.

Physical therapy this morning to inflame the chest scar tissue. All I can say is that she was successful. A mooost uncomfortable process but worth the trade off. I can raise my arms now without much stretch and when I put my arms behind my back I don't feel like there is a tight band around my chest. I can't imagine how women wore corsets in the past.

 

Today I bought some "new" veggies to try: 

• galangal (a spice I gather), 
• delicata squash, 
• cherimoya, 
• chayote squash, 
• butternut squash, 
• endive, 
• 3 different yams. 

Yams and squash I think I can handle but if anyone knows what to do with cherimoya, chayote and galangal, let me know otherwise I'll just punt. 

I even bought some brussel sprouts so I need that recipe, Barb! 

Long ago I ate a fried plantain so I got one of those, too. If anyone knows anything special about cooking them, let me know.

More Neuropathy

Ha! 36 lengths in 25 minutes today! I use 4 different strokes - side stroke to warm up, then back stroke, front crawl and breast stroke. All strokes other than side stroke are completed arms only to increase the stretch and pec usage. Seems to be working.

Still have some neuropathy signs but they are liveable. All this time I thought a neuropathy was merely numbness but it's not. There's a whole range of sensations: neural twinge (quite painful), pins-&-needles, burning, ache, and numbness. I'm at the ache stage. Irritating but not painful. Back to the acytl L-carnatine.

 Tonight's delectable delight included baked squash and beets; home-made sausage ravioli & home-made beet ravioli sauteed with walnuts and spicy sausage. I love beets! So sweet and yummy. Who would have thought to put them in ravioli. Not me!

The squash was baked with leeks and garlic in the middle. After cooking I squeezed the garlic and leeks in a garlic press and mixed it with the squash. Too much garlic... so I added some agave and cinnamon. Mmmm mmm good.

I was told to boil the raviolis until they floated but they floated immediately so I guessed. Evidently, when you make your own there is a lot of air in the center which makes a little float bubble when heated. Sauteing the little guys was also a challenge - they want to stick and break. Next time I'm going to try making the pasta dough myself. Lasagne dough was great but I'd like to have more control over ingredients and waste.

Dessert was baked fresh pineapple with Nutella and cashews, again. A new dessert favorite... and it's good for you (except for the Nutella). Hope your dinner was as creative. I got my ideas from Danielle, bless her soul for helping me break into veggies.

Neuropathy

I've had neuropathy signs yesterday and today. Mooost unpleasant. It's a mix of heat, neural pain twinge and the need to stretch. I called the docs. They weren't a lot of help. Could be a side effect of the tamoxifen or could be a delayed chemo reaction. :( I'll stop the tamoxifen for a week and try again, assuming the signs go away. I also re-started the acytl L-carnitine.

Tonight's culinary trial was not really a delight but nor was it a flop. We had sauteed asparagus as an appetizer followed by fried polenta topped with an over-easy egg. Rather bland really. Needs something but I'm not sure what. To polish off the dinner we had french bread with hummus. Dessert consisted of baked pineapple topped with nutella and cashews. Dessert was fabulous!