Hi Everyone,
It has been a while since I posted an update.
I started my radiation treatment last Tuesday after a false start the previous week where my body and the lasers just wouldn’t line up. Now, I have four treatments in and just a little redness under my arm. I am moisturizing like crazy 🙂
Our family did have a couple of rough times over the past couple of weeks. We knew we would have a tough decision to make soon about our two Border Collie/Blue Heller mixes. They were just over 17 years old and one had lost her hearing and both had their eyesight failing. Plus they had the arthritis we all get when we get old. On September 27 Oreo, originally our son Kris’s dog, took a turn for the worse. She just couldn’t get up on her own, and one of the many fatty tumors common with this breed burst. The kids rushed her to the emergency clinic and sadly we had to let her go.
Then last Monday after a stressful weekend of Nerabelle started to show signs of failing we knew what was ahead. I know she missed her sister. She slept next to Oreo’s bed instead of in her own. She was also having trouble with her back legs so Daughter #1, Nera was originally her dog, and Kaden arrived last Monday for another trip to the vet. Nerabelle didn’t even fuss going into the clinic.
For 17 years both these dogs brought so much joy to our lives. They were wonderful support animals while I was going through chemo too. The house is so quiet, no toenails clicking across the floor, no barking at the mailman or pizza delivery guy, and no one to eat my pizza crusts or begging for other treats. No dogs to greet us at the door when we come home from my treatments. Mr. Dollycas wrote on his Facebook Page, My heart is heavy and I will grieve for them both as they were the greatest friends I could have ever had the pleasure of living with. And he is so right. These animals quickly worked their way into our hearts and become true family members. It is hard to say goodbye but they both deserve a peaceful rest. We have now turned their care over to our son/brother/uncle in heaven.
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On the blog front, you may have noticed I am posting a little more often. I am still catching up on reviews of the books I read at the start of my treatment when chemo brain wouldn’t let string a coherent sentence together. I am also trying to review books as soon as I finish them. I am still reading less than I did before because my body can’t take the late nights and early mornings like it used to. Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done and the writing of reviews gets pushed off. My radiation treatments are scheduled to end right before Thanksgiving and the oncologist has said fatigue is the biggest side effect and it is cumulative so allowing for some recovery time by the new year I hope I will start to get my life back on track. I am also hoping that in the new year COVID gets handled and we can gather with our family and friends and that publishers will be able to offer giveaways again.
Thank you for being so supportive of me during this time and being patient with me. Your prayers and best wishes are so appreciated and have been giving me so much strength.
I hope you have an awesome week!!