It's Time to Play the Music

In case you did not get the humor in the last post, please allow me to explain.  In the Harry Potter series, Harry has a snowy white owl that he names Hedwig (after a magician he found in a history book).  While trying on my new wig today (Ha!  I can't say this without laughing!), my mom said, "Hedwig".  It was too much.  My wig now also has a name. 

As I have said before, I decided to get a wig because...well, why not?  If I am going to do this, let's do it all.  Let's try this wig thing and see what it's like.  Of course, I really don't think I am going to like it.  And, all the while I was having the Hedwig fitted and trimmed today I was basically laughing inside.  It is so ridiculous. 

My mom, Cathy, and Carrie, who accompanied me to said appointment were all so nice and sweet.  "Oh, that really looks like your hair!"  And, "It's such a nice color!"  Meanwhile, I kid you not, I feel like a Muppet.  You know when they go crazy with their singing on Sesame Street and their hair starts to flail in all different directions and land at crazy angles?  Yeah...that's me in a wig.  Or, how I feel like I look in a wig.  Please.  I am not looking for you to tell me differently.  You probably could not convince me otherwise anyways.  Still, I guess I could wear it around sometimes and just spend that time laughing with my inner-Muppet.

The girls and I, holding the bag that holds the wig.

 

Me, laughing at this thing. Hilarious.  Freakin' hilarious.

[Muppets]
Its time to play the music
Its time to light the lights
Its time to meet the muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

Its time put on makeup
Its time to dress up right
Its time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight

[Old Men]
Why do we always come here?
I guess we'll never know
Its like a kind of torture
To have to watch the show

[Muppets]
But now its getting started
Why don't you get things started?
Its time to get things started
On the most sensantional
Inspirational
Celebrational
Muppet-ational
This is what we call The Muppet Show!

Hedwig

Swamp On A Stick

Yeah....that pretty much sums up what it tastes like to be my mouth right now.  As you may be able to tell, I have a pretty active imagination.  When I try to put a picture to the taste, what I see is basically...pond scum.  Swamp.  Ick. 

Why on a stick?  Because when I visualize the swamp, it is served like cotton candy - basically what my mouth feels like - cotton.  Stuck together and gross.

I haven't looked, but I am certain there are numerous suggestions out there to help with this.  I just know they are something along the lines of "chew gum" and "use mouthwash".  But here's the thing: every time I eat or drink something I am supposed to rinse my mouth with a concoction of baking soda and water followed by another concoction of salt and water.  The saltwater thing is not so bad.  But, for some reason, my body has a lot of trouble gargling baking soda and water.  It rejects it to the nth degree.  I have to clear my mind and take a deep breath before doing it, lest I lose my lunch while doing it.

So...I have been eating my meals in chunks.  Cramming as much into one sitting as I can, so that I am not hungry later and have to do the rinses again.  And then in-between, I get to enjoy this lovely new experience of Swamp-On-A-Stick.

Of course, the upside of this is that it means the Chemo is doing its job.  Chemo is supposed to seek out all of the fast-growing cells and kill them off.  This includes things like taste buds, hair follicles, finger nails, and cancer.  I guess the ol' taste buds are a small sacrifice I can put up with to know that it is hopefully killing off all the bad stuff, too.

Suck it up, Buttercup!

Some Awesomeness

LOVE this warm, snuggly blanket that Breanna and Stacie Hoeppner made for me.  I have been quite chilly and find myself snuggled up in it more often than not.  Thank you, Hoeppners!

Apparently my lips were so severely chapped when we were at Froedtert last week that my sister could not stand it.  She purchased me this "booda butter" and although I was your typical little sister and rolled my eyes, after I put it on, I was amazed.  This stuff is awesome.  Thank you, J.J.!

Sheepshead

When my husband left to play Sheepshead once a month with "the guys" until (on average) two in the morning, my first thought was probably, "Don't wake me up when you get home, dear."  My second thought was more along the lines of, "Have fun, be safe, and all that."  When my husband left for Sheepshead once a month I never really thought to myself, "How fortunate we are." 

But today, wow, today, I know how fortunate he is to have great friends and how fortunate I am that he knows how to pick such great friends.  Today, this bunch of Sheepshead guys came over and worked their butts off making our yard look decent.

Leaves?  What leaves?  Tree branch hanging over the roof?  Gone.  Lawn?  Mowed.  Bushes?  Trimmed.  Gutters?  Clean.  Skylight?  Shined. 

I feel like there are so many people who deserve and need this help so much more than we do.  I don't know how we got so fortunate, but I am just amazed.  Thank you, Jason, Dan, Dan, Wade, Adam and Maddie (daughter of a Sheepshead player)!  I don't think our yard has ever looked so good.

AND...just when I thought it couldn't get any better.  Check this out:

Renee, Jenny, and Maddie decorated!  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  So beautiful.  I love what the men did, and do not want to diminish it in any way, but I have to say that while having a clean yard is nice and a huge relief, having a house decorated for Fall is uplifting.  Every time I come home from one of my appointments, I am going to drive up to this house that now looks more like a home.  I know my children will be excited and proud every time they see this.  I think Renee and Jenny think this was a little thing, but it wasn't.  It was huge.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Some Awesomeness

Kyrie's soccer team has a pink goalie shirt!  I believe this is not only for me and other breast cancer fighters everywhere, but also for a member of Coach Angela's family who is fighting breast cancer.  If you could, I would love it if you would take a moment to say a prayer for her as well.  Coach Angela has been very involved this person's care and was a great help to me, sending me lots of great information, when I was diagnosed.  Thank you, Angela.  You are amazing.

Angela's daughter, Isa, wearing the goalie shirt.

 

Coach Angela with Kyrie, Isa, and  Ben K.(gotta love the socks, too!)

Some Awesomeness

I think what I will try and do, in an effort to share my overwhelmed-ness is to post "Some Awesomeness" every day.  Here is today's awesomeness:

A gift basket from the Andresek-Baumgart-Beck-Berrall-Gerke families (Cathy's sisters, parents, and families).  This basket has socks, candles, candy, word puzzles, a scarf, gift cards, thank you cards (LOVE), and a heck of a lot more.  Talk about overwhelming.  Thank you, guys.  Wow.