Starting Chemo March 2015

Oh, no problem. It was an easy cake to make, too. I bought the expresso powder at Sur La Table. You can google it to see if there is someplace near you that sells it, otherwise you will have to order it. I think some people substitute instant espresso, too. Back in a minute.

I love to bake and I don't do much of it anymore because I feel too guilty. But once in a while, I just need it. It is one of my few creative outlets and one thing I am good at.

thanks for the responses guys. Best part of being back to work is getting a paycheck again!!! I was starting to miss those. Ksusan I was thinking the same thing when I went in for haircut, men get cuts with short hair. Stylist was so nice. She likes my hair short. I need it a little longer but will keep it pretty short. Have gotten used to short showers and shorter blow dries!

Hi, all. I'm back from Cabo without incident. The bracelet had a lovely time. Here's a pic of the bracelet enjoying an iced tea by the pool:

Oops, having trouble posting picture.

It has been a sad day today. One of our neighbours, a retired farmer friend who remodelled our kitchen for us about six years ago, was having leg pain about two weeks ago. He was diagnosed with acute leukemia and went into hospital for treatment about ten days ago. I had coffee with my cancer support friend yesterday, and he had news that treatment wasn't going well, because of blood clotting issues. He said that G wasn't well enough for visitors, and that the family had been called in to the hospital twice already. He passed away today. So sudden, and he will be missed by many.

Everyone's thanksgiving plans seem to be progressing. For homemade bread, I tend to use the no knead bread recipe to make mini baguettes for me and the DH. The no knead artisan bread recipe makes dough that you can keep in the fridge for over a week, and just cut off a piece big enough to make a mini loaf big enough for a single meal. Takes about 90 seconds to start the dough, then it sits on the counter for an hour or two to get the yeast working - after that, it lives in the fridge until you wake it up and bake it. You can have fresh, crusty loaf bread (and the incredible smell of bread baking in your kitchen) about 40 minutes after you pull the dough out of the fridge. Here's a link:

www.artisanbreadinfive.com

Or, you can search "artisan bread in five minutes", and a bunch of links will get you to the basic recipe and method. I usually reduce the recipe to use just three cups of flour - a cup each of white, whole wheat and rye flours. The only other ingredients are water, salt and yeast. This makes enough dough for a few days for two, and doesn't take up too much space in the fridge.

The bracelet will be on its way tomorrow, when the post office is open. Tuesday, I meet with my oncologist to discuss my crazy pathology report.

Hugs to you all.

Avmom, I'm glad cabo was fun & so sorry about your friend. That's the same bread recipe I use! It's so easy & tasty. Before Thanksgiving I make a bunch & cube it for stuffing - yum. This year is unconventional food-wise. No stuffing, no gravy. We never do turkey but always the stuffing, gravy - oooh and mashed potatoes. There are just 4 of us - my nearest & dearest. These are the guys who got me through the separation & cancer. One friend is making his grandmother's gumbo. My vegetarian friend and my omnivore friend are making veg sides. I think I'm in charge of rice and bread.....and being the general sous chef. Next week I will have to make stuffing. It's weird. We have always had a big group & spent 2 full days cooking.

I don't think I mentioned it on here but I was hired to be in a substitute teaching pool for private schools in my area. I'm putting together activities today in case I get called and there's no lesson plan or we wind up with time to fill. On Dec 1 I have a second interview (first was phone screening by HR) for a pre-k position at a well-repected daycare 15 min from my house. The pay sucks (well @ this place it is good for pre-k teachers, but that still = sucks). But that coupled with income from a rental property that Alan is transferring to just be in just my name I should be fine once the divorce is final - which won't be until mid next year. CA has a 6 month waiting period between filing & finalizing. Talking about it makes us both sad so we haven't filed yet. Friendly divorces seem tricky.

I never heard back from the science job I had the 3.5h interview for (you would think they would at least say no thank you, right?). I think the science ship has sailed and I'm ok with that I've decided. 2.5 years of rejection has worn down my interest.

I am sorry about your neighbors, Avmom.

Thanks, Trvler and Eileen. Things just move so quickly with leukemia. G didn't even know he was sick a month ago. Just a sweet, sweet man, active in his community, and an amazing woodworker. He and his crew (a couple of retired farmer friends, who did construction and other small jobs to keep themselves busy) did some outside work for us this spring, repairing hail damage from the previous summer, and he was always a gentle presence when at our place during my chemotherapy.

The chocolate cake with espresso powder looks interesting. I have a similar recipe, but it is my vegan chocolate cake recipe. No eggs, no dairy, no nuts - it's a good birthday cake for allergy kids, though it's not gluten free. I really enjoy the chocolate/coffee combination, whether it is cake, tiramisu, trifle, cheesecake, mousse, cookies or custard, etc..... Chocolate and orange is another flavour combo that I find hard to resist.

Gotta stop thinking of sweets - I'm working on going meatless at least five days/week, and have been increasing my consumption of greens. I've been reading "The Pink Ribbon Diet", and also visiting the food for Breast cancer website. Time to clean my diet up.

AVMom, sorry about your friend.

Hi all. Just checking in. Had a nice weekend at a Women of Faith conference but I way overdid it being only 1 week post-op. I should have known better but I didn't want to miss out. Oh well, now I'm laying low and letting my body heal.

Bruising is almost gone and my breasts are starting to even out from the few areas of swelling that were there. Most discomfort is still from the belly fat grafting areas.

Maureen - I have the urinary tract irritation too and my MO said its a part of menopause and lack of estrogen. Whatever it is, it's annoying!!

Bekah

Feel free NOT to read this: I had this dream last night where they had me come to the hospital for some minor surgery and I started my period. I ruined my underwear so I asked them for a pair and they tried to sell me this elaborate lingerie that was very expensive. I said why can't you give me some of THOSE because they had those icky after surgery panties there but wouldn't give them to me…..lol

You can't really taste the expresso powder. It just kind of amps up the flavor of the chocolate.

I know some of you are having post chemo neuropathy but is anyone just having tingling? Is there anything they (or I) can do about it? It seems worse when I move around and exercise.

I will try it, PB.

It was weird with the tingling. I wasn't having any of it and then noticed some right after my surgery. It went away and literally the day I went to see my MO, it started AFTER I saw her so I didn't ask her about it. It has come and gone but I just wondered if there was something I should be doing about it.

L-glutamine reduced mine, but I also have a little diabetic neuropathy to confuse things. My hands are much less stiff/cold/not-me-feeling the farther out I get from surgery.

Thanks, Avmom. I don't have it that bad. I hope it gets better for you.

24 hours of nightmare for me. My friend Pam who just started back riding fell and broke her collar bone so I was at emergency all afternoon yesterday with her. My mom got put in the hospital last night for severe UTI and difficulty breathing. And my ex husband had a stroke and is intensive care, 59 years old. My kids are devastated right now. Been a bad year for them, between my cancer, and now their dad having a stroke.

I don't know why I wrote that, guess you all are my go to place.