Chemo 2 done and dusted

Anna is frantically learning her French play for tomorrow, Katie is at her school Disco and Mum and Roy are doing a crossword (very loudly - "17 across meaning the opposite side"!) I am resting with 'Mypad' (as I keep trying to tell the rest of my family who are constantly borrowing it for "just one minute") after having session 2 of my chemo treatment. I got the thumbs up on the blood test so all went according to plan. My Mum came with me, as Mike is busy on his exploratory trip to the states for Carluccios. She was very impressed with the calm and comfortable surroundings and the amazing nurses who know me by name now and have almost got used to my sense of humor!

So I am back at home resting with a huge bag of medicines and a big chart telling me what I have to take and when. I have a mouthwash where I have to mix two different coloured vials  together and use 7 times a day! Tomorrow I will have to give myself an injection that targets my bone marrow and helps it to produce more red and white blood cells. The nurse told me that it is working well as my blood count was within the normal range on both blood tests. I am glad that I am on Mike's work insurance as each injection costs a thousand pounds! 

I am not sure if it was the chemo or the recent bout of partying that is making me feel tired, but the parties were so worth it. Last week I managed to meet Claire and Scottie who were over from Australia with their gorgeous daughter Chloe. On Friday I went to the teachers' night out where we danced the night away with our 'dance instructor' called Desmond. Then on Saturday I gatecrashed an old friend Aaron's party which was so amazing and I actually got to DANCE IN THE RAIN to a live band in the most amazing setting with thatched roof cottages, marquees and of course some amazing friends from softball, some whom I haven't seen for ages and ages. In fact we have been invited to gatecrash "Azstock" again next year. (Thanks Aaron - top quality party!) Unfortunatley I gave so many hugs away and on each unsuspecting person, I left a piece of me in the way of a little lock of hair! Yes, the inevitable is happening and I am loosing my locks rapidly. In fact the hair is falling as rapidly and persistently as the summer rain we are having. So I will very soon be parading around modelling an assortment of hats and of course my Jason Sorbie wig - watch this space for more photos soon! I am planning on meeting Mike at the airport in my green wig on Friday when he returns. (shh don't ruin the surprise!)

                             
                         'Team BT' - 2012 pic from Pioneers Softball Tournament, Canterbury

                                        

Running ladies/Race for Life

                                               WELL DONE TO THE PINK LADIES

I just had to share this photo of the lovely St Mary Mag's Y4 Pink Ladies who ran 5K in Richmond Park yesterday to raise over a thousand pounds for Race for Life. Thank you and I will be there on your side next year!

Also a huge well done to Anna and Gumley School who also did a race for life event. When she told me that, as part of the school sports day, she was going to run for cancer  I said to her " you don't have to do that sweetheart, we already have cancer". Of course, she looked at me in horror until she realised that I was in fact joking! Anyway, they had a fun day and she managed 6 and a half laps in the time given and should be proud of her sterling effort too.

Wimbledon Week

Sarah is lying low as she between day 9 and 14 her immune system is low and she shouldn't be around large crowds. She is enjoying all her gifts and she looks and smells delicious! I can't believe how many friends she has and she says she thinks of them every time she uses all different products she has around her. She also got a new kindle (which I have my eye on) from her friends at school.

On Friday 6th July she went into hospital to have a blood test to see if she was well enough to have an operation to fit a port (which the Chemo can be injected into). The nurse gave her the thumbs up and she had the operation after a very long wait. She actually thinks that Dad asked the doctors to wait until after the Murray- Ferrer Match so that they could watch it in the hospital room. Anyway she managed to get the op done and then snuck back home just before midnight while we were all fast asleep (well katie was anyway!).

Her sister in China organised a day at Wimbledon Centre court just before day 9 and she had a great time sitting in row A, right next to the royal box! She saw the Ferrer and the Serena match. We all had another great day of tennis at Aunty Jojo's house where we had a BBQ in the rain and watched the Wimbledon finals.

We had a girly morning on Sunday and I gave her a manicure with her new nail polish, that we found out doesn't work when you put two layers on!! She showed me some photos of the afternoon she had at Wimbledon last week with Sara and Kristen. I'm not supposed to tell, but she had a Pimms while she was watching the Serena and Ferrer games.

Here is a picture her friend Maria made for her and it is up in our house now. It is the quote from this blog! The other photo is Mummy and Katie about to go for a meal with Daddy before his big USA trip with Carluccios. He is coming back this Friday and may be surprised to see that his wife has a little less hair than when he left!!

Anna is long jumping at school, Katie is off on an acting evening, Daddy is working in Turkey and Sarah is trying to organise a family week end with the softball gang in Canterbury... So Granny has taken over the blog.
The  first chemo session started on Monday, while Sarah relaxed with a reflexology treatment. She then spent the night on a drip in the hospital. Her sister Jo came to visit in the afternoon and was so tired, after a long weekend in Greece, that Anna suggested that Mummy got up and gave the bed to Jo, who would have accepted but Jo didn't fancy the drip and the pills.
Sarah spent the morning of her birthday in hospital but was thrown out [gently] into the bosom of her family before lunch and in time to take Anna to swimming. Hey, wait a minute! Isn't she supposed to be an invalid??? Birthday cards, presents, balloon and supper followed, but she passed on the alcohol [just wait till next year, when she'll make up for it!]
Granny and Gramps are supposed to be looking after her - and we are doing our best - but she still has more energy than us. And it's very frustrating for her having a half deaf mother as her medical note taker. She is still pondering the nurse's comments about "organising the Trooping of the Colours in the chemotherapy room."  (she said she organised the choosing of the colours!)
I took some lovely photos of Sarah and family on her birthday evening but need to go home to download the pictures, so maybe Anna can send them on a later blog.
I am waiting, in vain, for Sarah to relax in front of the TV watching Wimbledon. Relax? She wants to see the real thing!

Sarah is tired and relieved that she has got her reports all done and dusted. They took forever though!!

We are going to get our nails done today as her friend Gerry got her a voucher and I was the lucky one she picked to go with her!

Calm Before the Storm

Only joking as you probably guessed! Here are the real pictures of it on...

Mum has been busy getting lots of things done while Katie and I are at school.Her friend Maria got her a hair appointment with Trevor Sorbie who is someone who cuts famous people's hair. He has worked with Vidal Sassoon and was the hair stylist for Torvill and Dean (the ice skaters). So now he can add 'Sarah's wig stylist' to his list! (See picture of Trevor Sorbie and Mum in the Convent Garden Salon.)

Sarah went wig shopping today and instead of getting the recommended blonde wig which was very expensive, she chose a black one and was about to buy it when a big sales sign caught her attention. It said GREEN WIGS FOR SALE, HALF PRICE. She couldn't resist the bargain!