Searching for Signs of Spring

I am getting kind of weary of winter, for those of you in the Northeast and Midwest I know my complaint is laughable, our winters are generally mild in comparison, so I apologize for my whining. Today was sunny and in the 50's so we decided to head out to Botanical Gardens to see if we could find any evidences of spring. There was still patches of snow scattered here and there (we had 4 inches on Thursday) but there were also plenty of signs that spring could be close at hand. Several trees were budding and the daffodils were up about three inches. The gardens should be beautiful in another month. Spring is my favorite time of year, for me it has always represented new beginnings, even more than New Years. Everything comes back to life, it's a new start. I have a lot of hopes for spring this year.

 

Preparation

Started the process of getting ready for my upcoming surgery yesterday. Went to see my PCP, with "laundry list" of issues that I wanted to discuss with her in hand. First, I don't sleep...her advice..take the sleeping pills....second, joint pain...no easy solution for that, but she was very supportive of going gluten free. (said 80% of her patients who go gluten free have a reduction in joint pain)Wasn't a fan of the Ultram long term, or the large doses of tylenol I was taking (lot of tylenol without a lot of relief...not much bang for your buck)I wasn't crazy about taking all that tylenol anyway. Maybe try Celebrex again after surgery if oncologist gives the OK. Lots of blood work done,  told me if my iron level not improved from the last time it was drawn (back in Nov.) I will have to have an iron transfusion before she will give me clearance for the surgery. (frankly I have never heard of an iron transfusion, is it like a blood transfusion?) Praying that the levels will be fine....really don't want to have to do that...just doesn't fit in my schedule. Getting a little anxious as I start to think about surgery again....not looking forward to it. Praying that I will be able to rest in the Lord and trust in him as I walk through these next couple of weeks.

The Lone Cypress

This is a picture of a cypress tree located in Pebble Beach, California. They say the tree is 250 years old. I remember when I first saw it, I was fascinated by it. The tree sits out on a point exposed to all the elements, no protection. Think of the winds and storms that have battered this poor tree and yet here it stands, still green, still growing...alive. The roots have had to be deep for this tree to survive all the pounding through the years, yet here it stands, green....alive. When I first saw the tree, I felt it had a spiritual connection and looking at it again reminded me. We sould be like this tree, with our roots down deep, so when the storms of life come, and they will come, we can stand firm like this tree, green, growing...alive.

In it For the Long Haul

Woke up this morning, tired, weary, another night of not sleeping well.  Missing my "old life" the one before BC, started off the morning kind of weepy. Did not want to go to church this morning, just tired, achy, but felt the Lord's prompting to get going. (most of the time I don't want to go to church is the time I should be there) Thought while we were driving....I had faith for the initial "crisis" of diagnosis, surgery...now we are in for the long haul....dealing with long term effects of treatment on a day to day basis. Can I still see the Lord's purposes in all of this? Finding it harder and harder as my body refuses to cooperate...sleep so elusive, joints feeling older than they should. No quick end in sight.

One of my favorite Psalms (Psalm 121) was read during worship. One that has given me much comfort and was such a help to hear it read again. The title of the sermon..."Strong to the End"... teaching on how to find strength for the journey that can be tiresome and weary. Lots of good points but for me, the come away was that for this journey I need to remember the character of God and his promises. He has not abandon me...I am not alone...he is there for me to call on any time of the day or night...he never slumbers or sleeps

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed he who watches over Israel will nether slumber or sleep.

The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Going Gluten Free

I decided to try going Gluten Free last week to see if it would help the increased joint pain I was experiencing while taking Arimidex. Joint pain has been a problem for years, Arimidex just makes it worse. I have been reading that a Gluten sensitivity can cause inflammation, which can increase joint pain in some people. I had noted earlier the nurse practitioner for my oncologist said eliminating Gluten would not help joint pain...but I wanted to at least give it a try...if it doesn't help...I haven't lost anything. What has surprised me was how easily it was to find Gluten Free items. I knew Trader Joe's market had a lot of Gluten Free items but I have easily found many items in the store that I shop at. Several types of pasta, snacks (my favorite being "Sticks and Twigs" which my little grand daughter also loves) frozen waffles, baking mix just to mention a few things. Went online to search for Gluten Free pizza and came up with YNot Pizza (which just happens to be done the street from us... would be nice for Superbowl) Also found another site which listed several restaurants in our area which have Gluten Free offerings including Five Guys, Red Robin, PF Chang and Carrabbas. I am just beginning, eliminating the obvious stuff first...I know many products contain gluten that you wouldn't think...I am still in the process of discovering those. Hoping the diet change won't be too difficult to maintain..if it helps it will be worth it figured I'd give it at least a month. On another note called my oncologist today to give an update on how I was doing without Arimidex..they never called back... (hugely busy office)... really doesn't matter....I already knew I was supposed to go back on something, either the Arimidex or the Aromasin (which they had given me a script for) So tomorrow it's back to the Arimidex....holiday is over.