Procrastination and a Cute Baby

First of all, that's a picture of me in my new glasses. I don't wear them often. So that's a pretty rare sight. I however do like these ones! It's my first new pair in 7 years or so.



I have been really putting off calling my doctor. I am not sure why but I guess since it's not until May anyway I figured I'd have plenty of time. I need to call and reschedule my follow up. I need to make sure we reschedule both of the upcoming scans and oncology follow up for the same day. You might think they would take care of all that but no. They will have no clue that my scans are still on a different day. I can't drive up there multiple times. It's a good 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive. So I need to really kick myself into high gear today. I have more things to do that I dread. I dread calling my credit card company. I need to do that. They are trying to steal a payment but won't get away with it since I have all the proof but unfortunately they don't put anyone on the phone I can understand. I feel rude because I have a very tough time with accents. I just can't do it though. It's a flaw of mine I guess.

As for the cute baby, well of course we all know I am talking about my sweet miracle baby Gabriella. I bought a nice wig when I first started chemo at the suggestion of my oncologist. The chemo I had should have made me bald. I never did lose it all so I didn't need this wig. I got it out yesterday and put it on my baby who doesn't have much hair yet. She loved it and stared at herself in the mirror! haha It was pretty cute.

Snow???? Seriously? Yes. Snow.....and Sea Monkeys

Seriously my mind can go from one thing to the next. Snow and sea monkeys have nothing to do with each other. It's just that we have both! I woke up this morning to what you see here. This is my back yard. We had 70 degree weather recently, and now we have a winter storm. Did I get my calender wrong or is it supposed to be spring? Well, needless to say the roads were pretty bad. I had planned on taking the kids to the free matinee today. Kung Fu Panda was playing for free. We decided to give it a try. The hubby drove and didn't find it too difficult, but honestly if it were me I'd have turned back. We saw at least 5 cars ditched on the way there with people inside. They all had help already thank goodness. I think perhaps people are in too much of a hurry on these roads!

So after all that we get to the theater and I order our tickets only for them to say they were sold out!!! Uuuugh! I had never had that happen before. So instead of having driven all the way there for no reason we dug into our wallets and spent the last of our cash to take the girls to see Monsters Versus Aliens. It was a pretty good movie and Gabriella's first trip to the movie theater! She seemed very fascinated by it all. She did well too. She watched it and I fed her fruit loops. haha That's her favorite snack.

As for the sea monkeys, well I bought Lexi some for her birthday. There had been probably a hundred in this little tank but they were so tiny you could hardly see them. Now there are only about 5 and they have gotten pretty big, as you an see in my pics. They are fun but really do not seem to last too long.

Now, as for this snow, well I'd like it to go away. I want spring. No more teasing me!! ;)

Chemo Brain? Is it Real?

It is real. I joke around about it but truthfully it does happen. Cancer survivors have complained of memory changes after treatment yet according to the Mayo Clinic website it is still unclear whether chemotherapy is the cause. While those that have had chemo are complaining of memory troubles or a sort of brain fog, they still score well on cognitive tests. I honestly believe there are times when I seem a little absent minded but that is the extent of it. I don't think I would have issues taking a test. I am pretty good at studying. However don't put me on the spot because I'm likely to freeze. Then again, that's just how I am. I need to work out a math problem on paper, alone without you staring at me. haha I think that's a personal preference.

Still I do forget things that my husband tells me. Is this due to chemo brain or maybe I was not paying attention to him like I should? I am not sure but I do believe chemo brain exists. I think way too many survivors complain of concentration problems for it to not be true. I would much sooner believe I have concentration issues though then memory trouble. I think perhaps I just need to pay more attention and the memory party isn't really so difficult. Does anyone have any memory issues after chemo? Feel free to share them with me if so. I am actually very interested in how other cancer survivors are doing with this.

Sometimes Absent Minded and Chemo Fog

I sometimes get awards or tags, which I love but don't have time to do them at that precise moment. So I save the notice I get in my e-mail of the comment it came in. I do this several times and guess what? They are lost in a sea of e-mails. Well I got a tag recently that I did want to do. It was the handwriting one. I cannot remember who sent it! If it was you, let me know. I think this one was particularly fun. I do get absent minded sometimes.

I read about something called "chemo fog or chemo brain". I have no idea if it's really true or not but sometimes I do wonder if the fact that I find it easy to just forget things might not be a prolonged side effect of the chemo. Then again, I just like to have something to blame it on! I don't think the hubby is falling for it.


More on Chemo Fog later....

The Confusion With Doctors Appointments and Thieving Credit Card Companies

It's confusing because not everything I have to get done is with the same doctor! I was scheduled for my regular follow up with my regular doctor. OK. That seems easy enough but then he also scheduled me for a CAT scan and an ECHO. Each of those were with other doctors. So when they called to reschedule my appointment I just assumed the date was rescheduled no trouble. Now that I sit here and ponder it, the more I realize they probably just changed my oncology appointment and not the tests. So I am going to have to call today. I also need to call my credit card company. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) what they are doing to me. I paid them with a cashier's check. They are saying they didn't get it yet I have the cashed copy of the check. My bank found it and has given it to us and we faxed copies of all the paperwork to them. I have called them. I cannot understand anyone I talk to. I am terrible understanding accents. It's a flaw in myself but knowing that does me no good. I am forwarded from person to person to person on the phone that I can not understand. Then they hung up on me! So I keep e-mailing them from my online account and there only response is that I need to call!