Making Time for Rest

It's been a full and tiring day for your pal WunderGlo. Had an interrupted sleep thanks to my laxative and my willing bowels, didn't get my CT scan finished until 3pm (which means I didn't eat until then), and had a killer chest and triceps workout at the gym. Recharged and spent the evening with my awesome family (today is my wonderful grandma's 73rd birthday).

But still, I'm sore from the workout, a little drained from the nearly 50 ounces of barium drink I had to chug today, and very ready for a long, delicious sleep.

When I was a kid, I hated going to sleep. I didn't want to miss out on everything that I could see or experience during those non-waking hours. I've still got a lot of that in me these days, but I'm trying to embrace rest and look forward to sleep since it's absolutely essential to a thorough beatdown of "the cancer."

So with that, I bid you goodnight, dear readers.

And by the way, I had my ultrasound today, as well. Happy to report that I have fabulously clot-free legs. Of course I do!!

Oh, The Things I Drink

I've traded in my Johnny Walker Black and Strongbow cider and Orange soda (some of my favorite beverages) for this delicious magnesium citrate, otherwise known as a laxative. No, I'm not trying a messed up detox after my Vegas weekend -- tomorrow is CT scan day.

You might remember the Sugarbaker directions from my last CT scan a while back. If you didn't or if you'd like a refresher (or even if you don't really want to hear it but you're going to humor me and listen anyway), here's my CT scan prep routine: 

• Liquid diet from tonight until my scan tomorrow at noon - that means vegetable broth and tea from here on out.
• One barium drink at midnight - 15 ounces of metallic tasting liquid that calls itself "Berry-flavored." Incidentally, I've never encountered a berry on God's green earth that tastes quite like it.
• Another barium drink at 8am - rise and shine with some berry goodness!
• And another barium drink at 11am, right before the scan.

It's harrowing, it's gross, and we all know the CT scan is going to show that the cancer hasn't done any growing or spreading, but I'm going with it and I'll make the best of it. Like with every physical challenge this fist fight with cancer throws my way, I'll survive and bounce back even stronger. 

As the brilliant and beautiful Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." And we all know WunderGlo's will is pretty damned indomitable.

Vegas, Baby!!

It's a little past 3am and I just got back to our hotel room. Today has been an incredibly fun day (watching the Jets win, watching the Jabbawockeez dance their butts off, and watching myself win some money), and I hope you had a great one, too. After these past two days, some things are very clear: I've got the best friends and hubby that any WunderGlo could ask for, and the coolest mom in the world to boot.

Must take my vitamins and get my Lovenox shot (also known as my "butt shot") and get to bed now. WunderGlo needs her beauty sleep, you know. More tomorrow...or technically, later today. Gotta love Vegas. Gotta love life.

Greetings from Vegas

Your favorite cancer warrior had an excellent day today, ringing in my mom's birthday in Las Vegas (Happy Birthday, Mom!! Love you!).

I had planned on meeting my best friend Tim and his boyfriend David there, but was surprised by two of my OMM buds, Michelle and Tracy, who made the trek without telling me until they were screaming my name on the casino floor. Our merry crew had an awesome time. We had a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant in the Wynn (Steve Wynn is a vegan, so all of the restaurants in his casinos (Wynn and Encore) have vegan menus), and all of us are looking pretty good on the gambling front (as in, we're not down too much money and Tim is actually up a few hundred bucks). My bud Morgan gets into town tomorrow night, and I'm sure the revelry will continue.

With all the fun and festivities and good times, I'm starting to realize that there's really no room in my life for cancer. Good thing I'm killing it!

A Truly Beautiful Day

How many beautiful sights can you take in on any given day?

Lots.

I learned that today, as Will and I enjoyed the gorgeous California Coast from Pacific Grove to Santa Barbara.

We spent the day driving along the coast, stopping along the way to take pictures, picnicking at Pebble Beach, and heading home on Highway 1. The day couldn't have been more beautiful, with clear, bright skies framing the deep blues and greens of the Pacific. The beaches along the 17-mile drive were incredible -- some were rocky and adorned with craggy boulders and smooth gray pebbles, and others were sandy white. We walked along all of them. Winston ran.

We drove over -- then under -- a famous Highway 1 bridge, venturing down to an area by the water's edge that I'd never visited before. The ocean waves beat against the rocky coastline, and there was a small rushing river there which seemed to connect freshwater with the ocean. Naturally, I climbed right in the middle of that river, using the exposed, dry rocks jutting out of that little river as stepping stones. It was fun -- and a good test of my foot dexterity and adventurous spirit.

As we drove further along down Highway 1, a road that seems like it was created solely to pay homage to the majesty of the Pacific Ocean coastline, we noticed the setting sun and pulled off the side of the road just in time to watch it turn the sky orange and pink.

It's hard to describe all the beauty that I witnessed today. Frankly, it was almost a little exhausting. But I took it all in, appreciated it, loved it, and stored it in my mind's eye for those days where my hospital room will be my only view. Well, it would've been my only view, but it won't be now. I'm bringing the Pacific Ocean with me.