TATTOOS, TEETH, SUNBURNS, LESSON PLANS 7/8/09

RADIATION JUNCTION
I have some news today about radiation.
At today’s CT scan and planning meeting, I learned that radiation would start Monday 7/13/09, for sure, and I learned how things will go.
I will have 5 weeks of broader radiation, and then one week of narrowed radiation to finish it off.
The side effects I will probably experience are sunburn-like: redness and maybe blistering.

Fatigue will also result, but that’s about it. Thus, I am supposed to keep the area clean and not irritate it with any sun or products (except 100% aloe vera gel). This Saturday I will receive my tattoos. They are really only as big as a dot on an “i”, so no worries. These “tats” will help them position me each time for radiation.
When they did the scan today, that was to be my final position for each treatment, so I needed to make sure I felt comfortable. They needed to jimmy-rig something for my feet because I was apparently too tall for the machine. So there was a lot to take in today, but the therapist gave me all the info in writing.

I’m thankful they were able to work around my requests for scheduling — I’ll go in at 11am-ish during vacation time, and when school starts, I’ll have 2 weeks of going in at 5pm.
Ironically, it is toward the end when fatigue usually happens, which is when I will be starting back to school.
I’ll need to work up my stamina by taking more walks…

CHEMO TEETH
Other news, I had been concerned as to how my teeth were doing after chemo — I was sure that they were in poor shape. Well, I had a dentist appointment Tuesday and am relieved… one tiny cavity and one larger one below a filling, both already filled and feeling fine.
It’s nice to have one less thing to worry about.

VACATION MORPHING INTO SCHOOL PREP=PRAYER REQUEST
Besides the medical issues, the vacation time has been nice.
I have been reading, watching movies w/ Eric, doing some minor organizing, and hanging out with a few people. It has been relaxing and low key. I will need to finish a few more organization tasks this week, and then I will have to start making a serious effort towards school planning.
If you get a chance, please pray for me (and Eric) to get a lot done so we’re ready for school to start.
Thanks!

PICS

SUNDAY 7/5/09-Eric at the Ventura Beach. We read and listened to music and tried to avoid the unleashed dogs (a dog once tried to pee on me at the beach, so I’m careful now)

7/5/09-Ventura beach. We enjoyed Indian food and a movie in downtown Ventura after relaxing time at the beach

A sweet note from Kristin M and a CD called “Seeds of Worship” — I always like new music. :)

Some fun time shopping at Ikea with Melyndee B. We ate Swedish meatballs at their cafe, which I had always wanted to do! I give them a thumbs up.

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