Desire, Strength, and Determination

There is a fourth member of this team, it is called endurance. On Monday, when my sister and I tackled the fencing, we kept going until we were done. It took us roughly four hours to move the fence line out.
I was glad to have her help as it can be quite a challenge to move the fences by yourself. The fence post driver is heavy and so I can not lift it high enough to place it on the fence post without bringing the fence post down to a level that I can reach. While Beatrice held the fence, I was able to do what I needed to do to drive the post into the ground. The process went real well. However, I paid the consequences of it yesterday when I tried to get the chores done and start work on my list. I found that I had little energy left, my endurance was gone and so I spent most of yesterday recuperating from Monday's expenditure of energy.
The lesson here is to find balance between desire, determination and endurance. My mind is willing but my body is not able to do all that I once did. The goal is to let my body get enough work to keep it strong and enough rest to keep it healthy so that hopefully one day, I will have the endurance I need to carry me through a days worth of work.

Round 4; Week Two

I have done really well this week and have accomplished quite a bit, all things considered. Today Beatrice and I doubled the size of the goose and chicken pen. The soil was perfect to work with so the fence posts were able to come out of the ground fairly easy. We reused all but one of them.
I am very tired tonight and struggling to stay awake but there was one more thing I wanted to tell you.

I was nominated and chosen to be a participant in the "Queen for a Day" program. I get to ride in a limousine, go to a beauty salon ,and get either my nails manicured or my hair fixed. Then we go to Lunch out a Peter's on Lake Ripley. I'm not sure all what else we will be doing but I have to figure out what to wear! This will be a first for me.

I must close, I can't stay awke.

Have a good evening!

Taking It Slow and Easy

Lawn mowing went well yesterday! I didn't have to mow the whole yard but only a couple of areas where the grass was getting long. I used the riding mower and just took it slow and easy.

Afterward, I came in and was going to take a nap but ended up sleeping the night away. I briefly woke up when Brian got home from work but laid back down and fell asleep. I woke up again around 9:30 and had some toast with my evening meds and went back to bed around 11. I slept pretty good the rest of the night.

I got my laundry done up before noon yesterday so today I am going to just take it easy!

Round 4; Week 1 Labs

My lab work came back looking real good today! They will drop from here over the next two weeks. I will be having my CT scan on May 3rd.
That would be my normal chemo day but Dr. Oken wants to see just how much this tumor has responded to the full four rounds of chemo that I have already had. I know that it is responding as people have told me that I look like I am losing weight and the scale denies it. My weight is actually pretty stable.
I am off the Prednisone for this round and am having the same withdrawal symptoms as before, they're not as bad though. After a nice nap and some medicine to combat nausea, I am feeling pretty good this afternoon!

I think I might try mowing the grass. Not sure how it will go but if I don't try I won't know!

Round 4; Day 5

I have been physically exhausted today and have spent much time sleeping the day away and resting. I took a lot of breaks yesterday while cleaning up the lawn but I think I over did it. Both Beatrice and I woke up with sore throats this morning and itchy eyes. We both thought we might be coming down with the cold that everyone else has had but by this afternoon we both were feeling better. We have agreed that it was probably a combination from all the dust, wind and debris from that cotton wood tree that gave us an allergic type reaction. Anyway we have both recovered from that and Beatrice has had enough energy to get alot accomplished at home so I am glad for her. Maybe I will have enough steam built up by tomorrow so that I can be out with Brian as he tills up the garden. It is Stake Conference tomorrow and Sunday so He will have to get the work done in the morning. The Adult session is tomorrow night but I think I will probably stay home. I'd have to go all the way up to St. Cloud and I get tired just thinking about the hours away from home. I'll have to wait and see how much energy I have. Just have to take it one day at a time.

Unsung Hero's

These are the people that go about helping others without boasting, they work quietly among us and never ask for compensation. I have been blessed by many unsung hero's throughout this ordeal and as I have sat and watched them work and give it their all I wonder what I can ever do to repay them for all their kindness. I ask the Lord to pour out the richest blessings upon them.
Throughout this whole trial one of my sisters has been consistently by my side helping me wherever, however, and whenever she can. She has multiple needs herself and I wonder how I can best fulfill some of her needs. She has been out here helping me again since the thunderstorm scattered debris from a cottonwood all over the yard.
It has left a huge mess and we have worked the past two days to clear it. Tonight the lawn looks much better! I have put up with the messes from that tree for 24 years. Most years I have cleaned the mess up by myself but the last two or three Beatrice has been right by my side helping me. We both agree that that tree needs to come down. It is getting to be too much for the two of us to handle. We found the name of the outfit that removed some of the trees out of her yard a few years back and gave the owner a call. He will be out on Saturday to take a look at the monstrosity. I'm sure it won't be cheap to take it down and some how I'll have to try to save up to do so but that is one expense that I think will be well worth it as it literally hangs over our heads and the house.

New Hair Style!

This is why I will never wear spiked hair!