Annual Report
This morning I woke up at 4:30 to let our beagle, Maple, outside and the temperature was 45 degrees!!!
What?!?!?!
Too soon, Minnesota! Too soon!
I do love the change of seasons, and I even enjoy the crisp mornings and cool evenings, as long as it warms up during the day. This has not been the case, however. Our weather did not get the message that Autumn should last at least a month (or two during a good year), and we already feel early winter vibes. The leaves are desperately trying to turn into the beautiful canvas that is Fall, but it seems that few have fully turned, and many are just falling instead. Fall colors are possibly the most enjoyable part of the season, so I am hopeful it warms up just a smidge, and the trees with leaves intact get their act together. Haha!
Enough about the weather! Thankfully, we will be enjoying a week in Florida soon and that should bring warmth to our bones and souls. Sunshine has an amazing effect on our psyche and our bodies, and I know we are all ready to soak it in.
The ocean - It Calls Me!!
Just over a week ago, I had my one-year post-chemo follow-up appointment with my oncologist. This appointment provided confirmation that my labs and CT scan were clear and everything was in a normal range. We discussed a few of the “long-term” side effects I have been experiencing but I am optimistic that they will resolve soon! I have had difficulty sleeping due to severe cramps in my feet and legs. This has become a nightly occurrence and interrupts my sleep. Sleepless nights combined with working full days in the office have left me exhausted most evenings. I learned that this is called Delayed onset Neuropathy, and it is unfortunately a long-term side effect of the chemotherapy I had. The worst part about this one is that the cold temperatures make it worse. I still get numb/tingling in my hands when they are cold, but once they warm up it subsides. I am currently reminded of this as our house is a little bit chilly. For some reason, our furnace doesn’t want to ignite so the air in our home is cool. (If you know me, you know that I am a ‘fixer’ of things and am attempting to fix this on my own. I will keep you posted.) Oh, the joys of home-ownership! In the meantime, we will layer up and be just fine. :-)
I am hopeful that this neuropathy eventually subsides, although I was not told it would.
I started taking a magnesium supplement with melatonin in it before bed and it has helped A LOT! I have only woken up one time in the past week since starting that supplement. I am hoping that I can eventually switch to magnesium without melatonin and I will still be able to sleep through the night. I have always been a light sleeper which does not help matters, but if my legs/feet are not cramping I should hopefully sleep much better.
She also mentioned that “chemo brain” can take up to 2 years to subside. I liken this to COVID brain, or any illness that causes brain fog and forgetfulness. I mentioned that many of my memories from that year seem to be missing, to which she replied, “That’s probably a good thing.” :-) I suppose she is right. I do know that our brains were created with the ability to protect us by suppressing/blocking painful memories and moments in time. I do wish I was not missing so many memories, but I have many of the major events chronicled in my blog, so I am thankful for that. Sometimes if I have enough help triggering memories they do resurface. This can be a little embarrassing because I honestly do not remember the event initially, but suddenly it comes to me. Then there are times that I feel like I was not living the same reality as my family/friends because there are full events I do not even recall being present at.
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
The human brain has this great ability to create new neuropathways, given enough repetition, and for that, I am incredibly grateful. I am finding that if I repeat things (to myself) enough I will remember them. This is true for everyone! Something as simple as remembering names, directions, etc., can improve quickly with repetition. I learned a few new skills at a conference I recently attended and I am applying them to my daily life. The gist of it is simplifying things and creating patterns that help us remember better.
Ultimately, with God ALL things are possible! I continue to trust that He has a plan for my life that is so much greater than I could even imagine.
