Author Archives: main

Ugh, Hair Loss

Posted on by
2

Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer usually means hair loss.  I got off very easy in that regard during my initial treatment 2 years ago.  Now? Not so much.  I have hair coming out in clumps and am nearly bald at this point.  Thank goodness I have some wigs and know how to knit and crochet!

DH is taking it a bit harder.  I think it brings home that the cancer is something we have to deal with.  I dunno, I think I won’t look half bad bald.  I just need to lose about 40 lbs.

My CBCs were good on my blood test yesterday, so I only have to have the appointment with my doctor / nurse practitioner (whomever we see), before the April 3rd  chemotherapy.

Day 4 Projects for Creative Chemistry 101 with Tim Holtz

Posted on by
2

Water coloring with Re-inkers, Layered Misting, and a Custom Stamp Pad!

Day4timholtzcreativechemistry101

On top I used a Michigan moth stamp from Gray Wolf Graphics and took lots of artistic license in coloring it with Ranger Distress Ink Re-inkers from the yellow and blue palettes.

The second card was done with the misting technique.  I used a Dreamweaver stencil of an octopus.  Again, Ranger Distress Ink Re-inkers mixed with water from the yellow, blue, and just a touch of red.

Finally, I made a custom stamp pad with a Lost & Found from My Mind’s Eye hot air balloon acrylic stamp.  I had to “season” the stamp to make it work, though.  And, you have to take the class to find out about that.

Day 3 Projects for Creative Chemistry 101 Class with Tim Holtz

Posted on by
2

This is almost too fun to be a class.  Plus it keeps my mind off of other things.

Oh, and to anyone who thinks, “I can’t do it! You need to be coordinated!”  Nothing could be further from the truth.  These are mostly messy techniques that are pretty forgiving.  The key is that Tim Holtz is all about Distressed Art Objects.  That means that if you make a goof, you use something else to make it art.

Today we learned three more techniques –  plus why Tim never cleans his stamps. He believes that just wiping with baby wipes, or such, is cleaning enough since stamps are tools.  And he seems to think that it is beneficial for folks to actually leave a permanent-type ink on their acrylics so they stamp better.

Now for the techniques we learned:

  • Alcohol Ink Agates
  • Archival Resist Technique
  • Stamping with Reflections (Embossing Folders Involved)

I need to get some sort of yellow in the Alcohol Inks and remember my high school art class color mixing.  I might just have to hit up some of my artist friends for a refresher tutorial.  This technique was a lot of fun –  even if I screwed it up a couple of times.  You only get to see the most successful card.  When did I screw it up?  Stamping on glossy paper.  It is soooooooo easy to slip when stamping on glossy paper, that, well, I did. 

The successful card for Alcohol Ink Agates is the first one displayed in the photo below.  I used lots of reds and greens and both mixatives from Ranger.  Then I used a Great Impressions Christmas stamp or two to complete it.  I think I’m in love with the Archival Ink colors Viridian and Emerald Green.

The next card was the Archival Resist Technique.  I decided I wanted a nature scene, and by gum if it took me all day (which it seemed to), I would make the scene in my head come to fruition.  I used a variety of Tim Holtz stamps for the background.  I stamped in the Archival Ink colors of Pale Ochre, Viridian, Chrome Yellow, and Sap Green.  After drying the ink, I used Ranger Distress Ink Stormy Sky.  Dried that, and then stamped the sentiment from Whimsy Stamps in Cobalt Archival Ink.

Day3classprojecttimholtz101

Please forgive the lack of color correction.  I haven’t really gotten the hang of that on my camera –  or in my various graphic programs.

The third technique, Stamping with Reflections, I used a embossing folder I got off of a clearance sale at of all places, Meijer’s Thrifty Acres.  I stamped the Harlequin background stamp from A*Muse in Coffee with the Archival Ink.  I then used a Gray Wolf Graphics (love supporting such a wonderful local artist) old truck stamp. 

Personally, my favorite is the second one.  It really doesn’t show up as pretty as it turned out.  I really need to get my Brother-in-law to give me a crash course in photography.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Day 2: Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry 101 Class Project

Posted on by
3

So, this little 10 day course has homework.  But, the homework is the fun kind.

In today’s lesson, we learned a few Ranger Distress ink techniques:

  • Blended Distress / Spritz & Flick
  • Brushless Watercolor Technique
  • Wrinkle-Free Distressing

Day2classproject.

The first card is my example of Blended Distress / Spritz & Flick, I used Scattered Straw, Seedless Preserves, Mustard Seed, and Dusty Concord.  The spritzing didn’t show up in the photo –  I’m still learning how to use my new camera.  (You may find many pictures of SMR in the near future.)

The second card is the Brushless Watercolor Technique.  I took Gray Wolf Graphics stamp of a Michigan-type Heron and painted it with Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood, Mustard Seed, Black Soot, and Pine Needles.  The detail in the Gray Wolf Graphics stamp actually made for a gorgeous outcome –  at least I think so.

The third card is Wrinkle-Free Distressing with just Mustard Seed and Seedless Preserves.

Why did I just use purples and yellows?  Because I did the assignment on my Wedding Anniversary.  I also had to add Emerald Green Archival Ink from Ranger and a Great Impressions stamp #E320 to all three because I liked the look.

 

8 Years of Marriage Today and a Cool Card for DH

Posted on by
2

I made my wonderful husband a card using some techniques I have picked up.  Yes, the cardmaking was more for me, but he liked the sentiment inside.

Annoymarriage

Of course, this really needed the right cover:

Marriedcouplecard

The main image and inside of the card are from Bugaboo digital stamps.  I adore her stamps for coloring with Copic Markers.  And, well, this image just sang out to be used for an anniversary card.  The other stamp is from Great Impressions –  one of my absolute favorite rubber stamp companies.

I’m taking the online class Creative Chemistry 101 with Tim Holtz and actually used a bit of knowledge from the first lesson!  It seems that pigment inks tend to have a more stable color across cardstocks due to their opaqueness than dye inks.  Before I took the class, I wouldn’t have even thought about that!  It is well worth the $35.00 just for the overview on dye types and how they act and react to different surfaces.

Since DH had to work today, I’m sticking with just pasta and steak.  This weekend, however, an apple pie may be in his future.

He is a wonderful, wonderful man –  even when I cant’ get near him after he comes back from the gym. :: shudder ::  I’m glad he is working out, but please, please shower sooner than later!

I really can’t imagine my life without him –  and I don’t want to!  I love that man more and more each day –  even when he is being “a man” if you know what I mean. :-)

 

Action Plan for Ovarian Cancer Recurrence – Finally

Posted on by
3

Finally have a plan of action. My gyn/onc NP agreed with the idea that the psychological harm of the wait for symptoms – yes, ascites (!!!!) – was too great on most patients.

My blood pressure is normally 120/70 or less. My blood pressure after the consult with the generalist oncologist was 145/80. That is not conducive to overall good health despite the cancer!

I realize intellectually that chasing the CA-125 is not really what the research sees as necessary, but it is something my gut tells me is the right thing to do before ascites comes to visit.

I’m getting a port in the next week, and then starting chemo on March 5. I may even get away with as little as 2 chemos. I’ll probably still have to keep the port for some time.

I’m also doing a bunch of crochet / knitting to prep. I think there are gonna be a lot of fish dishcloths in my future.

NED Left the Dance Floor

Posted on by
10

2 plus years out from OvCa diagnosis…

This is not the blog post I was expecting to write.

I didn’t expect to get a CA125 of 115 on January 31st..

I didn’t expect to get a CA125 of 304 on February 14th.

The MRI shows nothing –  except a small renal cyst.  No further information in the report.  This worries me due to some studies DH and I have run across.  It makes me wonder if the mets are hitting my kidney.  Or is just a benign cyst that has nothing to do with anything?

The oncologist didn’t even note that in our consult.  Rather, Dr. Professor presented me with all the information about how asymptomatic patients don’t really benefit from chemo any more than those who wait for symptoms to present.  We are talking about the cancer that whispers.  What is symptomatic?  Upset stomach? Twinges of pain?  Weight gain? Weight loss? Frequent urination?  How can you know for certain you are asymptomatic?

Honestly, I think he was firing me as a patient. Something I don’t think DH caught on to. I think this is an area that is too far out of his expertise. He said as much.  He muttered something about mis-staging at the original surgery.  The thing is, according to a new group of studies every single ovarian cancer ever has been staged incorrectly. They think it really starts in the Fallopian Tubes somehow.  I’m not clear on the how. 

Of course, I’m allergic to all those corn-based things used in PET scans.  This is the scan that can see microscopic disease.

I have an appointment with the Nurse Practitioner at the Gyn/Onc, Dr. Sunshine.  She seemed to agree with our assessment that if CA125 nearly tripled, chemo might be a good idea even if there are no obvious symptoms yet.  (She works hand in glove with Dr. Sunshine.)

In the back of my mind I keep hearing the statement that Dr. Sunshine said about the tumor he found during surgery: “Fastest growing in 25 years of practice…”  In a matter of 3 months I had no cysts to a cancerous cyst. In a matter of a little over a week I had ascites.  Do I really want to wait for obvious symptoms?

Early symptoms are so very subtle, so easily mistaken for just the part of life.

No, this isn’t what I was anticipating thinking about now.  It wasn’t what I thought I would be blogging about in this year.

Now, I am writing about NED leaving the dance floor.

Tags: ,

Family – Love ‘em, But They Will Drive You Crazy

Posted on by
3

I know I have been a horrible blogger of late.  I was trying to get back in the habit with my card making when I was called in to take care of my Great Aunt’s estate issues as she is suffering from health issues which include mild dementia.

On the plus side, I got to go to Florida.

On the not so plus side, it was in July.

It is now August.  I am now back in Michigan working on getting things put together so that my Great Aunt can have as fulfilling a life as possible with the time she has left. 

Though, I object to it, she has decided to remain in her home with one crazy neighbor on one side to her home.  This man is just not right.  Let’s mix prescription mood-altering drugs with alcohol and see what happens seems to be his motto from the stories I have heard.  Luckily, she also has some wonderful neighbors who are looking out for her well-being.

What did I want?  I wanted her to move into an Assisted Living Facility that was akin to a Palace.  For one fee, she would have had 3 squares in a fancy dining area, on-site medical staff, her own apartment where she could keep her cat, and a variety of amenities that are too long to list.  Shoot, I would have moved in!

The stumbling block was her stuff.  Now, we all have attachments to stuff, but, one of the things that most folks don’t realize is that those with mild dementia sometimes use their stuff as memories.  The stuff is important to them because they know that it represents something important –  even if they don’t remember exactly what it is.

Now, some relatives have the stamina and strength of will to do what is necessary even if the person wants none of it.  Some don’t.  And, then there are the ones who don’t want to make waves –  or even upset anyone.  Someone is always going to be upset.  Someone is always going to not like your decisions.  Someone is always going to find fault.  It is just the way of things.  And, sometimes, the relative who won’t cooperate –  or convinces the swing vote against a decision –  turns around and says that “we should have done that.”

Well, yes, we should have.  We didn’t.  Why didn’t we?  You didn’t want to do what the experts told us to do.  But, well, that’s in the past.

So, now, I’m in the midst of trying to take care of all of this.  Set up my Great Aunt’s accounts and bills, and generally try to figure out how to make the money she does have last her when she is not doing what is most conducive to making it last.

Now, if people would just do what I tell them to begin with, things would work out better.  Honestly.  OK, I know that sounds conceited, but in this case I’m going from years of observation and knowledge of what really does work vs. what only ends up making it more difficult.  Not to mention that I have hooks into professionals who have dealt with this sort of thing over and over again.

I’m just waiting until we will have to take her to a home kicking and screaming instead of the way I originally wanted –  through just a little bit of deception.  (And, yes, deception is ok when doing what is best for someone who is mentally incapacitated.  We don’t mind using a bit of it on toddlers, and well, mild dementia that is progressing means the person is no longer able to make long-term decisions in their own best interests.)