Hi friends & family--

I don't have so much to say this post, but I don't want anyone to worry, so I am giving this little update.  My last three infusions were canceled due to low white blood cell  (WBC) counts,  some interesting stomach issues (resulting in a trip to the ER), and now severe sciatica.  The good news is that I feel so  NORMAL at the moment, aside from the sciatica, since I have not had any chemo for awhile :)  My next treatment (chemo #3) is scheduled for sometime next week, although I think I want to get to the bottom of the sciatica issue before I do more chemo--so I am not sure if it will be next week.  Although I want treatment to move along, I'm trusting that my body knows exactly what it needs to allow complete healing.  Meanwhile I am keeping up with the alternative medicine--ayurveda and acupuncture.

Cecilia was here for the long Memorial Day weekend.  She has flown the Sacramento--San Diego route so many times she is going to be in the platinum club.  When she visits, she brings us all such a lift with the lightness of her being and her joyful, playful spirit.  The four of us had a wonderful, loving, homey time and the house was full of peals of laughter and great food aromas.  All of us are learning more and more about the power of pure unconditional love, the most important anti-cancer ingredient in any recipe.

                            Cecilia's AMAZING homemade pizza with her original beet sauce--YUM!

Nicolette left on Thursday for Austin after her extended stay.  I don't know what I would have done without her these few months and I will miss her TERRIBLY.  She has taught me so much (..."teach your parents well...") --from yoga poses to awesome nutrition to many concoctions for the juicer and vitamix.....and so much more than words can express here.  We spent hours just talking and laughing and learning more about the universe of each other.  And Pat was so grateful too, for her presence, that he could play a round of golf and have a guilt-free break (maybe sneak in a hotdog), knowing that I was in great hands.  Honey, I know it was an amazing sacrifice for you to be here all this time, to put your whole life on hold for me---and I know that you don't feel that way at all, which makes it even more amazing.

I'll close this post with a recommendation to listen to this great "Ted Talk" on the amazing power of our minds to heal our bodies.  My favorite thing about this video is that it is presented by an MD.  I hope it gets viewed by many many doctors and health care professionals.  I am sure they are all ready for something truly positive to happen in the western health care world.  Baby steps are welcome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWQfe__fNbs&feature=player_detailpage

Pat and I appreciate all the continued positive thoughts and prayers and we send them all your way as well to keep up this holy circle of health and happiness......Love you all tons!

xoxo
coco

Happy Mums Day/Week!!!  Hello to all my WONDERFUL, HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, SEXY moms!!!  And hello to my mom too!  Isn't she cool and gorgeous?!!!

                                                        Ocean Gate, NJ  circa 1962

I miss her since she passed, but I feel her with us often...especially these days.  I am sorry, Mom, that I forgot to heed your warning.  I remember your colon issues.  Ahhhhhh these pesky colons.  Do you know THEY refer to it as your 2nd brain?  There is a hidden but powerful brain in the gut known as the enteric nervous system.  Having a gut reaction?  FASCINATING!!!  Anyway, I am really respecting what I have left of mine these days!  Thank god its all working :)

......Am I off on a wild tangent this week or what?!!

Mothers Day  was so special.  Cece flew up from Encinitas and Nikki was back from her fabulous week in LA.  We all celebrated with a DELIGHTFUL and DELICIOUS dinner at Cafe Mahjaic in the rural town of Lotus.  Located on the American River in the old General Store, the space was converted into a quaint dining room.  They make regular trips to the Bay Area for fresh fish and everything else is organic, farm to table, superb and artistic.  It is time-intensive to prepare such meals so have your conversation art honed for the evening.  We all had a great visit and dinner.  Also be sure to make reservations.  It is a small and popular "secret" spot :)

                                                      In Lotus, CA at Cafe Mahjaic

OK, two chemo treatments down and I was ready for Round 3.....but more on that later.  The 2nd treatment was much like the first. Yucky.  It SUCKS...I won't lie.  I am not good for much around the house for a good 7-10 days...however, this time I did discover the wonderful world of cold-pressed JUICE!!!  My always-resourceful daughter found a website/blog called the "Chemo Diet" (http://thechemodiet.blogspot.com) which describes the stages that your body goes through with chemo treatment and prescribes juices that can help your body to deal with each stage.  For example, in the first stage, right after treatment, your body is working super-hard to detoxify.  Spinach, celery, cabbage, lemon juices are helpful to cleanse the blood and detoxify.  There are 5 more juices for the next stages.  I tolerated the juices well and I think they helped.  I definitely had less mouth sore problems.

We also found a local wholesale source for wheatgrass and fresh yummy sprouts.  We have a whole lot of great food happening here!!!

So, I was ready for Round 3 but received a last minute phone call from the doctors that my white blood cell count was too low (WBC).  I had to go back for another blood test lickity split.  This one was a good one, but the delay caused me to be bumped from the infusion center schedule.  It is very sad to see how booked that place is.  So I am scheduled to resume chemo on Wed.  Honestly, these few extra days off to just feel normal and GOOD are such a blessing.  I also have an appointment with the oncologist tomorrow so we'll find out MORE of what it all means.  Meanwhile, I'm going to yoga!

Thanks again everyone for all your support and encouragement.  I love hearing from you.  It truly lifts my spirits and lets me know that I am not in this alone.  Someone sent me this analogy, which I really love and use..... "you will soon look back on this as a mere tough climb on your bike that you then coasted down from to some secure, flat and lovely territory!"  YES!!!!  I love that! And so it is!!!!

BIG Love and hugs to you all.

xoxo
coco