Saturday in Florida

An overall lovely day in Florida! 

It started with a morning swim with Sarah to wake us up! Then a yummy breakfast including a Cuban cortadito! 

Sarah then took me to my first ever Pilates class which was enjoyable. All that mountain biking paid off because I felt quite strong and capable doing Pilates. 

Another dip in the pool this afternoon to cool off in the Florida heat then we went to see a movie, Where the Crawdads Sing. 

Still so very thankful I’m feeling great, strong and joyful that I can physically help my daughter. Last time I was with her I was in not so good of shape so it’s a beautiful thing to see how God  has given me this healing! What a gift!

In Florida

 No photos today. 

All I really did was laundry and organize Sarah’s closet. That’s it. All day. Lots of clothes and shoes to put away. We did play cards a bit tonight now I’m in bed ready for my first Pilates class with Sarah tomorrow morning. 

I do have a wonderful praise today that I’d like to share. A woman I met shortly after being diagnosed, who was healed from lung cancer, had a follow up CT scan today and everything is continuing to be clear! It is such a joy to see modern-day miracles happening right before our very eyes! This woman named Kelly also happens to be a sister in Christ and the woman who prayed over me on the day I stopped using oxygen. I believe God used her faith and prayers to kickstart my miraculous healing as well!

Good night!

Bumps and Stars

While in Florida helping my daughter and son-in-law unpack and organize I keep noticing more skin problems. My skin is showing several areas of small pimple like or bug bite like sores on my head, face and collar bone area. Tonight my hell started cracking which is quite painful. So I washed up, applied Rx antibiotic ointment on the infections and Aquafor on my heels. Hugely by next Friday when I go back up to The James for yet another infusion, they’ll all be fine. If my White blood count drops too low, I may not be able to get the chemo infusion and I’ma tad bit concerned that with at these little infections on my skin that my WBC count could be too low. 

Despite these minor skin irritations, I was able to be very productive and worked on finalizing the organization of the kitchen and pantry today. I then started on their closets. 

Today I saw a photo someone posted from up in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota and Quetico, Canada area which is very close to our hearts! It’s from a lake where they were staying and the Milky Way was dancing in all her glory!!

“He sets his stars in place, calling them all by their names.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.147.4.TPT

More Surprises

 Florida Surprises are so fun! This morning I woke up and talked to my daughter who just moved and is pregnant and working full time. It made me remember all the times when I moved how my mom would show up and help clean and organize my new house with me. So I thought for a second and realized that I felt just fine and if it was possible, I would fly to Florida to see her and surprise her for several days. After a quick call to my son in law, I had a ticket for Ft Myers, FL and he picked me up and we surprised Sarah!! 

Tonight we had burgers on the grill and we sat in the pool for a bit before we organized a little, opened some baby shower gifts from John and me then went off to bed. 

I’m so thankful I’m well enough to be able to do this!! 

Bumps

Short and sweet entries as I continue to recover from chemo side effects and am feeling wonderful! Thanks to all my prayer warriors!

I was a busy beaver today with cleaning, washing a window, dusting, posting things on Facebook Marketplace to sell, mowing 2 lawns both at home and John’s shop, doing all kinds of administrative stuff, and picking up some antibiotic ointment, etc. 

I did notice an odd bump on my head by my ear a couple days ago and it’s getting bigger and more red. Ingrown hair? Pimple? Some infected bug bite? Not sure. Then this morning I noticed another similar red bump but this time it was near my incision site for my port tubing over my collar bone. Could be an infected suture remnant? Both are raised, red and feel hard inside. I called the oncologist and they put me on an antibiotic ointment to see if it will help. If I had a sterile scalpel and wasn’t challenged medically, I’d lance them but that’s not wise when my white blood count is challenged from chemo. 

The dark spot is my port. My concern is the red spot by my neck. 

The hygienist in me wants to just squeeze and pop them! I need to be very careful when it comes to infections these days. 

That’s a wrap for July 26!

Frankenlight

Thankfully the Imodium worked great and I was able to carry on like normal today! I grabbed some groceries then visited my friend, Liz.  

One gift I received today that was long awaited for was a mountain bike ride on my favorite, local trail called Frankenlight! To get to this trail one usually has to complete another trail first which I hadn’t done yet due to building up my endurance first. So anytime John and I ride, we take another lovely trail that’s easier for me. Then he’ll head out in a longer ride and I always tell him to say hello to Frankenlight for me! But tonight we took a sunset ride and I found a back way to Frankenlight and I rode it by myself in reverse, then meet up with Trace and John and rode it again with the 3 of us in the usual direction. It was like old times. Me and my buddies on my favorite local trail! Plus I could send my endurance really picking up and I rode at a much more normal pace which can feel a bit zippy and so much fun!! 

It’s my hope you can see the beauty in this place which the video doesn’t do it justice!

And it’ if that doesn’t relay my inner joy of being out there, perhaps this smile from ear to ear will!

I have so much to be thankful for! I told John tonight that when I feel this good, it’s really difficult to think I’m being treated for stage 4 breast cancer! I actually feel like I could go on for decades! That’s my plan! I’ll still do “all the things” like praying for continued healing, chemo every 3 weeks, doctors appointments, tests, supplements, conscientious eating and exercising. But if someone asked me how I’m doing today, I’d smile and say that I feel like a walking, talking, breathing, biking miracle!

I’m going to put a reminder here for something that I posted on Facebook but may not have reached all my readers. There are a few items that my husband made that I’m selling, actually auctioning off on eBay. Normally I would have just sold them anonymously on Marketplace, but some family and friends said they’d like to have something John made so it’ll go to the highest bidder. Here’s the link if you’re interested in looking and bidding on the first item. 

A Quiet Sunday

Yesterday ended very late visiting with my son and family friend, so I didn’t blog. 

Throughout the day, John and I had a very productive day working on the WonderVan for many hours. Mostly he worked and I watched. It was all those measurements needed for where he’ll cut out metal for windows and create a template on his CAD for this dream van I hope to live in someday and explore the country between oncology visits every 3 weeks! I’m very thankful to see how diligently he puts himself into this van build so we can spend as much time as the good Lord gives us together in an Adventure Van exploring rivers and mountain bike trails and serving those God puts in our path along the way!

As for today, I’ll be staying close to home as the chemo side effect that requires me to have Imodium throughout the day has kicked in a bit earlier this round! It’s back to the BRAT diet again. I wonder if the A for applesauce can mean apple pie?? Hmmm. 

Pedals & Petals

If the Trails are dry, I’m gonna ride’em! 

Woke up early and John joined me at John Bryan State Park mtb trails. We only did Abracadabra and 1/2 of Great Scott and that was good enough. Very satisfying! It wasn’t a race, but a methodical pedaling pace that felt lovely. I especially like riding on pine needles through evergreen trees. With my yellow tinted glasses everything is more brilliant to look at too! 

I spent the afternoon washing our bikes while John exchanged fuel tanks on the WonderVan. Now we have installed a 47 galloner! Here’s out with the original and in with the after market!

Finally, I got home and watered my zinnia plants, which admittedly I planted very late this year. And I have a spark of great joy to share!! My first zinnia petals have bloomed for the year! 

I wanted to personally thank 2 of my friends for helping support the gentleman I wrote about the other day. Thank you JC and FP!! 

I’ll leave you with this Scripture that’s my life verse: 

Amber Waves of Grain

Whew! Glad that’s over! A much better day today… thank you, Lord!

If I look at how my body responded to chemo the previous couple times, I am very thankful this round wasn’t intolerable. Considering all that’s injected in my body, I’d say I really did great overall! I will be asking Dr Sudheendra about another day or two of low dose steroids to see if I can alleviate the chemo side effects even more. 

Today was a low key and much better day. I got to go for a short walk to my Angel Carl’s bench and he was even planted exactly in the right place to drive me to the bench and back so I didn’t over exert myself. That’s how 😇’s work. They just appear when you need them! 

After sitting on my bench, reading Scripture, allowing the sunshine to flood into my eyes, listening to nature, and soaking in all the healing, I enjoyed a walk to the field where I touched the grasses and allowed God’s beauty to pour into me as I ambled the path way by my bench. This was pure joy to be a part of my Father’s creation in a non-hurried, taking it all in, loving life, full of gratitude kind of way! There was Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass, Rescue Grass and Curly Dock billowing it’s dried stalks like amber waves of grain!

Today is a celebration! A day I didn’t take for granted! A day I appreciated the small things right around me.

Once home, I did the normal life things like cooking, cleaning, napping and stopping at the bank! And for THAT I am so thankful I was physically capable of doing them all! So tonight, I encourage everyone to be grateful for one thing! Oh and click here mama, to listen to my Gratitude song! 

I’m done

Today I’m home in my own bed, well the guest bedroom because I’m isolating still after being in Rockford. The chemo side effects are very real today. It’s like an out of body experience. I don’t think like myself, I’m moody, I’m irritated. I’m hungry. I’m tired. I don’t feel like talking to anyone or reading or interacting much at all. I did make my own healthy meals and cleaned the back patio today, which was my big accomplishment of the day. Other than that I laid in bed and took five naps today and try watching a couple of movies.

I am thankful I drove home yesterday because I couldn’t do it today. 

Going to bed now for the day. Good night

Please HELP

This post is NOT about me. 

It’s about a brother in Christ that God has brought into my life to share his story and ask you to join me in supporting him. Let me introduce Arthur. And on his left is his lawyer from the Exoneration Program who daily fights for Justice! May our Heavenly Father bless them both!

Here is his story in a nutshell. 

On Sept. 21, 1986, two men were killed in a fire in Cook County, IL. Investigators suspected arson, and nine months later, Arthur Almendarez and two other young men were arrested. They were convicted by especially corrupt individuals in the Chicago Police Department and they were sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and aggravated arson. That, my readers, was 35, THIRTY FIVE years ago!  Arthur was just turning 20. He was totally innocent.

They have maintained their innocence and claim two detectives brutally coerced them into signing confessions. Sadly this had been done numerous times and all eyes of those who were supposed to protect the innocent were averted. They had locked eyes on their victims and like evil manifested, pursued until they took down the innocent regardless of the truth. One of these men is Artuhur Almendarez whom I had the privilege of meeting this past week in Rockford, IL.

Multiple times an appellate judge even ruled there was no other evidence aside from those forced, signed statements connecting the men to the crime and a new trial was needed. The court cited the detectives’ history of forcing confessions.

Finally as of last week, these men have been given the gift of freedom we all take for granted. But it doesn’t end there for them. These are men are practically at retirement age, with routines, thought patterns and protective measures in place in their minds that simply put, is unfathomable to understand for someone who never suffered this way. 

“Serving a life sentence without parole for a crime you didn’t commit is not easy,” Almendarez said. “I’ve tried not to let the anger poison my soul. But I have been so mad. I have to learn how to be free, how to be a man,” Almendarez said. “I was 20 years old when I went in and all I’ve learned is how to be a convict.”

“We have tried to keep the faith, year after year, trial after trial,” Arthur’s sister said. “Our mom has passed away, and she would always say that he’s coming home.”

Now, my friends…this is me, Tricia, speaking on his behalf.  It’s time for me to help, and I’m asking you to join me however the Lord puts on your heart to do. God has provided a safe roof over Arthur’s head and that’s about it. It’s all he has. He’s navigating everything from how to use a cell phone to where/how to get a job. The mental shift is literally mind boggling, yet in my conversations with Arthur, he is a strong man, a man of faith, who knows he has lots of work to do. 

Please consider your part in helping restore our Christian brother as you would want to be helped were you in his place. I believe gifting him financially would be very beneficial at this time. Here is one way in which you can offer monetary assistance via Venmo. Until he even has a bank account next week, you can send donations to my Venmo and I have a simple way to get that into his hands. You can also contact me privately to discuss further. Thank you! I remember many years ago when I volunteered for Voice of  the Martyrs and their core verse is this: 

Please give hope today!

Drove Home

For all who know I drive home unexpectedly today from Illinois to Ohio, I made it home safe and sound. I am thankful that I came home to several encouraging cards from people. Thanks to all of you who sent them including someone I haven’t heard from in many, many years that I don’t even know, but I met one time at a periodontal office when I did an interview. What a God thing and a surprise! 

Honestly my day consisted of just driving seven hours home. Once I got home, I was able to get myself set up in our spare bedroom so I could isolate for the next few days in case I come down with any symptoms. As of right now I don’t have any Covid symptoms, but the chemotherapy symptoms are starting slightly. My mouth is getting weirdness like the tip of my tongue feels like I burned it on coffee and the corners of my mouth are feeling like they could split. I’m getting a little brain fog starting too but I’ll see how tomorrow goes.

John went off to hockey tonight and I made myself a healthy dinner, cut the grass, and unpacked. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to go for a walk. Not sure if I’m expecting to feel any more of the chemotherapy symptoms or not but I’ll keep everyone posted.

That’s all I have. Not too profound today but I’m standing in a place of gratitude still. 

Today…Another of the Million Little Miracles

Before Dr Sudheendra agreed to let me have extra steroids post chemo, I’d be definitely feeling the yuck feels of chemo today. However, since I was able to take extra low dosage of the steroids for 3 extra days…..I had ZERO, ZIP, NADA, NOTHING today! I felt totally energized and normal ALL DAY LONG!! Whatever was going on last night subsided, thankfully.

So at 4:30 am CST, I woke up and showered, shaved my noggin, and afterwards contacted my sister Lys to meet for prayer and a time to read scripture together. I got to see the sunrise this morning too as an extra beauty blessing from God! 

Then my dear, dear friend Wendy who lives about 1.5 hours away from my parents said she was free all day so I drove to her farm and we celebrated life, love & friendship while getting to see her entire farm complete with fruits, veggies, flowers, animals, fish, fiber materials, upcoming knitting projects, & drinking here liquid gold, aka, unpasteurized fresh goat milk!! Doesn’t get any better than that…well until you get to drink it with freshly picked black raspberries! Graeter’s Ice Cream in Cincinnati would be jealous. 

Then after the blessing of friendship filled our cups, I drive back to Rockford just to find out that my sweet mama has a tickle in her throat. I asked her to check for  COVID and unfortunately the test was indeed positive! So in a matter if minutes, my plans have changed. I stayed the night at Aunt Ro’s house then decided to head back home to Springboro tomorrow morning just in case I do get symptoms too. However, while I didn’t get to see my Milwaukee nieces, it’s been a huge blessing to do what I’ve done. 

Chemo kicking in.

 Today started out mostly normal. Read scripture in Romans then I went for a relaxing hour bike ride with sister, Paula. 

Chemo side effects are starting to kick in a bit more. My taster is getting really off to the point my saliva tastes like metal. I feel sooo bloated like I swallowed a watermelon. My vision feels a bit jittery and my brain is feeling chemo funky now. I hung out with mama most of the day then a little time with my sis, Melissa, this evening. She lets me cry as I’m feeling emotional about the chemo side effects starting again, gives me her beet juice, rubs my back, let’s me be me and encourages me knowing it’s short term. This is why I’m in Rockford! 

Continued Steroid Success

God bless steroids! Had energy for a 14 mile bike ride with sisters Paula and Karen this morning at Bauer Park in Rockford, IL!! Two hours of riding. No problem!! Miracles happening every day!! 

Church with Melissa then lunch with her small group. I just love it when I get to meet new friends that genuinely love the Lord and on our first time meeting we have heart felt conversations, genuine openness, and Holy Spirit filled prayer time!! 

Tonight I got to have a summer dinner with Aunt Ro and nieces, nephew, sister Lys and parents. I’m so blessed to have such loving family members. This is family week for me where I can fill up with so many people that bring such joy to be around! We really can be a bunch of crazy Italians!

I do have a little shout out to my grandpa Richardson who would be 107 years old today if he was with us! Here he is from a long, long time ago but his spirit is alive and well within all of us as he was and is a very spectacular human to have blessed our family with stoic gentleness, wisdom, and pure joy. I love you, Grandpa Vince! Happy birthday!

As for how I’m feeling, great! I did convince my medical oncologist to allow me to have steroids at a lower dose for 3 extra days to see if it helps me feel better for longer. I’ll know tomorrow and for sure by Tuesday if they help. Food just started tasting a little Chemo funky but tolerable. No nausea. No chemo brain fog yet. It’sa good day so I’ll take it! 

Tonight I went for a long walk and did a nice set of stretching exercises with my mama! I love it that she’s so adventurous and thankful for her good health!! 

I’m about to open the Holy Bible app and read in Romans, of course in my favorite version, The Passion Translation, aka TPT!

https://www.bible.com/app

Here is the translation of The Lord’s Prayer from TPT, which is different and I love it.