CRASH!

Firstly, here's a short video of me on my new scooter as promised:

Whilst out with dad and Pickles today I had the most spectacular crash on my scooter! Dad was egging me on to 'off road' down a steep, grassy path and I said no. Somehow though, I accelerated at full speed down the slope, tipped sideways and ended upside down with the scooter on top of me. I winded myself and had to lie there in thick thistles, upside down while dad pulled the scooter off me. I had to lay there a while to recover. I think all I did was bruised my knee and pull some muscles in my chest. I broke the brake lever off the scooter. I wonder how much that will cost to replace? Oh well, it could have been so much worst, think of Ozzy Osborne!

Oh and a little bit of good news; today they took the marks and tape off my upper back because they said they had done with that bit. That surely means that my throat and mouth can now start to recover? The doctor said it will still be a couple of weeks from now, but I wasn't expecting the radio' to stop on that bit till Friday so I'm quite pleased about that!

Fat Steroid Face and New Scooter.

Look at my face! To my eyes I am now unrecognisable to the Sindie I saw in the mirror only a month ago. Bloody steroids have puffed me up like Joan Simms! Look, here's a most recent photo from a few months ago where I was actually 10lbs heavier than I am now:

And here is my steroid induced fat face today:

Look at those cheeks and fat neck! AND I am 10lbs lighter in this photo may I remind you !(diet's going well.) Oh well, I should be coming off the steroids in a few weeks time and lets hope it all comes off quickly.

I am doing quite well walking around in the house at the minute. The numbness has all but gone and I can get around holding onto things and for longer distances with the walking frame. Radiotherapy is torturous for my throat and mouth. I have ulcers I could fit my fist in and my throat is keeping me awake at night. Oh well, Friday is my last day at radio' so after the weekend I should start to see great improvements in my mouth and throat.

Next Tuesday is Emily's prom so today she's coming round to mum's for a final dress fitting. She bought a spangly new red bra to go with her dress, so today I have to make some straps for her dress and maybe a little wrist bag for her phone and camera etc. I also have to sequin up her little top hat. :0)

I received my new super-duper three wheeled mobility trike a few days ago. It does what it says on the packet and it roars up those hills and ditches and across grassy hills and up and down kerbs. Absolutely brilliant it is! I shall pop a video on as soon as I can for your delectation and delight.

4th July is our outing to London care of The Willow Foundation. Not long to wait now! For those of you that don't know, me, Gary, Emily, Livvie, Dawn and Glen are all going to London, care of the foundation and staying in a swish hotel, seeing the stage show Hairspray, seeing all the sights and all travel, food and expenses are paid for! I phoned today to advise that I was now in a wheelchair and they said it shouldn't make any difference and that they'd try and swap the Hairspray tickets to suit. I am getting quite excited now!

That's all for now. I shall put a video on of my new scooter ASAP. :0)

Physiotherapy Band

Yesterday the nice physio lady came up to see me to sort me with some exercises. Although I have a nerve and not a muscle problem right now, my muscles will waste if I don't use them so I need to keep on top of it don't I? The exercises are quite small movements using a big resistant rubber band, but I can certainly feel them working. It's quite empowering doing something for myself! I am doing them three times a day and I am also adding some arm exercises as I'm having trouble sleeping on my bad side due to carpel tunnel type problems. I might actually ask the physio to furnish me with proper exercises for that when I next see her.

Even though I got zero sleep last night because they forgot to give me my sleeping tablets, i feel quite bright and breezy and hugely encouraged by improvements in my legs. I am still very unsteady and will need a wheelchair, but I'm rather hoping to ditch the Zimmer frame for home use.

Today I am going to force myself to do some preliminary sketching for a new quilt. Gary bought all my pens and paper etc last week and I haven't touched it. I just need to force myself. You know ow it is when you're bored. Boredom breeds more boredom and then you can't be bothered t do anything! I shall of course keep you updated with any progress.

I am most uncomfortable talking about myself like this, but I know I shall be in trouble f I don't keep everyone updated, so you can stop nagging!

Bright and cheerful in Sheffield on another beautifully sunny day. X X X X X

Stuck In Hospital!

Well, here I be, languishing in hospital again. This time I've been in for a week and will possibly be in for another couple yet. I had a creeping numbness in my legs and when it got to my waist I phoned my oncologist and he wanted me straight in. At first he thought it may be a drug reaction, but it soon became apparent that the cancer had spread into my spinal chord and was noshing on the nerves. By the next morning my right leg was dead and I couldn't walk so now I am confined to a wheelchair. Anyhoo...the upshot is pretty strong radiotherapy to my entire spine which is pretty tiring. It's hot and muggy and boring in here and did I mention BORING? I've been having lots of visitors and phone calls though. I have sewing and reading and laptop and TV, but I'm too tired to be bothered with it all really.


Today mum and dad and Gary came and we had coffee outside in the gorgeous sunshine before heading off to radiotherapy at another hospital. Not sure why dad's pulling that awful face!!!



I am having to stay in hospital until my house has been adapted for wheelchair, stairlift and ramps etc. I may ask my oncologist if I can at least go home to mum and dad's for the weekend as I don't have treatment then. I miss my family and little doggy so much!

I shall endeavour to keep you informed of anything interesting that happens. So far it has been dull, dull, DULL! In the meantime, I think that just possibly, maybe, there might be a slight improvement in my leg, so fingers crossed. :0)

Oh and of course now poor dad is having to decorate the bedroom and hall at break-neck speed in order to get me back home. I was SO determined to do most of it myself this time. I was even up a ladder stripping wallpaper only last Monday before all this happened. :0(

New Bedroom

A couple of weekends ago I laid on the bed and watched hubbiest dismantle the horrendous dated swinging (yes swinging) wardrobes and also the built-in boiler cupboard. All the contents of the wardrobes are now in cardboard boxes in the lounge. After this was done it became apparent that the ceiling would need re-doing and the wall in the corner would need re-plastering. We got Eric in to do it as he's done work for both me and Babs and he does a very good job. He matched up the existing Artex on the ceiling which is obviously hundreds of £'s cheaper than re-plastering. He's done a great job and I don't think it will notice once it's all been painted. He also re-plastered the whole wall when he only quoted for doing the corner. :0) So here's where we're at:



Notice the rubble in the corner which I have yet to clear up!

This afternoon we went and spent over £1000 on new bedroom furniture. Ooooh, what a treat! It's all on a loan though, so we'll be paying it for the next five years. Ho hum. It's jolly nice though. Because our antique headboard is walnut we chose a walnut bedroom suite. Not that it will match at all though! Still, we made the effort. :0) Here's what we've bought:

http://tinyurl.com/5hkbs7

It's being delivered on 20th June so I have a month to get the bedroom decorated. That's more than enough time. We nipped into B&Q for some wallpaper samples while we were out. Here's what we came home with. My fave is currently No.2. I think it goes best with the bedspread. I don't think No.3 goes at all as it is too orangey. This loud paper is only for the bed wall, all the other walls will be in a much calmer colour!

Nothing else to report. Ta ta!

Drugs, Regrowth and Creativeness

The bathroom is finished at last. The only things I need to do now are to varnish the boxing-in that hides all the pipes and to put my new towels in. I have bought the new towels but I am resisting using them until I get a second set. All the towels I have at the moment were ruined when we had the building work done. Everything was so filthy that they got stained with the constant hand washing. Anyway, here's a peek of the bath wall with a new art thing. It's a wall plaque that was plain black and I painted it to match everything:



Here's some more creativeness. We did this in craft class this week and I can't for the life of me figure out why?!!!



It's called napkin decor. You basically cut out a pretty picture from a paper napkin and then glue it on a candle or soap. Obviously there's more to it than that what with all the special stuff you have to paint on the candle first, but....well...I don't really get it. Once you've done it you're not supposed to burn the candles, they're for decoration only. Our teacher, bless her, loves it and has these things all over her house! Hmmmm. Still, I enjoyed doing it though and the companionship of the class is lovely. :0)

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Billy Bonsai is clawing his way back from the brink of death. Look at him now:



He has green shoots coming out from everywhere.

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Thought you might be interested to see how many tablets I take daily. At the moment I'm up to 40 a day! I used to be someone who didn't like to take paracetamol for a headache. Sigh.



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I'm going shopping with Emily this afternoon to try and get her some jewellery for her prom. Her red dress is in the shop getting taken up to a short length and she's now after white chunky plastic jewellery. Her shoes are white with red hearts and red bows at the back. She's hired a black Hummer limousine like this: http://tinyurl.com/6pr7at for her and all her friends. How cool is that?

MRI Results

Dr Manifold said that the report showed 'nothing significant' and that the tumour was not compressing my spine. Therefore we can assume that it is my medication that is causing the numbness and tingling. I now have to cut down my medication again. Today is my first day and already I'm feeling lousy. It is yet to be seen if the numbness will go away. Still, at least the tumour hasn't got any bigger. :0)