Day 16 of 20!

 

Cancer Update

I will be done with radiation in less than ONE WEEK!  I am counting down the days until next Tuesday!  Usually I can recover to feel somewhat better on Saturdays and Sundays when I don't have radiation, but this last weekend I continued to feel bad.  :(  I am trying to post this after sleeping for two extra hours today.  These gigantic naps seem to be the norm for me these days.  My skin now looks like I have a really bad sunburn, but I know it could be far worse as some people get bad radiation burns with blisters and such.....so thank heavens for that.

 

On Thursday (tomorrow), they will switch from giving me the extra-dose radiation to my entire breast to what they call boosters, which will be four days of an extra-dose radiation that will only go to the cancer site.  I am not going to get into the science-y thing here, but this booster radiation is different in that it does not penetrate as far into your body as "regular" radiation, thus they use it for these boosters.  I am just excited to get to this booster phase because it signals that the end of radiation is nearing.

  

So, after my radiation treatment and a final appointment with the radiation oncologist (both on June 30th), I will say farewell to the Radiation Oncology Department (and one of my favorite doctors in the whole world, which is sad, but in a way it is not)!!!  I will blog about the next stage of treatment in two weeks when I go back to see Dr. P (my oncologist, whose name is hard to pronounce so I have taken to calling him Dr. P).  More "fun stuff" in store, I'm afraid.

 

Cool Friends Update

 

I must know some of the most creative people on the planet judging from the cards I have received over the weeks.  This week brought me a card from Barb, my SBS26 sister, and it is so sparkly and beautiful!  It has a lovely butterfly image stamped on it that is highlighted with glittery goodness, and even my husband commented on how pretty it was when I opened it (you all know how much it takes for anyone in the male gender to "notice" these things).  Thank you so much, Barb....I totally love it!

 

Also, thanks again to Cindy for the blogging award! (see post from yesterday)

 

Creative Update

 

Wow, I actually have something to post!

 

These are some projects I did in January/February for The Stamping Studio, but the stamp set wasn't released until now so I couldn't post them.  The stamp set is part of the Flower Of The Month Series, and the set for July is Cherry Blossom.  The artist Brooke Smith draws all the flowers for the series and I just love her artwork so much!  I used Shimmerz paint to fill in the stamped flowers, which I think is just so lovely in person.....I hope you can see some of the beautiful effects you can get with it in my photos.  Also, I must have been thinking Cherry Chocolate when I was doing the color scheme!

 

Please check out all of the Flower Of The Month stamp sets at The Stamping Studio by clicking on "The Store", then scrolling all the way to the bottom to click on the FOTM stamps.  A new set is released each month, so there are six already and the July one will be posted soon.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card Recipe:

FOTM7 - Cherry Blossom stamp set by The Stamping Studio

Timber Brown StazOn solvent ink pad by Tsukineko

Van Dyke Brown ink from Nick Bantock by Ranger

Cranberry Adirondack dye ink pad by Ranger

Brittle and Crushed Berry patterned paper from Bittersweet collection by Basic Grey

Magenta and Pink Poinsettia paint by Shimmerz

Kraft, pink and brown cardstock by Bazzill

Floral Lace border punch by Martha Stewart Crafts

Tan Copic marker

Other:  Jute

             Small and medium plastic jewels

             Corrugated cardboard

             Smooth white cardstock

             1/2 inch brown grosgrain ribbon

             5/8 inch brown suede ribbon

             Flowers

 

Comments

[Anna/Oma]

All the cards are gorgeous!

I hope you will be feeling much better soon!

[Pat Jaynes]

Wendy, Awesome cards. Can't wait to play with my set I picked up Saturday. So happy that your radiation is almost over. Hope that after this is over that you will feel much, much better. Hugs my friend, PatJ

[Shell]

Hey Wendy these are beautiful cards! I don't know that I could of waited from January to June to show off my art.......LOL you gotta have lots of patients.

You know that we are all saying our prayers & sending positive thought your way as you finish the last leg of these treatments.

Shell~Alaska
SBS#26

[Lizzy]

I am so pleased that you are nearing the end of your cycle and I have everything crossed that it has been sucessful and that you will carry on a stronger person.
Lots of Love
Lizzy
xxx

[Brooke]

Awesome job on the cards, Wendy!! They're so pretty!

I'll be thinking of and praying for you as you finish up your radiation treatments.

[Anne]

Those cards are beautiful, Wendy, I love the scrummy colours and the delicate flower images!
Wishing you all the best for the remaining treatments and beyond,

Anne
SBS26

[Louise]

Lovely cards Wendy, love all the texture and dimension.

[Louise]

Oh Duh.... I meant to add that I am glad your radiation is coming to an end and you can see the finish line.
Hugs Lou
xoxox

[Heather Schlatter]

Hi,

I read your story and you are such an inspiration!!! One of my Dear Friends Mom's goes in for her Double Mastectomy tomorrow and is also having Breast Reconstruction. She is 70 years old.

I just spent some time going through your blog. It was brought to my attention this weekend that they have finally closed our group for the Sister Hood of the Blogging Stampers group #28.

I had almost forgotten about it since I signed up so long ago, but anyway as it is closed now I wanted to hop on over and say hi to all my fellow Stamping "Sisters"

I have really enjoyed your creations and look forward to seeing more very soon!!!

Heather