Radiation Graduation: finally something to blog about!

 The past 6 + weeks I've been driving from Sandy to the U every morning to get my brain radiated (i don't think radiated is a word). It hasn't been so bad, though I have been worried about the wear and tear on my car and the gas I was having to buy was ridiculous! But it was nice getting there and being greeted by everyone and sitting in the waiting room watching The Price is Right with the other ladies. Also getting the chance to relate some of my recent experiences with hospitals and such to people who knew what it was like was nice.

Most of the ladies there were receiving radiation for breast cancer. I do not envy them. The side effects of radiation are much worse than anything I had to go through. For one they are dosing a larger area and that creates a larger area of skin irritation and I could tell that the fatigue factor was really effecting them. Many of the women were surprised that I was there for treatment since I didn't have to dress down. They also figured me to be no more than 17 years old, but I'm quite used to that by now.


 

Another positive aspect of treatment was the very attractive Dr. Troy who took care of me nearly everyday. He is soft spoken, not too tall with graying hair and had a seemingly genuine interest in my life and well-being through treatment. He would ask me how I was feeling, he was excited to hear I got a job and sad to hear that I had to give up my dreams of Portland. Obviously fueling my silly school girl crush for him. I do have to admit that waking up in the morning to hear his voice was quite, quite nice.

So anyway, on to the actual story here, yesterday was my final day of radiation! WooHoo! Waiting in the waiting room was normal, no one was there so I switched the TV to Price is Right and waited (duh). I was sad when the annoying lady -- I think her name is Melissa, she talked in an extremely high pitched voice and would always touch my leg or shoulder as way of comforting me while I was in the mask. It wasn't comforting... -- anyway the annoying lady called me back and started telling me that Dr "Dreamy" Troy was up stairs at a Doctor's appointment of his own and probably wasn't going to make it back down to say goodbye. She said he felt bad and was going to try hard to hurry through it but she didn't think it would happen. This was quite the bad news.

So I got set up on the table and they did their thing but the whole time I was thinking "Hurry Dr. Troy, make it down here" To my great relief, my mind bullets worked and who's voice did I hear when treatment was done? Dr. Troy's. He said "Ok, Gina lets get you outta here." I was so happy I was smiling under my mask, which is hard to do. As soon as he took the mask off I said " I though I wasn't going see you today, I was going to be sad!" Apparently he told the doctors up there that he had a patient he needed to see and that they needed to hurry. The whole scenario was kind of romantic (and it's not just me that thinks so). Anyway one of the last things he said to me was that he hoped I could get back to Portland someday. That meant a lot.

Melissa interrupted the moment with a surprise blanket for my endurance through all the treatments, and they offered me my mask as a souvenir to which I gladly accepted. I got a hug from her and a hug from Christie one of the other doctors that helped with my treatments. Dr. Troy walked me out, wished me luck and yes, also gave me a hug. What a wonderful day.

 When Baylee got home she was highly interested in the mask of course so we took a few pics w/ her in it.

I will miss you Dr. Troy. And thanks to the rest of the team for making my experience much better than I had anticipated. <3

Backtracking: Part one

Disclaimer: These next few posts are basically for my own records. A friend convinced me that I need to journal my experience (brain tumor) of these past 7 months --something I've been avoiding. I was going to do it in my dairy but I'm running short on pages. Anyway feel free to read but it will probably be mostly boring. Thanks!

While I was in Portland I noticed the headaches I'd been having were getting worse and not letting up. I had started paying close attention to my symptoms: 2 types of headaches daily, one a blinding, stabbing pain above my right eye and the other a dull ache that lasted the majority of the day and would intensify whenever I bent down or moved too quickly. This headache was also accompanied by a few seconds of dark spotty vision and muffled hearing.  I had been experiencing these symptoms for at least a year by this time and I just thought it was going to be a part of my everyday existence. I tried not to let them slow me down but it was hard. I noticed my ability to focus and concentrate was deteriorating and it was really starting to worry me.  It wasn't until I moved to Portland that I was really able to go see a doctor. Oregon requires its students to purchase student health care I recently became insured. For that reason I figured I should probably go to the doctor.

The appointment was set for a little less than a week before thanksgiving last year.

Book List

Book are my favorite form of escapism!

Here are some of my favorites

Interview with the Vampire- The original vampire series and less girly than Twilight but very enjoyable.

Water for Elephants- Just recently finished this one. Good book, especially if you are interested in the old circus times.

Youth in Revolt- I have seen the movie yet. I read the book in High school before a movie was even thought about. I love it. This book will make  you pee your pants from laughter starting with the first page. READ IT!!!

Witch of Blackbird Pond- I read this in middle school so it's meant for a younger audience but I'd like to read it again sometime.

Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks- I don't really know about Brooks' other books but this short series got me through a lot of tough times.  Definitely recommend it if  you are into a little fantasy. But don't worry it's not over the top

A clockwork orange- Gritty and violent and an awesome slang that I would like to incorporate into my vocabulary more often

The Secret- yes it's pretty cheesy but it help me change my thinking habits for the better, so that's good right?

The Hannibal Series- starting with The Red Dragon. Very entertaining. like watching a cop show.

I am currently reading Slaughter House Five which at first I didn't really like but I figured out if you stop trying to figure out what's going on it will save you a lot of brain power and energy. Only 2 more chapters left!

On my list to read are:

The Windup Bird Chronicles
The Beauty Myth
Stranger in a Strange Land
Golden Compass (this one was highly recommended to me by a sound source)

Well the end for now I guess.

Banana Bread Recipe

This is me and my sister's very favorite recipe and it's guilt free as well! Cuz it's Low-fat without skipping on the flavor.

You will need:
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed bananas (the more over-ripe the better)
1/4 cup milk
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour or 1 cup white flour and 2/3 cup wheat flour (adding wheat gives it better texture)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon (a little more than that never hurt anyone)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray one 8"x4" loaf pan with non stick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, beat the white sugar, vanilla, applesauce until smooth. Beat in eggs, milk and bananas with sugar mixture until well blended.
3. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon just until the mixture is moistened. Be sure to scrape the sides of bowl to blend all ingredients.
4. Bake @ 350 degrees F for about 60 minutes. Bread is done when the top is firm to the touch and a golden brown color. Time will vary according to loaf size and oven type. When bread is removed from oven, allow to cool on side for 10 minutes then remove from pan and let cool on rack.

Also some optional ingredients are mini chocolate chips, almonds (or any kind of nut), small fruit pieces such as raisins. Mix these in just before baking.


Yummy!!!! Now go make it!

top 10 songs of my life

Unfortunately I grew up during the big boy band phase. Although a lot of those type of songs meant a lot to me then I chose not to include them as they mean nothing to me now. I was big into NSYNC and I wasn't exclusive I also enjoyed 98 degrees and Backstreet Boys until someone (thankfully) told me it was uncool to like boy bands.

It surprised me how difficult choosing only 10 songs would be. There are so many good ones that still mean so much to me. Anyway here they are :) 

1. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under- Shania Twain
I was a huge Shania Twain fan from the ages of 6 to 12. I wanted to be her! Also her music epitomize life in Elko, Nevada. All I knew was country.

2. The Joker- Steve Miller Band
This song reminds me of my dad and listening to music in the front room with him when we lived in Nevada

3. I Want to Ride My Bycle- Queen
I was around 8 when I first heard this song and I really liked riding my bike. The end. 

4. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morrisette
This song and Alanis Morrisette's Album Jagged Little Pill is so ingrained in my life there is no way I could live without it. Listening to it blaring in my mom's truck on the way to clean houses to dancing to it with my sister when we were home alone (it says the F-word so we had to wait til dad went to work) to playing it when I'm angry. 

5. Barbie Girl- Aqua
Yess! My sister, cousin Kassy and cousin Joe acting out the lyrics and performing it for our parents. Hours and hours of play with this song and the Aquarium Album :)

6. Wonderful- Everclear
The first song I really related to. 6th grade after my parents divorce and my mother's remarriage. I just wanted everything to wonderful again. 

7. Family Portrait- P!nk
Also relates to divorce. still gives me chills

8. Walk Away- Christina Aguilera
How I felt about the relationship with my stepfather. I don't listen to this song anymore.

9. Crawling- Linkin Park
Also don't listen to this song. it's just too much. 

10. Hello- Evanescence
The first song I learned to sign. Also the way I was feeling after the very first D-day.

So the last few are kinda depressing. But I'm glad I had those songs to help me get through that time in my life. :)

Escape to Festival of Colors!!!

I decided that any trip outside of southern Utah deserve the title Escape to ... cuz anytime spent outside of Cedar is a good time :) Anyway

This weekend was the most enjoyable spontaneous trip I've had in a while. On Wednesday I learned that the Holi Krishna Festival of Colors celebration was happening again and I was damned if I was going to miss it this year. So I kidnapped my sister and we got in touch with our cousin who wanted to go and we left on Saturday morning. The event was to start at 12 so we left at an early (for me) 8 o'clock.

This is the view as we came to the temple. All those pink dots are people!

I don't know much about this holiday, just that it is an Indian and that's it really. They play awesome chanting music and shoot colored powder on the crowd and you are really really close to people but it's not weird. The crowd is full of energy and there is a great vibe that makes you forget all the hellish traffic you just drove through to get here. So the powder is "edible grade" cornstarch and flour. But I don't know how they dye it. Anyway here are some pictures.

 Also this weekend my dad took Kim and I on a tour of the place he works which happens to be a hot rod shop. We got to see a lot of pretty sweet cars and we sat in a Hummer Limousine!

The shop

Thunderbird 

Hummerzine!!!

Kim and the interior. 

So basically, it's nice my dad has a job he really enjoys and it's nice he let us sit in one of the cars they work on. :D I had a great weekend full of family and fun and cool cars. The end :)

Hmmmmmm.............................

I think I am developing a crush on somebody. The good thing is, I think he might like me back. This could be interesting and I don't even know how it would work. That's all there is to say about that.