shopping therapy

Much of today continued to be better than last chemo round. I didn't sleep all that well last night (I think it might have been hormonal) so I was tired today, but was able to eat fairly well without problem -- though tonight my stomach is feeling bloated and gassy.  Today I had a lovely visit from a new friend, Laura, who is a wonderful listener and we found we had many interests in common.  

Don and I also received delivery of a new couch/sleeper today (nice, light-weight Scandinavian design like the ones my aunt & dad have), and are working on getting our torn-up basement refinished in a couple of weeks, so we'll be able to house guests more comfortably again soon. We also borrowed Sarah's iPad mini that she hasn't been using and set it up for me, so I can download books and read them in bed more easily than on my old 1st generation one which is too heavy to be comfortable. And, our 14-year old van is dying so we're shopping for a new/used replacement!

It's funny how new things can be cheering. A couple of weeks after my diagnosis, before I knew the treatment plan, I had an unexpected window of free time (my eye doctor took sympathy on me because of my diagnosis and didn't dilate my eyes, since we'd done it last year); and I took myself on a shopping therapy expedition. I'd been needing some new pants, and thinking about my mom, who loved to shop for clothes, and gave in to the urge. It was a little challenging emotionally -- I veered away from most of the blouses and tops, which I didn't need anyway, thinking, I have no idea what size top I will be wearing in the future! But the pants were cheering -- especially because I hadn't shopped for new pants in a couple of years and found I was a size or two smaller after all the exercising. Plus I found some that fit me in bright colors - turquoise and pink! And some new workout clothes, to encourage myself to keep working out. 

I went for a short (30 min) swim at Capitol Lakes tonight -- trying out a membership there, since it's closer than the Y, across the street from my office, and a block from Sarah's house, and they let people under 50 with health issues join. I'm cautiously encouraged by feeling significantly better so far this round of chemo -- so much so that I told my "sitter" tomorrow that I want to play it by ear because I might want to go in for a work meeting instead! We'll see how the night goes. We are so appreciating the food, flowers and friends...!