My Iron Man

Things are moving slowly along with David's preparations for radiation and drug treatments.  Tuesday we hit the Saint John Regional Hospital at 10:30 and left at 4:45.  We were exhausted, starved and completely overwhelmed by everything.  We thought we were only going to certain things but when we got there, they all had different plans for us.  Our day included another PET scan, hearing tests(because treatment can cause hearing loss), bloodwork, paperwork, having his radiation mask made, weigh-in (they want me to fatten him up and I've tried but he only gained 3 lbs in two weeks! sickening, eh, those people with the thin genes!) lol, blood pressure, IV line for PET, much running from one end of the hospital to the other!  Hopefully, no more running down until he goes for his first drug injection.

I was very curious about this whole mask thing and asked the nurses if it would be okay to go in and take photos.  They graciously agreed although it was the first time someone had requested to do so...wierd, huh?  It's very unnerving to see your husband all laid out on this equipment having strange procedures done to him.  (I think he was secretly enjoying all the female attention LOL!)  Truly, the nurses were just the best!!!!

It wasn't what I pictured it would be.  It's this huge plastic like mesh that they heat up, then place over his chest and head and all the nurses press and form it to his face.  Then they have to apply cold wet towels to get it to cool down and form a permanent shape.  He will have this on everytime they do radiation to hold his head still.  Looked like a scene out of Iron Man or some movie where they are creating the character's costume, etc. Just glad it's over and done with.  Just wish the waiting would stop and we could get on with the treatments...it all seems to take too long.

I stopped at my first yard sale of the year this morning! I stopped because I spied an old sewing machine but it turned out to be a bust...but look what I did find!!! This really cool old electric clock...I just love it...the black is all metal and it runs!!  Not sure where I'll hang it up yet but for .50, I couldn't pass it up lol!

The BOM I am working on is going well.  I have block two done and love it so much :) It's been so very hard to concentrate on sewing or blogging with all the cancer stuff going on but it feels so good when I do get to do it.

Just loving the red.  The pattern calls for these blocks to be set square in rows but I really like how it looks on point!  I may have to Thelma-ize this quilt!  Thelma and I share a love affair with RED!! LOL!

Remember THESE THINGS!!!  Well, after several more months of them sitting around in a bag, I finally decided they needed to go and live with someone else because they weren't welcome at my house anymore!  One of my best friends took possession of them and in trade I got this sweet little quilt in just my colors!  When we were on a retreat together a couple of years ago, she was making this and I kept telling her that this quilt just wouldn't work in her house...it's not HER colors but mine lol!  See, it pays to be patient!  And, it looks perfect on my sofa chair :)  Thanks Janet and have fun with those flower blocks!

It was so sad this week to have our blogging friend Mary Lou lose her precious son. It's a reminder to all of us that life, no matter how difficult, is so precious.  Her faith is amazing!  My prayers today go out especially for you Mary Lou. Lots of hugs and prayers.....Quiltingly,

This is me Screaming!

ARRRGGHHHHH! Honestly!!  Two days of frustration over this hostel thing, worrying and trying to find out something, anything! about it!

Just had a phone call from a wonderful woman at the oncology centre(she's my angel of the moment!) explaining to me all about the hostel and how it works! Come to find out it's in the hospital itself! Like, why couldn't someone have had that answer for me the other day when we were down there!!!!!!!! So David won't have to leave the premises while he is taking treatments. That is such a relief and load off my mind!! Thank you Lord!

Today I Breathe

 On Tuesday,  seeing the doctors was horrible, scarey and overwhelming. Yesterday was absolutely awful.  Today, I breathe. Intense treatments will be starting around the end of May, five days a week for 6-7 weeks.  There are so many things to be done and decisions to be made before then.  It's going to be so hard since we live so far away from the treatment centre and this is done on an outpatient basis.  It would be easier if they could admit him, then I would know he was getting his meals and wouldn't have to figure out how to travel to hospital everyday.  Really need those prayers my friends....we need money, we need another car, and other things I'm not sure I even know yet.  Hugs, Shelley

Happy Day to all!!

Oh my gosh everyone....you have all touched our hearts so much here with your comments.  It's means so much to have your prayers and so much to have you all lend your online support!

First, Mr. RQ's name is David.  He was so touched by the response I had to my post. He wants me to tell you all that it meant so much to him to know that you were praying and ready to listen to me no matter what I wrote.  We were both overwhelmed by all the kindness and support you have offered us..

YOU ARE ALL JUST THE BEST!!

You know something...when people say they are praying for you or will pray for you...I want you all to know that I can tell when the praying is going on.  Now, I'm not talking science fiction here but reality....how...
well,  I get calmer for one thing, like a peace settling over me...whatever you are praying..it's working
also, Dr.'s start calling and things start rolling along ahead of schedule...that's gotta be your prayers working..
 So please keep praying and thanks so much for your prayers!!!

Today is Mother's Day and I want to wish all women, Mother's and non- Mother's, much blessing and happiness today!

Some recent projects:

 This fabric makes me happy.  I used it in a recent Schnibble's (which I can't get a photo of right this minute) and was just so yummy.  It's called Martinque from moda.

 This a sweet quilt done by a friend Christine in 1930's reproduction fabrics. She rounded the corners of her quilt which made for more difficult quilting but I loved it when it was done!  I didn't want to give it back LOL!

 This is one my design wall right now.  Using charm packs from Benartex's Nancy Halverson lines.

 This is my Star in a Star quilt that I pieced about 4 years ago from fabric I had laying around for 6 or 7 years and couldn't figure out what to do with them.  Then, when we got the Millineum long arm at work, I put it on and finally quilted it!  That makes 17 tops, 1 done and 16 to go! I hope I'm never caught up lol! 

Tuesday we head out to see a radiation doctor and a chemotherapy doctor.  It's frustrating because we haven't even seen an oncologist yet and here they are sending us to these dr's.  I hope we get some answers on Tuesday!

Sometimes Life Sucks!

Yes, indeed, sometimes life sucks!  No nice way of putting it.  I have been absent from my blog, struggling with some of that "life sucks" stuff.  Truthfully, I've been too spent emotionally and physically to be able to even write about it.  Then, I spent a lot of time debating whether I would blog about what's going on and I finally came to this conclusion:  

I either have to be real and write about the real things going on in my life or quit blogging altogether because I am not the "put on a good show and fake it" kinda of gal.  People who know me personally know that I am a brutally honest person no matter what you ask me...don't come to me expecting gloss lol.  I believe in being honest in the kindest way possible but always honest.  I'm just not wired to be otherwise... I can't count the number of times my honesty has turned people off but that's okay because I want people in my life who can accept me as I am.  

This blog in future will have some very honest possibly painful subject content and if you can't handle it, I won't be offended if you don't read me anymore.  There will be days when there will be no quilt content just "life sucks" content.  But, I figure  "hey, it's my blog!" so I will write honestly about what I want or need to.  I have had some positive encouragement to blog about what's going on and to those people..."THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!"

So, this is the deal...my young, healthy, robust 48 year old husband has cancer. 

There, it's said.  I know lots of people have cancer and worse things and we all know people with cancer but until you have sat in that chair in the Dr's office and had it said to your face well....it's just another whole ballgame after that.  It came as quite a shock because as I said...hubby is healthy as a horse otherwise.  It all started as a very quick swelling in his neck that came out of nowhere in Feb.  And that is all I can write for today.