krista colvin's [putting on my big girl panties + kicking breast cancer in the ass]

Chemo number nine

This was chemo number nine... My mama was in town to "assist" but I think support is a much better way to describe it :) I think the nurses now know where I get most of my personality- mama kept the "old-guys" next to me entertained with her conversation & what-not! It was nice having her visit & to see first hand that I am indeed ok. Yes you heard that "i am ok!" (so far so good) Tomorrow it's chemo number 11- I didn't skip 10 just posting this 2-weeks late. 

kill it.

On Friday the kids had a 'Pink Day' at their school. My friends Amy + Angela worked with the kids to paint the clothespins pink for the Camas GNO event. The principal took it a step further + invited the kids to wear PINK in support of women with breast cancer. When my cute lil' kidlets got off the bus on Friday... this is what awaited me! Both of their classes had taken it even a bit further...

  

   
 
 
I Love how this card from my son's class displays how my son depicts the steps of cancer. He recalled the info from watching the herceptin dvd.
 

But I must say this kid nailed it!
  

home is where the heart is...

cape horn, washington  [columbia river gorge]

I love where I live.... this photo was taken just up river from where I live on Mother's Day. I was raised in Tustin [santa ana or north tustin if you're a 92705'r or a 544-#### or 832-#### or 838-#### original] but my heart is here in the Pacific Northwest. I LOVE a sunny day here... I LOVE a rainy day here.

I can't imagine living anywhere else, especially right now. My family isn't here, but my community has rallied and you'd never know I wasn't a Washington native... a transplant yes indeedy I am. "One of those" Californians that moved up here. NOPE... never have I felt that I was an outsider. I believe good people know good people... and I know a LOT of them.

On Friday a group of women that are the wives of my husband's former co-workers [yes, that's right... he works for Chase, formerly WaMu and several wives of now Wells Fargo + US Bank employees got together at Caren's home to cook up some meals for my family].

sako on scones, deloris + her mother on the lasagna, heather on chicken + sierra on the quiche.

NOW that's COMMUNITY and it all started with the wife of a district manager that decided upon her arrival to Portland that we are a community of financial adviser #orisitAdvisor? wives. Cheers to DeLoris for creating a community and to Caren for rallying the community even when we've gone different paths.

I am thankful + overwhelmed by my community, but I wouldn't have it any other way. So bring on the rain if it brings this kind of sunshine to the world around me. My heart is home.

 

 

 

fine lines

I keep 'seeing' fine lines. As in I see a fine line and I think it's my hair.

A pencil mark on my planner.

A shadow.

Anything thin + dark.

It reminds me of the movie where the kid says "i see dead people". Nope, not me... I see hair.

ps. went to the wig shop yesterday + met 'real betty'... she's getting styled- she's from India and she's quite the thick-chick... more hair than i'm used to [before the thinning]. you'll meet her next week. i also need to introduce you to my hats + scarves- we're going to be bff's.

coping with chemo... in "the columbian"

Photo by Troy Wayrynen
click hereto read the full story online in The Columbian 

The Columbian is following my story... the second piece came out on Monday titled "Confronting Chemo", written by Erin Middlewood with photos by Troy Wayrnynen. Erin + Troy have been fabulous to work with and so un-intrusive and kind. Reading the article you'll be reminded of some things I've written about + discover some moments I haven't yet shared publicly.

The story will continue next Monday on the topic of Support... which I've been so grateful to have so much of.

Here's is a link to the original post on story number one in their series... click here

 

 

a couple of chemo tips...

Today I did my monthly segment on AM Northwest, Portland's morning show. It was nice to not have to lug a bunch of props to the station and just do my segment interview style. But also it was such a quickie that I didn't get to share very much info soooo I included my show notes in a link below. Personally I think I spent more time debating whether or not to go thin or go hat! #gothinorgohomesaysthegobiggal

Here's the segment: Organizing Your Medical Crisis You'll recognize some of the info from this post on messy meds + this post on a day in the life of chemo.

Here are my full personal notes for the segment: Download AMNW segment outline 5.10.10 managing treatment 

Mother's Day

 
  Mother's Day 2010

Wow... I went from selfish-it's-ALL-about-me-mother's-day-mode in 2008 [read here] to it's really NOT about me... but about my kids.

When the kids shared their cards + handmade gifts [they chose their words so carefully and colored each item just so] I not just teared... I cried.

BIG OL' TEARS of LOVE.

I couldn't even read aloud the card my husband gave me. His words were so appreciative and thoughtful.

Today I enjoyed my Mother's Day. I soaked in the love and the little things, was reminded of how in the past I've looked to my children + husband to deliver 'the-perfect' Mother's Day. Today unbeknownst to them, they were themselves + they delivered. I received.

 
side note [or yet an another entire blog post]

This morning I put on comfy sweats, cute but comfy. Then I changed. I changed into a dress... yes I own one- but you're right this is something new for me. I put on cute sandals. I debated how to wear my hair ;).  My daughter walked in + asked me to wear my wig. We had played around with it last night while our friends were over. But I wasn't expecting her to ask me to wear my wig. She also added something innocent about the bald spots showing. #yikes

I felt panic. I'm not ready to wear the wig. Not ready to worry if it will fall off. Not ready for the 'trial run'. My husband saw this and told Annie that mom was going to wear a hat. She was okay with that. She said she just wanted to see how the wig went with my outfit. #gifigurelilfashionista  But by this time I was resigned to move forward with the trial run. Then sighed [relief mostly] as I pulled off fake-betty and found my favorite summer hat. #decisionsdecisions

Annie came back into my room dressed in the closest thing possible to my dress. I loved it. I loved that she wanted to dress alike. #so80sLauraAshley We both donned our jean jackets over our white eyelet dresses, I in my summer hat + she with a flower daisy clip. #ilovehavingadaughter #ihopeshe'scancerfreeforerver