Yes, its been a good week.

I’ll admit I had a bit of anxiety going into this week.  I’d had almost too long to think about starting the Gleevec and I’d read way too many comments in support group sites about the potential side effects.  Yeah, I know I said I wasn’t going to read that stuff anymore, but occasionally I still sneak a glance. Or two.  In all honesty, I gained some good insight and suggestions from a few of the posts and I will credit those anonymous cyber angels, along with a great deal of prayer, with a very good physical response to the drug.  One of comments I read was from a guy that had found a good quality meal replacement protein shake, and it had all but eliminated the terrible nausea he was previously experiencing.  A  morning smoothie with my favorite protein meal replacement has already been part of my daily routine for a long time, so I decided to take the pill in the morning after drinking my smoothie and then go get busy at work.  Another person commented that she keeps her arsenal of protein snacks with her at all times and munches on them to keep the nausea at bay.  I picked up a few of the suggested snacks and have them available so I can “graze” on them during the day.  Another common side effect is muscle cramps and spasms, especially in the legs and feet.  The suggestions were potassium (bananas!) and magnesium.  Again, this one is already done for me because I put a banana in my daily smoothie and have been drinking CALM (a magnesium plus calcium powder mixed with hot water) in the evenings to relieve restless legs and control blood pressure for over a year now.  Another side effect is fatigue and everybody seems to agree that exercise and keeping the body moving battles fatigue.  I did not feel any fatigue during the work week but I have felt it a bit this weekend.  I’ve mostly given in to it, too.  I feel like I need to relax just a bit, so I am.  I have been on my exercise bike for a minimum of 30 minutes each day – usually right before I go to bed (it helps me sleep).  Speaking of sleep;  I’ve been sleeping better than I have in a very long time.  So we’ll call that one a benefit!    I have had a touch of edema and puffiness.  Nothing major and hopefully it won’t get any worse.  Anyways, the greatest benefit of them all is that a targeted drug like this exists and its mostly just busy shutting down the enzyme that causes those errant cells to grow into something they shouldn’t.  Kind of like the local cop that is also a School Liaison Officer.  Their presence changes lives. So basically, I seem to be tolerating the drug well.  Praises of thanks and joy!!!!

More good news of the week:  My duck came in 30th place in the 26th annual Great Black Hills Duck Race, a fund raiser for the Children’s Miracle Network, and I won a Strider bike!!  Since I don’t have grandchildren (yet!), I found a great organization to donate it to. Share the love!

And yes, even more good news to share:  A few weeks ago I applied for a new job within Regional Health.  I was offered the job on Friday and accepted it.  My new position is “Hills Market Supply Chain Supervisor”.  Its a promotion and an exciting new challenge.  I see very positive change taking place within our healthcare network and I’m proud to be a part of it.  I will continue to be based out of Spearfish.

I was reading an article today and the author was sharing how he decides to buy a book.  He commented that he has been guilty of buying a book for its cover (me too!), or because it was recommended by a friend (me too!) or because its had great reviews and was the “hottest” new thing (Unfortunately, me too. This one is always bad reasoning and the book is rarely as good as the hype.)  Moving on…..he now looks at the acknowledgements. In doing so, he discovered that producing a book worth reading is a lot like growing a life worth living.  He states, “What is worth doing is seldom done easily, and rarely done alone.”  The best stories don’t involve just one person.  Acknowledgements show us who made a difference in their life.  The people who influenced them.  The article closed with two questions:  Who’s on your acknowledgements page?  Even better – on whose acknowledgements page would your name appear?  This is what I’m thinking about today.  I’m mostly aware of the people who have influenced my life (and I’m sure some of them would be surprised to be on the list), but I’m not always aware of the effect I have on the lives of others.  Occasionally, I will have someone tell me that something I’ve said or done made a difference in their life.  What surprises me most is that the words they remember so vividly, I simply don’t always remember saying them.  I had this happen to me recently and the words I had spoken (and then forgot I said them) were still very much in line with what I believe and live today.  It got me wondering though, what have I possibly said in the past that may have affected someone profoundly but its something I no longer believe or live?  What have I possibly said or done that may have negatively affected a person’s spirit?  Who and what have I been along this path of life that may not have always reflected positively on others?  I send prayers through time (I’m pretty sure God can do that) to heal anyone that may have been hurt by something I’ve said or done.  There’s too much hurting in this world and I don’t want to be a part of that.  I want to be part of the healing.  Part of the good stuff.

One final awesome thing from the week:  My favorite seasonal beverage!  Many of you are aware that Tom and I are craft beer drinkers.  Our palettes normally tend to prefer the darker beers, especially a nice Imperial Stout aged in Whiskey barrels.  What a surprise then, to discover that one of my favorite seasonal beers is a honey ale brewed by Squatters Craft Beers (their motto is, “good for what ales you”).  It’s called “Bumper Crop Honey Ale” and it is brewed with lavender.  We just call it my lavender beer.  I totally missed my calling when it comes to the descriptive verse on coffee and beer labels.  They have become a literary delight.  Here’s the one from Bumper Crop:  “Like summer in a bottle, Bumper Crop starts with the gentle aromas of freshly gathered lavender and features local honey for a soft, slightly sweet finish.  At 5.5% alc/vol, it simply tastes bee-yootiful.”  Yep, it does. No wonder it sold out fast and is already hard to find.  I have a little stash of the elixir though and have been enjoying the evenings sipping my lavender beer with my husband out in our backyard.  Life’s simple pleasures.  (yes, my oncologist said it is fine to enjoy one or two a day).

Yes, its been a very good week!