I have a few thoughts from today.
1. If you don’t watch How I Met Your Mother, you should start. Granted, I only watch the re-runs, but the show rocks. Barney Stinson is my favorite character. Sal and I live by the following quote, “When I get sad, I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead. TRUE STORY.” I feel better today than I have in months! Really. Cameron is sleeping very well for us – 9 to 10 hours at night now. She really is an angel. Jameson and Chase are doing great. They love school and are just two happy kids. We’re the luckiest parents in the world.
2. I’m going to be the first person, ever, who gets fat during chemotherapy! Thank you all so much for the wonderful meals and gift cards. You have no idea how much we appreciate the help. My aunt told me that God sends us angels when we need them. I truly feel surrounded. I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve such kind people in my life.
3. Can someone please write to Bobbi Brown and ask her if she makes a “chemo concealer”?! I just don’t ever want to look sick while this is going on.
4. Which leads into this topic – the wig! I probably shouldn’t even be blogging about this but what the hell, right? It’s a part of what’s going on. I received the call yesterday that my cranial prosthesis is in. Nope, I’m not kidding! Some insurances pay for wigs so that’s how they refer to them. What is this world coming to?!!! Anyway, I guess I’m going to buy one, but I just can’t picture myself wearing one. I have a bunch of funky hats that seem much more Barb. Thoughts, anyone? Please, don’t hold back!
5. If anyone out there has any good music mixes, let me know. I’d love a copy. I listen to Pandora quite a bit and have been drawn to songs that get me psyched and in a good frame of mind. I’ve also been listening to songs that have special meaning, too. For example, I saw a Storytellers featuring Jason Mraz just days before my diagnosis, unbeknownst to me. He wrote his song, The Remedy, for his best friend after he was diagnosed with cancer. His friend is 10 years in remission! Good Life by One Republic is the song that Cameron was born to. The OB usually has music on in the OR during a C-section and this was Cam’s song.
I really feel so good today……like I can conquer the world. I believe that cancer doesn’t stand a chance. Sal and I discuss often how much of this is a mental battle, too. If I believe it, it will happen. Sal and I still have so much to teach our kids together that I WILL beat this disease. I just keep picturing myself holding Jameson’s baby girl, dancing with Chase to Beautiful Boy at his wedding, and being there when Cameron wins the Nobel Prize for curing cancer.
My recovery, as Barney would say, “It’s gonna be legend…..wait for it…..and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is DAIRY!”
LIVESTRONG and God Bless!
First of all, I’ve been telling you how AWESOME How I met your mother is for months!!!!! I’m elated that we are on the same wavelength for once! 😉
Second, your kids are even more amazing than you make them out to be! Go Cam! Cure cancer my littlest cutie!!
Third, what did you do to deserve amazing people? You’ve been amazing! “One sure way to have good friends is to be one.”
Lastly, in my heart of hearts, I KNOW you will be fine. Forget Sal and your kids…you need to live to throw me an engagement party someday!!
Xoxo,
Ann
Hi Barb, just catching up on your posts. Such great reading and very inspiiring, My best to you and your family. Saying prayers for a strong recovery! On the wig topic…Go for it and enjoy all those funky hats too! I love hats. Wear them like it’s NYC and you are the trendiest mom in the city! I’ve seen some pretty scarves too, so have fun with it! I’m sure you will continue to look beautiful no matter whats on top of you head!
Sending best wishes,
Jessica Matushek
OMG, I so have some funky hats for you, I am going to get them for you next week! I promise they are quite calm and normal looking hats – YEAH RIGHT – I never have anything calm and normal! You will be able to be seen from miles away! I will bring some for Sal to wear too – it will go with his pink boa!!
See you Saturday buddy!
Barb, you are amazing!!! Your posts make me cry, smile, and most importantly laugh!!! I am loving reading your blog, and I have shared it with another friend who was also just diagnosed.
As for the wig, I agree with Jessica…you will look beautiful no matter what!!! If you’re interested, I have a cheesesteak hat from my days in Philly!!! I could never quite pull it off in public…hahahaha!!!
Hi Barb,
I just saw Kelly Pickler online with her best friend. She has just shaved her head in support of her best friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer!!! She is still beautiful, without hair, and you will be too!!
Barb,
i will get back to the wig thing but i wanted to just mention how truly inspiring you have been to us all, well to me anyway. it’s unfortunate that some big awful event has to happen for us all to realize how blessed we are, to stop and smell the roses and appreciate what and who we have in our lives. you have talked about that from the beginning and i find myself looking across at my hubby at dinner in a whole new light; and you have made that happen with your constant reminder of gratefulness, being appreciative and to live each day. i wanted to thank you for that. You a-r-e awesome.
now the wig. as i do not know you personally but feel after reading your blogs like i do; you are way to funny to wear a wig!
you are a beautiful woman and your photo of your face, hair, and smile/teeth haha are beautiful too; Sal will find you his Barb hair or not and so with your stunning personality and outlook the wig will be too fake. scarfs or ball cap it is!
and i thought Sal was funny but you win. don’t tell him. and i don’t mean sarcastic, some of the things you say i can hear you laughing. bravo!
thinking of you all daily.
B
i say get the wig just to have it. might find a time that you want to wear it. i’m looking forward to buying polish to shine your noggin with. i can’t wait to see the hats Kelly C has in store for you!
Hey Barb,
I love reading your posts!! This week I got so busy and then I realized I have to catch up on Barb’s blog! You definitely have the right attitude. And I love all the stories about your kids. This disease will be long gone before you know it! Regarding your wig, I think you should get the Rasta Wig…Basically, now you should be called Barb Marley! The beautiful locks of rasta hair will suit your powder white skin color. I’m not sure about the green/red/black beret, but I think we can change the color to an irish green…What do you think? =)
Anil-Barb Marley…that is awesome! Good one 🙂