Organic Produce

It has been almost a year since changing over to a vegetarian diet and it has been great. What has been difficult is finding good selections of organic produce to use. Sure, Super Walmart has a few items and Shoprite has a somewhat decent selection. Acme is the closest grocery store to me. They have a very limited selection.
I was traveling quite a distance to go to Whole Foods and Trader Joes. I wish they would build one of those nearer to me. I found out there is a local organic farm pretty close to me. I was so happy until I found that they were not taking anymore customers this season. They were filled up.
Then, last week someone told me about Suburban Organics. I was so excited to find out about this program. You can become a home delivery client or join a co-op. The benefit of joining a co-op is you save money. There was a co-op in my town already so I signed up for that. I received my first order yesterday. How convenient! All organic fruits and vegetables. Also, organic dairy! You place your order without leaving home and pick it up on the day assigned. So simple. The produce is top quality. I am so thrilled at how time saving this is for me.
Avoid pesticides and chemicals in the produce you give your family to eat. Avoid hormones and antibiotics in the dairy products your family consumes. Suburban Organics delivers to NJ, DE, PA and MD. Check them out!

More

Here are some more portraits from Brian's session. Along with taking portraits with his violin, we also took some of him and his friend Michael. They were such a fun couple to work with.

Bartering Session

Okay, enough cancer talk for now. Back to some photography. Here are a couple of images from a recent bartering session. We bartered photography services for violin lessons for my daughter.

We Want the Truth

I just read an article at CNN. It was about Oncologists not telling their patients when the time is nearing the end and there isn't really anything left they can do. Giving false hope that they will get better. Now, this isn't refering to my own situation. There are a lot of treatment options for me right now and over the next few years. But there very well may come a time that those treatment options are no more. After a while, they lose the effect. Do I want to be told when that's it? No more treatment options are available for me? I sure do!! I hope this study that was done changes the way many Oncologists address this to their patients. When there isn't any more treatment options, I think the patient has the right to know. I certainly wouldn't want to live the last days of my life hooked up to machines, hanging on by a thread just hoping that I will get better because my doctor tells me there is still hope. I would want to be home with my family, living life as best as I could, even if that means my days on earth would be less. How much better would those extended days be if I were looked to machines, half awake, not able to talk?
I watched The Bucket List the other day. It inspired me to write my own "Bucket List". Fortunately, I have many days left to complete my list before I kick the bucket due to FNHL. Ofcourse, we never really know how many days we have left. It could all end in the blink of an eye. Until then, I will live life, I will enjoy life, I will dance like there is no tomorrow (not in public though, it is a scary sight) and I will make sure my husband knows my wishes for when my time does come near to an end.

Cancer Update and a Mommy Brag

I went to the oncologist on Wednesday. The good news...my blood work looks good, the scan showed that there has been nosignificant change in my pelvis, abdomen and chest areas. The bad news...there is growth of the cancer seen in my neck area. That was not a surprise. I was expecting to hear that since I can feel the lymph nodes enlarging there. The good part of the bad news...the growth is not severe enough to need treatment at this time.
So, I can continue on "watch and wait" with no treatment at this time. I will go back in 3 months unless I start feeling worse or have more symptoms or feel lymph nodes becoming too large. This was pretty much what I was expecting to hear, so I am happy.
My youngest son's promotion ceremony was this evening. He is going from the elementary school to the jr./sr. high school. What a blessing that was to see. At this time last year, my middle son was promoted and I was in treatment. Very glad I did not need to be in treatment this time. My prayer is I will be here to witness my daughter's promotion to jr./sr. high too.
A little Mommy brag moment here...My son had straight A's all year and won a special award for academic achievement in Social Studies. He was also voted "Most Musical" in his class.
WTG to my Doodlebug! I'm so proud of you!

The Risk of Hair Dye

I don't know why I was surprised when I first read about hair dye possibly increasing the risk of certain cancers, including follicular non-hodgkins lymphoma. Chemicals being applied to the skin, ofcourse there would be risks. So now my question is, does dying my hair increase my chances of the cancer spreading or growing since I already have FNHL. The answer I would assume could be yes. I suppose that means I may be sporting some grey hairs soon. Unless I can find a healthier alternative. Here is an article about it.
If anyone has experience with natural hair dyes, such as henna. Please let me know about your experience with it. Here is one place that claims to sell natural hair dye. I may give it a try.

The Violin

My daughter has been talking about wanting to learn how to play the violin. She will be starting lessons this summer. We purchased her a violin this week and as soon as we came home with it she wanted pictures taken. So here is my daughter with her new violin.

Another Scan

I went for my ct scan to check on the growth of the cancer today. Drank a bottle of barium, one hour drive, get poked, radiated, go get a BIG drink to try and flush all that out of me and try and get home before the runs hit me. I always get the runs from this stuff passing through me. Was that too much information to share? Probably...but since I went there...have you ever had to go poopoo soooo bad and you are driving in the car with no place to stop and go potty? So you drive while clenching your butt cheeks together just hoping and praying you make it home before you explode...Ah, good times.

Parasol Fun

Little girls love parasols! Here are three images of little Alisha. Isn't she adorable? These parasols are available for clients to use as props during photo sessions. Also available in pink and cream.