~LAST CHEMO TODAY~

~LAST CHEMO TODAY~WOW....it's finally here and I actually slept last night. Every chemo night before, I could never sleep. I think this time I was able to sleep because I see the finish line, I see the ribbon stretched across the road for me to break through.

Stay tuned for pictures of my chemo process and all those wonderful people who helped me at Dr. Ghosh's office at the Iowa Blood and Cancer Center. I don't know how they do it day after day.

Thank you Becky, from Sweet Cottage Dreams for the adorable stamp you made for me above and for letting me borrow the Tim Mcgraw song playing right now. What a fitting song for me!!! If you get a chance, check out her blog. She is one talented gal, and her house is AWESOME!!!

SEE YOU ALL ON THE FLIP SIDE.......
BIG HUGS and LOVE, Amy

~24 HOURS and COUNTING~

~24 HOURS and COUNTING~
In 24 hours from now I will be heading for my last chemo treatment. Well, the ones where I have to go in and get them thru the veins. After this is all done, I have to go on a DAILY CHEMO DRUG for the next 5 YEARS....I am not to happy about it and I'm not really thrilled reading about all the side effects...but we will see. Dr. Ghosh says it's quality of life that we are most concerned about and if the daily chemo drug is making my life icky...then we will have to find something else. SO, LET'S NOT BORROW TROUBLE......and just think of the good stuff....TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY!!!
YIPPY SKIPPY!!!
~Amy~

~LESS THAN 48 HOURS LEFT~

~MY SMILING FACE~

YIPPY SKIPPY....The flu bug FLEW away!!!! And I am less than 48 HOURS into my LAST CHEMO TREATMENT....I can't tell you how excited I am .....almost like having a baby. REALLY!!! Just think, the worst part will be over soon and I can begin my life again....Only with a RENEWED SENSE of LIFE....just like when you have a baby. This Cancer sure has changed me, in ways I am sure haven't all shown themselves and I look forward to seeing what awaits me in the months and years ahead.

Don't think just because my last treatment is Wednesday that I am done....I still have reconstructive surgery for the next 6 months or so and I will keep you up to date on that.

Well, I best get back to shipping orders....LOVE AND HUGS TO ALL OF YOU.....I am WAY WAY WAY OVERLY EXCITED!!!!
Amy

~The Flu~

It started early Friday evening....I have been hit with the stomach flu!!!
I was feeling pretty good last night (Saturday evening) but then it has hit me again today.

Back to bed for me.....I feel like singing that song Rain Rain Go Away only replace it with

Flu

Flu

Go Away

Come again another day

Amy wants to run and play

This has really put a damper on my shipping...please pray I feel better by tomorrow so I can get my work done.

LAST CHEMO in 3 days......It can't come fast enough for me...

Have a great rest of this Sunday, and please say a prayer so I can feel better.

Hugs, Amy

~AND THE WINNER IS........~

AND THE WINNER IS........

GAYLA from OATMEAL & WHIMSY

Thank you everyone for entering and GAYLA....Please email me with your home address.

Have a Happy Friday...

It's MY BOB'S BIRTHDAY TODAY......HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!! I LOVE YOU TO PIECES.....Love, Amy

~FREE VINTAGE LOOT~TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS~

~FUN VINTAGE LOOT GIVEAWAY~ OH MY GOODNESS!!! LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!!!

It's been a heck of a day for me today, I have a migraine that won't stop so as soon as I post this, it's lights out for me!!! Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully my migraine will be gone!!!

ONE PERSON WILL WIN ALL THAT YOU SEE IN THE ABOVE PICTURE, just leave a comment on this post and I will draw a winner on Friday afternoon. (Hopefully I will be done with the website then too)

HERE IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET....ALL FOR FREE!!!!

(1) Vintage Old/New Stock SCRAP BOOK in the best off white and gold

(5) Pieces of late 1800's Full Size Sheet Music (will be available on the website by this weekend)

(1) Darling Hand Made Crocheted Child-Size Purse FILLED with Vintage Buttons

(1) Vintage OLD/NEW STOCK Beach's "Common Sense" Travelers Expense Book (will be available on the website by this weekend)

(1) GORGEOUS 20" by 20" Vintage SOFT PINK Wallpaper piece (will be available on the website by this weekend)

(2) Vintage Reproduction SANTA CLAUSE Die-Cut Paper Ornaments

(1) Huge Reproduction of Vintage GARLAND of PINK SNOW GIRLS

(1) Three Feet of the Most Adorable Vintage PINK POLKA-DOT SCALLOPED RIBBON (this stuff is SOOOO PRETTY and DETAILED and will be available on the website by this weekend)

HAVE FUN.....And Have a great rest of tonight.....LOVE and HUGS.......Amy

~FREE GIVEAWAY~ LET'S MAKE THIS A HAPPY MONDAY

FREE GIVEAWAY Details coming tonight....I NEED TO MAKE THIS A HAPPY MONDAY!!! Too much sadness this morning.....
Let me get some fun stuff together and get the pictures on after supper.

SEE YOU LATER TONIGHT!!! THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!! ~Amy~

~More Doctors Today~

HI HO....HI HO...It's off to the Doctor's I go......

Today I go to the doctors again (oncologist Dr. Ghosh) to have more blood work done and to see if I will need to have the RED Blood Cell shot again. The WHITE Blood Cell shot I get the day after chemo is $6000.00 PER SHOT....YES SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ONE SHOT. The red blood cell one I get today, is ONLY....LOL...$5000.00 per shot.
Did I tell you that each chemo treatment with my shots is a little over $21,000.00 EACH TIME!!!
HOW DO PEOPLE DO IT WITHOUT INSURANCE??? And how do people do it that have no so good insurance???
JUST FOR MY CHEMO ALONE (not including the hospital stays, the surgeries, and all the medicines I have been on)it will cost over $125,000.00. IS THAT INSANE???
SO, off to the doctors I go again today.....but soon it will ALL BE OVER....AND I CANNOT WAIT TO STOP LOOKING LIKE UNCLE FESTER!!!!
HAPPY HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE....Amy

~OVERWHELMING APPRECIATION~

HOW EVER DO I THANK ONE FOR THEIR OVERWHELMING LOVE????

I don't think you can....and being a person that is usually not on the receiving end of such love, support and heartfelt good wishes, it has all been JOYFULLY OVERWHELMING. All I can say is THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I started to read the blogs and just sat there and cried. A GOOD CRY, it's all GOOD!!! THEN IT HIT ME, HOW BLESSED I TRULY AM, HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE ALL OF YOU and to find out WHO MY TRUE BLUE FRIENDS REALLY ARE when the (excuse my language) shit HIT THE FAN!!!! I have to come to terms with the fact that there is NO WAY I can ever repay you, and that is hard for me to do. I'm just not used to all of this. BUT I AM NOT COMPLAINING.....NOT IN THE LEAST!!!!

As Tony Snow said in his Cancer Interview with Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, "Love those who love you, let the other ones go, and learn to accept the love, prayers and giving nature of those who want to help, those who, even though they can't take your cancer away, they want to help in anyway they can. Accept that from them, and understand, even though you know there is no way you can repay them for all they have done, just accept it, because they love you." WOW!!! IS THAT GREAT OR WHAT????

Thank YOU so much Joy from TheJoyOf for thinking up this idea!!!! I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!! Click on any of the links below to read all about it and if there is anyone I might have left out, PLEASE EMAIL ME and let me know, remember, I still have the "Chemo Brain".

Mary-AcrossThePond
Joyce-BrooksideCottage
Betty-SheSewPretty
Carole-ScoundrelsAndRouges
Shannon-PaintMinePink
Jackie-InspireMePlease
Becca-BlueBirdsAndRoses
Gayla-OatmealAndWhimsy
MaryLou~MarylousThoughts
Joy-TheJoyOf
Lori-KatiesRoseCottage
Polly-CountYourBlessings
Mary-MyMothersDaughter
Becky-SweetCottageDreams
Mgm-MyGalMad
Lori-PinkFadedRoses
Priscilla-SweetRemembrance
Genevieve-BellaEnchanted
Louise-BeachyCapeCodCupboard
Vicki-PinkPearlGirl
Pat-TheUrbanChic
Angie-SlipCoverDiva
Susie & Angie-AngiesPinkRoseCottage
Mary-Crash-N-Smash
Karla-KarlasCottage

(PS....Yesterday I had a HORRIBLE MIGRAINE and TERRIBLE FEMUR BONE PAIN, I ended up taking 3 pain pills in less than 2 hours and I was OUT for the rest of the day and evening. I think it was from being out too long but it was all WORTH IT....I will get thru all of your posts and comments so please don't think I fell off the face of the earth, I am here, and was just out of commission for the last day. Funny thing, just when I think I am doing great, I am reminded that "HEY AMY, YOU HAD CANCER, YOU ARE STILL HEALING and BEING POISONED BY CHEMOTHERAPY".......BA HUM BUG!!!!)

I TRULY DEEPLY LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

HAPPY SATURDAY, Amy

~CELEBRATE AMY DAY???~

WOW!!! WHAT A TOTAL SURPRISE!!!!

Today is CELEBRATE MY LIFE DAY in BLOGLAND...thank you JOY for surprising me....HOW COOL IS THAT!!!

How WONDERFUL to be LOVED BY ALL OF YOU!!!!

I am truly humbled and in AWE.....YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME....I AM TRULY BLESSED....All My Love, Amy

BellaMary-Isabellascloset

Mary-AcrossThePond
Joyce-BrooksideCottage
Betty-SheSewPretty
Carole-ScoundrelsAndRouges
Shannon-PaintMinePink
Jackie-InspireMePlease
Becca-BlueBirdsAndRoses
Gayla-OatmealAndWhimsy
MaryLou~MarylousThoughts
Joy-TheJoyOf
Lori-KatiesRoseCottage

~Just a Quick Note~

Just a quick note to let you know I am feeling better and even tho its hard to walk because of the pain in my hips and femur bones and my mouth sores are killing me, I am keeping a positive attitude.

I am excited today because Bob is going to take me to a few sales this morning. I am just excited to get out and be around vintage junk!!!! LOL

I had a friend say to me once, I could go junkin' all day long and even if I threw it all out the car window on the way home, it would still be a GREAT DAY!!!! That is EXACTLY how I feel today!!!

Also, I am getting a Massage this afternoon, it will be my 2nd one ever and my dear friend Becky paid it forward to me. How cool is that??? The girl is incredible and I am so happy to be able to go. What a gal, as Becky too, has been where I am and it's really neat to be able to talk to someone who understands the dark crappy side of cancer.

Okay, so, I best get Maddi on the bus and Oh, hey, this week has been pretty encouraging for me as I was able to list 3 things on eBay and TOTALLY REVAMP my WEBSITE.....It's all ready for pictures and new stuff and I am hoping this weekend I have the strength to list all new treasures on the site. THAT IS MY CREATING....THAT IS what I look forward to and keeps my mind sharp. IT MAKES ME HAPPY!!!
Love and Hugs to all of you and also, I will post all those AWESOME HATS for AMY for all of you to see.

HAPPY HAPPY THURSDAY, Amy

~Hanging in there~

~Hanging in there~

~I made it thru Chemo # 5 with a few blown veins and some nice left over bruises and I am already wiped out, Maddi was home sick yesterday with a head cold and slight fever, but by the end of the evening she was doing better, that's a good thing!!!~

I think I am more happy to know that I just have ONE LEFT and then I am done. I did have a bit of a meltdown before going into chemo as my oncologist said I might want to go to The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to talk to the top breast cancer radiologist there to see about having radiation.
We had lots of stuff to think over along with medical documentation that Bob sifted through (Medical lingo I don't understand) and I am not going to do it....so, no appointment to Iowa City next week and I actually have a higher percentage of having heart failure or getting Leukemia from the chemotherapy than I have getting the breast cancer back from not taking radiation. SO, that has put my mind at ease!!!! And I can honestly say, mentally and physically I could not bear the thought of having to drive down to Iowa City every day for 6 weeks to get radiation treatments. I JUST CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE....I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!

So, the picture you see above is not so glamorous....It was taken the day before Chemo # 5....It's AMAZING what Cancer does to a person, not only in the physical outward look of a person, but to a spirit, to a personality, to the outlook on life as a whole. I'm not quite sure what I'm suppose to be doing with my life, I think I have something I am suppose to do with going thru this cancer, but I haven't figured it out yet. I know this for sure....It sure has made me less quick to judge, less quick to complain or criticise, and made me love and respect people more than I ever would have....It has given me an appreciation and love for people I didn't even know and those that I do know. It has been an AMAZING JOURNEY and most of all, I have seen THERE REALLY ARE WONDERFUL GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN!!!
KEEP SMILING....LIFE IS GOOD....

BETTER TO HAVE GOOD DAYS, THAN NO DAYS

~Amy~

~Leaving for CHEMO # 5, Not CHANEL No. 5~

CHEMO # 5 will be starting in about an hour.....Just wanted to let everyone know that I am FEELING GREAT and I am DONE swimming in my pity pool, where I have been for the last 3 weeks or so.....I'm ON THE DOWN HILL SLIDE and I ask that you pray for some veins to work as most of them have collapsed or blown from the last 4 chemos....YUCK....but enough about that....

I hope to post tonight and also give a recent picture of me as I haven't had one for awhile....I have almost lost all my eyebrows and eye lashes.....goes with the bald head.....and hey, I still don't have to shave.....YIPPY!!!

Also, I was so excited to list ONE THING ON EBAY last night.....10 pages of that awesome 1930's Miniature Sheet Symphony Music. Click here to check it out if you get a chance and it's FREE SHIPPING TOO!!! It only took me 55 minutes to list it...LOL...as my brains wouldn't remember how to list on eBay....I thought that was FUNNY!!! THIS TOO SHALL PASS

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for all your thoughts, prayers, cards and gifts....YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Hugs, Amy

~Please Forgive Me~

~PRETTY FALL FLOWERS....THANK YOU BECKY from COE COLLEGE~

~Please forgive me for not posting the past week....I really hit rock bottom and I have been nothing but a puddle of tears~

I'm trying everything I can to get over this hump and this whole cancer/chemo thing has finally taken it's toll on me.

Not only is my body hurting, all the way to the bone but emotionally I can't bear the thought of 2 more treatments. Even though I only have 2 more to go, I have been informed that IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS to get my full strength back and feel myself again. THAT IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW for someone like me who is used to doing anything she puts her mind to.

The chemo is POISONING MY BODY and most days I am so tired and weak I just want to go to bed and not wake up for a year. The nausea is getting worst, my entire jaw and teeth hurt so bad that I can no longer "chew" anything. Can you believe it, I DRINK WARM JELLO because it feels good in my mouth and it doesn't hurt, same with cooked noodles...LOL...Yummy combo huh???? My sternum, hips and femur bones in my legs feel like someone hit them with baseball bats. Sometimes when I walk, my hip gives out where it's connected to my legs and I stumble, not to mention I give out a YELL because it hurts so bad. (and all I can do for that is take Tylenol with Codeine, like I want to be drugged up all the time, I'm already tired as it is)

THEN THERE IS THE WEIGHT GAIN....HOLY COW BATMAN....Just imagine taking steroids (like I am) and not working out....zippo zero exercise (I am to weak and tired to even think about exercise) I am retaining water so much that I can no longer see the bones in my feet....and it's gross. Now, most of you would probably never share this but since this is my journey thru all of this, I am going to share. I have gained 43 pounds....YEP....THAT'S A SMALL CHILD...and I don't think gaining that weight has helped my demeanor either. I have gone up 5 jean sizes. That alone is DEPRESSING!!!

So, I have been out of sorts the last week and I am sorry I haven't kept in touch, I just couldn't even look at the computer, let alone blog. But with encouraging words from you....I am going to COWBOY UP and get going again.

I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!! I REALLY REALLY DO....I don't know what I would do without YOU!!!!
Love, Amy

~I want to CREATE and NOT have CANCER~

~I WANT TO CREATE and NOT HAVE CANCER~

SO, this is my newly improved room.....it's ALL MINE...to do with what I want. It's what I see when I walk in the room to go to my computer. (notice the other side of the room is not pictured because, well, it's a DISASTER!!!! LOL)


IT MAKES ME WANT TO CREATE....and NOT THINK about my CANCER!!!!
I have been really sick this time around. TODAY I THREW UP!!!! OMG!!! IT WAS HORRIBLE as I forgot to take my nausea medicine. I totally spaced it off and did I ever pay for it.

I DO NOT WANT TO GO THRU THAT AGAIN. It was a pain from the deepest part of my gut and I have never puked like that. I'm sure some of you out there that have gone thru chemo know exactly what I am talking about.

Another thing is MY entire body gets wet and clammy....my body feels like it just puked...it's the strangest thing ever, My Mom watched it happen and said I get all WHITE in the face and look faint. I FEEL FAINT too when it happens. I do believe it's the white cell count as it makes me dizzy too. Then I get the shivery shakes....I start to get cold.

And you know when you have been at a movie theater and you walk outside into the sunshine after the movie is over. It seems sort of SUR-REAL, sort of like everything is either really small or really big, well, that is how my entire days are for at least 7 of them following chemo. It's like you can't take one more step or look at one more thing, you just need to shut your eyes and go to sleep. And so, that's what I have been doing.....BUT I WANT TO CREATE!!!


~MIRRORS MIRRORS and MORE MIRRORS....Another OBSESSION of MINE~ ~NEW but made to look OLD and VINTAGE GLITTER RABBITS~
~ANOTHER DOWNFALL.....HAT and STORAGE BOXES~

~MY LOVE OF VINTAGE RIBBONS~
~MY LOVE FOR VINTAGE BUTTONS AND VINTAGE JARS~(Close ups TOMORROW....more of my COLLECTIONS like VINTAGE GLITTER and OLD OLD SEASHELLS)
So all of you out there, PLEASE CREATE and DO SOME FUN STUFF FOR ME....Let me live thru you while you make GORGEOUS THINGS!!! I LOVE ALL OF YOUR BLOGS and THEY ARE BETTER THAN ANY MAGAZINE I COULD SUBSCRIBE TO.....KEEP IT UP.....BECAUSE I AM YOUR FAVORITE FAN!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy
DISCLAIMER OF PICTURE ABOVE....LOL It IS THE "OTHER SIDE" of MY SHOP/ROOM.....TOLD YOU IT WAS A DISASTER but I wanted you to see that it's NOT ALWAYS BUTTERFLIES AND ROSES.....Just LIKE LIFE!!!

~AND THE WINNERS ARE~

....AND THE FOUR WINNERS ARE for VINTAGE GOODIES

MARY @ CRASH N SMASH

STEPHANIE @ ANGELIC ACCENTS

CAROLE @ SCOUNDRELS and ROGUES

BETTY @ SHE'S SO PRETTY

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ENTERING.....and those of you who won, PLEASE e-mail me with your address!!!!Love and Hugs, Amy

~4th Chemo Kickin' My Butt~

A quick note (as I am up from yet another HOT FLASH and NIGHT SWEATS) This fourth chemo treatment is very very tiresome, it is kickin my butt and I have never felt this TIRED IN MY LIFE...not even after giving child birth. They told me this might happen and I feel like I am in a totally different world. You know when you walk out of the dark movie theater and everything is bright and sunny and just off....well, that is how I have felt since I got home Wednesday from chemo. I am very light headed and weak and all I am doing is sleeping.

Hang in there with me, I will answer every one's emails sometime tomorrow and please know, we tried this entire 4th treatment without any kids and it's been the BEST THING FOR ME!!!
I am on 3 NEW different medicines to see if we can keep me out of the hospital...YIPPY SKIPPY!!!
Until Tomorrow (well, I guess it is tomorrow but, I am going back to bed, yet again)
Hugs and Love, Amy

~Don't Forget about the give away~

~Now thru Labor Day~Don't forget to sign up in the below post~

Please be sure to add your email address or a way of contact in case you don't have a blog.

If you want to email me (contact info is on the right hand side of your screen) you can enter that way too.

HAVE FUN!!!
Amy

(Oh and everything on the website is 50% off......time for a clearance sale)

~A FUN Vintage GIVEAWAY~Paying it Forward~

~A FUN VINTAGE GIVEAWAY~ FOUR....YES, 4 GIVEAWAYS THIS TIME!!! Everything you see in the above picture is what I am going to give away to four lucky winners. Now thru Labor Day just leave a comment on my blog and I will add your name to the drawing. I will pick four winners late Labor Day evening or first thing Tuesday Morning (depending on how I feel after chemotherapy). Lots of fun stuff for any kind of projects. Read the list below.....HAVE FUN!!!!
BIG Christmas GLITTER POSTCARD TAG, Red MERRY CHRISTMAS WORDS, Reproduction 1800's FRENCH TUDOR ROSES GIFT WRAP, 3 Brown Acorn and Maple Leaf Gift Tags, 1 Grungy Cinnamon and Cloves Star Tag, & 4 Vintage Gold Leaves.
8 Darling Reproduction CHRISTMAS GIRL GARLAND, 1 Foot of Vintage Gold Self Adhesive Rick-Rack, 1 Foot of Vintage Silver Self Adhesive Ribbon Tape, 1 Foot of Vintage Pink Beads, and 5 of the BEST 1935 Symphonies of Brahms and Tschaikowsky in Score MINIATURE Sheet Music. (this stuff is so cool as it is the size of a regular sheet of sheet music, only there is 4 scores on each page. PERFECT for making cards, alter art, tags or framing.
1 Reproduction Catherine Klein Mini Print, 3 feet of Vintage White Lacey Package Ribbon, 3 feet of Vintage Silver Lacey Package Ribbon, 3 feet of White Vintage Lacey Package Ribbon and 5 VINTAGE SHEETS from 1916 of CHOPIN'S Works for the Piano!!!!
The picture above is all the vintage items that I got this fun collection from. MY FAVORITES are the MINIATURE Sheet Music and the OLD Pink Beads on the spool.....GOOD LUCK and ENJOY.....Amy

~So Disappointed, BUT Still Honored~

~SO DISAPPOINTED, BUT STILL HONORED~Well darn it, I am so disappointed as we didn't get to go to the Lance Armstrong Presidential Forum as there was too much red tape involved and it just wasn't going to happen. I am really bummed out but they did thank us for being so accommodating and willing. Oh well, maybe next time....And it really was an HONOR TO EVEN BE ASKED in the first place. So that's pretty cool!!!!

On a POSITIVE NOTE, My Sweet Oncologist, Dr. Ghosh, was able to have lunch with Lance and speak with him then, I even seen them together on the news, so that's pretty cool. I will get the whole story when I go in on Wednesday for my next blood work, check up and chemo treatment.

If you can, please pray that my head cold that I am getting goes away and that the water I am retaining also floats away because I don't want to take any more drugs....I am pretty sick of that part of all of this. WHEW!!!!

It's been nice having the kids back in school however, I haven't done a thing. I am still sleeping whenever I can, which is most of the day....LOL. Other than that...just think....after Wednesday...ONLY 2 MORE TREATMENTS!!!! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE????

Is anyone in the FALL/WINTER MOOD YET???
I am going to have a FREE GIVEAWAY TOMORROW to kick off the FALL SEASON!!!

Love and Hugs to ALL OF YOU and I can't wait to give something away, Amy