From sweet and salty to stage IV metastatic melanoma and everything in between : seattle

Monday, July 31, 2017

Week 4+

I don't know how time has been flying so fast. I want it to slow down, especially since I am now on limited time. I have tried to keep busy but have gotten to a point that things are just too exhausting and so I am staying home more, which I am ok with if it wasn't so dang hot. My swamp cooler just can't keep up with the heat and I end up just sweating like crazy. No fun.

Medically there are a few new things. I am not on oxygen 24/7 and I can tell a big difference in how I feel. I have portable tanks but they have proved to be hard to lug around so I don't venture out too much with them. I also am retaining/producing a lot of fluid and had it all drained off a week ago. They pulled off 6.6 liters/14lbs of fluid. To say I was uncomfortable going in is an understatement. I looked easily 5 months pregnant. I have built up almost that much again and am schedule to have a permanent drain placed tomorrow. It will be good to be able to drain at home and not get to this uncomfortable point. Not looking forward to the placement of it, but it should be quick. The fluid buildup is just a sign that my organs aren't working how they are supposed to, that things are progressing and not in a good way. This is when I know too much and try and not get my head too wrapped up in it all.

I have had a couple get togethers with friends and family so that is nice, but like I said it is proving to be too troublesome and uncomfortable to do that anymore. So now I welcome visitors on my big red couch and we have good conversations and maybe some food or drink.

Here's the photo recap of the last week or so:

Officially on Oxygen

My old school crew visiting at the farmers market

Morgan; one of the many who have made the trip out to see me

6.6 Liters of fluid/14lbs lighter

My best friend forever

My godbabies and whole heart

Got them "A" bracelets so they can remember me, still a bit big but they will grow into them

Also my #melafreakinoma shirts are still available for 3 more weeks booster.com/melafreakinoma3 or I have a new one that's for Reckless Optimism booster.com/recklessoptimism Both help fund my end of life care as well as my celebration of life. My GoFundMe is still open as well gofundme.com/neverquitalexis

oxoxoxox

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Seattle

I got out of town this last weekend! I haven't gone out of town since my diagnosis so it was great to have a change of scenery. My good friend is getting married so we went there for a bachelorette getaway. We stayed downtown and walked all over. I probably walked more than I have in two years! But I kept up! We went to Pike Place and got some good food. The girls did a lot of shopping and it was a good time. Seattle reminds me a lot of San Francisco, with steep hills, lots of fun places to see and eat at. I spent Friday - Sunday with the girls and then Sunday-Tuesday night I met up with my good friends who live about 20 minutes outside of Seattle. We did all the fun touristy things like see the Space Needle, Pike Place again, fish and chips on the pier and we even went to the Washington State Fair. I still wasn't able to drink coffee - I tried and it was a no go! So sad... But we did go visit Starbucks corporate which was pretty cool.
It was a fun and long 4 days and even though it was great to see my good friends and spend time with them, I was excited to get back home. I'll definitely have to visit again soon.

I'm hoping to get out of town again soon, maybe even before Mexico! Here are some pictures from my trip.