Much better day today

Morning Walk
A beautiful walk in the sunshine.  I leave feeling a bit nauseous, taking an anti-nausea pill.  My stomach settles and has been fine all day.  Here are some snaps from my walk - the twist into Autumn is changing my view every day.

 Apple tree - there are lots.  The apples are starting to look ripe.

Berries that are blooming.  Any idea what these are?

Jools comes to visit
It was great to catch up with old uni friend, Jools.  We met by chance some years ago in Sitges, in Spain (where Helen used to live and spends her birthday there each year) when Martha was a baby.  I didn't have Katy then.  I am now not sure if I have the story correct - Jools, please correct me!  Jools has given me a health promoting drink and a special "green food" supplement.  They are downstairs, so I can't write what they are called - I will amend this.

I have a bite to eat, and then head for a good sleep.  My sleeps are getting longer - they now average two hours a day.

A little shopping trip to Chorlton
I have no radiotherapy appointment.  Hooray!  Martha and Katy are still with Dave, so I head into Chorlton to buy Katy some school PE shorts, and a few bits and pieces.  I drop off a bag load of goodies at the NSPCC charity shop and then I have a juice at battery park that is full of ginger that leaves a very pleasant sensation in my mouth.  I copy down their recipes, planning to duplicate some of them.

I finish sewing name labels in Martha and Katy's school clothes.  I am much better at coordinating my hands; I think this is because my steroids have been reduced. The last time I did it, I had to give up, frustrated.  We are now ready for school.  New cardis, new shirts, new shorts (Katy), new trousers (Katy),  PE kit and then old gear eg. Martha's skirt still fits.

I have also pottered about a bit.  I have started an application for Free School Meals.  I need help with this from someone who is an expert in working with people with cancer, but my salary is halved from tomorrow and very low!  I shall be applying for other benefits, when I get some help.  The forms are designed for people who are in a long term state.  For the application, I have found out my new salary and printed a copy of my Child Tax Credit award for 2013 - 14.

Martha and Katy are due home any time

Have a great day tomorrow
loads of love
Sarah xxx

Martha and Katy become radiographers at Christie Hospital

No Morning Walk today
I get up for 6 am breakfast (I have to eat at this time, so it is 4 hours before my appointment time).  I am very tired.  I don't know if it is as a result of busy day on Thursday; because my steroids have been reduced again, or because it is that time in my radiotherapy cycle.  Whatever the cause, I decide to go back to bed.  Katy gets up at 8.45 am, and I rise too.

Martha and Katy come to Christie Hospital
Dave takes us all to Christie's.  I have arranged for Martha and Katy to come into the radiographer suite to have a look at where I go each day.  They are looked after incredibly well.  We have to wait for the appointment, but when we go in, the girls become assistant radiographers.  I learn things that I didn't know too. 
They are shown the machine (and I see this for the first time too).  It has a special filter that ensures that the shape of the x-rays matches the shape of the cancer cells in my brain.  When you look at the middle of the circle, it is a strange jaggedy shape. 
There are also green rays that are projected from the walls across me.  They line these rays up with the red spots and make sure that I am completely straight.  I am then moved and lined up with green spots, and these put me in the correct position for the x-rays.
Martha and Katy both help put on my mask, and clip me into it.  They are then guided and allowed to move me into the correct position, by pressing buttons.
They all leave for the first phase, and then all return to move me for the next set of x-rays.  In between time, the girls have stayed with the radiographers and looked at me on a TV screen.  Martha and Katy stay with the radiographers all the way through, to moving me down and unclipping my mask.
When we leave, Katy is full of questions and comments.  Typical for Martha, she doesn't say anything.  I will find out how she felt about it in her own time.

Home for a sleep and ongoing tiredness
I have lunch and go to bed.  I sleep for nearly two hours.  My day time sleeps have definitely got longer.  Martha and Katy are out with Dave.
An old NCT (National Childbirth Trust) friend of mine (Jo) came to visit, and we had a good catch up. She has moved Birmingham, so we won't see each other again for some time.  It was great to see her.
I eat a couple of wheat free, sugar free cakes that I was given by Vicky (Ella's mum).  They are soft, moist and very tasty. 

Nausea and tiredness
As the day progresses I become nauseous (nothing to do with the cakes!!).  I go upstairs and lay down, and decide the best thing to do is take anti-nauseous pills and try and sleep it off.  I end up sleeping from 7 ish through to 6 am (apart from a couple of toilet breaks).  I am not sure how I feel now.  I still feel very tired, and I don't know yet about the nausea.  I will have to make sure I eat plenty of fruit today because the anti-nausea drugs bung you up!

Have a good day everyone
love
Sarah xxxxx