That Ol'e Higher Power Really Does Work In Mysterious Ways

Have you ever heard that saying the #Lord , God, that #HigherPower works in Mysterious ways? Okay well I know I am probably not the best example to Future #survivors You guys just kind of have to look at me like a Mom lol "Do as I say Not as I do ".

Anyway yes I have been procrastinating about seeing a doctor ... might shock some to know but I have not stepped into a doctors office in well over a year now, and then it was because i had a bad cold that almost went to pneumonia and I got a round of antibiotics and steroids, and was supposed to make an appointment because I knew then I needed to get some blood work done.... well 1 week at a time procrastinating and here I am about 60 weeks or so later.... and still have not gone. The past year it is hard to admit out loud (Or type) but quality of life has somewhat declined, but mainly because of my own stubbornness. Everyone wants you to take pills or schedule tests that load you with chemicals etc.... I just didn't want to put anything into my body anymore... I haven't taken anything at all for a year now, I even stopped taking the levothyroxine for my thyroid completely at this point... early last year I was getting unable to sleep, losing weight, appetite loss... the usual symptoms and I cut the dosage in half and for a few months that was better I slept and ate again.... then it came back so I dropped it completely, that was like last October or so, and again seemed to help.... but yeah I need to get that checked out because I can't cut the dose any more ...
Doctors had said #thyroid was wiped out by #radiation treatments cause in the line of fire but could possibly regrow ... So who knows maybe I'm hyperactive now? I get occasional pancreatitis attacks and pass the random small kidney stones here and there... (I think usually as a result of trying to use over the counter pain relievers... I know its a no no but pain in one body part or another which tends to decide how the day is going that day seems to have designated himself my best buddy.

SO Any way lol #ChemoBrain I digress

So I was saying He works in mysterious ways because Yeah been #procrastinating and Know I have to see a doctor (Yuck I hate going to doctors I don't have time for that (or energy I am too busy trying to do STUFF that I need to do on a daily basis) and now in the course of doing stuff....

I was in the barn getting the horses their grain and son of a bitch something flew into my ear... and I do not mean just flew into (or maybe dropped from ceiling no idea didn't get to see it) I mean this sucker proceeded to intentionally immediately drill deeper into my ear... DO YOU KNOW HOW LOUD A BUG CRAWLING UP AGAINST YOUR EARDRUM IS? Man!!!! I mean this sucker went to town. Of course tried to get it with finger, piece of hay stalk, water from hose, etc..... nope sucker just kept burrowing.... and I am like #WTF How deep can the damn thing go? Finish with animals and by this time cannot stand the vibration in my ear and it's messing with my balance .... Up to the house..... ALCOHOL.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm okay well it is quiet now.... but cannot flush out and as if it is not bad enough my poor ears always ring anyway, and I can't hear well now my right ear is like muffled and irritated from alcohol and q tip digging and common sense dictates I am doing nothing but pushing it in deeper... 

GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRR.
Now after much swearing and fussing and stomping about in the course of all this.... I mean really I had things to get done.... I ended up doing the only thing we #CancerSurvivors can do some times.... I ended up #laughing, cracking up and looking on the #BrightSide.... Hey so you got a bug in your ear and you can't clean and go transplant the mints you were going to move today..... BUT at least I am calling the doctor... lol been so long probably not there anymore ahahaha... Who would have thunk with all the issues of the past year that I have just got through on my own a #BugInMyEar would be what makes me FINALLY go ? Well I guess since I "Have" to go in I will get some of that blood work done at least that I have put off so long .

Yes This Cancer Survivor Is Still Kicking

Hello all I know I said I would try to get on here more often and keep this blog alive ;) I am still kicking and even though not able to stay outside in the extreme heat for too long at a time I do continue to live on my little farm and putter with my various herbs and plantings. My faithful Shug has passed on but My Jake and Earnie are still fat and sassy and enjoying what my husband refers to as a life of permanent vacation. lol I tell people if they are reincarnated people that wanted to be a horse they must have been very good people to have such a sweet life. I take good care of my big babies even if I do not have the energy after meeting all of their needs to really ride anymore, I get as much satisfaction just being around them and soaking up good horsey vibe mojo energy ;) .

I should have brought the camera out with me... I  promise next time I will :)

The honeysuckle are a riot of blossoms here and I have been out there pretending to be a Giant hummingbird and savoring the sweet nectar lol.

Did you know honeysuckle are beneficial and use is mentioned in ancient Chinese medical text?

Anyway I am trying to keep my word as a #CancerSurvivor and Keep the blog alive as long as I am so even though I am keeping the post short (Because I really am the busiest unpaid person in the world lol) Here I am and Off I go and just a reminder our #CancerSupport facebook group can be found here and we welcome everyone 
Love Deb

Just wanted to share the link to my book that is filled with interesting, helpful and heartfelt advice about Life Before During and Beyond Cancer http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Expecting-Cancer/dp/1492387789/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386810477&sr=1-4&keywords=throat+cancer

Hello and greetings and apologies for not getting around ot checking my Google accounts lately :) I have as always and as usual been staying very  busy... It is hard to believe 2 years have flown by since Congress's shenanigans with the farm bill and limits to sales outside certain radius's made me decide the Herbal Tea business, (even though I do of course continue to grow here for friends and personal use), was just too much work for me outside and too iffy and stressful and worrisome as far as from a legal aspect and confusing tax matters to continue.

I am glad to see so many have enjoyed the information and I wanted to take a moment in response to numerous inquiries... yes anyone who would like to make use of or share the blog entries with proper credit back that is fine with me ... it is after all more about sharing knowledge with each other.

I wish I had saved the yola site info :( It was so well organized and had so many nice pictures ;) Alas I guess I waited too long, or Yola is no more? Either way links to site have gone dead so this blog is all that is left of the herb information compiled over the years.

As far as myself I am still here and still kicking ...  I have published my first book available on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Expecting-Cancer/dp/1492387789/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386810477&sr=1-4&keywords=throat+cancer

I have also published a couple of children's books  http://www.amazon.com/Day-Lion-Learned-Not-Bully/dp/1493702106/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396022614&sr=1-4&keywords=debra+paulsen   as well as begun a #Teachers Resource #Classroom & #Clubs #Children's #GroupActivity book series as well.  http://www.amazon.com/How-Lion-Learned-Not-Bully/dp/1494441349/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396022681&sr=1-1&keywords=debra+paulsen

Currently I am working hard on a 5 book Classrooms and Clubs #Teacher Resource set about #EmergencyPreparedness for Pre K - 3rd Grade due out at the end of May.

I will try to get back here occasionally and you are of course all welcome to find me at one of the many facebook pages / groups I manage or am a member of, and I am on these regularly (lol Daily pretty much) .


https://www.facebook.com/groups/215366621962547/

https://www.facebook.com/MsmManipulatesCnnFoxArePropagandaTools


My Personal "Baby"  https://www.facebook.com/pages/R-R-O-O-T-S-Real-Restrictions-On-Officials-Trading-Stocks/296178800403843

And of course I still stay busy volunteering with my Kids at the center in our Tortoise Pack too https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brick-West-End-Tortoise-Pack-Mascot/178579952221774

Ooops I did it again

I know I am always letting the days slip away from me without getting any updates here, bad me bad me:)
Anyone else watch Housewives of New Jersey? It became a dirty little pleasure while I was going through my cancer treatments, and the seemingly never ending process of recouperation, I was watching more Television then. I still like the New Jersey Housewives though, haven't been able to find the New York Housewives, and I do not care for the D.C., not a big tv watcher really, but I just happened to get hooked on the New Jersey Housewives women. Teresa is my freagin' favorite, lol did you see her shove the host out of the way like he was a fly, lol. Her and Danielle make the whole show. Wish I could tell them to try my teas, I bet they go to all kinds of fancy restaurants. I tell my husband when they're on that my "friends" are coming over lol.
OK
What else have I been up to? Well bringing in a lot of stevia over the past week, and mint the week before that, and soon will be gathering a second nice cut off the lemon balm:) Always doing something around here. That's ok, I would rather stay busy anyway, less time for thought. Come on September 9th lol, can't wait till it gets here and gone.
Well, I am bouncing quickly, trying to update in a few places in a few minutes, but I promise not to stay away so long next time:)

I Am Not Defined by My Cancer

Many experts state that a blog is supposed to have a focus, a sharing of specific knowledge.
I am a cancer survivor, and like many others I know deep in my inner recesses, where I hide it away, that I will always have the shadow of cancer returning at any time looming over me. This is an aspect of my life that I would like to share experiences about. What did it feel like when I heard the news I had cancer? What was it like going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments? What was the hardest? What helped me through it that might help someone else? I am working on a book right now detailing these issues, it is called You Can is Part of Your Cancer Diagnosis. So yes cancer related issues will be a popular topic here.
All of my life I have had difficulties fitting into prepared boxes, so my blog should be true to me, and reflect this. While I would like to share tips and inspire other cancer patients, I would not want my life to be defined by this one aspect.
Every day is a new day, and one never knows what I may feel like relaying on any given day.
In the course of recovery I have ups an downs, good and bad days so my mood will no doubt play a role in the daily tone. Did I over due it in the garden today, and I regret it now? Am I frustrated because I have not had enough energy to go riding on my fireball quarter horse Jake yet? Am I satisfied because the plants are doing well going from the greenhouse to the outside garden? Did I stop and smell the roses (Currently the lilacs and wisteria are in bloom here, I LOVE lilacs)? I may write on any of these topics. I may reflect on something as simple, yet as beautiful as a spider web strung with jewels made of morning dew. I may be irritated, infuriated, saddened or elated by transpiring current events or trends. I may get good or bad news at any time during my follow up care appointments. I may even wax poetic occasionally. So you see the focus, if there must be one, is broad; the focus is life.
While I am limited physically in what I am able to do, and accomplish, and working from home as a research writer, I therefore am not getting out in the world much, except for doctors appointments, it would be nice to be able to interact with others.

After Cancer Treatment; PEG Tube Removal

So besides starting my first blog I had another first today: I had my PEG Tube, which is AKA as A percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube, removed from where it has been implanted in my belly since November last year.
I am recovering from throat cancer, and I definitely used the thing, but it's about summer and I was ready for it to be gone.
The Dr. didn't agree it should come out yet, and said the nurse never should have made the appointment without checking with him first. I'll tell you what after waiting over two hours to be seen, after looking forward to losing this PEG tube as a high point for the past week, I was not leaving with it still in. Long story short, he wanted me to sign an agreement that taking it out was against medical advice release, and I got what I wanted. OUCH, Hurray, OUCH, or as Charlie Sheen would say "Holy Mother of God!!!".
I researched getting it out, and it seemed like it would be no big deal. The majority of the sites explained it was just a matter of deflating the little balloon situated inside my belly, and the tube will pull right out. I did wonder why a couple of the sites that showed up in the google search mentioned IV sedation for pain management though. No Problem.
Yes well Problem, Mine did not have a deflatable balloon, only a solid collar the Dr. said. He also said it was going to hurt real bad. He was right! He held one hand against my abdomen, and with the other YANKED a golf ball size piece of rubber out through a hole in my belly smaller than a pencil. Ouch.Ouch. Ouch is all I can say. It was like being shot in the stomach from the inside out.
All taped up now, not supposed to open it to look till tomorrow when I am to change the bandage.

LOL my husband reminded me, I forgot to mention that when I was insisting to the Doctor that I wanted it out, I was also looking around the room for a pair of scissors, I said I was going to cut the end off, and then he would have to take it out.