Last blog for 2014….. Happy Christmas lovely people

So it’s Christmas Eve Eve in the Morley house, last blog till the new year and I am not sure what to say today.  I am full of a head cold and still suffering from the Chemo, but the sleeping tablets have really helped this time around.  Dosing up on paracetamol, vapour rub and throat sweets so all is ok. Oh and chocolates thanks to my amazing work colleagues – Love to you all 🙂

Usually Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I can never wait to pull open the pressies and over indulge in food and drink, but this year I am just blessed to be surrounded by amazing family and friends, don’t get me wrong the pressies will be lovely but given the last three months I am just happy to be here and to have had such great news at the hospital last week.

We still don’t know whats ahead of us long term but I am happy to be looking to a brighter future and certainly won’t be taking things for granted, or taking life to seriously, I never realised how quickly your outlook can change on life but mine has in an instant.

I still cannot thank everyone enough for all the support we have had as a family over the last three months, we have been so overwhelmed and I am getting upset just writing this.  Support from family, colleagues, friends, old friends, old work colleagues from LSIS and TFS, new friends, other bloggers, cancer friends from the hospital, friends in Greece (STORMXX).  I will certainly never forget receiving all this support.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year and Santa brings you everything you wished for.

Lisa xxxxxxx

Highlights of the year (it wasn’t all bad)

Andy Turned 30! top night with great friends and lovely times with the Morleys/Watsons/Sheehans

Somerset fun with Andrew for my 29th – cider/walks/afternoon teas/ champagne/trains/beach

Centre Parcs with friends – Happy 30th Ian we had a great time 🙂 – pottery/walks/pancakes/swimming/drinking/falling in lake/swans/red wine/tandems/fun with Alfie and Ollie

Wicksteed park with the Sheehans 🙂

Gary Barlow with Mum, Dad and Drew – lush food and great company

Mum & Dad Morleys Ruby Wedding – Congratulations

Russell Howard in Manchester – date nights 🙂

Friends having babies – congrats Becky and Julie on the birth of Owen and Tommy

Weddings – Congrats Mr & Mrs Winterburn

2 Year Wedding Anniversary – Love you Mr Morley – Today/Tomorrow/Forever!

Weekend in Blackpool – seeing the lights/time away/relax/the tower

Christmas Afternoon tea with the bridesmaids – love you all couldn’t have got through this without my friends 🙂

A few of our friends are expecting little ones – congratulations ladies you know who you are xxxx

Last but not least Second chances xxxx

Mixed feelings

Had a more active week I have been busy making christmas decorations for my friends children, watching movies, researching to keep up with online stuff, x mas fun with he hubby, and helped mum with her x mas tree which I try to do every year (a little early I know but with chemo looming it was the best time)  just the medicine I needed before the chemo kicks in tomorrow.

So Andy took a few days off work so that he can take me to chemo and have a few nice days together before I have it.

So the weekend started with snowcones, christmas winter fun at the wonderland in London, x mas shopping, movies on the sofa, roast dinner at mums, followed by an amazing make-up course with look good feel better at the hospital this week,the two Morgan sisters visited me last night with some home cooked ginger/cardamon and orange cookies (to help with my sickness after chemo)

Look good feel better

I was told about this course when I was diagnosed, unfortunately it was fully booked till feb 2015.  On friday the hospital informed me of a cancellation for this week.  I jumped at the chance to take the place.

The course was for two hours and is to help women combat the visible side effects of cancer treatments.  All of us were given a kit to take home which is put together by 40 member companies of the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Foundation – eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, cleanser, toner, moisturizer, eye cream, lip liner, 2 lipsticks, chapstick, blusher, primer, concealer, a brush, foundation, concealer, and perfume.  All really good make stuff from Elizabeth Arden, Max Factor, Clinique, L’oreal, No 7, Estee Lauder, Lancome.

The kit itself is just amazing but the women who volunteer to deliver the course are just wonderful, the course really helped pick me up and perfect timing for the next round of chemo.  I learnt tips for when and if my eyebrows completely fall out, ways to do your eyeliner, how to wear your make up, how best to wear your blusher, lipstick, keeping your skin moisturised, how to get rid of he dark circles under your eyes.   I am hoping in the future when i am better to do some fundraising for this amazing charity.

I was nervous on arriving at the course, looking around he room at 20 women of all ages, some with wigs, some without, and some with headscarves like me.  As soon as people started talking i realised there was nothing to be nervous about, we were all going through the same emotions and similar symptoms, we were all happy to be together and learning and everyone was so positive.  I would recommend this to any woman with cancer, even if you have good make up skills it was just a great way of getting a boost through others and through looking better. http://www.lgfb.co.uk

Check up today-

Today was my consultant visit which seemed to take forever – my appointment was at 11.30 and i wasn’t seen till 12.45, the doctor checked me over like he always does, asked me to go over my last there weeks and all the symptoms, and reviewing my drugs.  After this i had my routine bloods, then on to picking my prescription up which was a 45 minute wait. After a few hours they called and gave me the thumbs up to have my chemo tomorrow.

I wait for the call from the nurse desperate to hear that it will go ahead, but then when the call finally arrives to tell me it’s going ahead my heart sinks because I know whats ahead of me.  I know that it is killing the cancer each and every time, but the more I have the harder it gets.  I am dreading tomorrow and the two weeks ahead.  By christmas I will be 5 down and with positive CT scan results in hand fingers crossed.

Quick thanks again to everyone who keep sending messages, emails, gifts, letters,baking and cards it really means so so much.

L xxxxx

A quick very BIG thanks xxxxxxxxxxxx

I have been overwhelmed by lovely text messages, emails, phone calls, posts on Facebook, presents, cards, flowers, plants, chocolates, magazines, craft books, cupcake books, Jo Malone goodies, sleep jumpers, pj’s, glass ornaments, LEGO (for the hubby), poems, owl teddies, scarfs, socks,COD, books, vouchers, cinema tickets, photo frames, specialist creams, lip balms, face packs, bubble baths, candles, cushions, blankets,  my cousin in Canada shaved her head for me, i can’t list them all the list really does go on and on.

This is just a quick thanks to everyone that has sent these, they have helped lift my mood more than you will ever realise, they have cheered me up at all the right times and i will forever be grateful for everything.

A BIG THANKS FROM ME XXXXXX