reflections

Many of you have been asking if I'm really moving and the answer is yes, I am. Over the past few weeks situations have been escalating to a point where I have to leave. Do I want to leave? No, I don't. I always pictured Cruz growing up in a town with the same friends from elementary to high school. I didn't have that growing up and I really wanted it for Cruz but I guess things happen in life and now we have to leave. It's all happening so fast and it's been really overwhelming but I hope that in the end this will be a positive change. If I stay, everything will probably get worse and I'll continue to be hurt and I can't handle it anymore. I also feel like I have to try and give Cruz the best possible life with me. I have to protect him and provide him with a good home. If we move he can have a yard and a pet. He'll also have cousins to play with. I know that it will be hard at first but I know he's strong enough to handle it.  I'm going to mis...

I really wish I could sleep. Ever since my cancer diagnosis I haven't been able to sleep really well except for infusion days. I look forward to infusion days because I know that I will actually get some sleep. Am I a weird person because I look forward to cancer treatments? The nurses must get annoyed with me too because I love talking to them especially because lately I haven't really had anyone take me that wants to stay by my side. They're the only ones who have an idea of what cancer patients go through. I feel like they're the only ones who understand me. I think that's kind of sad but I can't force anyone to stay or become friends with me. Having a friend with cancer must be hard but ignoring them isn't the best way to deal with it. It's tough on a relationship too but it doesn't help to leave them to do it alone.  I'm in a tough spot in my life. So many decisions to make and I wish I had someone by my side to help me make them. I often ...

Cruz broke down crying tonight. It breaks my heart to watch him in pain, emotional or physical.  I think the enormous weight of our current situation is finally affecting him. I wish I could fix it. I wish there was something I can say or do that will make him feel better. That everything will be okay. We just hugged and I cried with him until he felt well enough to go to sleep.  Cruz and I have been thinking about moving so that we can start over fresh somewhere else. I know that part of his sadness comes from wanting to stay with his friends. I remember being sad when I moved as a child and having to make new friends.  It's a big change. Sometimes he likes the idea because he said we could get a house with a big yard and we could get a cat. But the friends part is really making him sad.  Truth is, I really don't want to move myself but it may be for the best. I'm so confused.  Moving would mean so many changes with me healthcare. It means finding a new job...

I haven't written a blog in a long time. I'm sorry. I feel like I've been going through so many emotions lately. Happiness, sadness, anxiety. There's just too many emotions that it's been overwhelming. I've been in this dark place for a couple weeks now. Sometimes I feel okay and other days I don't want to get out of bed but I do because I have no choice but to keep going. I keep telling myself that I can't keep letting myself get hurt all the time and I've been asking God, why? Why do I keep letting it happen? Why do I have incurable cancer? I'm sure he has a plan but right now, at this moment, I really don't like it. This is the natural process though, right? You go through all these stages of grieving and you just have to make the choice to pick up the pieces and keep going. I have to be strong and get my balls back, so to speak. I can't keep being a pushover and I need to stand up for myself. It's not as easy as it sounds though. ...

Today is my fourth Mother's Day after cancer. I was diagnosed a month before Mother's Day in 2012 and to be honest I wasn't sure I would still be here today...but I am. And for that I am grateful. Cruz was just 5 years old and in kindergarten and now he's almost 9 years old and on his way to fourth grade. We had a rough start, Cruz and I. I feel like I've been fighting to live since the day he was born.  As some of you may already know, I almost bled to death on the day he was born. I lost most of the blood that circulated my body and ended up needing multiple blood transfusions, IV fluids, intubation, a partial hysterectomy and a one night stay in the ICU with another 4 days on the maternity unit. Fortunately Cruz was a healthy baby boy with no medical problems. That day I lost my ability to ever be pregnant again but I was lucky enough to be the mother of my Cruz and at that time the doctors made a point to tell me that technically I could still have biological ch...

It's been a long month but at the same time it flew by. It just means I'm one month closer to having to go back to work. Ahhhhhh! That's how I feel about that. Please don't think that I don't love being a nurse. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it! I love my patients. I love taking care of them and being a part of their recovery process. I love making a difference during a tough part of a patient's life. I just don't like being treated like shit every time I go to work. And it's not the patients that do it, just to clarify. I'm just hoping that something works out for me at another facility and SOON cuz I missing taking care of patients. I actually miss inserting a foley catheter. I've been told by patients that I'm pretty good at that so that says something. Lol. I miss giving injections, setting up IV's, hanging IV antibiotics, basically I miss helping my patients.  At the same time, I'm enjoying some parts of my time off. I don't feel so st...

I think everyone needs a good cry once in awhile. Unfortunately for me, I think I get more than my fair share of tears. I don't think most people realize how tough it is to live with cancer and how it affects every single aspect of your life. To be honest, I don't think people want or care to know. People are happy living in their own bubbles which is fine but reach out every once in awhile. That's all I'm saying. I just wish that I could go on an actual vacation to leave all of this behind for a few days and enjoy myself. Hawaii sounds nice, doesn't it?  So far being home on medical leave hasn't been as relaxing as I hoped. It's nice to actually get a little more rest and my pain isn't bothering me as much but there's still the financial stress that just won't go away. It's difficult not to worry about it but I'm really trying not to let it take over my thoughts on a daily basis. I should go out on walks more so that I can clear my min...