Happy Solstice

Happy Solstice, merry Yule and may the returning light bring with it joy, healing and creativity.

I made these cards for an exchange I am in but thought it would do perfectly for my Solstice card.

I haven't sent any cards ,apart from one to Mr Mogs mother. We decided to donate to the chemo unit instead as they do such a sterling job.

So chemo. Mr Mog had his first treatment last Tuesday. The week before was awful , so many tears shed by both of us. Most of them through fear of the Unknown. We didn't know what to expect.

On the day itself our friend drove us to the unit and told us to phone when we were ready to  come home. Once the chemo nurse greeted us and took us to the unit it all became much less worrying.

They were so friendly and helpful. Explained everything that was going to happen to Mr Mog. Gave us a short DVD to watch which explained even more. As they started to prepare him for the drip they told Mr M that they would stop anytime he felt uncomfortable or if he wasn't sure of anything. They made us both a cup of tea and brought biscuits then showed us where to find more drinks hot and cold. It took around 4 hours for this first appointment but we were told subsequent ones would be less.

The week since has not been good. We have had doctor out several times and I had to ring the chemo helpline both days over the weekend as Mr Mog was constantly burping and being sick. He was given different  anti sickness tablets and they seem to have helped. He has been very tired and last night was in bed before 9. Today he is asleep now at 9 also.  But he was still not good this morning and had a very sore mouth and throat. Our GP came and has prescribed drops as it is thrush.  It's frightening and worrying to see such a vibrant man looking so frail and poorly. I hope the chemo helps him. His next appointment is 5th January . All healing thoughts are gratefully received. Thank you.

btw the magpies came to visit morning after chemo as they do most days. As for the bunny that came with the online purchase of a thermometer. Totally unexpected. The package said for your child;)

Cancer update

radiotherapy didn't help. New drugs (abiraterone )  didn't either. Oncology appointment was last Tuesday as I brought it forward a week due to Mr Mogs dreadful pain and deterioration. Chemotherapy has now been offered and starts on Tuesday so long as Monday's blood tests allow. The appointment was awful, Mr Mog collapsed due to the shock I think and his blood pressure dropped incredibly low. It took a while to bring him round with the help of sweet tea. Hoping the chemo helps him as he cant stand for very long, can't walk more than a few steps without needing to catch his breath. Hard to believe the deterioration in just a few short weeks. I suspect Yule will be a somber affair. We aren't sending Yule cards this year but instead we are making a donation to the oncology centre. One good point in it all, we have a fantastic doctor. He is sadly only with the surgery until summer as he is a registrar doing a while with GP. He is an absolute star, he has visited most days to avoid Mr Mog needing to go to surgery and has continually tweaked the pain medication to try and ease the pain. Today's visit he again increased the drugs for Mr Mog. He always mentions how lovely the house is and how wonderfully it smells. I think he likes visiting us;)

Better day:)

Mr Mog slept last night and wasn't sick or today thankfully which gives meds a chance. Thanks everyone for all the cards, phone calls and online messages they have really helped us both.
I've been distracting myself;)

 The darker pictures are more true to life, it's hard to get accurate snaps this time of year.

The key box was donated by a friend and will be going to another friend for her Yule gift.

Cancer update 2

A bad few days for Mr Mog after the radiotherapy. Ended up on oramorph Friday plus lax drinks to counter the effects of it and anti sickness pills. Friday was ok and relatively pain free but  yesterday was terrible with lots of vomiting (mr Mog) and tears both of us. He wasn't going to have any more oramorph but had a little last night and managed to sleep. Today he was sick from lunch time and has spent the day in bed. It will be an early phone call to the GP when the surgery opens. Only drugs he would take are paracetamol which obviously don't cut it.

Radiotherapy update

scan and radiotherapy done. We are home and Mr Mog is very sore with itchy burning skin. E45 is coming in very handy

Sock knitting/oncology again

Yesterday was oncology. Mr Mog was prodded and questioned on pain etc. A decision was made

Scan and a blast of radiotherapy today but higher area than last times marathon.

Sock knitting continues. The scan has been done we are now waiting for his radiotherapy session.

Oncologist has been to check the scans and give us both huge hugs. 

She is a star and always puts us at ease despite the anxiety. We are lucky to have her as Mr Mogs oncologist.

Mr M has to have a tablet prior as the area being done can cause nausea. We have been told that there can be a sore throat and possible inflammation of the lungs. The pain will probably be worse before it improves:(. 

But it's treatment and that's the positive thing.

Vibes are always appreciated.

Thank you

Keeping on keeping on - just. Ps lots of pictures

It has been a while hasn't it? I didn't mean to be absent so long, sorry. How have things been with you? Good I hope?

It's been a mixed kind of time for us chez Moggie.

I made cards again. This was my first venture into cards in a long while. I thought Samhain was a good time to start.

 I played with boxes, paint and stuff from the craft drawers.

I found it therapeutic stencilling, glueing and painting.

Not sure who for, but it was the doing that was important.

Close ups - just because

 

I knit a sock on our visits to oncology

I did a shawl for a swap and a cowl for a swap. Then decided maybe I ought to knit a cowl for me

I did another box, just because I wanted to

I spent lots of time this past couple of weeks at doctors with Mr Mog

Trying to find the right painkiller combination as the back pain moved from lower back to under the shoulder blades and was so painful that breathing in hurt

We spent Monday at the ambulatory care unit at the local hospital while they did tests to see why painkillers weren't helping.

Chest X-ray, ecg and blood tests came back ok, apart from the White blood cells being raised

Doctor decided not to do scans as Mr Mog is at oncology this next week 

We went back to doctors for different painkillers as yet again they were only taking the edge off the pain.

We went back again yesterday for more drugs and these helped a little more. 

But night wasn't good so today doctor added in diazepam to help with muscle  spasms.

We wait for Tuesday, wondering if the cancer has moved again. It's going to be a long weekend

But friends are due to visit and that will help. Laughter is a great distraction and knowing people care. The doctor is wonderful, an old fashioned type of caring doctor .one who has asked us to ring him after oncology to let him know how we are and what has happened.

Isnt that good? 

Watch this space and please send all the vibes you can, they will be very gratefully received.

Thank you

Autumn scenes

More moon pictures because this months moon is so beautiful. These were taken last night when she first appeared above the house 

I have felt great peace within my heart as I stood outside each night waiting for her to rise

She has calmed my fears and given me strength 

Today we took our eldest grandson to the Lakes as he wished to ride a few passes before starting university 

We left him at the start of his first pass and then Mr Mog and I enjoyed the beauty of the lakes by car. Far less strenuous for both of us.

Most of these are taken from a moving car because despite it being the end of September the Lake District was exceedingly busy and it seemed like every spare piece of ground was occupied by cars, even quite a few of the passing places 

But I think you can see we had a perfect day for our jaunt

Our grandson enjoyed himself immensely. We did have a confusing time when we were trying to contact him and vice versa. Lots of the lakes has no mobile signal which makes me wonder why the rescue organisations tell people to always have a mobile phone with them when they climb the hills.

What use will it be? 

Of moons and magpies

I love magpies  and they are one of my totems or that's how I think of them.

I used to be afraid of seeing them when I was much younger. I thought it was bad luck. If I saw one I searched for ages to find a second to neutralise the bad luck. Then I did a lot of meditating on my fears around magpies and decided perhaps my fears were telling me something. That maybe magpie was telling me to face my fears, rather than run away. Also magpies are brightly plumaged , I love a spot of colour in my own outfits. They use that colour and I too use my colours to shield , to lift my spirits when I feel low.

Once I thought it through I knew magpies were part of my life and as such I always greet them whenever one is to be seen.

We have always had lots around chez Moggie and at this time of year we normally see three together on the roof, in the garden and quite often tapping hallo on the conservatory roof as they did this morning. Mr Mog took these pictures for me when the magpies landed on the aerial over the road

Aren't they stunning birds? And yes I know they eat a lot of young birds but nature isn't always sweetness and light sadly.

Last night was the super moon and the lunar eclipse as I am sure most people were aware of. These pictures were taken before the eclipse. Around midnight . I did get up at 3-30 but couldn't see anything from front or back of the house and to have gone outside would have woken Mr Mog. He isn't sleeping very well with this sore back and to be honest neither am I. I think I am worrying a little more than normal and night time, or early morning, is when it is at its worst. So I didn't go out to watch the eclipse but could feel the energies waxing and waning all through the night. 

It feels almost as though a weight has been lifted today. I have felt almost giddy with the lack of pressure on my head. I am hoping that the energies have changed and that we have a better dark half of the year. I hope you do too.

I've been looking at all the incredible pictures around the web of the eclipse, truly magical and awe inspiring.

How was it with you?

Today I have been painting 2 small canvases with gesso ready to collage things on them to creat an underwater scene. I haven't felt like spinning for a few days and my knitting has been on a shawl for a swap I am in.

Once it's finished and the receiver has opened her parcel I will post pictures. I am quite pleased with progress but getting a little worried that my handspun may run out before the pattern is completed. It will be a close run thing.