St. Martin......ahhhhh

Pictures tell the stories....

Greg and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary this year - January 8th!  Here we are at Wakulla Springs!

i was lucky enough to be chosen as a model for an "In the Pink" fundraiser - it was so much fun and an honor!!  photo taken by heather hixon - renaissance healing

Terri and all the amazing yogis and yoginis from Mindful Motion Yoga put together a couple of amazing events for Making Strides and for Team Christina! Thanks to everyone - it was BEAUTIFUL!!  that's me in the middle! 

Shelby - who i have known since she was born!  - came over from Tallahassee with her amazing Mom, Brooke - and ran the Donna Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer in my honor with her awesome friends!
Congratulations to all of you!

What a great shirt!!!! And I got to see her go by right near my house on mile marker 18!  It was so cool to be able to cheer her on and give her a hug!!

An incredible group of ladies from my Queen's Harbour fitness center classes have been supporting me for awhile.  They trained hard for the half Donna Marathon - and were kind enough to add my classes to their training regimen.  They finished with ease and then surprised me at the end of class with an Olympic type ceremony (it was during the olympics!!) where Karen, Judy, Pam and Sue all came up and placed their hard-earned medals around my neck.  It was very moving and emotional - and so surprising.   I was completely touched and felt empowered by their love and support and from all of my amazing friends at QH!  I cannot thank you enough!  p.s. they also gave me that great hat and bag!! 

I had the amazing opportunity to work with Terri at Mindful Motion Yoga on training yoga teachers in february of 2010!  What a blessing they all are - such an inspiring and fun group of friends and yoga teachers!  Jaime, Terri, Valerie, Elaine, Deborah, Hope, Euboea and Chelsea!

my original yoginis who have been with me since the start of my yoga career - and, more importantly stuck with me and watched me grow SO much!!  have also been through this other journey with me - sticking around, suppporting, laughing - being just what i need.  speaking of that....here is a care package for our trip to St.Martin!! beach towels and sunscreen - perfect - can't wait to (safely) soak up some sun!!

The inspiration and support continues from my originals - or now known as my Church yogis and yoginis because we are lucky enough to gather at the First Christian Church of the Beaches for yoga each week!  This beautiful meaningful plaque was signed on the back by everyone (love you guys so much!) and the Sea Turtle mirror just compliments it perfectly....they both came from "In the Pink." Thank you all so much for making me feel special, loved, strong, human and worthy!!  and thanks so much to Greg for hanging them!!

Finally a big thanks to my friends at the Fresh Market for all of their help during my demos - thanks so much Wendy, William, Joanna, Leanne, Maureen, Joe, Marca, Carlos and everyone.  Thank you too for the beautiful Begonia and card!!  A BIG thank you to Rick for making a special trip out just to see if you could help - and you brought me this precious bear and miniature pink rose - you are too much....especially going through this battle yourself...but, you look great and together we will be strong and fight this stuff!!!

Annual update on health status

As i was revisiting and updating my blog, i realized it has been over a year now that i posted my health status.  There have been lots of changes and hurdles - high highs and low lows - but, all in all i am still surrounded by an amazing community of supportive friends and family - i feel i am so not worthy - but, i am truly - TRULY blessed and blown away everday by all of you....so thank you!!  words cannot express the level of thanks i send out.....

So, on to the update.....we left off in january of last year....gonna try to keep this brief because i am typing one-handed (left) these days.  Continued chemo - Avastin and Abraxane - january through May. May scans showed growth in the right lung lymph node - so we decided to let the new steriotactic radiation machine - Novalis or NTX - have a go at it.  Chemo continued... but, just the abraxane.

july scans showed activity in my left third rib and a lymph node in my sternum area - so, NTX to the rescue again in August.  Stopped chemo since it had clearly run its course.

September, i found out that i had developed a staph infection in my port....luckily no hospital visits, but LOTS of blood cultures.  Finally got that puppy removed in early October.

Scans in november showed growth back in the right lung lymph node, so - Dr. Dees and i decided on Xeloda - a chemo drug in pill form - AWESOME!!

Brain scans in December showed swelling around original brain tumor that was gamma knifed in 12/08.  the tumor is necrotic (dead) but, irritates surrounding tissue in the brain and causes swelling - which hinders use of my right arm, hand, etc.  So, i started on steroids (Decadron) and, by Christmas thought i would go crazy.  i went off the steroids and back on....it is a battle to try to find the right balance between the side effects and the benefits to the use of my right side.

Another brain MRI in January found 7 new little tumors....so, we gave NTX a try on them.  The MRI in February showed those areas resolved - but, unfortunately a number of new spots.  So, onto Whole brain radiation (WBR) - 17 treatments of a low dose.  Just finished that up March 12th and will wait a month for the next MRI. Lost my hair again....from follicle damage....but, fun new wigs.

Have PET scan planned for the end of March -- so, we will see how my Xeloda is doing.   Still on the steroids for the swelling in the left brain, not loving the moonface and many other side effects - but, hoping my mobility improves and soon!!

i think that is it for the medical - but, let me tell you - the year was full of so many great times and 2010 is shaping up to be another fabulous year!!!

next post will be all about those highlights!!!

Christina is the Jacksonville Beach Food Examiner

I have the pleasure nowadays of combining two of my loves - writing and food - on examiner.com.  For those of you who don't know, I majored in journalism at UGA and I was a personal chef in the beaches area from 2001-2009.  A third love that comes into play is my beach neighborhood.  It is so fun to write about local businesses and garner support for them - it is a win, win win!  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Jacksonville Beach Food Examiner - Christina Phipps

Christina voted Jacksonville's Best Yoga Instructor

link to december "best of" issue - check out pages 38 and 59

Yoga Schedule - 2010

Christina's Yoga Schedule - Updated 2010

Mondays:

5 p.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour

6:30 p.m. - All Levels - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)
Tuesdays:
9-10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga (open to public)http://www.mindfulmotion-yoga.com/
Wednesdays:
9-10 a.m. - Walk-n-Weights-n-Yoga - Queen's Harbour
10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour
6-7:30 p.m. - Mind-Body Yoga, Community Ed - Fletcher High School
Thursdays:

9-10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga (open to public) www.mindfulmotion-yoga.com

5-6 p.m. - Gentler Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)
6:10 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. Multi-Level Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)
Fridays:
10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour
5:30-6:45 p.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga

contact christina for more information: cphipps@clearwire.net

Christina's Yoga Schedule - Updated 2009

Mondays:
5 p.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour
6:30 p.m. - Multi-Level Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)
Tuesdays:
9-10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga (open to public)
http://www.mindfulmotion-yoga.com/
Wednesdays:
9-10 a.m. - Walk-n-Weights-n-Yoga - Queen's Harbour
10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour
6-7:30 p.m. - Mind-Body Yoga, Community Ed - Fletcher High School
Thursdays:
9:45-10:45 a.m. - Walk-n-Yoga - Queen's Harbour
5-6 p.m. - Beginner's Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)
6:00 p.m. - Multi-Level Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)
Fridays:
10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour
5:30-6:45 p.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga

Also, Free Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors - 2nd Thursday of each month -
11:30-12:30 at Mindful Motion Yoga
Contact Christina for more information: cphipps@peoplepc.com

A long - but condensed version of the last two and a half years!!

It has been a long time since I posted on my blog in July of 2006. So much has happened since then in so many ways - I don't really know how to get it all in! But, I will give it a shot......

After my last chemo in May of 2006, I was cancer free until May of 2007 when they found a recurrence on my PET scan in my left axillary. I had surgery then to remove the lymph nodes and then upon recovery started radiation. It wasn't bad - and I even started teaching water aerobics at the end of treatment - so, that was cool!!

About a month after finishing radiation, I started on chemo again - this time Gemzar and it was pretty easy to take with few side effects and I even kept my hair. However, during treatment - I was teaching all of my yoga classes and doing my water aerobics and I noticed some pain and tightness in my left shoulder. We did an MRI - but, it just showed a lot of swelling and fluid....I knew that I probably had lymphedema. So, I started treatment for that - but, things kept getting worse. I thought I had injured or torn a muscle in my chest or shoulder - it was extremely painful - and nothing would help.

One day after searching the internet, I found a study of some other people with pain like mine who had radiation and Gemzar and realized that I was experiencing this rare form of radiation recall. That meant that every time I got chemo (every 2 weeks?), it was like getting radiation all over again - burning from the inside out......it made perfect since and the people in the study had all the same symptoms as me....so, I took the info in to show my doctor and we decided to take me off of the chemo. I was so happy - and with time, the pain subsided.

In February of 2008, I had another PET scan and this showed the cancer back - in the lymph nodes again and this time in my lungs. So, we made an appointment for surgery to put a port-0-cath in to administer the chemo. I had fought this port the first time around - but, knew that with all of my veins shot in my right arm and lymphedema affecting my left arm - I better give the port a chance and it has been a lifesaver and a true painsaver!! Thank goodness!!

The chemo regimen started in March and I was taking Avastin - a newly approved drug by the FDA for breast cancer - and Abraxane (a gentler Taxane - wrapped in albumin making it easier to take with less side effects). I went in every week for the Abraxane and had the Avastin every third week. My next PET scan was two months later and showed great results - my cancer was resolved!!

I kept my hair which was unheard of - and went on a dream vacation with Robin and her family and friends to the Mediterranean during treatment. Greg got home right before the trip and off we went on an amazing adventure. This was in June.

I continued on with the chemo for two more cycles and with another clear PET scan in August - I stopped the chemo to see if we had beat it!

All was great until the end of October when I started to notice my right hand felt heavy and that I wasn't able to type or write very well. After a couple of weeks, I was convinced to call my oncologist and was whisked in for an MRI which showed a brain tumor. The breast cancer had metastisized to my brain - which I guess is fairly common with mets!?

Greg was on deployment at the time and after getting word to his ship - he was sent home to be with me. I was going to try to go it on my own and with the help of friends - but, I was so happy he was here!! I went in for Gamma Knife surgery/radiation on November 20th and they found 3 other small tumors in the brain. They were able to radiate the larger one on the left side that affected my right side and the smaller ones. We hoped for the best!!! This procedure was so amazing and I had an MRI a month later that showed the larger tumor shrunk by 50 percent and the smaller ones were gone!! I just had another MRI in February and the tumor has now shrunk by at least 80 percent. It is truly amazing and wonderful - that is for sure!!

But, I had a PET scan in December, right after the first follow-up brain MRI - and the news wasn't as good. The cancer had returned in my lymph nodes in the subcarinal and hilar regions on the left side and in the axillary again. So, I started chemo again on the 29th. Since the Abraxane and Avastin worked well the last time - we stuck with it. But, we switched to a different protocol - this time doing both medicines every 21 days.

So, I have had three cycles now - and have been shown how different doses can really change how it can affect us. This time I lost my hair after the first cycle (and the last time I didn't lose it until I finished the chemo - after at least 5 months!) and have had other side effects earlier too. But, I just hope this means it is kicking the cancer harder too!!

I just got back my latest PET scan results (2/23) and a few of the areas have been resolved - but, two of the areas are still there.....smaller - but, still there. So, we will continue on the chemo and hope that it keeps kicking butt!!

Greg and my family and friends have been a huge help through all of this, as always. It has been amazing. We unfortunately lost our dear dalmation - Buster - my "son" of almost 17 years in December of 2008. It was truly heartbreaking and I miss him every day. I know that he is having fun frolicking around and hopefully eating as much chocolate as he can!!

Some good news to counter all of that stuff was that Greg was able to get commissioned as an officer right here at home. He was able to put together an amazing ceremony right here at Mayport and family and friends were able to be a part of it all!! And, we had a wonderful reception at the Marriott on the ocean afterwords (many thanks to Ben!) to celebrate his incredible accomplishment!! We were all so happy to be a part of that and we are all so proud of him!!

He finished his school in Rhode Island in February and is back here - homeported in Mayport for another year while we continue to fight the big C - I am glad he is here and that he is an Ensign now!!!

My yoga is going great and my group of yogis and yoginis is growing every day!! I met an amazing new friend - Terri Morrison - who invited me to teach my Yoga for Breast Cancer at her new studio in August - and I started in September. Then I had the honor to teach a couple of gentle yoga classes at her studio - and have just loved being a part of it all!! She has become a very special part of my life! You can check out her studio at http://www.mindfulmotion-yoga.com/

With her help, I started back on the Lila's Healing Retreats and had one at her studio in January of 2009 and it was a wonderful success - and I just loved every minute of it!! I am planning another one for April 5, 2009 at Renaissance Healing Center out at the beach. You can check out my website for more info - http://www.lilashealingretreats.com/

So, with the two new classes at Mindful Motion Yoga and two new classes with Sal at Queen's Harbour - I have 11 yoga classes a week - it is amazing and I feel really great!!

I will go ahead and post this and promise to keep this blog up to date a little bit more - but, want to say lots of love and thanks to my friend Pam for all of her help in November - and always. A big thank you to all of my friends for the love and support they surrounded me with - I was completely touched by so many - Pam and Allan, Evelyn and Henry, Diana and Mike, Les and Teri my far away friends Billy and Mesa and Emily and their families, Deb and Angie, my parents and my sister and her family, my husband's family - my yogi friends - Jan, June, Melissa, Maria, Vivian, Connie, Russ, Mary, Peggy and SO, SO many more - I have to stop here because the names will go on and on - but everyone is so amazing and incredible in their support for me.....gosh, I cannot believe how truly blessed I am!! Thank you to all of you - lots of love!!

Article from the Beaches Leader

Cancer survivor reaches out to others by teaching yoga

by ASHLEY MILLS, Staff Writer, Beaches Leader

When Christina Phipps finished her four-month chemotherapy treatment, she was ready to give back to the community of breast cancer survivors.She just wasn't sure how.

A practicioner of yoga for four years and an instructor for three, Phipps noticed that none of the other women she was receiving treatment with practiced yoga.

And then it crsytallized for Phipps: yoga was a way that she could reach out to those battling breast cancer.

On July 18, Phipps will hold Yoga for Breast Cancer once a month at the Cobalt Moon Healing Center in Neptune Beach.The free class for women in all stages of breast cancer will cover calming and healing exercises.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in December, Phipps said she drew her strength from her husband, her family and yoga.Phipps continued to teach classes throughout the course of her treatment, missing only two days of class after her mastectomy. Two weeks into the chemotherapy, she lost her hair, her eyebrows, and her eyelashes.“I had bad days and good days,” she said, “but more good days than bad.”

Phipps said yoga gives her strength and serenity to handle her diagnosis. Now she wants to help other women to do the same.Doctors only offer limited instructions for physical therapy for women recovering from breast cancer, Phipps said. Yoga for Breast Cancer takes the stretching instructions usually provided by doctors to the next level, she said.Phipps said yoga is beneficial because it helps the practicers to calm and center their minds, relieve tension and stress, improve range of motion, reduce the effects and discomfort of scar tissue, relaxe the gripping feeling in the chest area and energize the body, mind and spirit.

The exercises are especially beneficial for women who received radiation therapy or have had an expander inserted, Phipps added.“Yoga does bring such a sense of well-being, and you're really taking care of yourself," she said.“If you do stay home and you stay still and stay on the couch, then I think you really can get where you start feeling sorry for yourself.”

Sarah Deprin, the manager of Cobalt Moon, said that yoga is beneficial because it increases a person's breathing rate, opens the body up and increases balance.More importantly, yoga helps people to listen to their bodies, Deprin said.“Christina is just so happy and that alone is a real testimonial to yoga,” she said.The beginning of the class coincidentally corresponds with a recent study that shows that women being treated for breast cancer and who also practiced yoga reported a higher quality of life.

The study, from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, found that women who practiced yoga twice a week reported better physical functioning, better general health and less fatigue than their counterparts who were placed on a waiting list.For Phipps, this information was merely confirmation of what she had personally experienced.“I had it all planned out and then this study came out that said yoga helps breast cancer patients, and I'm like, ‘I knew that,' ” she said.

Another important benefit that the yoga class offers, Phipps said, is a sense of community.When Phipps was first diagnosed, the students in her class were an important source of support.“They were the first people I told right after my husband,” she added.“They were with me the whole way.”

This sense of community was definitely present at the first Yoga for Breast Cancer class, she said.The class combined exercises with a support group atmosphere, as the participants shared their cancer experiences.

Along with support, participants can expect a sensory indulging experience, including aromatherapy and healing music.Yoga novices are welcome, as the class assumes no prerequisite experience.

“If people just come, it's going to be a revelation for them,” Phipps said.“It was for me.”Although the class is free, Phipps is asking those who are interested to pre-register because space is limited in the facility.

For more information, call Phipps at 631-8173.

Sea Turtle Patrol - Friday, May 12.....

Beautiful morning, crisp and cool - but no tracks yet!! Had a nice walk through zone 7 (Neptune Beach) and talked with a couple of folks and even saw a couple of local celebrities. Started hunting for shark's teeth on the way back home and look what I found!!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!! Walking patrol today - no turtle tracks spotted but another beautiful sunrise - along with a cool breeze. It was another day to realize how very blessed I am!!

There is a Sea Turtle Art Exhibit Opening tonight at the First Street Gallery - come by and enjoy the music and art - proceeds going to the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol. And, Sea Turtle Patrol Boot camp tomorrow at 7 a.m. - www.bstp.net for more info!!

The Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol started May 1 - but my first patrol was this morning. It was so great getting up early - and still was even a little chilly this morning! The tide was low, so it made it easier to ride my bike and search for tracks. I did my two zones today - but found no signs of turtles. Next patrol is on Friday - walking day I think! I took the camera - but didn't charge the batteries - so, I was lucky to catch this beautiful sunrise on "film"!! It was the perfect kind where the the sun looks as if it is melting into the ocean - wish I had gotten more pictures - just glad I got this one!! More on Friday.....see you on the beach!

Only two more treatments to go!!

On the road to recovery!

I finished up my third to last treatment last Thursday (4/27) - and was so glad to make it through another one. This is my second treatment of Taxol - and luckily this time, I had less pain with the medicine going in. Although it took a long time it was worth going slow!! I also had some good news at that treatment and found out that my hemoglobin is back up (has been down since before California), so I was able to forego that injection this time around!! I had my Neulasta shot on Friday and had my usual aches on Saturday - but not as bad as it has been!! And, Sunday, I was back to feeling okay!!

I have noticed that I have more energy and more get up and go finally - (maybe the hemoglobin going up has something to do with that!) and have been able to start my walking program. I have been trying to start one since JANUARY!!! But, I found this cool article in the May issue of Family Circle that starts you out slow - and that is what I needed!! So, I made it through my first week and feel great!!

Still teaching my yoga classes and love growing with my students!! They are such an inspiration to me and I am so glad they share those few hours with me each week!! Yoga has been an incredible healing tool for me - both doing it and sharing it with others!!

So, only two more treatments to go!! By the end of May, I will be finished and then on to my implant surgery and healing (and hair-growing - haha!) More later.....





Teacher Training at Bliss Yoga Shala -- November, 2005

This is where, upon graduation, I was given my name Lila. Here are a few definitions of my yoga-name:

~the divine play between the unmanifest and the manifest.
~ The term Lila (from Sanskrit 'Play') is based on the Hindu conviction, that god created the universe as a playful, joyous and creative act.
~"Lila" literally means "play," but in religious texts refers to "divine play" -- life as a spontaneous game played by lighthearted forces beyond our understanding.

Christina's Yoga Schedule

Mondays:

5 p.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour

6:30 p.m. - Multi-Level Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)

Tuesdays:

9-10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga (open to public)

http://www.mindfulmotion-yoga.com/

Wednesdays:

9-10 a.m. - Walk-n-Weights-n-Yoga - Queen's Harbour

10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour

6-7:30 p.m. - Mind-Body Yoga, Community Ed - Fletcher High School

Thursdays:

9:45-10:45 a.m. - Walk-n-Yoga - Queen's Harbour

5-6 p.m. - Beginner's Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)

6:00 p.m. - Multi-Level Yoga - First Christian Church of the Beaches, NB (open to public)

Fridays:

10:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga - Queen's Harbour

5:30-6:45 p.m. - Gentle Yoga - Mindful Motion Yoga

Also, once a month - Free Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors - 2nd Thursday of each month -

11:30-12:30 at Mindful Motion Yoga

Contact Christina for more information: cphipps@peoplepc.com

Sea Turtle Season Starts May 1st~

Stay tuned for tales of my patrols and turtle news!!

And tune in to check out some beautiful pictures of the sunrise at the beach (and turtle tracks!!)

A listing of "Updates for my Sweet Friends" - Kind of a running journal of my journey

DECEMBER 20

hi my friends,just wanted to let you know that I went in today and we went "right tobiopsy" It wasn't fun - but I am done with it now.....I am just gonnahang out with my husband and my icepack and watch old movies now!! Ishould know the results by Thursday afternoon at the latest - I will letyou all know when I know!! Thanks again for your support and yourkindness and for listening!! It was so great to get to talk to youguys!! Have a great week and I'll update you soon!!love y'all!!Christina

DECEMBER 21

hi you all,I got the call (while in Publix) that they did find cancer cells - sohere we go.....Anyway, I am still in shock - kinda angry - but anger isgood because I am not gonna let this get me down - I am gonna bestrong!!! So, I guess I will find out more after Christmas....next stepis to go to a surgeon and stuff. I have a call into my doctor now tosee if she can answer more questions.....Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but like I said - I am gonna bestrong and I am so lucky to have wonderful people like you all around me- and I hear yoga is great for healing!! Thank you for everything!Love y'all! Merry Christmas and see you on the 29th!!Christina

JANUARY 25

Hi everyone!!
I am so sorry to do this in a group email - but it was easier for me to get the word out this way!! I FINALLY have my surgery set for Monday, January 30th at 1 p.m. at Memorial. I am feeling very good about both surgeons and am keeping a positive attitude through it all! (although I am a little scared for my first surgery!) But, I know with all of your prayers and your strength behind me - I will do great!! Thank you all for being so wonderful and caring to me - it is such a comfort to have a support system around me - especially knowing that this is just the beginning!! Thank you again and I will keep you all posted on everything (or Greg will!!)
Love to all of you!!
Christina

JANUARY 27

Good morning my dear sweet friends,
I just remembered something last night that I thought I should let you all know in case you called the hospital or something (I don't even know for sure if you can do that?!?!) but I am Christina Crum through this whole process. That is my husband's last name for those of you who don't know and that is what my insurance/navy identification knows me by. So, as is fitting - I am a true Gemini with dual personalities and names!! (well at least the names part!) Thank you again to all of you for your support and love - I feel your thoughts and prayers everyday and I am so lucky to have you all with me!!
Have a great weekend and we will keep you posted!!
lots of love,
Christina

FEBRUARY 2

Hello my friends!
I am so sorry I didn't write yesterday to fill you in on my progress. I thought I was going to be doing great by now - but I have had a few setbacks with my medications - allergic to my first pain medication on Tuesday and then took awhile to catch up with the pain all day yesterday. And then, this morning, I took my new pain meds with my antibiotic and was sick all morning - FUN!! But, enough of the complaining and bad news - onto some GOOD NEWS!! I heard back from the surgeon on the pathology report and my lymph nodes are CLEAR!!! Woohoo!! So, that is great news. He also said that it was a good think I had the mastectomy because there were two separate areas of cancer....but they are all gone now!!

I also went to the plastic surgeon today and they said that everything looks good and I am moving right along. So, next week to my surgeon and plastic surgeon again and the oncologist! We are on the road to recovery and then the next phase! Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers and gifts and love and everything!! I could get quite down about this stuff if it weren't for you all!! Oh - and Gregory has been great to me - as usual - and my mom has been a huge help too! I just hope that I start getting back to normal soon!

Thank you all again for all that you do - your support and love means more than I can express! I sure have needed it and feel so blessed to have you all!! More to come later!!
Much love!
Christina

FEBRUARY 10

Hi everyone!
I am sorry so late in the day again with my email message!! I am doing really well today - it seems like I have one great day and one not so great day (but not horrible) and they kind of go like that in a wave. All in all though, I am really doing well - taught three yoga classes and cooked for two great clients this week - it was so fun to get back to my normal life!!

As you know, I went to see my oncologist on Thursday and I am scheduled to start my chemo next week - on Thursday. Greg and I went today for the "education" and the nurses there are really nice and very upbeat and positive! My mom is coming over the night before so that she can be there with me during my first treatment (she's been through it before!) I don't want to bombard you all with too much info - so please let me know if you want/need more details and I will share them with you. I will be receiving treatments every 14 days for 8 weeks - so it should run about 4 months....(sounds better in weeks to me!!) I am planning to go on with my yoga and my cooking and my life as normally as I am able - taking time to rest and heal when I need to!! I am going into all of this with an open mind and keeping positive - one thing is for sure, they have come a long way in fighting the side effects - so it will better than it used to be.

I am looking forward to the weekend and I hope all of you have a great one!! I will post more next week! Thanks again, as always, for caring about me and making me feel so incredibly special and strong - it is only with all of your support that I can pull this off!! Thank you for blessing me with your love, kindness and prayers!!
Love and hugs!
Christina

P.s. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!! (in case I don't talk to you all before then!!)


FEBRUARY 17

Hello my dear friends,
I am sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. As I had hoped, I have been getting better every day - but I wanted to get ALL of my things done this week before I wrote to you all. I had my first (well, really second if you count the operating room to be my first) saline fill in my expander on Valentine's day. Greg went with me and thankfully the doctor and nurse were so helpful - and funny - it wasn't so bad (even though the needle and syringe were quite menacing!) I just looked away and laughed at the nurse's jokes - and before I knew it, it was done. I go back each week - or can skip a week whenever I want! They are very accommodating and understanding!! (good news there!!)

My mom came into town on Wednesday night and on Thursday morning, we went wig shopping. We found a great place and had a fun time picking out wigs for me....my mom (and dad) were nice enough to spring for TWO!! And, after reading Donna Hicken's book (thank you June!) and learning how she named her wigs - I think I will do the same!! So, my long layered weekend one will be named Veronica and my short sassy one will be named Sissy!! How fun!! I also plan to learn to tie scarves and things to wear to yoga and to wear under hats!!

After that fun, we were off to my first chemo treatment - and I was feeling pretty good, but then had to wait thirty minutes or so in the waiting room and my anxiety was starting to get the best of me! When I got called back, my nurse - Denise - was great though and was kind enough to give me a "party favor" to calm me down and help me through my first treatment. (the party favor was ativan - a mild tranquilizer). Then they started the rest of the treatment and at that point I was A-okay with everything - ha-ha!! My mom was with me there - and after what she went through over 20 years ago - she was very impressed with the care and new adjustments they have made to treatment!

I felt really fine all day yesterday and held a very entertaining yoga class that night (still reeling from the ativan!!) and had a nice big meal when I got home and a fairly good night's sleep. I taught another yoga class this morning and actually did a lot of the class - it felt SO great!! (but I did stop when it didn't feel good and made sure not to overdo - no sun salutations for me!!) Then this afternoon, onto the doctor's office again for my Neulasta shot to help keep my blood cell counts up. It wasn't bad either - and I found that my nurse loves yoga and has even been to a few ashrams and to Kripalu and took a healing energy class - so, what a perfect match!! She was even saying today that she hopes that with my positive attitude about this experience - maybe I can get the word out that this chemo isn't such bad stuff - after all, it gets rid of that bad cancer and that is what we want!!!

Also, we have been hearing a lot about the benefits of Reiki and my sister and her family got me three sessions from a practitioner that is actually in walking distance from my house!! I can't wait to try it out - and if I love it - I plan to take some classes to learn to do it myself - for self-healing and to add to my yoga classes!!

Now, onto the weekend! My mom goes home tomorrow and then Greg and I just plan to have a nice quiet weekend at home - mainly because I don't know how the chemo will affect me - but I am hoping that I will keep on rolling through like I have so far!!

Thank you to all of you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers and for all of the incredibly nice gestures you have done for me and bestowed upon me - and for all the kind words you have shared with me! It truly is with your support that I am able to keep so positive and strong. I am so very blessed!!
Have a wonderful weekend and I will write again soon!! Much love,
Christina


MARCH 6

Hello Dear Friends,
I am sorry that it has been so long since I last wrote!! But, you know what they say - no news is good news!!! So, to fill you all in - I had a great second week after my first chemo - really felt normal - cooked and taught yoga (and even did a little!) and really had my normal little life - and it was grand!!

For those of you who don't know, I cut my hair short (well, above the shoulders) just to get prepared - and, of course, I ended up liking it even more than my old hair!! Oh well, it won't take as long to grow out to that length!! I was feeling pretty good to have my hair this long (they say you usually start losing it at 14 days) but Friday, I started noticing a more-than-usual amount coming out - so I guess it won't be around for too much longer!! Oh well, that just means it is time to let Sissy and Veronica see the world!!

I had my second round of chemo on March 2nd, saw the doctor before and he thought that everything looked and sounded like it was going great!! I switched up my "recipe" this time and asked for no party favor (ativan) and no benadryl (because I previously thought it gave me "dancin' legs - but found out later it was the nausea pills that did that!) Although I had numerous offers from my wonderful friends to drive me, I decided I wanted to try it on my own. I noticed the first time I went that there were a lot of people doing that - so I wanted to try it too! Plus, I had all these fun puzzle books that I wanted to delve into during the treatment!!

It turned out to be an interesting day. They were shorthanded that day with staff and although I drank 15 glasses of water the day before, and 3 that morning - they still couldn't find a vein other than the one in my elbow. Oh well - that was fine - just limited my puzzle choices (because I have to keep my right arm straight!) The nurse I had wasn't as gentle as my first one with the sticks and the treatments - but she was very nice - and like I said - was about the only one there!! I did meet some very nice ladies (and one nice husband!) - we were all in one corner and all had Navy husbands. I had to brag on mine, of course - and I heard some great stories to take home to Greg. It was nice to talk with people in the same predicament as me and to compare stories. It sure made the time go by fast!

I was okay after the treatment and all the way through yoga that night - but when I got home and after dinner, I was sick. And, that continued through till Friday afternoon when I went in to get my neulasta shot (which stung this time too - same nurse as the day before!) I told them that I want to go back to my "original recipe" (sounds like KFC!) next time and to please give me something new for the nausea because I didn't like that other stuff. So, they gave me a new prescription, we picked it up and all was better a few hours later! I had some bone pain and sore throat from the neulasta shot that night and the next day - but it didn't seem as bad as the first time!! That was a good thing, because I had to go to a CPR/AED/First Aid class on Saturday (for 5 hours!) But, it wasn't really so bad - kept my mind occupied - and now I am certified for another year!
I cooked for clients yesterday and am cooking again today - and feeling just fine!! So great to get back to feeling normal (and faster than last time, I think!)! I am seeing my surgeon for my month check-up tomorrow morning - can't believe it has only been 36 days since my surgery....it seems like so long ago, but at the same time - it feels like it was only a week ago...

The main thing now is to look ahead and check off those days!! I have two treatments down and only 6 to go!! I am looking forward to a couple of yoga workshops this weekend - not sure how much I'll be able to do - but I can't wait to learn new things - for myself and for my students!! Greg and I are looking forward to a visit from my parents in mid-March and then Greg and I are off to Napa Valley on April 1st for a wonderful trip with our friend Robin!! We have been doing lots of planning and are SO excited!!

Thank you to all of you for caring about me, keeping me in your thoughts and your prayers and for your friendship! It truly means the world to me!! And thank you for all the offers to help and do whatever you can for me - I can't believe how blessed and lucky I am to be surrounded by such lovely, caring, generous, incredible, BEAUTIFUL people!! Wow!!

Have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you soon!!
Love, Christina

MARCH 30

Hello dear friends,

Well, I figured it was just about time to fill you all in on me and what's been going on. Since my last email - I have had two more chemo treatments - so I am now at the halfway point - woohoo!! I am all done with the AC (adriamycin & cytoxen) and am on to either four more treatments of Taxol or Taxotere next. I went back to my original recipe the third time - and it was much better - no sickness or anything, but the neulasta shot put me in bed for the whole day on Saturday. I moved my chemo up one day this time around - all went well, except my red blood cells were down (slightly anemic) so I got a shot for that! And, I had my neulasta shot today and am hoping to beat the odds and have a pain-free easy day tomorrow - maybe starting the day with my yoga class will help - we shall see! I sure do have a busy day - getting ready to go to California!!

We leave for California on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. and will be meeting Robin, Virginia, Delores, Sue and Bob and all of the other wonderful people in Yountville on Saturday. We'll have dinner in Yountville that night. On Sunday, we will visit Opus One for a tour, have lunch at the Culinary Institute, stop in at Roederer for a tasting, see the Redwood Forest and then we are headed to the beautiful Harbour House Inn where we will stay for two nights! I am hoping to catch a yoga class in Mendocino and visit the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah!! It is going to be a wonderful trip and we can't wait!!

As far as every day life, I have been busy with cooking for clients and have really been enjoying teaching all of my yoga classes!! Both have really kept me going and made me feel like everything really is normal!! After being tired of even my short hair coming out in clumps, (not to mention I was getting some undesired advances with my "butch" haircut!!) I decided to go ahead and get my head shaved - thanks to my friends David and Cheryl for making that such a good experience!! And, I have been sporting Sissy and Veronica out and about town!! I also got some great caps from my from friend Ann - and they have been lifesavers for daywear!! And, thanks to my yoga students for allowing me to sport my bald head in class!!

Greg and I attended a Sailor of the Year dinner in his honor at the base last Thursday (I wore Veronica that night!). We were seated with the CO of his command and the Command Master Chief and his wife. It was an honor for us both and I was so very proud of him!! That weekend my mom and dad also came to town and we went out to eat at Medure - (sissy made it out that night) and had a wonderful time!

So, as you can see - my life is just rolling along as usual! I have even gotten back into some work on my roses and our new camellias. Our friend Cleo sent us four new bareroot roses and Greg cleared a garden area next to our azalea garden to plant them - so now we will have beautiful roses in the front yard and backyard. It is good to be out there tending to them and all of our "gardens" again!!

We have a Relay for Life right in our front yard (Jarboe Park) on the weekend we get back from California - so we are going to attend that for sure - and a Survivor dinner on April 6th. My Sea Turtle Patrol starts up in May and our first meeting is April 13th! I am signed up to patrol just one day a week - just didn't want to put too much on my plate - but I am looking forward to my sunrise bike rides again along the ocean!!

I hope that all of you are doing great in your lives and I thank you - as always - for all of your prayers and positive thoughts! As you can see - they are really working!!! I couldn't be this strong and "normal" without all of you believing in me and supporting me!! Thank you all for being here for me and for Greg!! We love you all!!

Happy Easter to you and your families and much love and thanks to you all!!
Christina

APRIL 29

Hello Sweet Friends!

It has been a long time - but finally I am getting back in touch with all of you!! Our trip to California was incredible. We were totally awestruck by the scenery and had a wonderful time with Robin and her family and friends. It was the perfect diversion, and with all of the fun and adventurous driving and touring through the mountains and up the coast stopping at Wineries, Geysers and the City of 10,000 Buddhas - Greg and I felt like we were on the amazing race!! Although more because of the adventure than the competition!! We stayed in beautiful places with breathtaking views and enjoyed delicious wines and vegetarian meals - and the best Creme Brulee that many of us had ever had!! It was fun on top of fun and we can't thank Robin enough for inviting us!!

I started my new treatments (taxol) on the 13th, and had a little bit of a hard time with it - but thanks to the great nurses and my sister and Greg - I made it through. The only problem really was that the medicine was painful/yucky going in.....too cold, too fast, too yucky...but they slowed it down, put a heating pad on me and it was better. I had a little bit of joint pain on the 4th day - but with yoga and time - it went away by the fifth day!! I had my second treatment of Taxol this past Thursday, and the nurses were super with me and put the medicine in very slow - in fact, I was there at the doctor's office from 11:15 until 4:40!! Wow! But, now I only have TWO MORE TO GO!! Woohoo!! After May, we'll be done with this stuff!!

We have had some nice visits lately too - from Greg's Mom and Sister, Billy and Mesa, and my Mom and Dad - it was nice seeing all of you!! We also had a wonderful evening at the Sympony with Barbara and Bob - it was our first time and we absolutely loved it!!

The weather has been beautiful around here and we have been trying to get out in the yards and tend to our rose gardens, hibiscus, meyer lemon, camellias, herbs and azaleas - not to mention our grass!! We also started a much needed diet after our trip - back to Weight Watchers and counting points - eating healthier, etc. And, I finally started my walking program last Monday - starting slow - but getting out there almost every day!! I start my sea turtle patrol next Wednesday - and I can't wait!! I seem to be getting back some of my energy - so that feels great!!

Thanks to all of my wonderful yogis and yoginis for coming to my yoga classes - continuing with my practice and teaching and sharing with all of you has been such a positive force for me - and I thank you all for being in it with me!!

And, a big thank you to ALL of you for your thoughts, prayers, kindness and support!! It is so incredible to know that I am surrounded by so many wonderful people who care about me - I am blessed!!

Happy Spring and all the best to all of you!!
Love,
Christina