Believing The Butterfly

You know what's stupid? Me feeling bad about Hermie. It's just me borrowing trouble which is a completely waste of energy. It's frustrating that I can't seem to just ignore this prognosis and enjoy my life. I hate that. I had a hard day yesterday, full of fear about death, brain tumors, radiation, supplements, diet, prescription drugs, and things in my environment. I'm worried that I'm overlooking things. I'm only doing some supplements, metformin and low dose naltrexone along with the restricted ketogenic diet and the newcastle disease virus shots. I keep researching things to see if I should add stuff and time after time I keep falling into brain tumor websites where people talk about their experiences with specific drugs and treatments. The postings live on in the interwebs even though so many have since died. It's terrifying. I watch and read in horror as so many who fight valiantly, lose their battle, as almost all do when up against brain cancer. In sifting through the helpful information, I also learn of what the end looks like. Loss of bodily functions (urine, feces & vomiting), increased seizures, lack of cognizance, lack of control of the body - arms, neck, everything. I could go on, but I know you get the idea. Each life is different, each body has a different breaking point. You never know which lovely symptoms will be yours. I've had my share of having my mother or Danny have to wipe me and I'm telling you it is the most humbling, embarrassing, heartbreaking vulnerability that I have endured.

I'm sad that my future scares me. I'm sad that I'm not strong enough to just breathe and enjoy this moment. I'm sad that I'm not convinced that I can beat this. I'm sad that I believe Hermie will kill me. I'm sad because I believe this could be the best I might have that it will inevitably go down hill. It's just basic statistics and so far, the statistics have been accurate for me. A recurrence one year after the first brain surgery has a bad prognosis. I tried to fight it with diet and supplements, but it didn't work. Now, with two brain surgeries under my belt in only 2.5 years, and a possible progression of disease within only 6 months after surgery, things aren't looking great. I feel defeated, and nauseous, disheartened.

I can't take every drug, every supplement, every treatment, in fact some drugs can actually cause accelerated growth - but you don't know which camp you're in until you are desperate enough to try anything. Then the drug can extend your life a bit, or it can kill you faster. And the western doctors almost always want you to just go for it because they don't think you're going to live long regardless.

Just as I did yesterday, I'm going to grab Emma and go for a walk. I'm trying to walk everyday, it makes me feel connected with life. I watch the squirrels, the birds, the baby ducks, the fish jump, and the turtles sunbathe, even an old crotchety raccoon walk down the street. Yesterday as I walked the lake, a butterfly swirled around my head, then flew across my path and headed over the water. I don't know what possessed me, but I pulled out my phone and Googled, "What does a butterfly crossing your path mean?" And this is what the first website that came up said...

Animal Spirit Guides : The Butterfly

To our past ancestors, the animal held great spiritual power and symbolic meaning. In Native American culture, mythology and ancient civilizations, each animal is embodied with its own symbolic meaning and held its own unique spiritual power.

A particular animal crossing your path had deep significance to your life and indeed a strong message to impart. The presence of animal wisdom may appear to you in a dream, on the physical plane or intuitively.

The Butterfly

The butterfly is the symbol of metamorphosis and transformation.
The symbol of new life, letting go of old cycles and finding your true inner expression.

The butterfly calls you to expand your awareness, spread your wings and call forth your inner joy.

Let go of limitations, and free yourself to express your own beauty within.

It is the time of spiritual transitions. Symbolic of moving from one phase of life to the next reaching higher, reaching outward, leaving the safety of the cocoon and finding your own place among the flowers of life.

Allowing the wind to carry you forward to your goals and dreams. A time of self-discovery rebirth. The butterfly shows you the beauty within.

Go forth with joy.

Affirmation:

I recognize my true beauty within,
I value and cherish all that I am.
I have the power to transform my life.
To experience true joy.

I wish I could absorb the goodness of those words, but so far it hasn't soaked in.

Success!

This weekend was one of those weekends that will forever remain imprinted in my mind. It was filled with laughter, and sunshine, and adventures, which recharged me in a way I didn't realize I needed.

It all started with this......a four leaf clover!

On Saturday, Jules, Dan and I spent the day in the sun solving the problems of the world. Aaah to be a fly on the wall for THOSE ridiculously awesome conversations :) I would have recorded, but I didn't want to incriminate myself.

 

On Sunday Dan and I were lucky to be gifted tickets to the M's game (couldn't trick him into getting a photo of him or both of us so he took this one). It was amazing, the weather was perfect and the game was all about mothers which made me really happy. What a fun holiday! Mother's and Father's Days are both such great days. I love watching people with their kids, I love seeing families come together in whatever way they tend to come together. I love thinking of my girlfriends - and my guy friends - and their little kids. It makes me smile, and feel happy. There was a time when I used to be jealous, but that was short lived.

Feeling revived, and full of energy, this morning I began tackling household chores which always make me feel accomplished. Then, hunger got the best of me and since Dan had taken me shopping for all of the ingredients, I tried a new recipe for the restricted ketogenic diet. It was interesting, the recipe, the process, and the result. I am a big fan of baking and although it is nothing like a real muffin, it is a muffin while eaten in the appropriate diet, it is wonderful and will not feed my tumor. I'm excited about this whole ketogenic diet (emphasis on restricted). This diet is not like a typical ketogenic diet, these recipes are a specific ratio. Each recipe is 4:1:1 - that is 4 fat: 1 carb: 1 protein. The diet is incredibly strict which requires the weighing of all ingredients, but I'm okay with that. It's not as bad as it sounds. I prefer to look at it like I'm allergic to sugar and carbs and if I ingest too much of either it will be very bad. The cool thing is that there are snacks - homemade baked goods - that travel well and have the exact calorie amounts (we already know the ratio). If I freeze items this is going to be easier than I imagined; I just need to get to baking and freezing. Assembly line anyone???

The recipes are complicated though.

And delicate because they are so often using whipped egg whites.

As for the delicate recipe, and the delicate muffins, this not so delicate woman ate two delicious muffins. The first one I thought was good, but I wasn't sure....the second one...oh yesss, that one made me a believer! I thought to myself, I can do this.