Sunsets Be Like ~

 When the sun is setting, leave whatever 
you are doing and watch it..

A good sunset never fails to cheer me up, and

 from our home we definitely see them.

Sniff and I both enjoy watching the sunset, Arvid not that much.

I never met a sunset I didn't like.

A good day to all.  Take time to enjoy life's simple pleasures.

It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.

 Each day ends with a unique sunset that is unlike any that

 has come before or will come after.  So enjoy them.

A good day to all. Remember the future is much

 like the present, but considerably longer 😂

Sunset is so marvelous that even the sun itself watches

 it every day in the reflections of the infinite oceans...

~Nadiya~

Saturday November 18th ~

A positive attitude is not naïve, and it does not sugarcoat

 problems.  Rather, it sees and acknowledges problems and 

then focuses on finding solutions and opportunities. It looks for

 the opportunity within the problem. A positive attitude is habit-

forming, and it has an impact on you and people around you...

 Friday came and Friday went and that being said I am 

done with the low iodine "diet", body scan and everything

 for now related to thyroid cancer.  That is until my next 

check up.  I feel good and I know all will be good.

Going to the hospital has been a pleasant experience for me. 

 Everyone is very nice and I happen to always find someone I 

can start up a conversation with.   Plus Christmas is everywhere. 

 Makes it a happy place under sometimes not so happy times.

The best part of the day was being able to go out

 for lunch and have anything I wanted.  I did not have to 

take my own special foods.  It was a delicious outing.  I was 

able to have a regular ginger salad with all the trimmings and a  

"regular" entree. I was HAPPY!  Food makes me happy.

Today I had my "first" taste of coffee in 20 days.  

Coffee did not sit so well in my stomach.  Tomorrow is 

another day to give it another chance.  For now just happy 

I am back to "normal" routines as far as eating goes.

Last night was my last night sleeping in the second

 bedroom.  Tonight I can go back into our bedroom and pull

 all the covers as Arvid loves to say 😉  Sniff can now 

also sleep in the bedroom together with both of us.

When you have expectations, you are

 setting yourself up for disappointment...

~Nadiya~

Friday November 17th ~

Nothing can bring you happiness but yourself...

 It's a happy day for me.  Today is the last two test/visits to

 the doctor for my thyroid "issues"  Today after doing blood work

 I will finally have the full body scan.  It's been 20 days preparing for it.

 Today I also will have "regular" food and a cup of coffee.

Last night Arvid and I went to a concert.  He's been waiting 

months for this. Tickets were purchased while we were still 

in Branson.   Arvid loves music.  I  am not always crazy about

 the same music as Arvid is, but I enjoy the vibrancy of it. 

 I love the experience of sharing this with Arvid.

A reminder to all of us.  Before you complain about anything,

 be thankful for your life and the things that are still going well.

 I try to always remember this.  Some days we all have setbacks,

  it's called life.  We just have to keep moving forward.

Last night we had a pretty good time at The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. 

 It was rocking and everyone was having the best time.  Today begins once again on

 a foggy note, but it's Friday and today I will have "regular" food.  I'm HAPPY

Always look at the good things in life and 

never dwell on the negative. If you keep your 

head down, you'll miss the blessings...

~Nadiya~ 

Thursday November 16th ~

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy...

 Today I am free as a bird, meaning no doctors appointments. 

 I am still nauseous, but it's all part of the treatment.  I don't

 like it, but what's my alternative?  Soon it will be much better.

The last few days have been gloomy and rainy, 

but warm.   No matter how gloomy the morning,

 it is a new day where anything is possible.

Looking forward to some sunshine and some brighter days ahead.

On my day off for the week Arvid and i plan to relax a bit and 

have a good time.  Sniff is happy so all's good in our world.

Another day done.  Today we relax and do something different.

 Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which

 one consciously separates the past from the future...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday November 15th

Enjoy the ups and celebrate the wins. You cannot have the

 ups without the downs or the highs without the lows...

 Yesterday started out on another good note. I got up 

early.  Had my treatment, came home we FaceTimed with 

Michelle and the grandkids. Just the perfect morning.

  But I was not feeling good. I got home and was dizzy and

 very nauseous.  The nausea was there for the rest of the day and 

was really bad.  I can't imagine what it must feel like when you're 

having Chemo treatments. Yesterday I was a little bummed out.  I

 was a little tired of everything and just wanted it to be done with.  

I try to ignore the times I don’t feel good but somehow

 it didn’t work yesterday.  Arvid holding me and comforting 

me was my breaking point.  For just a few minutes there 

I was fed up with everything.  Just for a little while.

Feeling a little better right now.  At least the nausea is not as 

bad as it was yesterday. Today I will be having radiation pill. 

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer 

cells or stop them from growing. It may be used after

 surgery to kill any remaining thyroid cancer cells.

 

Today I begin keeping a distance from Arvid and Sniff. 

I know today will be a better day than yesterday.

A good day to all.  I can soon see the end of this treatment.

Struggle teaches us the value of hard work and dedication.

Life will always give you enough highs to appreciate

 the lows and enough lows to never take for granted the highs...

~Nadiya~

November 14th ~

Start strong, stay strong, and finish strong by always 

remembering why you're doing it in the first place...

 The week began on a good note.  Got my first treatment in, and

 because of that I can soon see the end of the road for this particular

 set of doctors appointments for now.  Just 4 more to go this week. 

Super excited.  More of the same today.  Progress is being made.

Going to the Cancer Center makes me realize again and again 

how lucky I have been.  How lucky I am.  So many have it so much 

worse.  I like these "outings"  Keeps me grounded.  I see people, I talk 

to people and for that short time, we share a little of each other. Plus

 the surroundings are so tropical.  Makes me look forward to going.

Yesterday was a bit of the dark, gloomy side.  Sniff was

 not happy so I made him a little cave with his fresh laundered

 laundry.  He was happy as can be.  Slept like a baby.  Again.

We went for our walk in the afternoon and the 

sunset once again did not fail to amaze us.  

It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream...

~Nadiya~

New Week ~

f something gives you a thrill, it gives you a sudden

 feeling of great excitement, pleasure, or fear...

 Not much but doctors appointments happening this week.

  A total of five appointments in four days.  I'm so ready to

 get this over with and end with the low iodine regimen.

Monday and Tuesday I have an IV infusion.  Wednesday

 I take the iodine pill.  Thursday I have off.  Friday blood 

work and body scan follows.  Come Friday evening

 I am sure looking forward to a slice of pizza.

Hope your week is also looking good.  My excitement is 

bubbling because I can see the "end" of this week happening 

fast.  Next week I'll deal with the ones that are coming.

To all a good week.  Live and enjoy the now.  It is more 

exciting to live an uncertain life that it is to live a boring

 certain life. Life is adventurous and exciting because you 

never know where you will be in a few minutes or so.

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming,

 we lose the excitement of possibilities...

~Nadiya~ 

November 12th ~

The most important thing is to enjoy

 your life,  to be happy,  it's all that matters...

 Twenty two years seems to have just flown by for us.  Our 

destination of choice was Puerto Rico, but because of my so many

 doctors appointment it was not possible.  Then we choose

 to go to St. Petersburg, Florida and it was just right.

Both Arvid and I go for the simple things in life.  We enjoyed a

 walk around the town, which by the way is just beautiful.  For 

a minute there Arvid was debating if we should move from 

Fort Myers to St. Petersburg.  I squashed that thought.

The area had a great vibe, full of life, people and ambiance.

It was just a very beautiful evening.  We relaxed 

and enjoyed each others company even more.  

 Even though I could not eat any restaurant food aside

 from lettuce, I did take my own and I did have a few adult 

drinks that night.  It's not everyday we celebrate twenty 🍸

 two years of marriage.  I loved every minute of our outing.

The St. Petersburg Pier, officially known as the 

St. Pete Pier, is a landmark pleasure pier extending into 

Tampa Bay from downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.

Over the years several different structures have been built

 at the same location. The most recent structure, the third owned by

 the city, was a five-story inverted pyramid-shaped building.

The $92 million dollar project includes five restaurants,

 a playground, an environmental education center, and numerous

 artworks.  If you ever get the chance to visit, do so.  Worth it.

To all a very good day.  Greetings from F23 and M15 as well. 

 Southwest Florida's power eagle couple.  We are all hoping F23 

will soon lay her eggs and new babies will be coming.

Not the day only, but all things have their morning.

Today is going to be another beautiful adventure...

~Nadiya~

Day Off ~ November 11th

 Almost everything will work again if you 

unplug it for a few minutes…Including you...

Out of the office.  Will be back tomorrow 😂It is very

 important to recharge our batteries to uplift our spirits and

 refresh our perspectives towards life. It is often said that the

 best way to recharge yourself is to unplug yourself from the 

daily duties for sometime.  It's what I plan to do today.

To all a good day and "see" you tomorrow. 

Taking a break helps you understand yourself

 better and recharges your drained battery.

Arvid and I are enjoying a day away from "regular"

 routines.  We chose to spend it right here in Florida.

Give yourself permission to unplug and regroup, 

without feeling guilty ❤ . You can’t be there for

others if you don’t take care of yourself first...

~Nadiya~

November 10th ~

Life is about change, sometimes it's painful, sometimes it's 

beautiful, but most of the time it's both. Never underestimate 

the power you have to take your life in a new direction...

As Julio Iglesias would say:

Vivir a veces es reír también llorar vivir es una 

carta por jugar. Vivir  a veces es perder también 

ganar vivir es un mañana que esperar.

To live sometimes means to laugh, but also to cry.  

Life is a playing card.  To live sometimes means to 

lose, but also to win. Life is the awaited tomorrow.

 Today Arvid and I celebrate 22 years of marriage.  Even I am a

 little shocked at how fast the years have gone by.  For both Arvid 

and myself, this has been the longest relationship we have had.  

Hopefully it will also be the last for both of us, for I cannot

see myself spending forever with anyone else but Arvid.

 It has not been always easy.  Somedays it still is not easy, but

 I can't see myself sharing these experiences with anyone but Arvid. 

 With Arvid I have 2 stepdaughters.  I love them and the relationship 

I have with them.  Like everything else, it took work and time to get

 to where we are today.  I would not change it for anything in the

 world.  With Arvid I/we have three beautiful granddaughters.  

I always wonder what it is I did in life to be so lucky.  

Arvid and I share so many wonderful moments and memories

 together.  In those we have Brutus, Shadow and Sniff.  If anything

 Brutus has been one of the most beautiful times we have had together.

  Our first kitty, the one we loved with all our hearts.  He taught Arvid 

what no one else did.  How to love and how to be a better person.

Our life is far from perfect.  Like everyone else we have our up 

and downs, but when it really comes to what matters most, we 

are always there for each other.  Like I have said there is no one 

in this world I would rather share forever with than Arvid.

Together we have created a beautiful life.  It's not always easy but then what is?

A big part of our time with Brutus was spent going back

 and forth to Eleuthera, Bahamas where we had a Lil' Red House 

right on the water.  Those are times we will always remember.

We enjoyed our time there, but eventually it was time to move on to

 something new.  And just like that a new adventure was about to begin. 

 It's always been this way.  After a few years in one place we move

 to the next.  My mom sometimes says we're gypsies 😂

Life in Puerto Rico with Sniff brough us a completely new perspective.  

Relaxed and to live and enjoy each day to the fullest.  That's how they do it

 in PR, and aren't I the lucky one?  I was raised in this beautiful island

 inhabited by the warmest and most kind hearted people on earth.

A part of me remains in PR.  Always will.  The memories 

of childhood, the ones shared with Arvid and my PR kitties. 

 I LOVE PR and will always consider it my first home.

We have so many things to be grateful for and I hope to never 

take anyone or anything for granted.  Our life is not perfect, but

 we are blessed.  I've seen better days, but I've also seen worse.

 I don't have everything I want, but I do have all I need. I

 woke up with some aches and pains, but I woke up. 

Fall in love with someone who makes you glad to be different...

~Nadiya~