Just in time for Easter: I'm a fuzzy chick (More Hair Diaries)

We have been taking the pictures every Friday, but they usually haven't been making their appearance on the blog until Mondays, mainly because I'm easily distracted and more than a little lazy.  Maybe if I put them in sequence it will be easier to see the fuzz growth?  Can you tell I'm really REALLY proud of my fuzz?

4-8-11

4-15-11

4-22-11

The lighting is a little odd in the last picture, making my hair look darker than it appears in real life.  But Aaron was grading papers when I asked him to take my weekly fuzz head shot, and I didn't want to be too annoying, so I just let him stay where he was comfortably sitting.

Speaking of Aaron, the other night he started calling me "Tin Tin."   I had absolutely no idea where he got this, but he told me it was a favorite comics from childhood.  Apparently my current hairstyle reminds Aaron of this.  Here is the cartoon in question with his faithful sidekick, Snowy:

Of course, Mr. Tin Tin has a bit more up top than I do, and when I get that much hair, I hope to more closely resemble the model in this Nieman Marcus ad:

I won't magically shrink down to a size 0, but we're not all meant to be that skinny, right?!

In other, slightly less-fun news, I started physical therapy this week.  I am basically back to my pre-surgery self, but I still don't have full range of motion in my left (cancer side) arm.  I am also experiencing "cording" (axillary web syndrome for you medical types) which basically means that it feels like a tight cord is attached from my armpit (where they removed lymph nodes) down to my elbow.  This, as you can imagine, is part of the flexibility problem.  I have to be able to hold the "movie star pose" (hand behind head, arm bent at elbow, laying flat on table) for 10 minutes at a time for each radiation treatment, so I'm trying to regain my flexibility through a serious of stretches.  It's painful, but I can already tell a difference!

Also, I've started wearing a compression sleeve because I have a moderate-to-high risk of developing lymphedema (swelling due to a blockage of the lymph passages).  I am doing my best to wear it each day, but as it gets warmer and warmer outside, the last thing I want to do is put on a tight-fitting, hideous sleeve!  But if I can avoid my arm swelling up, it will well be worth it.  I'm lop-sided enough as it is, these days! :)

Happy Easter to all!!!

Hair Diaries

I'm attempting to take weekly pictures of my hair to document the growth which seems to be happening at lightning speed.  At some point I can print out all of my hair diary pictures to create a flip book.  I haven't worn my wig in a week and a half now, and I have no intention of doing so in the future.  The hair is still very soft and very blond, and it will be interesting to watch how the texture/color changes as it grows in!

Who's fuzzier?

I'll check in next week with another update and more hair on my fuzzy head!

Just Call Me Mrs. Fuzzy Head

I can't believe it has been 3 1/2 weeks since my mastectomy.  I continue to get stronger every day and am starting to feel like my old self.  There are still a few rude reminders that I may not be 100% back to normal:  I still get neuropathy (tingling numbness) in my feet if I walk around too much; pushing the shopping cart around Target is a burden, when it previously had been one of my favorite activities; squeezing lemons and limes for fresh juice in my spring cocktail now has to be done by my husband; opening jars has to be done by my husband; dragging the trash to the curb has to be done by...well, you get the picture.  I secretly think Aaron likes having the extra opportunities to flex his muscles.  

There are, however, also reminders that life is returning to normal.  On Friday night, Aaron and I were getting ready to go to dinner.  Usually this involves me touching up my makeup and putting on my wig.  After globbing on some mascara (my lashes are growing in nicely, thank you very much), I said "I think I'm going to rock the fuzzy head in public tonight."  It's been in the upper 80s for the past couple of days, and my wig is just too darn hot and itchy, especially atop my new found fuzz.  Aaron was excited about the prospect of being seen with me:  "People are going to think I'm way cooler than I actually am because I'm with you!"  Yes, there are people who may think I decided to buzz off my hair because I'm just that hard core.

 

The reality is, of course, that my hair is finally growing in.  After months of looking like a cue ball with a few straggly hairs that never fell out, my head is now covered with baby soft fuzz.  This has caused a great deal of excitement in our household.  For one thing, we think our beloved cat, Ollie, is feeling a tad jealous of his mom's new fuzz.  When we're sitting on the couch at night watching TV, Aaron will find himself petting his wife instead of the cat.  When I drop Aaron at work, I used to just get a kiss goodbye.  Now I get a kiss AND a head rub.  We had friends over on Saturday night to celebrate patio season, and I was greeted with many hugs and head rubs.  It seems it's just instinctive to want to pet a fuzzy noggin, whether it be on a cat, dog or human.  I can't blame them.  In fact, I like it.  Is our household big enough for a fuzzy cat AND a fuzzy wife?  Time will tell.  Luckily for the cat, my fuzzy state is only temporary.