The latest with my hair

Enjoy!

http://justcallmeimelda.blogspot.com/2011/06/latest-with-my-hair.html

Well if this isn't a transformation/evolution; I don't know what is!

 

check it...my hair's coming back!

*when* is the rest of it going to go?!

I'm really not trying to complain, really I'm not ;), I just wanna know when the stubble that is the remainder of my hair is going to fall out. It was traumatic enough having to shave it off because it was falling out and making my head hurt; and it sucks that there has to be *maintenance* of what's left at this stage in the game.

I mean, who would've thought that I'd be looking forward to having a smooth head? Ha!

May I introduce to you...

one of my former students, JD. He just graduated this year and will be traveling onto Northwest Missouri State University next year. His family is absolutely amazing and has done nothing but support me in everything that I do (school wise and now breast cancer fight wise). He was brave enough to shave his head to support me and plans on keeping it that way until my hair grows back. Thanks JD, I 'perciate it.

Bald is beautiful;

or so I'm being told, hahaha. I shaved my head last night, or rather my friends did it for me. I am so blessed and lucky to have such a good group of girlfriends, guy friends and of course an amazing hubby.

Everyone started coming over around 6pm to have some snackies and "liquid courage" *ha!*. We made sure to get some "before" pictures and everyone kept asking me "Are you sure it's falling out?" "Are you sure you want to do this tonight?", so I illustrated for them exactly *WHY* I wanted to do it that night by taking my side ponytail down and showing them the handful of hair that came out with the elastic band. Then to make my point even more I made sure to slowly and carefully run my hand though my hair and that wad of hair that came out definitely made everyone stand up and take notice. *wide eyed stare*

So finally 7 o'clock came and I didn't think I could procrastinate anymore. I told everyone to start moving upstairs so we could get the "festivities" of the night started, and of course that was like herding ants at a certain point but they finally all made it up.



I made my speech, thanked everyone for being there and then took the first cut. THAT was hard. I'm sure the last time I cut my own hair in such a fashion was with my mother's pinking shears when I was 5 or something like that. I had already decided that I wanted it cut into a mullet first then into a faux-hawk, then we went into more of a mohawk by shaving the sides down, then finally buzzed it all off. Everyone was yelling at me "You're so HOT!" "Oh you look so good with short hair!" "You should leave it like that! It's awesome!" and I, of course, didn't believe them. I still don't really because it's just so surreal to look at myself with no hair on my head. There's definitely going to be an adjustment period for me...

Huge thanks goes out to the following people....

My wonderful hubby Tim; on the eve of our 5th wedding anniversary (tomorrow) I want to take a moment and thank you for being my honey. Thank you for taking part in shaving my head and for telling me I still look beautiful. You were the only one that I wanted actually shaving my head and I must admit I didn't know if you were going to do it or not, so thank you very much for that. I love you to the depths of my soul and am so happy that I have you alongside me on this journey. Love you!











My bestest friend in the whole wide world, Mischa; Thank you for listening to me cry on the phone yesterday morning as I called to tell you I decided to shave my head; and thank you even more for coming. I know it's a drive from Lawrence and it made your workday even longer but it meant the world to me that you were there *and* that you brought my beautiful goddaughter with you. Love you!










My other bestest friend in the whole wide world, Dana; Thank you for everything. The encouraging smiles, the shoulder to cry on, for taking the first cut of my hair, for wrapping locks up in ribbon, for telling me I'm beautiful even though I know I'm kind of odd looking right now. Mostly just for being you. You're a class act and a beautiful friend. Thank you for being in my life. Love you!

My dear friend Teddy; How cool is it that you came?!?! Thank you so much for that. I'm so glad that you got to finally meet my doggies, see my house and hang out with Tim and I somewhere other than the restaurant. Thank you for shaving your head along with me as well. You're one cool dude and I'm very thankful and blessed to have you in my life. Love you!






My girlfriends Angie and Anne (and their beautiful daughters Addie and Johnna); Thank you for coming over and hanging with me before the party started. I haven't had anyone come over and play with scarves with me yet and that was just what I needed. The girls are getting *so* big I can hardly believe it. They were too cute playing with my shoes and running around the house. :) Come over anytime you want. Love you both!!!



The fabulous Stacie: Thank you so very much for coming over last night to help me take my hair off. I hope you got some good practice in with those scissors! ;) As always you are a fabulous friend and I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being there, it meant the world to me. Love you!







The incomporable Heather and Jeff: Thank you, Jeff, for being brave enough to come and for manning the camera for a little while. You're an awesome dude and I'm very happy to count you among our friends. Heather!! Thank you for the wine, for being you, for being silly, making me smile, and telling me I looked good with no hair. Thank you for taking awesome pictures of the party. I truly appreciate it and am glad you're my friend. Love you both!

Rachel, Jay, Thomas, Shawna, Marilyn and Miss Myka; Thank you all so so SO very much for surprising me and coming to my party. That meant the world to me. I miss you all and miss GC but we're finding ways to get around all of that aren't we? Thanks for being crazy (Jay I *still* can't believe you shaved your head), for being fun, and for making me laugh even though I was losing my hair. You're all awesome and I can't wait to see you again. Love you all!










I hope I didn't forget anybody! Please let me know if I did! Thanks again for a wonderful night everyone. Here's to being bald and making it beautiful in the only way I can; with Stout style!

http://tinyurl.com/376bdln

today's a sad day for me.....

I've decided it's time to shave my head. *wide eyed stare* I know. *tear*

I woke up this morning around 5am with a pounding headache and the crown of my head feeling like it was on fire. My hair and head have been hurting for about four days now and I'm tired of it. I've also been noticing more hair coming out with each passing day and when I brushed my hair after my bath this morning the amount that came out sent me into a long prolonged sob. I cannot do this. I cannot just let it fall out willy nilly without taking charge of the situation. I can't watch that brush go through my hair each morning and have more strands come out with it. I cannot look at my hand as I bring it through my hair and come back with more hair in my fist. I can't do it.

...but I also can't shave my head...

...but I have too...

*sh!t*

I think my hair is starting to go :(

I may just be over-anticipating my hair loss but I really think it's staring to go. *sigh*

Ya know (girls) when you wear a high and tight ponytail and at the end of the day how your hair just *hurts*? Or guys, when you wear a hat all day long with your hair pulled back underneath it and when you finally take the hat off your hair just *hurts*? Well, that's what the crown of my head felt like last night; and my hair was *down* all.day.long...just sayin'. So I think this is the start of it, which makes sense. I'm over the halfway point of the "10-20 days after your first treatment it'll start to fall out"...so we'll see I guess. To commemorate my hair loss journey, here is,

" I'll Miss You..."

32 years we have had, and glorious ones at that.
From mall bangs, spiked bangs, and side-swept,
pixie cuts, long lengths, to bobs in-between
Dark brown underneath, to golden shine on top
you've been my friend.

We started rockin' the layers and then the curls
hot rollers, curling irons, blow dryers and two junior high perms;
Hair goop, mousse, hair spray, teasers, bobby pins,
we've done it all.

You're hurting now and that sucks
The taste of drugs makes you want to go away
I understand even though I may cry
We've had a long relationship, you and I
I never thought we'd have to end it

Damnit...I need a minute...

But you'll come back and how glorious it will be
when we get to see each other again, you and me,
and we'll start our love affair up again.

'Till then...