t.g.t.i.F

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday.  And thank goodness this is a three day weekend.  It's been a long week.  I've been really run down all week.  I'm going to spend all weekend resting up, with a pedicure thrown in for fun.  I've discovered that if I eat anything fried, it upsets my stomach.  Note to self, no fast food.  Next chemo is Thursday.  It'll be a new drug that brings different side effects, like numbing of the hands and feet.  On the good side, the fatigue should go away.

Thanks to Melissa for reminding me about Infinite Aloe, a lotion we first discovered on one of our trips to Vegas.  It moisturizes and doesn't make my hands feel sticky or greasy.

Crummy weekend

I've had a really crummy weekend.  I've had absolutely no energy and I've been achy all over.  Praying that my week will be better...

Session 4

Well, session 4 is under my belt.  I am 50% done with chemo!  And praise the Lord, my tumor has shrunk again.  It only shrunk by 1 1/2 centimeters, but that's better than nothing!  Thank you again for all of your prayers and support.  Prayer works!

I am anemic again, so I have to go in to the hospital again tomorrow for another blood transfusion.  Not exactly the way I wanted to spend a rare sunny day in Oregon, but it it what it is.  Please pray that the transfusion will give me a needed boost in energy.

Whenever people ask me how I'm doing, I always comment on the large support system we have and what a blessing it is.  Thank you all.

Tuesday musings

I didn't realize that it had been a whole week since I had posted anything.  I'll try to post more often.

I just shaved my legs for the last time.  I'm guessing that I won't have to shave them again for quite a while.  Woo Hoo!  The benefits of chemo.  Who knew?!

Tomorrow is going to be a long day.  I will put in a full day at work and then our girls are both singing in the District Choir Festival tomorrow night.  Luckily, my mom and dad are bringing dinner over to us.

My next treatment is Thursday.  After this treatment, I will be 50% done with chemo!  Yes!  Nikki has a concert Thursday night that I will not be able to go to because of how tired I will be after treatment.  This is the first time that I have had to miss something (besides a few hours of work) because of treatment.  I didn't want to let it affect my life in a negative way, but it will on Thursday.  I almost feel like I am failing because I have to miss something important.  I feel like cancer is winning. 

My skin is really dry from the chemo.  My hands have been so dry that they hurt.  Does anybody know of some good lotion that doesn't make your hands feel greasy?  I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks for following my blog.

Wind in my (no) hair

Yesterday, I was feeling poopy, both physically and emotionally.  I was weepy all day and couldn't get out of the funk I was in.  I kept wondering, "Why me?"  Today, the weather was so beautiful, I was able to roll the car windows down and let the warm breeze in without worrying about my hair getting messed up!  What a blessing!  Thanks to Deanna for making me laugh about my preferring to wear hats now since I NEVER wore hats before even when it was for a good cause.

Grateful

I am reading a book written by cancer survivors.  In one of the stories, the writer suggested making a list of all of the things to be grateful for.  Here is my list for today:

A loving Heavenly Father
My family, Mike, Josh, Emily and Nicole
My extended family
Friends
Work

I know there are more, but "chemo brain" has set in and I can't think of them right now.

One more session down...

I had my third chemo session today.  I am feeling a little queasy tonight.  I cannot say enough good things about all of the people at my oncologist's office.  They are absolutely marvelous.  I would recommend them to anyone.  Over the last couple of weeks I have had a little difficulty swallowing because it feels like there is something in the back of my throat.  The nurse practitioner said it didn't sound like anything to be worried about.  My blood counts are good, although my hemoglobin is going down, so they're keeping an eye on it to make sure I don't have to have another transfusion.  As usual, Melissa has been terrific.  She has appointed herself my personal assistant and is even sending me reminders of appointments because I have "chemo brain" and cannot seem to remember much of anything these days.  She brought me some more thank you cards today in the cutest box that she made herself.  Her talent is amazing.  My hair has alomost all fallen out.  I've tried wearing some scarves and some hats.  I prefer the hats.  The scarves kind of drive me crazy during the day because they move around on my head.

I'll try to be better at posting more often.  I haven't had much energy for anything lately.