Haven't updated the blog for a while...just been busy with the kids home for the summer. Now that I am in a roll with my chemo treatments, it seems like I have a good week and then a not so good week. This has been my good week so I try to get everything done around the house- cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal planning..etc. so that after I get chemo on Wed I can relax and it is easier for the kids to help out.
I am just at my halfway point in my chemotherapy. I have 5 more treatments over the next 10 weeks. Then I get the month of Sept off if my scan comes back looking good. If not- then I will have more chemo. Whenever my chemo is all done then I have radiation for 4 weeks. So far so good! My last 2 treatments have left me feeling more icky than I would like but hopefully I will get my nausea meds adjusted this week and I will feel better.
Now for Pat's update. His last scan showed nothing in his head- which is great! The scan did show some cancer cells in 2 lymphnodes in his chest- near the area where he had the small tumor removed from the outside of his lung in Dec. We are very disappointed that Pat's scan did not come back clear but we are extremely hopeful that another round of aggressive chemotherapy will do the trick. He starts his chemo on Monday and will get a treatment every week with regular scans to check the progress. This way his oncologist can adjust the treatments as needed. Even though Pat has to get chemo every week- nausea is not a main side effect of his specific medications so that will be good.
Enough of cancer related blah blah blah....
....This weekend we decided to celebrate 4th of July early! We had our first annual LunkCrabFest and put up a pool in our backyard. I made a huge pot of very yummy Maryland Crab Soup. It was so so good! we also ordered some traditional Maryland steamed crabs online and had them delivered by FedEx. It was a wonderful treat to all sit down and pick crabs on newspaper at the kitchen table. Kelsey and Derek remembered how to eat them but we had to give a little tutorial to Kevin and Meri. At first Meri was afraid to touch the crabs but quickly got into it and has declared herself an "expert crab eater". Even Kevin, who really does not like to eat any seafood, enjoyed busting open the claws.
We all had a great day today floating around in our pool. We put it up yesterday and it took about 12 hrs to fill! The little kids could hardly wait! Meri even went outside last night before bed with a flashlight just to see how deep the water was getting! The pool is just big enough for the whole family to float around in but not too big to fill up the yard. Wil had a great time- although he seemed a little confused as to why his brothers, sisters and parents were ALL in the big bathtub! He was soon splashing around and chasing after his rubber ducky from his swim float. He even learned to say "Gack Gack"- Wil speak for quack quack! I think all the kids will have a great time this summer playing around in the water, especially since it is so hot here in Texas!
In other news, Kelsey is still hoping for a summer job and Derek starts Driver's Ed classes tomorrow. That's about it from here. We hope you are all having a wonderful summer! Please stay in touch and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Recovery Week
Well, after last Wednesday's chemo I was feeling pretty icky all weekend long. I had a weird tingling tongue sensation that felt like when you burn your mouth on hot pizza cheese. It made it hard to eat and when I did eat, everything tasted weird. Pat has to give me a shot of Neupagen every day after chemo for 5 days. It is helping to keep my white blood cell count up so I don't end up in the hospital again. Unfortunately it makes my bones ache and it feels like getting the flu- ugh! It also makes me extremely tired. I am not usually a nap taking person, but since my most recent chemo I have been so exhausted that I have actually taken naps. Thankfully Pat and the kids have been very helpful and have done a great job letting me have the time to feel better!
By Monday I was able to eat more and had more energy which was a good thing since my sister Tanya arrived from Las Vegas on Tuesday for a 2 week visit. Since then we have mostly been hanging out and finishing up with unpacking some of our boxes from the move to our new house. We (mostly my sister!) also painted my kitchen. When we moved in the kitchen had a smooshed-looking very dark green ivy stencil. Now the weird ivy is gone and the kitchen is a lovely shade of muted sage green. It looks great with the oak cabinets and barn red accent color in the kitchen.
For Father's Day we surprised Pat with a hammock. He put it together and set it up on our deck and spent the afternoon relaxing with a book. He calls it "hammock therapy". I think it may become his favorite place!
Otherwise, all is well. The teenagers are hunting down summer jobs, Meri is doing the summer reading program at the library and Kevin is perfecting his moves on Guitar Hero. Wil is busy crawling, standing and learning to walk. He has finally gotten the hang of feeding himself crackers and drinking from his sippy cup. The excitement around our house is overwhelming! haha!
I've got more chemo this week so I will write again as soon as I can. Have a great week!
Today's Glass Half Full: "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." ~Winston Churchill
By Monday I was able to eat more and had more energy which was a good thing since my sister Tanya arrived from Las Vegas on Tuesday for a 2 week visit. Since then we have mostly been hanging out and finishing up with unpacking some of our boxes from the move to our new house. We (mostly my sister!) also painted my kitchen. When we moved in the kitchen had a smooshed-looking very dark green ivy stencil. Now the weird ivy is gone and the kitchen is a lovely shade of muted sage green. It looks great with the oak cabinets and barn red accent color in the kitchen.
For Father's Day we surprised Pat with a hammock. He put it together and set it up on our deck and spent the afternoon relaxing with a book. He calls it "hammock therapy". I think it may become his favorite place!
Otherwise, all is well. The teenagers are hunting down summer jobs, Meri is doing the summer reading program at the library and Kevin is perfecting his moves on Guitar Hero. Wil is busy crawling, standing and learning to walk. He has finally gotten the hang of feeding himself crackers and drinking from his sippy cup. The excitement around our house is overwhelming! haha!
I've got more chemo this week so I will write again as soon as I can. Have a great week!
Today's Glass Half Full: "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." ~Winston Churchill
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Counting Blessings
Today I had another round of chemo (it went just fine by the way!) and I had two very nice ladies battling breast cancer there with me in my treatment room. They both exuded a very positive attitude and outlook on life with cancer. We compared bald heads and discussed the pros and cons of our different kinds of chemotherapy and side effects. All three of us are in agreement that the medications they give nowadays to help with nausea are extremely effective. We also had a wonderful nurse attending to us. She was explaining to us how rewarding it is for her to work with cancer patients because most of the patients she treats are so easy going and agreeable. She is of the opinion that when a person gets diagnosed with cancer, it changes their attitude about life. Cancer patients don't sweat the small stuff.
I started thinking about that. The ladies were discussing it too. In some ways I think it is true. At my last chemo appointment it took the pharmacist four hours to get my drugs mixed and ready for me. I sat and waited patiently the whole time in my recliner, watching television and relaxing under a nice warm blanket. I probably would not have waited and still been cheerful a year or two ago. Today I drove myself to the hospital (usually Pat drives but the kids have such crazy schedules these past few days of school that it was easier for me to have one car and him the other in case I was not finished in time for school pick ups) -anyway, I had to park all the way at the end of the parking lot because it was very crowded. Normally, I might have been annoyed to have such a hard time finding a space, but not today. It was a nice walk and the weather was not too hot this morning for a stroll to the hospital!
When I left after chemo today, both of the other ladies wished me well and said "May God Bless You". The way I see it, God has blessed me so much already! I really feel so blessed to have cancer. I know it may sound strange, but after spending more than a year supporting Pat in his cancer battle, it is amazing to me to see things from the 'other side'. I feel that it is such a blessing for me, and for Pat, to be able to walk in each other's shoes. Now Pat can support me (he's doing a fantastic job!) and I have a whole new perspective on being a cancer patient-all the tests and treatments as well as the emotions a diagnosis brings. We are our own mini support group!
I always wondered why Pat was never angry about having cancer- but to be honest, I have not experienced anger either. I think it has a lot to do with having faith. It was (and is) a blessing to me to be Catholic. My faith is very strong. When I was in the hospital a few weeks ago, a Catholic priest came to my room and we prayed together. It was very comforting. One of my favorite sayings is the one "If God leads you to it, God will lead you through it." (ironically, I received that same quote in an email from my friend Michele's mom!) There is no benefit to get all spun up and morose about things you have no real control over. Just have faith!
I suppose I could look at all this cancer in our family as a curse, not a blessing- but I just don't. After all, when life hands you lemons...make lemonade!
Today's glass half-full: "Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith." ~Author Unknown
I started thinking about that. The ladies were discussing it too. In some ways I think it is true. At my last chemo appointment it took the pharmacist four hours to get my drugs mixed and ready for me. I sat and waited patiently the whole time in my recliner, watching television and relaxing under a nice warm blanket. I probably would not have waited and still been cheerful a year or two ago. Today I drove myself to the hospital (usually Pat drives but the kids have such crazy schedules these past few days of school that it was easier for me to have one car and him the other in case I was not finished in time for school pick ups) -anyway, I had to park all the way at the end of the parking lot because it was very crowded. Normally, I might have been annoyed to have such a hard time finding a space, but not today. It was a nice walk and the weather was not too hot this morning for a stroll to the hospital!
When I left after chemo today, both of the other ladies wished me well and said "May God Bless You". The way I see it, God has blessed me so much already! I really feel so blessed to have cancer. I know it may sound strange, but after spending more than a year supporting Pat in his cancer battle, it is amazing to me to see things from the 'other side'. I feel that it is such a blessing for me, and for Pat, to be able to walk in each other's shoes. Now Pat can support me (he's doing a fantastic job!) and I have a whole new perspective on being a cancer patient-all the tests and treatments as well as the emotions a diagnosis brings. We are our own mini support group!
I always wondered why Pat was never angry about having cancer- but to be honest, I have not experienced anger either. I think it has a lot to do with having faith. It was (and is) a blessing to me to be Catholic. My faith is very strong. When I was in the hospital a few weeks ago, a Catholic priest came to my room and we prayed together. It was very comforting. One of my favorite sayings is the one "If God leads you to it, God will lead you through it." (ironically, I received that same quote in an email from my friend Michele's mom!) There is no benefit to get all spun up and morose about things you have no real control over. Just have faith!
I suppose I could look at all this cancer in our family as a curse, not a blessing- but I just don't. After all, when life hands you lemons...make lemonade!
Today's glass half-full: "Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith." ~Author Unknown
Monday, June 2, 2008
Being Bald
I just want to say that being bald is pretty cool. I seriously do not miss my hair at all. I know it sounds odd, but I think I can pull off the whole bald girl thing as a fashion statement! I have several really nifty scarves. I feel like a gypsy when I wear them. It reminds me of when I was in elementary school and we did a musical about gypsies with Mrs. Riddle's music class. I had the part of the fortune teller and I had to wear a scarf. I thought it was cool then too! Maybe I should wear some bangly bracelets and long flowing skirts?? I could start a trend.
I am opting out of gettin a wig. I don't think I would enjoy wearing one, especially in the heat and humidity of Texas summer. Fake hair just doesn't suit me. Even the little fake stick on bangs and such don't appeal to me. I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes- although they will eventually fall out too- I might miss them. Kelsey has promised to help me figure out how to do eyeliner when my eyelashes finally go. I don't normally wear much makeup- prefer the natural me, so I'll need some help with the eyeliner thing.
I can take a shower and get ready to go out in no time at all now that I am bald. It makes me wonder why guys with little to no hair (you know who you are-haha) end up taking such long showers. Once you eliminate hair washing it really cuts down on shower time. Yesterday I washed my fuzzy head with my "add body and lift to flat lifeless hair" shampoo...hee hee- I actually giggled at that- yep, I think flat and lifeless is a good description for hair that is 1 mm long! :)
Another good thing about no hair is not having to shave my legs! Woohoo! Now that is a great aspect to chemo induced alopecia! I'll have nice smooth legs all summer long.
Yay for Baldness! :)
I am opting out of gettin a wig. I don't think I would enjoy wearing one, especially in the heat and humidity of Texas summer. Fake hair just doesn't suit me. Even the little fake stick on bangs and such don't appeal to me. I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes- although they will eventually fall out too- I might miss them. Kelsey has promised to help me figure out how to do eyeliner when my eyelashes finally go. I don't normally wear much makeup- prefer the natural me, so I'll need some help with the eyeliner thing.
I can take a shower and get ready to go out in no time at all now that I am bald. It makes me wonder why guys with little to no hair (you know who you are-haha) end up taking such long showers. Once you eliminate hair washing it really cuts down on shower time. Yesterday I washed my fuzzy head with my "add body and lift to flat lifeless hair" shampoo...hee hee- I actually giggled at that- yep, I think flat and lifeless is a good description for hair that is 1 mm long! :)
Another good thing about no hair is not having to shave my legs! Woohoo! Now that is a great aspect to chemo induced alopecia! I'll have nice smooth legs all summer long.
Yay for Baldness! :)
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