What a difference the WEATHER makes

I have had the best couple of days. Saturday I woke up feeling WONDERFUL and was treated to a gorgeous day so the boys and I went through all of their summer clothing and then I drove the Miata down to Bucktail. After spending 3 wonderful hours there, I drove back home and went to a Taste of Home cooking show with Annie (Thanks again Annie - I SOOOOOOO Love You). After that, I drove back to Bucktail and we all (Including Rob) stayed the night.

Sunday was truly another "gift" day. I spent most of it sitting around talking to friends (Deb and Pat Gilboy, Wendy and Cole, and others) and taking it easy. What a wonderful day.

Today - Monday - another greatly beautiful day. INCREDIBLE. My body right now feels as it did before the cancer - I feel GREAT. Was this what "normal" felt like - man, have I missed it.

Tomorrow - blood work and then a quick trip up to Boston to run a seminar. Back on Wednesday evening and then Chemo on Thursday - Number 3 - Only 1 more A/C after that.

I hope you all enjoyed the past weekend as much as I did. Thanks for continuing to keep me in your prayers. I love you all so much.

Tough Couple of days

Hi all. It's been a tough couple of days. I went in for blood work on Monday and decided to stay for fluids. My blood results came back while I was still there and my white counts had bottomed out. I got a Neupagin(sp?) shot that day and went back on Tuesday for another. Wednesday morning I woke up with terrible pain in my left shoulder - and when I went in for my third Neupagin shot, I told Debbie about it. Dr Welt had just left but she said if it was any worse, I should see him on Thursday. On Thursday, my shoulder had bright red hot patches on the surface and I was running a temp. Additionally, my counts were not coming back up - even with the fourth shot - so they decided to do blood cultures and wanted me to go to the hospital for IV antibiotics. I asked them to let me go home with some oral antibiotics - which they agreed to do as long as I wasn't alone and I agreed to go to the hospital asap if I got any worse. I also had a shoulder xray to see if i had any infection. Carol very willingly came and stayed overnight with me. (gotta love her, right?? I sure do)

Then today Carol and I went to the clinic and had another Neupagin shot and blood drawn and then to see the orthopedic doc about my shoulder and he stuck a big long needle into my shoulder but HURRAY nothing was in there. I called the clinic and my counts are back to NORMAL - DOUBLE HURRAY :)

Now I can go to Tom and Cheryl's wedding today and have a good weekend with my family. WOOHOO.

Thanks for thinking about me and for all the prayers.

Love you all - B

Treatment 2 plus a week

Hi everyone. Well today is Wednesday - a week after my 2nd chemo. I am starting to feel more like myself again and that is always good. Side effects weren't AS bad this time but I did end up going in for fluids on Monday and I'm getting the three neupogin (Sp?) shots again - today is my last day. YEAH.

I'm preparing for a trip to Alaska in May - A once in a lifetime adventure - and the clinic is going to work with me on how to make it happen. It's gonna take some planning but i'm gonng be able to go.

Thanks for all your love and prayers, cards and well wishes. I feel you surrounding me all the time.

My love to all of you.

2 down - 6 to go

Today - Chemo # 2. All the scans were absolutely CLEAN -- NO CANCER ANYWHERE!!!! Yeah. And.....I lost 10 lbs. What a bonus. Dr Welt was pleased too :).

So I got the same cancer drugs and had less immediate effects from them. Took Motrin while I was there to help with the headache and Mom (gotta love her) brought me homemade soup to eat while I was there. I finished up around 12:20 and Rob and the boys brought me home.

My hair was falling out so we decided to shave it off and we had so much fun but did a terrible job so I called Lori Jacobus and the sweetheart that she is - she cut it all the way off for free. Since I picked up my wig yesterday, we tried it on and I wore it home. It needs some shaping/trimming in the front but other than that - it's really beautiful. Long, Shaggy, Curly, and a dark brunette RED. I love it.

Carol (gotta love her TOO) brought me fresh fruit and potato chips - one of the suggestions of Dr Welt to help with the dehydration. He said eat lots of soup and salty snacks. So Carol brought me Wavy Lays YUM and fresh fruit.

Annie (another LOVE) is just now arriving - she is staying with me as Rob is at work and the boys have gone for a visit to Aunt Linda's. They will have fun and hopefully I will be feeling great by the time they return.

I know I have told you this before but I feel your prayers - holding my hand when I'm scared, taking the pain when they stick me, helping me to sleep at night, and making me brave. Without all of you - I could never do this.

Thanks - always - for your love and prayers. I feel so loved.

Tuesday April 10 - the day BEFORE chemo #2

Hi all - just a short update since last week. I ended up getting a total of 5 shots (2 procrit and 3 like neulasta) and on Friday my counts were up enough that I didn't have to have any more. I was told not to be in any crowds still and that I could still get sick easily. This meant I had to miss my friend's oldest child's wedding - Sorry Billy Jean.

Saturday - the Smith girls came for a visit with Chicken Wing Dip. I am so blessed with the wonderful friends I have. Ashely - I love you :) You too Cheryl and Amber.

Sunday and Monday - I felt GREAT. I have an annoying cough and some head congestion but I almost feel like ME :)

Today - I get blood drawn to make sure I'm ready for tomorrow. Chemo is at 8am.

I'm more prepared and ready. Let's go #2 - Let's get this one DONE!!! I want to go to CAMP!!!

Love you all - thanks for the prayers and caring - I feel them surrounding me all the time.

Today is Wednesday

Scans galore - and all so much fun. I did well in the MRI - didn't even freak out. The PET scan was easier because it was more open and no cage around my face. :)

I went to the Cancer Center for blood work on Tuesday and today they called to say that both my white AND red blood cell counts are too low so I went in for three shots - 2 procrit and one like neulasta but I have to have up to 3 more of those to get my counts up to where they should be.

On the way home from blood work - I was feeling wonderful - so good I wanted to actually make dinner - so we stopped at the grocery store and headed home with some yummy stuff. On the way, I got stung in the center of my back by a bee and worried that I'd have an allergic reaction, took one benadryl that wiped me out. CRAP - right?

BUT - I feel better and I'm ready to fight some more. I am going in for fluids tomorrow as my blood pressure is lower than normal so I'm probably dehydrated. OH WELL. As my friend Cathy says - each day is a day closer to being finished - THANKS CATHY :))

I'll post again soon.
Thanks for the love and prayers. You all are my strength.

My first chemo weekend

Well if I told you that I wasn't fully ready for what happened to my body over the weekend - it would be the biggest understatement of my life. I felt as though I had been put in a burlap bag and run over repeatedly by a huge truck.

Things were not good at our home and with Rob working 4-12 it is really hard to keep up. I basically sat in the chair and tried to stay alive. NOT FUN. Very hard on all of us.

Today - though - being Monday - I am much better. Back to work - feeling human - YEAH!!!

MRI today and PET scan tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for the positive thoughts over the weekend.