Coming Out of the Tunnel

Don and I had a wonderful week last week. We went out to dinner with Barry and Lana on Friday night, Sunday night Jeanni and Colt came over and brought aspargus quiche, asparagus soup, and chicken noodle soup. I HAVE to have those recipes! Colt enjoyed the pool, and it was so much fun watching him have fun. Margaret came by Monday morning and brought a delicious pound cake. Mary Gail brought by some of Bob's famous chicken soup on Monday night. I had lunch out with Alice on Thursday, and Stephanie and Carla came by for a visit that afternoon. On Friday, I went to the shop, and helped with some funeral work. I actually got to work on two easels. It was good to be back. Nancy worked me in for a hair appointment, isn't it funny how good the beauty shop makes you feel? Maybe it's a girl thing. She is so funny. She has refilled my freezer with peas!!!! Yes, they are still very yummy, and I'm still going through them at a pretty good clip. Connie brought a big pot of vegetable soup in, and then made us some broccoli cheese soup. I walked three miles only once this past week. It was just too hot! I did swim quite a bit. Sunday afternoon Hazel brought her two grandbabies over to swim. They really had fun and it was entertaining just watching them enjoy the water.

On Monday Stephanie drove me to Paris for my third treatment. I've lost another pound. I don't get it. I have been eating more than I ever have and I just can't seem to keep the weight on. Believe me, my friends are keeping us well fed! I was glad to have the opportunity to visit with Stephanie. We had lost touch when I was going in to work everyday. She is lots of fun. The treatment went well. Dr Wilcox added some benadryl to the infusion so that I wouldn't break out in another rash. That seemed to help some. I only had two little places come through on my left arm this Thursday.

My red counts were low, but because I seemed to be in otherwise pretty good shape, and my white counts were normal, Dr. Wilcox went ahead with the treatment. I know now why you don't want to get chemo when your red counts are low. I couldn't get out of bed on Tuesday. Don cooked a steak and I was a little better on Wednesday, but I didn't truly rebound until this morning.

A funny new side effect hit me last Monday night. I HAD to have a milk shake. I talked Don into going into town for one, against his better judgement. I knew I needed to drink tiny sips, and do it slowly. It was good! When I went to tell Don good night, I couldn't talk. My tongue was frozen. I sounded like Sylvester the cat. It was so funny, that I had to try to say every word I could think of that started with an "s".

Sarah, Lee and Bryan will all be here this weekend. I haven't seen Lee since I was in the hospital. I hope we don't scare him off. I think Don and Bryan are planning to take him hunting. Welcome to East Texas Lee!

Sarah will get to stay until Wednesday, then it's back to Florida for her. Wish I could go with her. We are going to try to do some shopping, and other than that just hang out at the pool.

If I don't post much this next week, please forgive me again. I'm going to try to enjoy life as much as I can, and that might not include sitting in front of this computer. The sun is supposed to be out every day this next week!! I'm feeling strong, and continue to thank the Lord for all the blessings he has given me. Keep us in your prayers.

Round 2

So far I'm making it through round 2. The infusion on Tuesday took about 4 hours. The doctor was running behind, and the chemo room was almost full. I got my full dose of Folfox, and it was followed with a 1 1/2 hour infusion of Avastin. I'm still wearing the pump with an IV of Fluorauracil. It will come off tomorrow at 12:30.
I felt pretty good yesterday, but woke up nauseated this morning. I just couldn't get going today. Late this afternoon I broke out in an itchy rash on both of my arms. The neuropathy is back. I'm drinking lukewarm liquids, eating lukewarm fruit, and wearing my leather gloves in the kitchen. Thank goodness it will probably be gone in a few days.
So now everyone knows that I'm really a closet whiner. Sorry. Tomorrow will be a better day.
Thank you all for your continued prayers, cards, and e-mails.

What a wonderful day it has been. I rejoice and am glad in it.

Plans were to stay at home all day, and get caught up on my correspondence. I almost met that goal. I still have three letters to write, and I'll be up to date:). Now, if I can just get to the post office in the morning, I'll be doing all the good.

The weather is absolutely beautiful, the sky is blue. What more could anyone ask for? I didn't walk tonight, our friends Barry and Lana dropped by, and I was glad for the diversion. We are going to get together this weekend, so that's something to look forward to.

Connie will be here in the morning to help me with bookwork, and thank goodness Mom is still here to help me in the kitchen. I should be all set for next week, with a freezer full of Magic Mineral Broth, (thank you Lisa) and purple hull peas(thank you Debi)!

I am so grateful for a wonderful day like today.

Catch up

I am so sorry I do not post more often than I do. I seem to get wrapped up in all I want to get done, and before I know it the day is gone! I am going to try to do better, but let me warn you--I don't really lead a very interesting life, so please bear with me, and I hope you don't get too bored!!!! ---
First of all I need to thank everyone who has posted, called, sent cards, or e-mailed us. You will never know what that small gesture on your part has meant to me and Don. It is such a joy to pick up the mail, check the blog or e-mail, and receive a note. The small things you all continue to do have sustained us. We are amazed and humbled at the outpouring of love that is being shown to us. ---
Now, let me make this perfectly clear. My first round of chemo was wretched. That about sums it up. The tingling in my fingers lingered until Monday of this week. Today is the first day I have been able to drink anything with ice in it comfortably. Enough of my whining. ---
I started feeling a little better by Friday afternoon last week. Saturday was a little better than Friday, and Bryan came home! Don and Bryan had guys night out and went to see the Bourne Ultimatum. They both gave the movie two thumbs up. I'm so glad Don got to go do something fun for a change. It seems that his life is all about taking care of everyone else. He is absolutely the best husband, and son anyone could ever hope for. I am so fortunate. ---
Sunday morning I woke up and felt like a human being is supposed to feel. It was wonderful! I put my suit on and got in the pool for the first time in two years. Marvelous!!!!!! I had floated around for about an hour and a half, when I got a sympathy call from the funeral home. Only another florist can appreciate what that really means. I had to go! I had no idea what we had in stock, I'm officially out of the loop. I took care of the family, and was greening up their order, when Felecia came in and rescued me. The neuropathy in my hands was still giving me some trouble, so everytime I picked up a piece of greenery I felt like electric shocks were running through my fingers. ---
When I got home Mom had lunch ready. I ate like a farm hand. Pot roast, with all the trimmings, and fresh peas, absolutely yummm!!!!!! I don't think I've told many people about this, but, I discovered last week that whenever peas are cooking my mouth starts watering. I can't eat them fast enough, or often enough. Thank goodness they are in season now.
Sunday was good. ---
Monday, Don, Mom, and I went to Dallas to see Dr. Crim, the colon surgeon. He did his final post op exam, and cleared me for six months, or the end of chemo, which ever comes first. I always feel so much better after seeing him. His attitude is so positive. ---
After the appointment, we stopped by Central Market and did a little shopping. My friend Lisa McDaniel gave me a wonderful cookbook for cancer survivors called "One Bite at Time". I couldn't wait to try the recipes, but some of the ingredients are hard to find in Mt. Pleasant. We got everything we need to make "Magic Mineral Broth", and that's on my to do list for Wednesday. ---
Today, Tuesday August 7, has been a blessing I won't take lightly. I started out at 7:00 this morning by making my to do list. Unfortunately, I didn't get it all done, but it will carry over. Mom ran errands with me this morning, and we got everything done by 11:15. I put my suit back on, and rested by the pool for a while this afternoon, until my friend Debbie Newman came over bearing a whole bushel of peas!!!! We got to catch up, and celebrate her good news. Her husband, Hollis, who was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is now officially in remission!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!! He is such an inspiration. He picked all those peas this morning, what a guy! ---
Mom, Hazel, and I shelled peas until late this afternoon. My mouth started watering while I was doing that too. I think I must be pea obsessed. When Don got home we walked a mile, and I felt like I could have gone more, but our friend Ronnie dropped by and we stopped, grateful for the company. I'm slowly working back to 2 miles. We finished the evening off with another quick swim which was really refreshing!---
I am so grateful for today. God has truly blessed me. I have not felt this good since February! I can't wait till tomorrow. I'm gonna finish that list and start a new one!

Feeling a bit better

First round of chemo was Monday. I received a 3 hour IV, of what the Dr. calls "Folfax". It is a recipe of 3 different types of chemo drugs. When the office infusion finished, they hooked me up to a portable pump, and I came home with a 42 hour dose attached to me. It wasn't quite the piece of cake I thought it might be.
By that afternoon I was already feeling some of the side effects. I couldn't eat or drink anything the least bit cold, and I could not reach into the fridge without gloves on. Didn't I look a sight, 90 degrees outside, and I'm wearing black leather gloves! The nausea held off until Wed. morning when we were able to go to the local hospital and have the pump removed. I guess it was a delayed reaction, but by Thursday, I couldn't get out of bed, and could barely open my eyes.
Now it's Friday :) I feel much better! Bryan is coming in for the weekend and Mom is here watching over us. I'm looking forward to visiting with friends, and just enjoying the sunshine!
I will be going in for the next treatment on Tuesday, August 14., so I will have a week of feeling good ahead.