GREAT VISIT!!

We are having such a good visit with Bill and Judy...my brother-in-law and sister-in-law from Illinois...so good to be able to catch up in person. I feel sorta like a party pooper...not going anywhere, but we are getting alot of scrapbooking done. Their son and daughter-in-law, Cory and Theresa are in the process of adopting a little baby boy, Gage. They have four daughters already and they are so glad to have a little boy. Gage was born with a severe cleft palate and Har syndrome. He will begin a long journey of multiple surgeries on Februray 18th in Chicago. They are happy to get the process started but still anxious and a little afraid also. I know how they feel...but as I told them, you just have to trust God, "The Great Physician", and know that He is the one in control. He will be there for them and will guide the doctors in the care of Little Gage! What a lucky little baby to have such a loving and wonderful family!

I can remember when Jennifer was beginning her journey of her fight with Cystic Fibrosis....it began by first being diagnosed with a heart defect....even before we knew she had CF! She was of only five children in the world to have a heart defect and CF and the only one we know of that survived....in 1978! She went through so much....but as I have told Cory and Theresa, when you are going through things like this with your child, you really don't stop and dwell on what MIGHT happen....you love that child with all your heart, you are there by her side, and you keep your Faith that she is in good hands and that God is in control....He gives you the strength to keep going and you keep your eyes and heart in the future. Jennifer went through so much in her 28 years....but she was a strong, caring, compassionate and uncomplaining young woman...she always wanted the best for everyone and always wanted to help others. I know that I learned soooo many life lessons in those short 28 years! I still get my strength and courage from her.

There will be bumpy times for Cory, Theresa and little Gage ahead, I am sure....but I know how much they love this little boy and how very blessed he will be to have such a loving family! They will learn alot from him and will become better and stronger for this experience!

I am happy to be able to work with Judy on his scrapbook while they are here visiting! You can see the love in each picture that we put in the book! Cory is always telling Gage that he is going to take him fishing, hunting and to the Bear's game! I am looking forward to making scrapbook pages of these events for him!

ROUND #3 DOWN

Completed Round #3 of chemo yesterday...my awesome sister and chemo buddy, Kimberly and I spent a wonderful day together. We started with IHOP for breakfast, and saw Anita there..it was so wonderful seeing her...she looks good and is always in good spirit...she has her PET scan tomorrow...praying hard for good results!

We left IHOP and went for a manicure and pedicure...which was heavenly...were running out of time, so we had to go to chemo, then back for the polish...which was good because we got to sit in the massage chair again..love that! I was happy that my new Purple Power Port worked well for the chemo...still had to get stuck for the Protine test..but didn't have to worry about getting IV! He put me on Keflex for ten days to help with the bump blisters on my head which is caused by the chemo drug, Taxotere! He was very pleased to see that my cancer markers had gone down after the first chemo....will be anxious to see what they are when the results come back this time.
I will get another Neulasta shot this afternoon...did so well with it last time that I won't have to have the weekly lab this time. That will save trips to the doctor. I felt really good about this visit and will keep my gloves on "Fighting like a Girl".....hopefully and prayerfully, this battle will end soon and I will be back at work...giving care, love and hope.

Kimberly brought boxes of Valentine Sweethearts to all the employees and the chemo patients yesterday....they were very well received....isn't she the sweetest and most thoughtful sister ever! Being in that chemo room for three hours with others going through their different stages of treatment, really makes you appreciate life more..always good to hear that people are there for their last treatment and compassionate and understanding for those there for their first treatment....I have been on both sides ten years ago....it truly is a life changing journey.....you really learn to appreciate life's little moments and so grateful for a second chance! Everything happens for a reason, we don't always know the reason at first, but I think it is revealed to us at the right time! I feel like I am a better person and more compassionate and stronger through my journey with cancer! Of course, I learned alot....I mean alot...from Jennifer as she battled her life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis.....she was so strong, caring, compassionate....never, ever complaining about all she went through. She was truly amazing and I love her so much and miss her so much! I am so grateful for the gift that I was given to be her Mother!

Bill and Judy are coming today for a visit...will be so glad to see them and be able to visit...I only get out to go to church and the doctor...so this will be a welcome change!

I haven't been sleeping well at all due to the three days of steroids I take the day before, the day of and the day after chemo. Wake up about 2 am and can't go back to sleep, so I didn't stay for Bible Study last night...sure missed being with such a great group of women....just needed to get home to my bed!

I hope this will be a good week while Bill and Judy are here!

WINTER STORM!!!

It is sleeting here in Hot Springs...supposed to get snow also. I don't mind the snow...so pretty around the pond over here. I don't care for the ice...because of the driving conditions for people and the possibility of the loss of electricity....that is never a good thing! Whatever we get, hope it is gone by Sunday. I want to go to church and afterwards see my "sister friend" Lisa, for some ya ya fun...seems like it has been months since we have seen her! Plan on spending the night at Kimberly's on Sunday, then Round #3 of chemo on Monday! Still have my bumpy cuttle bug head, but looks like it might be getting a little better!

Bill and Judy are coming down from Illinois next week to visit...it will be good to see them...wish the grandkids were on Spring Break so they could come too...maybe they will be able to come down later!

CUTTLE BUG HEAD!!!

Well, I must say that Round #2 of chemo has been much easier than the first round....I am sure that this is due to receiving the Neulasta shot the day after chemo. I have been tired, had a little of my "out of body" feelings...but no bone aches or extreme dizziness. I was beginning to ask myself if the chemo was still working.....it really is true that you should be careful of what you ask or wish for. I think God sent me a sign that it is working! My head is now covered in bumps! I look like my head has been put through the cuttle bug using the dotted swiss embossing folder LOL! Thank you God, for sending me a sign that the chemo is working! I called the nurse and she said that is probably from the Taxotere...my chemo drug! She said to put cortizone cream on it, which I have been...bumps still there, but not so red! How weird....but I guess I have always been a little weird or "special" should I say, when it comes to health issues. I have one more week, then I start with Round #3! The time sure goes by fast...but I am so blessed that the side effects this time around have been easier! I keep "fighting like a girl"!

Great Weekend

I got home yesterday from having a great weekend! My Aunt Toots from Tyler, Texas was here for a visit. I picked her up Sunday morning at her friend's house and she went to church with me. She really enjoyed the service and told me that she felt like she had really been to worship. Aunt Toots is 87 years old and is truly amazing.....she looks wonderful and was very happy that she could come. Her friend was going to Fayeteville, so she rode to Little Rock with her. We were very happy to have her here and spend some time with her.

Sunday after church, we had some good crafting time at Kimberly's and Anne and Stacie came by to tell Aunt Toots hello. It is always good to be able to visit with them.

On Monday, Charlotte came over and took me to get my lab work done...blood count is okay...YAY!!! After lab, Charlotte, Aunt Toots and I had a wonderful lunch at MiMi's Cafe.
Went back to Kimberly's for more crafting and then I started my new Women's Bible Study on Monday night....it is going to be an awesome study...1John.....very excited to get started on it...it is good studying and having fellowship with such awesome women!

Aunt Toots went back to Tyler on Monday and I came home to Hot Springs. Kimberly was the perfect hostess, of course....what would I do without her? Can't even imagine how I would make it.

Tomorrow hubby goes for cardiology check up and I go for lab....so another trip to Little Rock...but it will be good for us to be able to spend the day together!

It is supposed to be 67 degrees here today...maybe a little more rain...but still warm enough to bring on the Spring Fever bug....at least for a couple of days! Winter isn't over, for sure, but thoughts of flowers are popping in my head....hope to have lots of flowers and vegetables this year!

I am really feeling well this week...even feel like eating without having everything taste like metal...think the Neulasta shot really helped this round of chemo!

The dogs are happy that I am back home....you would have thought that I had been gone a month to see their excitement when I got home yesterday!


Off to start on laundry and get some cards ready for the mail!

Recipient of a new Purple Titanium Power Port!!!

I arrived in Little Rock at the surgery center at 6:30 this morning and was on my way back home to Hot Springs by 10:15. I got my new Purple Titanium Power Port...Yay! Dr. Hagans is the greatest ever. He wasn't sure that he would be able to get it in because I had already had two ports previously. He didn't get it in on the left side because of scar tissue, but he did on the right..thank goodness, because if that hadn't worked, I would have been taken to Radiology and had it put in my neck!



When I went to sleep, I had my IV in my hand...when I woke up, the IV was in my foot! Thank Goodness my awesome sister treated me to a pedicure on Monday after chemo! She must have known...huh? I have really ugly feet!



Dr. Hagans says my new port will be ready to use for my next chemo on February 1st!

Pretty sore today...having to have two incisions....but am very thankful that it is in and that is one more thing I don't have to worry about. The nice thing about having the Power Port is that it is CT approved so that will help with my scans!

Still have my gloves on Fighting Like a Girl with God as my coach!

Finished Round #2 of Chemo!!!

Round 1 of chemo didn't go as well as I excpected. My blood count dropped extremely low and had to get three shots to bring it up causing bone pain and for me to be pretty well isolated! Had round 2 yesterday...will get an injection today that will hopefully keep my blood count up. Had a hard time getting IV started...almost had to postpone the chemo until after port placement tomorrow, but finally got it in! YAY!!

Kimberly, my awesome sister and chemo buddy, spent the day with me. We had a great day...and she treated me to my first manicure and pedicure....awwww felt soooo good! She is the greatest sister ever! We got to visit during chemo and met alot of other wonderful cancer patients...met one lady who had breast cancer twenty-five years ago at age 31..and now she is fighting colon cancer...another lady that had inflammatory breast cancer like me..four years ago and now it came back in her chest wall. We are all fighters and have such a bond already.

Dr. Sneed answered mine and Kimberly's questions. He said that I should go to church and Bible Study...he wants me to live my life while going through this. He said just be careful with hand washing and not be around people that I know is sick. He said I will stay on the Taxotere for awhile and if we find it not to be working, we will try another drug. He was very nice and encouraging.

Looking forward to getting my port tomorrow and having that behind me. One less thing to worry about!

Aunt Toots is coming for a visit this week...it will be wonderful seeing her.

I am facing this week with my gloves on and fighting like a girl!