Achin' and painin'

You can tell a change is taking place. We had been noticing the change in my hair......it's been a lot drier lately and tangly. I even extra conditioned it and it didn't help so that is why I did the chop-chop. I didn't want to see all that hair fall out. BTW, thanks to Pam for cutting my and Norm's hair. Great job! Probably not a smart move for me to get it done before the plummet in temps though. It's been a bit cold! Duh moment, I'm sure!

All the places where they tried getting an IV are now sore to me. I thought at first it was my imagination and then started finding black and blue marks which they said would happen, but if you see them, you have my permission to jive Norm about abusing his poor wife stricken with cancer. Lay it on thick! Been feeling more tired and struggling with the dehydration thing. Also got to watch if I stand up after leaning down. Wow! What a rush! And not a pleasant one! I was trying to look at something on a lower shelf today and went to stand up and WHOA! Room spinning!

Well, tomorow my teenage daughter becomes the smart one of the family and heads to Florida in the midst of this deep freeze. They are expecting wind chills well below ZERO......and I mean waaay well! Wish I was going too! You can't hardly breathe and the chill gives us headahes. I got them being out and so did Tyler complain of it.

Want a shock?

I asked a friend to cut my hair short so that I'm not in as much of a state of shock when it starts falling out........

BEFORE:





AFTER:

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Are you sure you are ready for this?

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Maybe you should sit down first.........

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And have some smelling salts handy......

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Maybe a fan.......

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It's going to be a shock, I promise you!

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Well, consider yourself warned!

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Ended up at dr this morning

I haven't been feeling right lately and this morning had issues with fighting blacking out. My sister took me to the doctor and it was discovered I am dehydrated....... which Norm has been getting on me about. I am trying to force fluids but it's hard when you also fight nausea. My sister got me 4 cases of gatorade to drink. I asked the doctor for a paper telling my husband he can't say "I told you so" but the dr refused with a bit of a snicker on his face and told me that is Norm's job as my husband. Foiled again!

He did decide that I will start next treatment on Tuesday January 27 and go for about 5 days. I will need admitted first for some kind of test first.

Well, I need to get off and lay down some more so I will update later.

With Heavy Hearts

We had a bit of bad news. First off, Gavin lost his battle with cancer last night and went home to be with Jesus where he will be forever healed. Please remember his family through this.

Secondly, we learned yesterday that a friend from church had a reoccurance of her cancer and will have to get some radiation therapy. I will not mention a name yet as I don't know if all of her family knows.

I have been having issues with sleeping at night due to nausea. I think I saw every hour last night due to feeling sick or uncomfortable. It's been hard to keep a clear mind during the day with not sleeping. I noticed as it is that it's really hard to concentrate on conversations. I'm not sure if that is from the chemo drugs affecting me or if it's from sheer exhaustion. Norm took off today to care for me. I had decided to go to church on Sunday but later regretted doing so because I discovered that I got dizzy with all the standing while talking to people and it was hard to maintain a conversation. I am hoping as the chemo works its way from my system that I will be better to sleep at night and then possibly go to work even if it is light duty. I think sometimes I wish I had not gotten it because I hate having to take off so much or be under special conditions. I did not want to return to the work force like this. But it is what it is..... I know I need to trust God to work it all out.

Finally home

It wet okay for the most part. Had difficulty with the IV lines. I am a very hard stick and the chemo was not easy on my body. They kept having to stick, stick, remove that one and stick me again and again. This went on every day. Not a pleasant experience! Yesterday my cancer doctor eve tried sticking me for an IV.....he gave up and ordered me a PIC line which I still have in and is supposed to be here through my other cancer chemo treatments. If you know how squeamish I am about needles and invasive procedures, you will know it was not fun. When they came to do it, I told them I want to know as little about what they are doing as possible because I knew my stomach/nerves could not handle it.

On Wednesday I had a reaction to one of my chemo meds. It was set up to go in quickly. I started feeling really warm in my stomach which traveled up to my head and made me really woozy and I started feeling like I would pass out. They called the doctor who ordered a slower drip. I'm not sure how they will handle it next time. It was funny how the male nurse in charge of me reacted. I must have gotten really flushed and so the next few nights whenever I rang the bell he huffed it into my room looking worried and asked if I was flushed or feeling okay. Most times it was for the cantankerous IV pump which was going off constantly which is partially why I needed so many new IV lines. In fact on Friday when they took out my last IV, the needle was bent.

Now I will be having ladies come in to teach us how to flush my PIC line. I am hoping Norm has the stomach for that because I don't know if I do. He told me today that when he promised 18 years ago in sickness and health that he was getting in for any of this. I guess no one does. Cancer is not planned. It just happens. And just because there is none in your family does not make you less likely to get it. In fact it's almost worst because it just takes you by surprise.

So I am at home, a little nauseous and very tired and a little worn for the wear however my dear beloved husband told me I am a trooper. I was told I could go to church tomorrow.... that my counts will probably not affect me for a week yet. I may try depending on how I feel and the current weather conditions. Right now it is snowing.

Chemo tomorrow

We were at the oncologist this morning and had all tests done for tomorrow so we are set to go........ however if it's icy we may need to borrow some ice skates to get to the hospital tomorrow.

Please keep us in prayer. I will be receiving the chemo - inpatient - for hopefully 3 days or less. The oncologist also dropped the fact that he may increase the time for the next chemo treatment to five days if my body tolerates it this time. He also said it will be 3- 4 treatments.He did seem very optimistic that this should take care of it but time will tell as most of the spots, currently the size of a grain of rice and smaller, will be impossible to pick up on a scan.

He also announced that he just formed our county's first Ovarian Cancer Forum or something like that and my bowling ball size tumor was their first subject of study....... I forget how many slides he said they had to look at. It was a lot. I wonder if I should get royalties from that........

They said we could hook up our computers there so I may try and take a borrowed laptop in and see if I can get it to work in there so I can keep everyone updated.

We cherish your prayers! It is often that I feel down and then remember how many people are praying and it helps a lot!

Home Again!

We left on Friday afternoon for Willow Valley Resort south of Lancaster, PA.
We had tickets to go and see Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound Millenium Theater.
The set, including live animals and awesome special effects were amazing!




On Saturday we started at an Amish farm for a tour. We even took a buggy ride later.
Actually we first stopped at a shoe store to get some socks for me because I forgot to pack some and to replce my boots that came apart. I thought shopping was a great way to spend one's vacation. Norm thought differently.... till I got him his hat below.













Then we headed to Strasburg for the Choo Choo barn which is a huge O-gauge train display.






















Back at the motel we got our pictures taken at this sleigh.































The next day (Sunday or today) we dressed up for brunch in the Palm Court.
First though we had another picture taking session.








I told Nicole to see if Norm's smile got bigger in his new hat.
She said, "Yes, it did."















"Can't we stay longer?"






We came home and then took the kids for one last hurrah..... to the theater to see "Marley and I". It was fun but all are very tired!

Not looking forward to this week. I start the chemo on Wednesday but must go to the doctor on Tuesday for tests and last minute consultation. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today we went down to my mom's side of the family for a gathering. We met in the activity room of a nursing home facility. There was also a pool for our use. My mom hadn't felt good overnight(Stomach virus) and my dad was really tired from also being up so we left early.

We leave tomorrow afternoon for our weekend away thanks to friends from church. We are heading to a resort south of Lancaster, PA. It worked out good as Saturday is also my birthday. We will be back on Sunday so maybe Sunday evening or Monday morning I can put some photos up.

Not far from my mind is the upcoming chemo therapy next Wednesday. Please keep us in your prayers.




Opening Christmas Presents before heading back to hospital to admit Norm.

















Welcoming Norm home from the hospital















My mom's side of the family at the gathering today. I emailed it to my aunt and told her that everyone is smiling pretty and then I looked at her and her husband........ This is only probably about half of us. My grandfather was in the middle on the chair.