I wanted to take a minute to blog since I just put Claire down for a nap. Round 2 of Chemo is done! My white cell count was down which was not a surprise. I go in tomorrow to get the neulasta shot. Have not heard good things about the side effects of this, so I am apprehensive. I figured I may as well plan on a down weekend. This is fine with me. It still gives me a good week before round 3 that I will feel good.
Talked to the DR about weight lose. She does not even want me to think about losing weight right now. She just wants me to maintain. As chemo is stressful on the body as it is. She said alot of people gain weight as chemo goes along because they are more tired and less active. I thought this just means I will not be able to eat as much junk! I still plan on walking when I can for my sanity!
I have to admit that the nurses in the Cancer center are all nice and very funny. They really take care of their patients. For this I am grateful.
Tomorrow night Dennis and I are going to our DS support group meeting if my body allows. We have not been to a meeting in so long. It will be so nice to see everyone, esp the kiddos. Although we are keeping Claire at home.
Speaking of...she did very well with her tubes yesterday. She was their favorite patient yesterday they said. She kept waving and wanting to give her infamous "taters" to everyone. She is back to her old self today. She is very vocal and louder! I think she can actually hear herself more and is getting a kick out of it! Too cute!
Enjoy the sunshine!
Peace!

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. Thank you to Janet for going shopping with me yesterday. I had a ball as always. Today was a little dreary, but the sun did eventually come out and I got a walk in. It was so nice to be able to walk. I really want to keep my weight off that I lost and maybe some more. I know people think that is not right to want to lose weight while undergoing treatment. Hey folks, I have it to lose and I just want to get in the habit of eating healthy anyway, and if losing weight comes with that, it is an extra bonus. I am going to have my good days and bad days when it comes to my appetite anyway. A few days after chemo I usually don't eat much anyway. Food is just not an appealing thing then.
I don't know how much I am going to get used to wearing a hat though. I know I would not survive with a wig. The hat is hot enough! Come summer I am sure you will see me around town with no hat at all! As long as I am not in the sun, I just as soon go bald! I wore one of my cute new hats to church today and thank god the air was on! This chemo has me in either peri-menopause or menopause. Geezzz....
Round 2 of chemo ( I feel as though a boxing bell should go off every time I say "ROUND" Ha..is Wednesday. I don't mind actual chemo days, it the days following that suck! Friday is usually the low day as well as Saturday, so we will see this time how things go. I take advantage of my good days as much as possible!
Once again I want to thank all my friends and family for their love and support. It means so much to me. To open up the mailbox and find a card every day is just incredible! I have a box that I put them in and I know I will need to look at them soon to remind me that this is all worth going through.
Claire gets her tubes on Tuesday. We have to be at Riley at 8:00 am. It will be an early morning! Please keep Claire in your prayers that everything goes well. The thought of my baby going under makes me nervous. But I look forward to seeing how she does with her tubes. I know they will be a blessing.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."
Blessings on your week my friends!

The head shaving party was a success and a blast! Brett(my niece's beau) had his shaved the night before. Dennis went first and then I went last. It was alot of fun. Thank you for everyone coming out to support me. And for those that were with me in spirit as well.
I only cried 2x! The first time was after everyone stood in a circle and held hands and my sister said a prayer. The second was when my friend Michelle hugged me good bye. She went through exactly what I am going through a couple years ago. It is so comforting to know that there are others out there that have been there, done that and are survivors!
I did have an issue with sleeping last night. Of course I had 2 giant caffeinated pops yesterday. I have not had that much caffeine in a long time. Also, we have flannel sheets. My head was like velcro on the pillow case! I had to switch it out!
Looks like it will be a decent weekend. I need to go out and buy some short sleeved t-shirts. Since I have lost the weight, I don't have any that fit very well. That is OK, not complaining there.
Enjoy your weekend and many blessings and peace!

POWER

Prepare
Overcome
Win
Every
Round

To all my brothers and sisters going through chemo.....remember this!!!!!!!!

*Sugar Ray Leonard*

I feel the need to blog after I have heard some comments about my head shaving party. Not necessarily bad comments. But here is the thing. For those of you that cannot come out and watch me get my head shaved, I totally understand. I know you support me and love me. I have no problem with that at all. In fact, I applaud your honesty.

I also feel that people are so associating this with a "bad thing." I have cancer, I am not dying. I will lose my hair and life goes on. If I was doing this for charity, as so many folks do, would the attitude be different? I would imagine it would.

My sister has been involved with Relay for Life for many, many years. She was talking to the survivors tonight and many had horror stories about how they lost their hair. One woman woke up in the middle of the night with hair in her mouth! This is the one and only thing I can control through this whole process. And if this is the only thing, I am doing it.

So for those that cannot imagine why I am doing this so publicly, I don't really care what you think! I don't owe you any explanation really. I just wanted those that are close to me and feel that emotionally they cannot handle it, to know I love them and think nothing of it.

Today my heart is heavy. I just found out this morning that a friend of mine has invasive breast cancer. She found out Friday. She said the DR thought she would need both chemo and radiation. It is not that I feel sorry for her. She would kick my butt if I did. But having cancer, you can definitely say without a doubt you have 100 % empathy for them. It is just not something you want someone to go through. Especially when they need treatment. The good thing is, first and foremost, she has a great strong faith and knows our God is with her every step of the way. Through the good and the bad. He really is the perfect man! Think about it. When you get married you have vows you say to one another. He has fulfilled all of those vows since the day you were born.

She also has a huge fan base. And I mean HUGE! We all love you Jan! We will be with you hair or no hair Breast or no breast! I am serious! I always say it is about my health, not my hair!

So please lift Jan up in prayer as she begins a new journey in her life. One that will be amazing and one that will be hard.

Blessings!

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I was pretty much in my pajamas all weekend. I knew I had gotten a sinus infection. Called the DR today and got in. They gave me a nasal spray and anti biotic. I told them I had to feel fabulous by Thursday! Woke up feeling queasy today so I took a zofran. This seemed to help.
Aunt Ju-Ju King is going with Dennis today to take Claire to Riley to the ENT. I would have gone if it was closer, but since I am not feeling well, I thought it was best to stay home. Thanks Julie!
Getting geared up for the head shaving party Thursday night. I even bought some favors! My sister and hubby went to Hobby Lobby the other night and the cashier commented that someone was going to have a St Patrick's Day party. My sister told him, no, we are having a head shaving party. My sister has lymphoma and lime green is the color of awareness. He told her he wasn't expecting that! I know it is crazy! But I am waking up in the middle of the night thinking about losing my hair! I am anxious about it. I think this will be the better thing to do for me, for my peace of mind. Like I said before, I don't want to see or feel the clumps coming out, etc...
Hope to see you all there Thursday night!
Blessings