June-The Beginning of Summer, the 2nd part of Chemo Treatments, and Other Changes

Well summer is officially here!  Time seems to march along at a pretty fast pace.  I love the beautiful sunny days and to see the beautiful flowers and green grass,
Since this round of treatment is not as rugged, I am able to enjoy things more too.  I am grateful.  The cycle seems to be a little different.  My treatments are on Tuesdays.  I am really tired when I get home because of the things they give with the chemo.  Sometimes I sleep for awhile.  When I wake up, I feel pretty good.  Some of the weeks I have a hard time sleeping that night.  Wednesdays I feel pretty good.  These days including Thursday mornings I sometimes begin to think I can do all kinds of things.  I'm learning to stop myself, because it is too easy to over do.  Thursdays and Fridays I don't feel as well and rest a kit more.  A key to how I feel seems to be making sure that I rest,  The miracle of sleep!
This month is also different as my kids aren't able to be around.  Shannon and family have been very busy with Andrea graduating and John and Jake finishing up the school year.  Sheila and Lance just got possession of their first home together last weekend.  This week it has been new roof, preparing for new flooring, painting, etc.  Suzanna is just 2 weeks away from the scheduled delivery of Nathan and Leigha-unless they come sooner.  Shawn works each day in SLC, so he leaves about 8 and returns about 7.  I am being blessed with friends and visiting teachers checking in on me these days,  I love the visits and opportunities to see friends and to get to know others better as they help me with things I don't have the strength to do now. It us good.

Now on the Downward Side of 20 Weeks of Chemo Treatments!

Today is a good day!  It was treatment 4 of part 2 of my chemo.  I am over half way in the total chemo process!
Today I visited with my oncologist for the first time since I have been taking them weekly.  One of the first things he asked was, "How are you enjoying these taxol treatments..." I was thinking, "enjoy" is an interesting word to use?" when he continued, "compared to the first?",  These treatments have been much better.  I am very short on energy and tire very easily.  Then I feel pretty bad, so I try to rest when I get tired and to rest when I am going to have visitors or have some place to go.  I love feeling better, feel like I want to do things, and thinking about life in the future. It is exciting.  There are some side effects.  One that has appeared this week has been some pain and sensitivity in my fingertips and toes.  During the last week of the first part of my chemo, the soles of my feet peeled.  I am encouraged about my blood count.  At the beginning it was good.  After some of the treatments, it, as expected, went down,  (From average range 44 to a little anemic 32 to more 29 the first of this month.)  Today it is back to a little anemic 33.  This chemo is not as hard in this way.  Some days I am really tired, don't feel very good, and don't do very much, but each is better than many of days following the first treatment.  One of the things I have gained in this experience is my love and respect for the miraculous body Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I know I have taken if for  granted.  I also pray for it.  It is working exceptionally hard for me right now.

I have been so blessed to have each of my children available to go with me to those first scary doctor's appointments, tests, been there for surgeries and first days following surgeries, the first treatments and those hard days following them, etc.  I so appreciate them and their sacrifices (and their families'). I am richly blessed.  This month they have family responsibilities which require them to be with their families and Shawn in gone long days in SLC working.  However, I am doing so much better and my dear friends, visiting teachers and home teacher from church are coming in the days following my treatments to visit for a short time and/or do little things that I don't have the energy to do. Again in is a testimony and reminder to me of the great love of my Heavenly Father has for me (each of us) and that He is ever mindful of me and my needs.

Thank you for your love, prayers, cards, emails, and friendship.  It means to much to me.

More consistent Posts Coming

I haven't posted very consistently, because it wasn't very easy on my phone or Kindle and I didn't get downstairs to the computer very often.  This weekend I received this laptop. One of the reasons I wanted it is so I cam blog better.  I am confident it will help.

Over Half Way!!!

\Tuesday, June 10th marked the half way mark of my chemo treatments calendar wise.  It had been 10 weeks since the first treatment and there were 10 more weeks til the last scheduled one.
It has been interesting to me to realized how  overwhelming the 12 weeks if weekly treatments has been.  Once they began and I realized the number was getting smaller, I can tell a difference mentally.  Now I have only 8 more weeks if this treatment!!
Thanks for your prayers, love, and support,

Happy to Feell Better!

I'm back after what seems like a long time away from this blog. 
The day following my last post-2 weeks ago Tuesday-I had the last treatment of part 1 in my chemo treatments.  As normal the first days are rather rough.  Then something happened Thursday evening going into Friday.  My sodium level dropped dramatically and I was taken to ER and admitted to ICU with dangerously low sodium level.  I was there for a couple of days while they slowly raised it to normal and then sent to a regular room for a day. During that time I wasn't allowed out of bed for my safety, so I lost a lot of strength.  On Monday my levels were all good and so they got me up and stable enough on my feet to come home in the late afternoon.  It wasn't an adventure I want to revisit, but I am grateful for those who took such good care of me and the doctors.  I had excellent care.  I am also grateful for my kids who visited daily and/or called.  They are so great in taking care of me.  Sheila was here from out of town during this time and it was good to have her here to be with me and help in many ways.  In the many tests in ER they found that I have 4 small blood clots, so now I have learned to give myself shots in the stomach daily.  Just what I was wanting to learn, right!  Actually it isn't too bad.  I also learned other things too, as it my goal to learn the things I can from my experiences. 
The days following I began to get a little stronger and feel better.  However over the weekend I didn't feel very well again.  Tuesday was the first treatment of part 2.  These will be weekly for 12 weeks.  My doctor has told me that women usually find this chemo to be easier than the other one, nicknamed "red devil".  Thus far I have found that to be true.  I am not nearly as sick and feel better than the other times.  I hope it continues.  I am just really weak which is what I have been told would happen.  I think the hospital visit didn't help either. 
Sheila went home today and I begin the 5 weeks or so with the girls not around.  They each have things that their families need at this time.  I so appreciate them being willing to come as they have for days and weeks at a time.  Shannon will be here again in July.  These chemo treatments are taking about about 5 1/2 months not counting the surgeries before they began.  I am grateful for friends and neighbors who have and are helping also. 
Thanks to each of you for your support through prayers, cards, texts, emails, etc.  They are so appreciated. 

Sunny Monday

Happy Monday!

This weekend I have had concerns with a rapid heart rate.  I went to the ER to be sure.  It seems it might have been dehydration.  They gave me some fluids via IV. Then this morning I woke up in wee hours with the rapid heart rate again.  I am hoping it is not a serious thing. 
Tomorrow I am scheduled for treatment 4 tomorrow-the last of part 1.  I am glad I will be talking to the doctor before that-which is always the case.  
I appreciate so much the notes, emails, texts, cards, prayers, etc from you.  It helps so much to know what is happening and think about your lives too. 

Tulips Among the Irises

 I noticed yesterday that the irises are not blooming too.  How pretty they are!  I hope to get out today and take a picture of them. 

Lilacs and Tulips are Blooming Now

Greetings, 

This is right outside my front door. Love it!   I took a walk a few days ago around the house and took a few photos of the current spring flowers in bloom.  It is great to see the new life of spring with the many blossoms, green grass, etc.  It always lifts my spirits higher. I noticed the fragrance of the lilac trees.  Loved that.  It seems they have more blooms that usual.  

It has been over a week since I last posted.  The last 3 weeks have been harder or at least different than the first couple of weeks.  On Tuesday I will have my 4th and last treatment of the first part of the chemo.  Then I will begin part 2 with a different drug but going every week.  

It kind of feels like I am two people.  I don't notice that until I begin to feel better and realize that I feel like me, think like me, and act like me, even though I am a physically weak me.  The other one, well I guess it doesn't feel like me.  It more or less survives the day.  

I can't say I have become used to my beautiful white head.  It is nicely shaped and without scars and I am grateful for that.  Sometimes it gets cold now.  That is new for me.  I was thinking I might make collage of the hair styles from my life including this one.  That might be fun to do.  I have a wig, halo to wear with hats, and a few hats.  So I have at least 6 or 8 choices of "looks" to choose from.  That's a blessing. 

I am hoping to get set up so that I can compose and write more easily from upstairs (my computer is downstairs) so that I can do it for short times when I am not feeling really well. 

In reality, I am doing really well considering I am taking chemo treatments.  The last two times my white blood count has been good-even high.  Even though I don't feel well at all at times, I am blessed to not be as sick as many experience.  I am truly blessed.  I know that the many prayers are helping physically and emotionally.  I do feel the strength, peace, and presence of the Spirit and the love of my family and friends.  Thank each of you so much.  I love each of you and appreciate your emails, texts, cards, and service.  I am blessed.