Where's Baldo?

I have Chemo #4 on Monday.  It seems like I just found out that I had breast cancer and now I am half way done with the chemotherapy.I had exactly 2 really good days this round of treatment, yesterday and today. I have been full of energy!

We had a great time shopping on Friday. I went with Sue, Pam and Jeffrey. Jeff went too but sat in the car, I let him go home after I caught him snoozing in the van and about scared the crap out of him when I knocked on the window.  I had a moment where I got really tired but I got a second wind and shopped some more. We started out at 5:00 a.m. at Meijer. Then we went to the mall. When we were there we lost track of Jeffrey and he kept calling me on the cell phone. We kept losing connection and he was getting so frustrated. When he finally found us he said "that was like playing Where's Waldo." Then he said, "no  it was really like playing Where's BALDO!!"  We all laughed so hard. He has his dad's sense of humor.   We got really good deals. I saved so much money.  I am on a budget this year so I have to watch out for the good sales!  When we were done we went to Red Lobster. (I love the cheesy biscuits) By the time I got home I was so tired. I napped for a little while and then ended up getting sick. Uggg.

Sue snuck out of church to call me and tell me to meet them for breakfast this morning. We usually go every Sunday.  I called Jeffrey because he was going out to breakfast with his girlfriend Bonnie. They already ate so they met us at the other restaurant just to see everyone. It was so nice to go again. I haven't been feeling up to it so I really enjoyed it.

I cut Jeff and Jeffrey's hair tonight. I haven't cut their hair in so long they were looking like cavemen.....(sorry Geico caveman guy) hee hee.  I've cut Jeff's hair for 22 years and Jeffrey's for 20. They won't go to a shop and get it done. They are so spoiled!

Happy Thanksgiving and Shop til I drop!

I have good news! I have the O.K. to go to Thanksgiving with my family! My counts are going up so they said to stay in on Wednesday and rest and then go and enjoy my family on Thanksgiving. I am so happy. They also said that I can go shopping Friday but not to over do it. Friday shopping is a tradition with my sisters and I have so much fun with them. I am sure I won't last too long but I will be out there bright and early with my BC coffee thermos. I have a wonderful family and  great relatives and friends to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

The girl in the plastic bubble.

I went to the oncologist today for my second bag of antibiotics. The chest x-ray came back and  it looked good. My counts are still low so I have to go back in the morning and have more blood drawn. In the mean time I can't leave my house until my counts are back up, only to go to the doctor. When I was sitting there with my mom we were watching the food network and I was actually wanting food, so we started talking about where we were going to go out to eat after we left the doctor and the nurse said, "you can't go to a restaurant you can't be around anyone right now!" Me and my mom looked at each other like huh, what?  There goes the bean and cheese chimichanga I was dreaming about. Then she told me I have to come back tomorrow for more blood work and "we will see how your holiday is going to go!"  This might put a damper on my day after Thanksgiving power shopping! She also said if I get a fever over 100 to go to the emergency room. They want to get me better so I can have my fourth treatment on Monday. I feel pretty good other than a slight headache and a cough, and a few chemo induced hot flashes. lol

I posted some pictures from the baby shower. I felt so good that day! It was so nice to get dressed up. If the nurse only knew 3 days ago I was hugging and kissing everyone at the baby shower she would drop her I.V bag!

The quilt is a family tradition that we do for all the new babies in the family. Everyone makes a square and we make it into a quilt. It turned out so nice. I still have the one that was made for me for my shower. It is such a nice keep sake. I will unpack it and take a picture.

I love that I have an excuse to relax on the couch the rest of the night. The American Music Awards are on! I love stuff like that.

The never ending Dr. visit

I have been having been feeling really lousy since my 3rd chemo treatment. I could not keep anything down for a few days and I feel like I have the flu. My chest is really congested and I have asthma so I have to be careful that it doesn’t get out of control. I went to the doctor today for my normal 3 week checkup. I ended up being there for 3 hours. The doctor listened to my chest and told me I had to start antibiotics through an I.V. This is the first time they accessed my port without any numbing cream and I about hit the ceiling! I am sitting here with tubes hanging out of my port as I type this. They left the I.V. line in because I have to go back tomorrow for another bag of antibiotics. Every time I look down at the tubes hanging off my port I get the creeps. I had a chest x-ray on the way home from the doctor‘s so I guess we will see what is going on tomorrow. Hopefully it’s not pneumonia. The nurse gave me a shot of steroids for the asthma too. My white count is really low along with some other count that I never heard of so when I came home I had to have a shot. Jeff did it for me, I just couldn’t get past that needle for some reason this time.

I went to a baby shower on Sunday for my nephew Bobby and his wife Steph . I was so feeling so good and I was so happy about that! I was sick Friday and Saturday so I was hoping I would have a good day. I wore my wig and it was so funny because when I first got there I was walking like I had a book on my head. Hee hee. It was really nice to get dressed up and have hair and makeup! I had a really nice time and got to talk to a lot of friends and relatives. I love seeing them. I ate really good too. I was so sick the days before that I really was not eating all that well. In fact I lost 4 pounds in a week. Not the kind of diet you want to go on though. By the time I got home I was so tired. I took a little nap, and then laid in bed with Megan for a little while and watched T.V.

My cousin Linda made some beet soup for me! She said it has healing power so I am eating it!!! It is really good. Soup is one of the only things that I can eat right now so it was a nice surprise. I had a little bowl last night with some toast and it settled really good. In fact I think I am going to go get some now.

Chemo Sucks!

This 3rd chemo has really kicked my butt.  I am just not snapping out of it. I am so tired and nauseated. I am really starting to hate this.  I went to the doctor and my red cell count is low and I am anemic. I had to get a shot and I will get it once a week until my count comes up.  I really can't wait until March when this is over. It seems like it will be forever before it gets here.  I am really trying not to get down about this but I am really sick of feeling like this.  I'm hungry and have no appetite. I force myself to eat then I'm sick. UGGG! I also have been having really bad leg cramps. The kind that you wake up with and your toes flare out!  My calves feel like I ran 20 miles. I feel so bad because I have not been calling my friends. I have just been so down and feeling icky.  I hope everyone understands. OK enough whining.

I stayed at my sisters for 2 days and then came home to find out my dog was sick while I was gone. My family was chasing him around with the carpet cleaner for 2 days. He is getting old (15) We bought him different  food and I think that is what did it. I think it is too rich for him. I came home to total chaos, then I said...why didn't you just put him on the landing with the fence....nobody thought of that, instead they went through 5 rolls of paper towel and a gallon of carpet cleaner!

I watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition Sunday.  The women had breast cancer and when she was explaining everything she was going through I cried. Everything she said I was feeling. She was also involved in the Relay For Life. I have been involved for a few  years now. The last 2 years I have been the Entertainment Chair. On this episode they did a 5 day Relay and it was really touching. I can't wait for our Relay this year. I am looking forward to help planning it.  My sister Sue is the chairperson and she works so hard. We always did the Relay for my sister Sharon and my dad, now I guess I am going to be a reason to Relay.

I had a drive by drop off from my cousin the other day!  What  a wonderful surprise it was. They just handed in a bag and was gone in a flash. I wandered to the door from the couch and they were gone. It was from Tim and Linda and she made some cookies for the family! That was so sweet. I have such wonderful family and friends.
My friend Peggy comes every Tuesday with a box of goodies! I have gained some weight since I started chemo and the doctor thinks it's a good thing.....I think it is the steroids I am on, but I really don't eat any more than I usually have. In fact I can't even say ......McDonalds without gagging. (I just gagged) I'm not eating a lot of fast food it just sounds so gross.

I have a few pictures of Megan on homecoming that I wanted to post. There is also one of my dog on Halloween..Too cute!
She looked so beautiful! I just wanted to share them.
I'm off to eat some cheez Its!

P.J. party

P.J. party at Pam’s house. I couldn’t wait to get to Pam’s for the p.j, party with mom, and Sue. I was packed and ready to go for 2 days. Pam picked me up on her way home from work. I wasn’t feeling very good. I was feeling really nauseated since morning. I took an anti nausea pill and started feeling better, so we ordered food. Two steak subs, a greek salad, nachos supreme, and chicken wings. By the time we all filled our plates, it looked like army ants had walked over the spread. I ate so much! Then I fell asleep. I brought over stuff to do pedicures. I even brought everyone a tourbon to wear! I think they slipped me a sleeping pill so they didn’t have to wear them because after we ate I fell asleep and didn’t wake up for 14 hours!!! I guess I really needed the rest. At home I putz around and try to do too much. Here I lay on the couch like a queen waiting for someone to fan me with a banana leaf. Pam said she would if she had one! Hee hee.

 

Pam’s making a roast, potatoes, salad, corn,  and rolls. Jeff just called and asked when I was coming home and I told him I think I am staying over again. He said that’s fine and to get some rest. I may never leave this resort!

Happy Birthday To Our Angel Sharon

Happy Birthday to my beautiful sister Sharon

November 07, 1953 - May 11, 1994

We miss you more everyday. I never needed you like I do now.

I know you are with dad and that gives me so much peace.

Here is something that Sharon wrote.

 

 

                                          

 

 

                                            I Am With You

                                     Birds continue to sing

                 The sun unmasks its radiance each new day            

           My soul has been awakened to the breathtaking world I

                                              imagine

                                       And I am with you                                                 

                                  Waves yet rush to shore

                              Flowers bloom forever more

       Within these clouds I witness an electrifying panoramic view

                                      And best of all

                                    I am still with you

                           When gray skies cover the sun

                         And the moon seems not so bright

                      In the silent hours of your darkest night

                                       Just call for me

                                  And I will be with you

                  Earthy demise does not diminish friendships

                        For my life was no ordinary moment

                        Every day brought new dimensions

                            And you each played a part

                          Discover the Beauty in knowing

                      That soul-binding love never departs

                                 And know in your heart

                               That I am always with you

             

 

                (Written by Sharon L. Shank Copyright 1997)

                                   I love you Sharon

                                   Love your family

Chemo 3 down

Another Chemo down and I feel like total crap. I came home and slept for 5 hours and have been whiney since I woke up. I just hate being down and out like this. I hate that I am drinking so much water I could float away, I hate that I have to pee every 2 minutes, and I hate that my head keeps getting really sweaty and then cold. And I hate that the acid reflux is soon to come and will not leave for at least a week. I will quit whining now .

This chemo went good but I was there 4 hours. My mom took me and I didn’t sleep as much as I usually do. I had to get up and drag my I.V. to the bathroom 4 times! I just remembered something funny from the last chemo, my sister Sue and my mom were there and I fell asleep, I woke up at one point and made a statement to them saying….”You can’t go camping if you don’t know how to spell it, it is spelled with a K not a C!” Then I fell back asleep. They are still laughing at me about that one. I guess I can’t spell in my sleep. Another time I woke up and looked at them and they were both crying watching me….I went OH GOD!!! And they started cracking up. They were so busted!!! It’s ok I know if it were one of them I would have been crying too.

I had a good weekend. Cleaned up the yard with Jeff and helped the best I could. It was nice out so it was good to get some fresh air. I also went into super women mode and cleaned and made some chicken enchiladas to have in the refrigerator for the family on chemo day. Jeffrey just got done cooking them, I can smell them and I can honestly say I want to puke!! It is one the favorite things I make for the kids. They love that and homemade chicken pot pie (which I was going to make too but the potatoes were bad!) I also made some chocolate chip cookies. The great part about cooking…nobody can blame me for hair in the food!!!

Right now my husband is in the back ground scooping up the enchiladas singing “who do you love”, and saying “your my girlfriend, you’re a cutie patootie.” He’s too funny.

Everyone in the family seems to get a big kick out of my bald head. I am sooooo bald!! Jeffrey keeps saying, “Look at you mom.” Jeff and Megan always have something to say when they see me with my cap off. I must say, it has made showering easier. Although I do have a complaint!!!!! Why is my head so bald but I still have to shave my legs! That is just a cruel joke.

Do you know my family went without shampoo for 3 days and didn’t say anything. I finally had to figure it out for myself when I found the empty bottle in the shower. .I went to the store 3 times before I finally remembered to pick some up. I told the lady that it is hard to remember to buy shampoo when you don’t have hair!

I got the cutest Breast Cancer Bear from my God Child and niece Candyce! It was from Macy’s. She went there with her friend to buy herself something and came out with something for me instead. How sweet is that. She is such a beautiful caring girl. I also got a big cute cuddly lamb from my cousins Ken and Carol Harrison. It has little tags to read when you need a lift or inspiration. I have all the stuffed animals on my chair up in my bedroom and my husband came in the other day and said….”oh look we paid $600.00 for a chair for the animals”…too funny! He cracks me up. I love all my animals and yes I do sleep with one a night, because Jeff steals the dog all the time and I need something to cuddle. Hee hee

In fact I am going up to my room to cuddle right now! Your never too old to cuddle!

Thank you to everyone who has sent a card. It's really nice. I enjoy reading them and have been through them many times. There are so many prayers and wishes for me and it really is helping me get through this.