feet in the sand

I had the BEST weekend! From the last post you all know about the Ocracoke trip on Friday... and then the fun continued!

Saturday ~ played at the pool from 10-12, and then decided we would rather have our feet in the sand. Beached it for about 4 hours. The girls had such a great time. Don't think they got out of the water except to reapply sunscreen, and I had to make them do that! The only worries for the day 1. avoiding the nuts that didn't know how to drive on the beach, and 2. was the water going to reach my chair??? Our neighbors on the beach had a pet goat, yes I said goat! Kids loved it! Had a great time with a great friends! After the fun filled day at the beach, I had dinner with my sister-in-law and her friend at Rusty's. Food was awesome! Then a little reggae at the Sandbar.

Karlene riding the waves

Kimber and Carlee having fun in the sun

Sunday ~ church, and then the beach! Guess we didn't get water logged or sunburned enough the day before. Water was so warm and clear that even I got in! Finished this perfect day off with dinner at the Sandbar with some pretty great friends!

Monday ~ fishing in the boat with my dad! The girls weren't interested in a boating trip, too much sun from two awesome days at the beach. Went looking for a cobia, but didn't have any luck. Had a great time catching up spanish and blues! Saw a big pod of porpoises, and a few sea turtles. Then dinner with my girls, my parents, and nanny at the Sandbar.

It was back to work today! Only one more day and then it is chemo time again! Hopefully changing some medicines around will make things a little better this time ~ everyone keep your fingers crossed on that one!

Thank you to the friends that made this weekend so special! The girls and I had so much fun! Makes it easier to face the few trying days I have ahead of me!

getting by with a little help

What a perfect day! Boated to Ocracoke on the Carlee Hope! Cancer certainly was not forgotten but it was not priority today. Beautiful ride over to Ocracoke, and then we rented a golf cart to get us around the island. Breakfast at Flying Melon ~ best french toast ever! Did a little shopping at a few of the shops. And can I say ~ Sweet Tooth ~ Yes, the dentist office hit the candy store! Goodness gracious the frozen chocolate dipped key lime pie was sooo good, and of course I brought the girls home a treat. Thai Moon to take home for later was not a bad way to end the excursion on the island. To the wonderful people that I work with that made this day so special ~ Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, it was one of the best days ever!!  even if they did pick on my driving skills... which is why I only drove one time, and I think I did a fabulous job!!

Also had a great time last night... dinner at Toppers and a movie with some pretty great friends. Haven't laughed that much in a very long time!

So with all this fun I haven't really had time to think about side effects from chemo :)  Was able to work every day this week! Monday was still a little yucky, but the rest of the week was pretty good. I can tell that I am much more tired especially in the afternoons. Still fighting some sort of head thing... not sure if it is allergies, sinus, or a cold. Sure do feel blessed because it could be so much worse! Less than a week until the next chemo treatment, and it will come way to quickly! Of course the quicker they come the quicker I'll be done : - )

setting a new trend... shaved heads

Yes, the head is shaved! Not something that any husband should have to do but so thankful that he did! No tears ~ maybe even a few laughs!  And I have to say it looks pretty good for a shaved head. Sleeping was kind of weird... your head gets cold and the short hairs rub against your pillow. Karlene is handling this very well, and I wouldn't expect anything less. Kimber spent the night at mom mom and paw paw's house so she hasn't seen the new mommy do yet. She says what she thinks so there is no telling what her initial reaction may be.

Had a really rough day yesterday. Stomach didn't feel good all day, and I think I am fighting a sinus infection or a head cold. Can't seem to shake this headache, but stomach seems a little better so far today.

Karlene is being the best little helper! She fixed me an egg for breakfast this morning. I'll have to come up with something really special for she and I do to after I am all better!

Hands down I have the best parents ever! Thanks for keeping the girls... I can't spare them everything but watching mom hug the toilet is better left unseen! I love you both and thank you again for all you do!!

the bright side

I believe there is always a bright side, you just have to be willing to look for it!

So yesterday was chemo treatment #2. Wish I could say the bright side was not getting sick this time but that didn't happen. It seems that no matter what they try in my infusion I still get sick : (
I can say that day two, today, has been so much better than day two of the first treatment. Thanking God, because I know it is an answer to all the prayers that have gone out for me to feel better this time. Still not feeling like the real me, but certainly much better than yesterday. Of course, anything is better than hugging the toilet or trash can!! The nausea and indigestion are better this time. Had my second white blood cell booster today. Still hurt! However it must be working because I don't have to have blood work done on my off week this time. So I am a free girl now for almost two weeks!!

Well, here is something a little harder to see the bright side... my hair has officially started to come out. Started 2-3 days ago, and is really starting to come out now. In the next few days I will just bite the bullet and shave it. NO, I am not really looking forward to it! I am however trying to be a big girl and handle this with dignity! ON THE BRIGHT SIDE... I will get to wear all kinds of cool hats, bandannas, scarfs, and yes maybe even a wig!

On a much happier note ~ Karlene passed her EOG's!!! So proud of her! She is so much smarter than she gives herself credit for. She is without a doubt the BEST oldest daughter a mom could ask for!

what an awesome week!

It's been a week since my last post but I got to tell you I have been doing so good and I have had the best week! On Tuesday (May 10th), we celebrated Stewart's birthday! Yeah, he's a year older! SSHHH, don't tell him that! We had a great dinner at Captain's Table! Thank you Mrs. Donna for the delicious cake and ice cream! Then Stewart and I had date night to the movies :)

Made it through the entire week at work! Looked back at the calender and realized that it had been eight weeks since I last worked a full week.

A big thank you to Healtheast in Avon for using my port on Friday to do the draw for my blood work!!!

So far this week the biggest challenge has been fatigue. I seem to get tired easier, and more frequently. Early bed time and naps when I can seem to help. Something kind of weird: tingling skin and scalp! Also have dry mouth and tongue feels like you've burned it on hot coffee sometimes. Of course, all of these are so much better than upset stomach!

Hoping the next three days are as awesome as the last week has been! Thursday = chemo day : (

Praying that this treatment is a little nicer to me than the last! Thank you to everyone that has sent cards, prayers and good wishes my way! May God bless each and every one of you!

Happy Mother's Day

I think this is the perfect day to give a shout out to my parents! Thank you for being there for me, and for doing all the things you do! I love you both!
 Mom ~ Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a quick update on the last few days:
Friday: Went to Outer Banks Hospital for my MUGA scan and for my first white blood cell booster shot. Usually when a nurse tells you something is going to hurt, it doesn't as much as you think it will... well, not in this case! That shot STINGS! Still felt pretty yucky all day, ate a little here and there but overall just couldn't get past the smell or thought of most food. Peanut butter has been my best friend, which isn't pretty when you have dry mouth already!

Saturday: Woke up at midnight with charlie horse's in my calf muscles ~ a side effect of the shot that I got the day before. Like the fact that it stung wasn't enough! Medicine didn't seem to help much so only slept off and on. Hot bath early in the morning helped for a little bit. Stomach was much better today. I made myself eat little bits every few hours and that seemed to really help. A co-worker and myself made the ferry trip to Ocracoke to have dinner with an amazing woman who has walked this path before me, not only once but twice! Had a great time, and was able to eat more than I had in over three days.

Today: Awesome day! Went to church this morning and then to lunch. I was actually hungry for the first time since my chemo treatment! Tried to take a nap but couldn't sleep, but I did get really good sleep last night (which hasn't been happening very often)! Hoping the days leading up to the next chemo treatment will be like today!

Other than blood work next week, I am a free woman until next Thursday (May 19th) which will be my next chemo treatment. I will leave you with this verse, as it has been near and dear the last few days. . .
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

yesterday is gone but not forgotten

Oh my, what a day! So sorry I didn't post last night when I got home, but I was a little busy holding onto the trash can :(

The PET scan wasn't really all that bad. The 2 cups of chalky substance that had to be digested on an empty stomach wasn't the greatest, and the fact that the nurse needed a refresher course putting in IV's. She blew the first vein and barely found the second, all a little aggravating considering I went through surgery to have a port placed just so I could avoid arm sticks. The scan itself only took about 20 minutes, but you have to give the radioactive injection an hour, so all together it took about 2 hours.

Of course the first thing on my mind when I was done... FOOD!! If you know me then you know I love to eat! So off to, you guessed it ~ CHICK FIL A!
Good but quick lunch because I had to be back in Nags Head as soon as possible for my appointment with Dr. A

Appointment at Dr. A's went really well. My blood counts were good, so I was ready for my first treatment. I had my bag of sour lemon drops (thanks Tracey for the advice and the drops!) so the taste of the treatment wouldn't be so bad. It worked, no bitter taste for me! Lots of medicines that go into those drips, and some have to be hand pushed through the line, so the treatment takes a little while. Felt really good when we left Nags Head. It was about Buxton that my stomach started to turn on me. Very faint at first, kind of hard to tell if I was nauseated or just hungry (chicken sandwich at 10:30 and it is now 5)! Tried to eat some yogurt thinking if it was nausea it may help relieve it, and I manged about two or three bites before my chicken sandwich reappeared! Hence the problem with trying to blog last night, was hugging that trash can for about an hour before the anti-nausea meds kicked in and helped with the vomiting. Didn't get much sleep as I was still nauseated but at least I haven't lost any more food.

Was very tired today, and still a bit queasy on and off, but overall I don't feel too bad. Took a two hour nap and have been eating very small amounts every few hours. One down, seven more to go! Won't be long before those numbers will be reversed and this will all be almost over! Woo hoo!! On the two week count down for the next treatment, and a heart test tomorrow, but for the most part next week should be pretty easy.

flying by the seat of my pants

If you know me, you know I plan everything! I am not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. So yesterday at my appointment in Chapel Hill I find out that I need to have a PET scan and a heart test before my first chemo treatment can be done. Outer Banks Hospital is not equipped with this particular machine, but there is a mobile unit that comes around every other week. OK, let me tell you here that it took lots of work and planning on several people's part to make sure that my treatments were scheduled on the week my mom has off. (told you I was a planner!) Therefore, having to change the appointment that I had with Dr. A (my oncologist in Nags Head) for this week to start chemo was not an option! So all of this was to say ~ I will be heading to Norfolk at the awful hour of 4:30am so that my PET scan can be done! Thank you so much to the wonderful ladies at the UNC Navigators office for working so hard to make sure that I was able to get this done and keep things ON SCHEDULE!! The heart test will be scheduled next week. Dr. A said it would be fine and we could still keep chemo for this week.

For the past few weeks my thought process was that I would have an appointment with Dr. A on Wednesday of this week to discuss my treatments and then come back on Thursday to start the first one. Well here goes the fly by the seat of my pants part (ok so making a last minute appointment in Norfolk was kind of fly by the seat of my pants but...) I am getting my first chemo treatment tomorrow!! YES I SAID TOMORROW! Wasn't planning on that. I know, I know what difference does a day make? Not much I guess, and I am ready to get this started. Only because the sooner I start the sooner I finish! So I am learning the lesson a friend of mine that has been through this told me ~ Don't plan anything! Take it all as it comes and handle it. I would say I handled myself pretty good. Maybe I'll just throw my planners (yes I have two) away, and just be the fly by the seat of her pants kind of girl!

I know tomorrow is going to be a long day! Thank You Aunt Sheila for being my sidekick tomorrow! Thank you to everyone who has been praying and thinking about us! We really appreciate it, and ask that you keep it up!!

bittersweet

Well I cut my hair! Locks of Love here it comes! Hope it makes someone a beautiful wig :)  Thank You Bridgette for giving me a brand new look! Kimber didn't seem to like the new do, but I am hoping this will make it a little easier when what's left starts to come out from the chemo.

Very busy week ahead... Chapel Hill tomorrow, Nags Head on Wednesday and probably on Thursday for my first chemo treatment! That I should say is also bittersweet ~ not looking forward to it really, but I know it is a necessary evil to be healthy and well again!

Hope everyone has a blessed week : )