New Hair

I had a great morning with my sister in law Suza!! We went to the mall and checked out the wig shop. The guy was a bit hard to understand, but was so helpful and kind!!! The first one that I picked out ended up being the one I got!!! He showed me how to style it and fix it any way I want. It is soft and so easy to play with. Of course Bob showed the pictures to the kids on the phone and they said I looked like Harry Potter!! Nice huh!!!

Then we hit target and enjoyed a great lunch of soup, salad, and breadsticks!! Oh so yummy!!! Then off to old navy and I found nada but Suza got a jean skirt for under $5!!!

Once home EVERYONE had to try on the wig!! It was quite funny!! So without further ado here are the pictures!

Robbie!

Elijah!

 Abby!

 Even Bob had to try it on!!

 Now for the real owner!!

I really really like it!! This picture doesn't show the highlights but it is perfect!!!

What a great day, now for a nap!!!

Treatment 3 Down!

Well I had my 3rd treatment yesterday. After the next one I will be 1/2 way done!!!

I am VERY tired this time around and feel a little nauseous. Just trying to sleep when I can. And rest and drink!

There was good news from yesterday's appointment!! The tumor has shrunk and the lymph node that the dr use to be able to feel she couldn't feel and she tried really hard to find it!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

Next week we get the results of the genetic testing and then the 2nd opinion. Both of these will help with the decision on what I will need for surgery. I am very anxious and nervous about both of the these appts. I don't want to take it all if I don't have to but I don't want to get this back either. Please just pray for wisdom with the doctors and myself to make the decision that will be right for me.

Another prayer request is no more snow!!! Seriously my kids NEED to go to school before they drive me and each other crazy!!! They are doing as well as kids can stuck inside can but going a bit stir crazy!!!

Family Time

I had the best day ever today!!! My mom, sister, brother in law and nephew all came down and spent the day with us. We celebrated Christmas, ate pizza and homemade chocolate cake with homemade peanut butter frosting and laughed a lot!! This is the first time I have been able to see them since I was diagnosed. The kids were counting down the minutes until they got here and Abby cried when they had to go home.

Denise(my sister) and my mom decided to let me "borrow" their hair. I don't think we have ever laughed so hard!!! Even now we just start cracking up thinking about my "hair"!!! Be prepared as you view the pictures below. You will laugh your butt off!!!! We could barely control ourselves when we were taking the pictures!!

My Mommy!

My Seester!

My Nephew Tyler!

Eli loving his chocolate from Grammie!

Denise and Joey tormenting Ezra!

Auntie playing dolls with Abby.

The boys playing Aggravation

 

Uncle and Eli playing trucks!

Are you really ready to see these pictures??? Are you sure??!!! Be ready to laugh!!!

LOVE the "comb over"!!!

Did I mention how much I love them!!!

This one makes me look like a hippy!!! LOL

As you can see we had an a amazing day and I am so glad they came down to visit. I love you all so very much!!! God has blessed me with great family!!!

Jan 11, 2010

The past few days have been really rough. My hair is falling out fast and furiously. It itches and hurts at the same time. I thought cutting it super short would make it easier, but it really hasn't. I scratch my head and get a handful. I am not doing well with that. I am ready to have it shaved off just so that it is gone. Who knew I would be so "attached" to my hair!!! LOL I have to laugh when I can.

We have an appointment for a second opinion in Boston on Jan 26th. We are going to Dana Farber. At that point we will have the results of the genetic testing and will be able to assess what will be needed to be done for surgery. This is what I really want the second opinion for. I don't want to do more than we have to, but I want to do everything we NEED to.

I think that it is starting to really sink in and is hitting me hard again. Starting to look like a cancer patient makes it so much more real. I am told daily how beautiful I am and it isn't how I look that upsets me. I think it is just part of accepting it and fighting it. I am finding that each step has it's own grieving process.

I am so thankful to all of my wonderful friends and family that have helped me in so so many ways. God has blessed me with each of you and without you this would be so much harder. I love you all!!!

Round 2 complete

I saw my dr. yesterday and that went very well. My white blood cells were up so I was able to have treatment no problem. She also did an exam and said that it is less red and that it hasn't gotten any bigger!!! She couldn't tell if it is smaller though because I was so swollen the last time she examined me. But the key is it isn't any bigger!!!!

I am now half way through the first set of treatments!! 2 more A/C treatments and then 4 Taxol treatments to go. I was very very nauseous last night. We are altering the meds and steroids due to the reaction I have from the steroids. After taking the meds last night I did much better. I am doing ok today too. If I lay low and don't do much I am pretty much nausea free! If I move too much though I start to feel nauseous. I hope I do ok for the trip to Hartford for my booster shot.
Speaking of the booster shot, I was approved to have the shot given at home!!!! It was too late for this time but the next 2 times will be at home!!! Now I wonder if I know any nurses that would be able to come and give me a shot!! LOL :)
Erin and Ann are here today and they are working like crazy!!! My house smells so good!!!! It is so refreshing to look around and see such clean!!! My kids did a great job today too. Robbie took out the trash this morning, Abby swept the dining room and Elijah fed the cats!! They did a great job with their chores and I am so proud of them!!! They are doing really good at keeping their toys picked up in the living room too. We are still working on putting them where they belong in the bedrooms. But it is progress!!

Katie and Alyssa came and stayed with the kids while Cheryl brought me to Hartford to for my shot that next time I can get at home!!! Thank you ladies for your help!

On a bad note, Elijah is sick. Around 6pm he started throwing up. We were hoping it was a fluke but then he threw up again. :( The worst part is that I can't even cuddle him because of the sickies. 1 day post Chemo is NOT the time to be getting sick. If I get sick and start throwing up they will admit me at the hospital. Not good. So to top it off Eli is sick and we were suppose to have my family here tomorrow. It makes me really sad that I can't see them tomorrow. I was so looking forward to seeing them. I miss them. :(
Everything happens for a reason, doesn't mean I have to like it!!

Clean Sweep

This week started with a check up at the center. They did another blood culture to make sure that the antibiotics are working and they checked my white blood cell count. My count is actually up so that is really good for Thursday's treatment. I won't know the results of the culture until Thurs. I also had a CT scan of my head. I have been having some mild headaches and they wanted to make sure everything was ok. That came back clear so I am good!

Today was CLEAN SWEEP!!! I can't thank Ann, Cheryl, Katie, and Alyssa enough!!! We got so much work done and my house looks great!!!! It is such a relief to look around my house and not see a disaster. I won't feel so bad laying down because my house looks good!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Now to get some knitting done and relax!

January 2011

Happy New Year!!

Tomorrow is another week of appointments and treatment. Monday I go for a check up from being sick last week. I am feeling better, except for the thrush. I keep getting headaches too.

Tuesday some wonderful women will be coming to help me organize my house before treatment!! We have already done the kitchen(still some stuff to pack up) and our bedroom so we have the dining room and the kids' rooms and maybe the hall closet and bathroom left. One thing at a time and we will have this house in order so I can relax and not worry about clutter! I can't wait!! Until it is done I will just relax in my wonderfully clean bedroom!!! :)

Thurs is my next round of chemo and then the shot on Friday. From reading my BC board I have found that we all get that knot in our stomach as another treatment approaches. We know that is what we have to do but really don't like the "taste" of medicine!!

I am looking forward to next Sat though. I will feel icky and be tired but my Mom, sister, brother in law, nephew, 2 aunts, uncle and cousin will all be here!!!! I love them all so much and can't wait to see them. It will be a good distraction!!

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my hair. It was great to get ready for Church this morning in 5 min!! It is amazing how much time hair can take!! LOL

Here are some pics we took with the kids!