After Chemo

Sorry to all who check our blog frequently for updates. Let me just say that chemo is no joke. These past few days have been pretty tough. I did well the day after chemo but by Friday afternoon I was starting to feel the effects of the medicine. By Saturday I was out for the count. Thankfully, Grandpa Wayne was here to take care of Ella. I don't remember much because some of the anti-nausea meds give you short term memory loss. I just remember I slept most of the day. The nausea eased up by Monday. Needless, to say my appetite wasn't effected to much. The part that is the hardest is the fatigue and joint pain. It just feels like you have the flu. I'm not complaining though. The side effects were so much better then I thought they would be. At least now we know what to expect and what to plan for.

We've learned we'll probably need some babysitting help....so all of you that have offered you'll be getting a call soon. Since Ella is crawling all over the place she needs constant supervision. She's already tried to climb up the Christmas tree! Ella and I were having a little fun one day trying on some hats I bought in case my hair falls out. She is such a little nut! She has definitely got her Daddy's sense of humor!

Speaking of Joel....he interviewed for an upper management position yesterday and we found out today that he got the job! YEEEAAAAHHH! He will be transferring to a store in Northeast Columbia and will be managing the departments he really wanted. What an answer to prayer!!

Grandpa Wayne (Ella calls him "Pa") had to take Ella on her first Carousel ride. They rode it 3 times in a row because every time it stopped she cried and wanted more. They had a blast. Check out our flickr site for the new pictures.

Tomorrow we go for our weekly chemo infusion. This medicine that I'm getting weekly is suppose to have no side effects. I'm glad. I don't need any interference with my "turkey eat'n." We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving (and you find good sales on Friday)!

Chemo Day

We made it! Chemo wasn't that bad. I tolerated all the medicine very well. They even gave me a little Ativan to make me more comfortable. Hehehehe.... What made the whole experience so great were two nurses who will be caring for med every time I go for chemo. The picture above are my nurses. They like to laugh and joke a lot, so I had a great time. Of course, what also made it so good was I got spend 8 hours straight with Joel. We talked, played cards, ate snacks, just had fun. The oncology center is amazing and the room where I receive chemo it so bright and happy. You overlook woods, a pond, and birds eating from bird feeders. I was very relaxed.

Today I don't feel to bad. I just feel a little "run down." I'm taking 5 different medicines for nausea, so that's under control. I've just rested quite a bit today and of course Grandpa Wayne hasn't minded at all. I've started to have a little weird taste in my mouth but it hasn't stopped me from eating. All in all it's not so bad. Tomorrow could be hard. The nurses have told me for some people the first day after chemo is usually worse. If I loose my hair, they told me to anticipate about 3-4 weeks before it happens. The list of those who would like to go bald with me is building. Feel free to join....just kidding.

In about 5 days my blood counts will drop and I might feel a little crummy. They gave me a shot which I gave myself today that is suppose to help keep your blood count up. I just can't thank you all enough for all the prayers yesterday. Once again we are overwhelmed with all the love and support.

On a different note, Joel applied for an upper management position at a Lowes in town. We are praying that if this is God's time for that then he will get the job...and a raise. Yeah!!!! Ella has started crawling all over the place. She is giving high-fives and clapping her hands. It is the cutest thing I've every seen!!!!

D-Day

Well, Joel and I are off to start the chemo. We start this morning at 9:00 AM and they've told me to anticipate the first session to last about 5 hours. My stomach is in knots but at least I slept well last night. We went to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's last night for my "last meal." Most people have told me that with the chemo you have a metallic taste in your mouth and food doesn't taste so good. As you all know, I LOVE to eat. I made sure I got a great meal before all the metal. Joel's also taking me for breakfast this morning. I'm just living it up! Please keep our family in your prayers today. Thanks!

Love,
Lisa

Belly Laughs

Grandpa Wayne (Joel's dad) arrived on Tuesday evening. When Ella and I picked him up from the airport, she screamed and screamed. She screamed all the way home. Then, I put her in her highchair and she decided she liked him...a lot!!! Wayne hasn't seen Ella since she was 5 weeks old. He is having so much fun and wearing Ella out! She's sleeping 5 or 6 hours straight at night!!! Thanks Grandpa! I've added a few pictures of the two of them to the flickr site. Click here.

We took Grandpa and Ella to the zoo. The above video is something we thought you might enjoy. It's a little fuzzy but the sound is the best part. She is so much fun! I think she believes that all animals are puppies. Every animal we saw....the zebras, the birds, the turtles, the anaconda all got her little "awww." We are so grateful that Wayne could join us for a few weeks.

This week is the big week. I go to the hospital on Monday afternoon to have a port placed. The port will be the way I will receive chemo. This is used in place of getting IV every time I get chemo. The chemo can really mess your veins up making it very difficult to get an IV in place. The port is an excellent option and will hopefully stay in place until all my chemo is complete.

Then....on Wednesday the chemo begins. I can honestly say that this is the part I'm the most nervous about. As many of you know, I'm not much of a medicine taker and I try to take care of my body because it's the only one I get. So, the thought of receiving such strong medicine really scares me, along with all the possible side effects. I am most nervous about the fatigue and nausea. I still have a little one to take care of. Of course, I was nauseated the first 5 months of my pregnancy and I survived! I've been doing a little research and found out that what may help the fatigue most is exercise. I've trusted God all along but this is the time when my faith has to be strong. I believe that God will give me the strength and perseverance to get through.

Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated. Thanks to all of you who care enough to check our blog to see what's going on and have committed to supporting us and praying for us!

All the stuff...

Phew!!!!!!! What a busy day we had on Wednesday! So....I'll start here....We saw Dr. Butler (the oncologist) and he was dressed up like a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. It was HILARIOUS! We discussed my chemo treatment plan and this is what it will consist of....

I will be receiving a combination of taxotere and cytoxan for 6 treatments. I'll receive a treatment every 3 weeks to total 18 weeks. I named the drugs so that any of you that have had these can give me any pointers, that would be greatly appreciated! Once I complete the 'big guns' I will be receiving herceptin for one year. We don't really know right now how I will be receiving it, but from what I've been told, patients tolerate this drug very well.

I met with a chemo-educator and she went over what I can expect. My first chemo-session will be Wednesday, November 14. The first session will last about 5 hours to make sure I tolerate it all well, but after that, the sessions won't last as long. She told me that I can expect hair loss, so we have a sign up sheet for all of you who are going to go bald with me. She gave me some great ideas on different foods and supplements that will help me tolerate the chemo. Again, if anyone has any advice from experience, I would love to hear from you. I have been very impressed with my oncologist and the oncology center. The nurses that will be administering my chemo will be the same two nurses every time. This helps me to rest easy knowing that they will know me personally.

I will say that I am a little shell-shocked after receiving all of this information, but God has been faithful to me thus far, and I know that He will continue to give me the strength and the peace that I need every day.

They removed my drains today...and THEN...they told me I couldn't take a shower for another 24 hours!! Regardless, I'm happy their gone, because they were really starting to get uncomfortable. Dr. Haines (plastic surgeon) said that I was healing beautifully and they will begin the tissue expansion next week.

The most important thing is that Ella went to her 9 month check up. We met her new pediatrician and we LOVED her! Ella weighed 23 lbs, 2 oz and she was 30 inches long. Dr. Thomas told us she was the average height of a 14 month old. At least my arms will be stronger for it.

Ginger, one of the girls I worked with, brought us a wonderful meal last night and made sure our bellies were nice and full for the Fall Festival...We had a great time there and we've posted a couple of pictures on our flickr site. Click here

Joel arrived home this afternoon and boy were we glad to see him! Ella had a giggle fest when she saw him. He completed his training with flying colors and now we pray that the right position will become available locally.