My Weak Week

Sorry I haven't updated this week, but it has been kind of tough for me. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Like I said in my last blog, we were supposed to be at Disney World this week and obviously we didn't get to go. It did help to know that it stormed all week in Orlando. For the first part of the week, I was nauseated pretty much all day every day. It wasn't fun. It wasn't as bad as the last round of chemo, but it still gets on your nerves. The only time I felt okay was when I was laying in the bed, so that's how I spent most of the week. I would get up as much as I could, but after about 30 minutes, I would have to go lay down again. Even the medicine didn't help.

On Sunday, I was able to make it to Sunday School, but I was pretty tired after that. I came home and we ate dinner and then I took a short nap. My parents, Patsy, my brother, sister-in-law and nephews came in yesterday for Father's Day. It was really nice to see everyone and get to have a "normal" day. Today, I am just kind of in a daze. It is called chemo brain. I've been exhausted all day, but not sleepy.

Tomorrow morning at 9am, I go to the doctor where I am supposed to get another bone marrow aspirate. I know, so thrilling!! I just can't wait!! They are going to be checking to see how much my bone marrow has cleared. They did the last test through my blood, but they don't know for sure until they get bone marrow. My counts have to be up to do it, but I'm not sure what they have to be.

I'll let y'all know what the doctor says. Thanks for the prayers!!

With God, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!!

Hello Home...Good-bye Tastebuds

Well, I've been home for almost two days now and I guess it is going ok. These first four or five days are supposed to be my worst, so I guess in that sense, I am doing good. I don't feel great and sometimes, I don't even feel good, but I am making it through. Today has been kind of rough. We are supposed to be flying to Disney World today for our family vacation and instead, I'm bald, weak and just hoping to feel better. I know God has a reason for this, but it's times like this that I wish it was evident to me.

I also lost my taste buds this week. I've heard that everything will taste like metal or sawdust, but for me, that isn't the case. Everything tastes like it has a coating of Vaseline over it. It is absolutely disgusting. I can still tastes some hints of flavor in some things, but hamburgers and french fries are done! I've been able to eat some toast and crackers and then tonight an egg sandwich, but who knows how long it will be before that tastes bad to me too. Rob bought me some Ensure to help get my nutrients, but those things are bad to begin with, at least I'm trying.

I know this blog isn't upbeat, but I'm not upbeat right now. Remember, I want you to experience what I am going through. Thank you for your prayers. They are holding me up right now. For some specific prayers, please pray that I will get stronger instead of weaker these next few days and will stay that way through this round. Pray that I will keep some of my taste buds so I can get some nutrients. Pray for my sanity to get through this and for God to give me the strength to get through this.

With God, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!!

One more day...

Yesterday went pretty good. They started me on another chemo and I found out that this is the one that was supposed to make me feel unsteady and light headed. I've had two of my four rounds that I will have before I go home and so far so good. I will get another round here in about 2 hours and then my last round about 11:30 tonight. Each one is about 2 hours and so as long as everything stays on schedule (like my blood levels and my pH levels) I will get to go home in the morning!! I'm so excited. There is just nothing like being in your own bed...and of course I miss my crazy puppies! The girls came in to see me yesterday and so that helped brighten my day and last night my sister-in-law and my nephews stopped in. They were so cute. My 18 month old nephew, Wyatt, was amazed at the helicopters taking off and he liked to go down to the nutrition center and swipe the little orange juice cups. He was so cute. Walker, my 4 year old nephew was also amused with the helicopters and he just kind of ran around here and kept my spirits up. They were so cute. When they were getting ready to leave, Kay looked at Walker and told him to say "bye-bye Nessa" and instead, Wyatt said it. It was like medicine to my heart. It was so sweet.

Last night my stomach felt a little ugh, and I got really cold, but my temperature was never above normal. I finally just ended up going to bed and slept most of the night. At least as much as you can when you are in the hospital.

Thank you to each of you who have been praying specifically for me not to be unsteady or light-headed. Your prayers have definitely been answered. Please keep them up. The doctor told me this morning that this weekend and early next week should be my rough time again, so if you can add that to your list, please do so. All of you are great and have kept me fighting this fight. Thank you so much!!

WITH GOD, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!!

Lumbar Puncture and Lettuce

Well, it has been a good day- mostly. My EARLY morning started around 3am when I woke up with Acid Reflux. I ordered up some tums, raised the head of my bed and drifted in and out until 3:30 when they brought me my tums and came in to get some blood. After all that was said and done, I was pretty awake, but was still able to go back to sleep until about 6:30. The nurse came in with my sedative (Ativan) and pain killer (Demerol). I was kind of woozy for a few minutes. Dr. Lee came in around 7:15 and we got started on the lumbar puncture. It took her 3 different places to finally get into my spine. It was not fun, but once she got in, it only took about 10 minutes. My CSF was clear again...YEAH!! I then had to lay on my back for 4 hours again. I stayed about 4 hours and 20 minutes just to make sure, but that was as long as my body was going to let me stay there. I mean, they have 2 bags of fluid, 1 bag of chemo and 1 bag of fluid and Zofran (nausea medicine) pumping into me constantly. You wouldn't be able to lay there any longer either.

Right after that, they brought in lunch. I had specially ordered a ham and cheese sandwich. Since my counts are so high right now, I am not neutropenic for the time being so I was able to have lettuce, tomatoes and pickles on my sandwich. It was so good! I know it might only be for a little while, but I'm enjoying it! Last night with dinner, I was served a small salad. Granted, it was only lettuce and ranch dressing, but it was one of the best salads I have ever had (next to Olive Garden of course). It's amazing what you miss when you can't have it.

For the rest of the day, mom and I took a walk around the oncology floor and then we sat on the couch and watched TV. Once my bag of chemo was done around 5pm, they came in and had to get a blood sample from me. Again, they couldn't take it from my PICC line, so I had to get stuck. Yuck! But the good news was, I was going to be unhooked for a few minutes so I was able to take a shower...yipee! Again, the simple things...

Well, I still feel good. I haven't had the unsteadiness and light-headedness that they said I would, so that is all of your prayers. Thank you so much!

With God, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!!

Round 2

Well, I am back in the hospital again. This time I am getting a different chemo so I am not sure how it is going to affect me. Right now they are pumping me full of fluids and nausea medicine. Before they can begin the chemo, my pH level has to be at 7 and it is at 6.7 right now, so they are trying to raise it. They will test me again in about 30 minutes. From what I understand, I should be done with my first medicine by tomorrow, and then they will give me another one over the next 22 hours. The second medicine is supposed to help with the side effects of the chemo. I will also be getting another lumbar puncture tomorrow morning where they will inject the chemo into my spine. I know, you are all jealous!!

My mom came in to stay in the hospital with me and she brought me a gift from one of her neighbors. It is a prayer quilt. There are sets of string sewn into the blanket, and when someone says a prayer for me, they tie a knot. It's just a visual reminder of people praying for me. It's really cool. Also, housekeeping just came in and she asked if she could say a prayer for me. It was really nice. Through this process, it is amazing how people have offered up prayers for me without even knowing me. It is so awesome!

Thank you to each of you for all of your prayers and support!

With God, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!!

Our God is an AWESOME God!

We got GREAT news from the doctor yesterday. I went in for my normal check up and to see if my platelet count was either at 100 or close to it so I could begin chemo on Monday. Well, when the doctor came in, she said she had to look at my results several times, check the name on them and make sure they were from that day before she could believe it. My white blood count (WBC) went from 1.2 on Tuesday to 8.7 on Friday. That is in normal range! When I went to MD Anderson, my WBC was 2.4, so this was a HUGE jump. Also, I know you have been praying for my platelets. On Tuesday, they were at 65. On Friday, they were at 256!!! My doctor looked at me and said it was unbelieveable. My response to her was "prayer works."

I am so thankful to each of you who prayed for my counts to go up. God is the Great Physician and He is so awesome. I could not make it through all of this without Him.

I will be entering the hospital on Monday morning for my next round. I believe this round is only 3 days, but it is supposed to make me dizzy and unsteady on my feet. I will try my best to update, but we will just have to see how the chemo makes me feel. If I can't, then Rob will be updating.

With God, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!!

It's a NO hair day!

Well, my original plan was to go on Friday and get my head shaved. Well, after my hair started falling out, I realized it was happening faster than I thought and more than likely, I would not have any hair left by Friday, so we bumped up the date. Here are a few pics from the evening:

Rob and I before we left to go. I'm wearing a hat because the top of my head had several bald spots already. It was really not pretty.

Me and my sweet friend Crystal. She shaved her head with me to help me get through the experience.

This is my friend and hairdresser Sharon.

Crystal went first. Her first expression was shock.

About half way through we started laughing

Then it was my turn- Do you like my fake smile?

Even though I knew it was coming off, I was still nervous.

The pile of hair

And here we are...

Thank you so much Crystal for doing this with me. The laughter (mostly coming from our husbands) made it a fun experience!

Now for a health update: I went to the doctor on Tuesday and everything looked good. All my blood counts were up...even my white blood count. My platelets are going up as well. They have to reach 100 before they can start my next round of chemo. They were at 65. Please pray they will reach 100 so we can start on schedule next Monday.

I have been feeling very good lately. Saturday was the last day that I had to lay around most of the day. Sunday morning, I was able to go to Sunday School which was so special to me. I was pretty lazy the rest of the day because it kind of wore me out, but I still was so glad I got to go. On Monday, I was able to be up the whole day and sit with the family and some friends. Each day I get a little stronger. Thank you so much for each of your prayers. I know it is because of them that I am getting stronger.

WITH GOD, WE WILL BEAT THIS!!