2nd round of chemo...ugh!

Last Thursday I went to the doctor's office for my 2nd round of chemo. 2 down 6 to go!! After having so many "interesting" things happen every time I go to the doctor's office, I thought I need to write some of these down, at least for a little laugh. This time when I walked in, the receptionist was very friendly and right away got my chart. I was thoroughly impressed that she already knew my name without me telling her. After signing in, she then informed me that we had an outstanding balance of $622.00 and that $4500.00 was still pending. She wondered if we wanted to pay the balance. Wow I thought after just one treatment. I can't imagine what our balance will be after having a total of 8 treatments. So after a huge "gulp" I told her we would just be making a payment today. Steve however wanted to pay at least half the amount. I am glad I didn't listen to him because a few minutes later the receptionist came back horrified, informing me that she had given me the information from another patient's chart. I did chuckle a little since I had just made a payment for someone else. She then told we just needed to pay a regular co payment. So for now I can happily report that we actually have a credit at one of my doctor's offices. :)

Chemo round #2 was very rough. I went in on Thursday morning and by that afternoon I was SICK. Last treatment I wasn't sick until the 3rd day so I was hoping for the same result. I was not so lucky. This treatment hit me faster and much harder. I was very nauseated. My symptoms along with the nausea included vomiting, leg cramps, head aches, body aches, mouth sores and total fatigue. It has been almost a week and I am still very queasy. I am hoping that this was just a bad round and that next time it will be easier. I have heard that treatments get worse each time, but I am still crossing my fingers that it will get better.

Yard Sale in our honor

Yesterday a huge yard sale was held in our honor in order to help pay for our medical bills. It was unreal the amount of support that was given from people we had never even met. Families donating things from their homes, people who don't even know us helping out all day on a Saturday. Strangers would drive up see the signs the kids made that said, "Make a difference, Make an offer" and hand us a $20 and then drive away with nothing in hand. It brought tears to my eyes. I wasn't able to stay for very long, but from what I hear it was a tremendous success. It went until 5:00 that evening. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the people in my life that were sent to me as a blessing. I will never be able to repay all these people. I just want them to know how much I love and appreciate them. (You know who you are). And thank you to all those people who came and bought a treasure. And by the way.... we will be having more yard sales. :)

Dani


I'm grateful for the smallest tender mercies. Thanks to my new friends this weekend!

Steve

The Day My Hair Fell Out

During my last chemo treatment the nurse told me that my hair would be totally gone by the next visit. I was a little surprised that it would happen so fast. A couple of my friends that have been through cancer, also told me it was around 14-16 days after their first treatment that their hair fell out. I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for "the day", but I don't think anyone can prepare themselves for their hair falling out.
16 days later....I woke up Saturday morning and ran a brush through my hair only to find the brush filled with hair that had just fallen out. I showed Steve and he couldn't believe how much had come out. Being the concerned husband he is, he helped me brush and brush my hair. In about 5 minutes the garbage can was filled. We thought that we had gotten most of it and that it was the end of it falling out. I however decided to test it. I took a handful and tugged, and out came a huge amount of hair and surprisingly without any pain. I must say it was a very weird experience.


I figured by then we may as well let the kids have some fun. Seth and Maddie had a total blast pulling my hair out. In just a few minutes they had a huge pile. Then Maddie asked if she could cut it. Why not. We got the scissors and let her go to town.

Even Seth and Ethan got in on the action.


In a short time my hair was completely butchered. Steve was able to finish off the job with some clippers. It has been a very surreal experience. But we did get a few laughs and yes I've had a few tears. But hey it's only hair and it will grow back. Just think of all the time and money I will save from not having to go get my hair done at the salon. And how many people can say they have seen their own head?

To My Dearest Dani:

I will reach out my hand to you
and brush the worry lines away.
I will reach out my heart to you,
to bid you laugh with me today,
For hurts will come to weigh us down,
and life sometimes prove untrue.
But I would like to understand
and walk a little way with you.

I will reach out and touch your eyes,
to see the sun behind the clouds.
I will reach out and heal your heart,
to help you walk with head unbowed.
I'll help you look with eyes of faith,
to see the light you have within.
And understand the greater joy,
of walking hand in hand with Him.

I will reach out and touch your soul.
as Jesus did when he was here.
I will walk gently by your side,
and help you feel his presence near.
For when we love enough to care
and take the time to touch a soul,
Then we can reach the one in need,
and make a troubled spirit whole.

Yet, I know that I'm far from perfect to support you through your time of need, however I'm going to work like h_ll to get there.

From your loving, Steve

"Suffering ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise purpose of it"

The First Weekend

This weekend is finally over. I just have to say it was rough. I thought that maybe the side effects of the chemo were not going to be so bad, however I was wrong. Thursday night I began to feel the chemo kick in. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I went to bed early and slept for about 12 hours. Friday I didn't feel much better. I then had to go into the doctor's office feeling yucky to get my Neulasta shot. This shot is meant to build the white blood count back up. The shot itself didn't hurt but the side effects are not so fun either. White blood cells are made within the bone marrow and so the all bones themselves ache. So for the last 3 days I have felt like I had the major flu. My symptoms so far have been, body aches, leg cramps, fatigue, nausea, head aches and mouth sores. Hopefully next round will be better since I know what to expect. But then again I may just get sick in the car on the way to the doctor's office because I know what I am in for. 1 round down...7 to go!

Today I do feel much better. It was a good day despite the fact it was the day we buried my grandma. It was a beautiful service with beautiful weather. I will miss her dearly, but now I know I have one more angel watching over me.