Catching up....

Wow.... I can't believe I haven't updated this in so long.  I'll try to remember the important stuff.

I had a birthday. Monday, December 12, I turned 40.  It wasn't that bad.   I happen to share my birthday with a friend of mine, Heather Jeffreys,  so Mitch and I met her and her boyfriend & family members at Ricatoni's.   I had been dreading turning 40, but after being diagnosed,  my outlook has changed a little and it wasn't so bad to turn 40 afterall.

I went to Nashville on Tuesday, Dec. 13 and met with my kidney doctor.   He was awesome.  He pretty much told me not to worry about my kidney issue.  We are just going to watch it for the next 6 months.  He said the only way to take care of the kidney issue is surgery and that would mean stopping my chemo, which we don't want to do.  He said the lesion is so small, he isn't going to worry with it at this time and they would just keep an eye on it and if any changes develop, we'll deal with them then.
I then met with Dr. Meyer, my oncologist.  She went over the biopsy results of my spine.   Seems the spot on my spine IS related to the breast cancer, so that puts me at Stage 4. Not curable.  :(     From that point on, everything she said was kinda foggy.  I was really hoping NOT to be Stage 4.  Well.. it is what it is.   She mentioned I would have to be on some sort of treatment from now on.  (I assumed CHEMO, which would mean NO HAIR EVER, but my dad pointed out that she never said it would be chemo.. it could just be a pill or something.  There I go, assuming the worst. lol)     She changed my regiment from ever week for 6 weeks  to once a week for 3 weeks then take the 4th week off.  Then start over.   She also mentioned that she might be backing off one of my chemo meds since I seem to be responding so well already.  Since I have triple negative,  its harder to find meds that the cancer responds to so she pretty much said she'd rather back off one of the meds now, than keep me on it and then in a year or so, be scrambling around trying to find another medicine I'll respond to.  Makes sense, I guess. 
I had a benefit on December 17 at FloBama. Our friends Mike Current (Puppy) and Brenda Aldridge & Blaine Cantrell planned it.  Several of my friends put together a silent auction. I made a speech.  (LOL) A "famous" called on a local sports radio show agreed to be the Emcee ... I was honored to have The Legend there.  Several musician friends agreed to perform.  Byron Green.  Blaine Cantrell & John Crosslin.  My husband, Mitch, and Toby Aderhold.  Max Russell & the Shakedown Kings, and The Alabama Blues Brothers.  After the Blues Brothers, it was sort of an open jam session.. Mitch and Bobby Aday did a few.  Mitch and Jeff Moore did a few.  It was a long night, but it was a good night.  It was a night I will always remember.  My friends really went above and beyond to make it special.  My best friend from Memphis came home.  My uncle from FL drove up and my cousin from New York was there.  My cheeks were sore from smiling so much.  I wore my long wig and as uncomfortable as it was...  I was able to leave it on the whole night. lol  
We raised a little over $4400  with donations, T-shirt sales and the auction. 
The next day, I slept.  Til 2pm.  LOL    Talk about EXHAUSTED.

Monday, my uncle and cousin were still in town so we went to a little place in Sheffield called The Box Car Cafe.   Its my favorite breakfast place.  They have the best hash browns ever.  They are more like fried potato shavings....  not some frozen hashbrown patty dumped in a fry daddy.  YUM.   We then visited the Helen Keller Birthplace.   I don't see how I've lived here all my life and never visited this place. It was quite interesting.  I was unaware that Helen Keller had 14 books published in 50 different languages and graduated from Radcliffe with honors.  ( I went to UNA for 3 years and never finished.... lol)   I am also glad we didn't get escorted off the premises after my cousin unlocked the gate and had his picture taken with the famous water pump.  LOL

I woke up this morning not feeling well at all.   It started about 3am.  I took an extra nausea pill around 6 and slept it off until around 1 today.  I have experienced severe stomach problems, headaches, fatigue, taste bud changes and most distrubing... hair loss.   :(     The hair I had left is now coming out at a pretty fast rate.  I now LOOK like a cancer patient.   Mitch said I look like a baby bird.  LOL    For some reason I just can't bring myself to shave off the rest.  I wear my black hat around the house just to keep from shedding hair everywhere... I guess if this keeps up  I will just go ahead and bring out the clippers.  :(     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RLCGSSNJwo&list=UUQnSLqnaKn1fJQM3SMlFNmw&index=1&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPUmbEk6mp0&list=UUQnSLqnaKn1fJQM3SMlFNmw&index=3&feature=plcp

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa3q2xVu0oc&list=UUQnSLqnaKn1fJQM3SMlFNmw&index=8&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqC5k2_MLEM&list=UUQnSLqnaKn1fJQM3SMlFNmw&index=4&feature=plcp

Sunday, Dec. 11

If one word could be used to describe my weekend, it would be "BLAH".   Mitch has worked all weekend, Jordan has stayed home all weekend (his choice... **shock**) and I have done nothing but lay around.  On a scale of 1-10, my energy level has been about a 4.  Just can't get going.  My tastebuds are changing.  Food is tasting different.  Kind of takes the fun out of eating. 
I still hate my new "haircut".  That's probably another reason I haven't felt like going anywhere or even having company.  I did have to force myself to go to Wal Mart yesterday to get Mitch something to take to work for lunch. I wore my wig.  HATED IT.  I didn't hate the wig itself,  its just hot, itchy and very uncomfortable.  I couldn't wait to get home and jerk it off.  So now, I guess I'm going to have to decide between appearance vs. comfort.  :/ 
I guess even though I am beginning to experience the effects of chemo, I should still be thankful its not worse than it is.  I have a few friends that post on FB about how sick they are from "red devil". I will probably have to have that at some point- and I'm not looking forward to it.

My birthday is tomorrow.  The big 4-0.   Blah. What do I want for my birthday?  To be well again, and have my hair back.

Hair today, gone tomorrow.....

Well. I did it.  I cut my hair.  I no longer have long, straight blonde hair.  Its short and brown and spikey.  The process was emotional.  My dear friend Paige brushing it, sectioning it off into 1 inch sections, putting rubber bands on it and finally, cutting each one off.  It didn't hurt, but I know I made a face each time one was cut. I could hear it being cut.  I forced a smile at times, but on the inside I was crumbling.
I have never been one to be that concerned with my looks... I wear minimal makeup and most of the time my hair was just thrown back in a messy ponytail. Oh how I'll miss that messy ponytail.

Some of my best friends showed up. One friend drove 45 minutes to be there. One friend missed her nursing shift to be there.  My husband was there. My son was there. My mom was there.  My dad even came.  When it was over... it was like the person looking back at me in the mirror wasn't me.  All the way home, I kept running my hands over my head and instead of them getting tangled in my hair, all I felt with this soft, velvety stuff on my head.  It actually FEELS good...  I am just not used to the way it looks.  LOL  I mean, I went from long and blonde to super short and brown.  Like *snaps* THAT.

I am posting a few pics from last night... and I want to thank everybody that was there for me. I know it wasn't easy for yall to see me go through this, but I'm glad you all did.  It helped me in more ways than yall will know.

I found this on the Internet and thought it was too cute not to share.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

Well, she said, I think I'll braid my hair today!

So she did.

And she had A Wonderful Day!

The next day she woke up ,looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head

Hmmm, she said,I think I'll part my hair down the middle today!
so she did.
And she had a Grand Day!

 The next day she woke up,looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

Well, she said,today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.

So she did. And she had a Fun Day!

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

Yay! she exclaimed,

I don't have to fix my hair today!

Attitude is everything.

2nd chemo.... done.

Well, its been a while since I've updated.  A lot has happened.

I took my 1st chemo very well. Had virtually NO side effects until Saturday night around 8:30pm.  It hit me fast and hard.  I spent 2 hours in the bathroom with something coming out of one end or the other. (sorry...but its true)   Around 11:30 I walked down the hallway to get some Sprite and crackers and was met by one of my son's friends who was asking if he was home.  He had 30 minutes before curfew was up so I answered with "No, why would he be home early?"  LOL   It was then I learned that my son and his other friend had been jumped by a group of 3 guys and his friend wound up in the ER room while Jordan took off running on foot and nobody knew where he was.   Talk about making me feel sick all over again.  He is ok now...  so I won't bore you with the details of that ordeal.  It breaks my heart every time I think about it.

So I was sick Saturday night... felt like crap Sunday but felt better by Monday.   Tuesday (yesterday) was chemo #2.  Mitch had to work so I had 2 of my best friends offer to take me.  I have to say it was one of the best days I've had in a while. We talked all the way to N'ville (one person, in-particular... LOL ), Leeann and Marnie got to see the whole "infusion" process and kept me company while I was getting my treatment.  The benadryl bag got the best of me and as hard as it was to stay awake,  I just couldn't do it.  I think Leeann and Marnie went shopping a while during my  nap... I woke up and they were gone, and when I looked outside, I saw Leeann's car leaving the parking lot.  (LOL)   My nurse bragged on how great our friendship was and told me I was lucky to have such awesome friends.  I already knew that.  I told her I had several more at home that were just as special and I almost started crying when I got to thinking about how lucky I am to have so many great friends.  I mean, I wonder who would give up their entire day,  drive 2 & 1/2 hours to sit and watch me be hooked up to 5 different bags of medicine, sit there for another 2 hours while the stuff is pumped into my body, and then drive home 2 &1/2 hours???   Leeann and Marnie did it and I know there are several others that would do it too.  My husband has been with me almost every step of the way. He has missed several regular shifts and a few overtime shifts just to go with me to appointments. My (divorced) parents have been with me most of the time. My sister in Huntsville (with 4 small children at home) has sacrificed time away from her family to be with me on trips.  I am blessed beyond measure in so many ways.

Ok.. I got off track a little.  LOL    So, back to the "Girls Day Out at Camp Chemo"  ....   after my infusion was done, we hit the road back to Muscle Shoals. Or so we thought.  Since Leeann's On Star operator was being a b*tch, we had to rely on my cellphone's Navigation app to guide us home.  It failed.  We ended up riding around some quaint little city called Cornersville.  It only delayed our time by about 45 minutes. We laughed about being lost, about how Leeann would either burn us up or freeze us out... just being silly and spending some girl time together.  It made me forget why I even had to be in Nashville in the first place.

Today I have felt good... I'm sure it is the steroids. lol    The nurse did tell me yesterday that the best treatment for nausea is prevention.  SO, she wanted me to add 1/2 a Phenegran and an Ativan each night before going to bed.  So now, I take Zofran, Phenegran and Ativan.  I'm taking more medicine than my 88 yr old grandmother.  LOL  THANK GOD FOR INSURANCE.    (I shudder to think about how much each treatment is costing)

I suppose that is about all that has happened lately.   My next trip to Nashville will be a busy one.  Urologist appointment at 8am (to discuss my kidney issue), labs at 11, see my oncologist at 1 (to figure out the plan for the spot on my spine)  and my infusion at 1.   That will be my 3rd chemo and I'm curious to see how I'll be feeling. I hope no different than I am now.  My benefit will be that weekend so I am praying I'll feel like attending it.  I know a lot of people have gone to a lot of work for it and it should be pretty awesome.  :)

Tomorrow is a big day for me. I'll post a blog about it either tomorrow night or Friday.  I'm sure some of you already know-- but I just don't think I have it in me to write about it tonight.  Phenegran is kicking in.  lol  (I took a whole one tonight to counter the steroids) 

All in all..... I think I've done pretty well with the chemo. So far, so good.  :)

Love you all!

Day 2 after 1st chemo......

Well, I am still feeling pretty good. Not AS good as I did yesterday, so I know the steroids are probably wearing off.  I am a little draggy today, but I don't think it is chemo related.  A friend of mine brought over the Twilight movies and we attempted to have a movie marathon but by 2am, and the end of the 2nd movie... I was done.  LOL   SO... I am sure its related to just not getting much sleep.  I enjoyed it though and I can understand what all the fuss is about with those movies.  Just in case anyone is wondering... I'm Team Edward.  ;)

My cheeks have been a little flushed today and I've been a little hot.  I think that is due to me dressing like Ralphie from the Christmas story (in the coat)  this morning and then the weather warming up a little.. walking into a house that still had the heat on from last night...  yeah, so THAT isn't chemo related either.   (Funny how once you start on chemo... every little thing is magnified and you wonder if its a symptom of something)

I haven't had any stomach issues or nausea.  I am taking my anti-nausea medicine BY THE CLOCK.  And those that know me KNOW I hate swallowing pills.  But, I'm doing it.

I got a little bit of bad news last night.  My nurse practitioner called to check on me, and then let me know the results of my spine biopsy I had last week.  It did show cancer in the bone.  I figured that much, but was really hoping it wasn't.  It doesn't change anything as far as treatment goes at this point.  I was still a little upset by it, and then a dear friend of mine reminded me that the chemo has started, which is the most important thing.  This news didn't come out of left field and I need to keep doing what I'm doing and fight like hell to get through this.  (Thanks Tina....)

I have decided when the time comes, to have a double mastectomy.  Some people suggested only having one removed, but why keep a ticking time bomb (in my mind, anyway) when I would rather get 'em both whacked and start over with a fresh new (PERKY) pair.   I've heard that the double surgery isn't any worse than the single- so why not? lol

I am also making plans for when my hair starts to come out.  I'll disclose those plans when the time comes.  ;)

I appreciate everyone checking on me and I hope I'm not overdoing it with the blogs and FB posts.  I don't want to cram all this cancer stuff down everybody's throat all the time.  Its just easier to blog so everybody can see how I'm doing rather than answer 45 texts a day -- WHICH I DON'T MIND DOING.  I am NOT complaining about everyone's concern... so please don't take it that way.  LOL

I know I could not do this without everyone's support... so it really means a lot to me.  Thank you.

First chemo video...

Not sure if this will work, but here is a video of my first chemo treatment.  I apologize in advance for :
1. my outfit being hideous.  I wanted to be comfortable, but it was not very flattering.
2. Mitch saying a cuss word.  At least it was a mild one.  I swear he was a sailor in a past life. LOL

Hope this works!
http://youtu.be/ak5vfvLAJdE

Oh, and if you've already seen this on FB, I apologize for repeating.   LOL 

Chemo #1.. been there, done that.

Well. I had myself all worked up over nothing.  I just knew after my treatment was over, I would either be wheeled to the car in a wheelchair or carried out on a stretcher.  lol

I got to Vanderbilt Health Center around 11:30, signed in and almost immediately they took me back to have my port accessed and blood drawn. (got a video of it! haha)  The only pain I felt was the pressure of the nurse pushing on the port just a tad to get the needle in.   It is still a little tender, but its getting better every day.  For those that want to see exactly what it looks like.... 

 The only part I can feel is "A"... the little "button" that the needle goes in to.  (I wish I had those boobs!)

Anyway. 

Got the blood drawn, and then I was sent to talk to Katie Sibler, the nurse practitioner.  My biopsy results aren't back yet from the T3 Process biopsy-- but she did go over all the side effects of the chemo meds.  She was very thorough.  She spent a lot of time with us and made us feel very at ease. 

After a bit of waiting, it was time for me to go to the infusion room.  It was a private room, with a large flatscreen TV on the wall.  The recliner was comfortable and there was an extra chair for some lucky person to keep me company in. I can pretty much do anything I want while getting my cocktail.  Text, watch TV, read, sleep, knit (if I knitted).  If I have to use the ladies room, I have to unplug the IV stand and walk it with me to the bathroom.  I am surprised I didn't trip over it and fall.  I made several trips.  Those fluids ran right through me.  I got Benadryl, Zofran, and Decadron.  Those were my pre-meds to prevent any sickness or allergic reaction.  Then came the fun stuff.  Taxol must have won the coin toss because it was first.  Then came Cisplatin.  All in all, it took a little over 4 hours.  My next treatment shouldn't take as long.

Mitch stayed with me most of the time (God I love that man).  My mom, dad, sister and even Jordan took turns coming in and keeping me company.  They won't be at every treatment, but the first one was important, so they were all there.

It is nearly midnight and I have been up since 5am.  I am not the least bit tired. (hello, steroids)  I know tomorrow I should feel ok but then Thursday I should start feeling the effects.  I do expect to be a little run-down feeling but I am really not going to plan on being completely knocked out.  We'll see. I will probably feel like I've been hit by a freight train in a few days... but fingers crossed I won't.

I will have my treatments every Tuesday.  My main doctor changed my regiment and instead of taking treatments once a week for 3 weeks and then taking a break... I'm going once a week for 6 weeks straight.  No break for me.  Not unless my levels start bottoming out.  I still have to learn about my blood count and all.  I was advised to watch my temperature. (Note to self: BUY A THERMOMETER)  If I have a fever over 100.4,  CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY.  

So far, so good.  Thank you for the continued support, thoughts and prayers.  They will be a huge in helping me win this battle.  I could not do this without my faith in God, my medical team, my family and my friends.  So, from the bottom of my heart.... THANK YOU.