How could I have missed blogging about treatment #3 - Chemo Brain!

Treatment three went really well!

The PICC line made things so much easier. No multiple sticks or pain!

My sister Brenda was my driver for the day then we had lunch and she stayed the weekend. We even got to celebrate her birthday and have a tv marathon watching. 

Sweet Gretchen crocheted me a head wrap

Chemo is finished! GLASS IS EMPTY!

When all this began in the end of August this day seemed so far in the distance.

Yesterday I had my final of 4 chemo treatments and today was the last of my Neulasta shots. Time has gone really fast as it does especially when over 50. I am so thankful for the continued prayers that you all lift up for me. God has and continues to keep me in his hands and I am so encouraged through this journey. 

When all of this started I adopted Stephen Curtis Chapman's then new song "Glorious Unfolding" as my theme song and that is certainly what it has been. I have been blessed to meet so many new pink sisters and brothers and sisters with other types of cancer. While I won't miss chemo and shots I will truly miss visiting with the other patients there for their treatments. It has been my goal to try to inspire them through their longer journeys. 

I cannot say enough about the caring and compassionate doctor Gian, nurse practitioners Kathy and Jessica and ALL of the staff at Tennessee Oncology Murfreesboro. I pray that you never have to become a patient there but if you do know that you will be well cared for.  Sister Frieda was my driver for the day and my dear Abi got to,accompany me because schools were closed due to weather. 

This Christine one of my chemo nurses and she had the pleasure of pulling my PICC line after chemo was finished. It was her first time to pull one and she didn't hurt herself or me either one. 

The final bag

PICC line being flushed and about to come out

While chemo is behind me I will still follow up every two months for the next 2 years. I will also begin a medicine yet to be determined to help prevent recurrence and will be on that for the next 5 to 10 years. 

I am so happy to be a survivor and look forward to adjusting to my new normal.  Still ahead is my final surgery for reconstruction which will be sometime in the next few months. 

My precious Francis family who are of my next door neighbor Judi's daughter and grandchildren. Surprised me with signs in my yard for yesterday. 

More super Survivor surprises after chemo were a strawberry Superwoman cake from my wonderfully supportive coworkers...

Tulips and food from the sweet Duggin family. And roses from my Florida family...

Then unplanned dinner with my man in our matching hair hats

And because of weather snafus his work closed today and he had the pleasure of taking me for shot and then lunch...  Needless to say I have been very blessed with continued appetite through all of this. 

I ask that you pray for the many survivors who have had their cancer return to haunt and destroy their bodies. Pray for a cure for metastatic breast cancer and encourage organizations such as Susan G Komen and others to commit more funds to finding a cure. Many funds are put towards awareness and early discovery but the real warriors are those with metastatic cancer still waiting for a cure. I am proud to have had early discovery and removal but my heart goes out those still in the fight!

Much Love

Sherry

What a difference a shot in the arm makes!

Well today is day 13 after my second chemo and I just wanna say.....

THIS GIRL'S GLASS IS HALF EMPTY!!!!!

If you know me you know that is a term I NEVER use. I choose to always view my glass as half FULL and don't deal well with those of negative opinions or attitude and will often call people out. Just ask my coworkers. 

Now back to that shot in the arm. After my second treatment the next day I went and received a Neulasta shot. Praise to Jesus that I had very little side effect from this in light of some that could occur. Presently I have only experienced watery eyes which I can tolerate. What did Neulasta do for me?  Aside from boosting my neutrophils to build immunity which resulted in me only feeling really tired for a couple of days instead of 10 days. In other words I started to feel better a good 5 days earlier than with the first round. YAAAAAAAYYYYYYY. Thank you Jesus. I now know I can do this without a doubt. Yes, I doubted!

As for the actual chemo treatment, in my last post I shared that my veins did not cooperate as hoped and it took 4 sticks and 2 IVs to gitter done. Below are pics of my arms. Not so much for shock factor but for my memories in later days. Chemo brain IS real. 

Left arm. Big bruise is from stick 1 and a no go with vein. Red bump, stick 4 a 2nd IV. 

Left arm small bruise is stick 2 no go with vein. Dark red spot is skin irritation from first treatment. 

Right arm 3rd stick and good IV Steroid, Eloxi and Emend (anti nausea drugs). Then came the Tamoxifen and the vein said NO. Stick 4 back over to the right arm on top of forearm where all finished well. 

In light of the above battle wounds, I almost cried that day and became concerned that my veins would not cooperate for my final two treatments and how many sticks would it take to gitter done. It made me question if I should have had a port put in. I went by the oncology office and talked nurse Judy ( I am surrounded by wonderful Judys - neighbor, work, oncology ) and the nurse practitioner. We talked about my options and decided that a PICC line would be a good option. 

For my friends that are Young Living advocates/lovers. I have ordered my first essential oil of Lavendar to pamper my skin issues. Thanks to my niece Meredith who is a distributor.  She can hook you up if you are interested. 

On Monday 1/26/15, I will go to the hospital outpatient dept and have said PICC line placed.  In case you don't know in my laymans terms, a PPIC line is a catheter that is inserted in a vein in your upper arm and snaked to a large vein near your heart. It has a shut off valve and is covered by waterproof covering. This can stay in place for several weeks with a weekly dressing change. Chemo is connected to the valve which means no more sticks. AND My blood can be drawn from it. Then when I complete my last treatment in February the oncology office can remove it right there in the office before I leave. 

Why a PICC over a port?  If I had known the vein trouble I would have done a port. A port requires outpatient surgery with light sedation and is placed under the skin in the chest, it can stay in for up to 10 years with regular flushing. Another surgery to remove. That's why. 

What's next?

Monday 1/26/15 - PICC line

Thursday 1/29/15 - chemo 3 of 4

Daily- blessed to be able to work from home as I feel up to it and avoid big ole nasty germs like the flu!

This pic is my sweet Molly Beth from Sunday School. I snuck in the hospital with a mask to see her Friday. It thrilled me that she wanted our picture without head cover! Please pray for her as she has been diagnosed with Chrohns Disease at age 14. Pray specifically that she can gain some healthy weight along with getting her meds regulated to help her body recover.  Pray for her parents, sisters and Molly Beth to be at peace with this lifelong diagnosis and God to give them and the doctors wisdom for her care and lay His healing hands upon Molly Beth. 

This is my precious girl in the Dominican Republic. She saw a boy walking and holding a chicken and asked if she could hold it. She loved it!  Thank you for praying for the group. They had a great trip and returned safely. 

Random peacocks I saw on Irongate when leaving the post office the other day. Right here in the city!  We like birds. LoL

And for Janet and family in Texas. I think some things might be bigger in Tennessee. These are chicharrones I bought here at a Hispanic market. (Pork rinds for country folk)

AND OMG ONE MORE PIC FOR PEE YOUR PANTS LAUGHTURE!  This is my great niece Nevaeh, today was the 100 day of pre school and her class dressed like they were 100. She looks just like my mom. But I do to. Not a bad thing!  She is as feisty as my mom. Me sometimes. Check out the detail my niece Priscilla put into her clothes and makeup like the chain stitch glasses chain. The glasses are really hers and she was so excited she said she had to get up early to look old. She is 5 and the car she was channeling her best Jessica Tandy - "you kids get outta my yard"

Love and joy to all and have a blessed week!

Sherry

Gretchen's big day

So today I had my second chemo treatment and my GREAT niece Gretchen who is 9 was having surgery on her foot at the same time. Gretchen and I were texting last night and she told me she was really scared. I tried to encourage her by telling her that Jesus would be right there watching over her and giving the doctors wisdom. Today her mom, my niece Priscilla asked on Facebook for everyone to write Gretchen's name somewhere to remind each of us to pray for her. Well what better place to honor and remember this awesome young (old heart) GREATchen than right on top of my head. Yes Gretchen is the one who coined BWOWN BIWDS BEHIND as my nickname several years ago so I wanted her to know that the now bald beauty eagle was there for her.   Plus yall know what a rebel I am!

Gretchen's surgery went well and she is home recovering tonight. Continue to pray for her as she is having a little bleeding tonight. Pray that God will stop the blood flow so that they DO NOT have to go to the ER tonight and can wait for doctor office tomorrow. Yall know the ER and hospital is where the SICK people are and we don't want to be there. 

Chemo today went well. My sister Frieda was supposed to take me but has a cold that hasn't cleared up. Yall know how independent I am now. I adamantly chose to drive myself there and back because I did well the first time and they said it would be ok to drive myself. Well my caregiving sister Pat and my neighbor Judi weren't happy with me but I got this ladies!  And after all givers are not good takers. Yep that's me. 

Went to Hardee's and had me a yummy deli ham biscuit and a coke on the way. Oh wait but that was after I had to wait to leave the house. My girl Abi left this morning and flew to Dominican Republic for a mission trip. She knew that Frieda was going to take me and I didn't want her to know different because she would worry about me and be sad that I was alone. Now I can't have that. After all ME? I am never alone because I like to socialize and talk too much!

Patrice (who we call PatRice and she is Abi baby's DR momma) and her son Bradley picked Abi up at 7:30. Abi had asked what time Frieda was picking me up and I kindly replied around 7:45 because that would be the time. DR gang left and I left after they did.  Well that worked all the way until Abi landed in Miami and saw that Frieda posted on FB that she was sorry she didn't get to take me. OOPS guess I should have covered that base. I got a sweet little text from Abi asking why Frieda didn't take me and was someone with me.   I explained it all away and all is good.  Abi and Patrice are safely in LaCumbre and we have face-timed tonight. The rest of the group will fly down on Saturday. Pray for this women's ministry week there. There are several going for the first time and I pray that God uses and blesses them tremendously.  Watch for my next prayer reminder pic. You never know what my come to the top of my head!

Ok, right chemo!  Got all settled in to my front chair so I could be up front of the class. Nosey socialite I am. Nurse came and looked at my veins. Yes, veins remember since I am blessed to only need 4 treatments I opted not to have a port put in because that would be another general anesthesia surgery and recovery and my veins looked like they would hold up. Nurse tried to start IV in left arm twice  she got the vein but the vein didn't cooperate. Let's go to the right arm. Nurse #2 came over and started IV nicely on first try above the elbow and away from the bend (she said to always have them away from all bends, check). Now we're flowing!  Got the dexamethasone and Eloxi mixed in one bag then the bag of other pre med all good. Took a pit stop break for fluid in fluid out during med bag change. Cozied back in my chair and all hooked up to the Taxotere (actual chemo) and my hands all gloved up in cool gloves when my IV site seemed to be burning. I advised the sweet nurse who came over and darned if that good vein had not blown and was infiltrating. Ok no blood return in IV means vein not good so let's move the IV. Nurse # 3 comes over and goes back to left arm. Gets a new IV and we drip happily ever after through the Taxotere then right through the Cytoxan. Up and outta there around 1:15. 

Pat came after 12 and brought me Chik Fil A for my lunch pleasure while getting the big drugs and she stayed until I was done and came home. 

All of this said may seem overwhelming to one who has not experienced anything like this before but here is how I viewed my day. 

1. I am so blessed that I only need 4 treatments and they are 1 day every 3 weeks. There were 2 other ladies there that had started their 1st rounds of chemo yesterday and they have to go 3 days in a row then every 3 weeks for 6 treatments. YES I AM BLESSED  and they are too!

2. While I was there alone by my choosing, I have several people that would have readily and happily gone with me. One of the other ladies said her son was supposed to bring her but he chickened out. He was supposed to "come by and see her" but he never showed and she was finishing as I was. The other lady had to be brought by transportation. YES I AM BLESSED. I hope that I was a blessing to them to know that even though they may have wanted someone with them they were not alone!

3.  Why 3 nurses for IVs. You see I think in healthcare there is an art of orchestration. If the patient gets stressed about being stuck that puts the staff under stress too. If the nurse has adequately tried which they all did beautifully then let someone else have a try. We are all gifted different ways and techniques. And NO ONE WOULD EVER MISS AN IV ON PURPOSE!  That's just the way it goes in chemo. It damages your feigns. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate especially the DAY BEFORE!

4. Right this minute at 10:18 pm it is 28 frigid degrees outside. I am sitting here in a short sleeve (gifted to me by my wonderful Sunday School girls) t-shirt sweating profusely with hot flashes. Hat on, hat off, blanket on, blanket off. I have the benefit that I am not as cold as everyone else is right now which helps on my heating bill. As for Pat she has to bundle up but I will let her turn up the heat as I'm sweating either way. 

5. Since getting home I have managed to eat my way (thanks to steroid) through the hot flashes. Keep that tummy full to keep nausea down because I will be happy not to have that side effect although I have the good meds for it. I still don't think I will have trouble maintaining my weight during chemo. I know next week I won't feel great and nothing will taste good. Gotta store up. Lol

6. Tomorrow Neulasta shot then back home to let everything in me die and rebuild. Neulasta will boost my WBC and immunity plus add Claritin for Neulasta side effects. Have to have this because I became neutropenic after first treatment. Hopefully I won't feel as bad as after the first treatment. 

7. I AM BLESSED. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE LONELY AND HAVE HARDER BATTLES TOO!

Steroid was early today

Tylenol PM taken

Tummy full

Feeling sleepy

Silver linings

I just might get toms

Rep before 3am this time

love you all!

Happy New Year - Who Loves Ya Baby!

It's the new Kojak look but I just don't have a tootsie roll pop!

Many younger readers won't know that line but it is from a show in my childhood named Kojak. The actor was a bald man and he always had tootsie roll pops and said "who loves Ya baby"

The New Year has come with me feeling much better than at Christmas. I am encouraged with renewed confidence that I can survive chemo. While being told that I would feel bad for several days then start feeling better 7-10 days before the next round it is hard to believe in that while in the first round. I felt so bad and was concerned that I would feel that bad during my entire 4 treatments. Praise to Jesus I reached the feeling better stage on 12/30 and have improved daily. If you are embarking on the chemo journey yourself, keep faith it will improve!

I praise the many fighters who have tougher and longer chemo and radiation regimens ahead of them. You are true heroes. 

I had my blood levels checked on 12/31 and my white count was up to 2600 from 300. This was a good jump which was in part to being on antibiotic and steroid for sore throat and continued hives from the chemo. The meds are also part of the boost in my energy level too. I will take that!

This week I see Dr. Medling for a last fill up of expanders then have my next chemo on Thursday 1/8 (Happy Birthday Elvis!). Then Friday I will go back in for a Neulasta shot because of how my WBC dropped with the first treatment. That will leave me feeling pretty well until about Saturday or Sunday then likely another 5-7 days of fatigue or maybe NOT.  God will give me strength to endure this and at that point I will have chemo half over!

Everyone deals with the hair loss in their own way. I was told that I would lose my hair and it usually happens between day 7-14. I like to consider that I am not a vain person but let's face it a woman with no hair!  I haven't been emotional about losing my hair but it did scare me a little bit. Before my first treatment I went and had about 3 inches cut off of the length. On day 13 there was quite a bit of hair falling out but not in the "clumps" like should be expected. Since my hair was coming out I called up my sister Frieda and asked if she would like to come over and give me a "pixie" for old times sake. This is humorous to me because when growing up, Frieda would always cut my hair in a pixie. There are 6 of us children and that's a lot of haircuts. No Frieda isn't a trained or professional stylist but she does a pretty darn good job and had cut my hair many many times and given perms!  Frieda said sure and came right over. 

And now I was back to my style of "brown birds behind" as my sweet niece Gretchen once said. 

Day 14 I get up and get in the shower. As I began to wet my new hairstyle I feel a strange soreness while wetting my hair. I look at my hands and there is clumps of hair all over. Talk about timing!  So I manage to shower and control the hair everywhere. That was a mess I will say. My dear Abi had said all along that she wanted to be the one to shave my head so I got out of the shower and told her if she really wanted to be the one to shave it she had to do it right then. This made her get off to work late but we managed. This was a special time for her and I which made it less emotional and we could laugh through it. Of course I gave her the clippers with the shortest guard as she had never used clippers before. 

Later that evening my dear Steve clipped my hair without the guard as he has lots of clipper experience!

I must say I am loving the variety of hats, scarves, beanies and open baldness. Those of you who know me know that I am a bit of a rebel and won't be surprised when you see me with my head uncovered. I have a couple of wigs but head covers are just hot and make Ya sweat.  I will wear them when needed but won't sweat it either.  Today the stubble was irritating so I took to the razor and shaving cream and got rid of the stubble. It was falling out anyway so I spared it the trouble!

Much Love and Health to all!

Please pray for those new to this journey and for those who are about to embark!

Sherry

How the chemo grinch tried to steal Christmas.......

For those who haven't been exposed to chemo treatments (and I pray you never will)!

While my last post told how well chemo went and how good I felt afterwards,  much to my disappointment it did not last. 

I had chemo on Wednesday 12/17 afternoon. 

Thursday I felt OK. 

Friday, I began to feel really tired, had a sore throat and just wanted to rest. Because I was tired I chose to miss a volunteer luncheon I was invited to attend. 

Saturday, December 20th (just like they explained the side effect meds given at the beginning of each treatment last 48-72 hours,) found me flat on my back either in bed or on the couch. I was wiped out with total fatigue, sore throat, and rash all over with uncontrollable itching from head to toe. It took everything I had just to get up and eat or drink something as I knew I had to in order to sustain physically.

Sunday, pretty much the same. My sister attended my needs to make sure I ate or drank like I needed to and another day passed. 

My doctor felt if we did chemo on the 17th then I would feel better by Christmas. So in my controlling mind, Christmas is on Thursday so Monday is technically Christmas week so I should be feeling better. Right?  Wrong!  I called the doctor to advise about the rash and uncontrollable itching. I knew the sore throat and fatigue were typical side effects of the chemo but mentioned just to be safe. I so don't want to be a wimpy patient. They called me in a steroid dose pack and said they would see me for my routine post chemo check up on Wednesday 12/24. 

Tuesday, Christmas Eve Eve came and me, Abi, Pat and my boyfriend Steve had our Christmas together. I felt some better at least like sitting at the table and enjoying gifts and time together.  Pat prepared hamburger steaks, baked potatoes and salad as I had requested for our dinner and we had a lovely time together. We have normally done our gift exchange before actual Christmas Day because my children usually had to switch up holidays between me and their dad. That is our special little thing we do and of course Abi is going to use that card to her advantage. 

Wednesday, Christmas Eve I went for my check up and blood work. Dr Gian advised that my white blood count (WBC) was only 300 which means that I have no immunity in my body to fight off anything. "Please stay away from crowds or anyone who may have any kind of cough, cold, or illness your body cannot fight off a simple germ that others can. If you start to run a fever call the office and we will bring you in but if the office is closed go straight to the ER And they WILL admit you. A fever would mean that you are getting sick and your body can't fight it."

Well I heard that loud and clear!  I know what is at the hospital and that is not where I want to be! WITH THE SICK PEOPLE. 

My fatigue, sore throat and rash are all common side effects of the chemo. However my WBC being so low is not the optimal response they hope for. Therefore after each of my next 3 treatments I will have to go back 24 hours later and have a Neulasta shot. This stimulates my immune system to generate neutrophils. You can read more on that by searching Neulasta. In addition, this shot comes with own unique set of side effects. 

I praise Jesus that I have not had nausea or vomiting as side effects!!  Dr. Gian said I was maintaining my weight which is good and means I am eating enough. I have always been good at maintaining my weight. LOL. 

After going to the doctor I came home and took a rest so I would feel up to going with Steve to have Christmas with his family that evening. That worked out well having dinner and time with them at his niece's house. 

Christmas Day -  for the past 15 years I have had to joy to spend Christmas lunch with some extra special extended family in Nashville. They are my ex-husbands biological father, his wife and their families. This works because my ex-husband chooses to not acknowledge them or have anything to do with them. (Long story, generational curses, parents teaching kids to choose one parent, his loss is definitely my gain!). Steve has gone with me the past 3 years and we all just get along and enjoy the people God has blessed us with. 

We were supposed to be in Brentwood by 12:30 which meant leaving home around 11:30. Everything now after chemo started is about pacing myself. As I got out of bed and walked to the den I just didn't have the mental or physical energy to shower and go anywhere. Although I had already checked to make sure no one or their children were sick I felt like I might have a slight fever and did not want to take any chances. I chose to stay at home on the couch and not use my energy to shower and get pretty. 

Pat and Abi offered to stay home with me but I really wanted everyone to go about their plans and enjoy Christmas Day with all of our people. I sent them on their way to Huntsville for Christmas with our family. Originally Steve and I were going to drive to Huntsville to see my family after lunch and visiting in Brentwood if I felt up to it. One of the little ones there had a slight cough so I had elected already to not make that trip.

After Pat and Abi went on their way I called my next door neighbor Judi. She and her family are more extended family that I have been blessed to have in my life for the past 15 years. They were having Christmas breakfast that was prepared by her granddaughter Ellen and no one there had any sniffles or ailments so I knocked my hair (yes it's still there) down put on some clothes and walked over to have breakfast with them.  Thank you Judi, Hank, Lisa, Leigh, Ellen and my most special boy Stephen. I can't begin to tell you all how much this sweet little family means to me. God knew our futures when I moved to this house!

After my little breakfast visit I walked back home then Steve came over for the day. I spent the day on one end of my sectional and he on the other watching TV. Steve went and got Hardee's burgers for lunch. Pat and Abi returned home at 7:30 bringing a spread of Christmas dinner from my mom, sister Brenda and niece Priscilla. 

In the past 3 years Steve and I have had the joy of going on a beach trip the week after Christmas. While we had a trip planned for this year we chose not to go because of my treatment and care. I must say YES I miss the ocean but it feels good to be at home while I feel this way. 

The past 2 days I have started to feel better and have more energy. This is exactly how they tell you chemo will be. Feel OK day of, feel bad to really bad the next week, start feeling better by 2nd week, feel pretty good by 3rd week then have your next treatment. YEP I'm textbook I would say. 

Today is day 11 after my first treatment. I still have all of my hair because I elected to keep it as long as it wanted to stay. Generally it starts to come out between day 7-14 so we will see when my new look  happens.  Food does not taste like my mind knows it should. Fortunately I don't have the metallic taste that many get. On the other hand chocolate and sweets taste rancid if I chew too long or have more than one bite. Food must be very moist (yes Elizabeth and Misty I used that word!) otherwise it becomes a blob I have to spit out. After about three bites of anything it just feels like chew and swallow with no taste at all. My favorite foods this week have been dill pickles, plain Lays chips and French onion dip. Told ya I could maintain my weight! 

An interesting fact I read about maintaining weight while on chemo is that for every pound you weigh you need to consume 16 calories. In other words a person weighing 160 needs to consume 2400 calories per day. That would be no issue if food tasted good. At this point it is oddly a challenge to consume that many calories.  Boost extra protein is my go to snack, drink, just give me something to consume. Chocolate of course!

This Wednesday 12/31 I have blood checked again then next chemo on 1/8 then Neulasta shot 1/9

By next post I will probably be modeling my new hats and scarves that I have received. New year, new look, new boobs 2015 is gonna rock! 

And I want to give a big shout out and prayers to my dear friend Lisa as she embarks in the morning on a whole new chapter in the life of her and her husband Greg. Lisa leaves in the morning to fly to St Thomas USVI where they are moving to live. I am so proud that you all are taking this step in faith to persue your dreams!  If you can't follow your dreams why have them?  God, I pray you protect them and show them grace as they serve others through healthcare and follow their dreams. 

“Have courage. Open your heart, and listen to what your dreams tell you. Follow those dreams, because only a person who is not ashamed can manifest the glory of God. 
There is no sin but the lack of love. Have courage, be capable of loving, even if love appears to be a treacherous and terrible thing. Be happy in love. Be joyful in victory. Follow the dictates of your heart. 
Meet obligations in life. But obligations never prevented anyone from following their dreams.” 
― Paolo Coelho

Love you all and stay strong!

Sherry

That right there is one pretty gal. I love her so!

What a blessed first chemo day.

Let me share what a blessed day I have had. 

The first blessing of the day was that I learned that I and my brother-in-law Brad Stoker in Texas were having chemo at the exact same time. While I had my first treatment Brad was having his first of a new treatment to, slow the progression of Glioblastoma (brain tumors) that he had surgery for 2 years ago. The tumors are recurring and growing. He is such an amazing fighter through all of this. I LOVE YOU BRAD!  It was so good to see him and my sister Janet as they came for Thanksgiving. Prayers for them too please!

God has covered me so well with answered prayers that so many of you continue to lift for me. Chemo actually didn't get started until closer to 2:00pm so I didn't get finished until 5:30. That was ok because when I was seated in my treatment chair I was surrounded my many seasoned patients who have been at this much longer than I have. I ask that when you pray for me you pray for the comfort and healing of the patients I come in contact with and that God will use me to inspire and share Jesus with them as he would desire and the time is appropriate.

1st 30 minute IV bag was decadron (steroid, hence the reason I am awake this time of night) and Aloxi for anti-nausea, next 15 minute bag was another anti-nausea med then 1hr bag of chemo med Taxotere, then another 1hr chemo bag of Cytoxan. Praise Jesus that I had no reaction to any of the meds, especially the Taxotere as that is the med many have a reaction to which is shortness of breath. 

Also during the Taxotere they whipped out the cool gloves which are great big fur lined, thick gel filled, frozen mittens. The purpose of the cool gloves is that it helps reduce the nerve damage to fingertips and finger nails. The chemo can make fingernails turn dark and die. 

This was my home alone pose!  But I was not alone. Along with Jesus sitting right beside me I was accompanied by my girl Abi and sister Pat.  Thumbs up 👍

Then later in the day my friend Malinda came to visit and brought me this wise owl that I owl always cherish. Min case you didn't know damask is my fave pattern, especially black and white!

When chemo was over I was feeling pretty spry thanks to the decadron and no nausea thanks to those bags so we went to dinner with Malinda and her family. Needless to say I ate good and plenty!  While I had a good appetite I thought I would indulge it. 

When arriving home after my chemo/feast but "what to my wandering eyes did appear"

These pretty pink boxing gloves left on my porch by my dear friends Nancy and Sam. I love a good fight ha know!

But wait there's more...

Right there perched in my recliner was tucked a little Christmas bag from my thoughtful sister Frieda and husband Glenn. And folded neatly inside were 2 beautiful scarves for me to stylishly wrap my head in when my hair moves out in the next 7-14 days. I am encouraged about that by all of you and especially by comments from my friend Kelly that I mentioned in an earlier post as traveling this route ahead of me. Thanks Kell!  Yesterday at work Elizabeth showed me how to wrap a head scarf then Holly at the ABC wig bank showed me as well ....and here is my very first attempt at doing a head wrap on myself that I was so unsure of on Monday, I got this what was I thinking?

Well my eyes are getting heavy and the reflux from overeating and chemo is subsiding, the 2nd hot flash (oh my on top of the ones at night already) has passed so I think I will call it a night!

What's next:  PET scan that was scheduled for tomorrow 7am was cancelled because insurance wouldn't pay because my lymph nodes were clear (that's a good thing).  So now it is whole body CT scan at 11:50 tomorrow which means 6hrs NPO before and that I need to get up at 5:30am to eat to fight nausea and fatigue. Next chemo is January 8 (Elvis' birthday). I need to borrow or buy a cheap Elvis wig to wear so I can put some smiles on the faces of my new chemo friends who are there and are fighting a tougher battle. If you can hook me up you know how to find me!

Love to all!

I told you I am blessed and I hope you feel loved and blessed to!

Sherry