Halfway done with Chemo...

So yesterday I had my last A/C chemo. It's wasn't a fun day...let's just say they were WAY behind and I went in at 10:30am and we left at 4. But I got the last of that treatment and I couldn't be happier. I know Taxol has it's own brand of fun side effects but I say bring them on!

 So my counts are still pretty low (which is to be expected when they are pumping you full of poison) so the possibility of a bad infect in the next 2 weeks is ever-present but you can't live waiting to feel bad so today I feel pretty good and I am rolling with it. If only I could have a long nap all would be perfect. What I am really hoping for (although I know it's a lot to ask) is that the delayed nausea I usually experience stays mild or doesn't show up on it's normal day since Friday (when it would start to appear) is Charley's 1st birthday. I already decided not to go with a party since she doesn't care and it's too much to pull off right now but I still want to be feeling well so I can see her open a few little presents, make her some beautiful cupcakes (I have decided to make her the jumbo cupcakes in my homemade white almond cake with homemade pink butter cream frosting & sprinkles-classic yet beautiful), and watch her smash that cupcake to bits! Plus it's Halloween this weekend and Truman is very excited about it this year. I am not sure he really understands but the kids will flip out when he realizes candy is involved!

Speaking of sweets yesterday Kyle wanted the traditional post-chemo cupcake too so last night he had the Strawberry cupcake with the strawberry cream cheese icing & I had the "Happy Birthday to Me" white cake butter cream icing. Then for tonight I have "Cuckoo for Coconut"...very exciting!

Once again....

So sorry for the complete lack of posts again. I was once again taken down by this cold that has hung on now for over 2 weeks. It got really bad again with fever, cough, etc. and we tried a few medicines, had a chest ex-ray to rule out pneumonia (which it wasn't thank goodness) and basically had to just wait to get better. My doctor explained it like this...what is a simple cold in my kids with a runny nose and cough can turn into this horrible illness for me...and there is little you can try to do to stop it. I drink lots of fluids, wash my hands and use anti-bacterial wipes all day long and hope to pick up as few germs as possible!

So I am feeling better but have noticed things like I have no stamina all the sudden. For me it's a big deal to feed the kids & eat dinner with Kyle and then I have to sit down for awhile. It's really crazy as a person who had not had an issue with this before to have to realize you have limitations. But I also know when I push too much then I feel even worse so you have to listen to your body.

Monday is my last A/C chemo...not my last chemo ever because now I switch to Taxol for 4 more treatments but I am celebrating anyway. A/C chemo stinks....I am more than happy to know this will be the last time I have to feel these certain side effects! Now I know that Taxol is it's own bag of worms and we will deal with that when we get there but I will be one happy girl if I can ditch the delayed nausea after this last treatment. So funny to be excited going into what will probably be a yucky, hard treatment (effects of chemo build with each round so the 4th round of A/C traditionally is not a good one according to most people who have been through it) but I have learned to celebrate each milestone and this is one of them. Thank goodness I still have cupcake money left so it can be celebrated with CAKE!

Guess who can walk now?

So last night as Kyle and I were eating dinner Charley pulled herself up on Kyle's knees and then just let go & took 7 steps! I know I have one kid who has done this already but I tell you that moment is always amazing and I am so glad I was around to see it. Now since then she has pushed herself up, takes one step, falls over and then looks around like "How did I do that again?" but as all you parents know she will be moving at mock speed way too soon for my taste!

It's hard to believe she will be 1 in just a few weeks.

Chemo #3

My counts were high enough to have chemo yesterday. I was never so happy to hear that! Plus my tumors have shrunk even more than last time. It's really great that the medicine is working. Plus it makes the side effects and feeling horrible a little worth it if you know they are at least beating the tumors!! They did warn me that I have to be SUPER careful this time around to eat well, drink tons of fluids, wash hands, etc. because with my counts already low the chemo will make them lower and any little illness could really be a doozy this time. So you do your best and deal if that happens. They told us when this all began it would be unusual for someone to go through chemo without being in the hospital sometime so almost feel like you are waiting for it to happen while hoping it never does!

I had a late appointment yesterday so my friend Jennie took me to Chemo since Kyle and I didn't know if we would be done in time to make it to pick up the kids. We had a blast. It was good to catch up plus she brought me a slice of the most amazing white cake from Fresh Market. So this week is hopefully cancer as usual. It's like I was saying to dad I have had new side effects after each chemo so it's hard to anticipate how you are going to be feeling...you just wait and deal with whatever happens.

So today I am feeling good (if not just a little tired), grateful to only have one more of the AC Chemos left before switching to my next kind, and very happy for Jodi & Kirk who are closing on the new house this morning...I can't wait to visit the park house and hang out in Milwaukee!!!

What A Week...

Sorry to have been missing in action. I had a great first week after chemo and was feeling pretty good and then WHAM I got a really bad cold which took me down hard. I went in for blood work and my counts were "in the toilet" as the nurse put it. So I was in bad shape last week. I still have a nasty cough that won't go away but I am feeling better. Hopefully my counts are back up as I have Chemo #3 today and as much as I don't want chemo I want to stay on schedule.

The good news is that my sister Jodi was here all last week so she made me good food, nagged me to take my temperature and basically made me feel happy to have someone else around so I wasn't wallowing in my own yuchiness.

Also thanks for all the emails, phone calls, cards, etc. if I am not getting back to you fast enough it's because I have the energy of a sloth. Seriously I shower, get the kids dressed for school, make bottles, drop the kids off with Kyle and then sit down at my desk I just want to take a nap...you take these things for granted but I have had to give in and just rest. Sitting down is ok, letting Jodi clean my bathroom and do all my laundry was ok, not cooking every meal and letting people help is ok...