Side effects?!?!

Was I talking fondly of side effects in my last post? Well today I am cussing them. Friday afternoon after I thought I was in the clear, the evil mouth sores took up residents in my mouth once again. The dreaded, blasted evil mouth sores..... I will definitely not miss them!

I really wanted to post some pics that were taken on the last day of my chemotherapy, however, as usual my computer appears to be out witting me. Were is Shane when I need him!

This Friday was a great day and it was nice to know that it just wasn't an off week and somehow it did feel different. Jaxon had his BIG trike a thon at school and we went to a high school football game.

I ran into a friend over the weekend whose battle with cancer is much more of a struggle than mine and my dad's cancer continues to spread. Although I appreciate all the continued prayers and good MoJo, I know these folks need the prayers much more than I do.

Moving forward!

As I am making it through these side effects for the last time I try to reflect on the journey. The side effects will soon be gone and then I will have something else to focus on or even worse, nothing to focus on. I am so ready to get this horrible taste out of my mouth and yet I know in a very short time I won't even remember it. I will be glad but there is something about remembering that is important to the process. There is something about getting treatment and moving forward that is healing and hopeful. I know that I am on a much needed and deserved break. I know my body needs to recover and prepare for surgery. The majority of my body and mind is so excited about the next month, looking forward to doing things and not worrying how I am going to feel. But there is a very small part of me that feels a little stranded, a little lost. The part that needs a plan, needs something to check off the calendar, maybe the part that needs to feel the side effects to be re assured that we are moving forward.

Ok, that was deep enough! How about a shout out to my friends, family and even strangers who helped to celebrate my last day of chemo! I was greeted as I got up wobbling from the chemo chair by a mob of smiles. Nancy had lead this awesome group of people to what really is a quiet, no kids allowed area. That of course did not detour Nancy and I love her for it! The hugs, the smiles, the kind words, and the gifts were so much appreciated. I felt so looped up, I hope I didn't do anything to silly.

15 down and 1 to go!

It is hard to believe that 8 months of my life has flashed before my eyes - with the main focus of my existence being to make it to the next day. To make it through each side effect as it either knock me on my butt or just annoyed the the piss out of me. Marking off each chemo on my calendar, holding my breath every Thursday until I got the results of my blood work, and counting down over and over how long this was going to take. One more to go, it is so hard to believe that time can move so fast and yet so slow at the very same time.

We went to St. Louis this weekend. We had such a wonderful time with our friends. I am blessed to have so many people around, who have supported me through this journey.

Where to start....

I saw my Dr. on Friday prior to chemo. We have some tentative dates set, which gives us a better idea as to when the surgeries can take place. I have chemo the next two Fridays, that is it, all done! Then I will have a 2 week break. Following that, around Oct. 8th, I will get another mammogram and an ECHO. I then see my Dr. on Oct. 15th for a follow up. If all is good at that time then I will be cleared for surgeries. I will have to get with my surgeons to get the final details in place. But looking like the end of Oct.

My mouth sores were bad again so they took me off my oral chemo medicine for another 7 days. When I go back on it they are reducing my dose to 1000mg (one less pill a night). I will have to keep taking this until the day before my surgeries.

I ended up in Urgent Care yesterday. It appears I got something in my eye while doing yard work. It started hurting around 1pm and at 6pm I decided I had had enough and called nurse on call at St. John's. She recommended Urgent Care and sure enough i had got a cut on my eyeball. They gave me some medicine and told me to stay out of the sun, no TV, no computer, no reading for 24hrs. Well I have mostly followed the rules. It feels much better but I am a little worried about the fluorescent lights at work tomorrow. I have a patch, just in case. Won't I be a site...a patch, a bandanna, .....aahhrr Matey!!!