Getting back on Track!

Week 13 of treatment sees me back on track with my chemo treatments.  Since my two week "vacation" this week was the 11th infusion with two more to go on the protocol and then I can begin the four treatments of the FEC infusions that fall at 3 week intervals.  They tell me that the FEC infusions are a walk in the park, so I am looking forward to finishing the protocol treatments and moving on. Between the change in the treatments, I will have a complete battery of tests to evaluate my progress.  All looks good so far.

I feel stronger this week, strong enough to be bored yet still weak enough to know not to over do.  A walk around the block today was my big accomplishment and doing some work over the phone just sucked the rest of the life right out of me in time for a three hour nap.  Now that the family feels that I am well enough to be on my own, I realize how much company my care-givers were.   Libby took me to dinner last night and it was good to see that my appetite is working.  The loss of over 28 pounds is making all my clothes just hang on my frame and I am working at having at least two protein milkshakes a day on top of my regular meals.

Since Ruby is still at "Cousin Chili's" for summer camp, it is pretty quite around here.  I miss her, but at the same time I know that I still have a way to go to be up to having her back home. Maybe by the weekend we can try to have her home! She is learning to stay cool by jumping in the horse trough and is enjoying the country lifestyle. ;-)

Kelsey went back to work this week and has taken little Evie with her.  I can't imagine the amount of energy that working with a baby wrapped around your body must take, but she seems to handle every challenge.  Next week Evie will begin staying at day care and I can hear a slight quiver in Kelsey's voice every time she talks about it.

Keep the prayers, letters, cards and phone calls coming!  You have no idea how much they mean and help....

Week Ten and Eleven of Chemo

Well, guess we all know that the old body can only take so much, no matter how tough you think you are. After my tenth chemo treatment, I pretty much hit the wall.  My time horizontal increased two fold and what little time I could spend vertical was in a woozy state of dizzy vs. nauseous to the point of no more work.  I went in with Kelsey for Chemo treatment number 11 having to be pushed around in a wheel chair.  Not a great experience for me or Kelsey. LOL.  Probably the only person touch enough to stand up to the strain, Kelsey has been a life saver.  Saw Dr. Alvarez and he took me off chemo for a couple of weeks to let my body regather some strength.

The two weeks have been two of the toughest of my life.  No longer able to stay alone, Kelsey and Evie have been here day and night.  Having someone wait on you hand and foot has not been the fun it sounds like it might be, but seeing Evie smile and watching Kelsey with her is good medicine.

Not able to work, at all.  What a new experience for me?  I've never been as disconnected and it has had some moments of shock and awe.  The last couple of days have at least seen me get out of bed and out of the house for small moments.  I pay for them by going down for 4 hour naps where people come and go without me even being aware.  Weird feeling to know that you can zone out that hard.

Nita comes down tomorrow for the "change in rotation" for a few days and we are due back in Houston on June 27th.  We will see if they put me back on chemo treatments now or after the big testing scheduled the first week of July.

Week Eight and Nine of Chemo

I met a wonderful breast cancer survivor on the plane this last week.  Visiting with her was an uplifting experience so I want to sent a special thank you to Pisces and her thoughtful inspiration.  Week Eight and Nine have been uneventful, just more of the same, although I am feeling like I have a tiny bit more energy on some days.  I do have to watch not to over do, the next day can slam me pretty hard.  I did learn that while going by myself to MDA might be expedient, it isn't very good for my moral.  I guess I needed to learn that pain shared is also pain that is lessened.  Evie is growing strong and Kelsey is such a good mom and she is working hard at taking care of Evie and recovering from the delivery.  Andy is working hard both at work and home.  The heart of the family is strong with them and I enjoy the "guess what happened today" stories.