turned "21"

I had my 21st chemo treatment today and boy did this one zap me out for the whole day! Linda and I left at 9am, and basically I have slept off and on since we got home at 12:30. Linda made the nurses and chemo workers some delish treats and gave us a whole platter, too of homemade Twix bars.....I had lost a few lbs. but I imagine I will put them back on. I was sooooo needing a smoothie today around 3, Tia- bless her heart- went out and got me one from McD's. I am still a little nasuseous and my tongue is so tender that it tastd great and felt wonderful going down.

I think why I had such 2 bad days Wed and Th is because I screwed up some medicine......I went off it cold turkey because I thought I had ordered some in the mail - the 3 month version. Appartently I didn't and going off this med. cold turkey caused me to be so dizzy, lethargic, nauseous ect. Back on it today and hopefully I will recoup faster. It is difficult to keep all my meds sorted out. I am on 16 different RX ones and 5-6 OTC meds.

I was able to go to Tyler's football game Thursday and they got a win!! 14-0 vs. Plainfield South. I look like an old lady with my back supported chair- but with as many herniated discs as I have I would have a difficult time with the bleachers.

Those Bunco babes in Plainfield really are taking care of my family and me. We even had a friend of a friend- Tammy- volunteer to make a meal 2 weeks ago and this week Sarah really out did herself~ Tyler loved his special dessert! Besides helping out my family, it is fun to see what other people can cook. Again- much appreciation goes to Tia for organizing this. Through Tia~I have learned to be gracious and not say no when people are wanting to help me out. I guess you can teach a "seasoned" dog new tricks!

We are just taking it easy this weekend- may have over done it last weekend. I need to "save" my enregy as I am going to Galena with Toni, Doreen and Laura on the 18th- just one night. we plan to relax, shop and eat! I am so thankful to Laura as she is helping me out with all my medical bills- and just tells me what ones to pay. It is such a relief to have this off my mind. Some days I just can't think! I am grateful for her accounting assistance.

So off chemo next Firday :) :) then I see my dr. the week after to discuss what the plan is. Kinda scared.....
xoxo, HTFM

2nd opinion and chemo # 20

Denise drove Linda and I to Rush Hosp. in Chicago to see my 2nd opinion dr. This basically took the whole day with driving, parking and waiting over an hour to see the dr. she also said I am "stable" but more in a good way. she would like me to take a chemocation, stay on the zomata (for my bones) and on the Avastin (suppose to cut off the blood supply to the tumors- currently being looked at to NOT be approved by the FDA- which then our insurance won't cover. this medication costs $100,000/year. YIKES!) The Avastin woud be everyother week with the zomata only once a month. This is something I look forward to, yet also am impossibly nervous about going off the Taxol- the actual chemo drug. My fears include the tumors returning in other organs or places.....or them getting so out of control that they can't be shrunk. There is just so much to think of.

Today mi amiga Karen Morrison took me to chemo appt. #20. Mollie Jo really liked meeting Karen esp. when Karen took her for a walk after my chemo appt. Karen stopped at Panera and brought our favorite Cinnamon crunch bagels. I feel so bad that I just doze off after the IV benedryl......then the Taxol takes over and I am out.

I am looking forward to going to Tyler's football game Sat. at 9:30. Just a low key weekend- having some family time and maybe some retail therapy!

Shake the beads, bang the gong, cross your fingers that we make the correct decisions.
xoxo,
HTFM

19 and counting...

I had my appt. with my oncologist last Friday. He described my condition as "stable." Not what I really wanted to hear.....the tumors are about the same and no new ones have developed. I am back on chemo- 2 more weeks on, off a week, 3 more weeks, then ?.... On Thur. Denise and I are going to see my dr. at Rush who I saw last in April. I just want to make sure they are not missing anything or maybe there is a new drug out there with less side effects. Being tired, nauseous and lathargic were my major issues this weekend and today.

I was fortunate that I got to see my friend Kim from AZ for a couple hours this Sunday. She and George, her husband, came in to see George's mom and family. It is so hard to say goodbye after I see her. She is the one who started this blog and made all the wristbands. If you haven't gotten a wristband- they are going fast and I only have a few left. If I fail to give you one, I apologize! I have chemo brain and the papers to prove it....

Keep on prayin'
xoxo,
HTFM

Semi-Normal Week

That's right- a semi normal week- and I have been doing so much I haven't had time to blog!!
Today Denise and I went to see the Tall Ships at Navy Pier. We had a wonderful boat ride on one of the largest ships "The Windy." It was an absolute beautiful day- it almost made me cry.

Tomorrow I get the results of the Cat Scan and the MRI I had done. So far, I have had 18 chemo appointments. It would be a miracle if the tumors had totally disappeared- but I know this is not possible. I feel like I will have to continue with chemo for a while longer. The neuropathy in my feet has worsened a little, but I don't have it in my hands, yet. I will post the results on the blog- if I can understand what the dr. says. Sometimes he talks in a roundabout way..... and doesn't answer the questions I have. There may be no real answers- as what I am going through is so individualized.
xoxo,
HTFM

Looking forward to no Chemo

Thanks right- I am off chemo this week. On Friday I have a CAT scan, Monday I have an MRI, Fri. the 27th I see my doctor for the results and then Sept. 2nd I have an appointment at Rush with Dr. Lincoln.

There has been some news discussion about the drug Avastin that I am on every other treatment. The FDA may take away its approval as they feel the drug does not have enough proof that the benefits outweigh the side effects and costs. . Should this happen- the ins. companies won't cover it and this drug costs about $100,000/year. This drug does cause me to have alot of nose bleeds, but the premise is that the drug shuts off blood supply to the tumors. We shall see.

I am having quite a bit of neuropathy in my feet and some in my calves. This is a side effect of the Taxol that I am on. It is also the drug that causes hair loss- but shrinks the tumors. I have been a little unsteady on my feet at times- esp. if I have been on my feet all day. The dr. needs to monitor this as the neuropathy can become permanent. Anyone know any cures for neuropathy? . My friend Karen sent some peppermint lotion and moisturizing footies. I will try this tonight. My little friend Shea made me a pink, purple, and white braided band to use as a bracelet- maybe I can use it as a ankle bracelet and all the love she put in to it will help my tired dogs....

Tyler starts High School next Wed. My Baby!!!!! He has had double football practices- yet loves going. I have lucked out a little as the other Mom prefers to drive the mornings at 6:45 am- when she can in our carpool. I think I have to get up early Th and Fr. I am so not ready to get up at 5:45 when he starts school. I love to sleep in and Mollie Jo is starting to like it, too!

Keep shaking those rosary beads, bang the gong, pray to the east- whatever ya got- for good results on my tests.

xoxo,
HTFM

Feelin' All Righty

When I just have 3 days of feeling ok- I tend to get in as much as I can and I tend to over do it. Wasn't too exciting- Polish Cleaning Day- me being Polish and the one cleaning...

Yesterday a former student invited me and 2 other COD people out to lunch. I have worked with her for 3 years and it is hard to say goodby! It was really nice to have a student buy me lunch!

Thanks to Lisa C. for a delicious meal on Monday. I can't believe that there are still people out there who make homemade pies- including the crust! Lisa made these wonderful chicken enchiladas, homemade salsa and this incredible chocolate pie.
the pie was hard to hide from the boys as the pie needed to be refrigerated. However, I did hide the pink m and m's that Tia and Shea brought over- yep- PINK M & M's!!!! Tia aslo brought over her homemade chicken soup (also good for the soul)great bread and cookies I couldn't hide- but did divide so everyone gets their fair share. Shea made me the sweetest pink, purple and white braided bracelet- I am all set with my M & M's for Friday- chemo factory day.

Miss Molly Jo is still a pickle and still has not decided that she wants to be potty trained. Yes- she is so aware of what to do and almost makes a game out of going potty inside at times. We have our last session of puppy kindergarten tomorrow, a couple weeks off then we graduate to continuing puppy class.

Tomorrow Jean-Marie and I are going to visit resale shops to get ideas for her shop. She is still negotiating on a store and is hopeful things will work out. Unfortunately- many store assoc. don't allow resale shops in their strip mall or center. So please keep saving things you normally would give to Goodwill or AmVets for her shop. Remember- 100% of the profits after expenses- will go to charity.

My baby started hs football today- 90+ degrees - 2 practices then lifting. He hasn't passed out yet- but I am hoping he goes to bed early. Enough of this sleeping until 11 stuff!

Keep the prayers and + thoughts coming.
xoxo, HTFM

got a buzz on...

That's right- you read it correctly! I decided I was NOT going to go through what I did last Sunday....so I started in right away with the "happy" drugs and the pain killers this am. So, I am doing much better than last Sunday- not weepy, not as tired, not suicidal and less pain- but it will probably catch up with me tomorrow. I kinda am jumpy and got the hoo-hoo going on, hopefully this blogy thing will make sense.

Had treatment #17 on Friday. I was thankful that Sharon could go with me. She had a goodie bag of treats and a trashy magazine- we were set to go. As usual, I fell asleep and don't remember getting home then slept it off for a few hours. I am just in a fog after getting all of the pre-treatment drugs and the Taxol aslo makes me sleepy.

Don't know if I mentioned it, but Jenn brought over a fabulous meal last Monday- Italian beef with peppers and cheese, cheesy potatoes and this jello fruit salald that we just devoured. Having friends cook once in awhile really has been helpful- esp. on Mondays when I am so tired.

Gotta go- tough to type with the jitters and a broken nail!
xoxo,
HTFM