KIDS, Christmas and Chemo - what a week!

E  M  O  T  I  O  N  A  L

again....

 this about covers me for the past week. 

Rick came from Portland via car with a co-worker on Friday, the 21st.  Jenni and I drove to Rupert, Idaho to pick him up and bring him the rest of the way here.  Then on Sunday morning Rusty, Collette and Owen flew in from Madison by way of Chicago.  ALL my kids were here!!  This was the first time since 2005 that we have all been together for Christmas. 

Several times over the course of this past week, I would get a little emotional (ok - choked up) when looking at my amazing children, their wonderful spouses and my precious grandchildren.  I feel so fortunate, lucky and especially blessed to have them in my life.  Time together is such a gift.

Christmas Eve 2012

I did my annual Christmas Eve party.  We had a nice dinner then opened gifts from each other.  Everyone had previously drawn a name and I had to throw in a few more extra gifts for everyone.  It was fun to watch everyone's reaction to the thoughtful gifts they received.  It was such a nice evening filled with a lot of love for each other.

Christmas morning came once Owen woke up. There were some presents from SANTA .....

THEN off to breakfast at grandma and grandpa Griffin's house (Stan & Jerry) with the relatives~

Stan & Jerry 2012

Christmas morning breakfast (part of the group)

  Next, Scott and I went to Riverton to visit Taylon before he and his family took off for the day.

Taylon and Scott

Kamden

A do-it-yourself model of an engine .... fun

Later... much later.. that evening we went over to Jenni's house and then Randy's house to see what Santa had left for the kiddos.  Apparently Santa dumped out his sleigh between those two homes.  I did get ONE more gift from Jenni....   Oh yeh!! 

L O V E  the Killers!!  (I rock this shirt!)

This Christmas week was incredible.  It snowed, my family was all together and I have so much gratitude in my heart for so many things.  I was sad to see the week end and my kids leave. 


DECEMBER 26th~  ROUND TWO infusion Seven~

Round Two

Infusion SEVEN

Rick went with me to the American Fork chemo room.  He was a great chemo buddy.  I'm sure it's not an easy thing to watch someone you love go through a chemo treatment but I appreciated him being there with me.

Chemo buddy for #7

Good news...  NO nausea... not much going on in the side effect department except INSOMNIA.  Hence me writing this blog at 4:00 AM........  THAT has got to change!

I Have a Wonderful Life

I really do!  I'm sure to many people this seems like a rather strange statement since I have been fighting to free myself from cancer for the past 5 months.

 It is strange - especially since:

*Last Sunday I discovered my fingernails are black.  I did have a meltdown ....

 BUT I'm still here and it's the most wonderful time of the year!

*I do have neuropathy in my fingers and toes.... 

 BUT I can still type, play the piano, walk and ride my bike.

  AND Christmas music is playing on the radio!

*I have chemo hands...

But I can still hug my beautiful grandchildren, my grown-up children

 my loving husband and friends. 

 AND the spirit of Christmas has been in our home for months

 because of so many kind people in our lives.  

*I have nausea for days and days and days ....

But Prayers have been answered on behalf of family members and friends.

 Neighbors show up "out of the blue" to sing carols or drop off goodies.

  And the Christmas cards!  I love getting Christmas cards.

*I have no hair and my eyelashes are almost gone....

But I have tried to imagine what my life would be like right now without cancer. 

 I can't.

A normal routine sounds foreign to me.

This is one of my life experiences.

However, I Do Know....

 even though I wouldn't have asked for cancer,  this experience has increased my perspective of life, prayer, faith, family, friends, acceptance and love. 

It's A Wonderful Life!

Scott said this is his holiday smile!  Love to you all~

The Bell Rang!

Friday December 7, which is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day (somehow that seems fitting) was my 6th and FINAL round of chemo for two really rotten drugs!!  Taxotere and Carboplatin are the culprits!  

Scott and I leaving for #6 (I get him to smile and it's blurry)

I, again, first met with Dr. Bott.  He reviewed my blood work - and I must say it was worthy of an A!  Both the white and red blood counts were good.  The white blood cell count was only 1 point below normal.  And... wait for it....... my platelet count is still at a wonderful  335,000.  YES!  I get such a thrill out of my platelet count as Scott, Dr. Bott and I have done battle for YEARS with those tough little platelets.  Dr. Bott, however, was concerned with my side effects from the Taxotere.  Apparently Taxotere and I don't play nice together and I have all the rotten stuff going on.  He contemplated not giving me the Taxotere at all (as I have neuropathy in both my feet and hands, the horrible watering eyes, etc.) but in the end decided to give me half the dose hoping my side effects won't get worse.  FINGERS CROSSED TO HOPING (and praying).  

After Dr. Bott - off to the chemo room we go for my chemo cocktail.  Scott and I took 2 dozen Christmas sugar cookies with us today.  I wanted to thank all the wonderful people that have worked with me and my peeps in the chemo room.  They were delicious and everyone seemed to enjoy them.  (Plug here for Lehi Bakery... BEST EVER!) 

HOURS later I was done!!  Nothing too exciting other than feeling itchy this time.  (That got everyone's attention.)  But thankfully all seems good - no allergic reaction.  After the nurse popped the catheter out of my port, she handed me a bottle of sparkling cider to take home and celebrate.  She told me to "go RING THAT BELL!"  

The saying above the bell

 

Me and the bell!

I wanted to make sure I was really eligible to ring the bell as I do have 17 more chemo treatments.  Everyone said YES as I finished one treatment with the crappy nasty mean drugs.  I guess I will get to ring the bell a second time when I finish this next round!

Anyway, I gave that bell three hard rings. EVERYONE cheered and clapped and I let out a big "WAHOOOOOOOO"  and then cried!  Oh my gosh.... this treatment has been so emotional and tough.  I'm not done - I still need to get through the next couple of weeks with the side effects.  I could end up with this neuropathy for the rest of my life. BUT I just completed ANOTHER milestone on my trek to kick cancer!

Scott and I had a celebratory dinner.  He ordered from Texas Roadhouse because I wanted a steak (hadn't eaten all day).  My body is in slow-mo tonight so eating in was my hearts desire.  

Quiet dinner for two  (I need an ice bucket - ha!)

CHEERS!  Another milestone

Next up - December 26th is my next chemo treatment with just Herceptin.  It will be in American Fork now instead of going to Provo.  The chemo infusion is about an hour.  Gone are those 5 hour chemo days!  After that - in January I will undergo another reconstruction surgery.  THAT will be another milestone!  I wonder if there's a bell there.......

You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell
You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell
You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell
You can ring my be-e-ell, ring my bell

(1979 Anita Ward)