Adventures in Atlanta Plastic Surgery

Today I am feeling wonderful. I got ready, did my hair and make-up and felt oddly "normal." I made it right on time to the doctors office and the rapid strep test was negative. They are sending it for a culture, but went ahead and started me on antibiotics to just be sure I don't pick up strep from the lanaberry. I actually had never met this doctor and I really, really like her... I may have to cheat on Dr. Williams every once in a while! HAHA!

I also had my check up with Dr. Namnoum today. And like the title says, it is ALWAYS an adventure and I always get a good laugh and leave with a smile. When Dr. N came in he saw my hair chopped and asked, "What did you do to your hair?" And because his face was all red I had to ask, "What did you do to your face!??" (Apparently he was bored and was lazering some spots away. lol) He messed with my hair and was making ehhh sounds. It makes me laugh, because he is just one of those people who is blatantly honest. He asked about chemo and I told him how awful it was and how I had bone pain. Well he went into this OCD mode where he HAD to figure out why Taxol actually CAUSES bone pain. So when I was leaving he pulled me aside to their computers and I'm watching him google and learn. He was getting really frustrated that it wasn't telling him what he wanted to now and I'm sorry, but it was really funny. I wondered if there were any other patients  at this point. I was pretty sure there were about 5 nurses hanging around and were all quiet until sweet Cindy came out! She's his admin and she rocks. She was in love with my hair saying how sexy it was! Love her! Then I saw Allison, the main nurse who tells me when I can do things... I had asked Dr. N if I could ride my bike and he said deep in internet world, "ya, whatever." lol So I asked her and she said as long as I'm careful!!! So if you can't find me tonight you know where I'll be! (Allison thought I had sexy hair too, so as long as my husband thinks it is, we're all good! lol) Anyway, you may have had to have been there to get a giggle, but it made me laugh. I now have to wait a whole month, but the receptionist said I can visit any time. So I may have to drop in with some goodies on a week I'm feeling up to it. They are all just the sweetest there and it helps to leave somewhere feeling good about yourself, especially after all of this craziness.

Alana is feeling LOADS better. Like a new child. I did look in her throat though and ewwww. It is still a nasty haven of swollen sickness. No fever though and hoping Madison can hold out for us! She was coughing this morning... I know. I know.

Back to working i go, had to blog that before i forgot :)

Dodging the Sickies

This weekend I felt continually better. Until dinner Saturday night, when I just crashed from literally going all day long. Something I did do this weekend, was get on a bike!! It was an incredible feeling... I just have so much "happy" on my bike. I go to the doctor tomorrow and I really hope I can get cleared to ride the Greenway! I'd love to try before the next round of chemo! I did get in a 20 minute walk with Madison last night and we made a trip to Ellijay to check on things... overall, a wonderful weekend. 

Today we've been faced with our first sick challenge. Alana spiked a fever last night and has a pretty nasty sore throat. I had heard there was a virus going around, so thank God I talked to Jen today. She was telling me how her daughter had strep, the ONLY reason I made an appointment today. We went in and the doctor gasped! lol. There were two nasty looking pus balls on her throat. Bigger than any I have EVER seen. So the obvious is here - the concern of what happens if I get strep throat.

I called Emory and they asked me to get a strep test ASAP. Unfortunately I've been exposed and she is contagious for another 20 hours. If I do however come down with symptoms, off to Emory I go. So we are hoping I can stay germ free, even with a compromised immune system...

I've started getting itchy scalp but I haven't seen any hair fall out yet. Or nothing more than the norm. I had a dream I was pulling it out in clumps, it was long again, and it was kinda gross. I like dreams to know how I'm going to react. Before the mastectomy i had a dream and when I saw the end results, I was okay! and in my dream the cupcakes weren't near as pretty! hah!

Tonight a friend and I chatted about a really neat thing he wants to do as a fund raiser, Sock it to Cancer 24HOB. It is going to make me cry... so I'll write more when the links come out. But know it's so me, and so cool. :)

Good night! Gotta get sick child one and runny nose two off to bed... then it's off to doctor visits in the morning!

XOXO.

Feeling Perdy Good

Happy Friday, happy day eight!

So today was the end of the school week, and we celebrated with pool, Teds and ice cream! And you know what!!? I was able to eat and it was wonderful :) today I've felt amazing compared to any day last week. Maybe it was the quick trip to school to drop off apples today. I was the worst parent ever. It's week one and I'm sneaking into class for a peak. (I justified it because I didn't get to go to meet n greet) but then, I saw Alana at the board, the cutest class ever, talked to the teacher and started to cry!! I couldn't stop!! Lol. I let before I caused too much commotion... Still cannot believe I cried!!? Lol.

I went to physical therapy today and she adjusted all my excersizes. I guess because I have a port there are limited things we can do now. Glad I didn't stretch out for two weeks!! She also gave me a great back rub helping to ease some of the nerve shock pain (I call it) in the back. Apparently as you get feeling, things can feel that way.

I chopped my hair off yesterday! That was fun actually. I got the best scalp massage EVER and then Ping did her thing. She's amazing. I can pretty much let her do her thing and I'll never be disappointed. Ever. I'm really happy with the new style. I had a dream last night that my hair started coming out in chunks and that was weird. The lady said it would be 10-14 before it did, so maybe near the end of the weekend.

It has truly never felt so good to feel good. It was a hard week, and I know three more are awaiting me after each treatment, but at least we know what's coming this go around. Being better prepared will be huge. Like taking out stock in Imodium!! Lol.

I would love to try to see if I can ride a bike this weekend, but we will see. There is lots of fun stuff planned, hopefully I can continue to feel good and we can enjoy the sunshine:) feeling extra special and extra thankful tonight as I write. Off to get some sleep... Xoxoxo

1 Down, 11 To Go!

It's been one week since chemo and wowzers, it kicked my booty. I am currently 10 pounds down and fit in my jeans again, thanks to the amazing chemo diet! It consisted of scrambled eggs, soup and crackers for about 4 days and over 40 trips to the bathroom, but I do not recommend it. Needless to say, my stomach is still sore, and I am tired, but slowly I am beginning to function again! I've noticed I have the most energy between 9 and 11 AM and 4 and 8 PM, so I'm trying to work/nap in between so I can rest, and do chores and help the kids the other times. It seems to work well so far. Last night, Skip took me to the mall to get a couple of things and really, to get out. I walked slow and sat in the chairs and didn't even go far, but when I was done, my feet were killing me. So weird. Then we went to Taco Mac for dinner, and I can't believe I did it, but I ordered a kids grilled cheese, unseasoned fries and a ginger ale. Amazingly, everything actually sounded good on the menu, but I knew my stomach would reject it. For the first time though, it 4 days, dinner stayed and it was actually pretty good! Who knew!

Today, I worked a bit and worked on designing the 2013 Sweet Rides jersey, took a strengths test (which said my number one strength was positivity! HA!) and organized the tupperware that kept pouring out of the cabinet.(Skip is going to love me more now. Watch.) I think I'm going to get my hair chopped today. More because I like getting my hair cut and less of any other reason. lol. I can't get manicures and pedicures during chemo because of infection risk, so this is my back up. Plus, I would kinda like to see what I'm going to look like in short hair... I didn't order the wig yet because I was sold on getting the long one until Skip said short was cute - well, and the fact I couldn't pick up the phone to call the lady. 

OK. Off to get after school snacks ready.... be back tomorrow! Hopefully feeling "more better" as Alana would say!

PS, my girls are getting along, madison is not anxious for school, is making friends and helping her little sister. She is more confident and organized and I have a great feeling about this year. Little Lana is loving school and comments daily, "the best day ever." Such a relief for me... such a relief.

Day 6... And Home Alone!

"You have become weak, so make yourselves strong again. Keep on the right path, so [you] will not stumble but rather be strengthened." Hebrews 12:12-13

Praise God for bringing me out of the last two days. I see some light and my stomach is feeling a bit of relief!  I'm not sure I've ever been so weak, depleted of every last bit of energy and strength. Close, but this weekend wins the gold for sure. I neared the door of stupid discouragement a few times, only neared it, but kept it closed tight with the love and encouragement of many. It's truly a gift looking back, of the words that were said and written. There are many, many angels looking over us...

I've now lost six pounds already due to the cells being destroyed in my stomach. I love that chemo works on quickly replicating cells, but I'm disappointed that one of those cells happens to be the lining of your stomach. Did you know that's why people often get sick and nauseated? Yep. Learn something new every day ;) I'm now on Culturelle, a semi liquid diet (soup & eggs), Zantac and Tylenol and I'm feeling a bit better. My organic, healthy, fruit & veggie diet is out the window for the next 78 days as me even writing those words makes me actually gag. I will take a tray of tater tots please. My food aversions are almost identical to those of when I was pregnant, but worse. Haha. I saw an avocado yesterday and instantly gagged. I wasn't even planning on eating it!! It just looked at me! Anyway, I'm sure it's half the reason my stomach is rotten, I mean, I'm not sure the last time I ate a can of Campbell's soup. (As my gpa would say, "sodium soup". Hehe) I will start back after this is done... Until then it's junk food frenzy. Just kidding. That too sounds awful. Lol. 

I was able to help see the girls off to school today without feeling like I was going to pass out, and I even walked home! .06 miles. (We now know that from the transportation website) lol. Not far but good to get a breath of fresh air. Now me and Jax are laying in bed. I'm contemplating starting my physical therapy as I'm way way behind, but then getting a hair cut sounds like heaven too. I know, it seems a little silly considering it'll likely fall out in a week, but it always feels so yummy to get your hair washed! You know what I'm talking about ;) don't think I'm crazy, you'd totally do it too! 

I guess I will get some nap time here at the great time of 9 AM. I'm feeling a little sleepy again. If you're reading this know I love you so so much, and I hope you have the best day. Smile big and keep strong in whatever you face today! Muah!

Ouchy Mama

It's most definitely been a trying 24 hours. Despite my hourly irritable stomach, sometimes more than hourly, I had bone pain like nothing I could ever prepare for. I was trying to find a way to describe it. I think if you imagine shin splints, they hurt, that never cease, and then take that pain and add it to your knees, hips and femurs, that would be a good start. Constant. Then you get the momentary shock of pain in other bones, like wrist, back and even the face. Yes, I had chin and cheek bone pain. If you know me well, I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. I ride a lot, I do things my body gets pretty angry about, but this... It's nagging. I had it all day and night... I'm still feeling it. I prayed through the pain for others suffering, I tried cuddling next to warm skip, I got up-down-up-down, I added and took away pillows... But it wasn't until 6:30 when I felt like the pain released for a moment. But guess what time that was? Yep! First day of school time. I'm not kidding! So I hobbled into the bathroom where two girls actually worked together to share a bathroom. Two very, very excited girls. I managed to do hair, barely, and we all went downstairs. Alana was more excited than any person I have ever seen go to school. She was insane! Lol. Then skip drove us to the bus stop while the girls walked down. Lana had already lost her bow and her ponytail was barely hanging on, and was nearly jumping the entire time. I watched and smiled, deep down knowing this was probably the hardest morning I've ever had. I was almost certain I was going to pass out, but the bus saved the day. We watched them onto the bus, skip drove me home, I sat on the couch and completely lost it. I had to hold it together for Madison, but I was pretty sure I'd never felt this bad in my life, along with watching our youngest baby start kindergarten. Skip laughed because he had just asked if I'd like him to work from home and I had answered him faster than I've ever answered. But once he saw the waterfall of tears, he goes, oh ya, I'm definitely staying home. I'm not sad, and I'm ok, I'm just worn out. Like a 5 year old that just needs to go to sleep. I was done. I'm going to try for sleep now that its 9:30. Just hoping I wake up a little better (: good thing is that chemo is doing its job. 80 days left! Wheeeeee.

First 48 Hours

Well, I forgot to post this, so here were my thoughts from the first day... "Today is the big day! The chemo is dripping and nearly one down three to go. Everyone has been really nice and skip even met a stage four, three year survivor when I went to the restroom. I think she made his day :) They accessed my port for the first time this morning. I wasn't sure what to expect but it went beautifully!! Not even a pinch! I'm sure it's due to all the wonderful prayers. I've watched one lady get pricked 3 times (sweet, sweet Cynthia), and another once (Buffy). I was so anxious for them!! I know now without a doubt now I did the right thing! Love my Lovie!  I was not once nervous today. A bit tired and a little headache, but otherwise okay! All curled up in my fancy recliner... Maybe I can nap like the sweet old man across from me. He is out like a light... Now that's peaceful at its finest..."

The first 24 hours were fairly uneventful. After chemo we went and had a lovely lunch at California Dreaming and then went home for a quiet night. I woke up with some pain under my arms which I now know is normal. I took it easy all day knowing it was Canyons Night for our 24 Hours of Booty fund raiser. About two hours before I started losing all my energy and decided to ride in wih Skip. It was sooooo good to see so many friendly faces, and met a whole bunch of knew ones too! I drank a Coke and ate a double cheeseburger. I don't think my current healthy eating kick is going to go over well. You know, it kinda feels like I'm pregnant. Tired. Food looks gross. And I have this nasty taste in my mouth on the tip of my tongue. It almost feels numb or like you burned it maybe? Almost fizzy. That's the best way to describe it. Overall I feel very blessed and thankful.

Today I woke up and my stomach isn't very happy and I have a weird subtle pain in my chin-neck. Lol. Who knows, maybe it's killing those left over thyroid cells ;) I need to go to the grocery store but Skip and I both decided I might not make it without falling asleep! Holy tired! I feel like the laziest person on the planet at the moment. I went to get the girls lunch and the word left overs made my stomach turn. Ooooky gooky. Back in the recliner... :) Dog with a blog, Good luck Charlie, Jesse... Yep, I'm now a Disney Channel guru. (: as long as I don't start watching when they're gone...

That being said it is the last weekend before school starts. It seems so weird that I have a fifth grader and a Kindergadener! Just got all their paperwork signed and back packs packed... I shouldn't talk about that. My babies are all gone... Whaaaaaaaa! Ok. Seriously, lunch time for the family. Girls are eating chips. :) tata for now! 2 days done, 82 to go!