Round 2...DING!

So, I owe you all a big apology. It has been far too long since I've posted. I realized that I've posted a lot more about the bad stuff, and not enough about the good. So I'm gonna try harder to keep up both sides.

I've basically just been getting along with everyday life since my last post. But it's been good. I got to go home for a weekend and spend time with my friends and my Hubby. It was so nice to have some "normal" time. That might sound strange, but as much as I love my parents, and appreciate everything they are doing for me - more than I can put into words - I'm still 32 years old and living with my parents. Again. It is a little surreal. When I went home with Chris (my Hubby) I felt like a full-fledged grown up again. LOL!

Don't get me wrong though, my relationships with my parents are growing and evolving into something that I never realized they could be. Dad and I almost always got along really well, but I've always been "Daddy's little girl." Mom and I (especially when I was a teen) had a fairly big rocky patch, I guess we were just too much alike! But now, we're becoming so close...it is kind of amazing. I still need some time to myself, I mean who doesn't? But we get along so much better than we ever have in the past, it's like we understand each other now and know when we need space and when we need a hug. Wow...the steroids are working overtime! LOL Not only are they making me weepy, but sentimental too! Damn this "being a girl" thing! *laughs*

Ok, what else...I've been doing a little cooking, which is fun! I love cooking, actually, but Hubby is a picky eater, and I don't like cooking for one. So being here with Mom and Dad has given me a reason to try out some new recipes, and try to remember some much loved old ones. And! The nurses at the Cancer Center are up for being guinea pigs...So I may have to do some experimenting and recipe changing. I think I'll be making some pepperoni rolls this week, depending on how I feel.

I had my second round of chemo yesterday, and have mostly slept since then. You know, I was kind of prepared for the icky, flu-like symptoms, I read a fair amount on what "should" happen while on chemo. But I''m finding that everyone reacts differently to everything. I was completely unprepared for just how tired I would feel. I don't mean just sleepy, I mean not having the energy to get up off the couch to walk to the fridge to get a drink. It's weird when you have to talk yourself into doing things like that. I sometimes wonder if I am just THAT lazy! *grins*

But last time the sleepiness only lasted a few days, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Also, this time around, I am going to try to keep eating and take my anti-nausea meds as soon as I start feeling icky. One of my nurses said to keep up with them and hopefully I'll feel better this time! Not that it was all that horrible the first time around, but hey, not puking is always better than puking, amiright??

Oh!! I almost forgot! I dragged my parents out into the garden week before last! Now, this might now sound like a lot, but...I hate plants, I hate weeding, and I HATE dirt. But I REALLLLLLY wanted to pick corn and tomatoes. I think I am going a bit off my rocker! LOL! Well, the corn had gone bad, it was way too dry this year and the few rows Mom and Dad planted didn't do well, which is a damned shame, because I LOVE fresh corn! We all do! But, the tomatoes were awesome! Mom and Dad were pulling them up from the ground and I picked all the good ones from the vines. Then we did peppers and I watched them rearrange the pumpkins. It was...um...fun. Like I said, off my rocker!!

Well, I think I'm gonna go for now. Sorry it's been so long, but I haven't forgotten about y'all!

Mandy, Goober, and the Diminishing Minions

Woohoo!

Ok! So today has been fantabulous! I woke up HUNGRY!

It's the first time since Saturday that I haven't been nauseous. I knew it was going to be a good day when Dad walked through the living room eating a cream stick and my mouth watered. I said, "There's donuts?" Then proceeded to jump up and grab one. I have not wanted anything sugary in days. Just the though of a donut would have made me wretch yesterday. I know, what a dumb thing to be excited about, right? But I knew I could eat today. And I have!

Also, I only napped for about 2 hours today, that's about 4 hours less than normal! But man was I COLD! I'm talkin' socks, long pants, sweater, and a blanket kind-of-cold! But chillin in front of the TV is nice, occasionally!

So, like I said, great day! Hoping for more like today!

TTFN,

Mandy, Goober & Gang, and Fluffy Socks!

Not for the weak...

I know, I know, I got a lot of catching up to do! I simply have not been able to face sitting at the computer for the past few days.


Wednesday

I had my first round of chemo today...it really was not what I expected. I always imagined taking chemo was all being sick and feeling horrible in a dark and dreary room. In fact, I was in a "pod" with 3 other patience at a time, it was really well lit and cheery. The nurses were just amazing, so happy and helpful, coming around all the time to see if I needed anything and making sure all my questions were answered. Rochelle, "my" nurse for the day sat me down before the IV even went in and talked me through the whole procedure and made sure I understood absolutely everything that would and could happen during the infusion and afterward, including the dreaded side effects.
My treatment actually started around 10am with an anti-nausea drip and a bag of sodium chloride...yummy. Then a 10-minute bag of Alimta, an hour-long bag of Carboplatin, a 90-minute bag of Avastin, and finally a shot of Xgeva. Everything went fine, no nausea, no rashes, no problems. Mom and Dad were with me (for everything but the needles) and we played games, talked, and ate through most of the treatment. It really was a breeze!
After the ride home, we went to Kmart to pick up a couple of prescriptions - I swear, I take more pills in one day now than I used to in a month! But I felt so good (probably from the release of a lot of stress) that I was actually dancing around the store! Got home, had dinner....started hurting a little. Started hurting a lot. Took 1/2 a pain killer...oh boy is that stuff good! I was loopy within 15 minutes. I started the update then...but couldn't really read the keyboard, so thought it would be better to wait.


Thursday

Really didn't sleep well. Pain killers stopped the aching and stabbing pains, but also kept me awake. Slept in pretty late, and napped off and on. But all in all it was an OK day.


Friday

It was payday, which means grocery shopping and being in public. I was feeling pretty good in the morning and was looking forward to getting out of the house for a bit. Well, Walmart just about took it out of me! It's amazing what you take for granted in everyday life. Like walking around a store. Mom and Dad tried to send me out to the car at one point. I was dizzy and my legs felt like they weighed about 200lbs each! I made it through, hot as hell and feeling like I'd run a marathon, but I'd made it!


Saturday morning, 6:40 am

I am officially a chemo patient. I woke up and puked my guts out, not surprising after dreaming about it all night though!


Saturday morning, 10ish am

Got up again, Mom was desperately trying to get me to eat. NO THANK YOU! But she did eventually get me to eat a slice of toast. Nausea really REALLY sucks. Every time I moved my stomach turned a little more. I slept ALL DAY, well, almost. I woke up again around 4ish and Mom and I had some Ramen Noodles. They tasted so good I ate a whole packet! But then again around 8ish they were gone...At least I got something out of them.


Sunday morning, 2 am

Guess what? I'm getting good at taking the bucket with me to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Dad came to the rescue, wetting a washcloth and trying to calm me down. Then we both realized I was sitting on the john and he let Mom take over LOL Sat up for about an hour then finally drifted back off to sleep.


Sunday

So far, so good. I actually ate 1/2 a bowl of cereal (and my multitude of pills) and have kept it down for a few hours! Tummy is still a bit iffy, but I'm trying not to think about it. Of course, writing this out doesn't help much LOL! Hopefully I won't sleep as much today, it makes me feel worse! Plus Hubby is coming up today and I want to be able to spend some time with him as he wasn't well last week and I couldn't be around him. :(


I'll try to keep you all updated, but through the sleeping and sick I really didn't feel up to thinking and typing! Talk to you soon!


Mandy, Goober & Gang, and the Ghastly Gurgles...