Hi everyone. Sorry it's been so long since the last post. After the first week of the first round of chemo, I started feeling better and wanted to take advantage of my good days. So I didn't spend much time on the computer. Nothing noteworthy happened anyway. When I started feeling better I got outside and did some gardening (by that I mean pulling weeds) and just enjoyed being out of bed.
I did my second round of chemo last monday (March 23) and it was a real bitch. I have nothing good to say about it. The new and more powerful anti-nausea medication (Emend) worked ok. I still had a lot of nausea but I managed to get through it without much "barfy" as the kids say. No matter how much I seemed to tell myself it would get better, I still found myself feeling pretty depressed about the whole thing. It's hard to explain what the physical effects of chemo are but basically it feels like my whole entire body hurts, and then of course there's the nausea. This time the neuropathy was much worse and I had to wear the gloves a lot. I think one of the worst things is having to drink warm drinks. Trying to swallow three big pills with warm water when the nausea is bad is just about one of the worst things ever. It's almost impossible so I have to go into a place in my mind where I can make it happen without throwing up. Just thinking of it is nauseating. The nurse calls that anticipatory nausea... Well DUH!!!! Of course! I just call it nausea...
Anyway, I am finally feeling much better today. I am sitting at the table for meals and I can hang out with the family. I had a little comical reprieve from the madness when Steve came home from the kids' kindergarten physical appointment on Thursday and told me how it went. Previously, the nurse led us to believe it was just a "paperwork" appointment so Steve took the kids by himself, which normally would never happen. Steve and I always both attend doctor's appointments for the kids when all three go because it is so hard for one parent to deal with the whole thing, especially when there are immunizations involved. When Steve returned home and I asked him how it went, he just looked at me with raised eyebrows. I knew that couldn't be good. Then he launched into how all three kids had to pee in a cup, have hearing tests, two shots (immunizations), and each had to have their finger pricked TWICE (lead test and sugar test)! Each child watched in horror as the others got their shots and finger pricks. And they screamed the whole time. Finally when it was Jane's turn, she kicked the examination table and then the nurse... By the end of the two-hour appointment, they were starving and they were screaming SO LOUD from all the shots and finger pricks that everyone just stared at the four of them when they left the examination room. The patient in the room next door even cracked open the door to see what those monsters could possibly look like. Steve, of course, earned his Father-of-the-Year award.
Love to you all. I promise to try to post more regularly.
4 comments:
Hi Beth,
So glad to hear you are feeling somewhat better and are able to spend the time with your family. I am thinking and praying for you and your family constantly. Those Kindergarten physicals are tough. I can't imagine having three at once. Good job Steve! Take care and God Bless you guys.
Love, Michelle
Hi there,
It's Keira...thanks for the ab workout. I was cracking up picturing Steve's big adventure! Sorry, Steve.
Beth, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better. I discovered one of my old Reba McEntire CDs and it has this song called "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain." It's a total girl-power song (country style, though) about overcoming life challenges. I blare that song on my way to work everyday and sing at the top of my lungs, all the while thinking of you taking on the mountain of that stinkin' cancer. I hope some of my empowered energy is being sent your way. You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I have complete faith that you are going to take this 'mountain' and get back to life as normal. I love you!
What a great story, Beth!LOL!!Tell Steve that I think he is awesome. I had to have my mom come with me when Sam and Jordyn had their K physicals.---You have to write that one down in a journal or something like it! I always think I'm going to remember funny times like that, but if I don't write it down, I don't usually remember. I keep a running record of all the funny things my kids do and I love to go back and read it every once in awhile. Sam and Jordyn love to hear the stories of themselves when they were little.--Anyway, I'm so glad to hear you are feeling a little better.I hope that will continue for you!
Hi Beth, Steve and family,
So nice to hear from you again, we missed you. But it's understandable that you would want to take a break from all the "details". Glad to hear you are doing better and better each day.
Boy, you sure hit the jackpot with that husband of yours. He rocks!! It sure is nice when you can trust each other to get the job done, no matter what it involves. And that goes for both of you. Good job Beth and Steve. We all send our love from Arizona and think of you everyday. Thanks for taking the time to update us on your progress. We love you all, Aunties Barbara and Nancy and families.
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