Shaving Heads

That was an amazing video that touched my heart! Thank you! I love all of you to.

Well yesterday I got up and took all my anti nausea medications on time and made sure to eat small meals every two hours and I did great. I went in for the shot you get the day after chemo for your white blood cell count. They said the side effects of it would be fatigue and aching bones. So far I haven't felt any of that. I have gotten up last night and tonight at about 1:30 for three hours. I have had a little heartburn that wakes me up and then I can't go back to sleep so the nurse said that if I had sleeping problems I should just get up for a while and get something done. So last night I got up and studied my Relief Society and Sunday School lessons and then I made fudge to have ready for Jenny to take over to Oma. Tonight I got up and worked on some blankets. And now I am writing this and then I will go back to bed. I am supposed to feel worse the next few days so we will see. I have really enjoyed having Jenny and my Mom here with me. Jenny goes home today and I am not sure about Mom. Glenna and Ioua will be here tonight for a couple of days so that will be nice also. Donetta and Christine and husbands will also be in town this weekend. I am looking forward to doing fun things with them. The Lord has truly blessed me so far and I take many opportunities throughout the day to thank him for his tender mercies for me because they are many. Randy is always so helpful and kind. He stops during the day to check on me and calls to see how things are going. I couldn't make it without him.

We love you, Grandma!

Today was my first day of chemo. We arrived at ten and we went to a large room with lots of recliners. I sat down and they hooked me up. First they give fluids then anti nausea medication and steroids. That took about 45 minutes. Next they gave me the chemo medicines and that took about 45 minutes also. We were out of there at about 12:40. We talked to some of the people that were there, well I guess I should say Jill did and I tried to join in. I need to be more social in these types of situations, she was a good example for me. Dad came by to check on us. I think he was really nervous about today. Well I guess we both were. The only thing I really noticed during the treatment was my sinuses swelling a little and my nose running. Other than that there really wasn't anything. I have decided to use my time while I'm sitting there to make a new quilt that I'm going to call my cancer quilt. I've always wanted to try hand applique so that's what it is. Jill worked on a square too. It was actually a lot of fun. So they said that I should feel pretty good today and tomorrow and then the next two days could be bad. So I am a little concerned about whether I will be able to go to Sila's baptism because that is the week of treatment. I am going to be really careful the next few days and follow all the doctors directions to see if I can minimize bad days. So with that said I am going to go drink more water.

Update from Mom

I had my first appt. with Dr. Haslem, the oncologist.  He went over everything again so here it is.  The treatment for me is surgery (already done), radiation (about a month after chemo ends), chemo  (starting Feb. 15 every two weeks for 16 weeks )  and anti-hormone therapy ( a pill for 5 years).  His concerns about my case are the size of the mass (2cm), that it was in two lymph nodes, and that I am young ( he considers me to be young).  The first four doses for chemo will be Adriamycin and cytoxan.  The side effects of this are:  hair loss, nausea, low blood counts, fatigue and possibly heart function.  This last one usually occurs in people who already have heart problems.  I have a heart test tomorrow so that they have a base line for that.  I have three anti nausea medications that I will be taking and I go in the next day after every treatment to have a shot that helps with low blood count.  The second four weeks will be Taxol.  The side effects are the same except there are not side effects with the heart but there can be neuropathy.  The chemicals stay in your body 24 -48 hours.  I need to be careful about being around people who are ill.  I had already given notice at my gym buthe said that I should keep it and keep going just be careful about wiping machines down and washing my hands.
Today I had the portacath put in.  It was outpatient surgery.  I went in at 7:15 and left the hospital at about 111 am.  I feel oK other than a little strange from the general anestisia.
I have a couple of small incisions that need to heal from that.
I love everyone and I will update you as I know more or remember more.