Round 3

So, I have my boxing gloves on this round. No smiling, I'm all business! The Red Devil did beat me the first two rounds, but now we have some serious plans. The doctors have changed some of my medicine and added more powerful stuff to help me fight off all the nausea and dizziness. They also told me I had to come back to the cancer center on Saturday to get two hours of fluids pumped back into me to help with dehydration. Everyone seems confident that this will help, and if it doesn't, well, I just call and we keep trying. I might have to go in Monday as well for more fluids, but that's on the back burner. I'm going for a 500 record at this point. I just don't want to downright lose, too competitive for that! :)

I'm starting to become friends with a lot of the nurses at the center. They stop by my room and chat with me and we plan the party I'm going to have for the Susan G. Koman walk in August. Man, I thought my job was hard! These oncology nurses rock! But, as for my party, write down August 14th! My plan is to do the 1 mile walk with anyone and everyone willing to come out. Then, since the walk is at Crown Center, I'll have an after party at my house. I'm thinking I'll provide beer and juice! (Juice for the kids and for me, beer for the rest of you:) And, of course, something to nibble on. I know this is far away, but mark the date because I promise a good time for a good cause. I'll really be sending out the open invites down the road. All ages are welcomed and encouraged! I'll be making sure my family and nieces are there and walking next to me! I'm hoping to get a big team together, so plan on going! :) (Not to mention the walk will fall right before my last chemotherapy session, so I'll be in celebration mode)

But, as for now, I gotta sign off and put these gloves on. I feel the devil sneaking up behind me and I have to be ready!

Happy Easter

I hope everyone out there had as much family fun and amazing food as I did....

Look at all that good food! I'm so lucky because everyone in my family is a fantastic cook!

My first official picture bald.... not so bad when I'm surrounded by amazing family!

My nieces put on their hats for this picture so we could all have hats!

Their reactions when I asked them how they liked their aunt with no hair! :)

The creators of my wonderful nieces in a funny family photo!

Happy Easter!

Someday Will Come

A friend posted this video to my facebook page and it made me cry. I'm not sure if I cried because I can relate too painfully when she talks about Chemotherapy, or because I know the power of love that she sings about, or because the Friday a week after chemotherapy tends to make me very emotional. Whatever the case, it has spoken to me louder than anything has since I have started treatments.

I have had so many people "stand by me when it don't come easy". I know that car ride home after chemotherapy and I have felt the love and support coming from everywhere. Thank you everyone for reminding me you are there when I have needed it the most. 

Melissa talks about her "someday" during Chemo. She knew that someday she would be better enough to not only sing, but to make dreams come true. Below is my someday. Someday I will feel well enough to travel to my "light at the end of the tunnel". That's right, on my worst days I conjure up this image in my head and find peace. Bora Bora, 5 star hotel, scuba diving, fine dining, and strawberries. (Not sure where the strawberries come from but my head made it up all on its own). I will be healthy, energetic, and stronger than ever! I can't wait for this trip... Someday will come!

So, while I'm waiting for someday, I'll fight to feel better. I'll take refuge in the people I love and in music. Music is powerful, and it worked magic on me today with this song. If anyone out there has some good music you think I'll like shoot me some titles, burn me a disk, or sing me a song. ;) All I have been listening to recently are the CDs other people have made for me and it has been great. I love finding new stuff and I'm usually hooked up to chemo for at least 5 hours so I have plenty of time. :)

Fowhawk Galore

Yesterday was the day! The hair was going faster than I could even imagine. If I was going to do my fowhawk, it had to be now! I called my sister in law and she came to the rescue. The pictures say all....

 Not sure how I feel here.....


As for the rocking shirt I'm wearing below, this is a tribute from the Staley varsity girls soccer team.  A player on the varsity team's father has also been diagnosed with cancer in the last few months. We kinda got hit within a few weeks of each other. He has stage 4 liver/colon cancer and is currently going through a clinical trial. Therefore, the team came together and created these shirts in our honor as a tribute to us for doing our best with kicking some cancer butt!

Our names are on the back of the shirts in the pink heart!


To further show my hair falling out process, I thought I'd include a more humorous video....

And finally, back to the wonder dog. I have spent much of today in bed, and Sante still won't leave my side! This time around has been a bit easier than the first, but it's still a whole lotta sick with not a whole lotta relief. But, nonetheless, it IS better, and that is all I can ask for.

I'm doing the picture blog today as I can't think too clearly to write anything very well. The screen is moving a bit and I am feeling like getting back to that bed! More eloquence to come at a later date!

Back to Normal...

I feel just about 100%, which is right in time to go back for round 2 this Thursday. I have been running around trying to get work done and trying to get everything ready for another week of, maybe, not feeling so hot. I'm assured that I really screwed up my meds the first time around, so this time should be much better!

We did our first little bit of work for Pearson Publishing and they put it on their website. It's kind of a promotional video for their textbook, but it also shows a video my students created. Their video is great, so if anyone is interested in seeing some of my kids at work, check it out. You'll have to fast forward it to the end, unless you wanna know more about our district and our ELL population. My friend Sara and I appear at one point to introduce stuff, and beware I look like a serial killer on video! I'm serious, we were cracking up when we were making it because I really do. You should have seen the first few takes, I was even worse!  I now know I would fail miserably at acting. I mean look at my face when trying to listen to Sara talk. I look like I'll jump out and hurt someone! It really is entertaining, so feel free to laugh, because that is what I'm doing... and it feels great! But at least my students are naturals!

The video is about Pluto, so you might learn something as well. Let me know if you do! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jfUmJ0VWM

Lessons Learned

A week after treatment and I'm finally seeing some relief. I still don't feel good, but I feel a lot better than I did! There are a few things I have learned after my first round with chemo...

1) My dog has taken it upon herself to be my one and only protector and healer. She will allow NOBODY near me and stands tall at her corner making sure I am well looked after at all times. She will not leave my side day or night. She won't even let my parents near, and she adores my parents. The pictures tell all.

2) The sicker I feel the better my students act.

3) I NEED Wendy's extra salty fries and a small chocolate Frosty just about every day.

4) I need pills to stop the nausea and the pills make me nauseous.

5) It's a VERY long walk from my car at school to my classroom. Sometimes I need to stop and rest.

6) I can't drink anything red. It reminds me of Chemo.

7) My parents are great caretakers. I almost feel guilty.

8) Sickness comes in waves. One minute I'm fine, the next I'm knocked on my butt. (sometimes in the course of a conversation with someone)

9) I sleep a lot but never feel rested.

10) I continue to have amazing support from my family, friends, and co-workers.

That's the top 10 (in no particular order) this week. I'm sure it will change as the weeks/months go by. Baby steps...

Red Devil 1 - Me 0

I lost. I mean, I downright lost. The Red Devil had its way with me and it's still kicking me when I'm down. I have been so very sick since Saturday morning, to the point where I just lost control of the nausea and dizziness. My nurse has been on the phone with me multiple times, and I think we might be able to do better the next go around. umph, I can't even imagine doing it again, but I have to.

 

I'm somewhat starting to emerge from its depths of hell, because that is what it is, Hell! I take lots and lots of pills, try and eat everything organic, drink tons of liquids, rest, etc. I'm not going to lie, it's hard stuff. It is certainly testing my limits of endurance and strength here.

 

Look at my naivete below... SMILING as the thing is being pumped into my blood. I won't smile again. I was in trouble going into it with a smile like that. Next time, I'm going to get my boxing gloves on!

 

I made it through a half day of work yesterday, but learned very quickly I won' be doing that again. I'll be taking a few more days off than I thought if I'm feeling that badly again. Today is better, and my students are being very respectful and kind. They are worried, and they are doing their best to do whatever I ask of them.

 

That's all I can muster up now. Sorry I have not returned calls, e-mails, or texts for a while. When I do, I'll be on the up and up. Until then, no sudden movements or loud noises...