OCTOBER ALMOST OVER

Time is going by, winter is coming.  Got new furnace and A/C in last week.

Had lab and shot today.  Have next chemo Nov 2, 2018.  Got Pet Scan Friday.  Will probably not get scan results until Nov 2 when see doctor.  Am  nervous, doctors say if other places have shrunk away, the 2 tumors in colon should be shrinking too.  Things have gone so bad the past 2 years that I am scared of everything now.  I pray that they are shrinking.  I feel pretty good except my RA is acting up in my hands.  Probably due to change in weather.

Jessica is back from CA to stay now.  Is going to look for house to buy and begin a pre school.  She has been introducing us to her new Vegan diet.  I could probably be a vegetarian, but could not go vegan.

I feel so good having so many people praying for me.  

Winter marches on....quickly I hope....not my favorite season.

HAVE A RA BATTLE GOING ON

Hands , knees and ankles began hurting 19th.  Had not had a flare up since went off methatrexate and on chemo.  He gave me extra prednisone and I am getting better now.  I will also have a back up of a dose pack for the next flare up.

Dorothy passed away Saturday. Funeral is Wednesday 26th.  Hope to be feeling good.  She had a brain tumor.  Had surgery, but it began go grow again so fast.  We all hoped she would get some time to feel good.  The cousins are all getting in some sort of health issues.  But we are getting older.  She was one of the youngest of us.

My chemo is doing good.  Doctor thinks I am progressing good.

SEPTEMBER IS ALREADY HALF OVER

I would feel good if I was not so clumsy. Last Sat I tripped up patio steps and have been sore and stiff again for the past week.  Is beginning to east up.  Makes me so mad that I have felt good through the chemo and keep myself hurting from stumbling around.  

Marjie had her foot surgery Thurs. She plans on being off only a week although the dr. wanted 2 weeks. She will be on crutches or scooter for 7 to 9 weeks. No weight on it. No driving.  Her work is paying for an Uber when she cannot bum rides from someone.

Jackie has been sick for 2 weeks or so. She is feeling better, but finally went to dr today.

Here is to my week off chemo pills. Do not have to plan that late night snack before my 10 pm pills. And so not have to set my alarm.

Will try to stay on my feet this week.

HOPE

Friday I will have taken my 2 weeks of chemo pills.  Get a week off this week. Go Friday, Aug 31 for next IV chemo, Then start 2 weeks on and 1 week off of pills again.  The original tumor that showed up and was biopsied began to shrink a week or so after first chemo and is almost flat and not as red.  The very angry one that  popped out on my shoulder by the time I found out I did not have breast cancer had been very painful and you could not touch it. After the second IV chemo and I began the chemo pills it began to not look so angry red and is shrinking.  The ones that  came under the skin from pea size to dime size are shrinking too dime size are pea size, pea size are almost gone. This gives me hope that they will go away. I am not sure what will happen to the 2 that are in my colon.  One of the doctors told me he had an 86 year old man that used these pills and his colon cancer disappeared.  I can only hope and pray mine will too.

I banged my back against the stool and bruised some ribs a couple weeks ago and it has been hurting. It has about quit hurting..  Since the tumors do not hurt and back would be ok i would feel pretty good.

Am trying to eat and drink right. Am getting exercise trying to keep house clean, but as I get stronger I need to do hand weights and walk more.

I pray that I will get better and be able to do some stuff with my kids and have a bit of quality life.  At my age I know I cannot expect a long time.  Will take what I can get.

If things go bad after awhile and I do not feel good, I will be ready to go climb in Jim's arms again, and see the ones who have gone on before.

This chemo treatment is a journey that I will follow while it works.  I like the dr., he is aggressive and not afraid to try different.  Please guide him God, and help me to have faith that what will be will be.

Was Jim surprised to see you Charlie.?  I miss you.

PRAYING CHEMO WORKS

Got approved for the pills.  My next chemo treatment is Aug 10th.  After the session at hospital, I will not have to bring fanny pack home.  Will to on 2 pills a day. Two weeks on two off.

Had stitches out of port Wednesday, and lab.  My blood was only down .01 point, so did not need any meds before my next session.  They will take it again before the session to make sure it stayed up.  

Do not know how long these treatments will be.  He will do it until it begins to work or he sees it is not going to shrink tumors.  I have not got any additional bumps in the past week, and they are not bigger.  Cannot tell if they will shrink with only 1 treatment.

I did not get sick and did not have any of the side effects they said I might.  Of course this was a low dose. I supposed they may be stronger as time goes on if my lab counts stay up.

I at least have some hope, and have a lot of people who are praying for me.

Today is Jim's birthday, first one with him not with me.  They did get his Memorial Bench starting to set.  It looks real good.

JOURNEY HAS BEGUN

Monday I had my chemo port put in.  Was no fun, but not as bad as I expected.

Tuesday, July 25, 2018...Had first chemo session.  Did not hurt, but had to  bring a fanny pack home with me that feeds more chemo in and is taken off Friday.  Am not to fond of 2 more night sleeping on my back.  But I will make it.  See Dr. Singh Friday when fanny pack is removed.  Next treatment is in 2 weeks.  Glad to skip a week.

Dr. Singh says he treats more aggressively than some so maybe I will have a chance at more time.  We wasted some time getting this diagnosed and started.  Says he needs to get something started or I will not be here in 2 months.  He has a few plans for treatment.  If tumors do not begin to shrink in  2 or 3 sessions he will go to next step.  He has to watch me close and start with small dose due to my LGL.  Watches Labs real close.

I will thank God for any more time that he can give me with my kids before I go to be again with Jim.

Jackie and I also went out today and chose a spot for Jim's Memorial Bench.  So glad to finally get that done after trying for almost a year.

GOT HOPE THAT I WILL HAVE A BIT MORE QUALITY TIME

I went to the dr. today fully expecting more bad news which is all I have had.

Dr. Stephenson does say I cannot have regular Chemo due to low neutrophils.  But there are several options to try.  One chemo I can try is small doses in pills.  He took blood tests to send to other options to see which ones I might be a candidate for.

He gave me pain pills for my places that hurt.  And promised that no matter how this comes out they will keep me out of pain.

He is retiring in September.  He is going to have me see his partner in Belton so he will be involved in treatment and can treat me.  There will be a replacement at Harrisonville, but she will be new to the facility and the patients and will take awhile to get on board with all the patients there.

I have hope now that I will have a bit more  quality time with my kids.

Oh how I wish you were here to help me through this.