Fun #1 Before Chemo #4

I rested and prayed all morning that God would allow me to participate in a fall family tradition - and He did!
My sisters, their husbands, most of the cousins, and Glenn and Tyleen Stoutt (Jennifer's in-laws) met at the Shelbyville McDonalds for a quick lunch. Then we headed out to Gallrein Farms outside of Shelbyville to ride behind the tractor out to the field to pick the perfect pumpkin. The little ones rode ponies, everyone enjoyed the petting zoo, and most of the group went through the corn maze.
The photo to the left shows Katie, Emily, and Sarah with me after they had each selected their pumpkin.

The bottom photo is of the girls at the petting zoo with a llama. A day like this does wonders for me, even though it wears me out. It really keeps my spirits up and helps me to prepare for the next chemo.

Unfortunately, my parents had to miss because my grandfather, Robert Speas, has been hospitalized in North Carolina. He is a diabetic on dialysis and now he has contracted pneumonia. We would appreciate your prayers for him.

Doctor Visit/Celebration!

I saw my plastic surgeon today, and he agreed that I was very swollen, but that he could do nothing about it. It may have to do with the chemo treatments. I do have a binder that I can wear around my waist that reduces the pain and swelling temporarily, but it is really just a matter of time before the swelling goes down. He did say that I looked "on track" otherwise. I was concerned about another small surgical procedure that I may need to repair a cosmetic problem caused by the drains near the lymph node site under my right arm, but Dr Noel said that he would do nothing until six months after radiation is over in February, which puts me into August of 2008. Radiation evidently changes the skin and it needs time to heal afterwards. He seemed to think that it was still possible that this cosmetic problem would resolve itself by that time. When I say cosmetic, I am not concerned just about appearance - I wouldn't bother if it was strictly appearance. This is actually a large roll of extra skin that won't allow me to put my right arm down straight at my side.

My celebration is for our daughter, Emily, who has just found out that she has been selected to go to Greece for two weeks in May with sixteen students (total) from the Honors Program at UL! One of her roommates, Jessi Harre, has also been selected. This semester they will study the art and architecture of the sites they will visit, specializing in one of the five sites on the itinerary. When they actually go to Greece, they will teach the others in the group about their "specialty site". Congratulations, Jessi and Emily!

The Weekend

Bryan was away all weekend running, but I had lots of time visiting with my girls, which was fun.
All three girls were at the house Saturday, and we went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. My taste buds are pretty much "the pits" right now, but it was fun to have all the girls together. I came home and "napped up" for church on Saturday. I came home and "napped up" some more, and then I actually went out to an evening movie - a first since chemo - with Katie, Emily, and Hunter. We saw "Dan in Real Life", which was pretty good. It was lots of fun to be out with everyone in the evening - I've not done much of that for awhile!
On Sunday, Sarah and Katie and I hung out and ate and watched movies - it's always a treat to be with the girls.
Today I went for my CBC, and once again my hemoglobin had dropped below an adequate level, so I finally got my shot of Aranesp (newer than Procrit). I will get a shot every three weeks until my chemos are over. My white count and platelets are fine.
This last chemo has not been as exhausting as the first two, but my taste buds are taking a long time to return to some sense of "normal". It is hard to find things to eat and drink that taste good. I have bought several food items and then given them away because they pretty much taste like dirt - and I'm talking Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, of all things! In January, I'll be at the store everytime the "hot" sign is on!
I am still having trouble with lots of swelling from my surgery, and it is very painful! I would appreciate prayer for that to go away. I see my plastic surgeon on Wednesday, so hopefully he will have some ideas about how I can manage it.
As always, your cards, e-mails, and prayers keep me going.
Jan

Update on Sarah

Sarah's procedure was postponed due to her having better insurance coverage at her new job, Passport Health. She has a pre-procedure appt. on November 1 and her procedure is now on Nov. 12. She is struggling some with her health and still trying to be great at her new job, so prayers for energy and good health would be appreciated.

Coming Back

I am starting to come back after Chemo #3. I was thrilled that no one went to the hospital, was robbed, or mauled by a large dog during this chemo. (See While I Was Sleeping).
Day Three is usually my worst day, and it wasn't too bad, so I thought I was getting by with something - then Day Four proved to be the day this time. That was yesterday, and I was basically motionless for the day. I have a hard time with this motionless "thing" - I don't do it well. While I was motionless, I thought of all the things I want to do when my treatments are over and I regain my energy.
I will be grateful to get up to an alarm, shower, eat breakfast, and have a regular day. I will be grateful to give my house a really good cleaning and decluttering, reorganize these "empty nest" rooms, do my laundry, weed my garden, and cook things that will actually taste yummy when I eat them! I will be grateful to eat at some of my favorite restaurants again. I will be grateful to get in my car and drive to Walmart and walk around as long as I want without thinking how far it is to walk to the entrance of the store or my car. I will be grateful for no bad hair days - it can't be possible to have bad hair days once you've been bald. I will be grateful when my body has recovered enough that I can feel fairly normal and walk and swim laps again - I miss the water terribly. I will be grateful to sign up for graduate school classes and choir and mandolin lessons again. I will be grateful to once again be more involved in my grown daughters' lives. I will be grateful in the spring to make those college visits that Katie and I have had to postpone. I will be grateful to have the energy to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary in March. I will be grateful to celebrate Katie's graduation in May, and to decide what to do with 17 years of homeschooling materials! I will be grateful to be able to help others who are weak and hurting. I will be grateful just to wake up in the morning and know that if there is something I want to do, I will be able to say to myself, "I Can!"
Again, thanks for encouragement, prayers, books, e-mails, calls, cards.
Love, Jan

Columbus Day and Me

O.K., it makes for a great Monday holiday and a long weekend to move Columbus Day around each year, but we all know that Columbus actually discovered America (or an island close by) on October 12th (at least those of us who went to school when they were ALL traditional schools.

Tomorrow is October 12th, and I feel like Columbus setting sail for the unknown in Chemo 3#. Will I have different side effects this time? Will it be harder or easier? Will I bounce back sooner or later? Will that wonderful Procrit shot that they've promised me tomorrow boost my hemoglobin and make me feel like a new woman? Will I have bone pain from the Neulasta that boosts my white count? Once I did and once I didn't. The only sure thing is that I will be halfway through and that I won't lose any more hair.

I feel like Columbus, preparing for a voyage. Thanks to the prayer warriors that responded yesterday and prayed that I would get a boost of energy - the prayer was answered! I went to my morning checkup with Bryan, and then we did banking and post office stuff. I came home with enough energy to go to lunch with Katie, buy some necessary items at the grocery, and even do a brief shopping stop with her to look at rings (this is to replace her senior ring that was stolen during the last chemo.) I came home, and after a brief nap, was able to grade Katie's work, fold some laundry, and tonight I will read Katie's schoolwork through Tuesday to know what Katie is reading and studying through that time. I refilled prescriptions that I will need to use through next weekend, paid all bills due the next two weeks, stocked up on chemo foods, and made sure that I have taken care of everything that Katie will need through next Tuesday. I even bought a Christmas present that crossed my path. Bryan is on his own here - I think at 50, he can do it! BTW, he mailed his AARP dues today - where does the time go??? I even ironed and laid out my clothes for tomorrow, because I don't do mornings very well these days, and my wig is clean. I have my i-pod Shuffle, thanks to my FBF, to listen to Christian music during chemo and the next few days when I am motionless.

According to history, Columbus made his voyage to further Christendom. I don't know that I will do that through Chemo #3, but I do pray that I will lean on Jesus and that I will be a good witness to anyone I come in contact with at Louisville Oncology tomorrow

If you are running or walking the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, October 13th, watch for my team - They are called the G.I. Jans in my honor, and to my knowledge, they include my sisters Becky and MaryAnn, (Jennifer is out-of-town) my niece Jessica, my daughters Sarah and Katie, (Emily is out-of-town), my niece and nephew, (who are Jennifer's children) Hudson and Savannah, and there may be some Halloway kids (MaryAnn's) which might include any or all of the following: Madison, Chandler, Payton, or Caden. I think my niece Whitney is out-of-town, too, or I know she would be walking. My mom has opted not to walk due to health reasons, but she bought a "Sleep in for the Cure" t-shirt, and she is the financial backer of Team G.I. Jan. You go, girls! I will be right alongside you next year!
Once again, I know that I sound like a broken record, but I don't know how else to say it - thanks for cards, e-mails, phone calls - someone (or more than one someone) contacts me daily and it is very important to my spirits and my recovery.
Love, Jan

Fun Before Chemo #3

Bryan turned 50 on Thursday, October 4th, and we celebrated with a field party at my parents' home on Sunday afternoon, October 7th. As you can see from the photo below, the kids always have a great time playing in the field. In addition to my sisters and their families, we invited Bryan's mom, his four brothers and their families. We also celebrated birthdays for Nicky Veal, son of Eric and Denise, and Maggie Veal, daughter of Alan and Teri. In the photo on the right are some of Bryan's family: David and Nancy Veal, Alan and Teri Veal, and the birthday boy himself.

The photo above is of my parents, Bob and JoAnn Speas, and the photo to the left is of Emily, her boyfriend Hunter Cantwell, Sarah, her boyfriend Paul Disney IV, and Katie. Although it was a little warm, Tony Halloway (married to my sister MaryAnn) and my dad grilled burgers and hot dogs for everyone, and we enjoyed three birthday cakes while the birthday guests opened their gifts. Dad took all the kids (little and big) on a ride around the lake in his "chariot" that he pulls behind a tractor, and they visited the mule who lives on the other side of the lake. It was great to visit with the family and hang out for the afternoon.

Chemo #3 is Friday, October 12. Please pray for minimal side effects, God willing. My fatigue has lasted longer this time, and I am still having pain from my surgery, so I continue to ask for prayer for both less fatigue and less pain. My hemoglobin was 9.3 on the Monday after my last chemo (I think 12 is the norm), but they will not give me a shot for this until the day of my next chemo. I have been able to keep up with Katie's schooling, and I have also been able to work on her transcript and on the beginnings of the Southeast Homeschool Graduation 2008, of which I am the coordinator. Any work I can do like this helps me to feel more "normal".

I am happy that I will be half-way through my chemos after this Friday (or more like next Tuesday when I will start to wake up!)

An additional note about Sarah - her procedure may be moved back into November, because her insurance at her new job kicks in November 1, and it is much better coverage than she had before. She is currently feeling good and loving her new job.

Again, thanks for continued prayers, calls, e-mails, etc. Each one is appreciated and helps me to keep going.

Jan

How Do People Battle Cancer Without Friends?

Yesterday I was having a "yucky" day painwise and fatiguewise, and a visit to my surgeon indicated that I will have to have another small corrective surgery (cosmetic, not cancer-related) after radiation in the spring. I came home with a migraine and took my Imitrex and phenergan to sleep off the headache. While I was resting, a member of our FBF at church delivered a basket. When I awoke, Katie brought it into my room - what a treat! The class had gone together and assembled the best gift basket imaginable! Comfy socks, magazines, a beautiful mug, an assortment of teas, a variety of trail mixes, products from Bath and Body Works and Mary Kay, a book, lotions, fingernail polishes, a framed scripture, and to top it all off - an ipod Shuffle loaded with Christian music to listen to during my chemos and the days following when I can't move. I was overwhelmed and so grateful to have friends who are praying and showing me how much they care that I recover.
This was the second basket this week - earlier in the week I received a basket of inspirational books from the Dave Dravecky Outreach of Hope organization courtesy of a dear friend of mine from high school, Patti Thornton, who has just recently completed all her treatments and surgeries for breast cancer.
I think that having a good group of Christian friends is so important at a time like this. I am learning along the way how to minister to others in the future by the way I am being ministered to now by so many.
How DO people do this without friends?