Just Me LMJ

Well we had a nice dinner with mom. She has a bunch of deserts. I really wanted to show everyone what we got mom for her birthday. It isn’t something you would really think of. It is the new Elmo TMX. Well if you don’t know what the new Elmo TMX is just check out the video below. I figured that she needed a gift that would make her laugh.

And no that is not our video. I found it online. But Elmo TMX is the hottest toy of the year. You can’t even find them in the stores. I felt like a soccer mom trying to find this. And really we never did. We had to buy it from Sarah’s cousin. And I do appreciate her selling it to us.

Well again Happy Birthday Mom!!

Jeremy

Yes today is my 46th birthday.  Honestly, I’m a little frustrated.  My chemo treatment went well but by 7:00 p.m. that night I wasn’t feeling too well.  My whole body tingled (like when your arm goes to sleep) that pins and needles feeling.  It was very strong in my legs.  By 12:30 in the morning it was just in my arms but still tingling.  I felt nausea (not horrible) but bad enough.  I couldn’t believe I was having a reaction so quickly.  By Thursday 10:00 a.m., I was feeling much better.  I went and got my shot and visit my co-workers.  I felt GOOD.  But that changed again about 2:00 this morning when I woke with a headache and nausea.  Today I am feeling puny and a little disgusted over this whole thing.  I didn’t expect to have a reaction so quickly.

But just as my spirit plummels, something happens to brighten my day.  Today I have received several birthday phones calls including two great renditions of “Happy Birthday” sung to me by sister and my co-workers.  I also received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my co-workers.  What great people!  It is the small things that mean so much.

Tonight I am having dinner with my family, which was provided by my Dad and Betty.  I will enjoy  seeing everyone.  So what started out as a blah day for me has been lifted by the treasures in my life.  I can’t say it enough, thanks so much to everyone for all you do.

Love, Lori

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Jeremy

Well I did it!  My first chemo treatment is over.  It went pretty well.  I put the numbing cream over my port this morning and headed off.  By the time I got my vitals checked and to my private room (a benefit of first time chemo) the nurse, Deb, came in about 9:10 to access the port.  My blood pressure and heart rate was up a little (imagine that) but I’m sure they came down quickly because Deb accessed the port quickly causing me No discomfort.  I told her she needed to do it that way for 17 more times.  She said she would try.  I was given a cocktail through my port of anti-nausea medicine and a steroid.  Once that was done, I was given the drug, Adriamycin, referred to the “Red Devil” drug, because it is red and the one that causes my hair to fall out.  Deb has to sit by me with a syringe and “push” the drug into the IV.  While she is administering the drug, I have to eat something cold to help me not develop mouth sores.  I chose Fudgesiciles (2) which I ate too fast so I had to have ice chips.  Once she was done with that then I get the drug Cytoxan back through the IV and it takes an hour.  Then I am flushed with more fluids and finally done.  The whole process took about 3 hours.

As you can see my son, Jeremy, came to visit and took a picture.  Jeff was there plus I had 3 visitors.  Sue from Carle, Kate the social worker and Fern stopped by.  Nice to see them.  Did make the time go faster.  I was sent home with 3 different medications, 2 of which I have to take the next 3 days (a steriod and an anti-nausea).  I remember when Mom took a steriod, we lovingly referred to her as Chatty Cathy, so I warned my family that I would probably be Chatty Cathy 2.  I also got an additional anti-nausea medicine to take if needed.

I’m a little drained feeling, not necessarily tired but not to perky.  It is about 4:00 and I do have a headache.  I think it was probably from the anxiety of the port access.  I have been good and have already drank 4 glasses of water.  For the next 72 hours, I need to push fluids (8 – 10 glasses) so I’ll have more with supper.

Tomorrow I have to go back and get my Neulasta shot.  No more volleyball games until next Monday so we have a little break.  I’ll write more in a few days and let you know how things are going.

Again, thanks for your words of encouragement, support and prayers.

Love, Lori

I went and visited my mom for a little while during her chemo. She looked good. Well better than I thought but I really didn’t know what to expect. I’ll let her fill in all the details. I just wanted to post a picture of her at the hospital.

Jeremy

I haven’t written the past few days because there hasn’t been anything new happening.  I am still getting used to the new medicine that the doctor prescribed.  He told me to give it a few days because it would make me feel jittery.  I started taking it last Tuesday and I felt like I was in a drug induced stupor.  Yesterday and today have been the best days on it so hopefully my body is finally getting used to it.
Tomorrow is the big day.  First chemo treatment.  I am nervous!  Even though I saw my mom go through it so many, many times, I still can’t help wonder what it will be like, how I will feel, will I get sick, when, etc.  I imagine I won’t be sleeping well tonight.  My chemo appointment is set for 8:15 and Jeff will be staying with me for support.  I think in the future, I will be able to go by myself but it will be very nice to have him there tomorrow.
If everything goes right, my last treatment will be March 7th….24 weeks later.  Everyone always says how fast time is going…for once I will be rooting for time to fly by.  I just want this to be over and life to get back to normal.

I’ll try to post again after my first treatment.  Thanks again for all your support, prayers and words of encouragement.  It truly helps me so much!

Love, Lori

Okay I finally found out my treatment plan.  Beginning next Wednesday, Sept. 27th, I will begin chemo and will have it every other week for 12 weeks (6 rounds), and on every other Thursday I will have a white count booster shot (thank goodness not a shot every day).  After 12 weeks, I will then have chemo every week for 12 weeks.
This is the plan as long as I can tolerate it all and my blood counts stay stable.  It sounds okay, doesn’t it??  I had to have lab work done today but I just had them draw it from my arm, my port area is still sore and very bruised.  My port will be used next Wednesday for my first treatment.

Thanks for your support.

Love, Lori

First let me thank everyone for visiting and posting wonderful things. Family and Friends have been a great help in keeping her spirits up. I really appreciate that and it is exactly the reason why I wanted to set this site up. To give you an update on her, she did go to the game yesterday. She is sore but wants to go to as many games as possible. She is also at the game tonight. For the people that know our family, sports are a big part of life through school.

Second thing is I wanted to let you know about is one of my most popular websites. If you didn’t know or couldn’t have figured out by me setting up a site for my mom, I am a computer nerd. I have spent many hours and long nights developing websites over the last couple of years. The Safe Search is my most popular site with over 16,000 searches and growing rapidly. It filters explicit material from your search results. Just like with any business if your family and friends like it then they will pass it along to their other friends and family. So try it out and if you like it pass it along. There is also a feedback email address if you want to email me comments or suggestions.

Again thank you everyone for you support with my mom,

Jeremy

Well I made it home by 11:30 from my surgery.  I slept quite a bit this afternoon and now just keeping quiet.  I have a dressing over the port but I already have a bruise showing at the bottom of the dressing.  I get to take the dressing off tomorrow so I’ll get to see how it looks.  No shower until Wednesday.  Movement of the arm causes a little discomfort and the area is sore.  The surgeon said it would be for 4 to 5 days.
I did have a little issue with my IV.  Unfortunately, I had to be stuck twice as the first one didn’t take.  She put it in my hand first and this afternoon my hand is puffy and bruised.  I just bruise really easy.  Since I have such an IV phobia, my anxiety level shot up when she didn’t get it the first time.  Thank goodness she got it the second time.
Tonight Jaylyn has a home volleyball game and I plan on going.  I am planning on doing nothing tomorrow until Jaylyn’s volleyball match tomorrow night.

Wednesday I have to go and have blood drawn from my port.  They tried the port today after they inserted it,  too bad I didn’t know that….I would have loved for them to draw the blood then.

Thanks for your prayers.

Love, Lori

I just got off the phone with my mom. She is back at home after surgery. She is doing good but really sore. I will let her fill you in on all the details I just wanted to make sure everyone knew she was doing good.

Jeremy