Visit With the Oncologist

I was a little disappointed after leaving my dr's office the other day. Just because he didn't give me an exact date on my last Herceptin treatment. I am a girl who likes to know things ahead of time....plan for them....put them on my calendar. No such luck. He did say that I have 3-4 more to go. The treatment is usually a once a week thing, but I have been going in every 3 weeks for a larger dosage, so that makes it harder (apparently) to calculate when I'll be done. The good news is....all of my test results came back normal, except that the bloodwork is still showing anemia. It's been like that since my chemo days and I don't know if/when he plans on doing anything about it. I haven't asked because I don't want to have to take any extra pills! I'm stubborn. I know. Just ask my husband :) It drives him craaaaazy!

Dr. Kellogg said he might want me to do another heart scan in 2 months, instead of 3 this time. Fine with me. I am just sooooooo looking forward to LESS appointments. Which reminds me of this freaking hole in my boob (sorry for those man-readers). I am thinking this puppy is going to take a LONG TIME to heal because it is deep (like an inch maybe) and remember that I have crap for tissue? I see the surgeon again in a week and a half and am going to ask her if she can just clean it out and sew it up. I don't care if it scars. I'm over it. The tattooing will cover it up anyway.

Now I'm off to get dressed for work and to get my 1st grader ready for school.....oh, and maybe feed those other 2 kids too :) HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

I've Got Crap For Tissue

So I had my follow up with Dr. Boll (plastic surgeon) again today. I've been having to go see her every 2 weeks since my surgery because I have a spot on my left boob that isn't healing. We will chalk that one up to the damage that the radiation has done to my tissue. Dr. Boll dug around in the hole and cut out some of the crappy tissue. Luckily, I have no feeling there. So I did not feel a thing! Now I have to pack the hole with some gauze soaked in saline...at least twice a day. I will be glad when this sucker heals. All of these dr's appointments are getting reeeally old!

On my way home from Dr. Boll's office (with Jake and Ty in tow), I stopped at Lisa's salon and got a trim again. I had her cut the back really short because it has been bugging me A LOT lately. I think it looks better now. At least it feels better! I will try to post a picture soon (for you Mary!)....my camera is temperamental lately :(

Last Friday I went in for my Herceptin treatment. The nurse told me that she thinks I only have 3 or 4 to go!!!! I hadn't realized that I was so close to being done! Last week I also had my Muga (heart) scan done. I'll find out the results of that and my blood work when I meet with Dr. Kellogg (oncologist) this Wednesday. Hopefully he'll be able to tell me when my last day of Herceptin is!

Some AMAZING Stuff!

1. NieNie is back to blogging! I love love love the photo of her and Mr. Nielson's hands. So touching. She is truly an inspiration to us all.
2. The China Study is a book that I have been reading....it is shocking. At the benefit/auction that was held in August '08 for our family, a guy from the Shamrock Farms Ward approached me.....long story short....he told me about this book. I have wanted to read it ever since and my dear hubby bought it for me a couple of weeks ago. It is a slow read because there is so much information in there and I sometimes have to read things over again just to make sure I understand it. It is controversial, for sure, but from what I have read so far, it has caused me to make the decision to completely change my diet (for example, did you know animal protein increases the levels of estrogen in our bodies? With my cancer being estrogen fed, I found that very thought provoking at the least.). Extreme? Maybe. But I've already had cancer once, and I will do whatever I feel like I need to do in order to keep the cancer from returning. All's I can say is READ IT.
3. GO CARDINALS!! We can't wait for the SuperBowl!!

Haircuts and High Fives!

On Saturday, I got my first official haircut in almost a year! (and by haircut, I mean with actual scissors...not the clippers!) Lisa gave me a nice trim and I feel so much better. I was starting to feel like I was getting a mullet and my side burns (or "ear muffs" as Curt called them) were getting a little out of control. Hopefully in the next couple of months, it will have filled in enough to have an actual "hair style". There are days when I look at my hair in the mirror and feel like either a boy or an old lady with grandma hair! But then I just have to remind myself what it felt like to be bald...and I count my blessings to have hair again :)

Yesterday morning, I was telling my boys good-bye as I was leaving for work. I held my hand out to Jake because I was going to grab him and give him a hug. He slapped my hand with a "five" and walked into the other room! NO TEARS! It was hilarious... and a little shocking for this momma, but I am happy that he is adjusting well to my being gone a few hours a week.

I am really enjoying work. It's actually very relaxing for me. I am much more worn out the days when I am home with my wild and crazy boys! Of course I miss them when I'm gone, but it is proving to be a good break for me.

A Good Day

Work went really well yesterday. I am glad to have the first day behind me. I learned a lot about what routines and activities I will be doing with my little patient. She's so sweet. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

Thank you for your well wishes!

Back to Work!

Tomorrow morning is my big day back to work! I haven't worked as a nurse since about the month before Jake was born. So it's been over 2 years and I am ready.

I will be doing pediatric home care again and have been impressed so far with this new nursing agency I signed on with. They set up a time for me to go to the patient's house and meet with her and her mom....just to make sure we're all comfortable with the situation and to make sure this case is something I want to do. Well, the mom is a really bubbly lady and we instantly hit it off! And the little girl just makes my heart melt....she's soooo sweet. Legally, I'm not allowed to get into specifics, but let's just say this little angel has some pretty severe disabilities. I am looking forward to spending time with her and to be a part of her care team. It's comforting to already know the parent, patient, and my work environment. I've been sent to homes in years past that I had no prior knowledge of anything! It was so scarey, especially when I show up at a home where no one speaks English!! I don't speak a lick of Spanish, so that is never a good situation to be in....especially when I am responsible for someone's life and can't communicate with them or their families.

The boys will be in good hands while I'm at work 2 days a week. Our babysitter is an older lady who goes to our church. The boys really like her and I think it will all work out well.

Wish me luck!!