let the chemo begin!

2day was my first chemo treatment....i was due 2 meet with the doc (a new one, since my homeboy oncologist was only there on a 4 week rotation ~sob~) @ 9:20am - but i could tell from the moment curtis & i got there, that they were busy! we didn't get called back until 10am! but i'm used 2 waiting at the cancer center....i was there almost every other day for a while, and i always had to wait....the doc was nice, and seems to have a fun sense of humor (which i totally appreciate!)....she ran down the usual with me, made sure i understood what the plan was & had me sign my consent forms

then, we went into a "support room" 2 watch a video called "understanding chemo"....it went over all the side effects that one may experience, talked about how important a positive attitude & family/friend support is, blah, blah....it was a good vid, except it looked like it was made in the early 80's ~teehee~

curtis & i paid attention & even learned a few things, but i joked that maybe we should just shut it off & make-out ;0)


after the vid, my chemo nurse carol came in & explained all the meds 2 me - i get 4 in all....she ran down what each one was, all it's side effects & everything i need to watch for and/or notify the docs about...


meds given intravenously during chemo:

-andriamycin - red in color & even turns ur pee red (yay! lol) - takes about 20 min

-vinblastine - takes just a few min

-bleomycin - takes 20 min

-DTIC (darcarbazine) - the serious stuff, takes an hour+ & can burn/block ur veins, so it is diluted with salene...if my veins do well, i won't need the catheter put in my chest & can just keep getting an IV in my arm 4 each treatment...so far, so good

not counting the delays/back-up in the cancer center, the actual chemo took just about 3 hours....and from here on out, i have to come in & have blood taken, then meet with the doc, then have the chemo = about 4 1/2 to 5 hours total each treatment (without waiting, which i know will happen too!)

i learned about a few more fun side effects 2day too! wanna hear all i may or may not experience as a result of the chemo?

-most seriously - low blood counts....i'll get my blood checked weekly to monitor for too low of levels....i'm already at a high risk of infection - i have to b diligent about washing hands & staying away from sick people (ha, do they know i have 3 kiddos?!)....and if i get a fever over 100.5 degrees, i have 2 call the cancer center right away - day or night....because if i get a bug, my body can't fight it off as well & they need 2 treat me ASAP....but low white blood cells mean even more risk of infection, low red means low platelets, so more difficulty clotting...we also have 2 watch out for anemia

-nausea/vomiting & loss of appetite - i thought i was getting off easy on this one....i was a lil queasy & dizzy on my way home, but made it thru the rest of the eve fairly well....i ate a moderate dinner, but it felt like a rock in the pit of my stomach....then i was dozing off on the sofa (uploading pics 4 this post & the holiday pic marathon one) and suddenly woke up at almost midnight to hurl - ugh! (started these posts early this eve, but not actually publishing till almost 1am) i popped one of my nausea meds & felt much better - but then threw up again 10 minutes later....now i'm not sure if i threw up the med, can i take another pill (to take as needed, but not more than every 6hrs)?? ugh! one good tip they did give, was 2 lay off ur fav foods - cause if u're throwing them up, chances r they won't b ur favs any more! ~lol~

-loose stools, constipation, stomach cramps (double yay!)

-sore mouth/throat or even sores developing in the mouth - super ugh!

-hair loss (was told i'll start thinning after this treatment & then it will all quickly go after my next treatment) - this one, i'm ok with

-taste changes - no biggie

-fatigue/muscle weakness - the most common & overwhelming side effect (triple yay!)

-there's tons more that sound super fun (skin irritation, nails becoming dry/yellow/cracked, intimate dryness, the list goes on - but these above r what r what's most common with the meds i'm taking)

so, i went from being someone that NEVER takes meds, to having 4 prescriptions now - 2 are nausea meds i took during chemo 2day & will take 2moro & wednesday (one costs $165 for 4 pills! thank God for insurance!)....then a 3rd nausea med that i mentioned earlier - for whenever i need it....and the 4th is one i talked about in an earlier blog - to prevent me from getting gout or kidney stones (the dead cancer cells raise the uric acid level in my body & this med helps lower that)

i'm still optimistic & trying to keep a positive attitude - but i HATE being sick! especially throwing up! trying not to complain, but dang - this sux!!!

i go back next monday 4 the blood work, then the following monday 4 my next treatment....and then, every other monday thru april (with PET scans here & there - and radiation at the tail end)

once again, thx 4 all the love & support flying my way - and most of all, thx 4 keeping me & my fam in ur thoughts & prayers!

xoxoxox,
sharon

holiday picture marathon...

the skates family had a FABULOUS christmas - we certainly hope u did too!!!
(can u believe the weather we had?!)


lots of visits with fam...the in-laws came in for the day on xmas eve (i had 2 work, but they spent all day with curt & the kiddos - no pics tho), then xmas eve @ my gma's with the "after party" @ my aunt's house, the skates family xmas @ home on xmas day, and then the saturday after xmas @ nana & gpa's (my parents - and the 27th was my brother joe's bday too!)....i even got 2 go out to a dinner AND a lunch, with some girlfriends that were in town for the holidays!

tons of food, TOO MANY presents, and just the right amount of family & friend fun ;0)

it would take me forever 2 write about all the happenings round here lately....so rather than bore u 2 tears, i'm simply gonna post a holiday picture marathon - i hope u enjoy!

the big day is finally here!

one too many cookies...

santa needs 2 lay off the cookies a bit...


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!


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1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Luke 2:1-20

winter wonderland...

last night, we hauled the kiddos to Winchester VA (about an hour+ drive) 2 check out Winter Wonderland in Clearbrook Park....this was our 1st year visiting the display - a co-worker had told me about it & it sounded really cool

it was!


we got started late (cause i worked till 6pm), then we took the "scenic route" so we could look at christmas lights along the way.....so by the time we got there, it was after 9pm! it was sooooo cold last night too (try like 10 degrees!), but luckily we came prepared with leggings under our jeans, hats, gloves, scarves, etc.....the lights stay on until 10pm & they usually have hot cocoa & occasional appearances by Santa, in a little cabin, at the end of the walk - but last night was dead (which surprised me, i thought the week of christmas, they'd stay busy - guess it was the cold)....they'd already closed down the cabin & were in the process of closing down their cash registers when we got there.....so we got to go in for free! :0) i hadn't told the kiddos about the possible Santa appearance, so no let down there - and i just told em we'd have hot cocoa when we got home (which we did ~wink~)


we still had plenty of time to walk around the park (which is huge!) & check out all the displays.....our fav parts were the lights out in the middle of the pond (which had a thin layer of ice on it!) "how'd they do that?!" was heard quite a few times ;0) and we also loved the musical display - the girls & i have been watching all the dancing light displays on youtube, so they thought that part was especially cool!


we all had numb fingers & toes by the time we got back to the car - but it was worth it! all 3 kiddos asked if we would get to come back next year.....daddy & i promised we would - this just might become a new yearly tradition for us