Just about the time I recover from chemo . . .

the Neulasta shot kicks in hard. I can deal with the pain fairly well but this frequent nausea/ vomiting is so unnerving. At times, I can manage it and sometimes, I can't. So, if you catch me on the phone and I sound well and am chatty, that is a great moment for me.

Ah . . . sleep

I came home from doctor's appointments this morning to a very quiet house and was able to sleep and sleep this afternoon. I woke up to the smell of dinner that a neighbor brought over and I am feeling pretty good. Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts. I am not planning on returning to Christiana for 2 more weeks!

Proud mama

Dawson started taking swim lessons in September and this is the first time I saw him swim the length of the pool doing the backstroke by himself.

I am still surprised by how nice it feels to breathe! I am tired from yesterday's chemo but still able to get around. Yesterday, I watched David play outside from our driveway. I haven't been able to do this for at least a month - either too cold, or I was too tired, or couldn't breathe. I was watching from the window for all of those snowfalls while Dave and neighbors took the boys out. I stood in my driveway and chatted with a neighbor for about an hour yesterday. These may not seem lik big deals but I didn't realize how much I couldn't do until I was able to do. I take so much for granted and am so thankful for the ability to participate in life again.

I'm walking, yes, indeed

I was so happy to be walking into the cancer center today. Sounds funny, right? Last time, I had to be rolled in and felt like a trainwreck. Today, I walked in and felt semi-good. The combo of the chemo and the surgery are making me feel better and better. The chemo has its own side effects, but that is just a part of my life now. Now, I am just trying to reduce the cancer around my lungs enough so I can get some further testing done while lying on my back and not feeling like I am suffocating. These tests need to be done in the the next few weeks, but not immediately.

Thank you for all of your prayers through this. I am really beginning to feel better. My doctor just wishes he could give me longer breaks from chemo, but usually within weeks of chemo, I am NEEDING it again.

Headin' home

Well, my port has been de-accessed and the paperwork is on its way. My parents are gettingme some REAL lunch while we wait for the finishing touches, then I am home!I feel better today and ready to go.

Not fit to type

The Thorasic team completed the final sclerosis procedure around my lungs to get them to "stick" to the chest wall today. The drains were removed. Now I can walk to the restroom without any accessories! Let's see what else I did today. Nodded off mid-sentttttttttttttttt.

oo..Ouch! That is what I have been saying all day. Both sides now have drains, but my oxygen levels have become much better. I rarely need to wear it! My sleep was so much better last night and the next step is to do a pulmonary function test and decide if a pulmonary sclerosis is necessary. Oh, got chemo while I was here too. Lots of sleep has been had today.

How things keep changing

Since my last post, that spunk has shrunk. I am actually updating from my hospital bed care of Christiana Hospital. Over the weekend, we noticed a significant decrease in my ability to breathe, even with the oxygen. I was at the surgeon's office this morning at 10 and was admitted by 11:30. The fluid has returned and how invasive the procedure will depend on what the scans show once I am sedated.

I am so tired because I can't sleep well at night, can't breathe well and just the worry of everything. I wished I had squeezed my boys tighter this morning.