Soooo overdue. I knew I wasn't going to be great at this blogging but this is ridiculous!! Sorry to everyone that has been waiting for an update. The great thing is I have great news! Two months have gone by since my last post, I blame it on my kids getting out of school.
For those I haven't talked to here's a little or a lot of catch up. I left off after round 1.
I had round 2 on May 23, the doc called to say that my blood count was way lower then they wanted but were going to move ahead with treatment because timing was very important, so I got my own private room with a bed and tv for the 4 hours. That was nice!
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That weekend my family and I drove to Truckee to see my brother and sis-in law. They had just bought their first home and I was excited to see it. I figured it didn't matter where I did all my napping and laying around. Bad idea, I was so sick again for round 2 and it's always more comfortable to be home. While a was visiting my bro I took the opportunity for him to buzz my hair. My husband didn't want to do it and I didn't want to do it myself. I was able to reach up and pluck chunks of hair out and it was everywhere when i washed it, it was grossing me out so it was time. It wasn't my favorite day but my brother made me laugh and that always helps everything.
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On the drive home I could feel a cold coming on and my ears hurt really bad. By Tuesday I was in the ER with a fever. They did a lot of blood test and a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia. After 10 hrs they decided it was just an ear infection and sent me home. When I had checked in they said they were most likely going to admit me, thank god they did not. It took about 10 days to start feeling better and it was hard to work that week. I had a small mental breakdown the week after round 2. I was so frustrated with how sick I felt and I didn't feel like I was handling it well. I was struggling to work and facing my fear of how I was going to continue. I made the decision to take the entire week after each Chemo off and called my friend Amy. She is a retired Esthetician that is very talented, she had offered to step in for me if I needed it. So I called her up and we set it all up. She is a gift from God, I loved that my clients could still call me to book appointments and go to the same place. No one had to miss a beat! 
I needed a nap, Owen had other ideas.
Before round 3 I saw my oncologist to check in. We discussed my severe nausea, and doubled my meds and she told me that my chest x-ray for my hospital visit showed that the chemo was working so well that she could only see traces of cancer. That meant that i would be able to finish Chemo early!!! I was ecstatic and cried for the first time in this whole journey. I've always been more of a happy cryer :)and this news was on top with getting engaged and seeing that second pink line (both times).
The day after my 3rd treatment was the Fundraiser that my dear friend Karen Thomas organized at her house. It was a fun fun night!!! My friends and husband worked there butts off to put together and execute a BBQ dinner for 70 people. A huge thank you to Dean Carter, Karen Thomas, My hubby, Dean Christensen, Jill Roberds, Lori Gabaldon, Kelli Randolph and Brenna Mckowen!! They worked all day and night in the heat and smiled the whole time. So many friends old and new and family came to show me support, it was a fun night and has rekindled some great friendships. The support has helped with medical bills and supplement my income while I took so much time off work. Thank you also to everyone that sent donations even though you didn't get to eat Bob's BBQ :)
The nausea was very minimal this time, Yay! I was figuring it out and I knew now that I was almost done. I took naps and took my pills when prescribed without missing a beat.
My friend Michelle sat with me during my very last round, we played cards and read magazines. Michelle makes me laugh endlessly so I had more fun then one should while being pumped with poison, thanks Michelle. At the end of that session they gave me a certificate of completion and all the nurses clapped as I left. I felt so excited!!!
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Round 4 was also easier with nausea. Going into round 4 my taste buds had been off. Everything,water included had been tasting like dirt, salt or blood. Hard to describe but really gross. The nurse said that most people drink crystal light to help get the water down. Funny that I had always avoided fake suger and drinks like that because I didn't want to get cancer! She told me to get over that :) so I drank fruit punch and lemonade crystal light by the gallon. It really did cover up the bad taste. Also I discovered lime mineral water, that helped to. I was able to get through the final round because I knew I was experiencing it for my last time. When I finished my nausea pills I threw the bottles away(all 6 of them)because I didn't need the refill number ever again. Such a great feeling.
About 2 weeks later on July 1 I had my PET scan to confirm I was done.
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That weekend my family and I drove to Truckee to see my brother and sis-in law. They had just bought their first home and I was excited to see it. I figured it didn't matter where I did all my napping and laying around. Bad idea, I was so sick again for round 2 and it's always more comfortable to be home. While a was visiting my bro I took the opportunity for him to buzz my hair. My husband didn't want to do it and I didn't want to do it myself. I was able to reach up and pluck chunks of hair out and it was everywhere when i washed it, it was grossing me out so it was time. It wasn't my favorite day but my brother made me laugh and that always helps everything..JPG)
.JPG)
On the drive home I could feel a cold coming on and my ears hurt really bad. By Tuesday I was in the ER with a fever. They did a lot of blood test and a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia. After 10 hrs they decided it was just an ear infection and sent me home. When I had checked in they said they were most likely going to admit me, thank god they did not. It took about 10 days to start feeling better and it was hard to work that week. I had a small mental breakdown the week after round 2. I was so frustrated with how sick I felt and I didn't feel like I was handling it well. I was struggling to work and facing my fear of how I was going to continue. I made the decision to take the entire week after each Chemo off and called my friend Amy. She is a retired Esthetician that is very talented, she had offered to step in for me if I needed it. So I called her up and we set it all up. She is a gift from God, I loved that my clients could still call me to book appointments and go to the same place. No one had to miss a beat! 
I needed a nap, Owen had other ideas.
Before round 3 I saw my oncologist to check in. We discussed my severe nausea, and doubled my meds and she told me that my chest x-ray for my hospital visit showed that the chemo was working so well that she could only see traces of cancer. That meant that i would be able to finish Chemo early!!! I was ecstatic and cried for the first time in this whole journey. I've always been more of a happy cryer :)and this news was on top with getting engaged and seeing that second pink line (both times).
The day after my 3rd treatment was the Fundraiser that my dear friend Karen Thomas organized at her house. It was a fun fun night!!! My friends and husband worked there butts off to put together and execute a BBQ dinner for 70 people. A huge thank you to Dean Carter, Karen Thomas, My hubby, Dean Christensen, Jill Roberds, Lori Gabaldon, Kelli Randolph and Brenna Mckowen!! They worked all day and night in the heat and smiled the whole time. So many friends old and new and family came to show me support, it was a fun night and has rekindled some great friendships. The support has helped with medical bills and supplement my income while I took so much time off work. Thank you also to everyone that sent donations even though you didn't get to eat Bob's BBQ :)
The nausea was very minimal this time, Yay! I was figuring it out and I knew now that I was almost done. I took naps and took my pills when prescribed without missing a beat.
My friend Michelle sat with me during my very last round, we played cards and read magazines. Michelle makes me laugh endlessly so I had more fun then one should while being pumped with poison, thanks Michelle. At the end of that session they gave me a certificate of completion and all the nurses clapped as I left. I felt so excited!!!.JPG)
Round 4 was also easier with nausea. Going into round 4 my taste buds had been off. Everything,water included had been tasting like dirt, salt or blood. Hard to describe but really gross. The nurse said that most people drink crystal light to help get the water down. Funny that I had always avoided fake suger and drinks like that because I didn't want to get cancer! She told me to get over that :) so I drank fruit punch and lemonade crystal light by the gallon. It really did cover up the bad taste. Also I discovered lime mineral water, that helped to. I was able to get through the final round because I knew I was experiencing it for my last time. When I finished my nausea pills I threw the bottles away(all 6 of them)because I didn't need the refill number ever again. Such a great feeling.
About 2 weeks later on July 1 I had my PET scan to confirm I was done.
