My paperbag chemo and more...

Hello from Lake Avenue quarantine! No not me, Margo has blessed us with the vomiting, fever bug that has been going around. I will spare you the details (Facebook friends already got that) but I can assure you- NOT pretty. Please pray that only Margo is affected by it and no one else in the house? I know, it would be a miracle.

John and I went to Indy on Wednesday for my second infusion of the clinical trial I am on. Blood work was good and I am now on Prilosec as we are hoping my stomach pains might be acid reflux caused by so many chemos and not anything else. Everything went fine and we really just ended up waiting for blood work results, the chemo to be ordered and brought to my room... yes, like this...

Oh the humor of it. inside really is an "official" looking bag of chemo labeled with my name and other important information but the lab just pops it into a brown paper bag for transport. Again, we were blessed with an uneventful drive home in time for John to go to soccer practices for Sarah and Henry. Yes, he is also coaching Henrys soccer team this year. On one hand, I think he is nuts but on the other, he really is a great coach and I am grateful for him to stretch himself even more (if that is possible) for Henry.

 

Thankfulness...

We have neighbors whom we adore. Miss Jennie and Miss Judy are sisters. Miss Jennie is Mr. Dons caretaker. Mr. Don has CP, is older and confined to a wheelchair. Miss Judy has made all of my head scarves, our beloved Jerry the Elf quilt. and just so many extra beautiful thoughtful things. It has been a very hard week for them. Mr. Don had an emergency on Wednesday and thankfully didn't have a heart attack that was first thought but spent a stressful day at the hospital. Then yesterday, Miss Judy's BELOVED and again older German Shepherd Casper couldn't walk. It was feared he had had a stroke. So in the pouring rain, Judy, another neighbor and I carried Casper in a quilt to the van and I went with Judy and Casper to the vets. The great news is that the vet saw him in the van so not to move him unnecessarily, gave him some meds and thinks it is just some major back spasms. Casper too is home resting from his trip to the hospital and doing better. I am so thankful for them but I was especially thankful to God for putting me in the position to help them. Casper means to world to Miss Judy and she was rightfully thinking the worst and very upset. But through the entire time, she absolutely had COMPLETE trust in God whatever the outcome would be. She is one of the most faith filled women I know and I am positive God put her in my life for a purpose. I learned so much about true trust and faith in God yesterday from her. I am extremely blessed.

 

This weekend is St. Gertrude's Mothers retreat hosted by our St. Gerts Sisters. I know they have worked countless months and hours preparing for this weekend and I was SO looking forward to attending. But then I had my foot thing and then the other chemo stopped working and then I had new chemo and have felt so horrible. I just couldn't go. I am crying as I type this because I know it will be a fantastic weekend for the mothers that are attending. I really felt a calling to go. Not only for myself but to support these ladies I love so much. I can't wait to hear about the weekend and hope they all know I will be praying for them and there in spirit.

 

I am also SO thankful for so many friends bringing not only dinners but another group of friends bringing lunch items for the kids to pack for school. Let me tell you, the kids are in hog heaven and have had dinners and snacks that they usually only BEG for at the store. I stopped Henry walking out the door to school the other day with 3 packs of oreos, nutterbutter and chips ahoy cookies hidden in his sweatshirt. He picked the nutterbutters and was allowed to secretly hide the other two for after school. Ah the good life! Thank you families and friends for taking your precious time and money to do this for us! I really feel we are not deserving. One day I hope to pay it forward.

 

 

Proof...

I can't believe I am actually going to show these pictures but...

Last night I could not take another second of hair in my mouth, hair in my food, hair just floating by in the breeze willy nilly. Finally, when I noticed that my glasses had rubbed a perfect line into my temple, I knew I had to take it off. I will admit my pixie cut was better than I thought- even though it only lasted 3 days.
What really surprised me were the two little girls home sick from school- one with a yucky stomach the other with croup (!) and on breathing treatments were frighteningly MORE than a little happy to take the buzzer to their mommas head! Videos and pictures documented the process. Mohawks, spikes and zigzags were perfected. As I told Melissa, I am a little frightened for Henry and Margo and have told them to never play "beauty shop" with their sisters.

I am glad that the whole shaving process was kept "light" because of the fact that E and S could not believe I would actually let them buzz me. I really am ok without hair. It's not about the hair. If I can prolong my life I will happily be hairless! It does make me sad that it really is THE outward sign that I am living with cancer. I can only hope when people see me, they just send up a quick prayer instead of feeling badly that I don't have hair.

I just can't help it- these make me laugh.

Small Kitten...

Quickly, here are my thoughts for the day...

* Well, Dr. M was right about losing my hair again...

*Every time I run my hands through my hair, my hands look like I have a small furry brown kitten in them

*Seriously, if you are on a chemo that makes you lose your hair, you should be given a complimentary bottle of Liquid Plumber  #SOmuchhairintheshower!

*Haircut? at 1:30 today... I know Miss Holli can do magic but...

*Even if I do still feel horrible, I am so going have a glass of wine tonight.

*I am glad it is Spring and my mantle looks nice

Smooches, Kate

Excuse me, I'm sleeping...

Ugh... If I think of how I am feeling lately, Ugh is the first thing that comes to mind. I am just not 100% and that bothers me. My foot is better but still gross and sore. But certain shoes can be worn so that's progress. I don't need to be back to Indy until next Wednesday and that is for another round of chemo. My hair is hurting so I'm sure it is about to go. Then, on top of it all, I am just so tired.

Baseball has started for Henry and he is loving it. Soccer-palooza starts for all 4 Wordeman children next week- even though Margo "doesn't want to talk about it" and is appalled she is on the black team since "it is a horrible color and goes with nothing". Ahem... should be interesting...

I am so thankful for everyone sending prayers our way. It has been a rough couple of weeks.

Thank you

Wonderful...

My children are surrounded by wonderful people. I have watched this video many, many times. I love it so much- even if I cry every time. I just can't find the words...
I can only hope and pray that everyone is lucky enough to have a "Sister Marie Noelle" at some time in their life.

Dear foot...

Dear left foot,
Why the anger? In the past 44 years, I think I have treated you pretty well. I nice scrubbing and pretty polish on your toes. Many years of funky socks to wear. Lord knows enough shoes to keep you from getting bored. Yet just because of a little chemo reaction (from the LAST chemo not the new clinical trial) you have not only become more pissed off than you have ever been, you have scared the dickens out of not only myself but everyone around me. You are giving me more pain than childbirth. In fact, this is honestly the most pain I think I have ever been in.It is preventing me from walking. Dr. M gave me pain meds and steroids on Friday yet you continue to be extremely painful, swollen, red and disgusting. Foot, come on- can't we just be friends and get along?

Let's get an update here before I crawl back into my bed. Last week went well. Melissa went with me for my infusion and LONG day of blood draws. We found our hotel via a couple of interesting sites... and apparently, I used the warthog snoring app instead of peaceful ocean sounds all night. lol...
My foot had been starting back up with the inflammation and chemo reaction from my last chemo (Doxil) again and I was worried sweet NP S was going to make me wait to start the CT (Clinical Trial) Since there was no indication of this %^&*ing hand and foot syndrome with the new CT, she let me go ahead. But because of the new CT, I didn't start on any steroids as I have the past 2 times this has happened. Let's just say that my foot, elbows and knees were NOT happy.

Wednesday, came home literally minutes before the big snow storm. Thank you God for letting M and I get home before any of the rain and snow that was predicted for us the whole way from Indy to Cincy. I felt ok but tired and sore (feet etc) Thursday, Margo and I spent most of the time on the couch and snoozing. Oh and Margo painted... by herself... and "cleaned up"... ahem.
Thursday, we had a 2 hour delay because of snow and luckily GG took my children with his to school and brought them home. My stomach just felt off but still ok.
Friday, stomach not great but able to have coffee and donut holes with Amy R. Poor Amy drew the short straw and drove me to my appointment in Indy where instead of just a blood draw, I saw Dr. M about my feet, elbows and knees. Where she nodded her head, agreed they were very pissed off and prescribed me pain meds and steroids. Amy and I stopped at Applebee's and had a good lunch. Honestly, after I got home, it all went downhill from there. I went to Target to fill rx and was in so much unbelievable pain, I was shaking and nauseous. I was happy that my niece Tricia stayed with the kids while I went to Target by myself as we might still be there. LOVE her! I popped one pain pill and two steroids and was happily smooshed on the couch by 3 Wordeman children to watch a movie. I made it through the movie and had to limp to bed. I think the pain med is what is making me so nauseous. I didn't eat or drink much and to be honest it has been a very hard couple of days. Yesterday, Sarah was in an all star basketball tournament in which she and another player from her Madeira team were chosen by their teammates to represent them in this all star tournament. I have been so excited for Sarah as I LOVE the girls on this team and their parents. They truly are just a wonderful group of very talented girls. I think we are very blessed to have the ability to not only be a part of the St. Gertrude's community but also the entire Madeira community.
So, I was bound and determined to go to her game. 2 pain pills, a steroid and some crumb cake later, I was BARELY functioning at her game. Sarah made a basket, played very well and her team won. Don't ask me the score as I was too busy limping to the bathroom to vomit and then go lay in the van. Ugh...
The rest of yesterday was a blur. I really think the pain meds are making me sick so today, I took Motrin and am feeling better. Not coffee better but in due time.
I am to go to Indy tonight and have another biopsy on my neck and blood draw early in the morning.
then have some "days off" and don't need to be back in Indy until St. Patricks Day. Then, it all starts again with infusion the week after.