Tuesday, May 26th

I am still working and doing fine. My hair is beginning to grow again. woohoo!
I received a call today that my radiation will begin Monday.

Another holiday has passed, Ellie Grace is growing up fast(8mths old), the boys have finished another year of school, and I am still taking measures to battle this cancer.

I am blessed and have many things to be thankful for.
Love to all,
Teressa

Monday, May 11th

Today is Daniel's 14th birthday!
Nick's prom was Saturday. We got to watch Ellie Saturday night. And Tara celebrated her first Mothers Day.
We had a busy and great weekend that ended with dinner at Mom's last night. I attached a picture of the boys.

It was nice after I finished my first full week back to work. That was a little difficult for me. Today I am off because I was to see to doctors. First, to get fluid drained off my surgery site and then to get a scan and my markings for radiation. Well, my surgeon will not be back until tomorrow so they changed my scan and everything else until tomorrow. You see I am very swollen and full of fluid so they can not get accurate markings and get me set up until I get drained. =(
Now I need to call work and be off some tomorrow. This is not good since I just came back. Oh well, all I can do is all I can do.

I attached some pix from the weekend.
Love and prayers to all.

Monday, April 27th

Friday was my last chemo. I am very thankful and pray I do not have to do that again. The bone and joint pain began last evening so I am moving slow for a few days. Again, my feet, fingers, and toes are sore to touch and tender to use.
Tara had me flowers in the car when I left my last chemo. It was a special day just having her there with me.
Thankfully, I will get no more steroids. I have no stamina at all. I tire and get out of breath easily. As soon as this aching stops I hope to walk some and get some energy back. The last six months have been enough. I know my radiation begins soon and I hope it doesn't make me too tired as well.
Thanks for everything.
Love and prayers to all.

April 16th

I found a great quote today -
It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

And this poem -

Count on God

Count On God --unknown author

Count your blessings instead of your crosses

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes.

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears.

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth.

Count on God instead of yourself
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Amanda, thanks for your comment. You are a dear and we all love you.
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Tonight I am driving my sis to Lexington. Tasha is going with us to a doc appt for Bev tomorrow.
Grant is preaching tonight and I will miss it but I have a chance to hear him Sat. night and/or Sun.
Tonight and Sat. are at 7 and Sun. at 6 at Trinity.
I am officially scheduled to go back to work May 1st. In May I begin radiation.
I have my last chemo next Friday. woohoo!

Gotta go!
Love and prayers to all,
Teressa

April 15th

I had chemo last Friday and Tara took me since she was on spring break. My stepdad Wayne came again to see me while I was there. I did fall asleep again because of the benedryl in the premeds and the alcohol in the taxol. My nails(fingers and toes) have gotten these red places and they are very tender. It's difficult to open things. They said that some nails may fall off. I have one more chemo to go so I am hoping they don't. I have about a 1/4 inch of hair. And I am feeling the joint and bone pains which begin sunday night after my chemo. This chemo keeps me up all night on Friday. Saturday night Ellie came out and she helped Daniel and my nephews color eggs. I went to church with Tara & Grant on Sunday. I really enjoyed the weekend before my pains set in on Sunday night. It's wednesday now and I still have some shooting pains. Hot baths help too and of course I alternate pain medicines. Also, the bottoms of my feet are very sore and peeling. Oh, and the steroids I have learned is causing my constant hunger...I have been eating a lot. Dad is taking me again today for my neupogen shot. I enjoy this time with him.

I have my appt. set for the 20th to discuss radiation with my next doc. It will be for 30 days Mon-Fri. I am still on leave from work and I will know when I return after I speak with him.

Haven't my boys really grown? Nick is 18 and Daniel will be 14 in May.

Love and prayers to all.

April 6th

This Friday I will be having #7 of 8 chemos. I know I haven't written on my blog for a while and I don't really know why. I did take a leave from work and it has relieved some tension I had. I was trying to be positive, trying to be a good manager, trying to be a good family member and friend, and then I think I just decided to take a break and relax. "Knowing" how sick you are going to be every other week and then having a new side affect or infection added after each additional treatment was troublesome. I just needed a break from cancer and I guess that included my blog as well.
I have spent some time reflecting on this "detour" in my life. I have really missed my sister. I know she is as tired as I am of having to deal with our illnesses. But we will get through it.
My Dad has been taking me to get all of my shots every other week and we have had some great talks.
I am blessed with all of my family and friends. Thank you so much for all of your prayers, emails, cards, etc. It has got me through some tough times.
Ellie Grace has been ill with RSV and this is the second week I can't be near her. I don't like this at all, but we know I can't risk it right now. I do speak to her via telephone and Tara says she smiles. I did drive to their house and talk to her through the glass storm door(twice). I had bought her some bunny ears and Tara took her picture this weekend. She's precious. Here is another pix that Grant's dad had taken. I love it too.
Love to all

Monday, March 16th

I had a pretty good weekend after Friday's new chemo drug and I will email about that later. The side effects of this drug is joint and bone pain. I woke up with it this morning. It's all in my torso and legs. It's like aching all over and sporadic sharp pains shooting throughout. I don't know how long it lasts in between treatments. At least I do not have all of the nausea anymore and I am very thankful for that. Dad took me to get my neupogen shot today and I go tomorrow for another and to see my surgeon for fluid drainage.
Bev's botox is still wearing off and she is having some difficult times with her neck pain. Please continue to pray for her.
Love to all