June 20th

I just finished my third week of radiation. My skin is a little red and I have been some tired but I am doing great. I'm still working full time and will continue to do so. I did lose my second fingernail and I didn't know if I mentioned it. The boys and I saw a movie today and we had a great time. I saw Ellie last night and she crawling so well. She is an angel. I love her little faces she makes now to get a laugh. Everything about her is amazing. I love being a grandma. I think she likes me best without a wig. I think I do too.
I'm ready to do something....canoeing, camping, spelunking, horseback riding, biking,...just something. I got an itch.

Love to all

June 8th

The family is doing great. Summer is here and Nick left yesterday to go with the band to Florida. Daniel is enjoying fishing. Tara, Grant and Ellie stopped by yesterday for a visit and Ellie is truly amazing. What a sweetie.

I just completed my first week of radiation. Also, my surgeon is draining fluid off my surgery site twice a week so my radiation will be more accurate. I am on tamoxifen for hormone therapy to block the estrogen.
They decided to do radiation on the site and above... since it was in my lymph nodes and they travel up. It doesn't take long and I shouldn't experience any skin problems until later...if any.
I did take a couple of naps this week. But I am working full time and I have been training someone all week.
My hair is growing more and I believe it is coming in gray and white...ha Imagine that. I will also be shaving my legs for the first time in a long time this week. I have put it off just because I never liked it before. My head sweats a lot because the wig is like a cap and the weather is warmer. As soon as I get in the car...it comes off.
My eyebrows and lashes are almost gone. And I lost my first fingernail yesterday. I am expecting to lose many more as they are dead and hanging on by a 1/4 inch of new growth.

It is well with my soul and I am feeling great. What an experience.
8 months and going.
Love and prayers to all

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.