Home, Week 13

Mom has had hydration every day this week too, as well as shots to increase her white count, red count, infusions of platelets, and infusions of blood. She's getting stronger now, feeling back to her somewhat normal self, but she's definitely not strong enough for chemo. She may be strong enough this next week, but as that's July 4th, if she does get chemo, it would be the following Monday.

I (well, John and I) head out for Florida for about two weeks on the 7th. It will be a whirlwind packup and move, as his doctor doesn't want him gone for too long, in case something happens. Thank goodness I have great friends out there that are willing to help me move DOWN three flights of stairs (the same friends that helped me move UP those same three flights last year), so John can just kick back and "supervise". =)

Brooke is planning her move for the weekend of the 19th, so if John and I are able to do the traveling and the move in two weeks, we'll be crossing paths like ships in the night. The good news is, if we do take a little bit longer, Mom's sister-in-law will be here to hang out and make sure she's taken care of.

That's about it for now, there's still more shots and hydrations planned for this weekend and next week, so we'll just see how long things have to go. Keep Mom in your prayers, she needs all the strength she can get to fight this cancer. God bless.

Home, Week 12

Mom has had to get hydration every day this week, plus shots to get her white counts up, something to get her red count up, and platelets as well... it really was too early for her to start chemo, but the cancer wasn't going to wait for her to get strong enough to really fight it, so the treatment is kicking her butt. She's still in good spirits, just sleeping a lot.

I got my first CA-125 screening done, and the results came back. I'm at a 9, so I'm Mom's goal. =)

John and I moved into the house today, and put the RV in storage for a few weeks. We'll still be able to go to FL to pack up my apartment, but it'll be an even shorter trip now, just two to three weeks, and the doctor wants him back closer to the two week mark. A learning lesson for you, don't run in flip flops, ankles get shattered that way.

We have to get the house put back together from the tenting we had done... our neighbors were nice enough to house our food and plants for the week. It will be a good opportunity to go through the things we do have and see what needs to go.

Relay for Life is tomorrow. We're signed up in Dublin, and I'm just picturing the three of us (and John's dog) getting in there... Mom in her wheelchair, me pushing her, John in his wheelchair, pushing himself, and Dudley (John's dog) leading the pack. Makes me laugh just thinking about it. =)

I think that covers things for now. Mom has shots both days this weekend to work on her white count, and hydration on Monday, so we'll see how things are from there. Wish us luck, and keep us in your prayers. =)

What Are You Worth? Quote

I just saw The Bucket List. Great movie. In the opening of the movie, Morgan Freeman is narrating, and talking about how people measure the sum of their life's value. A great line, and one I feel really applies to Mom, is that you measure the sum of your life's worth by the people that measure themselves by you. If that's the case, then Mom's life is beyond measure.

Home, Week 11

Mom had chemo today, just the one drug that shouldn't make her nauseous. She hasn't been feeling too good this week, and she's dehydrated, so she'll be going for hydration for the next five days, as of now. Once the house is settled back down from being tented, we can get started on the things the nutritionist recommended, and that should hopefully keep her from getting dehydrated.

John (my boyfriend that came out here with me), shattered three bones in his ankle today while running in flip flops after his dog. He gets to have surgery next Thursday so pins and plates can be installed, and I've convinced him (wasn't too hard) that it would be easier to have him stay at the house with Mom and I while he's recovering. We'll be burning the flip flops in effigy, and I'll be doing any and all driving for him (it was his right ankle) until he's recovered.

Everything happens for a reason, and I keep praying for serenity and strength for me, and for relief for Mom. Time for me to go take care of my other patient now (just call me Nurse Liv *smiles*), so until next week, or the next drama, God bless.

Home, Week 10.?

I'm not sure how the pattern of nausea will go with this chemo, it's a little too early to tell. Mom would have been fine on Friday if we had been on the anti-nausea meds right away, and she was fine yesterday. We had some family visitors, so there was some excitement going on, and she was a little slow to start today, and has been blah and a little nauseous (not throwing up) today. So the pattern may be two days after chemo, she feels icky. If that's the case, then we'll adjust the chemo schedule accordingly.

We're getting the house tented (counts the days) next Monday for termites. It'll be easier to get this over and done with now, that way Mom can move on to the rest of her plans with the house. We'll all be required to stay out of the house for 2.5 days, but Mom will be staying out of the house for 4.5 days, just as a precaution. The gas they're using won't leave a residue or linger at all, we just need to either move out or properly seal up any food or things that go in our mouths (toothbrushes), as well as the house plants. Things are already set up for all of this to take place, and we all have places for us and the food/plants to go while we're out of the house, but I figured this would save Mom from telling everyone she talks to about the house. =)

My friend John has been a HUGE help through all of this. He's helping Brooke and Mom get Brooke packed up and organized so she can make her move, he's been taking care of things around the house that need to be done, and he's been a huge support system for me since we've been out here (middle of December, can you believe it?), and now for Mom. He gives great hugs. :D

Keep Mom in your prayers, the strength of all your prayers has been a total blessing, and she's felt the love and received strength from them, so thank you, and God bless you.

Home, Week 10, Chemo Round 1

Alrighty, we're bumping the weekly updates from Thursday to Friday because that's when Mom has chemo. She had her first treatment today, and tolerated it well. She's been a little nauseous this evening, but otherwise, things are good.

We have some news... Rick has been transferred to the Sacramento store, and has decided to make the move on his own. He knows his reasons and timing aren't the best, and this is hard on all of us, but he feels it's something he needs to do for himself right now. So we'll just have to see what the future holds for all of us. =)

Due to the news that diesel gas will be outrageously high until the end of the July 4th weekend, we have decided to delay our trip to FL again, and will be leaving on July 7th. We can't delay things any further than that, or we won't have enough time to organize and pack up my apartment. However, our being around will help Mom get things taken care of in the house so she can have someone rent a room.