Home, Week 27.5

Week off of chemo. We talked to the doctor last week, and have a game plan for getting Mom back to a two-drug regimen, which seems to keep the cancer confused enough that it can't build up a resistance to just one drug. If that game plan doesn't work, there are a TON of other chemo drugs out there, it'll just be a matter of figuring out which ones would be the best options for Mom and her specific situation. Her platelets are low, as well as her white count (one of the many fluctuations), but that'll be taken care of today.

She had a Silpada event she went to Friday night, and had a great time. In case you haven't seen the new catalog, you can go to her Silpada website and check the new jewelry out: http://www.mysilpada.com/pat.mensing . She's still working on doing catalog parties, or even individual orders, and when she gets enough energy, she'll be out doing home parties, with a little assistance from either myself or another Silpada representative in her group. She also has some retired jewelry that she's selling from her inventory at 30% off, so if there's something that you had your eye on from the last catalog, and don't see it in this catalog, you may still be able to get it. Just give her a buzz or an e-mail and ask her. =)

The room is still available for rent, and we've advertised it on CraigsList for a few weeks now, so if you hear of anyone, even if it's just a temporary situation, let her know. =)

Thank you and God bless.

Home, Week 26.5

Chemo day again. Just the single, non-reactive drug today, so nothing exciting going on. She bounced back after her reaction the next day, and was good all week. She's also been keeping her nutrients in her body, so when she does get hydration, it's just saline most of the time. =) Her red and white blood counts fluctuate, so she gets shots to help keep those numbers up.

Home, Week 25.5, Chemo Round 5

Double-drug chemo day. We've done all the preventative measures we can take, and after a third of a bag of the second drug, Mom had a reaction. Turns out, these reactions (flushing, chest tightening, higher blood pressure and pulse) can be life threatening, but the nurses have been so calm about things externally that we had no idea. They stay in her room and keep an eye out on her when she has a reaction, and do their charting in here, just to make sure she's okay. They keep the necessary things around in case the reaction does get too severe, but they've been taking care of it before it gets to that point, thank God. So we need to figure out a new game plan, because her body is definitely not happy with this drug.

Home, Week 25

Mom's CA-125 is down to 466 now! Because of the reaction she had, she only had half of a dose of one of the chemo drugs, so hopefully it will drop even more after this next round, but 100 points really isn't bad. =)

Home, Week 24

Mom is feeling much better. She's back to eating normal foods and keeping them down, so this stint of nausea and mild dehydration are over. Skinny mini super model Mom is still losing weight because the quantity of food she's eating isn't what it was before the bowel obstructions started. She's lost a total of 60 pounds now. Her sister was out in the middle of last month and cut her hair again, so she's looking glamorous as ever. When I have access to my scanner, I'll put a new picture of her up. I love her laughing smile in the one that's currently up, so I'll keep that one up too. =)

Thank you all for continuing to keep up on Mom and her status. Everyone at RHI, she misses you so much and can't wait to come back. It touched me so much when we would come in and you guys would say "the blog", and everyone knew what you were talking about. Mom couldn't ask for a better company or group of co-workers.

I know I've told some of you this when we've seen you, but I want to make sure everyone knows this. Things have been kinda crazy at the house, so please don't take it personal when Mom doesn't call. Don't let it stop you from calling her, as she really enjoys talking to her loved ones, it gives her some sense of normalcy. Having it just be her and I in the house certainly isn't normal for her (or I, lol). We've been in the hospital for hydration and/or chemo on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, so that would be an ideal time to call her cell phone.

Oh, and while I have your attention, we're looking to rent out the bedroom that Brooke moved out of. We've had it repainted, and have a twin bed available if that's needed. The ideal renter would be a single female. Mom is asking $750 a month with a $400 security deposit. That includes laundry and kitchen privileges, and she would have her own bathroom. Utilities included are water, electric, basic cable, and garbage. If you know of anyone that would be interested, please give them the home phone number (if you need that number, put a comment in and we'll give it to you).

Thank you and God Bless. =)

Home, Week 23.5

Mom's stomach was a little off all week, and the nausea hit yesterday. She didn't get dehydrated to the point of needing to go to ER, she was able to finally keep some crackers and water down, but it did make her day uncomfortable.

At the doctor's appointment, it was decided that she'll keep on with the same drugs for one more round, but try some different preventative medications so that she hopefully won't have a reaction. This combination has been working so well, it would be a bummer if she had to stop it.

It looks like we're back in the same pattern that we were in when she was in the hospital. Her progress would soar, she'd have a small setback, and then get back up and rolling again, so this is just a minor setback, I pray.

Home, Week 22.5, Chemo Round 4

Mom is having reactions to one of her chemo drugs, so we're going to have to switch some things around. The one she gets twice per round is fine, but with the one she gets the first part of each round is causing her to get flushed and nauseous and her chest to tighten up. She's doing fine otherwise, we'll just have to talk to the doctor and see what else can be done, because this is the second time she's had the reaction, so this isn't going to work.

Keep her in your prayers, they're working to help drop her numbers, now we just need to find another way to make things work, so make that little note in your talks. =)

God Bless.