Hello, Fabulous Friends and Family!

So…this will be short…I really should be in bed. Oh well! Let’s do this![...]

Hello, Amazing Friends and Family,

So…today was to be Chemo #8—since it was canceled last week. But, alas, it has been canceled again. Again! My white blood cell and neutrophil counts (a type of white blood cell that fights bacterial infection) were even lower than last time. So, no chemo. In fact, I have to “practice good hygiene” and be extra careful to not get sick because they’re so low. Great! So I guess I’d better wear a hasmat suit when I visit Costco this week.
Oh well. At least I get another week of “normal”—whatever that is. Well, I do know what that is to me. I can get more done from my To Do list. Yaaaaay! I don’t have to wear jazz hand gloves. Yaaaaay! I don’t have to avoid cold drinks (well, except for super cold). Yaaaaay! No strong nausea. Yaaaaay!
Also, to answer the question I know all of you are asking because I asked it. My family asked it. Everyone’s asking it:[...]

Hello Fabulous Friends and Family,

So…here’s how the last chemo (#7) week (May 11-16) went:[...]

Don't judge me. The jazz hands made me do it!

Down to 42.2! Moving in the right direction. 

Thank you for your prayers! God is so very merciful![...]

Hello, Fabulous Friends and Family!

Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. Ours was fabulous! Thankful to be alive![...]

Hello Fabulous Friends and Family!!!

Hope you had a wonderful Monday! And are starting a fabulous Tuesday![...]

More FABULOUS news! My tumor markers have dropped again! 111.9! Yay!

God is so wonderful!!! So thankful He heals and that He gives us incredible minds to create incredible medicine.[...]

Hello Friends and Family,
It’s a gorgeous sunny spring day in MN!
I did my 5th chemo infusion today. It went smoothly and quickly. Very nice. My Oncologist is pleased with my results from the treatment (FOLFOX with Avastin). The tumor in my colon and the ones in the liver and lung plus the affected lymph nodes are shrinking. Fabulous news!
Per the last CT Scan (4/9), the cancer had spread to the lung (they weren’t’ sure if it was just benign nodules and were just watching). However, it’s only one 4mm nodule and it has already shrunk to 2mm. I still have 3 more nodules, but they’re less than 3mm and unchanged by the chemo, so they’re pretty likely not cancer. A lot of people get small nodules in their lungs for numerous reasons. Most never even know they’re there.
Anyway, I’m back to the jazz hand gloves and not drinking anything cold--instead, it has to be lukewarm—ick! And I have the hand/finger/foot neuropathy which feels like pins and needles but usually only when cold. Monday (today) and Tuesday are my "good days". That’s because of the steroids. They’re great because they keep the nausea away while I’m wearing the portable chemo. But…it gives met the attention span of a 2 year old. (But no beard yet. Whew!)
I’ll admit that I’m a little anxious about Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Those are the rough days. The ones where I realize, “Hey, I have cancer.” The side effects increase in number and strength. But…I’ve planned out my week so I don’t have to go anywhere those days. I’m going to try and rest –and let my Mom and kids do things for me. That’s nearly impossible for me to do. Not the rest part. The part about letting someone else do MY job. If I had enough energy I’d write out a 20-page memo on how and when to do everything the “way I do it” and I’d include pictures and diagrams. People love that. (Not!) Pray for my family. They have to deal with my craziness!
I'm very thankful, though. It could be so much worse. God has been very merciful. The cancer is shrinking; my blood tests are all going back in to the “normal” range. And I have you! I am very blessed!
(Oh yeah, I won’t get the results of my CEA tumor marker test until tomorrow. I’ll post the results when I can.) 
As always, thank you for your prayers and encouragement. You’ve been a great example to me. I am so fortunate to have you. Have a wonderful week. You all are FABULOUS!!!![...]

Hello, My Wonderful Friends and Family.

Quick update: This (#4) was NOT my favorite chemo session. It’s been a rough two weeks. Better this week--but still more tired and cold neuropathy. Plus puffiness—I hate puffiness. (Bet you were hoping for a picture. Couldn’t do it. Sorry.) But…I was told that would happen. Still don’t like it. But, it means the chemo is working. Yay![...]