chemo-tastic

It's 2:28 in the morning.

I took the medicine to help me sleep two hours ago. See how well it works.

I received blood and platelets last night. From a stranger, weird, but safe. I now feel replenished.

I found an old 1990's style juicer in the garage today. Organic apples, black berries and strawberries. I am in love.

The day has come. I have 2 eyelashes left on my left eye. Sigh. That is it. 2 eyelashes for my whole face. And yes, I do still put mascara on them. Carefully.

I will enjoy them til the end.

I'm trying to remember what I used to look like. I like this picture. It was AC (after cancer) but during a remission in college. My hair is to my shoulders but I still got so excited about just having it. It was Halloween. I couldn't wear that outfit now- I need much more coverage for scars-but I'm glad I had a great time in it that night.

I'm a lion. People thought I was a squirrel, mouse, Pocahontas (seriously?)

My body and my eyelashes will be returned to me one day. This is only for a time, this is only for a time....

yada yada

I'm done with round 6, just waiting to feel better. I got some great news regarding my insurance tonight, so I'm quite happy!

88-365 My dad's tomato plants. I can't wait to fry up the green ones.

87-365 I was having the worst craving for a sandwich. It took me an hour and a half but I ate it all.

86/365 I got these pillows when I went to Malaysia over the summer. I have finally found a place for them.

85/365 I got a shot in my stomach. Yes, it's as bad as it sounds.....

84/365 A package of cookies from my friend and former chemo angel. She is awesome!

83/365 He's sick AGAIN. I shaved his little butt to keep him clean....it looks terrible.

82/365 Kev came to visit me over the weekend and was very sweet and ended up staying for the first 2 days of chemo.

81/365 My dad went fishing. I love fresh, fried fish.

80/365-spending time with my little princess.

79/365- I bliked my wall.

I want another cupcake....

I've had a fabulous week. Went to Dallas for a few day-if I didn't get to see you I'm sorry, i'll be back or you can always come see me in Houston : ) Went back to hot yoga. There is something so therapeutic about sweating and stratching for 90 minutes. It rocks my socks off. I will only be able to go a few times between treatments but that is ok. The benefits will stay with me. My soul is happy again.

Kim just left back for Dallas. Sister is still here for a few days so I will be entertained. Yesterday was filled with yummy food, thrift store shopping and the discovery of an imposter version of my favorite cupcake shop. Sprinkles is my first love, but until they get their butts to Houston, Crave will now calm my sugar craving in between trips to Dallas.

Chemo has been postponed until (hopefully) Monday. Waiting on those damn platelets to come back up.

The most perfect food: the cupcake.

78/365 My dad took off yesterday to take us to Galveston for lunch. We had a great time. There is still a lot of damage from the storm but for what it went through, the island looks great.

Camille, me and Kim

My family

77/365 Going to hot yoga, this time in Houston. Camille decided to join us. We had a male teacher, i've only had female, it was an interesting experience.


76/365 Kim driving us back down to Houston.

75/365 Kim and I went to hot yoga. I did ask my doctor first, was very careful and was very hydrated. It was great!!! We took the 90 minute class and I was able to keep up. When I left I felt like I could fly. It was the best feeling!

74/365- Kev and I playing with my camera in my hotel room.

73/365 Playing with my camera before going to Dallas. Maybe this is why I was late and missed my plane. Luckily they leave every 30 minutes from Houston to Dallas.

72/365 Visiting with Allison and her mom in the hospital. Her mom was in ICU after a procedure on her heart. She is doing well.

71/365-Baby Ivy. She is so beautiful, I love her.

Baby Time!

My lovely friend who I threw the shower for had her baby today. They are both doing well. Her baby is the prettiest baby I think I've ever seen.

Bad new: Platelets very low. Good news: This means no chemo next week. I can enjoy my sister and Kim, maybe even a little hot yoga.

Bad news: Due to a sad and unfortunate event my trip to St. Louis has to be postponed. Good news: I think I might go to Dallas for the weekend.

70/365- I parallel parked today with out tearing anyone's car up.

69/365- turns out he had a stomach bug. So did our other two dogs. One diagnosed, antibiotics for all.

68/365-I love seeing my car's twin. Same make, model and year.

67/365- I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. So did he, on my floor.

66/365-I was very happy to see my bed today. Hospital beds are hard.

65/365-mom, with me at 2am in the emergency room.

64/365- I'm not the contagious one. You are!

I would have rather been on the beach...

I started feeling chilled yesterday evening and couldn't get warm.

I knew what this meant and being the good cancer patient and nurse I am I ignored it for 2 hours. Wishfully hoping it would go away. It didn't. Got out my thermometer and what do you know? A temp. Since my white blood cell count was so low, I had to go to the emergency room at MD Anderson. I stalled some more...

My mom came with me. We were there from 9pm to noon today. And I was a priority patient moved to the top of the list because my counts were low. I was still there for 15 hours.

I got IV antibiotics and a blood transfusion.

I had an allergic reaction to something after the first unit of blood. I was fine, talking on the phone, waiting for mom to bring me breakfast when I started itching. Severely. All over. I started having trouble swallowing and noticed welts popping up everywhere. Got off the phone. Very scared. Tried to get to the door fast, and like the smooth operator I am, forgot I was connected to an IV pole which was plugged in to the wall, was jerked back and knocked some stuff over. The tech heard me and came in, yelled for the nurse, who yelled for the doctor. They were awesome, moved fast and got me some benadryl and cortisone. A little nausea medicine too. All the excitement made me a little sick to my stomach. I was better in about 30 minutes.

I have a possible abscess in a most terrible place. It hurts, it's keeping me up at night, and I want it to go away. I'm glad I can't see it.

And yes I am still planning on going on my trip this weekend. I need it. Desperately.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

Done with chemo #5. I can't believe I've been on chemo this long...4 months. I'm ready to be done. I hope just one more but I know better than to get excited. The addition of the third chemo was weird. Horrible stomach pain for days. That's never happened before. I wasn't really sure what to do with all the pain so I just tried to sleep all week.

My blood counts are very low. They dropped much faster and sooner than I thought. My platelets are super low so I have been scheduled for a platelet transfusion tomorrow. Fun. At least it's not chemo. And good news is I don't feel like crap. Normally this time after chemo I'm wallowing in the fetal position somewhere but surprisingly I feel ok. I'm almost afraid to type that, like it won't last if I say it out loud.

I will meet with the doctor next week. Hopefully surgery will be scheduled soon.

63/365 Family from Georgia send us peanuts and my mom roasts them. She has done this since I was little. Always the same delicious roasted smell, always the same yellow pan. I hope to do this for my kids one day.

62/365 I've never been an ice cream person. But something about it's cold, scentless ways has enticed me. I will only have it from Cold Stone: sweet cream with pound cake, pecans and rainbow sprinkles. Happiness.

61/365- There is a field behind the house. Sometimes rats come into the yard. Randi (wiener dog mix) was on it before I could scream. I was slow from the chemo backpack. By the time I stopped the assault it was badly injured. I wanted to help it, but the thought of being on antibiotics for 2 weeks from a rat bite was too much. Yucky, i know, but I didn't want it to suffer because my dog decided to go wolf for the day.

60/365-Fish and grits. It's a southern thing (my parents are from Georgia). I had a dream about it and so mom cooked it for me for breakfast. So good.

59/365- So I didn't even think of myself as "disabled" until the nice people at MDA informed that I kind of met all of the criteria. This is really one of the most un-fun places I've been. No one smiles at the SS office.

58/365-carbs, carbs, chemo and carbs

57/365 I wore one of favorite shirts today, it's so comfy and worn in.

56/365 I knew I wasn't supposed to leave the unit during chemo, but in my chemo delirium it seemed like a bright idea. I mean it was only 6 floors between me and the hospital gift store candy heaven. I was caught before I even got off the unit. I think they have cameras. Luckily my ride was more than happy to go get my candy.

55/365 Bored during chemo? Have a photo session in the mirror!

Mas baby shower

More pictures from the baby shower.....

The candy buffet was a big hit!