March Madness

Sunday morning with the boys... They were running around making guns and space ships out of anything they could find. Boys... We have been amazed at how well they have been playing together. Ryker doesn't miss a beat. He is talking in full sentences and doesn't take grief from anyone.
Landon wants to grow up and be just like his dad. He had his first Pine Wood Derby for cub scouts this week. He took 1st, 3rd, and 4th in the various heats. I was just glad the car made it down the track!

This week went better than anticipated. It started off with a weak-positive influenza test, but it appears that the prophylactic medicine I've been taking may have actually worked. Other than being tired and fighting off a cold, I've done really well. The boys and I spent a lot of time with Kim and her boys this week. We partied at Chuck E Cheese and I tried my hand at making one of Kim's awesome cakes.
Thanks to everyone for the great food and well wishes! God bless!!
Jeanel

2 Down 2 To Go

On Wednesday I went in for my second of 4 treatments. To my surprise I was able to talk the doctor into adding another chemo agent to the current regime. I was there from 9:30 to 3:30 getting taxotere, cytoxin (the new chemo agent), herceptin, and zometa. I was expecting the deep bone aches and head aches that I got the last time around, but for the most part I have been just feeling like crap and tired. The days are long and noise really bugs, so I headed to my parents' house for some quiet time on Saturday- which was really helpful. Bruce has influenza, so needless to say, the kids have been a little under-supervised this weekend. I hope to find to house still standing in the morning... Here is to a couple of more sick days and then a couple of good weeks!!! Jeanel

Thyroid Ultra Sound

It seems crazy to blog every week when I don't have anything going on, but I sure enjoy the uneventful week. This week included house work, taking care of the boys and a sick husband, car pool, making the boys' quilt, going to tiger scouts,taking my first MacBook lesson, watching 3 cousins for the weekend, and continuing the fight to get our basement completed.
I guess I did have one test done this week- not such great news. I had a thyroid U/S on Monday and it found a remaining suspicious node. It seems a little unusual because as far as I know, I only had one remaining node after my surgery. I had great levels to help the radioactive iodine be as effective as it can be, so I'm not sure what the problem is. It doesn't seem like I got my money's worth, especially $11k. I will have another ultra sound in 2-3 months and go from there.
Spring is in the air and I can't wait to start getting out of the house more. Enjoy this time of year!!!
Love, Jeanel

1 Week Later

It is amazing what a week will do. I began feeling better on Tuesday and had a full day on Wednesday. It is a lot easier to be optimistic when I feel well, than when I am sick. I didn't think that this round of chemo was going to knock me down, but because it does I think I'm going to ask the doctor if he will give me another chemo agent with what I am already getting. If I'm going to be sick, he might as well make it worth my while.
This was an exciting week. I had a really nice visit with my friend and she brought me a beautifully knitted wrap that her mother-in-law made for me. I also attempted making a fish fry. To most people this is no big deal, but having grown up in Wisconsin, enjoying an amazing fish fry is a weekly ritual celebrated every Friday (thanks to all my Catholic friends!). Things did not turn out as hoped, but it was a start and will hopefully get better. I also bought a couple of things I have wanted for the past year. I bought a Vitamix blender with my dad-- I can't wait to try out the recipes. I also bought a MacBook. Bruce is so glad that he no longer has to share his computer... I look forward to taking classes down at the Apple store!
I saw the headline, "Living with Cancer". It has really stuck with me and helped me appreciate that truly living and making the most out of every day is a daily goal. While growing up my mom taught me that each day is a new day and I need to make the most out of it. I hope you do too. Love to you all! Jeanel

Chemo Resumes

At age 37 and 1 day I started chemo again. I try to think of it as a blessing. I didn't really start feeling the side effects until 36-48 hours after the treatment. I've been tired and nauseated and had a pretty bad headache, as well as bone pain. I'm glad I've already experienced the worst chemo there is because it makes me appreciate that I haven't been feeling that bad. I've been in bed since Saturday, but made it out of bed around 11am on Monday. I had Bruce flip the mattress over because the perma-dent was hurting my back. Hopefully I am on the upswing and can enjoy the next couple of weeks before having another treatment. I figured out that 29 April is my last treatment-- so that is my next goal. Thanks for all of your continued prayers in behalf of my family! The battle continues....
Jeanel