big day with big news

It was a big day for me and the last thing I needed was to wake up at four in the morning with a temperature of 101.4. grrrrr......or brrrrr. My teeth were chattering when I finally climbed in the shower.
My first appointment was at 8:00am. Apparently my head was in a cloud because we left the door wide open when we left. We met with Dr. Kortz, theeee surgeon. We receive a plethora of information from him but ultimately came to the conclusion that my entire right lobe of my liver needs to be removed and he will want my right lobe hit with syruspheres (not sure if I spelled that correctly, but who cares at this point) before hand to try to shrink the tumor some more. That way they can get clean margins when they do the surgery. Can't give any dates for anything at this point but I will keep you posted.

Quick updates

I have to say, some of your responses are pretty dang funny. Every day is a good day when you can laugh!
This morning I met with my genetic counselor and had more genetic testing done. She will call with results. Seems like I am spending a lot of time waiting for results lately......but to be honest with you, the wait is ok. I am just trying to enjoy some summer activities with the family and that is all I can ask for.
Yesterday I took the kids to Mount Evens. It was a regular zoo up there! Saw a heard of elk, mountain goats, big horn sheep and plenty of marmots. Unfortunately Saige suffered from altitude sickness and barfed several times and the wind was too cold for me to climb to the top. My nose went numb and my fingers were acting up regardless of the beautiful weather.
Pray for next week.....lots going on and many plans to be made!

pet scan day

Can I just say one thing? I am totally exhausted! I went for my PET scan early this morning and received an @#$ chewing from the scheduler for being five minutes late. Really? Come on! Low and behold.....they were running late anyway! I happily drank my barium since I was starving and then was finally escorted out to the trailer. The tech hit me with the crazy lead covered syringe full of radium.....or something and then left me there. A new tech came in to deliver a new set of two single doses of radium crud. I watched this with awwww. The 2 vials were encased in lead cylinders which were placed in a lead box that was maybe 12" by 12" and weighed 50 pounds......what the?!!! Learning something new every day on this journey. At 10:38am I called John to let him know I was on my way home and I was starving so we met at Red Robyn and had lunch....the barium just didn't cut it. Oh yah! I got a nealasta shot today as well. It stung like a hornets sting and left my iliac crests throbbing!
I did get the kids outside. Took them to the park and then Chatfield to swim for a while....it was good for the kids. I got home at 4:30pm and crashed. Going to bed early....Love ya all!

Remain confident.....hummff!

It was a nice day, but I am still struggling with nausea and hand pain. I am quickly growing tired of both.......I have spent a great deal of the day reflecting on life. It is strange to not know exactly what is to come. Kinda sad really. I have come up with many ideas, although I can't seem to wrap my brain around the fact that chemo is done. At least one of my tumors still lives with in me, so why do we stop chemo now? Has it stopped working....do they believe they can't do anything more for me? What is the next step? This has played some funky games with my psyche! I am truly afraid to meet these other doctors. Will I be meet with the same eyes of hope? John says that I need to remain confident and strong and we will get through this. Remain confident and strong? I feel as though the true core of my confidence went out the window at 10:45am Black Friday. Ever since then, my will and confidence has been directly carried by God and You. I thank you for that. Keep praying....I need it more now than ever! Oh! I am going to post a picture of the dunes: one of the hike to the top and then the sun set over them from our camper.

enduring last cemo!

So, I ended up have chemo on Wednesday and i have been sleeping since then. Once again....my fingers aren't working well and they hurt.....oh well! Here is the new plan:
June 21st-PET scan
June 24th-genetic counseling and more blood work
June 30th-PET scan results
June 30th-meeting with Dr.Kortz (he's the guy that will do the surgery on me to remove the tumors left in the liver)
July 2nd-meeting withe Dr. Nutting to see of the syriouspheres would be the next best option. (this is a form of radiation to the liver tumors)
That's it for know.....ouch......pray for clarity!
love ya all

rain, rain go away!

It's raining again.....I hate the rain and I hate the cold even more. This rain and cold makes my fingers hurt, my feet numb and just plain sucks the life out of me. I am so tired......all the time. I am praying for one good, sunny, warm day before I am knocked on my $#@ from chemo. There is one good thing coming from this rain. My grass and flowers look the best they have in......well, ever!
Things have not changed from my last post. Plan on chemo on Wednesday and PET scan 2 weeks from there. Then 4-6 weeks off before next treatment. I have to say, I am very nervous for that time off. i guess I am afraid my tumors will grow without treatment or more will develop. Pray that doesn't happen.
My kids started VBS today. Amazing to watch those little ones worship with crazy love! Warmed my heart. Have a great day!

Happy days are here again!

I know....it's been a while. I was down for the count till Saturday and expected the Neulasta to keep me down with bone pain, but.....it didn't! I had lower back pain from it a couple of times but it was manageable with advil. After Fridays infusion of additional fluids and additional anti-nausea medication I started to rebound. So, on Sunday we decided to take an impromptu vacation to the sand dunes. If you have not been to the dunes, I highly recommend it! Probably the most beautiful place ever! Just so you know, I rock! We all climbed to the top of the High Dune. It took us about two hours. I wore a long sleeve shirt, sunscreen, hat and gloves. Unfortunately, I neglected my legs. At the end of the hike my legs were not only beat up by the sand but by the sun as well! Ouch! It was well worth it though. Get out there and enjoy our great state people! That is all I gotta say!

bad chemo, bad chemo

Apparently a new fancy drug came our.......according to the last string of comments! I am going for it......it's gotta be good stuff, right? I went in today, mostly to get my neulastan shot. My neutrophils were 0.80 and my white count was 2.6. Also, I needed some major hydration and some anti-nausea medicine. Not holding much down these days.....
New plan of action: I should have chemo on the 16th assuming all blood work comes back ok and then next PET scan is going to be 2 weeks from that. Then I will be referred out to a surgeon or an interventional radiologist for a form of radiation treatment. seems to change everytime I blog.
BTW, MRI came back negative for anything worrisome. Praise Jusus for that. Everytime I nod, I get zingers down the fron of my legs and my back has been acting up....but no tumers! Love goes out to you all!

very bad blogger

Bad blogger....bad blogger! The past week has turned out be a busy one. Worked a couple of princess shifts, went to the pool with my girls a couple of times, and just plain had a great week! Yesterday I went into RMCC and received my 11th dose of chemo.....threw up a few times there and then again at home. GRRRR! I have to go back in on Friday to get a shot of neulastin and be disconnected. I was dreading the shot but new in my heart it was going to come. My next chemo should be on the 16th then my PET scan will be a week later and then we will have our discussion of what is next.
I have been having some back pain that wraps it's way around my ribs. Makes breathing difficult....Also, when I nod my head (chin to chest) I get a zinger goes down my shins and a cross the top of my feet. So, we had an MRI done of my spine for questionable growth. Pray that there is nothing major happening.
I am nauseated now.....chat more later!