Happy New Year :)

Thank you to my family and friends for ALL your support this year. I could not have made it without you. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.



I love you and may everyone have a wonderful New Year!

Arrrggghhhhhh!

Today while obsessing about my hair in the mirror, I noticed a few things. First, I am growing just as many gray hairs as brown ones! Something tells me it is going to get much worse before it gets better. I am also losing my eyebrows :( Not sure why now but they came out 3 to 4 at a time...I look like a goof! Oh, I am a goof.

If I have learned anything on this journey it's to never expect anything and you never know what the next day brings. So while other parts of my body are sprouting new hairs, the others are losing them....

I think I look sickly in this picture but Brian made a good point. This is me and this is now :)

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas :)

Merry Christmas!

Chemo Brain

It does exist! I think this is pretty funny! Not only is there no postage, there is NO address! :)
Happy Holidays

Bone scan

What a day! I went to Norfolk General hospital around 8:00 and checked in for my test today. They gave me some injection and told me it was be 2 hours before my test. I went to the cafeteria and passed the time with a peppermint latte and some mindless surfing on the computer.
The test was easy, just lie there and be still. The worst part is they put your legs and arms in restraints...I promised I would behave, but they did it anyway. I guess this is to prevent you from moving while the test is going on. Also, the machine comes so close to your face it almost touches it! So, if you are claustrophobic, then this IS NOT the test for you.
I waited until 12:15 until they called me back only to tell me that my bladder was in the way of the particular area they were trying to look at. Apparently I have some spot on my hip that they need to make sure isn't anything to be concerned about. So now I get to go back at 7am and take more pictures.
After the hospital I went straight to my radiation appointment. I can't stand when this disease takes up my whole day. It really sucks!

Thanks to Brian for helping me out and having a big smile on his face when I walked in the door totally frustrated. I could not do this without him :)

Hey Santa, can I get a ride?

My new friend for the next 6 weeks!

Here is the wonderful machine that I get to hook up with everyday. The nurses are great and they have a good sense of humor. The machine basically rotates around my body and makes some funny noises. The process takes about 5 minutes, it takes me longer to get undressed :)

I had my check up with the oncologist on Friday and everything seems to be going as planned. I am right on schedule with my treatment. He had me try a new drug to help with my hot flashes (which, by the way I think I am WAY to young for) Well, I took the first dose and I just can't seem to tolerate this type of drug. It makes me feel really bad and I think I will just tolerate hot flashes for now. I did buy some natural supplements and hopefully that will help too.
I still have my medi port and have to get that flushed every 4-6 weeks or so. They seem to want to keep this in until after radiation for a "just in case" situation. I don't really agree with that so, after my bone scan, I am going to ask to have it removed. The flushing just brings back bad memories and I would just like to leave all that behind me.

I am feeling pretty good and I just know that the more time that passes, the better off I will be.

Elfin'

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

You've got to be kidding me!

Originally I was supposed to start radiation on Tuesday but instead they just took photos and made more marks on my chest. It looks like a sharpie had a party there.
So, yesterday (Wed) was the official start date.
I was nervous all morning, don't really know why either. I guess I did not know what to expect and I did not know how it would feel. So, I put Brooke down for her nap and race out the door. It takes me about 15 minutes to get to the doctor's office.

Time in: 1:22
Time out: 1:40
Time on the table: 3 minutes

They laid me on the table and the machine, which looks like a big x-ray type thing went around my body full circle. It made a few clicking and buzzing noises along the way. Then they came and turned on the lights and said, "All done". I said, what are you joking. I drove all this way for that? How crazy!

So, I am thinking this will be a breeze! The biggest pain is actually taking part out of the middle of the day to get there. :)

A watched head never grows!

This weekend we put up all our Christmas decorations, including our beautiful tree. Carson had such a great time and kept saying, I remember this! I used to love seeing all the Christmas decor, still do. Brian even made our front yard look like a real winter wonderland with all the lights! We have our little Christmas magnolia tree which we planted in the fall.
I must admit I am not as much in the spirit as I usually am :( The best thing I can think of is this year is almost over! It's been quite a year for our family.

Yesterday, Carson's hamster Izzy died too. Carson took it very hard and a good lesson learned on all parts. We put her in a little box and decorated it and her funeral will be this afternoon. ;( We will all miss Izzy around here.

I start radiation on Tues and I go everyday at 1:20....so if you look at your clock one day for the next six weeks, at 1:20, you know what I will be doing. I am hoping to have this down to a science where I can put Brooke down for a nap and have Brian keep an ear out for her. We will try this and see how well it works....keeping our fingers crossed!

I am feeling much better from my horrible cold and glad to be among the living again.

Sooooo, what does Suzanne want for Christmas this year? Ok, peace, love, happiness all that goes without saying. I really want some hair, Santa! I've been a good girl and I just want my hair to start growing at a nice rapid pace :) Remember those dolls, you could just pull there hair and it would be long. Yes, that is a bit of what I am thinking. HA HA!

Chins up, and on with my day!

Giving thanks

We had a super Thanksgiving and really enjoyed some quality family time. WE cooked the whole dinner ourselves and I think Brian and I had more fun that day than the kids. I've had a bad cold that I can't seem to get rid of.

I went to the Doctor to set up my radiation treatments. This process seems pretty simple and the only downfall is you have to go everyday for 6 weeks.
When I went today they did a CT scan and marked my chest with a sharpie! I am supposed to keep these marks on through the whole process. The marks tell them how to line me up with the machine. Some places put a permanent tattoo and others use the marker. I start my treatment on Tuesday. The side effects should be pretty mild, sunburn on the area and later some fatigue! I am sure it can't be any worse than what I've already been through.