My week after chemo...

Sorry I have been away from the blog for a few days. The one thing I am realizing, is that even though I am sitting on the couch resting A LOT, I don't always have the energy or the motivation to write, especially when I am feeling a bit "off". I know that several of you have been checking in to see how I am feeling and I am hanging in there...thanks!


I struggle with A:) not wanting to write when I feel yucky, and B:) not wanting to complain about feeling yucky, because I know that it will probably get worse as time goes on and there will inevitably be days when I really just NEED to vent about things. (I don't want to use that up TOO early! *smile*)

 
I have pretty much just sat in my jammies on my couch all week long. Besides joint pain early on, I have been experiencing heartburn, a metallic taste when I eat (which bums me out....I hate it when I can't enjoy the food I love!), and a tummy that has a mind of its own! Luckily, I have anti-nausea meds that I can alternate every 3 hours, peppermint gum and lemon drops from my honey, ginger candy from Aaron's volleyball teammate Kris (thank you my dear...the gift basket was AMAZING!!) and a pack of saltine crackers to help me out.

 
The two times I did leave the house, were to play volleyball in my coed and women's leagues on Monday & Tuesday. The one thing I pretty much look forward to EVERY week! How did it go? Well, besides feeling winded at times and nervous to dive with my newly placed port, it went alright. (Ok….women’s league made me tired and at one point Jen thought I looked a little peaked (pronounced pee-kid), but I was true to myself and told Amy when NOT to set me. J I was just happy to be out there with my Divas!!)

 
If there’s one thing I want to power through and do as much as possible during my treatment, it’s play volleyball as much as my body will allow. It brings me SO much joy to play and the people I play with are some of the dearest to my heart, so of COURSE I want to play!! J I have a lot of people “on call” to sub though, because I am sure that it will just be a day-by-day decision to play. For now…so-far-so-good.

 
Tomorrow, Friday, January 11^th, I will go in for my second round of chemo. I am anticipating that the side effects will be less than the last round of chemo because I will only have the 1 drug (Hercepton), instead of the three drugs I had the first round. Here’s hoping that is true!

 
Other things I am gearing up for….shaving my head. Oh boy. That’s a BIG one. I want to do it BEFORE it starts to fall out and it really could be any day now. We are tentatively planning to do it Friday night….will keep you posted.

 
A few side notes….

I love my kids!!! The girls got birthday money the other day and they told me I could have it for my chemo treatments…..SO SWEET!

When I first told my son about my port and showed him where it was, he cringed and asked if they used a “scissors” to put it in. J His innocence made me smile…

A few of you have asked to see pictures in my blog. I don't know how many I will post, but thought I would share a picture of where my port is located to give you an idea of what it looks like. It is under my skin and you will see a bump on my chest where the port actually is, with a tube running up toward my neck (where my other incision is). Again, my port is the place where I receive chemo and have all of my blood draws done, much less stressful on my body then IV sticks in my arm regularly.

Here’s hoping your days are filled with LOVE and special moments!

Love to all…

Nae