March/April 2020

Hi Lovers! 

SOOOO March 2020 will forever be THAT month, y'all feel me?  That is when 'Rona came to town and our whole world turned upside down.   But I am here to tell you in the midst of all the bad it brought, it was actually a huge blessing for my little personal life.  Yep I said it! 

Most people know two major facts. Chemo kills everything in your body the bad cells that you are fighting and the good cells along with it that keep you healthy.  Second fact, kids are nasty critters and spread all the germs.  I mean I love them, with every fiber of my being, but they are nasty critters!  What do you get when you mix the two? A set up to become extremely sick.  SO naturally I was extremely worried about working along with everything else, I was gonna do it, but still scared!   

We discussed my first treatment in my last post, so after that infusion I ended up in the ER because I had a fever (they don't take that lightly) after being at work during the week,  It turned out to be nothing but just being worn down but still scary. SO between my 1st and 2nd infusion we got shut down.  Why was this is a good thing? I got to complete my treatments at home, no germs from kids, and basically couldn't go in public.  I really think God planned that just for me (haha not really but I do think I wasn't an oversight in His eyes), 

Treatments over the next few months were relatively uneventful.  I would go in, get my blood checked, see the doctor for a minute, get my infusion (that took about 3 hours) and we would go home and I would pretty much hunker down for the weekend (even tighter than shut down). Of course, we had our slumber party which was hands down my favorite part of the whole ordeal.   I made it all the way to the last treatment without any hiccups. 

The last treatment was umm....eventful.  So there is a name for it but basically my view blew and the chemo medicine went outside my veins  because even though we switched back and forth they were pretty much just done at the point.  I looked down and saw my arm swelling up. I call over the nurse and they flipped out.  Luckily, I hadn't had a lot of the actual chemo medicine at this point but my arm was really bruised and hurt for several months. I can still feel the sensitivity even today.  Such a weird experience! I remember crying because I just wanted my momma and no one could be there with me, thank you RONA!  I was texting her during it and she was flipping out too because she couldn't come in.  But, we made it and God once again had his protection all over me. 

After all that, I got to ring THE BELL. I didn't think it would be emotional but it was very emotional. But in a mix of emotions sort of way. I came to really like the people I saw all the time in the doctor's office,  even the lab people were so sweet! It hit me harder than I thought it would, but for all the right reasons. 

**side story, I was ear hustling their conversation one day and they were getting chic fil a for lunch. I was starving and said oh my gosh that sounds good! They were so sweet and offered to even get me some. just good people in there y'all.**

Well,  y'all....that is pretty much my story. The good, the bad, the ugly.  That is my journey as best as I can recall. It was a short time in reality, but seemed like a really long time while it was all happening.  I am so happy to report God saw me through, and I am healthy and thriving today.  

I think God has big plans for this little blog platform! I just feel like we have a lot of light to share together! I want to challenge you, if you are reading this today, send the link to a friend.   I have nothing to gain (you know like some people are sponsored...ya not this girl) my heart really is just to encourage as many people as I can with what tools God has given me, and He has given me a pretty cool story!   

I love you guys so very much and can't wait to keep blogging about well....whatever life brings! I am currently house hunting,,,,now there are some stories! 

until next time lovers! 

XO! 

February 2020

Hey Lovers! 

February. I was suppose to start chemo on my birthday weekend! Happy Birthday MMEE!!!  Fortunately for your girl over here, insurance was dddrrrraaaagggging their feet and it was not approved in time.  So, I got to enjoy a quiet birthday weekend with my girls.  We laughed, we ate junk, we drank and just hung out.  My favorite way to spend a weekend! 

The next week was the longest/slowest week.  I remember every other thought that ran through my head was some version of  "I'm barely 35 and here I am on chemotherapy".  While my faith in our Lord was unfailing I couldn't help but wonder what was to come. Would I be super sick? Which of the list of side effects would show up in me?  How long would they last?  I put on a brave face but inside I was scared to death. A few hundred what if thoughts, a few break downs (pro tip, the shower is a great place to have a break down!), and countless conversations later the day had come.  I took a half day off work because it takes 40 forevers to get poison pumped into your system. My momma picked me up from my house and we headed out.  

I said it in my last post but walking into an oncology office hits way differently as a patient.  Traditionally you get your blood drawn, see the doctor and then go get your poison of choice.  Funny thing is that isn't even a joke in this case...although a dr. pepper sounds just amazing as I type this...back on topic because I digress! My friend/doctor set it up so I just had to go in and get the infusion to cut down on time off work. Little did we know 'Rona was on her way to rock our world's forever (it seems).  I get called back to "the tank" as they call it. Basically it's just like you see on TV, it's literally a bunch of lounge chairs with people hooked up to IV's....not a place you want to be! The nurses are so upbeat, and break out in song every now and again, and it's good people watching while you have nothing else to do! 

They get me hooked up and my nurse talks me through everything being my first time (don't worry the next time you don't get that treatment).  You get a nausea medicine first that is suppose to be like really strong, I was never nauseous so I guess it worked? After your nausea meds, they start your chemo medicine. Evidently this medicine is known to hurt because they kept coming over and asking me if I was ok, I would say yes, and they would walk away amazed. Of course I would laugh! Well, a few hours later they un-hook you and you are able to go.  Then I would take pills for two weeks before having an off week which would complete the 3 week cycle. 

My mom decided she was going to spend the night with me because she wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get sick during the night or have some reaction.  We ordered in food, and just stayed up talking and watching TV. Something we rarely get to do just the two of us.   Luckily, I slept really really well! No sickness, and just a touch of cold sensitivity.  We make coffee and end up talking some more, until dad calls and asked if we had started breakfast..OOPS! We hadn't even turned on the tv we ere so busy talking over coffee.  But never you fear, the breakfast king came to the rescue!  This little tradition is something I treasure about the whole experience.  

I pretty much make it through round one with no side effects. I did end up in the ER once because I got fever but it was nothing  (thank you LORD!).  My doctor was super glad I could report no side effects from the first round when I went in for my mid-cycle checkup. 

So three weeks later we did it again! Although, the second time I got my levels checked (which is why they do it) my liver levels were real high...so we put it off a week and she decreased how much I was getting. My body obviously couldn't handle that amount we started with.  

The second round was pretty much identical to the first. Went in, got the infusion taken care of and went home with no real side effects to report.  But I would score another momma slumber party and daddy breakfast! 

So I guess it was a pretty uneventful month, I mean if you don't count putting poison in your body! Hahaha!  But seriously, I thank God every day for His provision of health and lack of side effects. I thank him for the sweet nurses who worked on me. I thank him for my great support system.  This part of the story much like the first half could have been soooo different! 

'Rona's coming y'all....

until next time! 

XO!