February 26, 2015 - One Week Labs Following Third Chemo Session.

I decided to start with a picture of my three cheerleaders - Ava, Claire and Kaitlin with their snowman! All three are real sweeties!

            I arrived at Dr. Mitchell's office and as usual in her friendly fashion, Stacy told me to go on back to the infusion suite to have my blood drawn. As a patient, it is always so nice to be greeted with a smile! I said hello to the others and we briefly chatted about  the snow. I made my way into the suite and immediately see my "first" chemo friend, Jeanette! We were so excited and happy to see each other again! Jeanette, if you are reading this, you looked very pretty in your red cap with matching red lipstick today!

After Holly draws my blood, she hands it off to Frank (pictured above). Frank is cheerful, funny and very witty. Frank is always in the lab. He runs all in house samples, maintains all lab and machine equipment and is responsible for all quality controls. I bet he stays busy doing a great job!

And this is me, happy with my visit today, happy to see Jeanette today, happy for all of the office smiles today, happy to still be feeling so well, happy for "perfect on paper" lab results and happy for all of the prayers and support of all of my readers!

February 19, 2015 - Chemotherapy Session Number Three.

I am officially halfway through my chemo cycles and so excited that I am about to POP! Cheerleader Claire came to the house bright and early this morning to tie my scarf which she loves to do!  I decided to decorate my sign with "hearts" since it's February and the striped material across the bottom is a leftover Christmas ribbon. Can you tell I love the color red? lol. Ricky took me to my treatment but then left to go run errands and do a little house cleaning. I love a clean house especially if someone else is doing the cleaning. lol.

After seeing Dr. Mitchell, I go back to the infusion suite to get the poisons infusing. lol. This is Chad accessing my port while Morgan and I make him laugh! The time really went by quickly today. I met three really nice patients today. Two were from Gaston County and one was from Lincoln County. The two ladies were both named Dianne and both spelled their name using two n's. I have a sister named Dianne and have always thought she was the only one with two n's - silly me! I had such a great time listening to  one of the ladies tell me of her journey. She had courage beyond measure and had such a sweet and positive spirit despite her many struggles. I am so glad our paths crossed.

Candy then comes in bringing me herb grilled chicken with sherry mushroom cream, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a red radish garden salad. It was an absolutely delicious chemo lunch! Yum!

This is a cookie made by a patient who had finished her chemo treatments. She left some for the staff to share with others! She really did a nice job! My journey is allowing me to see so many people helping others with their handiwork and kindness. 

We then finish up and say our goodbyes until I come back for my one week follow up labs.

This is me on the way home feeling good and oh so thankful. One more treatment left and I am still so excited I am about to POP!

After I get home, Chelsey comes in surprising Ricky and me with homemade chili beans with corn chips and Candy comes in with homemade chicken noodle soup with corn muffins! It's really been a great day spending it with great patients and great staff and it's great to come home to a supportive family who loves us with not one but two dinner entrees! It has really been a wonderful day! Again, thank you to everyone for all of your many cards, kind wishes and prayers. I thank God every day for journeying with me and for all of the support from all of you readers.

February 14, 2015 - Valentine's Day.

I took these pictures on December 29, 2014 at Presbyterian Hospital Main while there for genetic counseling and testing. I was  two weeks post surgery and one week before starting chemotherapy. I was told that all of these tiles were individually painted by different cancer patients. The heart board is proudly displayed on the first floor hallway near the Cancer Center entrance. It was love at "first sight" for me! I lingered for quite some time at this board studying and being so intrigued by the handiwork of each tile. This was such a great and reassuring "find" right before starting chemotherapy! I have been saving these pictures until today and I am so excited to be able to share them with everyone on Valentine's Day! I think about what a huge impact this heart board made on me that early morning in December. Those cancer patients being willing to share their time and talents on tiles is why I can share their work with you today!

I was taking Ava to school yesterday when she reached into her book bag and pulled out this pair of pink heart shaped earrings. She asked me if I wanted to borrow these for Valentine's Day. I could not say "yes" fast enough! She then told me "I have tons of earrings and you can wear my Gummi Bears too!" Needless to say, after she got out of the car, I was a complete puddle. If I had died right then, it would have been from a melted heart. I will proudly wear my special and borrowed earrings with my "doo-rag" today!
So as you can see, Valentine's Day is not about chocolate and roses for me this year. It's all about unexpected examples of sharing along my journey! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

February 9, 2015 - Journey of Laughter

It has now been eight weeks since my double mastectomy and I have two of my four chemo treatments under my belt! I am so excited to be returning to my weights and my upper body work-out routine! My chest and upper body is completely healed and is screaming "pick up the weights and let's sweat and play!" lol. Skull crushers and overhead presses never felt so good as they did today! Yes they hurt but I liked it! lol. Oh to be able to say that I am flat and fabulous but with a magnificent set of guns! lol. 

The weights and working out goes hand in hand with healthy eating. Proper nutrition plays a major role during chemotherapy. I have added more iron enriched foods to my diet hoping to maintain my good hemoglobin. Note the iron enriched Bloody Mary AKA tomato juice! lol

 My biggest "iron friend" is a bowl of cornflakes. One cup of cornflakes provides 45% of my daily iron needs. Add some fruit and skim milk and all is good! I think I have eaten enough cornflakes to warrant putting my picture on the front of the box! Yes it is time for me to write Mr. Kellogg! lol.

Baby oil is another one my my new "best friends" I have collected! I had read that my heels may start to crack while on chemo treatments, which they did. I apply a generous amount of baby oil to the bottoms of my feet after my morning shower and I have no cracking around my heels at all. The bottoms of my feet have never been so smooth and felt so good to the touch! I may always continue with this daily routine! Maybe it is time for me to write Mr. Johnson & Johnson too! lol.

 This is yesterday morning on our way to church. I never thought I would be wrapping my head in pink polka dots, adorning myself with a big pink flower with a hanging shiny pink trinket looped around it and going out in public! The whole time I am thinking I sure hope those church people are not allergic to pink! lol. This journey gets funnier every time I look in the mirror! lol.

February 5, 2015 - One Week Follow-Up Bloodwork Following Second Chemotherapy.

It's been a week since my second chemotherapy so it's time to have my labs drawn. I decide to "rock the blue" today! lol. I find myself being drawn to the bright and bold colors for dressing my head and adding more and more bling and actually enjoying every second of it! I get numerous compliments and smiles from so many people when I am out and about. I am hoping that somewhere along my journey that my "bright and bold" will bring some brightness and enjoyment into someone's day.  
I arrive and go back to the infusion suite to have my labs drawn. It's very reassuring to go for one week labs and actually have eyes "laid" on me and to be ask how I am doing. The staff/patient relationship plays such a crucial role in the treatment of cancer. I can honestly say I never dread going. I have my labs drawn and wait for results. While waiting, I use this time as an opportunity to pick Chad's brain about Neulasta, an amazing drug.
I get my results and once again I am "perfect on paper!" I leave the office feeling like I am the most fortunate person on the planet!

We stopped on the way home and bought the ingredients for homemade vegetable soup, my favorite dish! Perfect on paper and perfect on the plate! This is me laughing at me - seemed like the perfect way to end the day! Life is so good!