Five Down, One to Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it?! Now I can say I only have ONE MORE treatment! Yessss! I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday was great. My blood work was just awesome (except for I am a little low on the anemia, but not low enough to get treatment for it). White blood cell counts were awesome. Dr. Andrews told me I was just "sailing" thru the treatments and definitely only have one more!

My friend, Jill Alexander, went with me yesterday. We pretty much just talked for 3 hours. Of course, we had to have a few snacks as well. Jill is the one who went thru breast cancer about 7 years ago and is a SURVIVIVOR! So, she is a good support person. She had a much rougher time of chemo than I did. It made her very sick. Other than that set back in the hospital, an getting tired, I am doing great.

I will tell you one thing, it sure does not take long to get a shower and get ready in the morning! I did not realize how much time I spent on my hair! Now, I usually just plop a baseball cap on.

This week in the mail I received another pair of hand knitted socks from my friend, Colleen Feighner. You wouldn't believe these socks -- they are so cute. She is an amazing knitter and I love reeping the benefits of her labor!! Another fun thing I got was a straw fedora from my friend, Deanie Burge. I immediately put it on and Kent loved it! I wasn't sure it would look good on me, but it kind of did! Deanie was supposed to be here this week, but she is battling a wacky thyroid and was feeling really bad. Of course, she felt guilty about not being able to come and I told her I just wanted her well, and that is number one for her right now.

Another really neat thing I got was from Dawn Peach. I had forgotten to mention this, because I cannot use it while on chemo. But, it is a product called RevitaLash. It was invented by a doctor whose wife went thru chemo and had lost her long, thick eyelashes. So, I am really excited to try this as soon as I get done with chemo. Maybe I will have better lashes than before! I will keep you all posted on how this works.

Oh another thing. I got a surprise phone call this past Saturday morning from my friend Ellen Brandt who was down here at the Scott Antique Flea Market. She was with her friend Anna, and they wanted to stop by on their way back to Nashville. How exciting. It was so much fun to see both of them and really look forward to them coming back and maybe even tagging along to Scott. They are both just great, fun, lovely people. Thanks girls!

Now, I have to brag a little. Our daughter, Alison, got accepted into the Master of Accountancy program at the University of Tennessee. We are very proud of her. We look forward to attending her graduation on May 9 with her Bachelor's in Accounting AND her coming down here this summer to work for Ernst and Young.

Today, I go for my Neulasta shot. I look forward to this because I know that it will help me to keep white blood cell counts up. It makes me achey, but it is a good ache because that means it is working!

Well, that is all for this session. I hope you all enjoy reading this blog. I am so proud of Aaron who continually helps me with this and is always there to answer my stupid questions with as much patience as he can muster!

Hugs and kisses to you all! Deb

Pictures

Here are some pictures. The first is when my Dad and Grandpa went to the World of Coke, and the second is when my mom, dad, grandpa, and Susan went to eat with Steve.

I Am Getting Spoiled!

Last Thursday, Kent's dad and cousin, Susan flew in for a visit. It has been really nice having company. AND, especially with Susan cooking our meals! We have had a lot of great dinners. She has cooked every single night -- that is why I am getting spoiled. Today she is cleaning! It will be sad to see them leave. Every evening we sit on the back patio and have our two buck chuck wine from Trader Joes. Susan has really enjoyed that.

Today, Kent took his dad to the World of Coke tour. He was looking forward to doing that with Kent. Since he used to work for Kraft Foods, he likes to see other facilities that package food, etc.
Tonight, Chuck is taking us for barbeque, which I am really looking forward to, since we hardly ever go out for dinner anymore.

I did have a scare last week. I had to go in on Thursday (the day Chuck and Susan came in) and have lab work done. When I got to the doctor, they found I had a temperature! I did not feel bad, but apparently, the left breast was being naughty again! The temp was 100.2 and at 100.5 they stick you in the hospital. I was in panic mode, because I sure did not want to go there again!! Anyway, they ran all kinds of blood tests for staff cultures and then sent me to Dr. Fine's office (the surgeon) so he could do an ultrasound and see if there was something brewing in that breast. Sure enough, I did have some fluid. So, he drained that, put me on augmentin and I am happy to report I have been doing well ever since. I had a follow-up visit with the oncologist on Monday, and my cultures were negative and as long as blood counts stay high, I can have chemo on the 15th - yea!

Hope you all are enjoying Spring. I will write after my next chemo! Take care. Love, Deb

Still Hangin' in There

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I am doing very well since my last chemo. I had the Neulasta shot this time the day after treatment and that really helps! It does make me very achy, but that means it is working, so I try not to complain! I go this Thursday, April 3, to get lab work done. They will look at all my "counts" and tell me the results immediately. Hopefully, Neulasta worked and my white blood counts are rebuilding themselves. Next chemo: Tuesday, April 15. After that I only have one more to go, which is scheduled for May 6.

This past weekend, we went to Knoxville to attend Alison's sorority's awards dinner. I stayed in the hotel room while Kent and Alison went. I was pretty tired anyway, and ordered room service. After the dinner, they came back to the room and we all laid in the king size bed and watched "Catch Me If You Can" with Leonardo DiCaprio. That is a great movie by the way -- even Kent liked it!! I know.....................that is amazing in itself. The next day, we ate a quick breakfast and visited with Alison before heading home.

Tomorrow, Kent's dad flies in from Indiana and Kent's cousin, Susan, is coming from Florida. Susan will be a big help, and it will be nice to see them both. Kent is completely in charge of "entertainment", so I hope to just sit back and enjoy the company.

Thank you everyone for your sweet cards, notes, letters, emails, flowers, pj's, socks, hats, gifts, and phone calls. Everyone of you plays such a big part in my life. Love you all! Be blessed.

Love, Deb

Easter 2008

Hey everyone,

I should have posted this pictures sooner, but I have been really busy procrastinating doing it. We did have a great time in Atlanta for Easter. Audra and I met Alison in Chattanooga and carpooled the rest of the way, so we were very green. Anyway on with the show.

Easter Weekend Update

Hope you all had a great Easter. We had a fabulous one! Aaron and Alison came for the entire weekend – what a treat. Audra came with Aaron and we had wonderful family time. Saturday night, Aaron invited some friends over to the house for dinner, and it was just lovely to have young people around here again! We love the commotion! Friday, our old neighbors, the Grady’s stopped by for a visit. It was so good seeing them. Then on Saturday, my friend, Terry Fardon from Nashville came by and we had a great visit with her. Sunday, my friend, Jill Alexander, joined us for Easter Dinner. So, you can see we had plenty going on all weekend. I felt really good. We watched the UT game Sunday before the kids left to go back.

This coming weekend, we are heading to Knoxville for a sorority event/dinner for Alison. Kent will attend it and I will wait at the hotel because I am avoiding crowds. Alison will spend the night with us. Our Knoxville trips are getting numbered! She graduates in May and we are so excited. But after an internship at Ernst and Young this summer, she will start her Masters in Accountancy program, sit for the CPA, and hopefully get hired on full time at Ernst and Young.

Aaron is working hard on finishing his degree. He is ready to get on with his “adult” life. Audra is very patient and encourages him along the way. We are very proud of his efforts.

Monday, after Easter, I had my 3^rd chemo treatment. It went without a hitch. Went back today to get a Neulasta shot that should boost my white blood cell counts to fight infection. The doctor is changing my chemo days to Tuesdays. Monday’s are just crazy there. I only have 2 more to go!! Hopefully, May 6 will be my last one!!!!! I am sure ready to get on with life, but I know it is worth the wait to make sure the cancer is all gone.

I am also asking you to pray for a friend of mine, Marcia Roland, who lives in Franklin, NC. She has just finished battling breast cancer and got an all clear. But ended up getting another scarey diagnosis -- MS. Now she has another battle!! She is facing it with dignity and courage, and humor I might add. She is a real go getter and will face this head on, but I would like everyone to pray for her. Thank you.

Well that is about it for this update. Love to hear from you all whether it is a post or an email – I just love hearing from everyone of you.

Take care until next update!!

Love, Deb

One, Two, Three beds you're out

Too bad that is not the case at the hospital. A couple of nights ago I changed beds three times and and never left my room. For some reason, my bed started signaling the nursing station. It was really old and had a trapeze-type bar over it. It didn't really bother me, but I did think it sort of strange. So they brought me another bed and this one proved faulty too. So then they brought me a third bed which was much newer and seems to work well. I still prefer the one at my house.

And speaking of my house, I have great hope of seeing it again early next week. Probably Tuesday if my fever stays down and they infection goes away and they are convinced they have the right antibiotics to treat it. The doctor said they usually want the infection to be gone for about nine days before they do another chemotherapy treatment so it looks like my March 24th scheduled treatment is in jeopardy.

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good and looking forward to getting home. Thanks to all of you for the notes and thoughts and prays. Every single one of them means a great deal to me.