50% done with Chemo! Yeah!!!

I just finished my half-way point in my chemo treatments yesterday! I have 3 left and will be done with those in the end of January. The doctors will give me a 3 week or so rest and healing time, then go for about 7 weeks of daily radiation. We've done a lot of thinking lately, and have decided to go ahead with a bi-lateral (double) mastectomy with reconstruction after the radiation treatments. I meet with the plastic surgeon on December 1st about that process. I know my surgeon Dr. Rippon and the plastic surgeon will "tag team" during the surgery. It is a lengthy process to get from point A to point B, but I'll find out all of the specifics on December 1st. We really did a lot of thinking over this one, but I have come to the conclusion I will do anything it takes to fight this fight over breast cancer- and if taking my breasts off will help any, then that's what we'll do! We'll also be having a hysterectomy done in the future, but hopefully next year sometime. Too much surgery is too hard to recover from quickly. My oncologist will be putting me in "menopause" with an injection later on after treatment. I still haven't heard my results from the genetic testing. I hopefully will hear sometime in the next 2 weeks. So that's the plan for now! (Oh, and I feel okay today- I just was very tired last night and my stomach was feeling a little funky! So I took one of the many meds lined up on the counter, and drifted right off to sleep.) Let's pray for me to feel pretty good this week like I did on the last round! :)

Now I want to tell you all about my amazing weekend! First off, on Friday I had 2 things to attend. I went to a surprise 50th birthday party that was so much fun! I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in a while since I've been out of work. (And guess what...I didn't wear my wig! I'm totally over the wig and I don't think I've put in on in about 5 days or so! So, the new me is with a scarf or bandanna covering my bald head- which I might add does get pretty chilled in the weather we've had lately!) Anyways, after I left the party, I went to our Supper Club. When I got there, I noticed all 7 of the men had shaved their head in honor of me! They had set up a barber shop- with none other but "Barber Brad"- the one who shaved mine- and there was hair all over the floor. What good sports we had! Check out the pictures I attached.

Supper Club men went "bald" in my support!

So did my brother, Daryl! (before)

(after)

And for the most amazing thing through my breast cancer journey was the event on Saturday night. My step-sister Rebekah, and my step-brother Adam and my parents had planned this benefit BBQ to help us out. It was initially supposed to be a surprise, but with Facebook, I found out- and I'm so glad I did because those of you that know me well, know that I'm not one to be the center of attention or like surprises! But anyways, they all worked themselves so hard to get ready for this event. They had invitations mailed and passed out and Rebekah had almost 50 items donated for the Silent Auction- and big things, too! We held a raffle and had a BBQ kick-off between Adam and my dad. And there was an amazing DJ that donated his time for this event, too! The food was amazing, but what blew my mind was all of the support that came! We estimated about 175 people came that night! I was in awe! Everything was through donations and this is where God is really good- we raised $4, 111 that night and more is still coming in! I was blown away from the support of my friends, family, and even strangers that brought money or sent it through someone. God is good all the time! It was hard to get around to talk to everyone, but I am so thankful for all of you- even from supporters that couldn't come. I love you all and thank you tremendously for your support through this journey! Please continue praying for my whole family, and for others who are suffering during this holiday season.

Olivia, Mallory Kate, and Claire swinging in the cold!

Tests, tests, more tests...

Today was yet another test on this breast cancer road we are traveling. This was our genetic testing, which took 4 weeks to get this appointment. Greg and I met with a genetic counselor for about an hour this morning. She went over my family background with me and we went from there. On my mother's side, we don't have any known cancer as far back as we could trace. However, on my father's side, there is quite a bit. My father died of bone cancer, that spread throughout his body, when he was 50. Then on my father's parents' sides, there are 7 breast cancer cases that trace through cousins, aunts, etc., that are pretty distant to me, and most were in there 70's+ age range. The statistics show that 1 in 8 women will eventually get breast cancer, so it is not all that alarming for breast cancer to appear in older women. But the genetic counselor was more concerned with my age and my father's age at the cancer diagnosis. This test is very expensive, but will hopefully yield more information about my cancer. What I learned this morning is that all people have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene; it's whether there is a mutation in that gene. If so, that is where the hereditary breast caner/ and or ovarian cancer can stem from. (Both ovarian and breast cancer can come from a mutation in the BRCA genes.) So, they drew a tube of blood and sent it off for testing. I should hear the results in about 2 1/2 weeks. So what does this mean? Well, if the test comes back negative (which is my hopes and prayer) then my breast cancer was caused by another source- which is the million dollar question, and if you can answer that then please let doctors know! :) If the test comes back positive, then my cancer was caused by a mutation in that gene and there is a 50/50 chance my children could inherit my "bad gene." If positive, this also makes some decisions more clearer- such as a complete hysterectomy and bi-lateral mastectomy. So, with all of that said, we just have to do the wait and see game, which I have become really good at! I still feel really good! My next round of chemo will be Monday. Please pray for a quick recovery, like last time, and pray for Greg to have patience with the children when I can not help out so much! This will mark my half-way point...yippee! Oh, and yes...my eyelashes and eyebrows are still in tact! Let;s also pray that they will stay that way! :) Thanks for the prayers! And this week I have been made especially aware that we don't know why bad things happen to people, but we do know that God has the perfect plan and we have to have faith and trust in Him! (For those prayer warriors, please pray for the Gleason family. They have a 2 yr old who is loosing her battle with cancer as I type this. Please pray for comfort for the little girl, Rachael, and for peace for her family. If you want to know all the details, visit her Caringbridge site..http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachelgleason.)

On another note, let me just tell you what I have gotten into lately...couponing! Since funds are tight, this is a great hobby for me to start! A friend of mine, Kelly, turned me onto this. If you want to know the whole scoop, check out these other blogs for exact info on how to get started.

(Fiddledeedee and Southern Savers) But let me tell you my success story- I did as the blogs told me to do and I went to Publix last week. My bill came to $107 before my savings and coupons. After the coupons and in-store savings, my bill came to $53! I saved a whopping $54...whohoo! Isn't that amazing? So, now every Wednesday, I'll print my coupons and check out the deals and save money! It's actually really fun!

Check out what I got for $53!
It wouldn't fit in one picture!

One last tidbit...Our house is returning to somewhat normal...Graham has finished his soccer season! He learned a lot and had a great time. Here are a few pics of his last game. (Needless to say, we had a great time, but I sure am glad to heave my Tuesday and Thursday nights back with my family!) :)

Graham is #9, in white!

Mallory Kate likes to "entertain!"
Check out her "frowny face", as she calls it!

Thanks for checking in! My love to all...Lori

Thoughts and feelings...

Well, new week...new me! I feel great- back to life as I know it (without work, of course.) And that's weird. You know being home in the summers are different than now. In the summer, I have the kids home and we are going to the pool each day and playing around the yard, etc. Being home now is different...both kids gone and a quiet house. On my "feel good" days, I can get a lot accomplished! Although sometimes I should be doing more household chores than I do! Today I have spent most of my morning on the phone with my insurance company! Boy...that sure is draining work! So I thought I had pretty good insurance- Cigna an HMO plan. But they sure are stingy with their money, I am coming to find out. Right now they have denied $13,000 in claims for one thing or another! I have 2 claims in appeal and one claim the doctor has to call to do a peer-to-peer review with the medical director of Cigna! I have found out that I have to "study" the Explanation of Benefits that comes in the mail- and I get about 2 or more each day it seems! I should get graduate credit for all the work and I time I put into this! Then I call the member services number- which I have now memorized- and push all the options until I finally reach a human voice. (I learned a trick- just act like you don't have a touchtone phone and keep saying "associate" and eventually, they'll put you through!) Then, most days I call, it seems like I know more about my plan than the representative on the other end! That is so frustrating sometimes, actually all the time! So, since I'm on a venting spree, let me tell you how much I hate wigs! You would think they would simplify your life, no...trust me, they don't! They are uncomfortable, itchy, hot, and I can't stand it. When the wind blows, I have pieces of hair standing every which way, and it doesn't feel like my hair! I am constantly fidgeting with it- getting stray stands out of my face and trying to flatten it more on my head. I have already gone back to the wig store for them to thin it out some. So I have come to the conclusion, the bandanna "Harley Davidson" look is more suitable for me! I have been wearing my wig out in public so I don't get the strange stares, but I think I'm over that now. So, now I may get some strange stares, but my head will feel good. I have even gotten a collection of different scarves and bandannas in a lot of different colors and styles- thanks to friends! Speaking of friends, I want to tell you about a special gift my school did for me. They made a handmade quilt with all of their hand prints for me to take to my chemo treatments! It is absolutely beautiful! You know when you get chemo, you get chilly. I have been using the white blankets- that they provide- to cover up with. Now I can come "armed" with a beautiful quilt that means so much to me! I will have the support of all of my friends from school right in my lap! How special is that? I've attached a picture so you can see it! I think I've probably written too much today, sorry. Sometimes it's just great therapy to get my feelings out on the keyboard, rather than to Greg! Thanks for visiting my blog! :)

I LOVE it! :)

Not so bad...

So, today is Friday and I feel pretty good. I really don't think this round hit me as hard as my first round. I am so glad about that, and hope this pattern continues. I still feel chest pressure and a little achiness, but not too terribly bad! Yeah! Answered prayers....Amen! I have had my aunt from Alabama with me since Wednesday. That has been awesome! She has helped out so much around the house with the kids, cooking meals, laundry, etc. How I would love to have someone "full time" like this all year round! I could get spoiled very easily, ya know? Haha! Maybe since she loves me and my family so much, she would work out a deal? You think? Seriously, it has been wonderful to have her help when I feel cruddy. Well, we are planning on eating lunch at Graham's (and my) school today- and he is so excited about that! His request- biscuits and gravy from Stax's. After lunch, I need to run a few errands- if I still feel up to it. Sometimes I think I feel better than what my body can handle. Like last night, after I gave Mallory Kate a bath, I felt like I had run a marathon. The energy takes a while to get back. But...as a whole, I feel pretty good- much better than last go round! And thanks again for everything- the meals have been wonderful! Keep the prayers going up...God answers them! :)

"Catch up"...

This posting will include a little bit of things that we've done since Halloween up to my 2nd round of chemo. I guess I'll start there. Yes- I am 33.3% finished with my chemotherapy! I have 4 more rounds to go. Yesterday my mother went with me. First I had lab work done- which indicated that my potassium levels were low- so I will be eating some bananas to help with that! All other blood work was fine. I then met with Dr. Gococo. As I've said before, I adore him and his nurse Cassie. I feel that I am getting the best care with them! He said for the most part to expect the same thing from my last round, although each time I will be a little slower to recover. My brother had asked me a good question, that I hadn't thought of before...when it's all said and done, how does the doctor know the cancer is all gone? So, I asked Dr. Go that. He said that treating me with 6 rounds of "TAC" chemotherapy and then radiation, and then the Tamoxifen, that it should all be gone. He said that scans cannot detect little cancer cells, so scans really don't do any good so soon after treatment. He said I will be watched very closely, every 3 months for a while, then every 6 months, which he will be looking for any symptoms, etc. At any point in time he said, he could order some scans if we suspect or feel funny about something. After meeting with him, we went over for chemotherapy. I took a picture of my chemo nurse all dressed up in her "scary" clothes while she pushes the "Red Devil" as the Adrimyican is called, through my IV. She doesn't have to wear that for any of the other two chemos. Through the IV, I was given Benedryl, Decadron (a steroid), saline fluids, the 3 chemos, and 2 anti-nausea meds. A total of 8 bags! No wonder about all of the fluid weight I gain in 24 hours! I gained another 4 pounds in one day again! But by Thursday, the extra fluid weight should be gone. Having a computer and someone to talk to sure does pass the time- we were there in the office from 8:30- after 2:30- 6 hours. Long day, but not so bad. Last night I was very tired- and forgot to take a med to help me sleep. I woke up at 12:30 and realized I was wide awake- I went downstairs to find that medicine, along with all of the bottles lined up on the counter, and took it right away. The steroid I'm on has that insomnia effect. So, about an hour later, I think I drifted back off. This morning I went back for my Neulasta shot and flu shot- which everyone in my family has to have. Graham got his yesterday- and was not happy about that one! Mallory Kate is getting hers on Friday and Greg sometime in the next few weeks. I did go out to vote before my appointment, and the lines weren't really too bad- about 30 or so minutes. I am beginning to feel the same chest pressure I felt last time and the nasty copper penny taste is back, too! But now I can say, 2 down and 4 to go! Yeah! Here is a pic of my nurse and me getting the "Red Devil."

Halloween...

Boy, did the kids have a blast! We went to my cousin's neighborhood and trick-or-treated with them. They ran from house to house with so much excitement! Graham was dressed up as Harry Potter and Mallory Kate was Tinkerbell. She now knows what candy is all about! She even asks for "Chocolate Candy" first thing in the morning- that girl knows what tastes good! Claire was a snow princess and Riley was a pirate. Enjoy these pics- and this was the first picture taken of me with my wig- which I can officially say I HATE! It is itchy, hot, uncomfortable, and I am now opting for the Harley Girl look on most days!

Helen, Georgia...
Greg and I went down to Helen Georgia with Tamara and Mark, to surprise Pete. As many of you know, Pete just got back from Iraq and Tracy, his wife, had planned this trip. We went up on Saturday and came back on Sunday. We had a great time eating, walking around, relaxing, etc! We had a blast! (Take a look at Tamara trying on my wig- for all I care, she can HAVE IT! She looks much better in it that I do! Haha! :)

Tamara with my wig on! Looks great on her! :)

Graham at Camp Old Indian...

My dad took Graham to Camp Old Indian with his cub scout troop. Since Greg and I had already had the Helen trip planned, my dad so graciously agreed to take him. Graham had a ball- enjoying bee-bee guns (which he hit the target all 3 times), flash-light tag, campfires, etc. Thanks Dad for taking him- that will be a memory to last him for a lifetime! He really enjoys the cub scouts. (And you ask what about Mallory Kate? She stayed with my mom and had a great time eating homemade mac-n-cheese, one of her favorites, and playing outside with Nana. Thanks Mom for keeping her! Oh, and she is potty training- we're on week #2 and she is doing fabulous! Hopefully by Christmas we can say bye-bye to diapers!)

Thank you so much for all the prayers, card, e-mails, phone calls, etc. That means so much to us! I couldn't get through this terrible disease without prayer and support from all of you! I love you all!