Testing Done...this time at least.

Got my PFT and MUGA Scan today. I know, whats that mean? It means my hearts a still pumpin' and lungs are still breathin'. ;)

Immediately upon my arrival to the hospital I found my way to surgery waiting room. Today one of the ladies from Bible study had atotal knee replacement. I spent a few minutes chatting with her family and headed down to make my appointment in time. The PFT was just what I remembered. Funky nose clothespin and a my special seat was in a all window pressurized room thingie....only this time I got a breathing treatment after my first series of tests showed my "coughing" complaint. What is it with me and all these special treatments? My "post breathing treatment" tests were much less cough traumatizing but the Albuterol gave me shakes. It's been so long since I have used an inhaler that I forgot about that part. :0 I'm curious to see whats going to happen next because even with the breathing treatment, the charts were showing 1/3 of what it used to be. We expected it to decrease, but not that much. Blah. I went back to radiology and asked to use the restroom before they brought me in for the MUGA Scan. The nice lady behind the desk sent me to the nearest one on the other end of the hospital. Seriously? I got lost (even though I have been there several times before), walked in circles and by-golly was about to pull the 'I have no energy to walk that far find me a closer one' cancer card for the first time...but I didn't. Thursday we find out what's next...hopefully Albuterol and chemo so I can hurry up and get this done with already. ;)

As for the MUGA Scan...that was easy. I walked in and she ran an IV, put a little heparin in a tube and filled the rest with my blood....to "tag" my red blood cells. I love how she used the word tag. How do I make my white blood cells "it"? Or can I tag someone else to be "it"? Ehhh. Never mind. I don't wish this mess on anyone. So once my red blood cells were "tagged" and radioactive she put them back in my body and took pictures. Three different angles times 2 minutes a piece and I was outta there. Back to check if our favorite Church Grandma was out of surgery... and they were just sewing her up. :) My prayers are with her for a speedy recovery.

That was so exhausting I came home, ate, and napped. Wshew!

I need to get my coupons filed in my coupon box because I think I'm going to be crazy and attempt grocery shopping right after payday without the husband and kids. O.o

Quote of the day: "I put tape on my Daddy's butt so I don't have to 'mell it." -Bear

Boys: Born with two and somehow they multiply.

Last night while taking a bath Bear decided to pull his dangling body parts and squeeze them realizing something was in there.

Me: Buddy stop doing that, your going to twist them or hurt yourself.
Bear: But Mom, there is something in there...what is it?
Me: They are called testicles son.
Bear: What are 'des-sit-toles'?
Me: Um, a reproductive organ...(then I rethought his age) kinda like balls and only boys have them.
Bear: Balls? (with his expressive face) What color are the balls in there?

Great! I shouldn't have said that. Today he is still asking what color those balls are.

Errr....

Not that I was looking foreword to treatment today... but I'm bummed that my end date will be pushed back. The combination of my complaints set off an alarm and they decided to do another MUGA scan and PFT (heart and lungs) before I continue my cycles (3 treatments to go and I get another PET scan).

I'm scheduled for chemo next week pending the test results.

I was never good at ditching the classroom, but a decade later I figured it out with the doctors.

...I think....until he reads this. ;)

Más Visitar a la Familia

We had more family in town this week. Max's Grandma and Grandpa from Arizona flew into Georgia to visit his Great Aunt Pam and Uncle Chancho. This weekend Pam and Chancho drove them here to Virginia to visit us. We thoroughly enjoyed having them over. After the spoiled Grandson got his green chili chicken enchilada meal we took them to Krispy Kream since Grandma has never had a fresh hot off the belt glazed doughnut. Unfortunately we missed the "hot" sign, but still enjoyed the artery clogging occasional piece of bliss.


Chancho, Pam, Grandma, Max, Grandpa.


Mmmm, stuffing the face and lovin' it.


After my homemade banana sour cream waffles and Krispy Kream doughnuts, we took off to see the USS WISCONSIN Hampton Roads Naval Museum.
This is where he would like to go when I cook.

Yeah, um, you can imagine....

I'm mining my husband and looked at the camera.

Grandpa and Grandma in front of the USS WISCONSIN

Funny enough I have a picture of us in front of this museum ship some 8 summers ago...but for some reason I cant find that "marshmallow" picture of myself....
...and when Max offered to look for that picture! :P

Kalee and Bear feeding the...

Koi! Makes me remember Chief initiation in Japan when all the new select spouses went to Admiral Kelly's house for a tea. My friend and I were astonished at the beautiful Koi pond...ok, amongst everything else on the amazing quarters.

That's all folks! At least this time.

Grammi and Gumpa's visit

Paula Max's mom, and Grandpa came out to visit this past weekend. It was wonderful to see Grandpa again and we are thankful Paula spent a few days with us and the kids. It was nice for Max and the kids to get their mind off my 'crappy Saturday' (my worst day after treatment) and have time with family. Once I got past the icky-do-nothing-and-I-mean-nothing day, we took some pictures after Max got home from work on Monday.

Me my crazy MIL Paula.

Kalee, Grammi, and Guma, who was on the phone. ;)

Me and the love of my life goofing around. :)

He's almost as long as her. :P

Huh? You want me to be serious?

I love this man more then the human mind can fathom!!!

Grammi and Kalee

Grandpa and Max

Grammi and Bear

Max and his vertically challenged Momma. ;)

My Girl

Me: Babe, please cover your mouth when you cough (he was more like clearing his throat)...I seriously don't want to get sick.

Max: Ok. I'll cover my mouth when I cough and cover my butt when I fart.

Kalee : (blurts form the back seat of the car) Or just sit down!

Date night at ER and My Good News Report!

I know, I know. Why the ER visit last night? I'll start with that...but beware I still may have some narcotics lingering in my system.

Normally after chemo I come home and sleep. Usually don't feel up to eating which is normal, but I force a little something down so I don't lie when I said I ate something. Since my taste buds can't stand water for about 3-4 days after chemo, I almost always have watermelon on hand for the water factor...but couldn't hold it in. Yesterday I visited the toilet 7 times in about an hour and a half, got really weak, dizzy, lightheaded, kidneys aching, had the chills, Max noticed my skin was blotchy and I just flat out felt horrible. A friend (also a Corpsman....or in medical field for you non Navy people) brought us dinner and suggested calling my doctor, so Max did. "Hi Dr. A, my wife's broken." Such a good husband I have...lol. My doctor told Max to bring me to the nearest ER and have them run fluids. Upon arrival my temp was 99.3 (I normally run 97ish) and my blood pressure was 80/55 funny enough that is normal for the day after treatment and they always give me that 'your alive?' look. I gave them my list of complaints and immediately they got me hooked up and drugged up. I'm pleased to say that this morning I feel like a million bucks compared to my normal after chemo day. Praise God!

Now for the "Good News" per the PET/CT report...
I gave them a CD with all my previous CT and PET scans from Portsmouth Naval for comparison purposes and here are some things I want to share from the report.

FINDINGS:

1. Lower cranium and neck: Unremarkable

2. Chest: Lungs clear. posterior to the manubrium, not hypermetabolic soft tissue 2.3x1.0 cm,, indistinguishable form normal thymus; slightly decreased form 3.5x1.8 cm on prior PET/CT, remarkable resolution of prior hypermetabolic activity.

3. Bones: Hypermetabolic generalized marrow activity presumably iatrogenic, benign. No destructive changes.

4. Abdomen and pelvis: Spleen not enlarged; slightly asymmetrically prominent metabolic focus SUV max=2.7, approximately 1.2 cm, inferior spleen- this is so subtle it would not be commented upon except for the report of a hypermetabolic leison.

IMPRESSION:

1. No evidence Hodgkin's lymphoma at neck, chest, pelvis- compared with PET/CT 4/8/9, complete resolution hypermetabolic activity...

2. Subtle asymmetric minimally hypermetabolic small focus inferior spleen is nonspecific. -less hypermetabolic than previous and potentially normal variation -persistent lymphoma possible.

Funny enough the scans picked up "somewhat prominent free fluid at pelvis, slightly more than physiologic, nonspecific". We already knew this but I'm amazed at how much that $5,000.00 PET scan actually picks up. Amazing!

Basically this means I only have 3 more treatments (which is what I have been praying for) and I will go for another PET scan as planned to look at the spot in my chest and spleen. I see the light...I feel the wind...I smell the flowers at the end of the tunnel!!! Glory to God!!!

Can you see my smile?

Sorry...

...no blog as promised. Max followed Dr. A's directions and took me on a date to the nearest ER. Ordered me up a few bags of blood juice, tummy med's and some serious narcotics (new to me) that make me see the cute little green leprechaun on the nurses shoulder.

I will give full explanation of today's good news shortly. If I try to do it while I'm this drugged...it may sound weird tomorrow. :)

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers...you have no clue how much they mean to me and my family.

I'm thinking...

...and my brain hurts.

Because of the grace of God we can be strong even when suffering weakens us.

That's all. ;)

Bottoms Up!

I have completed 4 cycles (8 treatments) of chemotherapy and am at the testing phase. Last week I got a CT scan. Today I got the PET Scan.

This morning I took a drive out to a local cancer center. I mean HUGE cancer center! For such a large facility, you think they would have an office with the CT/PET machine in it. Nope. I went in the office to sign in, then they drug me around back to a mobile tractor trailer unit for the scan. The last PET Scan I had was at the Naval Hospital, so this civilian stuff is very new to me. They put me in a chair and used a square needle to run an IV! I wouldn't have complained so much but the lady was playing a game of darts with my vein already. I could not eat or drink for this procedure so that in itself set her up for failure. I convinced her to try my hand and seconds later she was using saline to figure out if she got it. I smelled the saline (most taste it I don't) and confirmed the hit. Shortly after her blood sugar testing she retrieved a silver ball from a vault and injected radioactive sugars in my IV. Can you see me now?

As a reward she gave me a drink. Portsmouth Naval Hospital gave me some different tasting off brand of Tampico juice stuff last time, Virginia Oncology provided me with a bottle of "orange/ pina coloda-ish" barium to chug. At least she was kind enough to give me a big straw for the thick white stuff. After the appropriate amount of time, they took my IV out and she inspected my barium bottle. I informed her that my Mom taught me it wasn't polite to slurp therefor the bottom still has a little in it. :) It worked!

They pushed me through the machine testing my eyeballs down to my knees several times. That was the easy part and some great prayer time. Results to come on Thursday which is also the beginning of Cycle #5.

I'm glowing. Can you see me now?

Butt What?

Who other then a Mom of a 3 year old like mine, would have known how difficult it is to get Boudreaux’s Butt Paste off a dog?!?!

Day 2, bath number 6. It's bound to come off somehow!

I'm still not sure of the event details. I can almost piece the story together though. Dog, floor, sink and toilet were wet... found more butt paste on the toilet seat AND inside the lid... dog is small.

Little Ann is one tolerant pooch!

Duek?

Bear walks up to me wearing a Lowe's apron with a paper name tag made by his sister that says "Duek" (said Duke), and a pair of Spiderman boxer briefs...

B: Hi! I Duek. What's your name?
Me: You tell me. If your lost in a store and someone who works there asks you what your Mommy's name is, what do you tell them?
B: Um... I live here?!?!
Me: No, you know what your address is, but what do you tell them my name is?
B: I Duek! I four years old! I can drive all by myself!
Me: Well Duek, maybe you should drive your fork lift into that bathroom and lift those clothes into the hamper.

Duek is now lounging in the tool corral waiting for the water fountain to be delivered so he can bathe before curling up in insulation for the night.

See Tee and I not Pee...

You'd have to experience the feeling of contrast injection to understand.

Today I went in for my CT scan. Exciting yet nerve racking because I couldn't study in order to get good results. The highlight? When the tech hooked up my IV (couldn't use my port because they inject contrast at some crazy 350psi...it would blow...not pretty) she didn't attach an extention because I didn't need to raise my arms over my head in the tube since I was "thin enough to fit them on the table". What? I'm not driving right now because I see weird things...am I hearing weird things too?

I can hear my neighbor across the street walking barefoot in his grass. Count this as another CT and I didn't even pee.... :)

Next test is another PET Scan. I will get results of both when I go in for my next treatment.

Upon my request for prayer, the Elders/Deacons anointed me with oil yesterday and prayed before this next set of testing. I have a beyond awesome husband, fantastic Church family, and an AMAZING God!