Yes! Today feels like a new day. A" good day"! The sun helps the mood so much. I didn't sleep through the night so I was worried about how my day was going to be but after waking up at 2am and staying awake until 5 I was feeling tired so I went back to bed. I fell back to sleep and woke at 810. Took a shower and had enough energy to make it upstairs and have breakfast with everyone. YEAH! Then we went to GILDA's Club to join. What a great place. I felt like we were at the home of 19 KIDS AND COUNTING. A beautiful home. Great Volunteers for a great cause. We had an informational meeting for new members, a tour and brunch. YUMMY! Then we bought 60 dollars in t-shirts for the laugh fest.
Later this afternoon we are taking a ride to Lowell for a family gathering for birthdays at my mom and dad's house. I'm hoping the car ride isn't to long. Since my chemo treatment I feel motion sickness quite easily.
Enjoy the sunshine everyone. And tonight I should sleep like a baby I have my sheets drying outside. Smell that fresh air on your pillow case....hmmmmmmm.
Shalom
Kelly
I searched for a funny quote for today's post
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. ~Elayne Boosler
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Day to Day
Today is the sixth day after treatment. I've been very tired. I will close my eyes for a minute and it's 30 or 60 minutes later when I wake up. One time it was 4 hours later.
Last night was filled with a few bouts of nausea. Enough to make me lay on the bathroom floor. I over came it with the help of Paul. The poor guy. How he does it I don't know. Some donut holes helped too. I've been finding that if I eat small, tiny meals I'm not as nauseated. I wouldn't even call it a meal. A few bites of something every hour is working for the most part. And thanks to Joe too. your surprise visit with the donut holes worked out great. I'd take a small bite of the donut and hand it off to Paul. Thinking he'd put it back in the package for when I needed another bite. I searched for the donut and then looked at him and he was eating the donut....LOL. Love those guys who will finish what you don't eat....or were you thinking gotta love those police men...?
So besides being tired. I'm exhausted. Any thing I do makes me feel like I'm recovering from the flu.
The kids are being great. Even telling me I should take a nap. I have sores on my tongue and in my throat. Rinsing with salt water/or baking soda and water works great.
This weekend started off with us getting our family picture taken. We were suppose to do it after treatments in 2007 but never did. And we had to get it done before I could get my hair colored BLOND. The kids asked if I would color it blond before it fell out. Anything for the kids right? So we had the pictures taken outside at the Ford Museum. After the pictures we had breakfast at Big Boy with the photographer and her great assistants. Then off to Aquinas for a pink out basketball game. After the game we brought the kids to my sisters. Kim and Stan brought the kids to my brothers in Sand Lake to go sledding. My brother makes a Luge Run in his yard. We've had so much snow he's made a double Luge run. I'll post a picture so you can see how big it is.
Paul and I had a restful evening at home. I was exhausted. Then on Sunday evening I went to get my hair colored. Everyone was surprised when I returned home. They all like it. I look like I went south and got a tan!
I enjoyed sitting in a chair with the slider open and the sun shining on me today and Monday.
I also took a drive out to work just to say Hi to everyone. It's always nice to see everyone there. Work friends are just like family. I haven't been there all week.
Hi again to you Brian! LOL.
Peace to all! Enjoy the warm temperatures!
Kelly
I liked the quote ...I did not have any surgery lately.
I got the bill for my surgery. Now I know what those doctors were wearing masks for. ~James H. Boren
Last night was filled with a few bouts of nausea. Enough to make me lay on the bathroom floor. I over came it with the help of Paul. The poor guy. How he does it I don't know. Some donut holes helped too. I've been finding that if I eat small, tiny meals I'm not as nauseated. I wouldn't even call it a meal. A few bites of something every hour is working for the most part. And thanks to Joe too. your surprise visit with the donut holes worked out great. I'd take a small bite of the donut and hand it off to Paul. Thinking he'd put it back in the package for when I needed another bite. I searched for the donut and then looked at him and he was eating the donut....LOL. Love those guys who will finish what you don't eat....or were you thinking gotta love those police men...?
So besides being tired. I'm exhausted. Any thing I do makes me feel like I'm recovering from the flu.
The kids are being great. Even telling me I should take a nap. I have sores on my tongue and in my throat. Rinsing with salt water/or baking soda and water works great.
This weekend started off with us getting our family picture taken. We were suppose to do it after treatments in 2007 but never did. And we had to get it done before I could get my hair colored BLOND. The kids asked if I would color it blond before it fell out. Anything for the kids right? So we had the pictures taken outside at the Ford Museum. After the pictures we had breakfast at Big Boy with the photographer and her great assistants. Then off to Aquinas for a pink out basketball game. After the game we brought the kids to my sisters. Kim and Stan brought the kids to my brothers in Sand Lake to go sledding. My brother makes a Luge Run in his yard. We've had so much snow he's made a double Luge run. I'll post a picture so you can see how big it is.
Paul and I had a restful evening at home. I was exhausted. Then on Sunday evening I went to get my hair colored. Everyone was surprised when I returned home. They all like it. I look like I went south and got a tan!
I enjoyed sitting in a chair with the slider open and the sun shining on me today and Monday.
I also took a drive out to work just to say Hi to everyone. It's always nice to see everyone there. Work friends are just like family. I haven't been there all week.
Hi again to you Brian! LOL.
Peace to all! Enjoy the warm temperatures!
Kelly
I liked the quote ...I did not have any surgery lately.
I got the bill for my surgery. Now I know what those doctors were wearing masks for. ~James H. Boren
Friday, February 11, 2011
First Chemo Treatment
I arrived at my first Chemo treatment after a slow down on 131 due to an accident. My taxi got me there via division pretty quickly after that bump in the road. Good job Melissa! My appointment was at 9 am. However I wasn't called to the lab area until 9:20. They need to do blood work first to make sure your red and white blood cells are at normal range to due the treatment. Then the pharmacy has to have those results before them make your personal concoction. During this time you are back to the waiting area. At about 10 or after I was called to the Chemo area. In this area you have a personal partion with a reclining chair, cubby for personal belongings and a tv. Warm blankets and pillows are offered too. My nurse came to me about 1045. I think that is a generous time. I think it was later. At this time she access my port and started a saline bag for extra fluids. Then I take Tylenol orally and receive Benadryl by IV. After the Benadryl is done dripping I was given the Herceptin Drug. That lasts an hour and a half. After that was done I had to listen to the IV pole beeping , hit my nurses button, and wait for the next drug. Then she came and gave me a steroid and anti nausea med through the IV. After those were done dripping she started the Chemo drug. It had to be given at the slowest rate to start in case of an allergic reaction. And she had to watch me for reaction. Then she sped the drip of the IV up every 15 minutes until 45 minutes passed. Then I was on full tilt. I was done at 3pm However I asked for a copy of my lab work and that took 30 minutes. So I got home at 4pm.
That is a long Day. I laid on the coach until our dinner arrived. I ate good I thought. After dinner, I laid on the couch and dozed off and on -5 minutes here and there. I wanted to stay awake as much as I could because I haven't been sleeping all that good. I made it to 1030. However I was up at 1 until 430. Then I was up with the kids at 6:00. Now I'm updating this blog and I will be going to bed.
How am I feeling you ask? The best I can describe is like this....and I get this description from a guy I use to work with.....I've felt worse and I've felt better. He use to say...I've seen worse and I've seen better when I would ask if he thought something looked okay... Good ol Porfideo. I use to hate when he said that. Now it comes in handy. I have a great head ache. That started before I went to bed so I know it's not just from lack of sleep. Then I feel like I'm full of junk....which I am. But that's the best I can describe it to you. And a little joint pain too. There's my complaining. I'm done with that.
I was asked to give a shout to someone on my blog and I said I would but I decided that I'm adding a stipulation to that. You have to post a comment on my blog to get a shout out back. And this starts as of today. So if you post a comment on my blog you may get your name mentioned in my blog. OOOOOO.
Thanks for all the prayers and support.
Kelly
We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails. ~Author Unknown
That is a long Day. I laid on the coach until our dinner arrived. I ate good I thought. After dinner, I laid on the couch and dozed off and on -5 minutes here and there. I wanted to stay awake as much as I could because I haven't been sleeping all that good. I made it to 1030. However I was up at 1 until 430. Then I was up with the kids at 6:00. Now I'm updating this blog and I will be going to bed.
How am I feeling you ask? The best I can describe is like this....and I get this description from a guy I use to work with.....I've felt worse and I've felt better. He use to say...I've seen worse and I've seen better when I would ask if he thought something looked okay... Good ol Porfideo. I use to hate when he said that. Now it comes in handy. I have a great head ache. That started before I went to bed so I know it's not just from lack of sleep. Then I feel like I'm full of junk....which I am. But that's the best I can describe it to you. And a little joint pain too. There's my complaining. I'm done with that.
I was asked to give a shout to someone on my blog and I said I would but I decided that I'm adding a stipulation to that. You have to post a comment on my blog to get a shout out back. And this starts as of today. So if you post a comment on my blog you may get your name mentioned in my blog. OOOOOO.
Thanks for all the prayers and support.
Kelly
We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails. ~Author Unknown
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sacrament of the Sick
Superbowl weekend started of by my mom, Paul and I heading down to the first annual HELP ON THE HILL put on by the Van Andel Institute. My sister Kim joined us for the second part held on Saturday.
It was very informative. It was for cancer patients and their family/ care givers. Just to educated you on cancer in general. Plus to inform you of all the great things happening right here in grand rapids.
Saturday ended on a very moving moment. I had the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. To help you understand what this is I've inserted the following:
The Oil of the Sick
The oil used in administering the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is called Oil of the Sick. It is one of the three Holy oils blessed by the bishop of the diocese at his cathedral on Holy Thursday morning, the other two Holy Oils being Holy Chrism and the Oil of Catechumens, which is used in Baptism.
Oil of the Sick is pure olive oil—nothing being added except the blessing of the bishop. Its appropriateness as part of the outward sign of Anointing of the Sick is evident from the healing and strengthening effects which are characteristic of olive oil.
The essence of the sacrament lies in the actual anointing and the short prayer which accompanies the anointing. In giving the sacrament, the priest anoints the sick person on the forehead and hands. During this anointing, the priest says: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up."
Counteracting undue fear When faced with the danger of death, a person normally will experience a feeling of great anxiety.
This is to be expected. God has planted in human nature a strong attachment to life which we commonly call the instinct for self-preservation. He has done so precisely in order to assure that we take due care of our physical well-being and do not expose ourselves to unnecessary danger to our life.
We need not feel ashamed, therefore, nor convicted of lack of faith if we find ourselves apprehensive when the shadow of death looms over us. To counteract this fear of death when it needs to be counteracted, and to remove all cause for fear, God has given us the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
Graces of the sacrament
In common with all the sacraments, Anointing of the Sick confers sanctifying grace.
It is an increase in sanctifying grace that Anointing of the Sick gives, since it presupposes that the recipient already is free from mortal sin. Thus there is intensified in the soul that supernatural life, that oneness with God, which is the source of all spiritual strength as it is also the measure of our capacity for the happiness of heaven.
Besides this increase in sanctifying grace, Anointing of the Sick gives its own special sacramental grace.
The primary purpose of the special grace of Anointing of the Sick is to comfort and to strengthen the soul of the sick person. This is the grace that quiets anxiety and dissipates fear.
It is the grace which enables the sick person to embrace God's will and to face the possibility of death without apprehension. It is the grace which gives the soul the strength to face and conquer whatever temptations to doubt, despondency, or even despair may mark Satan's last effort to seize this soul for himself.
Doubtless some who read this have already received Anointing of the Sick, perhaps even several times. If so, they know by experience, as does the writer, what peace of mind and confidence in God this sacrament bestows.
However, there is a secondary and conditional effect of Anointing of the Sick: the recovery of bodily health by the sick or injured person. The condition under which this secondary effect can be expected to operate is stated by the Council of Trent: "When it is expedient for the soul's salvation."
God does not multiply marvels unnecessarily. Whenever possible he works through natural causes. In this instance, recovery will be the result of the powers of nature, stimulated by the graces of the sacrament.
Thank you all who were there. Your hands were very calming. It is an amazing feeling. Emotional,but peaceful.
Peace
Kelly
When you throw yourself a pity party-don't forget to invite Jesus!
It was very informative. It was for cancer patients and their family/ care givers. Just to educated you on cancer in general. Plus to inform you of all the great things happening right here in grand rapids.
Saturday ended on a very moving moment. I had the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. To help you understand what this is I've inserted the following:
The Oil of the Sick
The oil used in administering the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is called Oil of the Sick. It is one of the three Holy oils blessed by the bishop of the diocese at his cathedral on Holy Thursday morning, the other two Holy Oils being Holy Chrism and the Oil of Catechumens, which is used in Baptism.
Oil of the Sick is pure olive oil—nothing being added except the blessing of the bishop. Its appropriateness as part of the outward sign of Anointing of the Sick is evident from the healing and strengthening effects which are characteristic of olive oil.
The essence of the sacrament lies in the actual anointing and the short prayer which accompanies the anointing. In giving the sacrament, the priest anoints the sick person on the forehead and hands. During this anointing, the priest says: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up."
Counteracting undue fear When faced with the danger of death, a person normally will experience a feeling of great anxiety.
This is to be expected. God has planted in human nature a strong attachment to life which we commonly call the instinct for self-preservation. He has done so precisely in order to assure that we take due care of our physical well-being and do not expose ourselves to unnecessary danger to our life.
We need not feel ashamed, therefore, nor convicted of lack of faith if we find ourselves apprehensive when the shadow of death looms over us. To counteract this fear of death when it needs to be counteracted, and to remove all cause for fear, God has given us the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
Graces of the sacrament
In common with all the sacraments, Anointing of the Sick confers sanctifying grace.
It is an increase in sanctifying grace that Anointing of the Sick gives, since it presupposes that the recipient already is free from mortal sin. Thus there is intensified in the soul that supernatural life, that oneness with God, which is the source of all spiritual strength as it is also the measure of our capacity for the happiness of heaven.
Besides this increase in sanctifying grace, Anointing of the Sick gives its own special sacramental grace.
The primary purpose of the special grace of Anointing of the Sick is to comfort and to strengthen the soul of the sick person. This is the grace that quiets anxiety and dissipates fear.
It is the grace which enables the sick person to embrace God's will and to face the possibility of death without apprehension. It is the grace which gives the soul the strength to face and conquer whatever temptations to doubt, despondency, or even despair may mark Satan's last effort to seize this soul for himself.
Doubtless some who read this have already received Anointing of the Sick, perhaps even several times. If so, they know by experience, as does the writer, what peace of mind and confidence in God this sacrament bestows.
However, there is a secondary and conditional effect of Anointing of the Sick: the recovery of bodily health by the sick or injured person. The condition under which this secondary effect can be expected to operate is stated by the Council of Trent: "When it is expedient for the soul's salvation."
God does not multiply marvels unnecessarily. Whenever possible he works through natural causes. In this instance, recovery will be the result of the powers of nature, stimulated by the graces of the sacrament.
Thank you all who were there. Your hands were very calming. It is an amazing feeling. Emotional,but peaceful.
Peace
Kelly
When you throw yourself a pity party-don't forget to invite Jesus!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Exit South to Florida
After my Jan 20th appointment I was able to escape to Florida with my mom for a week. Thanks to my sister for not being able to use the ticket she was going to use AND to my nephew and his great job he has.
Anyway we arrived in Florida to 70 degree weather. Mother nature did not disappoint the entire week. We had 70 degree or better everyday. No clouds and BLUE skies. It was beautiful. Almost a dream.
Now it's back to reality as I am writing this on the day which will be known as the Blizzard of 2011.
I have an appointment tomorrow to get some questions answered. Then Friday and Saturday Paul and I will be attending a seminar for cancer patients and their families called Help on the Hill hosted by Van Andel Institute. It is designed to help people understand cancer research and cancer clinical trials.
And then my first Chemo appointment will be Feb 10. in the morning. I did not receive Chemo before going to Florida but I did receive the drug Herceptin. They want to give these drugs together so my first Chemo was moved from Feb 3 to Feb 10. Sorry if I did not mention this prior today.
I'm at home with the kids on their first official SNOW day of the school year. They had a tornado warning day but not a snow day. I'm cleaning, relaxing and cleaning. Trying to think of everything I can do and need to do before the storm of chemo starts.
A lot of people have offered their time, and services. Thank You. In regards to dinner for the family I have decided that I have to have a treatment first before I know how long if any side effects will take place. Trying to be positive and hopeful here. If I'm down and out, I'm all for dinners and every ones help. I've made a list of things we could use help with. I'm going to try to add a few things to my blog for people to access. Like calenders to volunteer on. So bear with me. You may see an entirely looking blog if I need to change things. Feel free to comment and email me anytime. I love reading peoples comments and positive thoughts.
Love you all and thanks for the support!
Kelly
There is little difference in people but that little difference make a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. W. Clement Stone
Anyway we arrived in Florida to 70 degree weather. Mother nature did not disappoint the entire week. We had 70 degree or better everyday. No clouds and BLUE skies. It was beautiful. Almost a dream.
Now it's back to reality as I am writing this on the day which will be known as the Blizzard of 2011.
I have an appointment tomorrow to get some questions answered. Then Friday and Saturday Paul and I will be attending a seminar for cancer patients and their families called Help on the Hill hosted by Van Andel Institute. It is designed to help people understand cancer research and cancer clinical trials.
And then my first Chemo appointment will be Feb 10. in the morning. I did not receive Chemo before going to Florida but I did receive the drug Herceptin. They want to give these drugs together so my first Chemo was moved from Feb 3 to Feb 10. Sorry if I did not mention this prior today.
I'm at home with the kids on their first official SNOW day of the school year. They had a tornado warning day but not a snow day. I'm cleaning, relaxing and cleaning. Trying to think of everything I can do and need to do before the storm of chemo starts.
A lot of people have offered their time, and services. Thank You. In regards to dinner for the family I have decided that I have to have a treatment first before I know how long if any side effects will take place. Trying to be positive and hopeful here. If I'm down and out, I'm all for dinners and every ones help. I've made a list of things we could use help with. I'm going to try to add a few things to my blog for people to access. Like calenders to volunteer on. So bear with me. You may see an entirely looking blog if I need to change things. Feel free to comment and email me anytime. I love reading peoples comments and positive thoughts.
Love you all and thanks for the support!
Kelly
There is little difference in people but that little difference make a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. W. Clement Stone
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