Pink the Rink

A goal in the first couple of minutes!!! Woo hoo!

Wow...a lot has gone on with us in the last week or so! Actually, the Rough Riders game was LAST Friday but it was a lot of fun. Ryan and Dawn were not able to go because of the marching band event at the football field (I was torn too because I would have liked to be there). At the last minute Johnse and Micah joined us in the suite which was fun. The kids loved going back for food and we finally had to give them a few limits.







The game started off exciting when the Rough Riders made a couple of goals in the first half of the first period. Unfortunately those were the only two they made and Chicago made five. It was a fun night. I mentioned in a post last week that I was worn out but it was nice to be worn out in a good way because we were able to have some fun.








During the game in between the advertisements there were pictures in the slideshow of those who are going through treatment right now. We could send a picture of us doing treatment, one of us before we started treatment or one with our family. I opted to send one of our family that was taken before my hair came out.



Then during the break between the first two periods they played a song and showed all of the pictures. The last period of the game was interesting with a couple of fights and at one point four players from each team were in the penalty box. I don't get all of that because then each team brought in three more players and they played those two minutes 4 on 4. We were all hoping that we would be able to see 1 on 1! Ha ha! Shows you how much we know about hockey!




I am thankful we were invited to join the group in the pink suite. I was sad last week that I wasn't able to attend the Strands of Strength fundraising lunch at the country club with my fever but glad that we could go to the hockey game. The week didn't look like I was hoping it would but it was still good. We had to make a rule on the way home because we all got pink cow bells at the door. All of the bells had to be put on the console between the two front seats of the van or it would be a long ride home!




Matthew was hoping to buy a kids Rough Riders jersey and knew how much money was in his bank account. The only downer of the  night for him was that they didn't have the kids sizes in yet and told us they would in a couple of weeks. I told him that I guess we will just have a date night in a month or so and bring his money and he could buy his shirt then. He is working on being patient with things and so it wasn't his favorite idea but later as we were talking he thought that would be great because that means we could go to another hockey game!

Pack Meeting

We have had a couple of month of scouts and so Monday night was our first Pack meeting with awards night. Not a lot has been done on the achievements yet but there were many Bobcat patches to hand out and a few other belt loops. The Wolves were responsible for the flag ceremony and did very well with the challenges of being smaller and having many ribbons on our scout flag making it very top heavy!




















They did a great job and so many of the scouts in our pack have sold popcorn. If anyone is still craving popcorn, our boys have one more week to sell, so last chance to pick your popcorn. Far away Minnesota relatives who may be planning to attend the fall party in Waucoma, it would be a great time to get personal delivery! We wouldn't want anyone to miss out!

Princess Zelda

Ahh...normal life. Saturday I got to spend a bunch of time in my sewing room. I have to remember on the days when I am not totally drained that I need to get down there because if I am only feeling a little rough, the busy-ness of something I love to do can really get me over a hump mentally. When things come to life (or are created) in my hands it is a huge boost!

We had picked a pattern that we thought would work from Grandma's stash of patterns and she had given us the go ahead to have it and cut it up like we need to. (with multiple sizes in each pattern, I usually try to maintain the other sizes in case we ever need to use the pattern in a different size). With the go ahead from Mom and my dislike for cutting out patterns from fabric, I cut it out like we are only going to use it once.

I got the skirt done and ready to hem with a minimal amount of problems. Let's just say I am giving myself a lot of grace where zippers are concerned! It isn't matching up exactly and so I just put the hook and eye where it would keep the skirt closed up for Dawn. After all, it is a costume and not a prom dress! The bodice will lay over the top of the waistband of the skirt anyway.

Dawn is in charge of all the "jewels" and accessories. She has a huge piece of styrofoam that she has been cutting out and painting for the different parts of the costume. Yesterday we got her long blonde wig on half price clearance because unlike the people who really think ahead and pay full price, I usually don't get to the current holiday until everything is on clearance (which really does work well for the budget).

The fabric is not fancy, in fact it is a "slippery" fabric that Dawn has used before to make pajamas so it isn't satin or taffeta or anything like that. In fact, it doesn't hold its shape that well. My problems with the bodice will become more evident later today when I have to have the dress done. Dawn is helping at our church's fall festival tonight. So, I have spent more time in the sewing room today.

The cool thing about the fabric though is that the wrong side has a soft feel to it (which is perfect for pajamas but not so perfect for costumes you are trying to make with a formal dress pattern!) It will do the trick though, she tried on as much as I had done and showed me some of the "bling" she has made and I got a boost of confidence that this might just work after all!

She has the necklace done taking three bouncy balls (which there is always an ample amount of around here) and painted them all with hot pink paint. Then she took a pin and made a hole in each one putting a string through. It looked pretty good, actually...exactly like the picture. I love it!

I am hoping that I will be able to share a picture of her finished product next week and a few of fall fest when I find out what the rest of the kids are going to be wearing. Dawn has been working on a coat of armor with pop tops (pretty sure that the breastplate will be all that will be done of that). Ryan really wanted that to wear. Matthew and Zachary have been so good at settling for what they can find in the dress up bin. Stacey is using an apron and some gardening tools along with silk flowers and being a florist.

Dawn bought her fabric and is doing a lot of the extras. It is normal and it is fun.

I Am Back...

There was just nothing in me last week and all through the weekend so I took some time off trying to organize my thoughts for you. Actually, once the weekend got here we had the Rough Riders "Pink the Rink" night on Friday and then Saturday I realized what the hospital two weeks ago and my sickness this past week has kept me from getting accomplished.

Dawn has wanted to make a "Princess Zelda" costume (see right) and we were so good to watch coupons and pick fabric that would be economical. We have had the fabric since early September and we were both so proud of our thinking ahead.

I will post some more about that project in the next couple of days. For now, lets catch up on the stuff I don't really like to write about. Many have asked and having a fever, I haven't felt like sitting here in the recliner with a warm laptop in my lap.

Last Monday as I posted, I came down with a fever. It was so humbling for me to see with one post on Facebook that I wasn't well how many people responded and by the time I went to sleep Monday night I felt so prayed for and at peace. Dad came with me to my chemo appointment Tuesday and they ran all of the tests that they ran at the hospital. My nurse said this time of the year they want to do everything then can to keep me out of the hospital so as the results came in, she put me on an comprehensive antibiotic that will take care of a number of problems.

I went into the clinic every day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to get my hour of IV fluids and antibiotic. By Wednesday evening I felt much more comfortable and by Thursday morning I felt I could get up and drive to Bible study which I am glad I did, the lesson last week was so encouraging for me mentally! Friday I was running errands and cleaning up around the house. Stacey did a great job going to her annual check up with the pediatrician with Grandma since I had to be hooked to my medicine at the same time. A little update on Stacey's leg and our plans for that in a future post.

I felt pretty good to go the the Rough Riders game Friday night although by the time we got home I was worn out. But in a good way! David took the soccer players on Saturday to their games and I took stock of what was needing to be done around the house and felt bad that we had had Dawn's fabric all this time and I haven't even got the dress cut out. More about that tomorrow.

I got a call from the oncologist last night giving me an update on what has been growing in the culture from my port. If you didn't read the update on Thursday, the port blood had a bacteria growing in the culture which potentially could be bad. Friday I was told that it was only growing in one of the two samples from the port so they really didn't know what was going on. Ugh!

But, the doctor told me last night that they identified the bacteria and it is resistant to the antibiotic I have been taking. So instead of continuing on the oral meds I had, I now have a new prescription for a different antibiotic that will address the bacterial infection, whatever that is.

My theory is that there must have been something else going on too if the other antibiotic has helped my fever and achy symptoms. I have to be careful to limit my time working with children and I got a whole box of masks today to wear if anyone in the house comes down with something. It is kinda stinky because I love teaching my 2nd grade Sunday school class and thankfully for the fall session the Good News club has its last day this week so I won't have to miss anymore of those. Hopefully by spring my life will look totally different than it does now.

So...what does this all mean? Well, I had my second round of Taxol today. Yea! I was extremely tired through most of it and have been most of today. That is 2 down 10 to go. I do have to say, I am bummed that I can't report 3 down 9 to go but I just have to get over that. It is going to happen that our plans are not always going to turn out the way that we want them to. God is in control of all of this so like everything else, it is His timing.

There are a few things I can report on getting farther down this chemo road.

• Chemo brain really is a thing and I totally HATE IT! (if you see me just spacing off at times even in the middle of a conversation, I really don't want to and I really can't help it.)
• Sometimes the chemo experience is so mentally overwhelming (which I never saw coming) that all I can do is knit or crochet in a chair. (Actually the preferred place is in my bed with pillows propped just enough to be a little upright where you will find me on a regular basis after about 8 pm at night). There can be music or a movie on but I won't necessarily be following it. There is something about busy hands that help focus my brain to a part of it that still seems to work pretty well. I am thankful that I knit and crochet!
• I can't think of something to have for supper. I think that part of my brain isn't working well. It may also be that our brains take cues from our taste buds and our cravings and I have none of that right now.) I have tried a few times to sit down and plan some things and I can't even remember what we used to eat when I would make a grocery list.
• I have the best man in the world. David has been a rock and has filled in almost all of the holes that this cancer has put into my ability to do my job. He and I both are thankful for those who have brought us meals because that makes his day so much easier too.
• When people see me out and about, it takes a lot more behind the scenes to do the "normal" things. Life in almost every form is exhausting. I am thankful for the moments I can get dressed and put on my make up and go to church, a cub scout meeting or out with a friend or just running errands. Being able to do that is important for morale!
• Monday's are sad for me because I know that this is the best I am going to feel until next Monday.

That is probably enough to report for now. A lot of the specific prayer requests are the same. The kids are doing remarkably well and for that I am grateful. For those of you who are thinking and praying for them, thank you! We are also all enjoying our new to us van.

Good News/Bad News

So...bad news quick: there seems to be something growing in my port culture based on the 24 hours after the blood was drawn. That stinks, won't know til tomorrow afternoon what it might be but worst case scenario is the port will have to come out. I am praying that they can clean it up without having to remove it. I have been in the clinic everyday getting a large dose of antibiotic mixed in a liter of fluid and the fever is gone so that is progress.

Onward to the postives of this week (to be honest, I have been "counting my blessings, name them one by one" as a constant exercise to keep my mind off of my feeling crappy self)! So...Introducing my new Mom taxi!

Batman was my first passenger

 It is the same year as the dead Dodge that is sitting next to it in our garage and has more miles but we are going to go with the fact that everyone we know who have Honda Odysseys have driven their vans much longer than our Dodge lasted. It seats eight (so Auntie Chelle, we won't have to take two cars everywhere when we are together!)

And, we haven't had leather in a vehicle in 11 years so that is a treat for sure. It drives much more smooth and everyone is excited that the automatic door locks work on every door! (our auto locks went out about three years ago.) Budget wise, we were hoping to be able to drive our Dodge for another five years at least but after David worked hard on the resuscitation last week we realized that if the bank agreed to give us a loan, it would be in the best interest of our already stressed out household to look for something that could get us around.

I love David. He and Dad went up to Cedar Falls in pursuit of another vehicle and when that or any other on the lot didn't pan out, I started emailing possibilities as I sat home on my computer. When the text came "what do you think of red"? I was excited because as I looked at the pics on my computer, it was the one I was hoping would turn out to be a good choice. I said "I LOVE red, my Probe was red".

Not driving the red sports car anymore but I am loving my red mini van and my husband and dad for doing the stressful part of shopping for it. Over all it has been a very trying week for me and chemo (or what is causing the lack of getting to have this week's round) but there are some things I can't ignore that has made this week really good.

A huge thank you to the three people who brought dinner to us this week, Rachel Booms, Johanna Fentress and Nicole Doig. So many others have been wonderful and have been bringing meals. Thank you to so many friends who have sent a little something for my mailbox this week. I got a little something special this week every day when the mailman has come from my far away family and dear friends! I am amazingly blessed and I have learned if I can keep my mind fixed on these things then the horrible way I am feeling isn't dominating my life.

I told David just yesterday that this is much harder than I thought it would be. It is nights like this one when we find a movie that everyone wants to watch and we all sit in the same room for a period of time laughing at the same funny things and listening to each other's comments that make for huge medicine for this mom! I love my family and I am so thankful that this week is almost at the end.

I have learned to take one day at a time because if I try to ponder what is on the agenda for next week and if I will be able to handle it, it is too much. God it already there. I pray that my port will be too but He is in charge of that and so I will do today and let Him prepare me for tomorrow.

One weird "plus" I have found that is not quite what I was told to expect:

 I have never had such long fingernails all at the same time. Both hands...I was told my nails would chip and crack and maybe fall out. Hmm...not complaining, I will take it!

A Sick Girl...Again

If there is something I am learning about cancer and chemo it is that there is nothing that can be predicted. This week is my second time in two weeks running a fever. Thankfully, we are trying to get on top of it with an infusion of strong antibiotics yesterday and today. Many tests have been run to find out what is causing my fever but nothing ever comes up.

I am missing out today on the Strands of Strength fundraiser banquet since I am still running a fever. That is the worst part of it. Missing things that I am looking forward to is hard. Not only that, but I wasn't able to get chemo yesterday so now that bumps me past Christmas and who knows how the rest of the fall will be.

You could say I am discouraged. Just the realization that I have no control is difficult. The fact that I have to take one day at a time and that nothing is for sure is hard for me. I feel so far from the end of all of this when these kind of weeks come up. 

But, I am thankful that I have been able to be home this time and have not had to spend a couple days in the hospital.  I am also thankful that David found us a new vehicle (well, new to us). I will write a little more about that when I am feeling better.

For now, I will be going into the clinic again today for another super dose of antibiotic and I have been told I should feel much better by this evening. I hope so. I still had a fever this morning but not as high so I guess that is good. I just want to get better and I have realized that I have to be careful around people as fall and winter arrive.

I am praying that this infusion this afternoon will take care of the bug, whatever that bug is.

Sparkly!

I haven't felt very sparkly lately. That is why as I sat outside in the mild fall morning on my swing with my coffee, my ring really caught my eye. It usually isn't sparkly enough to catch my eye unless I have just gotten done washing dishes by hand with no gloves.

The picture doesn't do it justice. In the real light of the outside, it was sparkly. I needed to see something sparkly, and it makes me smile because the man who gave it to me is the perfect match for me.

God has blessed me so much. We are totally different individuals and we can make each other crazy sometimes but as I paused a bit this morning to think about one of the few things in my life that sparkle right now (not so much the ring, but what it represents), I would have to say that I am blessed beyond compare.

We have been dealing with a little extra this week as our van died. David has been under there on and off all week to figure out if there is any way he can get it running again.

Today he went out with my dad looking for a vehicle for our family. Maybe I will be able to update you in a couple of days. I certainly don't want this to drag on. It is hard getting seven people around in a five passenger vehicle. I just didn't have the energy. I told him that he usually has a lot higher standard than I do so I am sure that I can leave the vehicle hunt in his very capable hands.