Labor Day Weekend - Fun with Family

Cliff, Garrett, Kylie, Brittney, Me & Macy @ Bumble Bee

I'm having a fun Labor Day weekend.  Garrett & Kylie came down from Salt Lake where they live and attend University of Utah.  Garrett wanted to bow hunt so the family joined him.  Last night we went hunting at Bumble Bee (mountains above New Harmony) and today Cliff, Garrett and Kylie went up to Gray's Ranch / Spring Creek (by Pine Valley Mountain).  Breck was in Vegas for his Fantasy Football draft and missed out on the family hunting trips. 

I've started exercising and enjoyed a short hike.  I still tire quickly, but I feel great and feel lucky when I have the opportunity to get out and about.

Feeling Frisky - Tattoos

I had about a three week break between the last day of chemo and yesterday when I met with Dr. Donaldson, who is my radiation oncologist. Macy & Cliff went to the appointment with me.  We discussed the side effects, the schedule and the preparation needed.  Then I got a CT scan to "map out" the area to be treated.  They made a body mold that will keep me from moving and keep me in the same position each day during treatments.  Now here's the most exciting part... I got four tattoos that show the therapist where to aim the radiation.  Getting the tattoos made me feel wild and crazy!  I'm going to imagine that they are frogs. (One of my girlfriends has a frog tattoo.) 

The first actual radiation treatment will be next Tuesday.  Radiation is a treatment that kills cancer cells in the target area, where chemotherapy kills fast growing (cancer cells) in the whole body.  Radiation and chemotherapy both reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.  I'll have a radiation treatment everyday five days a week until I've had 28-33 treatments.  It's only supposed to take about 30 minutes.  The main side effects are skin reactions (redness, itching, burning, soreness and peeling) and fatigue.

Sounds like a cinch compared to chemo.

Feeling Loved

Beautiful pink flowers from the Groupie to celebrate my last day of chemo.
 

I really have been surrounded by angels this last several months.  I've been pampered, showered with gifts & flowers, and checked on with text messages, phone calls, & cards.  I feel like my friends and family are holding me up so that I never get discouraged.  I've never felt so loved!  Thank you all so very, very much.  Love you all...

Last Day of Chemo - August 6, 2014

YAY! Last day of chemo was yesterday and it felt great to ring the bell.  Every other week when I go to chemo I see the bell and look forward to ringing it.  It was my turn yesterday.  The last four chemo treatments were long (5 to 5 1/2 hours), but the side effects were so much better than the first four treatments that I couldn't help but be grateful. The only problems I experienced were restless legs during the chemo treatments, a red face the next few days, some bone pain in my hips and thighs and a little neuropathy (numbness, pain in fingers, toes and ball of foot).  Not too bad!

Groupie Lake Powell Trip - August 3 - 6, 2014

I had a ball going to Lake Powell with my girlfriends this week.  Gretchen & Doug Glendenning invited us to stay on their houseboat.  Doug took us for a ride to Hole in the Rock and Dangling Rope for ice cream on their new speed boat.  We stayed up late playing games, dancing, talking and eating.  We sunbathed on rafts in the lake.  It was so relaxing and so much fun.  I felt great the whole trip!

Coke - Share with a "Friend"
Back row - Sandra, Belle, Julie, Me, Deana
Front row - Phoebe, Nancy, Leslie, Gretchen, Lisa



Me, Sandra & Belle



At Hole in the Rock
Back row - Gretchen, Belle, Leslie, Me, Julie, Lisa
Front row - Phoebe, Nancy, Sandra & Gretchen

Wicked Weekend

Even though I'm having chemo treatments every other week, I'm able to carry on a normal life of work during the week and fun on the weekends.  This past weekend we went to Salt Lake, saw Wicked and did some school clothes shopping for Brittney. I've heard my friends talk about Wicked for years and I've always wanted to go.  Got to check that off my bucket list. 


Cliff and me outside Capital Theater.
 

Chelsi's Run - Bald Eyebrows

Every year we celebrate Chelsi Petersen's life with a 5K fun run on her birthday - July 15th.  This year July 15th just happened to be the day that all my eyebrows fell out!  It took all that I had in me to show up for the run.  I had no idea that losing my eyebrows would be harder on me than losing my hair. I guess it's because covering up a bald head is much easier than covering up bald eyebrows!  I did make it through the night with the support of my great friends and family.  They always make me feel so loved.


Debbie, Belle, Kris, Julie, Lisa, Leslie, Phoebe
Deana, me, Gretchen, Nancy & Tracy



Kandi, Brittney, Macy, Breck and don't forget Reggie



Me, Lisa & Melanie

 

Joe, Bree, Sam, Me, Lisa, Brian, Brittney & Rebecca