Aug 30, 2010

Today has been a full day already and its only 11:30 A.M.! I was taken down to Radiation bright and early this morning for the consultation and the fitting of this lovely helmet that I will get to wear each time that I come in for Radiation. The nurses and staff down there were so good to me and could see how nervous that I was to get then CT scan done, but it all went great!

Now I am receiving my first bag of blood and then number two dose of Etoposide (chemo) It hasn't been bad so far and I pray that it goes just as good today! They gave me a tentative date to come home to Fielding, about Oct.1 and I am looking forward to that date. I will probably get to come home for some visits now and again but still must remain close to the hospital for the next CNS period too. The CNS period consists of lumbar pokes with chemo in the spine, radiation, and more chemotherapy.

I am taking one day at a time and I am grateful for each day, I was a little sad this morning not being there for my boys first day of school, but want them to know that I am doing everything I can to be there next yr and the year after that! I love you boys so much! Hope that you had a great first day of school.

Aug 29, 2010

I have had my last dose of Ara C this morning. I have done well with it, now on to the Etoposide. I am not looking forward to this chemo, but will do my best. I am still able to eat and walk most of the day which is great and feel that my balance is coming back. I have some of the best Dr.'s and nurses around and thank them everyday for their great care. My mom and I have had a great time together, we watched Steel Magnolia's and had a good laugh. It's nice to have a good laugh in this tough situation.

I am grateful to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saint and know that I have many blessings from the members and many more. I am thankful for the priesthood and know that that is how I am getting through one day at a time. I love my family so much and appreciate all that they do for me in small and BIG ways.

I thank everyone for their prayers and would ask that you all continue to pray for me. I love you all and may God bless you all with the blessings that you stand in need of at this time. Hugs to all.

Catch-Up Aug. 28, 2010

I first need to apologize for being a slacker on the blog, when I went home to Fielding my computer there had a virus and went to the computer Dr. I don't have wireless at home so my laptop didn't work. So here goes the up date.

I was able to stay at home with my family for a week, and I needed that time with them. It did my spirits good to be able to be their mom and wife again. Plus I enjoyed the visits from great friends and family. I returned to the clinic to try again on Friday. Hip hip hooray, my counts were finally ready for the next round of chemo. Its funny that I was so excited to be healthy enough to get admitted to the hospital! Dr. Julie Ash said that this will be my last hospital stay unless I get a fever or sick. That was great news! Thank you for all the prayers, its nice to know so many people care.

Last night I had a great visitor, My cousin, Uncle Vances, Nancy. We talked for hours and I really enjoyed having her here.

Things are going great so far with the chemo and no complaints as of yet, hope that it will continue that way. Prayers are answered and the priesthood had great power. I have such a great testimony of them both.

A big thank you to my Aunt JaDeen and my son Colten for keeping me up dated on the Bear River game last night. Way to go Bears, and a big shout out to the awesome center for doing a marvelous job, so I hear! You rock Bracken!
A big hug to all.

Aug 20,2010

Well I had my clinic visit on Thursday and my white count is holding me back from the next round of chemo. It has went from a 1.1 to a .8. Darn white count!! Dr. Ash said we would try it again on Monday and to have a great weekend. I was a little bummed until my mother-in-law asked if I could go to a football game. Oh yea, I said, how about 2 football games? She said sure and you don't have to tell me twice to go home to Fielding. So I came home on Thursday night and will be here until Monday morning. Go Bears!! Love to you all

Aug 16, 2010

Well my counts were not quite there yet, so I am back to the house waiting for Thursdays count. If all is good then I will be admitted to the hospital for 5 days.

Family

As many of you know, I got to go home to Fielding and surprise my boys. Bracken plays on the high school football team and the Red and White game was on Friday. He has worked so hard to get the center spot on the varsity team and I am so proud of him for his accomplishments that I wanted to be able to see him play, so of course I was there and thought that he did awesome. I am one proud mom! I won't be able to see his next 3 games so I was glad I could be there for this one. GO BEAR RIVER BEARS!!!

Thank you to my wonderful sister, Maryann, for having somewhere for me to sleep and taking good care of me while I was home..when you don't tell your boys your coming Yikes! I love each one of them so much, and enjoyed being with them for the night.

On Saturday, it was our Richards family reunion and it was great to see so many there. I love all of my extended family and can feel of their love for me. I have such a strong testimony of family and the many things that they can do to bless our lives. I was the recipient of that love by a wonderful blessing from my brother, John, and many of my Uncles and cousins were there to help with it. I felt of their love and know that heavenly father hears our desires and will help us through the rough times if we just ask. I know that I can concur this next round of chemo and have felt a peace within me since that blessing. I am thankful for the priesthood and how it has blessed me through this trial in my life, and will continue to bless me.
Tomorrow I have a clinic visit and if my counts are stable I will be admitted into the hospital for the next round of chemo. I hope to stay on schedule. Thank you all for the prayers on my behalf and I love you all.

Wed. Aug 11, 2010

I am feeling a little more energized today. Its amazing what two pints of blood can do for you. I had a clinic visit again today to see where my counts were, and they were good. The Dr. put me on two new antibiotics because of my white count, it is hanging out at a 1.1 which is very low! I have enjoyed my mom being here with me.

I will be going into the hospital on Monday for the next round of chemo. Love you all!

Monday Aug 9, 2010

I have felt a little sluggish since Sunday and today I found out why, my counts have gone down dramatically. I was not surprised that I would need blood and platelets. My quick visit in the clinic turned into an all day adventure. Maryann and her two kids were troupers and took such great care of me while they were giving me blood. I hope that the blood works and tomorrow I feel a little more chipper. My emotions are all over the place and I have so many fears. I won't be able to start my consolidation C period until they get my counts back up to more normal whatever more normal is. I don't know what normal feels like anymore, but keep getting told that I will return to normal eventually.

Aug. 7, 2010

This has not been a fun week for chemotherapy, but the company I have had has made it a little easier. These girls are the cutest! Sami and Abbi made sure that I was not feeling sick and when I was feeling sick they were right there helping me. How can you not smile with these two cuties.

This is there brother, Trevor, and he was so fun to make smile and hold when he was fussy, it took the nausea feeling away from me for a min. My cousin, Becky was here for the day and was very inspired to make me homemade chicken noodle soup. I have lived on that for two days straight! Thanks Becky and family for keeping me company.

Friday my body didn't like the chemo Aura C and I am glad that was my last dose of that stuff! Now I have a week off chemo so my body can recuperate before the next round on the 16th of August. Maybe I will have a better week, No I will have a much better week!

Today, Saturday, I get to spend the day with my cousin Karen Moyes, and I look forward to having her here and helping me keep my mind off of all this stuff that my body is going through, Some days you just have to have a good cry and get it out of your system and go on with the day.

I am thankful for all of my family members and friends that help me everyday..What would I do without them, I don't even want to think about it. I love you all

Way Behind

I have not been up to getting on the computer and up-dating my blog. I figured that I had better get on the ball, so you all won't worry too much about me. (Just worry a little)

It was a nice weekend for me, Saturday Carla Zundel was here with me and we went to look for some good walking shoes. The muscles in my legs are giving me fits, so a good pair of shoes is a must to keep walking. She took me to the Draper Temple and we drove around the temple. It was beautiful, but what temple is not. We then went and visited with her sister and brother in law in Draper. Connie had fresh baked cookies for us when we got there. (Still my favorite!) I enjoyed the out.

Sunday, my cousin's Mindy and Becky made dinner, with the help of Becky's great husband, Will. It was so great to have them here and enjoy their company.

Everyone keeps me going and helps me so much. My sister-in-law, Shaley came on Monday and we had a great time. Started another week of Ara-C, which is a chemo at home from the Home Health and so far it has been o.k. I have felt a little sick, but not too bad.

I had my check-up too. Dr. Petersen said that all my counts are awesome and I was doing great to keep up the good work. That brightens up your spirits a little. I know that It will all be worth it in the end. I just struggle right now with being so far away from my family and not being able to help them through this too. I love them all. I have the most amazing boys on the planet and love them so much. My mother in law said to me to look at this as a mission, I am on the down hill side of it and the second half always goes faster than the first half. I guess if i look at it that way I will be home in no time.

Thank you for all the prayers and Love that I am feeling. I love you all!