Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi all,

Rebecca, I am enormously relieved that your results were good. Joni, hang tough, like Skye says, taxol is doable. I don't know if my fatigue was cumulative from the ac and then taxol, or if it was caused by taxol, but I was a slug.  Tina, you must be in a flurry of packing, organizing, etc, but the house sounds great. Everyone else, hugs to each of you.

Tomorrow is my dh surgery. I will be so glad to have it behind us. I am worried about the results, but have resigned myself to the fact that we will just deal with whatever is facing us. He is taking today off to do whatever he wants, two of the kids fly in tonight, I am staying home for a week with him, and then the third kid is coming to stay with him the second week. So please keep him in your prayers. I doubt that I will be on the computer at all. I am staying in a hotel by the hospital for as long as he is there, two or three days, since I don't want to drive back and forth. I am planning on staying in his room as much as possible. I don't trust hospitals, want to be sure he is as comfortable as he can be. But I will need naps and showers.

Stay safe, all. Joni, special prayers for you and Dan.  And Thor, of course.

Melia

Melia - sending big hugs to you and Steve, and your children, and sending prayers your way.

xo

Hi,

Just got connect.

Joni,

A million big hugs. You will make it through. I also did taxol.It was not as bad as a/c. I didn't feel much affects except tiredness for around 7 weeks. I got a little neuropathy in my toes, but it did go away. My big toenails got ugly, but did not fall off. No nausea. It is doable. My dh was on Gemzar, which might be a similar chemo. He did not lose any hair and it was much easier than taxol and a/c. I believe his main s/e was loss of appetite. They gave him something for that. I do not remember what but I will find out. 

Melia,

Hugs to you and your dh. Both of you are in my prayers.

Gotta go.

Love,

Viddie 

Joni,

Gemcitabine is Gemzar. It saved Ed's life. It was new 5 years ago, and he was supposed to get another chemo drug, but after extensive research, I found that Gemzar was a newer chemo they just started using on Pancreatic  cancer patients, and I  asked if Ed could have it. Luckily they did approve- the rest is history. Ed just told me that the loss of appetite was mainly do to the surgery. It sounds like you will be getting an excellent treatment plan. How are you? I am sending big hugs to you.

Love,

Viddie 

Joni, I am so sorry to hear that you must do chemo again, but it is do-able.  I did 4 Taxols after 4 AC.  The worst part for me was leg pain.  I took Celebrex, which was hard on my stomach but took away all of the pain.  I just ate a lot of yogurt to counter the stomach problem.  I also took Glutamine mixed with whatever and that helped the neuropathy, which I had mostly in my feet.  It all went away.  I didn't have any swelling.  I found that walking really helped if even just around the living room.  We are here for you every step of the way.  I have pushed you to the top of my prayer list.  Hugs

Thank you all so much for your kind wishes and support. I will check in when I can. We are hoping to be home on Sunday, but maybe not til Monday.

In the meantime, stay strong and safe. Joni, hold Dan and Thor close.  You can do this.

Melia

Hi Guys,

I'm beat from packing, etc. but I'm still here.  Hosted the impromptu Olive Garden home dinner tonight w/Wendy/Beth and their DH's and kids.  It was fun. Under control fun, which was nice.  Beth brought a bunch of Nikki's Abercrombie, etc. handmedowns for Jac, which was great, as I haven't been able to keep up w/Jac's laundry and she pulled a mega freaking hissy fit on me his am...hates me, hates her clothes, etc.  Fun, fun.

Not sure if I told you that my neighbor Ann, the guru decorator, came over Wed. and helped me pack, literally, half the house.  She's such a work horse, she spurs me into action.  I did more today, but was simultaneously on speaker phone w/VA utilities, setting up phone, elec., gas, etc.  Wendy and Beth helped me pack some large mirrors tonight.  The movers come next Thurs. so I'll stay at Wendy's Thurs. night w/the kids and she's having a little soiree that evening.  Friday is the kids last day at school. Beth is hosting an at home pizza party making event that night and I pull out Sat. am.  God, these girls have just been my LIFESAVERS!  To think I got through BC and all the rest of the stuff out here in OH w/no family at all....  they made it soooooooooooo easy!  I am so thankful.

Happy Birthday Joni!!!!!

I hope you and Dan do something special on your day!  How are you doing? Please check in with us.

Melia, sending prayers for Steve!

love and hugs,

Lynn

Happy Birthday Joni - please go out and celebrate with Darlin' Dan.

Melia - thinking of you and Steve today.  Good luck!

Tina - Have fun with your wonderful neighbours this last week in Ohio - wow - you certainly did this quickly, and before you turn around you'll be in D.C. - I'm sure Jac will be on the lookout for lurking Senators and Congressmen.

Mel - sorry about your Mom and having to postpone your surgery.

Have a great day gals

xo

Joni, Happy Fantabulous Birthday! Hope you get some really good cake.

Melia, this is go-time, I guess, and you know we are praying for you. I've been visualizing an operating room full of angels.

Rebecca, that pre-school thing worked out great. And who DOES win, fire or water? :-) You must have needed the nap as you said.

Cindy, I guess Christmas is whenever you find it. Sounds like it was a hoot for you.

Tina, your friends sound like dolls. I'm so amazed at what you have accomplished with this move.

I've been sending revisions in to that magazine cover job and hoping this morning's was the final one so I can start the real art. And still those taxes sit there...urgh! Anyway Grendel and I had a fine walk, met some horses and managed about two miles this morning. Looking forward to niece Rachel's baby shower on Sunday, and breakfast with my gal pals tomorrow. - Skye

Yes Skye dear you do deserve a brewski.  Enjoy!!

Oy Skye nothing more miserable than taxes...i did mine last month YECK!  have  beer for sure.

My answer for Owens question was that it depends on how much water or fire there is.  I elaborated, but he started to glaze over.

Cindy I LOVE that you had Christmas dinner in March. You totally crack me up. 

Hope everyone is having a great friday...I have two extra little girls in my house for the night, and DH and I have shared a bottle of wine and some chocolate chip cookies.  YAY US!  I feel very happy today...not sure why, but I love it.

Love you all.... 

Rebecca, I thought - and maybe still think - that Owen was asking some deep philosophical question,  or at least that it was in reference to some superhero or other.  Was this just off the top of his head?  I love that kid.  Glad you got a nice nap this morning.

Mary, I am most definitely planning to be in Vegas!  I talked with the PS's nurse at length about whether I would be able to travel by then and she assured me I would, barring some serious and unforseen complication.  Just can't go scuba diving.  Of course, I have no way of knowing what will happen with my mom, but I am thinking that they will probably do surgery fairly quickly after the colonoscopy is done, if they're going to.

Of course, my friend (and my vet) who found out he had cancer the end of January is still, still waiting for a diagnosis, not to mention a treatment plan, and what they think he has is very aggressive.  I guess they can't treat till they know for sure, but he must be going mad although he puts on a good front.  I am crazy with worry for him.

Skye, congrats on getting your taxes done.  Did Grendel walk the whole two miles?  That's pretty good for a little guy.

Time for me to hit the sack - I absolutely MUST find something tomorrow to wear to the wedding next weekend.  I must - I have nothing and hate to shop *for* something.  I'd rather just go buy what I want.

One more funny thing...  Jaclyn went to the 1st Grade "Hoe Down" for Brownies last night.  They all had to dress up as cowgirls, or as she put it, "girl cows".  She came bombing through the door after school, HYSTERICAL, because her little friend, Zada said she couldn't go because she didn't have a father in town.  (I thought Jaclyn had forgotten about the event.)  Anyway, Jac demanded I go immed. to Walmart to buy girl cow clothes.  I knew there was no way we'd find anything....when you are looking for it (sorry, Mel!).  So I called one neighbor and rounded up some adorable red cowgirl boots and a red hat.  The previous night Beth had given me some handmedowns and there were denim shorts and a matching denim top.  I had to go to another friends for a bandanna!  Me!  Bandanna-less!  All mine were packed.

Anyway, I called my friend to see if she could tagalong w/her husband and daughter.  They show up and the dad is all decked out w/his boots and cowboy hat.  It is then that I recall that he is a former stripper!  I just LOL'd.  Called DH and said his daughter was out on the town w/a male dancer.  Funnnnnnnnnnnnny!