So, Thursday is the big MRI day. I can feel my tension rising already. I just found out the I have to get another lumbar puncture that day to check to see if there are any cancer cells left in there. I would really appreciate prayers for that day!
P.S. We survived the big Seattle snowstorm. I think we had about 8 inches of snow at our house. I took some photos that I would post, if I knew how. I still have't adjusted to my new mac yet and can't figure out how to post to a website. I can export to shutterfly, but that is about it! :) Let me know if you know how or I'm going to become one of those people that hang out at the Apple store!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Reality TV
I took a little break from blogging over the holidays, which gave me time to catch up on reality tv! I am amazed at how much information I have learned. From Toddlers & Tiaras, I learned that breakfast can be pixie sticks and mountain dew and "flippers" are fake teeth. And you are never too young to start getting spray tanned, facials and start waxing your eyebrows!
From Dance Moms-well, actually, I can't really handle that show. I practically grew up in a dance studio and can't handle the ranting of another crazy dance teacher.
My personal favorite, though, is Finding Big Foot. It follows a team of Big Foot experts as they look for signs of Sasquatch across America. Now have they found a "squatch" yet? Not really, but they offer much insight into Big Foot behavior. My close friend Kelley Stratton sent me an email of what she's learned from the program:
Squatches are much less intimidated by women and much more apt to approach a woman
Squatches would prefer a mattress to a cold floor
Squatches are nimble gymnasts
Squatches are intrigued by music
Squatches knock to communicate with one another
Squatches are very elusive
I hope that you enjoy all of this knowledge! :) I finished my second cycle of chemo and am off of my food restriction today. This blog might be the result of my first latte in three weeks! I go back to the hospital on January 26th for another MRI and then we'll see what I do next. I feel pretty good right now, just have the typical fatigue.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!
From Dance Moms-well, actually, I can't really handle that show. I practically grew up in a dance studio and can't handle the ranting of another crazy dance teacher.
My personal favorite, though, is Finding Big Foot. It follows a team of Big Foot experts as they look for signs of Sasquatch across America. Now have they found a "squatch" yet? Not really, but they offer much insight into Big Foot behavior. My close friend Kelley Stratton sent me an email of what she's learned from the program:
Squatches are much less intimidated by women and much more apt to approach a woman
Squatches would prefer a mattress to a cold floor
Squatches are nimble gymnasts
Squatches are intrigued by music
Squatches knock to communicate with one another
Squatches are very elusive
I hope that you enjoy all of this knowledge! :) I finished my second cycle of chemo and am off of my food restriction today. This blog might be the result of my first latte in three weeks! I go back to the hospital on January 26th for another MRI and then we'll see what I do next. I feel pretty good right now, just have the typical fatigue.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Good News
I had some good news last week. My MRI looked stable and my doctor thought the lesions look smaller! This is so exciting! So I'll do another cycle of the new chemo starting next Wednesday.
And the funny thing is that my hair is actually growing back so fast, I feel like a Chia Pet! Some parts are coming back faster than others, but I'll take it. Apparently, there are two darker circles on the back of my head that make me look like a monarch butterfly (according to my mom and sister).
And the funny thing is that my hair is actually growing back so fast, I feel like a Chia Pet! Some parts are coming back faster than others, but I'll take it. Apparently, there are two darker circles on the back of my head that make me look like a monarch butterfly (according to my mom and sister).
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Groundhog's Day
I've been a little down and frustrated lately about my current life situation. It's frustrating to feel "stuck" and not know what the future holds, especially when treatments keep changing, how I feel keeps changing, the length of my hair keeps changing... :) I try to be optimistic, but that can be draining too. A friend said my life right now is like the movie, "Groundhog's Day", where every day is the same and a way out seems impossible.
I don't like to give up, so I really started thinking about how much better I am now than I was a year ago. I think I block it out, but I was really sick a year ago. I had double vision, had to use a walker, had seizures, and couldn't even tolerate going to a restaurant for fear that something would happen.
I started wondering what the dates where for that time and as it turns out, I had my surgery where they took out the head port exactly one year ago tomorrow. It's funny how God brings these things to mind! The night before my surgery last year, I prayed that God would be with the doctors, that it will be an easy surgery, that I would remember that God is in control and that I would have faith. The surgery was a success and now I can see what a miracle it is that I had such a recovery.
Even though I'm still going through chemo and everything, I honestly can't believe how many little miracles have happened me. I thank you for all of your prayers, which have really protected and strengthened me.
P.S. Today was my first day off my diet restriction. I don't think diet coke has ever tasted this good!!
I don't like to give up, so I really started thinking about how much better I am now than I was a year ago. I think I block it out, but I was really sick a year ago. I had double vision, had to use a walker, had seizures, and couldn't even tolerate going to a restaurant for fear that something would happen.
I started wondering what the dates where for that time and as it turns out, I had my surgery where they took out the head port exactly one year ago tomorrow. It's funny how God brings these things to mind! The night before my surgery last year, I prayed that God would be with the doctors, that it will be an easy surgery, that I would remember that God is in control and that I would have faith. The surgery was a success and now I can see what a miracle it is that I had such a recovery.
Even though I'm still going through chemo and everything, I honestly can't believe how many little miracles have happened me. I thank you for all of your prayers, which have really protected and strengthened me.
P.S. Today was my first day off my diet restriction. I don't think diet coke has ever tasted this good!!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Two Days Left
I am so excited since I only have 2 days left of this chemo and I've done really well with it! I haven't been as sick as the doctors told me I'd be, so its been a surprise!
The rough part is the diet restrictions. I still have another week of that and worst of all, its over Thanksgiving! The funny thing is that I thought my little diet coke problem would die down since I've been in withdrawal for almost two weeks now, but it hasn't! All I want is a large fountain diet Coke and cheese! The half juice and half 7-up doesn't quite cut it, neither does a decaf Starbucks latte!
The other thing that is a little exciting is that my hair has started growing back! I honestly didn't think it would and I was preparing for having patchy hair. It looks like peach fuzz right now, but I'll take it!
My next MRI is December 1st. If my blood levels look good, then I'll start this 6-week cycle again. Thanks again for all of your prayers.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The rough part is the diet restrictions. I still have another week of that and worst of all, its over Thanksgiving! The funny thing is that I thought my little diet coke problem would die down since I've been in withdrawal for almost two weeks now, but it hasn't! All I want is a large fountain diet Coke and cheese! The half juice and half 7-up doesn't quite cut it, neither does a decaf Starbucks latte!
The other thing that is a little exciting is that my hair has started growing back! I honestly didn't think it would and I was preparing for having patchy hair. It looks like peach fuzz right now, but I'll take it!
My next MRI is December 1st. If my blood levels look good, then I'll start this 6-week cycle again. Thanks again for all of your prayers.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Chemo Starting Out Well?
I started my new chemo last week. I had one rough night, but that its! I'm a little surprised since the doctors keep telling me this is the most intense chemo. It's true that I can barely get out of bed right now, but at least I'm not getting sick.
The hardest thing is the diet I have to follow when I'm on this one chemo. No chocolate, no caffeine, and no cheese!!! Really? That is three weeks with no diet cokes or Starbucks, and its over the holidays! At least that cuts down on my caffeine budget! :)
The hardest thing is the diet I have to follow when I'm on this one chemo. No chocolate, no caffeine, and no cheese!!! Really? That is three weeks with no diet cokes or Starbucks, and its over the holidays! At least that cuts down on my caffeine budget! :)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Disney, MRI Results, and Next Step
So I had a few weeks away from the hospital and finally made it to CA! I don't know why, but my parents and I thought it would be fun to go on a road trip rather than flying (like my much smarter sister!). Never again! Both of my parents ended up getting sick and the side effects of radiation caught up with me, so I was exhausted the whole time. We were quite a threesome! And don't even get me started on the Clive Cussler audiobooks my parents made me listen to! :)
When we finally checked into the Disneyland Hotel, the lady at the front desk wanted to know if we were celebrating anything. My dad and I both said no, but my mom had to volunteer that we were celebrating finishing radiation. So, she made us four pins that said we were "celebrating Tiffany" to wear during our stay. Let's just say those never saw the light of day, but we did get our beds turned down with free chocolates. So maybe it was worth something!
Disneyland was a madhouse! Some of the school districts were on fall break (really?) and there are now Halloween parties at Disneyland, so it was crazy. At least we made it on most of our favorite rides.
Oh, and they have brought back Captain EO as a tribute to M.J.! Now, not to say this happened, but some of us (my sister and I) may have seen it twice! Who can resist Michael Jackson saving the universe through song and dance? They were selling Captain EO merchandise in the store, but most of it looked like it was just taken out of storage from 1986!
Overall, it was an interesting trip. At least we made it to In-n-Out a few times!
When I got home, I had another MRI. I got the results yesterday and the scan looked stable! My spinal cord is clear with no lesions and now there are only two lesions in my brain and both have gotten smaller. Because the cancer is stable right now, the doctor wants to go ahead with another type of chemo. This is a pretty rough type of chemo and I'll probably start in the next few weeks. I am so relieved about the results. I really wasn't expecting that.
Thank you again for all of your prayers! I'll keep you updated!
When we finally checked into the Disneyland Hotel, the lady at the front desk wanted to know if we were celebrating anything. My dad and I both said no, but my mom had to volunteer that we were celebrating finishing radiation. So, she made us four pins that said we were "celebrating Tiffany" to wear during our stay. Let's just say those never saw the light of day, but we did get our beds turned down with free chocolates. So maybe it was worth something!
Disneyland was a madhouse! Some of the school districts were on fall break (really?) and there are now Halloween parties at Disneyland, so it was crazy. At least we made it on most of our favorite rides.
Oh, and they have brought back Captain EO as a tribute to M.J.! Now, not to say this happened, but some of us (my sister and I) may have seen it twice! Who can resist Michael Jackson saving the universe through song and dance? They were selling Captain EO merchandise in the store, but most of it looked like it was just taken out of storage from 1986!
Overall, it was an interesting trip. At least we made it to In-n-Out a few times!
When I got home, I had another MRI. I got the results yesterday and the scan looked stable! My spinal cord is clear with no lesions and now there are only two lesions in my brain and both have gotten smaller. Because the cancer is stable right now, the doctor wants to go ahead with another type of chemo. This is a pretty rough type of chemo and I'll probably start in the next few weeks. I am so relieved about the results. I really wasn't expecting that.
Thank you again for all of your prayers! I'll keep you updated!
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