I'm still here!

So this weather is getting me in the mood again to write. It was a long boring winter for me sitting around home.
Where did I leave off?!

I was in the shower tonight and shampoo is actually starting to lather in my hair! It is growing back in horribly with a dark strip in the front, also looks black like when I was born. Just great. There is a couple reasons why it is growing back so early. Chemo treatments are only supposed to be 3 weeks apart but because of my low blood cells they have been on average, 5 weeks apart. So when the drugs wear off, my hair grows back. With my last treatment (which was April 19th) my dose was almost cut in half because they thought it was too strong because of it killing my blood cells. So, anyway, it is growing back and on these hot days I am becoming more courageous not to wear a hat.

Our team has been busy fundraising for the Relay that is coming up in a month. We had a jeep run and bbq in April, and 2 yard sales so far. Thank you to my cousin Ang who sold tickets on a Mother's Day basket in Halifax and donated the proceeds! We are in 3rd place online with donations!

I still have 2 chemo treatments left. My next treatment was scheduled on my birthday last week, but surprise, it got delayed. Trying again this Thursday.
I will leave off here for tonight, hopefully it won't be as long until I write again.

I hope you are resting in peace today, Grampy. Happy Birthday. 

Half of our Relay Team 

Hoping for better luck next week. I have gone in 4 times for chemo treatment in the last 2 weeks only to get turned down because my body isn't producing enough blood cells. Nothing I can do to get them up, just has to happen. It`s like a test in school, and I just keep failing. So frustrating...

And then, my body randomly decides to become allergic to band-aids. I developed a itchy burning rash around my porta cath. The more I scratch, the more itchy it becomes, it`s driving me crazy! Who knows what`s next. Hopefully things will start to look up for me, and luck will come my way.

On the bright side I finally found a wig that I feel confident enough to wear. Looks pretty similar to my normal hair. I tested it out today and told a couple people (who didn`t know me) that it was a wig and they were flabbergasted. Said they would never have guessed and thought it was real hair. It`s actually a new synthetic wig that I can use heat on to blowdry, curl and straight iron. A big thanks to Chanda for coming with me to help pick it out and put the final touches on it.

And way to go Realy For Life Team! We are the #1 online team for donations. Way to get a head start, it will be here in no time. We registered our team early so hopefully we win the earlybird draw for a pizza party the night of the relay. The draw will be taking place in a couple days on Big Dog. Again, it's a great thing for me to look forward to. This is my first year participating and I am just stoked to be involved in such a great cause. Next year I plan to join the committee and have a hand in volunteering and organizing. If anyone is interesting in registering a team or making a donation check out the website http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?fr_id=11267&pg=entry

Oh, the frustrations

What a week it has been thus far, nothing seems to want to go my way. On Monday I was scheduled for chemo but it got delayed until today because my white blood cell counts were too low. So I was booked back in plus I had a dreaded dentist appointment this morning.

So I woke up and went for my blood work at 9 this morning only to get a call an hour later saying my counts were still to low, a no go yet again for chemo. It happened 3 times so far and keeps pushing me farther into the spring before this chapter is over. So I had to cancel my dentist appointment because it is too dangerous to get work done with low blood cells. I have to continue with pulsating tooth aches and gums that are cut and swollen. Let's hope an infection doesn't start because I can't fight it with no immune system.

It is so frustrating because I am receiving painful achy injections to bring my counts up and yet when the time rolls around they are still too low. So now, instead of VON coming 7 days in a row for injections, it is pushed up to 10 visits. I was getting so excited that chemo would be half way done at the beginning of the week, only to be let down by my own body. No one to blame really.

On top of that I have a Grandmother stuck in isolation in the hospital not doing too peachy because of complications with her cancer. I am just hoping and praying that she pulls through. 

And the stupid weather Wednesday morning made me cancel my appointment to go pick out a good looking wig that I will actually want to wear. Someday I will get one, hopefully next week if all the factors will co-operate with me and give a smooth sailing week. Monday mornings blood work will let me know if I can get chemo that day or not. Until then, I hope the light at the end of the tunnel will get brighter instead of fade away like it has been.

Have a good weekend all. I wish everyone good  health because it sucks when you don't have it.

Chapter 6

TGIF! It has been a while since my last post, have been keeping myself busy. I think my injections to boost my white blood cells have been kicking in. I have had an energy boost in the last week. Working around the house, enjoying an evening in the city, hanging with friends, shopping, and just feeling good overall! But I have a feeling it is all coming to a hault. I think being out and about has landed me a cold, so just have to get through this little speed bump.

With every passing cold wintery day I lose bit by bit what little hair I have. Only a few patches left until I have one shiny white bald head. And I am so cold, I have lost my insulation. I cannot wait until warm weather. I don't think I will have a chance to tan the top of my head though, hopefully it will start growing back in May when I am done with my chemo treatments.

Another reason I haven't been writing is because my life kinda repeats itself every 3 weeks. I go in for chemo, feel crappy for about a week then start feeling good again, only to start the cycle over again with another bout of chemo. Not much has changed with me lately, so I don't have as much to write. But as soon as something pops into my head I will blog, just not as often as I did.

So, I am doing the Relay For Life this year on June 15th. It is my first time doing it and I joined forces with the Jeep Club. Stay tuned for some fundraisers we will be having. A yardsale, bakesale, etc, and maybe I will sell some of my homemade beef jerky... It is great to have this to look forward to and raise money for a great cause. Hopefully someday there will a cure for cancer.

Until next time, have a Happy Valentine's Day! xo

My pretty nails Chanda did!

Chapter 5

So, I went in for chemo yesterday. My white blood cell count was up a little bit, so it was a go ahead. They doubled my dose this time for one of the anti nausea medications because I got quite sick last time around. Although, it didn't help much. I was still nauseous and vomiting yesterday; and today I am still a little nauseous and super sleepy. My body just doesn't like it I guess.
I start my injections to boost my white cells on Thursday for 7 days. This will help build my immune system and hopefully keep my chemo schedule on track.
That's all I got for now, the brightness of the screen is killing my eyes. I tried to get some pics during chemo but didn't get good shots, but enjoy.