A day in the life: Chemo Day

People often ask what it's like to receive chemo or how I feel during and/or after treatment. It usually depends on how I'm feeling going into treatment and what chemo medicine the doc prescribes for me that day. Today, the doc ordered Herceptin and Pertuzumab - my preferred choice of chemo drugs - and chose to omit Taxotere from the group. Taxotere is the not-so-fun chemo drug where side effects include nausea, slight hair loss, decrease in appetite and nadir. Nadir is the point in time between chemotherapy cycles when I experience low white and red blood cell counts. This causes extreme fatigue and increases my risk of infection. Fortunately for me, my doc has decided that I can skip Taxotere for the next two cycles. Not that it's necessarily a good thing as my body still needs Taxotere to fight off the cancer cells from multiplying. But it's ok right now since my tumor markers are at a low number (14) and my CT scan shows that my tumors are shrinking. Yay! Praise God for His mercies!!!

Here's a photo tour of what I go through each chemo cycle or every 21 days. 

24 hours prior to chemo I have to get my blood drawn. Check out the bruise to the left. Been poked ufar too many times. 

Entering the chemo clinic at Kaiser. I always gets weighed in since the pharmacist needs to know my weight in order to prescribe the exact dose. 

The chemo drugs are hung on this contraption and given to me  intravenously. Luckily I have a port catheter in my chest so that I don't need to be pricked in the arm at every session. 

A view from my recliner. 

A happy patient. God is good! Check out my straight teeth and improved bite. Got my braces removed two weeks ago. Yay! 

Sick Kid

So thankful for her smile. 'Twas a rough 24 hours prior with her vomiting and fighting a fever. Stay healthy my friends. 

Selling Cookies

On Sunday, Maddy put on her salesgirl hat and pitched for her Brownie troop by selling Girl Scout cookies. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. We set up a booth in front of our neighborhood Starbucks and Maddy along with three other Brownie members, approached each customer asking politely if he/she would like to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies. After two hours, the Brownies sold 48 boxes. Not too shabby!

Future Business Leaders of America

Little Miss Maddy hard at work

Fun times with big sis Alicia

Eugene's mini-me

Happy baby before heading out to church 

Presidents' Day Wknd Stay-cation

Family pics at the Marin Headlands. 6 years ago, I participated in my first (and last) EnviroSport race. A very difficult 7 mile run with crazy hills and rough terrain. The last 1/2 mile was on the beach! What crazy moron thought of that? Anyhoo, it was freezing cold when we visited the beach and stood outside just long enough to take pictures. 

My cousin Sonny and his beautiful wife, Jessica, visited from LA and we had such a blessed reunion. What an amazing journey these two have been through to become husband and wife and Sonny's personal testimony is so encouraging and inspiring. God has been incredibly faithful and merciful to Sonny as he experienced life as a gang member, suffered the loss of both parents, and struggled with drugs. I can't even begin to explain his life story and I hope one day Sonny will be able to share his testimony to a broader audience. Praise be to God for His unconditional love and promises. 

Date Night

Date nights are few and far between these days. However, when the opportunity arises I take advantage of painting my face and dressing up...two things I rarely do these days. On most days you'll catch me in sweats and leggings sans makeup. So please allow me to indulge and show you a rare pic of me looking presentable.

With the hat

Without the hat

Girl Scout Cookie Season Has Arrived!

The ever-popular Thin Mints

Maddy has joined Girl Scout Troop 33581 and her first assignment is to sell as many Girl Scout cookies as she possibly can. It is my job to loosen the reins and allow her to interact with customers and sell the cookies on her own. I've already failed in this department by sending out announcements to friends and home group members to pre-order cookies. Oh geez, another example of my helicopter parenting style. Let's hope she gains invaluable experience through goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. Heck, let's hope I can learn a thing or two as well! 

Down For the Count

My poor family has been hit hard with the cold and/or flu. First victim was baby Isaac with a persistent runny nose and cough. He also suffered through an ear infection in both ears. Poor kid. Then Alicia was the next victim with a sore throat and nasty cough, which is still lingering. I was next in line with a painful sore throat and runny nose. My doc postponed today's chemo session to next week since I have to be in good health to receive the chemo medicine. And then poor Eugene got the worst of it. Fever, cold sweat, little nausea, and congestion. Haven't seen him this sick since I had my myomectomy in 2004. Praying for God's mercy and protection over our family.