Update

Apparently, I am not doing a very good job of keeping everyone updated.  My mom and sister inform me that people are asking them to tell me to say "how I am doing" on this here blog.  Hmm...I guess I thought that was kind of boring.  But, since the people demand it, I can certainly comply.

My last Chemo date was 2B on Thursday, October 31st.  So far, it seems like the Friday following that second treatment is the roughest day for me.  And, seriously, it isn't that bad.  I just don't feel super-good that day.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I take anti-nausea drugs Monday through Thursday and then on Friday I have nothing.  I almost think it is the coming off of those drugs that throws me off even more than the Chemo.  But, it does seem that by Saturday I am pretty good.

I am tired.  A lot.  But, I equate it to pregnancy.  It is something you just get used to.  When I can, I lie down in the afternoons and either take a nap, read a book, or watch a little TV.  The tiredness is partially due to having Chemo and partially due to being the mom of four young-ish children.  I think at least 70% of nights one of our kids wakes us up at least once, if not multiple times.  That's just the way it goes when you have kids.

Sometimes it is just Hugo squawking in the middle of the night and he goes back to sleep pretty fast.  But, sometimes Declan needs someone to accompany him to the bathroom.  Friday night it was Lariska - throwing up.  Matt heroically handles all of those calls, but I am still awake.  And, it still takes me awhile to fall back asleep.  Especially, if my brain gets revved up.

Yeah...it's just the way it goes when you have kids.  So, you add that to the fatigue of your immune system trying to fight the Chemo and it equals a slightly higher degree of tiredness than what you are generally used to.  But, it's doable.

In fact, I think I have been a lot better this round than I was last round.  I told my mom and sister -- like pregnancy, I think I am just getting used to being tired.  It is the new norm.  My mom tells people my energy-levels are not what they used to be.  That's definitely true.  I am not sprinting after Hugo as fast as I used to.  I don't catch his cup with Spiderman-like reflexes like I used to.  I move a bit slower now, but I think overall, it's really not that bad.

So, I have a few more days left of the "nadir" (when the immune system is at its lowest), and then I get a couple of days of normalcy(???), or I suppose a couple of days for my immune system to build itself back up again, and then I go back in for my third round of Chemo on Monday, November 18th.  I see the Oncologist before the Chemo and that is when I get an update on how everything is working.  Yay!

Thank you so much, for asking how I am.  You are all so wonderful to care so much.  I really appreciate it.  Please keep praying!  I really believe in the power of prayer and think it is working!  Thank you!!!!

P.S.  A lot of the reason I am doing so good is because my mom is here everyday helping out.  She chases Hugo a lot and often makes lunch for the boys.  I am playing less of the "Mommy" than I used to, which is highly frustrating for me, but also really nice of my mom.  I am trying to remind myself that I am doing a bad job of doing my job (being Mommy) right now, so that I can do a better job later.  Something else that has really helped has been all of the meals we have received. It is so nice, when the girls come home from school, many nights, not have to worry about what's for dinner or finding the energy to make that dinner.  Thank you all so much for your generosity and time in bringing us meals three days of the week.  It has made a HUGE difference.  (And, Beth has informed me that she opened up the Take Them A Meal for 2014, when I will start doing Chemo once every week.)  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!