Some Major Awesomeness

I received the most awesome e-mail today from the sister of a good friend of mine (whose husband also happens to play Sheepshead with mine - you can see Renee' in my Sheepshead post).  I wasn't going to post the whole thing because I feel like it was just too, too nice.  But, I changed my mind.  I guess my thinking is that if it helps anyone else out there to be more aware as it sounds like Lauren (a 6th grader) now is, then it would be well worth it.  And, wow, it is just so nice.

 

Hi Kelly!

While you are so thankful for all of the awesomeness around you, I wanted to write you and thank you for your awesomeness.  You see, Lauren and I are faithful readers of your blog.  By sharing your journey with us, you have reminded us of some important lessons we so soon forget as we get caught up in the busyness of our day to day lives.  You have reminded us not to "sweat the small stuff" and that we are never given more than we can handle; to feel blessed and grateful for each day we are given and to make the most of our time; to be thankful for the family and friends that we have; to be more generous with our time and resources.  More importantly, you have given the gift of awareness to my daughter.  My mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor and went through her diagnosis and treatment before Lauren was born.  I pray that through this awareness and following your journey, it will give her cause to be faithful in the years to come with self-exams and regular mammograms at an early age especially with the heredity factor. 

She has begged me for a pink hair extension since reading your "hair shaving" entry and seeing Aunt Jenny's.  Here she is as a member of Team Kelly:

 

Thanks again Kelly for sharing your personal journey and for your AWESOMENESS!!

You have our continued prayers and love,

Renee'

Wow.  I wonder if I will ever stop being amazed by this whole experience.  Welcome to the Army, Lauren.  I think you are the awesome one!!!!  And, I love what you have done with your hair!

Kelly's Army Across the States

Love it. My very oldest, bestest friend, Beth, was recently at Disney Land with her family.  She took this picture:

Kelly's Army in California!  So cool!

And...my long lost cousin, Pat Monahan, recently entered a tennis tournament, I believe near where he lives in Florida.  This is taken from the article he sent,

"The Landings was the site of more than the Grand Prix this past weekend. Tennis Director Paul D’Amico and his staff also hosted the Second Annual Pink & Blue Charity event, which sought to raise funds for chemotherapy chairs at Lee Memorial Regional Cancer Center. 

The Pink & Blue was a fun mixed doubles, round robin competition.  Eight teams played in the event and at the end of the three rounds, Lori Emmons and Patrick Monahan emerged as the Top team, and Jan and Terry Carlson claimed second." 

Here they are, the winners!  Patrick Monahan and Lori Emmons!  Playing tennis in Florida for Chemo chairs.  So cool!  Thanks for sending this to my Dad!!!  It is good to know what you are up to and wonderful that some of what you are up to is helping to fight cancer!

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!

Some Awesomeness

I am very embarrassed that I have not posted this one yet.  Actually, I am super-embarrassed that I have not sent out a single thank you card to anyone yet, to let them know how grateful I am for the things they are doing.  I hope you all know.  But still, I am super-rude.

In actuality, I could've sworn I posted this.  But, I think what probably happened is that I wrote the post in my head, while not-sleeping one night, and then thought I had done it when I hadn't.  Sigh.

Okay, so here is the actual awesomeness:

Matt's Aunt Tricia sent us this beautiful blanket (like two weeks ago now!) all the way from Nevada.  Not an easy feat.  Aunt Tricia, I don't think you know this, but Kyrie just adores animal prints.  She wrapped it around herself immediately upon my taking it out of the box.

 

On the same day we received Aunt Tricia's blanket, we were at the hospital waiting to see my Oncologist (before Chemo) when my surgeon, Amanda Kong, came in.  She had a huge bag and a big smile.  Apparently, she has a patient who travels all the way from Chicago to drop off prayer blankets for her to give to her other patients.  Just that day she had dropped one off and had told Amanda to give it to someone "special".  Amanda turned to the nurse who was with her and said, "I know who I want to give it to."  Just as the nurse said, "Oh!  I know who should have it."  They counted to three and Amanda said, "The Kons family."  The nurse said, "That family with four kids!"  And that's when they found out we were actually right there waiting to see Dr. Cheng.  She was very excited to give it to me and explained this whole story to me.  I, indeed, felt very special.  Thank you, Dr. Kong and patient!

And now, I have to further explain why my children are wearing them.  I have received a number of blankets over the past month and love each and every one of them.  But, there is only so many blankets you can snuggle into on the couch.  When Aunt Tricia's arrived and I saw those animal prints, I just knew Kyrie would love it.  And, when this one with pink ribbons all over came home with us, I just knew it was made for Lariska.  You see, my girls need prayers, too.  They are dealing with a tired Mommy who sometimes doesn't show up for breakfast or dinner, but instead goes back to sleep or stays in bed to watch some TV.  They understand more than the boys do, they ask questions, they feel the concern of others, they know this is bigger than they comprehend.  I knew when these two blankets arrived in our home on the same day, that I would give them to my girls, so that they could feel your love and prayers, too.  So, Kyrie and Lariska have them on their beds.  And, they just love them.  Thank you.

Selfie

Since playing the new "Trendy Apples to Apples" that Shelley Estes gave to me, I have learned a new word - Selfie.  Of course, now that I know this word, I have seen it everywhere.  Well, everywhere being defined as FaceBook anyway.  Selfie, apparently, is a picture of yourself, taken by yourself.  I am really not into selfies.  But, this morning, I couldn't help it.  Check me out:

My sister-in-law, Cathy, purchased a couple hoodies for me right after my diagnosis, having read that I would need them after surgery.  Well, it turns out that surgery is a long way off, but she still thought I should have the hoodies.  I zipped it up this morning and went to brush my teeth; checked my look in the mirror and thought it was pretty awesome that the hat I wear to bed (made by Dena McDowell's mom - it is very comfy, cozy and fun) kinda matched the hoodie.  Ummm...sweet.

I don't know, I kind of delight in this kind of nonsense.  I have a number of hats, scarves, bandanas, "chemo caps", etc. but you wouldn't believe how challenging it is to try and find the right one for each outfit.  I am not into fashion.  I like looking nice.  I don't always know how to make that happen.  Sometimes I settle for silly, instead.

So...you wouldn't believe my giddiness when I had this epiphany - the socks that Cheri Beck gave to me come in a set of three and while they all coordinate, they don't exactly match.  I don't think Cheri knew that I love wearing silly socks.  I think it is great fun to look (kinda) put together, only for a little craziness to peak out from the pants legs.  I think it is sort of a metaphor for me - serious on the outside, but crazy underneath.  I seriously had a fit of giggles this morning when I realized how awesome these socks are.  And she gave me two sets!  (That means, I have another day of giggles coming this week!)  Of course, part of the fun was how well the socks coordinated with the hoodie and hat.  Such an easy morning.  So much fun.  Thanks for making my day, guys!  It's been a great one!

 

 

So Much Awesomeness

Having cancer sucks.  I mean, it really sucks.  But the crazy weird thing is that every time I start to get down or depressed something comes along to cheer me up and remind me how blessed I am.  I think that we all know that we are loved, but it takes something like cancer for you to find out just how much you are not only loved and cared for, but just how far people will go to express that to you.  It's very neat.  It's also overwhelming.  It's super-cool.  It sometimes makes me feel kinda bad - like there's no way I am ever going to be able to repay all this kindness in my life.

I want to continue to share all of this awesomeness with everyone.  But, I also want everyone to know that they don't have to give me things to make me feel loved.  Your words, your thoughts, your smiles, your time, your laughter, your prayers - that's all I really need.  And, I am so thankful for all of those.  Thank you!

That being said, now I need to share a whole lot of awesomeness with you...

I think it was on the same day that my sister-in-law, Carrie, found out about my diagnosis that she also heard about Legacy Bracelets.  She got my family to send photos to her and made this beautiful bracelet for me.  Oh my goodness, how sweet.  And, this bracelet is so beautiful.  I really love it.  I am looking forward to wearing it to Chemo and showing it off to everyone there!  Thank you, Carrie!

On Monday, Matt's very good friend, Bryan Rutsch's wife, Christina (did that make any sense?), made us the most awesome dinner.  Ham, rolls, mashed sweet potatoes, pumpkin muffins, and my children's most favorite thing - fruit!  (All of it labeled for allergies!  You have NO idea how nice that is.)  It was such a perfect family-friendly, healthy, yummy meal.  If this is how the Rutsches eat, I would like to have dinner with them every night!

Christina, also made this wonderful care box for me.  Magaizines, decaf(!) tea, a tea mug, warm socks, candy, and my favorite - pajama pants!  I love pajama pants!  I would wear them all the time if I could.  Thank you so much Rutsch Family!

Can you believe this tray of fruit?!  My children were in heaven!

And this evening, we had another super-fabulous meal from the Wurtzbachers - also all allergy labeled!  Wow!  You guys rock!  Erin made us lemon chicken.  Seriously - lemon chicken!  Broccoli (another family favorite) and rice.  So good!  Seriously, I have never eaten so good in my life as we have this past month.  We are getting SO spoiled.

And...as if dinner was not enough, Erin had this water bottle made for me!  With Team Kelly on it.  Awww...that was SO nice.  Thank you so much, Wurtzbachers.  I am supposed to drink a lot of water (64 oz. a day, say what?!) - this will definitely help me to do so in style.  Thank you.

Finally, for this installment, the Mass Family from our church sent me a care package in the mail today.  I didn't know this, but Lisa had breast cancer 5-1/2 years ago and kicked it.  Yay, Lisa!  She sent me all kinds of fun things that the kids loved, probably none so much as these masks:

But, I enjoyed her note. (Oh! And, the Super Man/Mom t-shirt!  LOVE it!)  She had lots of great tips and just a really encouraging message.  Lisa, I do know who you are and I hope we can talk very soon!  I am hoping to be at church this Sunday, but honestly, I am a bit overwhelmed with the thought of all of the people.  Is that weird?  I am a well-adjusted introvert, but any time I am around large groups of people I feel intimidated.  Knowing that so many people are going to want to talk and encourage me makes me feel wonderful and scared all at the same time.  I have been hiding behind the fact that Hugo has, until just this week, still taken a morning nap.  But, he seems to have made the leap to afternoons now (maybe...he didn't do so good today...), so I am going to have to stop using his naptime as (what I think is a very good) excuse.

Love You Through

My husband sent me this stupid tear-jerking video (Cathy also made me a copy of this song on mix CD she titled "Kick It Kelly").  I love them both.