April 3, 2007

• Promises, promises

   So much for my promise to write yesterday.  I apologize.  The day got away from me, and I was exhausted by nightfall.

  OK, general decisions have been made.  We have not yet heard from Swedish Hospital if my tumor had/has hormone receptors.  If it did/does, then there is no question.  I will begin Tamoxafen tx right away.

  IF THERE ARE NO HORMONE RECEPTORS, Paul and I have prayerfully decided to wait to do treatment.  I will have a CT scan in 2 months.  If the cancer is growing, then we consider it our sign to start chemo.  However, if it is not growing, we will wait again.

  The time we wait will be used to get me stronger, and hopefully to finally get control of my anemia.  I got an email from the doc today after having a CBC run yesterday, and I am STILL anemic.  So, he wants to start Aranesp shots soon.  I guess they kick my bone marrow into high production gear, and maybe we can finally get my hemoglobin up into the "normal" ranges.

  I have to admit that I'm kind of glad that I'm still anemic.  Because I felt so great the 2 days after the iron infusion, and then whammo... felt like my old, draggy, tired self again.  After working a full day, I go home and just crash.  Seriously, I go home, use the bathroom, change into jammies, and climb into bed.  I "hold court" with each of my children for a while. They lay on Paul's side of the bed and chat, or dance around the foot of the bed if they're hyper and chat. Or, in Ciera's case, sit at the computer and chat with me while she's chatting online with her MySpace buddies.   I watch TV, and sometimes, the fam comes in to watch with me.  Sometimes, I go to the living room and sit in the easy chair for an hour or two.

  Tomorrow, I have a 16-year-old.  I'm not sure how that happened, or why that happened, or if I can do anything to stop it. But I'm pretty sure that I can't.  Meleia and Paul want to plan a surprise party for her, so we'll probably plan that toward the end of the month when the play is over (it's next weekend).  For her big Sweet 16 gift, she really REALLY wants to go to Europe and stay with her friend Kendrick and his family for a few weeks.  The problem is that tickets to Europe this summer are very very spendy.  AND she has lost her passport.  I gave her until her birthday to find it.  If she doesn't, we can't even consider the trip.  In which case, she'll cry and pout.  She will have to pay for a great deal of this trip anyway, so I'm not sure she's up to that task.  If she can't go to Europe, we'll probably upgrade her cell phone and get her her own line.  She is supposed to pay for it if she wants her own, but perhaps $15/month (including 250 text messages) is a good birthday gift.  We also told her that we would paint the Jeep (her car), but since she won't be driving before she's 17, she thought that the Jeep painting would be a good 17th birthday present.  Way to wiggle, honey.

  The girls had a grand time on their trip.  Pictures are here if you'd like to see them.

  Here are a few for you to preview if you don't want to look at 120! 

  First, my pretty girls on the trip home.

  

  The house that they built with the team out in front.

  

  And the pastor and his wife in front of their lovely new home.  Yes, they built a parsonage.  The pastor and his wife had been living in the church.  They plan to use half of the home as theirs, and use the other half to house people who do not have a place to stay or live for a while.

  

  And in case I haven't posted this picture yet... I don't think I have...  My 16-year-old:

  

  Yes, she's got the pouty, one-eyed thing going on.  But I don't think that there is a more gorgeous girl (inside and out) on the planet.  And I'm not biased one little bit!!!

  Actually, it's verified by other people.  Ciera was nominated not once, but TWICE for the Mayor's top 100 teens.  I'll let you know if she's selected.  She cried when the nominations came to her school.  She couldn't believe that people thought she was that special.  In her words, "I'm just being ME."  She can't imagine doing anything differently than she does them now.  She wouldn't NOT step up to the plate and take on a lot of responsibility when I'm sick.  She wouldn't NOT go on mission trips, service projects, and just generally to care for others.  And she thinks that's normal.  If she only knew how abnormal she is...

  Tomorrow, I'll do a photo filled blog that walks down memory lane a bit.  Thanks for indulging me!

   

  • 5:11 pm
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