Hi all!  Amy here.  I just got a text message on my cell phone from Evie.  I'm not sure if everyone who follows her blog knows that she had to be admitted to the hospital yesterday. 

Her chemo last week has left her in dire pain in her stomach.  They added a new, different drug to the cocktail of treatment.  Usually her day after chemo is her "good day" and then the day following that is "bad."  Well, last week, her "good day" turned into a nightmare of pain.  She was seriously dreading her "bad day" if her good day was that bad.  Unfortunately, it got significantly and progressively worse and she had to be admitted to the hospital yesterday for this pain.

They did a number of tests concluding with a CT scan last night to see if they could determine the source of the pain.  From talking to her mom, morphine wasn't even touching her pain. 

The results of the CT scan this morning were not favorable.  Unfortunately the discovered that despite the treatment, the tumor is growing.  Ev's message specifically said she couldn't talk without crying so I'm trying really hard to respect that and not call.  When I do get further information, I will come back and post.  She said if they could bring her pain under control, she would get to go home tonight. 

Please step up your prayers.  Evie's fighting such a battle and right now, she's just not winning this one.  Please, please pray with me for her! 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ADDITIONAL UPDATE!!!!!!

I just had a call from Evie's mom.  After talking to her SIL who is at the hospital with Evie, she said she (the aunt) didn't feel like Evie would be up to going home tonight because while the pain in better now, it's still not completely managed so she didn't know whether Ev would go home tonight or not at this point.

There is some HOPE for some good news to come.  The tumor has grown.  This is the residual tumor left from what they took out in November.  It was 6cm then and is 10 cm now.  However, Evie had a CT scan in February and they're not sure what the size was THEN.  So if the tumor had grown between November and February, say from 6cm to 12 cm, then although it's 10cm NOW, it would show them that the treatment IS working and is shrinking it.  But until they have those results in hand, they won't fully know.  The plan right now is for 2 more rounds of chemo 3 weeks apart.  Her primary oncologist is consulting with the radiation oncologist to determine if another round of radiation could have any better results. 

Well, I found out something interesting today.  I posted a few days ago about Lymphedema and how my leg is getting unbearable.  Well, today, my mom's friend, Sandy, found this article. In it, it tells about how lymphedema can cause fevers because lymph is supposed to be "laundered" as it moves through the system.  If the toxic stuff builds up too much, it can cause infection and fevers.

Remember my "mystery fever" before chemo last time?

Now, I know that Dr. H hasn't dealt with this a lot, or he'd know that it could cause the fever.  But now that I have this tidbit of information, I'm going to go in armed on Thursday and not let him postpone treatment.

Oh yeah... because I have a fever again...

At least I'm producing red blood cells, right?

I called the doc on Friday to find out what my blood test on Thursday said.  But they were already gone  So they got back to me this morning.  Guess what?!?!?!

My white counts are incredible, showing no drop at all.

AND, my hemoglobin was "borderline anemic."  I said, "I'm always anemic, what does THAT mean, and she said, " 11.2."  ELEVEN POINT TWO!!!  3 weeks ago Wednesday, it was 8.1.  I'm making red cells on my own again!!!!!!  YAY!!!!!!

Between 3 transfusions, an iron infusion, and 3 shots of Aranesp (#4 to follow on Thursday), my body has finally kicked into gear and appears to be making the red cells that we've been begging it to make.

11.2.... Unbelievable

So, the swelling in my left leg...

My left leg has now gone from a size 6 to a size 10 while my right leg has shrunk from a size 6 to a size 2.  So, I should technically be a size 2 all over.  However, my mom had to bring me size 10 jeans, her "fat" jeans, in order for me to have jeans that fit.  Where my leg used to reduce in size if I rested, put it up, or wore my compression stocking, now, it doesn't.  It just stays large.  Sometimes it will go from feeling tight like a sausage to being a bit softer, but it is large.

Back in January, I had a blood clot in that leg.  Last week, we did an ultrasound to see if it had returned.  It hasn't.  And yet the leg keeps on swelling.

There is cancer in the lymph nodes at the top of the leg.  Because of that, the nodes aren't working.  They're not doing what they're supposed to do.  Because the swelling is being caused by lymph, they call it lymphedema.

Fortunately for me, the cancer center that I go to has a Lymphedema specialist.  I get to go see her next Friday, and we're going to get a treatment plan written, organized, and started.  And hopefully, the swelling will finally go down.

And the pain will go away.

I have been having severe pain in that leg for months.  Some of that is attributable to the cancer in the bone of the hip, part of it is from the cancer in the muscle of the abdomen, but part of it is most definitely attributable to the swelling.  I'm anxious to see if a reduction in the swelling will lead to a reduction in the pain. 

The link that I gave you above gives a lot of information about Lymphedema if you're interested.  I'm going to see the nurse next Friday at 10:00.  Yes, that's the day after chemo.  However, it is my "best day" as they pump me full of steriods ON chemo day. 

In the meantime, I am not to wear my compression stockings anymore since they're acting like a tournequet around the top of my leg.  YAY!  I hated those things. 

So... that's the story of Lymphedema.  Another crappy side effect of cancer and cancer treatment.

Just so those of you knowing she's travelling today don't worry.  We're vegging in front of the TV.  More details later.

They're uploaded to Shutterfly...

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AZtXDZyzZMXkA

Hope you enjoy them!

I had a LOVELY early birthday party on Saturday!

My mom and dad and David showed up around 11:30 so that I could have some good visiting time with David before everyone showed up.  We did have a good time.  And before everyone else showed up, I took a Xanax, so I had fun once everyone else was here, too!  David bought me a very pretty pre-planted flower pot full of hot pink geraniums for the front porch.  Pretty Pretty.  And Mama and Daddy bought me a pink tooth (my razr is pink, so the pink blue tooth is hereby a pink tooth), and it came with a pretty leather cover for my phone and they bought me a cute leather carrying pouch for my pink tooth.

It was "come & go," but no one goed.  They all got there and just stayed. But it still turned out fine.  David's sponsors from USAFA came and brought me a huge bouquet of daisies.  Mike & Leigh-Ann (who is fighting late stage ovarian cancer), brought me a really fun framed Funky Winkerbean cartoon about fighting cancer, but then below it is a section about Jehova Nissi, God who fights FOR us.  Becky and Ken brought me a book for praying for your kids.  It's written prayers, mostly scripture, with blanks to put your child's name into it.  Brenda and Mike brought me the willow-tree angel of Courage.

Not that it's about the presents...

My mom bought 3 HUGE cakes from Costco.  A lot of the cake wound up going back to USAFA with Jake. 

This morning, we went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and Colton asked to be excused from the table while we were waiting for our food.  He went and bought me 3 very cute tulip shaped tea-light holders.  He was so proud.  Bought it with his own money and everything.  And since it was the last one, and there wasn't a box, the lady behind the counter wrapped it for him.

My "Oldest Son," Dennis, donated money to our Disney trip, and also gave us enough for Paul and me to go away for the weekend to Taos or Santa Fe.  YAY!  We'll likely go to Taos.  We've talked about it, but didn't have the money for the hotel.  But we do now!  Thanks again, Dennis.  He left today, but we'll see him again soon.

OK, I'm falling asleep.  Smooches and hugs.

I uploaded the NHS induction, Rohan's field trip to the Museum of Nature and Science, and the rest of Ciera's birthday to Shutterfly.  If you want to see...

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AZtXDZyzZMXgQ

Today, he is subbing 2 half-days at our kids school.  This morning, he taught HS.  After lunch, he transitioned to 7th grade PE.  He was playing kickball with the 7th graders.  He's 45 years old.  Rounding 2nd base, he seriously pulled his hamstring.  However, he continued to play kickball for 2 more class periods.

I just got an email that he's struggling to walk.  But he doesn't want me to make a doctor's appointment.  Now, I get poked, prodded, etc by every doc under the sun, but he doesn't even want to see his primary over a major pulled muscle.

When oh WHEN is he going to learn that he's not 13 anymore???  Thankfully, 7th period is being spent watching a movie with the 8th graders.

Ay yi yi...

Got 2 Birthday packages today.  One from my Grandmamma, who sent me a pretty hat box, and some uber-cute sparkly wedge flip-flops. 

The other one?  From Mike Shanahan.  Coach of the Denver Broncos.  It has an autographed picture that says "Happy Birthday," and a very cool birthday card with the Broncos emblem embossed on the front.  Hehehe... A friend of my mom's works for Mike Shanahan, and so she had it sent to me.  It was a sweet thought.

Last night, around 6:00, it was pouring rain.  Ciera had dressed Meleia up to take her picture in the rain for some reason.  But look at these pictures.  Look at what the rain changed to above 7,000 feet....

Yes, folks.  That's snow.  There were a few inches on the ground when we got up.  Nothing on the roads.  This is why we cannot plant annuals until June 1st at my house...