No Magic

I was hoping my hand and arm would magically deflate like a popped balloon once the port came out. No such luck. I have a post op appointment next week, so I guess we wait and see what the doc has to say. (She did warn me that I shouldn't expect it to magically get better.) I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather!

Port Removal

Last night Dr. Hoberman called and asked if I could possibly come to the hospital around 1:00 rather than 5:45. She was concerned that another patient might not be showing up for surgery which would leave the 1:00 time slot open. I told her that I had an appointment at Cancer and Hematology for herceptin at 1:00, but I would try to get it done earlier in the day so that I could be available if indeed the earlier time ended up being available. We talked about lovenox and herceptin schedules, but we failed to discuss the eating/drinking restrictions. I was able to get herceptin done at 10:00, and shortly after I got the call to be at the hospital at 1:00. I had eaten a half of a bagel at 8:00 and man, that was the talk of the OR. There wasn't a physician in there who didn't know that I had eaten at 8:00! I was just following the directions that were given to me for the time I was originally scheduled for. At any rate, the port is out. I have had bendaryl drip and sedation today. I am sleepy!!

Port, Port, Go Away!

I have been scheduled to have my port out on Thursday evening. Hopefully this will help take care of the swelling in my hand and arm. As I am looking forward to getting it removed, I am also nervous. Please pray that the surgery will go well and there will be no complications.

Thanks!

Tears and Fears

What do you do when you wake up in the morning and your arm and hand are really, really swollen? I cried. And I am still crying. I'm sad because I am so sick of looking and feeling like a cancer patient. I'm mad because it is a beautiful summer day and I want to be able to enjoy it. I am afraid that I will never look and feel like I did before I heard the word cancer.

After crying my way through my devotions and asking God why this has happened to me, I chose to look at the blog of the high school mission trip that Kylie is on. The experiences that they are having and the words they use to describe their experiences are inspiring. Relating what they are doing rafting, caving, and repelling to my experience with cancer is so easy. They had to give all control to God because the river left them with no other choice. I have to give all control over to God because cancer leaves me with no other choice. They needed to stay alert so they could hear the instructions from the guide. Such great advice, stay alert and listen to God. In addition, they needed to use teamwork. The blogger mentions that if we do not surround ourselves with a godly group of people, we will struggle to stay on God's path. I want to thank each one of you for being a part of my team. For praying me through the rough days and encouraging me to listen to his instructions.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Quick Update

Thanks for reading my blog! I will just give a quick update tonight. I am doing o.k. I find myself sleeping like a teenager (until at least 9:00), taking an afternoon nap, and I am pretty much ready for bed again by 9:00. I guess my body is simply wiped out. I am just so thankful that I can sleep and get the rest I need to recover. My left hand and arm are swollen again. Not nearly as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago, but noticeable. My watery eyes are driving me NUTS and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. The good news is that I have an appointment free week and I hope to keep it that way!!!!!

Kylie is gone to West Virginia on a mission trip. She gives me great hugs and rubs my back when I am sad and I miss both! Her birthday is on Thursday and for the third year in a row she will be celebrating it away from home. Please keep her and the entire youth group in your prayers this week as they are challenged to grow in their faith.

Keagan is healing up nicely from having her wisdom teeth out last week. We stayed pretty close to home all weekend and she is now starting to get into a summer routine.

I am going to sign off and maybe finish my first novel of the summer, House Rules by Jodi Picoult.

Good Night!

Complaints and Praises

First I am going to complain. I am totally drained from this last round of chemo. My hands and feet are super dry. I have the taste of chemo in my mouth. My feet cramp. My nails are sore. My eyes water non stop. Did I mention that I am super tired? I cry for no reason. I eat too much. It is beautiful outside and I have no desire to be out there. Keagan is recovering.....slowly. Kylie is leaving us for a week long mission trip. My blister and sunburn still are not healing.

There. Done complaining.

Now on to the praises. I am so thankful that I am done with the nasty rounds of chemo. Once I get through these next couple of days, I shouldn't have to feel like this ever again! Dr. Hoberman's office called yesterday and surgery is scheduled for Monday, August 9. Guess what that means - I get to go to Alaska with the rest of my family this summer!!!!

That's all for now!

Robin

5 months ago

I can hardly believe it has been 5 months since I had a mammogram that showed "significant change." What an amazing journey this has been thus far.

I apologize for not updating more quickly, but things have been going well since I had my last treatment. I have had a couple of nice relaxing days at home, spent some time with friends, and have been able to get a few things done. Other than a few minor things to complain about like sore finger nails, sunburn on my shoulders and a blister on my heel that will NOT heal, I have been feeling good. Last night I had trouble sleeping which shouldn't come as a surprise. I don't know if I should admit this, but I was so hungry during the night that I finally gave in at 3:00 a.m. and made myself a great big sandwich. That took the edge off my hunger pains and I think I fell asleep around 5:00.

Please pray for Keagan tomorrow. Poor thing has to have her wisdom teeth pulled out on the first day of summer vacation! Our appointment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Kylie starts her internship at church tomorrow as well.

Thanks again for checking up on me!

Robin

Survivors Lap

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Relay for Life was held here in Holland on Friday, June 4. I enjoyed being able to walk the survivors lap, visiting with friends and physicians, and meeting all kinds of new people. The tents were fun to see and the atmosphere overall was uplifting. This was a great way to start the weekend! Thank you to all who made it possible!

Last Round!

Yahoo! I am scheduled for my last round of yucky chemo tomorrow!!!! We start at 9:45 and I hope to be done by 2:00. My hand and arm are still very swollen, but at least it didn't prevent me from having the infusion tomorrow.

Relay for Life in Holland will be held this weekend. I plan on walking the survivor lap at 6:00 on Friday evening. I am looking forward to it!

I have had a very busy day at school, a dr. appointment, and Kylie's tennis banquet.

Good Night!

Robin

4 more hours

I spent another 4 hours of patiently being a patient today. I called Dr. Vanerwoude's office at 8:30 this morning because my hand and arm are just not right. At 2:00 I finally got a call to head to the hospital for yet another ultra sound. I had a different technician today than I had last Thursday and low and behold, she found a blood clot. Following the ultra sound I headed back to Cancer and Hematology to talk to the nurse. After a poke in the finger to find out how thin my blood was and then an arm draw, I was finally given instructions to QUIT coumadin (apparently it isn't working for me) and go back on Lovenox (shots in the belly). Since I have to be on the lovenox indefinitely, I have to learn how to give them to myself. Yuk. That's on my list of things to do tomorrow.

I am also planning on visiting my students tomorrow. I am anxious to see them and the staff at Hamilton Elementary!

Robin