Feelin' good

Thanks to everyone who took a look at the wigs and expressed an opinion. I think I am leaning toward that first one too. I should see if I can find a place to try it on here in the valley before I buy it. Nik wants to go back to the wig store and take pictures of him in the wigs. I don't think the little old ladies will want that.

I just wanted every one to know that all the prayers must be working, or maybe it is the lucky Irish scarf Gerold got me, but I am feeling really good today. And yesterday too. I hope this holds though the week. That would be great. Granted, I am not 100% and I still feel a little off, but compared to weeks past, this is great.

I was just telling Nik that it was such a beautiful day outside, I wish I could take my nieces and nephews to the park, but I am not quite up to that kind of babysitting. And I would feel bad asking all the moms to come too, just so I could sit outside and watch the kiddies. And have no real responsibility. Maybe another day. I am looking forward to shopping today, and I hope I am still feeling up to it. Thanks for the invite girls!

And thanks again for the prayers. I know that is what is keeping me going. Love you all!!

"Wigging" Out

So I have decided to get a wig. This goes against everything I had felt in the beginning. But then a friend mentioned that it might be nice to go somewhere where people didn't know me, with out looking different. Which is a good point. I get a lot of stares from small children at work, and at the grocery store, so it would be nice to avoid that sometimes. Wednesday Nik and I went to a local wig store and tried some on. I liked one of them. Nik liked all of them. He likes me with hair. No matter what. He liked the long one most. The one I liked was a different style than I normally do, but it was pretty cute. Today Mom sent me a link to a site that has a ton of different styles. Here are some I liked, feel free to let me know how you feel about them:

http://www.headcovers.com/545/allison-monofilament-by-amore-/-rene-of-paris-wigs/

http://www.headcovers.com/696/laurie-monofilament-by-amore-/-rene-of-paris-wigs/

http://www.headcovers.com/500/dylan-monofilament-by-amore-/-rene-of-paris-wigs/

http://www.headcovers.com/11515/fiesta-by-raquel-welch-wigs/

http://www.headcovers.com/11523/wendy-by-amore-/-rene-of-paris-wigs-monofilament-wig/

http://www.headcovers.com/11704/swept-away-by-raquel-welch-wigs-monofilament-wig/

http://www.headcovers.com/10688/action-by-raquel-welch-monofilament-wigs/

http://www.headcovers.com/11156/tia-by-noriko-wigs-monofilament/

The New 'Do

Since Nik took a lot of pictures, and I am lazy about putting them all up here, go to this site to see what I did Sunday night. Nik calls it "Pulling a Britney".

Help from the strangest places

A guy at work came up to me today and said(I'm sure, having noticed my sparse supply of hair, and several scars) "I'm sorry, I just have to ask, cancer?" I answered, yes, lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease. He then told me that his son had had leukemia three times in his life, had a bone marrow transplant, and full body radiation, and had survived. He told me to be strong, and that it would be fine. I told him thank you, and asked if it was hard for his son, going though all the treatments. He did not sugar-coat it for me, he said it was really hard. I said that it was hard for me, and I had only had two rounds of chemo. I can't imagine going through it for that long.

That was the extent of our conversation, and it is still strange how comforting the words of a stranger can be. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know if I am a strong person. If I cry at night because of what I am going through. Or if it is just another thing you do, cause you have to. But he recognized my situation, and offered what comfort he could. And I will always remember that.

On a sadder note...just days after my first treatment I had a lady at my station who noticed my Cancer Sucks pin on my purse and commented that they (her and her daughter) had the same one, and asked why I had it. I explained. She offered that her husband had colon cancer and had been suffering through chemo since about October. She asked about my port. I showed her and she said her husband had just had one put in a few weeks ago, but it was so much better than the regular IV he had been getting. She also said that they had recently changed his chemo drugs and these new ones were making him pretty sick. I can feel his pain. We talked a few minutes longer and I felt better knowing that there was someone else who knew what I was going through. I found out today that her husband passed away. I didn't know what to say. I did not actually see her, it was relayed to me from my manager. I wish there was something I could do for them. We were not good friends, we were barely even acquaintances. I had never even met her husband. But I feel for her so strongly. My heart goes out to them.

It was a busy day today, and I am glad to be home.

Sorry, I'm behind

Quick update:

I had treatment as scheduled on Monday. I felt pretty off on Monday and Tuesday, and here I am back at work on Wednesday, still feeling off. I did not take any anti-nausea meds this morning cause it was so hard work through it last time. Also, I was so off last night after taking my 3rd or 4th dose of Ativan I went to bed with my bra still on. (A lady at work told me it was better than coming to work without it on. Which is true.)

I had to go back in on Tuesday to have a Neulasta shot to keep my white cell count up so I don't have to skip anymore treatments. The side effects of the shot are mild to intense long bone pain and flu-like symptoms. I hope I don't get those. But I probably will. This shot will be a regular occurrence the day after a treatment now.

ps-Curt (my CEO) was at treatment with me this time. He has it every three weeks, and I every two. So we should bump into each other every now and then. Hopefully it is for a long time.

Along those same lines Granite announced its new CEO to take full control on July 6th, but Curt will be staying on as long as he can/wants.

Survivors Lap

I mentioned the Relay for Life on my other blog earlier and I just wanted to follow up with anyone who was interested in donating to my cause. The race itself goes from June 26th 5:00pm-June 27th 6:pm at Murray High School, but there is a Survivors Lap at the beginning (5:00) which I am participating in. I would love to be part of the whole race, but I have to work on Saturday, and it will be the week of a treatment, so who knows how I will feel. I plan to head over there to cheer on the rest of our team when I get off.

Anyone interested in donating to the Relay for Life cause and to my fundraising efforts specifically can go here. If you are interested in running or walking for part of the race, let me know and we could get you on the Granite team (unless you have about 14 others and want to form your own team). Either way, I would love to see all of you at the Survivors Lap on Friday!

(clarification: The Survivors Lap is on the 26th. At the beginning of the race)

Lena is back

Lena came home and is fine. She was told the infection was in the incision and not at the port sight. So she is safe and healing fine. They gave her neosporin and said keep this on it...$75 later here we are! And she does not have to have her port removed which was the thing that worried my sweet wife the most!

Lena is on her way to the ER

Lena just called me from work. She had talked to the Clinic and they told her to go to the ER. She had been having some problems with her port. It was having trouble healing and had become infected. When she mentioned it to the clinic they said GO TO THE ER!!!! There is a possibility that the infection could spread to the blood stream which means bad news! So she called her mom and is on her way. I will give you more info when I find more out!