Jan/Feb scans

This morning, I had my very first mammogram. The tech did 3 on each side. She couldn't put that much pressure on my right side, because of the port. She put more on the left. The tech said, there could be a chance I will have to go in for pics, because of my port. Will see...wasn't that bad.

Next Monday, February 4, I am getting my CT Scan. I was orginally scheduled for it on February 5. Where, I was supposed to get it done, doesn't have an RN there. An RN has to access my port. They called over to the hospital, to see if there was any openings for the first part of next week. They are busy there and other hospitals, but God had somebody cancel for Monday afternoon. I am now scheduled for 3 pm Monday afternoon. After my scan, I will go upstairs for my injection.

I have to get up at 3 am, to fix a meal to eat while I drink the first dose of the yucky stuff. Please pray that I am able to keep that stuff down, and not throw it back up. I drink the second dose at 11 am. From 11am on, no food, but am allowed to drink liquids. The last dose will be at 2 pm. That means, I will get my injection on an empty stomach late Monday afternoon. That is not good, because the last time I did that, I felt sick to my stomach. With the Interferon, it is not good to skip meals. Please pray that the scans come back clean, and that I am still NED.

Saw deer again this morning.

My Brother's Birthday

Today is my brother's 31st birthday. Went over to see him after supper. When I was driving down the driveway, I saw 3 deer. When I got over to the grouphome, he had 4 helium balloons tied to his left wrist. He took the balloons off after putting on my coat. I sang in his ear, like I always do. Yes, I did wish him a Happy Birthday.

My parents got there about 15 minutes after I did. He opened his presents. I gave him a pair of white shorts and a Steelers shirt. My mom had to buy him a Browns shirt. Guess which shirt he put on first, the Steelers one. I told her, he would like my shirt better, and he does. Actually, he put like 4 shirts on, then put Dad's coat on. My brother likes putting on multiple shirts.

One of the workers there said, that Timmy gets up in the middle of the night, and opens his dresser. He takes out all of the clothes looking for something to wear. He puts on clean clothes in the middle of the night. My brother is weird, but very lovable.

When I left the group home, I looked up in the sky, and was it beautiful, full of stars. A gorgeous view.

Deer in Snow

After I finished my devotions this morning, I started to get ready for church. I looked out the window, and I saw first two deer, then a third one. I eventually saw 7 or 8 deer. I came downstairs and got my camera to take pictures before eating breakfast. What a beautiful sight! I thanked the Lord for his gift of seeing the deer this morning. Enjoy the pics.

Before & After

I had a 4pm appointment at my cousin's shop this afternoon to get a haircut. I got it cut up to my shoulders. I didn't have enough in length to be able to donate it to Locks of Love. I had less than 10 inches cut. It feels weird having it that short. My cousin said that the middle part in the back, you can tell that is where the hair is thinning at from. She also said, that you can see new growth.
There are two before pics and two after pics. Each set has one of me from the front and one from the back. By looking at the two from the back, you can see how much was cut off.
I wanted the hair to go on my terms, not the terms of the cancer. Now if I really start to loose it, hopefully, it shouldn't be as bad, because I have already cut it.

Monopoly

I only worked this morning, went to get my injection. After eating lunch and reading the paper, I took a nap. I got up about 3 pm. My dad and I played Monopoly this afternoon, first time in about two years. As usual, I lost. I loose every time we play, but I have fun anyway.

January appointments

Last Friday afternoon, I had an appointment to see my family doctor. I had the lovely female exam. Everything is good, except for I have internal hemorrhoids. I am not experiencing any pain from them.

This morning, I saw the lymphodema specialist at rehab. She measured both of my legs, and there is only a few centimeters of difference between my two thighs. My swelling isn't that too bad. The reason for that is because of the prayers you have all been uplifting to God on my behalf. Thank you again for those prayers. God is answering them. I was told to do a massage to do 2-3 times a week, to help send the lymphatic fluid from my right thigh to a couple of other areas in my body. I only have to go back, if the swelling gets worse.

I also saw my onc this morning. My liver counts are a little high, due to the Interferon. My white blood count is now at 2.6. It was at 2.4 for the past two weeks. My platelets is at 124, they have been lower than that. I am still in the safe zone, even if I do have counts low, or high.

On the 31st of this month, I have a mammogram scheduled. That is my first one ever. A few days later, on the 5th, I have a CT Scan scheduled. I will have to drink that yucky stuff again. Please pray that I will be able to keep it down. Where I am getting my scan, I have to see if they can access my port, they said they couldn't, but I will ask them next week again. If they can't then OP Onc will access it the day before, so that we won't have to have fun trying to get to a vein for starting an IV.

It is cold up here. Over the weekend, the temps were from the single digits to the teens. No new snow.

3 Months Completed

As of this week, I have completed three months of Interferon. I have had one month of the high dose and two months of the low dose. Since I have completed the high dose, my main side effects have been fatigued (I've been very tired these past two weeks), stomach aches, hair thinning. You can't tell by looking at me, but I can tell, that my hair is thinning. I can tell it has thinned since last summer. I have not seen any hair on my pillow, but still it is thinning. I contacted my cousin today, and next Thursday, January 24, I am getting a hair cut. I need a trim to begin with. The last time, I had it trimmed was Memorial Day weekend of last year. I am going to have my cousin cut my hair to my shoulders. That is short for me. I will have my camera and will take before and after pics. I will post them on here. Cutting my hair is going to be hard, but I think it is time.

I have been busy working as a sub. I do come home worn out. I am seeing my family doctor tomorrow, for a female exam. I will see my onc on Monday. I also will see the lymphodema specialist for the first time on Monday. I should find out on Monday, about when I will get new scans done.

Thank you for your prayers, I really do appreciate them. Please continue to pray, for my fatigue, and for when I get my hair cut next week. I know it is a vanity thing about my hair, but I have been growing it out since I was 9 years old, and I am now 36.

Friday's Update

I worked today, and after work, I went to get my injection. I received a copy of my blood work from Friday. My glucose levels was at 100 (that is good), and my white blood count is at 2.4. That is two weeks in a row, that my white blood count is at 2.4. One week is it slightly up, then the next week it drops, this time it stayed the same.

When my dad came home this evening, and before supper, he told me about the phone call I received this afternoon. Who I interviewed with on Friday, called like they said they would. I did not receive the job, the reasoning, I am only certified through 8th grade, and I have limited experience at the level. I wasn't expecting to get the job, even though I got the impression that they liked me, for my science and social studies. These two people were impressed with me. They told my dad, that they were going to forward my resume packet over to the Elementary office to be considered for a job in the fall, if there is an opening. That is good news. You never know when you will do some networking with other people. The Lord has something out there for me. In his time, He will reveal what it is to me. I am working tomorrow at the same place that I was at today.

First Interview of 2008

I had an interview this afternoon, for a part-time position as an intervention specialist. It is 4 days a week, 6 1/2 hours a day, 24 hours a week. The job is either at a middle school or a high school. The major aspect of the job would be to write IEPs and making sure they are being followed. I am supposed to find out on Monday. This specialist would work part of the time in the resource room, the other time in a science and/or social studies classroom. That would be good experience. Whatever happens, I will thank the Lord for.

I am already registered for the Akron U teacher job fair in March, and the teacher job fair at EMU in April.

Happy New Year