I am pretty sure I already mentioned this once before in a post, but I LOVE LISTS! Doesn't matter what the topic is, I just love writing them. So, I figured making several lists to summarize my year would be a fun way to blog this time. I hope you enjoy reading my lists as much as I loved writing them!
Cancer-related stuff I have had to endure throughout 2013 (in order the best I could remember. When it is in a list like this, it really makes me say, "WOW!" I wrote about most of these in past blogs, so feel free to read other posts if you would like more information.)
- Kyphoplasty & Bone Biopsy - Mid January
- PET CT Scan #1 - February
- Chest Port Insertion - Monday, February 18
- Radiation fitting - Thursday, February 21
- Started Chemo - Thursday, March 7 - Did not finish until September 19 - 4 different types of medication - continued Herceptin every 3 weeks since Sept. 19 and will continue through mid April - then everything will be reviewed and my treatment path will be decided from there
- Radiation to my back - End of March
- More than 20 blood tests - my poor veins
- 4 or 5 Echocardiograms (somehow I lost count!) - An ultrasound of my heart to make sure it is strong enough to handle some of the chemo meds.
- Ongoing appointments with my oncologist - at this point it is over 20!
- 4-5 appointments with my radiologist & neurosurgeon
- Chest port infection - End of September through October - took 4 different antibiotics before the final one actually made a difference
- Chest port removal - Monday, Oct. 14
- NEW chest port insertion - Friday, Oct. 18
- Annual breast MRI
- 3 back MRIs with and without contrast - all of them required multiple attempts for the IV due to my tiny veins
- Began physical therapy in November - had 7 appointments - will continue this in the new year as well
- PET CT Scan #2 - Dec. 30 - What a way to end the year! These results better be better than the first time!!
The Unexpected Silver Linings to Chemo (I had to find someway to get through a crappy situation)
1. No shaving for months - this meant saving on razors and our water bill because my showers were shorter, ha!
2. Loss of hair - no washing, no drying, no styling, no haircuts - all of those saved time and since it was summer, I stayed cooler. However, now that my hair is back, I love it more than ever. I am working on getting some sort of style, but people tell me I can really pull off short hair. Frank also liked to point out that there were no longer piles of my shedding (which happened on a daily basis before chemo) all over the bathroom floor, or in our bed etc!
3. No more psoriasis - I was so worried my scalp would be covered with gross, flaky patches once my hair fell out. Thankfully, certain chemo meds are given to control psoriasis so I did not have to deal with all that itching for months. Unfortunately it has started to come back, but it was nice to get a 6 month break.
4. Period - My "friend" only visited 7 times throughout the year instead of 12. I did not have my period all summer which was nice for the beach and swimming! (Sorry guys, I know you don't like reading about this.)
5. Diet -I could pretty much eat anything I wanted, except anything raw and uncooked.
Personal Accomplishments - in no particular order (some big, some really small, but all noteworthy)
- Before I had my radiation and the cancer in my back started dying, I was unable to sleep in bed with Frank. I had to sleep in a recliner next to him. I am happy to say that I am back in my own bed and I do not need tons of pillows propping me up. I am able to toss and turn and kick the crap out of Frank all night again. He loves it, haha!
- I finally got my new car. It was a sad day because I had to say goodbye to my precious green beetle, but it was time to grow up. I need a mommy car so that Hudson has somewhere to safely sit. I got a blue Subaru Outback. I love it, but when I see a green beetle drive by a little part of my heart aches :(. One day I will get another one.
- In October I began dropping Huddy off and picking him up from daycare one-two times a week. It had been many months since I was able to do that myself.
- I once again hosted the Miles for Kyle 5K in September. Last year I had a broken back (and did not know yet) and this year I was still going through chemo. I must be crazy. We raised a ton of money for Kyle's scholarship though, so it was all worth it.
- I FINALLY picked a paint color for the kitchen (Palladian blue by Benjamin Moore) and Frank is almost done painting. I helped by taping and painting under the bar since that did not require as much physical work.
- I can push Huddy in the stroller and take him for walks without the assistance of anyone.
- I vacuum, do some laundry and unload the dishwasher again. Sometimes my back is still too tired, but the important thing is I AM able to do it.
-I usually go days to weeks WITHOUT Motrin or Tylenol because my back does not hurt everyday, all day! YIPPEE!!
- I no longer need help getting in and out of shirts.
Goals for the 2014
1. Read more
2. Ride my bike again
3. Go on a real vacation
4. Lose more chemo weight
5. Craft more
6. See my friends more often
7. Have more game nights
8. Try to enjoy cooking
9. Re-do the foyer and powder room
