So, let's play Ketchup!! ha. (I do know how to spell)

So, it has been a few days since I've blogged so let's see how much I can catch you up without boring you to tears!

First of all, as you know this is my chemo week. I went and had chemo on Wednesday. Having off the extra week had me mentally more charged than prior treatments. Well.....I always start out in the lab to get all my lines hooked up and my blood taken so they can insure I'm ready for treatment.

They could not get any blood. My port had finger like blood clots all around it. They had me stand up, wave my arms, jump in place, hold my arms above my head, you name it for about 30 extra minutes than normal....no blood return. I had to be stuck in my arm. I always ask for the best sticker because I always seem to get the person in training. I was assured I was getting the best and the funniest of all. It turns out the man beside me was having a birthday so they all decided to start singing.

Let me remind you a couple of weeks ago, the nurse who spilled all the blood all over me was singing the Flinstone song to me. I asked her if they would hold the singing until she stuck me (I've turned into a wimp). She said that she was so good that she could sing and stick me. Well, let's just say that it was needless pain for me. She did not do a good job and it was obvious she was more interested in all the surroundings than she was digging in my vein. I guess these are things that I dread the most!!

Anyway, the rest of my doctor's visit and the actual chemo infusion went fine. I was fine until last night. I had sat in my recliner all day. I just didn't have energy but I felt okay. All of a sudden, my body just started with the worst pain everywhere. Whenever I get into this much pain, tears immediately start flowing. I do not even try to cry but it is a automatic reaction. However, the worst of that is my eyes are very sensitive since I started chemo and as soon as the tears flow, it induces more pain. My eyes feel like they have hot sauce in them and the tears just make the rest of my head burn! Steve gave me pain meds, which I had tried not to take all day and it helped but didn't really get rid of all the pain. He and I both went to bed in pain. I ended up waking up and getting him pain meds in the night.

I woke up nauseated so he got up and got my steriods and all the other medicine I take. I think we are turning into 2 old granny and grandpa grumps in our late 30s, early 40s....who would have guessed? However, thank God we have each other. So many do not have what we have, I thank God every day for my blessings, which of course, always includes my family. God is surely good all the time.

Oh, we had one very exciting addition to the family. The day I had chemo, my neice went into labor and gave us a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Nevaeh (heaven spelled backwards). I've been unable to visit her but they gave us pictures and others who have visited said he is a beautiful baby. I'm just so happy that she is healthy. Cuteness is just beside the point! :-)

I'm headed back to Emory this morning to get my bag removed. I'm hoping that it will not be too busy and we can get in and get out. Our parking each time we go, costs $10. It is hard to believe that it is so costly, especially when you go so often. However, they do not have much parking and do not offer anything special for their chemo patients so you just do with what you have.

Well, I'm going to go and lay down again before I have to leave in an hour. As always, thank you for your constant support. It is a wonderful feeling to know you have those standing in the gap for you every step of the way. It makes all the little things seem so insignificant in the big scheme of life.

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's. Mine was spent on the couch but hey, it just makes me one step closer to the end. I'm willing to give up many things to make it to the end. I hope you feel the same way in your walk of life.

As always,
Love to all,
Leah