A Joyful Farewell...

Warning: Keepin' it real folks, showing you a very unflattering close up of my "I've had too many drinks at the bar" eyes that resulted today from an acute reaction to one of my chemo drugs. 

“It looks like you just drank 4 shots of tequila in a bar”, said my oncologist. This was said after I had an acute allergic reaction to one of my two poisons-I mean chemotherapy drugs this morning while I was at the clinic. So basically what happened is after having only 20 cc’s of a chemotherapy called “Oxaliplatin,” I started to feel my mouth and tongue getting numb and my hands getting numb as well. Although I’ve had a reaction in the past with feeling my tongue get numb, nothing has been as quick and severe and accompanied by other symptoms like they were today. 

It's hard to tell but I was really RED. My cells were revolting today and officially called it quits with one of my chemo meds.

In addition to the numbness, I started to flush really badly, I looked like a lobster that had sat too long in the sun and I also became very warm. My hands became bright red, and my chest started to feel constricted. I’ve never in my life experienced an allergic reaction like this. Now I know why some of these drugs are exclusively given in an open room clinical setting with many nurses and medical personnel readily available should someone have this kind of reaction. 

As soon as I felt something was off, my first thought was, “did the manufacturer of this medication change?” (During cycle 3 they did change the manufacturer and I had a numb tongue for 4 weeks because of it…whole different story.) I looked up from my computer, called the nurse over and told her something was wrong. Immediately she stopped the IV (you can see me hooked up to the IV in the picture) and flushed the line with saline solution. Then they gave me benadryl and a fast acting steroid to counteract the reaction. Another nurse brought over an oxygen tank and quickly put the nasal cannula on. 

Shortly, my oncologist came in and checked out what was going on. The first thing she said with a laugh was that I looked like I had downed some hard liquor, {which is laughable given that I think I’ve had maybe one tiny sip of the stuff my whole life, and I've never had a drink in a bar; I'm so deprived, I say sarcastically}, because my eyes were completely blood shot too. The part where I call it a blessing is when my doctor said, “You’re done with oxyliplatin”. Halleluiah! I was so thrilled to hear those words! 

I’m down to only 1 chemo drug now and after this weekend, I’ll only have 3 more cycles to go. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it feels good to only have to have one kind of chemo in my body. Thank you oxyliplatin for doing what you did for 8 cycles (16 weeks), you did a good job killing all of the cancer cells floating around in my body. I joyfully bid you farewell FOREVER.

God is Good ALL the time!

Debbie

So Much To Be Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for...

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Health
4. Abundance
5. Life!
6. Most importantly: JESUS!!!!

A quick chemo update. I finished cycle 8 last Sunday, I only have 4 more cycles to go! I'm doing pretty well considering everything, I'm very grateful for the medical care I have and the doctors who oversee my care. I had a CT scan after cycle 6 and it came back "clean", meaning there were no signs of cancer. 

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are grateful for you!

Blessings,

The Hacks

PS: Thank you to my sister Lori who is making everything for Thanksgiving dinner, you have slaved away for 3 days! I can't wait to taste each of the {6!} desserts you've made! Thank you sis!!!

Testing 1, 2, 3....

Anybody there? I'd be shocked if anyone is still following my wee little blog. I've been "MIB"-missing in blogging for quite a while here. I don't feel guilty though- well, maybe a tad. I've been using all my reserve energy these days (due to the chemo treatments) for time with the two cute boys in my life and one hunk of a husband and also for providing nutrition for said people and some semblance of a "clean" house. 

I'm currently on round 6 of 12 of my chemo treatment for { : } cancer (get it, : = colon, haha, yes, I know, I'm so corny). Yes! only 6 more to go! I should be tired and in bed by now, but I am "amped" (spell check doesn't like that word, I don't know if it's even a word. If spell check doesn't likey - like the word "likey" then I suppose it's not a word-oh well!) Anyway, back to "amped" - because when I am on the chemo at home I take a steroid and zofran to make the nausea subside. The good part is that I have little to no nausea, the bad part is I feel like I'm on speed- not that I've ever taken/done(?) speed, nor have the desire to ever do such, but I can only imagine this is what speed would feel like. 

Because I feel every blog post needs a picture or two or three or a zillion:

Crystal Cove State Beach, (Laguna Beach, CA) Sept 2012

Awesome sand castle we "happened" upon. It was quite complex-probably took someone(s) all day to complete.

This boy was in hog heaven, L-O-V-E-S playing with his trucks in the sand on the beach.

This is why I love California. Our coast line is simply breath taking. Jojo and his stick too- every boy must have a stick in hand at all times. 

Someone was tired. So cute!

From ocean to random delicious photo. If you visit Crystal Cove SB & you have a major sweet tooth like mwah, then  I suggest you head down PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) to the "Sweet and Saucy Shop". One word, Yum!  I think the mini lemon cupcake with the lemon frosting was my fav. The mini S'mores one was delish too though. The strawberry one was so good too! Oh and the strawberry macaroon was mmmmmm!

Pic to prove this place exists. You can see the ocean from the shop. How perfect is that?

More Jojo having more fun in the sand. 

I ran across this Psalm tonight and it really spoke to me. These words written in Psalms are so real to me during this trial. Thank you Abba Father for your words of comfort to your children. Where would I be without You? (I don't ever personally want to find out the answer to that question by the way).

Psalm 62:1-2

My soul finds rest in God alone;
  my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my
  salvation;

He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

v. 5-8

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
  my hope comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my 
  salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be 
  shaken.

My Salvation and my honor depend
  on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;
  pour out your hearts to Him,
  for God is our refuge. 

Are you finding your hope in God? Is He your comfort in difficult times? Trust in Him. Believe in Jesus. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'". (John 14:6)

Amen and Amen. 

God is good ALL the time.

Blessings,

Debbie 

My Little Explorer

This little guy likes to explore every area of the house these days. Yesterday I found him in the laundry room with his eyes glued to the washer and dryer spinning around. I wish I could be so simply entertained. 

"Look Mom, this is so neat!" He's such a cutie! (I know I'm biased).

I'm guessing many of you are wondering how I am feeling after my second round of chemo. Before I started my chemo treatments, I remember some people described having "good days" and "bad days", and I guess that's how I would describe how chemo is working in my body. Except, I think I'd say there are good parts of the day, and bad parts of the day. For instance, I woke up this morning and felt fine. Then as the morning wore on I became very tired and needed to take a nap. I also get bouts of nausea. When the nausea sets in, I usually have a warm cup of ginger tea (ginger helps greatly with nausea) and take another type of ginger supplement that I suck on. So far, these two things seem to help me with the bouts of nausea that seem to come at any given time. I have to say that so far, the side effects that I've experienced haven't been as bad as I expected. I'm not holding my breath though, I have 10 more rounds to go. I am ever grateful that I have my mom here with me this week - it has been so nice to know I can rest and have the boys well taken care of and not have to worry about them. Praise the Lord!

In His Care,

Debbie

God is good ALL the time!

Round 2

A friend sent me beautiful flowers, I found them on the porch as I came home from round 2. Such a blessing!

Today I started round 2 of chemo. Fortunately my first infusion was shorter this week, it only took 3 hours. Now I’m at home receiving my 5FU chemo for the next 46 hours. Fun. My CEA number (a tumor indicator) was really low this week (this is good), 1.5 to be exact. This is good news. My liver enzymes were elevated, but this is supposedly common because of the 5FU medication. The doctor will lower the dosage of the 5FU if the liver enzymes continue to climb. All the other blood work was normal though, Praise the Lord!

I love this poem that I found in my Streams In The Desert devotional, it’s so comforting and so true:

When is the time to trust?

            Is it when all is calm,

            When waves the victor’s palm,

            And life is one glad psalm

                        Of joy and praise?

No! For the time to trust

            Is when the waves beat high,

            When storm clouds fill the sky,

            And prayer is one long cry,

                        “Oh, help and save!”

When is the time to trust?

            Is it when friends are true?

            Is it when comforts woo,

            And in all we say and do

                        We meet but praise?

No! For the time to trust

            Is when we stand alone,

            And summer birds have flown,

            And every prop is gone,

                        All else but God.

When is the time to trust?

            Is it some future day,

            When you have tried your way,

            And learned to trust and pray

                        By bitter woe?

No! For the time to trust

            Is in this moment’s need,

            Poor, broken, bruised reed!

            Poor, troubled soul, make speed

                        To trust your God.

When is the time to trust?

            Is it when hopes beat high,

            When sunshine gilds the sky,

            And joy and ecstasy

                        Fill all the heart?

No! For the time to trust

            Is when our joy has fled,

            When sorrow bows the head,

            And all is cold and dead,

                        All else but God.

Excerpt taken from Streams In The Desert, p.282, by. L.B. Cowman (amazing devotional by the way!)

God is good ALL the time!

Trusting in Him,

Debbie

Ten Things

1. Chemo wasn’t that bad the first few days…then it hit. The nausea, the tiredness, other side effects etc…, bleh.
2. Round two starts Friday, double bleh.
3. My wonderful mother is here helping me for round two.
4. Last week, we went to City of Hope for a second opinion. The doctor said he would be doing the exact same treatment for me at COH as they are at my doctor’s office. The clinical trials that are currently available did not appeal to me, so I’m not      missing out on any cutting-edge treatment.
5. It’s been a ridiculously hot summer where we live. Like triple digit hot for many days in a row. It's cooling down now, praise the Lord!
6. I have been continually blessed by friends and family who have been an ongoing encouragement to me.
7. My parents brought me an exercise bike for me to use. I’ve used it and I love it. Hopefully this will help the fatigue and keep me from withering away. 
8. Keeping up with a blog while raising 2 little ones is harder than I thought it would be. Maybe throwing cancer/chemo in the mix doesn’t help either? I'll keep plugging along and posting when time allows.
9. I finished a photo wall {finally} in the living room. I’m quite happy with it. Photos to follow in another post.
10. J.D. turned 1 year old! We are so proud of him. He’s truly a gift from God. 

Here are a few pictures from our small 1 year birthday party for J.D.

Teaching him how to show he's 1.

 J.D. can now tell you he's 1 year old!

J.D.'s first taste of refined sugar. 

Inspecting.

What is this stuff?

Mmmmm! 

J.D. doesn't know how he feels about eating all that frosting.

My First Chemotherapy Infusion Picture

Me getting my first chemo infusion. I have a port that was surgically installed, this is where all of the medication will be infused over the next 6 months.