Back to Life

Ok so I've totally sucked at updating the blog. I started to give a update and then got side tracked. Imagine that. Then my computer had a tall glass of water. Thanks to my kids. Long story short I'm done with treatment!!! Yay! Ok so my last treatment was June 15th. My last blood work was good and I don't have another scan till the week before Thanksgiving.

In July the fam and I went to California for not one, but two family reunions. It was awesome, but tiring. I survived. Next week the boys start 2nd and 4th grade. In September Jaelene starts her second year of pre-school and Madie and I start visiting the birds at Sugarhouse park again. She loves the birdies. =)

Thank you to all of my family and friends who have followed my blog on my wild ride. Thanks for your prayers of love and support. I wouldn't have made it through it with out you.

Remission Baby!!! =)

So on Monday I had my PET Scan. That appointment went well. There wasn't any complications. I got a nap. It was great. After it was over I was starving from having to fast, so I went to Wing Coop for wings and onion rings. Yummy. =)

On Tuesday I had my Radiation set up appointment. That was, lets say horrible!!! They put me in a robe which I never like. They had me lay on a CT table and put my chin back as far as I could. They put a mouth guard in my mouth and then put this warm mesh over my face. The mesh is to make a mask to keep my head in the same position every time I have treatment. They gave me small eye holes, but I still couldn't see. I'm claustrophobic so this wasn't fun for me. The mesh drys and hardens. It's strapped down on my face and can't move my head at all. They were working on me and I couldn't see what was going on. All I could do was hear them. Oh did I mention I was exposed from the waist up except for a "wash cloth bikini" That was fun. As they were talking they started marking my body with a sharpie marker. They then took some CT images. When they came back in to the room they started talking about tattoos. At this point I'm a lil freaked and I'm ready to have this mask removed. They let me know it will be a few minutes more. When the mask is finally removed they let me know that they have to give me four pin size tattoos to mark my body for radiation. It's used to line me up for treatment. I have one just under my biopsy scar, one above my left breast, and one on each shoulder. It hurt, but I think a IV hurts worse. When that was done, I was done.

I have a vitrification radiation appointment on Wednesday. They just have a trial run to make sure everything is lined up. My first actual radiation appointment is Thursday the 2nd. I will have 10 total treatments. Treatments are Mon-Fri. My last one will be on the 15th. The day before my 11th Wedding Anniversary. =)

So now to Remission!!! =) I got to look at my PET Scan and we don't have any hot spots. Just scar tissue. I guess that is normal. Yay!!! I'm so excited. No more chemo!!! That is the best news I've heard all year long.

The above photo is of my PET Scan Pre-treatment. The photo below is Post-treatment.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. I would never had been able to get through this with out you. I love you all.

Hope

Since the beginning of this "wild ride" I have never really needed Hope. When they said it was Cancer they also said Hodgkin's. It's the most curable. So I knew I would live. I didn't need Hope. I had Faith that I was going to live. I still have Faith that I'm going to live. At my last appointment with mt Oncologist she said I needed another PET Scan and the results would determine whether I need more Chemo. Now I need Hope. I'm really hoping my test results are good. I hate Chemo and I don't want to do four more infusions. The last two have been terrible. They leave me with a pain I can only describe as someone poking needles into my bones. Not fun. I take pain meds and all it does is dull the pain. Even if I take 10 mg of Lortab. It makes my head fuzzy and dulls the pain, but I still feel it. Two weeks ago it localized in my left arm and this time in my Right. I did finally find some relief. If I take a HOT HOT bath and keep my arm under water it relieves the pain. I've been trying to figure out how I can parent four kids from the tub, but it isn't going so well. =)Oh well I'm going to go back to that Hope thing and Hope my chemo is over. Then we can continue my treatment with Radiation and start my road to recovering from treatment and being a Cancer Survivor. I can put that on my Resume right? I will forever be a Cancer Survivor. Kinda crazy to think of that, but it's better than the alternative.

I can't wait for my hair to grow back. My head is freezing. I'm always wearing a beanie. I can't believe how cold I am without hair. I totally understand why Clint likes it. I have a wig that my sweet sister bought me for Mother's day, but it's kinda itchy, so I don't always wear it.

So this weekend I will be praying and on Monday I have my PET Scan and I will pass.

Thanks for the love, support, and prayers.

Love Always, Sumer

My Fourth and Last????

Well today started like any other day. My alarm went off at 7:00 and I turned it off. Then I fell back a sleep. =) Then my 2nd alarm went off at 7:30 and then I hit the snooze button. I then told my self I needed to get up. I was so exhausted, I couldn't sleep last night. So anyway I got up and Nolan was up and ready and playing video games. He actually asked this time. We woke up Zac and that only took 40 mins to get him up and ready. I try to keep the girls sleeping for as long as I can, but most of the time that doesn't work. Madalie came in and smiled at me and said "good morning mom". It was so cute. The rest of the day went as usual.

My Chemo appointment was at 2:30, so we showed up at 1:30 and I had my IV put in and they took blood for labs. She had a hard time finding a vein and when she finally did it hurt. They usually do so I just went with it. My mom and I killed time in the gift shop where I bought me a new pill case and a cute purple watch. I also bought my BFF a really cute... I'm not going to say because she will be reading this. =) Ok anyway...

When I check in they take me to the back room. I didn't know they had a back room. It was pretty nice. The chairs had remote recliners. I was only concerned that I wouldn't get a nice nurse. As I walked in I got a nurse that I had talked to many times, but had never personally had. I was happy. She is a die hard Utes fan and we had talked a lot at previous infusions. Things were looking up.

We started my pre-meds and realized we didn't have a filter on the line, we fixed that problem, then started again. Well that didn't work. My IV backed out. We had to start a new one in my other arm. Yippee. I love doing that. So with the new IV in we tried for the 3rd time. We had some more complications with the "Red Devil". A little more pain and then finally things all went smoothly. I was totally nauseated the whole time and it sucked. On the good side My nurses same me a graduation song and I got a certificate. They even gave me a blanket to remember them buy. Let's Pray that was the last time. Thanks for all of your support.

Hopefully My Last

Well as usual I'm up late on the night before chemo. I find it hard to sleep the night before treatment. I don't understand why I've done this before, three other times actually. This time should be my last and I'm so worried that it won't be. I have my PET Scan on the 23rd. I'm praying that it all works out and tomorrow is my last. I want to start the dreaded radiation and be done with this Cancer crap. Cancer really sucks!

The Shaving Party

So my hair is falling out. Not in big clumps like some people, but it's a lot to me. I'm clogging the shower and when I turn my head in the middle of the night I'm waking up because I'm getting tickled by little hairs. Annoying!!! I could leave it alone and just continue making trips to the trash to throw handfulls away. Or I could just shave it and start over. It was a tough decision that I don't regret. I'm shaving. We got together with the family and had a shaving party. My husband Clint shaved everyones head. I helped him with his. =) My Step Dad, Father-in-law and boys shaved their heads. My boys were on Spring Break so I let Nolan have a mohawk and Zac just wanted to shave half of his head. We have shaved their whole heads now. I'm still losing my hair, it's just really little. =) I have to say it is very cold. I'm always wearing a hat. Sometimes I'm wearing a hat and hoodie. I now know why Clint shaves his head. It's a lot faster in the shower and getting ready to go anywhere. I still have to do my make-up though.

I wasn't able to be with all my family and friends and I have so many who love and care for me. I have other people who shaved their heads for me.

My Dad, Jodie in California and Shawn from my Mom's work

New News

I had my 3rd treatment yesterday. I was pretty sick at the appointment, but they gave me a Ativan and all was well. =) I actually felt pretty good after that.
The only real news I have is that my next PET Scan is scheduled for May 23rd. If all goes well and the cancer has left the building I will begin radiation. If things don't look good I will start another round of Chemo. This sure is a wild ride. I'll keep you posted.