YIKES--the first day of CHEMO!

All right, guys--here is the deal. I have very funny kids who write fun things on this blog. I am not funny like they are--but I check my entries, and very few people comment on my entries.I know they are pretty boring, but I am feeling slightly overlooked!! So please every once in a while, at least acknowledge that I wrote something. I am sure my tumor would shrink more if it felt like I was being noticed! Just a little something to prick your consciences, and make me feel like someone is reading my entries too. Just a little note for those of you who do comment--you are the best!! :) Support your local blog writers!

Well, today was the BIG day. I started chemo. I was a little worried because for the first time last night I was woken up by my chest pains. We wondered what that meant (and always go with the worst-case scenario!) However, the physician's assistant who works with our main doctor (and is about our favorite person that we work with) wasn't worried, and was very reassuring. She also gave me some stronger narcotics to deal with the pain. I will take them tonight, but I have felt practically no pain since she gave me some Tylenol this morning. WE were there in the hospital till almost 2:30 (starting at 8:30 this morning), but it went all right. First they gave me two different painkillers and anti-nausea medicine. One of the medicines they gave me was benadryl. The chemo lady, Sue, told me that I might get a little loopy or I might get a little nauseous from it...or I could just give in to it, and go to sleep. I took option #3 and was out for quite a while. Katie came partway through the treatment, and I told her that I knew I was going to sleep so she might as well just go home. Spence was there for a good part of the treatment also. They have been so understanding at work, and tell him that he can be with me at any time. His favorite part of the whole morning was when I was first brought into the doctor's office by a nurse who was going to take my blood. ANd she asked me which arm I could give blood out of. She looked at my left arm (where the PICC is) and said, "Oh, I guess I should use your right arm." And I totally went along with her. It was only when Spence pointed out that the reason I had the PICC line was so that I could give blood without being poked. Aren't we smart? I was only in the hospital overnight last week to make that possible. Thank heavens we have Spence to help us see the right way--otherwise, we would be lost!
I slept this afternoon for about an hour, but then have been pretty energetic since then. The effects may hit me tomorrow or Saturday, but I really can't complain about how the day went. ALso, BIG NEWS--I don't have to give up aloe vera juice. Katie found some that is flavored, and it is much more tolerable. I may be able to drink this stuff after all.

Today was a much more important day than the first day of our therapy--it was the one-year-old birthday of our one and only fabulous grandson, Logan! What an eventful year this has been for all of us. Take care. I love you, Louise