Post Holiday Catch Up

Post Holiday Catch Up

Hi, hi

Pam here. So, I thought I’d update the blog. It’s been a bit. First, I have to admit, I hadn’t read it in entirety. Yikes! I sound like I’ve been through hell. I’d forgotten about some of that stuff that had been going on in the first few months. How quickly you can adjust and acclimate to new routines and “environments” …like chemo and cancer. J

We had a really great month of December. I went into my Fri., Dec. 8^th treatment rested and rejuvenated after a day of sisterhood. Jen, Beck, and Mom came up on Wed. night. Thursday was a day to celebrate Beck’s 40^th. We had spa treatments, lunch, and shopping all with lots of laughing and SNOW falling. (I can say that now with BOLD letters because we haven’t had it since.) We scheduled my next chemo three weeks out (Dec. 29^th, so I could be human for Christmas.) I caught a virus a few days after chemo though that carried on for a few weeks. My mind masked most of symptoms by day so I could enjoy and do all the stuff during the holiday weeks, but my body would crash hard when each thing was over. We had a blast with our annual holiday parties at the Coles’ and Meyers’. And we were able to still host Robinson’s holiday party here! It was so wonderful to have it.

I had had my surgery on my neck the day before our Robinson party and bounced back much better than from the port surgery. A few good hurls on the front lawn getting out of the car, 15 hrs.of sleep, and I was good to go.

Caroling with the kids and friends, lots of cookie baking, and a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner with my folks visiting, was my gift this year, and yes…made me feel human again. As always with three little boys, Christmas morning was magical (and…early!) By mid day, we headed north to Troy’s folks for Christmas with the Paradees’. And by Tues. morning, I couldn’t get out of bed! Both my mind and body had hit the wall. That virus hanging on blew up full blown. Wed. we went to Bethel for a 24hr. whirl wind Chase Christmas, and I actual took two, two hour naps there in the middle of it all.

I went into chemo on Fri. 29^th pretty sick. In fact, we weren’t surprised at all when Dr. Nunnink wasn’t sure if we should do it or postpone. But…we’d already pushed a week, and staying on schedule is so critical, so we said “it’s going to suck, but we’ve got to do it.” And it did. Loaded on antibiotics. Tues. was a bit scary with in and out of fever. By Thursday, I was able to get out of bed and putts and by Sat. I was starting to feel like myself again (relatively). …. And only because “somebody” greater than me has a strange sense of humor, thought that during all of this, wouldn’t a massive tooth-ache on a crown….potential root canal be funny? Luckily a quick visit to my dentist and x-rays showed no root canal needed, just grinding a bit off the crown would stop the swelling and ache. …

Quick update when they biopsied the lymph’s removed on my neck, yes, still diseased. This region (neck and collarbone) might be responding slower than the rest or potentially not at all. Hodgkin can be known to take a twist, Nunnink said. Another PET at the end of cycle 6 (end of Jan. / first of Feb.) will give us more info. and next steps.

As always…..thanks to you all, love to you all

Our door is always open

Pam and Troy