update

Wow, I looked at my blog and saw that it was two weeks since my last post.  How did that happen?  I am so sorry people for leaving you all 'hanging' like that...you are probably wondering how we are all doing here.

I will fill you in with Dina first.  She had her fourth chemo treatment on Friday Dec. 14.  She was told very early in this process that each treatment will bring a longer recovery time and her fatigue will increase.  HAH!  They were right!  I think what hurts the most for her is her bones...they all just ache.  Yesterday she spent most of the day in bed.  She is anemic and we have been told that is the reason for the bone pain.  The doctor is watching it closely and right now even though she is anemic, the level has not gone to the point of requiring a blood transfusion.  She continues to receive her blood booster shot.  So what is wrong with staying in bed, all snugly warm among flannel blankets and soft down pillows with a TV in the room and maybe a good book too?  NOTHING!  As long as the kiddos are all in school!  ha ha...otherwise I think they would all be in bed with her...and trust me, that wouldn't be as relaxing!

I am praying she will be back to her new 'normal' by the holiday.  Oh and she should be having one more CT scan here in another week...we are so anxious to hear the report from that...we pray that even more of the cancer will be eliminated from her body...wouldn't that be the best Christmas gift EVER?  I will definitely post a report once we get the news...so stay tuned!

Now about me...I don't think one can even imagine all the parts of the body that is effected when one takes out a little old lobe of lung!  The whole left upper back feels so 'numb' yet at the same time it aches and is very uncomfortable...standing for any time puts a lot of pressure on the back...at least that is what it feels like.  It feels like the whole left side is hard, like the muscle has gone into spasm...And I don't know, maybe that is what is happening.  The nerves are all very extra sensitive...not only in the back, but right around to the breast bone in the front.  Now, please don't take this as "whining"...I'm really not!  I guess I just want to keep this real and document how this is feeling to me.  Because we know the saying:  You don't remember pain!  Well, you can maybe recall the pain, but you cannot relive it....that is what I always heard about having babies...(for some).  And that is a good thing - to not remember the pain!  So getting back to what I feel - lots of tingling in a not very comfortable way.  Lots of pressure in the back and around to the front...Scott will catch me with my hand over my left breast...I don't know why, I cause I feel if I apply pressure it will ease off a bit, it seems the bones just ache around there..Well, of course you know they had this four inch tube separating my ribs to get to the lung and so I imagine lots of things are trying to heal inside there...lots of damage to the nerve endings.

Okay, enough of that, how about some good news!  I saw the oncologist on Monday and the biopsy results showed NO other diseases in the area...!!!  So they got it all!  We can all do a happy dance and Praise the Lord!  I will have some follow up CT scans in the years to follow...this type of cancer is very slow growing, so I imagine even if another one did pop up, it would take a while to actually show up.  And just to remind you all, it was a low-grade cancer tumor, however after the lung biopsy, it was raised to a higher level within the low grade spectrum.  And it is also a more rare form...so we will just watch it.  The doctor said it could be 6 months or more before I actually feel like I can do what I did before...but I think I will try a few minutes on the illiptical...just to get my lungs working, you know!

I did have one set back in that I developed a nasty urinary infection...that has kept me laying around even more...the whole tummy feels yucky and maybe a little low grade fever...And you know me...offering it up to the Lord.  He is my Comforter and Healer...I give it all to Him!  So today is a new day...I always seem to wake early (sometimes way to early) and I just need to get out of bed and sit up and move around a bit.  I am so looking forward to laying on my right side.  Actually I have a funny story to tell...yesterday morning I was up early...like 4am...I read a bit on the couch, sat up and then finally around 7 decided I could go back to bed and catch a few more winks.  I so desperately wanted to lay on my 'bad side'...so I gently went from my back ever so slowly towards my left side...now I was not completely on my side...no way could I do that...but just a little bit.  Oh...heaven, felt so good to lay my head on the pillow with my left ear!  (do you know how tired my 'right ear' gets from laying on it all day long?  ha...trust me, it is getting annoyed!!).  And I immediately fell asleep, for maybe 40 minutes.  I woke up and tried to go to my back and I couldn't move!  Just shifting my right shoulder to slowly lay me on my back caused great pain...I was once again a "beached whale" on my side!  I think I must have moaned because Scott was right there to help me sit up and adjust myself.  Okay, I tried, I guess I will have to wait a while longer to lay on my missing lung side!

That's it for me my dear family and friends.  I am just taking one day at a time...trying to do little things, like walk a bit...Scott makes sure I get out...you know we always have to run to Home Depot...sometimes I get out and walk in the store (which BTW really poops me out!) and sometimes I just sit in the car...I do like getting out for the fresh air and being a part of the world.

If I don't post before Christmas, I do want to wish you all a very blessed one...one filled with joy and love.  Treasure each other...don't take anyone or anything for granted...cherish time spent with your loved ones.  My Christmas cards will be sent out, although they may be a bit late in the coming!

Thank you for your continued prayers!