Archives for July 2011

Yesterday I completed chemotherapy treatment #3. Yay!!!!!!!! I am beginning to see that light at the end of the tunnel. So far I am feeling great. Saturday – Wednesday will be my toughest days so I am enjoying today. I just got home from getting the shot that boosts my white blood cells. That means for the next few days I will be on some pain meds as this shot creates the muscle pains that can feel like the flu.

My red blood count dropped this time around so I am now anemic. Along with the regular drugs I got yesterday I also got a 15 minute bonus drip into my iv of pure dark colored iron. I am also now taking iron supplements and for the next two Thursdays I will be making a trip back to the Cancer Center for blood tests and another 15 min iron drip each of those days. I am so glad my doctor is being proactive. It is great to no longer be out of breath when walking up the flight of stairs in our house.

I came home from my treatment yesterday and my friends had put the purple pinwheels back out on our driveway along with some purple balloons on the mailbox. Also inside there was a beautiful sign on our fireplace that was decorated in purple that said “3 down, 3 to go!” Our fireplace was decorated with purple cray paper with a purple flower in the middle and a bouquet of purple balloons. I love my friends. They are the most thoughtful friends ever.

Love,

Kim

Tomorrow is my next chemotherapy treatment (#3 of 6.) It is hard to believe the time has come already. I pray to God for the courage and strength to get through the next 7-10 days. I know they will not be easy and on some days will be downright hard. I pray that my kids will be in great hands with my family and friends looking after them when I don’t have the strength to do so. I pray that my husband and parents continue to be strong so that on the days that I am not they can carry me through.

The kids and I were talking the other day how school will be starting in just 4 weeks. Jacob was amazed that the summer was going so fast. He told me that time is flying by because he is having so much fun and is having a great summer. (I was so excited to hear this!) He then looked at me and said that my summer must feel like it is going so slow because of all the not fun things I am going through. I told him that wasn’t the case. My fun has been going to watch their swim meets, watching his baseball games, playing games with them, etc… Thanks to my family and friends it sounds like my kids are having a normal summer. Whew!

Last Saturday Jacob swam in his swim team’s conference championship meet. To honor me, his swim coach had Jacob and the three other boys in his medley relay team all wear pink swim caps in their race. I was so touched by this. The boys were easy to spot with their bright pink caps and I felt humbled when I watched them race with all their might.

Tonight we are celebrating Ansley’s 6 1/2 birthday because birthdays are worth celebrating!

Love,

Kim

Well, my friends out did themselves again. This is the week that we were supposed to be soaking up the rays and ocean at Hilton Head Island, SC. Since we couldn’t make it to the beach my friends brought the beach to us! In my friend’s backyard today was water, sand, water slides, beach music, ocean themed cupcakes, water balloon fights, fruit kabobs, sea shells, a painted HIlton Head Island lighthouse, face painting, balloon animals, and tons of drinks and food. My Mom and Dad bought Salty Dog T-shirts for everyone at the party that they had shipped directly from Hilton Head Island. It was a sea of purple since the kids all got purple shirts. My friend’s driveway was outlined in sand buckets displayed in a rainbow color. This was all a surprise to me. The whole experience was amazing and so touching. I was having a rough week with losing my hair, with my upcoming chemo date lurking, and missing a vacation to a place that relaxes me the most – the beach, and my friends just made my week. Thank you so much.

Tomorrow is my second chemotherapy treatment. After this one I will be 1/3 of the way done. I am hoping this next week goes like my first week did after the first round. It was tough but I was able to pull through and actually had about a week and a half to enjoy with my family. My Mom flew in town two days ago and my Dad arrived tonight. It makes me feel good to know that I will be taken care of by so many people. I am ready to get this one done!

I showed the kids my head the day after I had it cut off. Their reactions? Jacob said “well that wasn’t so bad.” and Ansley said “you look just like Shannon who has short hair. It doesn’t look so creepy.” It has taken Jacob a few days to become adjusted to the way I look. He’s being so brave as I would imagine it would be so hard to be a 9 year old boy and see your Mom look so different. You would never know I looked any different with the way Ansley has been treating me. Six year olds are so innocent and great. I asked Allen how he felt to be married to someone that looks like a man right now. He said the only thing he is worried about is how I am feeling. Me having no hair makes no difference to him. I knew there was a reason why I married that guy. 🙂

Love,

Kim

Wow, today was tough. It started this morning while taking my shower and my hair was just falling out of my head. Then after my shower I brushed my hair and it was just awful how much of my hair once again came out of my head. After getting dressed I kept shedding all the way to the boutique where I received my new wig. The good thing about getting my head shaved today? No more shedding!!! It feels wonderful to no longer be tortured with my hair just sliding off of my head in large number of strands.

At the boutique the hair dresser, Aimee, wasted no time and as soon as I sat down she right away shaved my head. I think she usually faces women with their back to the mirror but I told her I wanted to watch. I wanted to see my head shaved and oh my goodness, it was awful. I cried. I am glad I watched though as I wouldn’t have wanted to miss it. When she shaved off the last bit I cried and cried and I said how awful I looked. In my mind I looked so scary. My friends Melanie and Anne who were with me told me how beautiful I looked. They are such true friends.

It took the lady about 2 minutes to shave my head. Melanie and Anne collected my hair and put the hair in two separate zip lock bags. One for Jacob and one for Ansley. Wouldn’t you know both kids are sleeping with their Mommy’s hair tonight snuggled close to them.

As soon as Aimee was done shaving my head she immediately put on my new “real hair” wig. She then cut and styled it. It’s a little lighter in color than I am used to but I really like it. It looks real. I couldn’t wait to take it off tonight though as it was beginning to itch a little and my scalp is sensitive from the chemo. I cried again when I took it off tonight when I showed Allen. Allen hugged me as he saw how hard it was for me. My kids aren’t ready to see me bald yet. I told them when they are ready to let me know. It will take them some time just like it is taking me time. At home this evening I am wearing a bed cap and they were totally fine seeing me in this. They kept telling me how much they loved me just like they do every night.

I have posted some new pictures of my new wig on my care page photo gallery. When I am brave enough maybe I will post pictures of me in my bed cap but I will probably never post of picture of me bald. This is personal.

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes and for thinking of me today. I cannot believe the amount of support I continue to receive and the cards I receive and virtual messages too. You all are amazing and so selfless. Thank you for making this world a better place.

Love,

Kim

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