3 months ago today...

2/24/10  The day I made an emergency entrance into the hospital due to the fact that a 6 inch tumor had been discovered in my abdomen.  2 days later I had surgery and was told I had cancer.  It's been a roller coaster ride since then...  2 surgeries, 2 rounds of in-patient chemo, neutropenic fever, countless blood tests, MRIs, CTs, bone scans, you name it...  I literally feel dizzy when I think about it!  Sometimes it just doesn't seem real.  I'll wake up feeling like it was just a dream but then I realize I have no hair or I feel the scar on my tummy and realize it is indeed true.  I'm fighting cancer AND happily, winning the fight!

Today I'm 48 hours home from Round II of chemo.  My doctor was successful in staying ahead of the nausea this time and that made a huge difference.  She also kept me extremely hydrated so I think that helped also.  I'm sleeping well, eating regularly and getting out a couple times each day to walk.  Once around the block leaves my heart racing and me feeling pretty winded but it feels good to move and get some air and sunshine.  I'm very fatigued and a little sore still from surgery.  I also have a little bit of chemo brain (slow, slow, slow), but it's not all that bad really.  All in all I feel remarkably well and for this I am grateful  :)

Although I'm a little lonely, I plan on pretty much being a shut-in this time around, sticking to home and avoiding the general public as much as possible.  My immune system should be zero here any day now so it's time for the extra precautions.  No raw foods, very limited visitors and lots of hand washing!  The good news is once I crash I start rebuilding so if it goes as well as last time I'll be as good as new in no time.  Pray for white blood cells to flourish!!!

Happy hair!  God bless my hair  ;)  It's coming back with a vengeance.  Especially one little hair right on top of my head...  It's 4 times longer than the rest and I lovingly call it my happy hair, the little hair that could!  I noticed it just before I went in the hospital and it made my day.  It just looks so happy and so determined.  Of course Dr. X said, "You know we are going to kill that hair"?  Shhhhhh, don't tell my happy hair that! Sad that my new hair will be falling out soon but inspired by the fact that it will indeed come back again when all is said and done.

Well my friends, I'm pooped!  Time to rest.  I really wanted to catch up the blog and say hello to everyone.  I'm not sure my thoughts were articulated as well as I would have liked but as my new motto states, "blame it on the chemo" ;)  I'm actually thinking of having a bumper sticker made to that effect.

3 months...  sometimes it seems like it's gone so fast and sometimes it seems like it's been a lifetime.  What's made it bearable is all the love and support you all provide.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

xo  Reba