Ding, Ding, Ding!

In and through Jesus, I have now completed my fourth and final round of chemo! On the way out, I rang the bell to mark my race run being done. Now, it's the recovery journey. I've been told since it took 4 months to go through chemo, I need to at least give myself that much time to start feeling normal again. Maybe some traveling in the future? I ache to see family in FL and friends in AZ.

I went in for labs today and was feeling pretty crummy from the neupogen shots. I later found out it's because they in essence give you the flu-like soreness throughout your body for about 2 weeks to try to boost the white blood cells. Mom and I pray after each shot (nightly). I won't miss these things at all when we're done. Y'all know how I LOVE needles.  So one night I thanked God for the pain the medicine caused because that way I knew it was working. I told God it was hard for me to thank him for something that hurt, but I needed to. I am grateful dangit!

I knew I was feeling bad from those shots because it had happened the last 3 rounds of chemo. I was trying to brace myself for this next round of soreness. Yesterday was a pretty tough day and I was not looking forward to labs and being pushed on. God is good, though, and with my LMX (numbing cream) I didn't even feel the needle go in! I like when that happens.

Labs came back fine. They gave me hydration which helped because I was feeling very tired. Feeling a little better now.

Things to pray for:
-Neupogen shots to continue to work.
-My courage with those dang things. It's a daily thing I ask God for.
-Ferrio - the nurse I witnessed to. Pray that God would send someone to water the seed planted.
-Andrew - he's been having headaches a lot lately. I think it's from stress.
-I still struggle with fear of the unknown of recovery, You'd think I'd be fine, but the devil's lies sound pretty good.

So just as so many of you have said, "PRAISE THE LORD!" Jesus has held my hand through treatment and I know he'll hold my hand through recovery.

Getting closer

This past week seemed like it took forever to happen. On Saturday evening, I started to run a fever of 102. I had to go to the ER because that's what ya do when you get a fever with chemo. I thought I was only going to be there overnight, but it turned into a week long stay. While in the hospital, they gave me antibiotics, potassium, platelets, and a bunch of other stuff through IV. All of it was able to be done through my port, thank you Jesus! Oh and I was able to witness to one of my nurses! It was a corny way .... the donut man way, but it happened and I pray the seed is watered.

Now I'm home for a little break before I go in for my LAST round of chemo. I'm so thankful the Lord has been gracious in allowing me to come home and just breathe, love on my boys and much more before I go in for another week long stay in the hospital. I am getting tired of their food.

I have labs tomorrow and the white blood count levels will determine when chemo begins. I'm ready to get it done and over with.

Praise the Lord:
- out of the hospital
- no more nupegen (sp) shots for a little bit

Things to pray for:
- one of the antibiotics they sent me home with makes me extra nauseas
- that my body will continue to "get ready" for this last round
- my mom - she's been doing so much to help out
- Andrew - has been experiencing some headaches & weird stuff going on with his left arm