At home?

Today is Tuesday (even though technically it is Wednesday). I have been "home" a total of two days and it is wonderful. I love being with my family. As many of you have read in previous posts, I have been living in North Carolina for the past year in the small town I had moved to Georgia from many years ago. Sylva. Since I need help with many different areas of my care (my family would say I just need help, period), it behooved me to "move" back to Macon Georgia and live with my family. I am still contact-able. The address here is 539 Moss Hill Drive Macon GA 31204. Also, I check my email hourly (really I do). I would prefer not to have tons of calls right now. I am tired often and I do not answer my phone if I don't recognize the number. This new transition is going to be very hard. I am a very hard person to live with, even before the illness. Your prayers for me and my family have been so important. I am living with my mother, little brother, and grandmother. I am going to be well looked after. :) On Thursday I will be returning to Atlanta to start my out-patient treatment. I have to be in Atlanta by 8 am for labs, chemo, and a bone marrow biopsy. Pray for strength through another biopsy. Thank you so much for all the wonderful cards, messages, emails, calls, prayers, and thoughts, they keep my attitude positive and that helps me stay strong. I love you all.

Home

I'm going home!! The doctors are letting me go home today!! I am so excited. I am feeling great and everything looks good.

Coming Home

I just wanted to let everyone know that the doctors are sending me home this week. :) I am so happy. I can't wait to get home. Maybe I'll be able to sleep and actually rest. LoL!!! They haven't said exactly what day, but I do know by Thursday at the latest. I have my first clinic visit Thursday. They will be checking my blood counts to determine the send off date. My red blood cell count is high- yay! My platelets are stable- yay! But my white blood cell count has plateaued- eeek! So, focus thoughts and prayers on a raised white blood cell count. I really need them to fight off infection as I transfer back into the "real" world. I'm gonna be one of those funny people at Wal-Mart with a blue mask on and gloves!!!! :) I can't express how much it has meant to me to receive positive feedback here and in all the wonderful notes, cards, and letters in my room. I love you all. And I will continue to post here as I move back home. The doctors will be drawing up a treatment plan based on my next bone marrow biopsy. This plan will tell me how many times a week I'll have to go to the clinic for out-patient chemo. The thought is about 3-4 times a week, but we still aren't positive. Thanks again for all of ya'lls support and love.

Long Days, Short Nights

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a few days. Even though I only have IV chemo once a week, I get loads of pills daily and they are really building up in my system. I've not been feeling well these past few days. The doctors say that it is normal with the steroids, and many different chemicals that I'll be sore and sick. It's expected. The doctor spoke with me today about my blood counts and they are all up. Good news. So, even though I don't FEEL good, my body is fighting back. :) Today I received my last in-patient chemo treatment. Next week I'll have a bone marrow biopsy on Thursday and then we will be looking at breaking out! The doctors say that I maybe out as early as next weekend. So maybe only one more week. I'll keep you posted as to the exact date, but it is coming. I can't wait. I've been in the hospital about a month and that is a long time. Ahhh! Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.

Good Days

As the treatment continues I'm really starting to appreciate days like today. I woke up this morning with only a little bit of "sickness." After waking up, I walked around the unit for about 45 mins. It was so nice to get up and move around. As time moves on and the medicines build up in my system, I can really tell how they affect my body. My joints ache constantly and inside my bones are very sensitive and weak. The doctors say it is a combination between the steroids building up in my system and my marrow trying to rejuvenate itself. So, yay for the pain. My body is trying to fix itself. That is good news! The doctors have moved me to increased precautions with contact and having visitors. You must now check in with the nurses before coming to my room. It is for my protection. So I'm just reminding everyone that it might be best to call before popping in for a visit. I love having visitors, but as things are moving on, it is getting harder on me to have so much activity. I find that just doing daily things make me tired and in pain. I do appreciate all the love, prayers, and encouraging thoughts that I receive here daily. I can't wait until the doctors release me and I can come and visit with all you wonderful and faithful friends. If you like you can call my bedside anytime before 9 pm. (I try to get into bed by then) I am always awake by 8 am (I have no choice...the techs start making their rounds. :). All of my contact info is listed here on the site. Thank you again for your prayers. I really can use them at this time. The shock has started to wear off and now the reality of what is going on is starting to set in. I am becoming more and more aware of the fight I have ahead of me. I will press on. Please keep praying for strength and faith. I love you all so much. And thank you for standing with me in this hard time.

Friday

Tonight's post will be short. I have been in a lot of pain today as a result of the biopsy yesterday. Also the chemo drugs have caused me to feel sick to my stomach. Yuck. I am adding the pictures from yesterday. My mom shaved my head for me. I hope that they bring a smile to your face. :)

Today

Today was a tough day. It was very nice though that my mom was able to be here with me all afternoon. I'm already feeling the effects of the chemo treatment. Tired, yucky, and sick to my stomach, but I'm encouraged because the doctors say that my body is accepting all the drugs very well. The doctors did not have to preform a lumbar puncture today. Good news. :) And the biopsy went "smoothly." Thank you for your prayers. I really felt them today. Oh, ps. I'm bald now.