Chemo Four Stunk!

Hello, My Dearest Darlings!

Thank you again for caring. I am soooooooooooooooo sorry it took me so long to get this blog post out! Please forgive me....like I said, Chemo # 4 STUNK!

Here's why.....

It kicked me in the butt - hard. No mercy. Fatigue, super duper wicked sore throat, ear ache, allergic reaction rash to one of the drugs, "Neulasta" on arms, neck, and to top it all off ulcers on tongue!

But there are many great things that come from hardship....

Like....I am making so many new friends and getting closer to my old friends....
Like, my Angel Friends and Fabulous Family are really helping me get through this...
Like, when I count my blessings I cannot stop....
Like, I am much more aware of the suffering of others....when I compare mine to theirs, I am so ashamed.

My sister Lisa came for a whole day after Thanksgiving! Do you know what she did? She cleaned, cooked, brought me soup, yogurt, snacks for Eli, fresh fruit, frozen fruit for smoothies, the best provolone cheese on Earth..."good bread" as my dad used to call it and she helped me FOLD LAUNDRY and fill out medical forms. She's a social worker, she has her MSW, so she is really great at knowing how to help people without making them feel bad...she was awesome! She is the oldest of the seven sisters but she is a real fox as you can see here! She is also just a great person....THANKS, LEES!

 

Lisa's hubby is a great doctor, but he does pottery on the side...

look at these bowls he made and gave me.

Thank you Dr. Joe, there is NOTHING like eating out of one of your bowls!

While Lisa was here my great friend Shay (my pastor's wife) and her daughter Jade stopped by to give me a hug. Aren't they beautiful!? Look at those smiles! Now if this duo can't cheer someone up, then there is something wrong! (They did cheer me up!) (And I looked like crap and they told me I looked "beautiful" - now that's the kinda friend I love!) 

My great friend Lydia made me these beautiful hats to keep my head warm!

  

                  Aren't they cozy? I love them because she made them just for me!

Another kind friend, Sheri, also shopped for these cute hats for me! Such a sweetie!

Aren't they stylish? Thanks, Sheri!

 

And my sister Gretchen and her husband sent me this hat and another one....which I love! Thank you my dear sister & friends!

 

                   I am so blessed that people care

about my cold, bald pate!

Plus my angel girls at school have been bringing me cool smoothies, Chai tea, coffee, fruit, salads, DVDs for Eli.....I feel very taken care of when I go in to work....and my long-term sub Erica is THE BEST and also my kindergarten volunteer aide Paige is fabulous and fun and we all have fun with the kindergarten cuties, even as half the time I am in pain or coughing or trying to swallow my pills or drinking a smoothie or tea to ease my painful throat...and many, many other friends have come with broccoli rabe, hands to do dishes, to watch Eli, to bring wood for the fire, send me 'Smoothie King' gift cards...on and on and on...I feel so supported and loved....
and extremely blessed!

My next chemo is Monday, December 16th - that day I also see the plastic surgeon who will do my reconstruction and the OBGYN surgeon who will take out my ovaries. Then I get the chemo! Barrels of fun!

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
May each of you be blessed for your love, care, and prayers...Hugs to you all....Annie