6 of 12 Complete!

WAAAAHOOOO!!  :-D

I am half way done this second phase of chemo.  Today's session last 2 hours and 15 minutes.  I also learned that I am receiving 3 rounds of Taxol in a dense dose state meaning that Day 1, 8, 15 and 21of the rotation equals one round....hence every week for 12 weeks.

Week 5 was uneventful really - just more of week four.  Other highlights include:

• Lunch with Cheryl (thanks so much - good luck with school start up ;-))
• Fishing at Rowan's Ravine
• Visiting, eating and listening to Nick Faye at Pasqua Lake (thanks Leanne & Brian for being awesome hosts and to Grandma Marg for SUPER cooking - love the perogies! Missing my mom!) Nick is an up and coming musician....Check out his music at the link above or here
• Eat, pray & walk - we are walking 4.2 miles every day....some days that is all I get done but it is worth it! Bob continues to be my inspiration!  My hunger is all day every day....wish I could taste more of what I am eating.
• Handling Taxol  - so far so good...tired and a bit achy in my back
• Physio, acupuncture and lymph massage....soooooooo relaxing and sooooooo helpful
• Blood works continues to be strong - platelets are holding

We would like to wish all our Regina Catholic School  CEC and teacher friends a successful CLASS this week and a great school year start up.

To my Ministry crew,  I have not abandoned you.....I will be in soon :) Miss you all!  .....Talented Amanda McKay is an artist extraordinaire in my opinion....check out her work online! On page 8 of her photo book, there is a painting that she gave me  "We Can with Love"- absolutely beautiful!

Love to all, Shelley & Bob

Round 5 Complete!

Hello Friends!

Today I completed round 5 of 12....I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  :D  Mikayla drove and sat through my session this week.  Alycia was my gal last week - XOXO to you both!  It gave Bob a bit of a break although he had scout reports to complete last week and today he cleaned the house and made supper! XOXO to Bob too!  So where is Rob you may ask....good question!  Actually he was on airport chauffeur duty last week and today he was out with a migraine..XOXO Rob just because.....

Spent about 2 1/2 hours at the Pasqua Hospital and slept for about an hour while there.  Our sister in-law Terrilynn came by for a visit which was great for Mik - it helped pass the time!  Thanks TL! 

Tonight friends Vaughn, Marjorie and Wil stopped in for supper on their way through Regina.  What a great visit! Marjorie is a BC survivor and a wealth of information! Thanks for your sense of humor and spunk! Safe travels back home - XOXO!

Today also marks my mom's birthday - she's 55 again!  Happy happy birthday to a wonderful and trusting friend, an extraordinaire cook and SUPER mom!  XOXOXOXOXO

Hmmmm,....I noticed there are LOTS of XOXO in tonight's post...perhaps that is the drugs talking/typing!  HAHAHA!  I am feeling the love I guess :)

Highlights of Round 4......

• Round 4 is complete!
• Red meat is tasting crazy good!
• Went to Emma Lake for a few days! (Thanks Karen & Rich for being great hosts!)
• Visited with my parents, Bob's mom, Maureen and family, Cor, Melissa & Eric, Pooner & Deb, and other great lake friends
• Saw my cousin Brenda and her daughter and grand kids....haven't seen her in forever!! That was awesome!
• Met new friends from Carlyle - Dusty & Cheryl...they are not scared of the camp fire stories!!
• No new side effects from Taxol!
• Sampled chocolate wine! MMM mmm good!  Although not as good at Peter's homemade chocolate port...Hint! Hint!
• Trent's birthday
• Eat, Pray & Walk daily
• 10 week Canada Cancer Chat Online group ended

Challenges of Round 4....

• Tired....like I have never experienced before.
• Heat.... knocked the crap out of me.
• Hunger....I can pound a bag of chips and dip OR a steak in record breaking time...this is crazy!
• Hair...the stubble on my head is now grey/white and falling out.  I can count the eye brow hairs left...they are sparse....still shaving my legs! LOL!  Crazy!
• Feel good week/days....are gone.  There are feel good moments that I will embrace.
• Night sweats....are now evening and night sweats....Crazy!
• Remembering to participate in the Online Canada Cancer Chat Research Group :)

Have a wonderful week everyone! Shelley & Bob

Ode to Round 4 of 12 :)

Here we go! Ready or not!
Round 4 of 12 I will not stop!
These pesky night sweats may keep me hot
Bring it on! Ready or not!

...yeah, I was never an advanced ELA student and yeah, this isn't an "ode"....I am holding my own with Taxol so far.  Woot! Woot!

Bob is in Toronto watching Team Canada U18 tryouts ( I think I got that right!) and will be home tomorrow.  Kids are busy working.

Thanks to Patricia for visiting us this weekend... cleaning lawn furniture cushions, baking and friendship is  simply awesome! xoxo

Enjoy the great weather! Shelley & Bob xoxo