Uncooperative Platelets May 15, 2008

Those crummy platelets. They get in the way everytime! Ughhhh! I was so wanting chemo today because that would mean I would only have one more left……but no….my platelets did not want to cooperate. They were only at 32,000….which is rather low…so we rescheduled for monday in the hopes they will decide to recover between now and then. You’all can pray for my uncooprative platelets. I SO want chemo so that I can be done with this part of treatment.
I did get a dose of Herceptin since that doesn’t make me sick and doesn’t effect my platelets but is really good for my type of cancer. They have to give me benedryl with the herceptin to make sure I don’t have an allergic reaction to it. That stuff totally knocks me out. So when I got home I slept for three hours. Thanks to my mom for sticking around while I slept off the benedryl.
I’ll try to look on the positive side….I won’t be sick this weekend

Weekend May 12, 2008

We had a busy weekend. Meleah was a fairy princess at her ballet recital. We also spent a little time at the park on Friday night. I’ve added some pictures below of the kiddos. On Saturday I did too much gardening and washed the windows on the outside of our house. I was so tired Jeremy sent me to bed at 8 pm. It was good to be outside. Next weekend I’ll be out of commission so it was nice to get things done. I had a nice mother’s day as well. The girls helped Jeremy make breakfast and they bought me a nice outdoor lounge chair so I can relx outside after my surgery.
Last Friday I met with my new oncologist. Her name is Marsha Liepman and is quite well known around these parts. So people have lots of opinions about her….mostly she is very well liked. I am happy to say I LOVED her! She was very nice, answered all my questions and seemed very knowledgable. I just felt like I connected with her…..which was really nice because I was nervous about starting with a new doctor.
I have my next chemo this Wednesday. Only two left…..I’m almost there!

Ballerina May 12, 2008

Playground Princess May 12, 2008

Happy Boy May 12, 2008

Life…. May 9, 2008

I’m sorry I’m not keeping up with writing here as much as I should. I’m enjoying not being sick and am spending time with the kids outside and keeping busy. I get sick for a week so I try to cram as much into the next two weeks as I can. I can tell that chemo is beginning to wear on me so I’m not able to do as much as I would like. It seems like each session makes me more and more tired. I still try to work out at the YMCA a few days a week and take walks, but it seems like I am getting more and more anxious for that 8 pm bedtime to arrive for the kids so I can get to bed too! Only two more session left…..and then the next step.
I heard a quote a few days ago from John Lennon (he did have some simple and profound words occasionally….). But he said….”Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”
So Jeremy and I have had to adjust and learn to live life as it comes. I’m adjusting to viewing my body differently. We’ve not stopped making plans for the future….we do think I’ll have complete healing, but we’ve had a little detour along the way. We’re learning to make adjustments as needed. We’re learning that God supplies what we need from day-to-day like He cared for Elijah in the wilderness. Not always as we think it should be but totally in His plans….in His bigger picture.
I meet with my new oncologist tomorrow…..everyone says she is great….so I’m looking forward to it. As always….I’ll get back with you on how it goes.

UofM May 6, 2008

I went to visit with Dr. Morijver today at University of Michigan. I’m glad I did. It clarified some things for me….especially concerning the mastectomy. She was (to say it mildly) pretty firm that I do need the mastectomies. It’s not really an option if I want to stay away from recurrence. In her words….”I have a very serious disease” and I need to do it to be cured.
So I’m ready to do it. Hopefully we can get it on the calendar soon so I can gear up for it.
She also got on me about being in the sun…..woops. Guess that was a bad idea. I guess I am a bit too red. I guess I need to stay in the shade while on chemo. She also mentioned I may need to have a few doses of chemo again after radiation…..ugh….after my hair starts growing back. But I guess if I need to do it I will.
And….after all the lectures, she looked at my breasts and they look great! (It feels a bit silly to say that) But they do! Even the lymph nodes feel great she said. No swelling or hardening. They feel completely normal….just a bid of redness on my right breast where the inflammation was.
Thanks for praying….

Great Weekend May 5, 2008

I’ve had a great weekend. Today I even got a little sunburn because I was outside too long. I spent the afternoon on a “herb walk.” learning about edible herbs and nutritional value through the Wise Woman Tradition. I’ve recently become more interested in herbs and medicinal uses. Who knew a dandelion was so good for you! I went to a class out in Gobles at Weed Dance Farm. It was a really nice afternoon with friends.

Tomorrow I head over to Ann Arbor again just to check in with the docs there and make sure we’re all headed in the right direction. I look forward to meeting with them again….as I felt like I was in a daze last time I was over there having just been diagnosed. This time I think I’ll be better able to ask questions. I’ll keep you posted on what they say.

Daily Reminders May 1, 2008

Today Charis and I went to get our teeth cleaned. The dental hygenist (who I had never met) was chatting with me before cleaning my teeth and she said….”wait…your name is Jennifer?” “Do you know Micah and Kerri.” I said “yes I do.” She said “we’ve been praying for you!”

Too cool. Daily reminders.

Thanks.

Comfort April 30, 2008

I have a TON of cards that I keep in a basket for safe-keeping. In fact, my mom and I went through them a bit last night. Every day I get cards and they remind me that people are praying and how much they care. A friend from church sent a card today. Here is the verse she included:

2 Corinthians 1:3-5: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

So Jeremy has been out of town since Sunday and my mom came to stay with me. She left this afternoon and I cried. She only lives 10 minutes away, but I cried! This chemo really gets me blue for about a week. She promised to come back later that night if I needed her but I tried to be brave. She left and I went about doing the usual things…..and you know what…..HE DID GIVE ME COMFORT! I thought I’d be crying all evening and she’d be back by bedtime, but I did just fine. The kids kept me busy and the nausea seemed to subside a bit and we did OK. They’re tucked in bed now and I’m half watching American Idol while I type.

I am comforted daily by the people God has blessed me with and the simple reminders that I CAN DO THIS!