Chemo week #1

I can't say that being in the hospital alone is my favorite after Cliff was able to be with me the whole time during my last 2 stays. However, I can say that not having any reactions of note to the chemo during treatment all week is awesome. The doctor that was there to give the go ahead for me to he discharged this morning said that in theory any reactions I might have that come up at home should definitely be more on the mild side. So, not any worse than how I reacted to the old chemo which I can handle. I was only nauseated for a few days last time so if it's not any worse than that I can absolutely handle things.

That being said, earlier in the week one of my nurses said people can have completely different degrees of reaction to chemo from time to time. So, just because I was one of the lucky ones who didn't have an immediate reaction this time doesn't mean that will be the case next time. As for other aspects of my first chemo sleepover my days were pretty noneventful other than the days I had visitors. My mom drove me in on Monday and left around 4pm and I was glad she hung out for a while since it took a couple of hours to get things going at all as far as prep for treatment went. I would have been bored before the week even began otherwise.

Tuesday was me, myself, and I day but I found ways to pass the time. I listened to some of an audiobook, did some word searches & sudoku, watched a movie, and walked around the hospital a lot. After being there just a couple of days I found some chairs out in the hallways and lobbies that I actually like - apparently I'm a chair snob because there are some there that I just don't think are comfortable at all. It was a whole thing during my last stay when my back was still really bothering me 😂

Wednesday I had a very handsome visitor- Cliff - and he hung out with me most of the day so it passed by very quickly. He was there from 11am-6:30pm and it was wonderful. We did a fair amount of wandering around, played some card games, watched a movie, and he watched me get frustrated by a different kind of sudoku puzzle that I couldn't figure out. It made him chuckle a few times but in the end I figured out I couldn't solve it because there was a mistake with the numbers that were provided to start.

On Thursday I had some visitors from Vernal. My mom's cousin and his wife stopped by and visited for about an hour on their way to their son's football game. Brian, my mom's cousin, was too cool for a picture with me 😉 but Marianne who hates pictures willingly stood for one so I better document it here for prosperity.

They also gave me a cute quilt and she must have known I am obsessed with all things super soft because it even has a really soft material backing it. That evening my parents also visited and brought my 2 year old along so naturally it was the best visit - sorry everyone else but nothing beats the adorable 2 year old laughs, giggles, and funny antics. It also helps that he is still very snuggly and gives the best loves (hugs).

Friday was supposed to be my discharge day but with this specific chemo a main concern is kidney and blatter function being thrown off so they have a medication that combats it that is on a very slow drip for 11 hours each day. So, because that medication had to be going through my pic line until 11pm cliff and I opted for staying the night and just leaving the next day instead. He stayed the night with me so that was a nice change.

Today the best thing was seeing Elliott run to me with a big smile on his face to give me a welcome home hug. He is seriously the best kind of medicine and I'm very grateful for that. Overall, I'd say my first chemo week went great. I definitely surprised nurses and others with how much I walked around the hospital so hopefully that's a surprise that I can keep doing each chemo week. It sure beats feeling crappy and I even found the floor where I can walk the furthest before running into a dead end or whatever and having to turn around.

As always, I appreciate all the texts and messages from you all checking in on me as well as all the prayers and those putting keeping our names on the temple rolls. I absolutely know the prayers worked miracles this week since I only had one tiny reaction to the chemo in the hospital and it is a very random, uncommon one to have. Since I'm sure someone will ask and want to know what said reaction is...it's hiccups. Not like typical hiccups though, they are so short and fast you wouldn't even think they are hiccups if you heard them but that's what the smart people at the hospital said they are so who am I to argue 🤷‍♀️. It makes it seem more like I get tongue-tied while I'm talking more than it sounds like actual hiccups.

Th-th-thats all folks! Seriously though, thanks a lot for all the prayers on my behalf because I know more than anything that is what is getting me through all of this. God is definitely working a lot of blessings and miracles for me because of your prayers so keep 'em coming. Love you all!

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

— Robert Brault

“Always remember to forget the troubles that passed away. But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day.”

— Irish Proverb