Happy Birthday, Liam!

Wow..... 5 years old! You are growing up soooo fast.

Guys and Dolls

Great job, Ruthie! You are amazing.

St. Patrick's Day

Gavin's Visit

Antibiotics!

I have definitely had a busy couple of weeks! First on Friday the 11th my surgeon had to put a drain in my mastectomy site to drain the extra fluid that has been building up. Saturday night I got terrible chills that I could not get to go away and had a fever of 104. I called my cancer care center and they said I should go to the ER. The hospital started off good because when a bald person on chemo walks into the ER they take you right back. After that it all went down hill, no one knew what anyone else was doing and they couldn't find a thing wrong with me. They called my chemo doctor and she said they should put me on some antibiotics but the ER doctor forgot about that and said my doctor didn't want me on any antibiotic but did want to see me Monday morning. So It was about 5am and we headed home with nothing accomplished except my fever had broke and I was feeling better. The next day Sunday was spent sleeping.
Monday morning I went to my chemo doctors and she was able to see that part of my mastectomy site was infected so she put me on iv antibiotics and fluids then at the end I had a reaction to the antibiotics so they gave me benadryl. That put an end to going to work and the rest of the day all I could do was go home and sleep it off. So I took the antibiotics she prescribed to me until Sat morning when my face was covered in a rash. So again I called the doctor they said to stop them and start a new antibiotic on Sunday.
Today I went and saw my surgeon who was suppose to take out my drain tube, so i was really excited about having this done because I hate having a drain tube hooked to me! I get there and he says no not taking it out today there is still fluid to drain out. I told him "fine I will do it myself", he didn't like that answer. Then I saw my chemo doctor and she said the rash is still pretty bad so i needed to get IV antibiotics. Another day I can't go to work because I have to sleep off this benadryl. And tomorrow if the rash is still present she wants to give me steroids. Which I am actually excited about because they always give me lots of energy and make me feel super good!
Now to the good news!!!!!!! On Wednesday I go for my last chemo treatment!!!!!! I will still go every 3 weeks and get a herceptin infusion for a year but no more chemo!!!!!!!!
Thanks everyone for all the prayers and good thoughts you are passing my way!

Jennifer

Sunday Visit

On sunday Gretchen , Mom, and I took Riley to go visit Grandpa and they both really had a good time. Riley took Grandpa on several spins around the building. A few weeks back Aunt Kay and Mom took Dylan to the nursing home and he was a real hit! He had the whole place cracking up. Riley can't wait to go see Grandpa again.

Wireless!

Thanks, Paul, for the router. We finally have my computer up and running besides Kay's laptop. Kay followed the directions you sent. And we are finally WIRELESS!

E-mails

Kay and I are going to take a laptop with us so that we can try reading e-mails to Dad again. (they have wireless) His e-mail will be the same: bobbenson21@hotmail.com. E-mails could be about everyday things.......just a couple sentences long would be great.

Dad's picture was at the top of the Cassopolis paper last Thursday, but I haven't been able to find it on their website. www.CassopolisVigilant.com

Valentine King !!!

CCMCF staff and residents voted for a Valentine King for their party last Friday. Dad won!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Pat. And all the others in the family with a birthday today. Are we up to 4 today?

Yesterday Lynda slipped and fell on the ice on the sidewalk at work. She has a sprained left wrist. Lets just say she isn't the most cooperative patient; an impatient patient.

Wedesday

Today I suppose to get another treatment of chemo. With this second set of chemo I was getting chemo every other week and herceptin every week. The doctor decided to change that because my feet kept going numb and that is a side effect of the chemo. So she said since I was coming every week for the herceptin anyway she would just lower the dose of chemo and do it every week. That seemed to be working for the first week but then last night Gretchen and I were walking around JCPenneys and my left foot went really numb and made me almost limp a little. Gretchen was very concerned, but I on the other hand figured it would pass. Later that night when I was going to sleep both my feet were numb again:( So mom and I went over it with the oncologist today and she said that she needed to change the chemo. So the plan for now is every 3 weeks for nine more weeks I will take the new one but I still have to go every week for a few hrs to get the herceptin. When they administer the herceptin they give benadryl through my iv, because it has a tendancy to cause allergic reactions, and it is so strong it puts me to sleep with in about 10 minutes and then I sleep the rest of the day at home too.
On friday I have an apt with a plastic surgeon that has come very highly recomended through a good friend and my oncologist Dr. Zucker. I have alot of questions for him I hope he is ready!

Chemo Day

So today was the 1st day of my new chemo treatments. First I met with my oncologist (Dr. Chaudry) who answered all of our questions and since Gretchen did not attend today only a few questions were asked! lol We love you questions Gretchen! The oncologist was very positive that this treatment will be much easier then the last set. I was thrilled about that:) We also talked about the reconstruction surgery and she is still looking into who she wants to refer me to, she said she wants to make sure it is a really good plastic surgeon.
After that I went to the infusion room where the chemo is administered. I am not sure exactly what time that started, probably around 9:30 or 10am. During that time I read alittle then took a nap but I kept getting interupted but that didn't bother me just went right back to sleep when the nurses were done with whatever they needed. Then Mom decided to run some errands since i was not the best company and she was probably tired of listening to me snore. I decided I dont care if I snore there since I have cancer and all!
I had an apt with the radiology oncology to discuss the radiation treatment that comes next but we had to reschedule since the chemo was taking so long! We didn't leave until about 5pm. My apt about radiology will be next Wednesay.
After chemo I really felt fine just tired. So when i got home I took a nap and that is probably why I am awake now at 2:45am.
Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts from the best family and friends anyone could ask for:)

Chemo time again

Wednesday starts the last 4 sets of chemo. I have really enjoyed feeling so good this last month and i would really like to it to continue. This chemo is not suppose to be as bad as the first set so I am excited about that. Also on wed I have an apt with radiation oncology when they decide if they will do radiation and/or how long. Hopefully I can get an idea about when the reconstruction surgery can start. I really appreciate how much everyone has supported me through this it is such a good feeling to have such great friends and family.