I’m sorry you found my blog.
HA! What a funny thing to say on a blog!! But seriously, if you landed here, you either know me, or know someone that has cancer. That’s why I’m sorry!
Cancer.
I hate that word.
I remember sitting in the oncologist’s office in my early 20’s listening to the Dr. tell me that while it was not likely I would get Ocular Melanoma like my Mom, 3 out of 4 people would be diagnosed with some sort of cancer in their life. Since all of my Grandparents and my Mom have died of some type of cancer, I knew my day would come. I just never thought my diagnosis would be the day after my 41st birthday and as a mother of a 10, 7 and 6 year old.
Fast forward 4 years (October 2019) and the cancer has returned in other bones. So here we are, ready to fight again…and looking to be on some sort of treatment for the rest of my life.
This blog is my journey as I fight to leave cancer behind and move on in my life.
I should probably back up and introduce myself . . . my name is Jennifer. I’m a Christ follower, married to an amazing man (who happens to be a chef turned Co-CEO of a restaurant), have 3 beautiful daughters and I’ve been diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer which originally spread to my sternum, but has now spread to quite a few other bones and one of my lungs as well.
I know it can be confusing when you stumble upon a new blog, so let me help you get started.
- I have a blog to keep track of my thoughts and to let friends and family know what’s going on.
- You can get to know our family or read my personal testimony here.
- As I’ve been going through different procedures, I’ve written down what it was like. You can find a list of those over in the side bar (or down at the bottom if you are on a mobile device).
- Click here to receive an email when I publish new posts.
- And finally, if you noticed above that I’m married to a chef and think that must be the MOST AMAZING THING EVER, click here and browse through my blog about what it’s really like to be married to a chef. (I love blogging. Can you tell?)
Here’s what’s going on with me right now . . .
Another Surgery Done
I got the girls off to school this morning and watched TV for a few minutes before Linda came and picked me up. I talked with Tom on the phone for a bit too. 🙂
We checked in this morning around 10 and only waited about 5 minutes. Then they took me back, I signed a bunch of papers and changed into my gown. It looks ridiculous of course, but a hose attaches to it and I can control the temperature. I just love these and have had them for all my surgeries. 🙂 Linda and I agreed that someone needs to make these for home use!
I’m not sure of the conversation between Linda and the nurse as the anesthesiologist was trying to find a vein to put my IV in, but I think because of it, I was able to keep my glasses on until I fell asleep and then I woke up with them on!!!!!!!! What a HUGE blessing that was. It was the first time I have ever seen the inside of the operating room. It was not as exciting as I thought it would be, but I am thankful everything was not totally blurry. I remember the anesthesiologist moving my arm and putting something in my IV and then I was waking up. 🙂 How lovely!!
The Night Before Surgery (Again)
It’s another “Night Before….” post. It’s so strange to think I’m having surgery tomorrow.
Today was very ordinary. I went to the gym after I got the kids off to school, ran a few errands, took our 6th grader and a friend to the local taco truck for lunch, had 3 extra kids in our house to hang out and play and enjoyed an eggnog latte while chatting with a neighbor. Now the girls are watching TV and I am doing a little Thanksgiving prep. It was just a regular day here.
But that all stops at midnight when I will all of a sudden become starving and dying of thirst, because I know I can’t have anything. Haha! Hopefully I will be asleep at midnight. 🙂
My Very Exciting Bone Density Scan
Don’t you love it when you go to a Dr. appointment that you thought was going to be long and have it be really short?
That was my appointment today. read more…
Upcoming Surgery, Exhaustion and the Craziness of Life
I have no idea what I was thinking when I agreed to have a Halloween Party and a 12 year old birthday party in the same week. Between that, volunteering at the kids’ schools, Bible Study, the gym and taking care of everything around the house, I’m exhausted…AND THANKFUL!
I did all that! Well, the birthday party is still coming, but still…I did it! A year ago, I was having my 2nd chemo treatment and now I’m feeling good enough to do all that. Thank you God for a body strong enough to pull all that off!
Another Infusion Done
I’m hanging out at the infusion center again today, getting my bone strengthening infusion. My port was sluggish again, so I’ve been sitting here with TPA in it, waiting for it to dissolve the blockage. It’s been an hour, so hopefully, things will get moving here soon. (Update – it’s unclogged! Hooray!)
Medication Update
I spoke with my oncologist yesterday and we are taking a break from the hormone blocking pill, hopefully to get my body out of this depression. I also started Effexor yesterday to help with the hot flashes, mood swings and depression. Unfortunately it usually takes 2-3 weeks to fully get in my system and start working. It also made me nauseous. Not sure why, but we’ll see if that continues…
Still figuring out this little pill
I woke up this morning with my whole body hurting. It got a little bit better as I moved around the house and got ready for church.
I was feeling kind of down but just pushed through as I wanted to go to church as a family.
By the second worship song I was crying and wanted to lay down in bed and hide under the covers.
So I asked him to bring me home. I decided to take lorazepam to help with the depression today, so I can get through the day with my husband and kids home and hopefully not be an emotional mess the whole day.
Meet Jennifer
Breast Cancer Patient, Chef Wife and Mom
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