Update 12/17/08

Hi friends. Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. Oh, I guess this update is actually 12/18 instead of 12/17, since it's after midnight. The house is finally quiet, and Will is finally off the computer (he was writing an essay for a final), so now it's my turn to use the computer, since everyone else is in bed.

Chemo session number 2 is officially done. Two down, four to go. I didn't post anything the last few days because I wasn't feeling that great and I just didn't get around to it. However, I do have some very thankful news: I haven't had any dizzy spells this time, and I haven't vomited either (so far:). Praise the Lord! This time I've just felt really tired, had some stomach aches here and there, and the most pronounced side effect has been that I've felt jittery for some reason. It's the same kind of jittery as when you know you've had too much caffeine. Kinda weird, but I do have to remember that my body is being injected with some pretty crazy chemicals, so maybe being jittery is just part of it. I'll ask my Dr. about it at my next appt. and let you know what he says. I'm finding the best cure for these jitters is to get up and do something--takes my mind off of it. I took a walk around the block yesterday during a jittery episode, and that helped alot. Hmmmm, maybe God's just trying to tell me I need to start exercising! (Yes, Leslie Simon, I know you like hearing me say that:). Leslie is my friend who is convinced that I need to start running again. I keep telling her I'm not 20 anymore, but she doesn't think that's much of an excuse. She said she'll be my personal trainer once I'm done with chemo and so I told her I'll give it a try once I get to feeling better on a regular basis. I'm so excited about the idea of getting my health back that I'll even try exercising again!

Here it it Dec. 17, I mean 18, and the Stanton's are just getting their tree up. Pitiful. Aaron got the outside lights up over the weekend, and dug all the decorations out of the attic, but here it is Wed. night and we just got the tree into the house (we got it the weekend after Thanksgiving, and it had been sitting in a bucket of water in the back yard ever since). At this rate I might get my Christmas cards out by Feb., but if I think about it, I don't think I've gotten Christmas cards out by Christmas for several years now....and I kinda like the idea of "New Year Cards" anyway. So that's my new excuse.

Will goes in for an xray Friday afternoon after his last final at school. He's praying that his lung will finally be healed. Aaron's also praying for it to be healed so that Will can help him with the chores around the house and yard:) . I'm praying for it to be healed because I'm sad for my very active boy who has been going stir-crazy the last month with no sports. We just have to remember God has a plan (17 year olds hate hearing that:)

Oh, I got a new cell phone (finally!). Most of you probably know this already, but my cell phone got stolen from my hospital room in Sacramento (somebody had a lot of nerve). I just finally got around to getting it replaced, so I am available by cell once again. Same number I had before--816-7007.

My hair loss has slowed down. Still disappearing, but not at quite the fast rate it was last week. It does look bad enough now that I don't go outside without my head being covered. I'm going to go in and get it buzzed off here in a few days--I'm tired of cleaning up hair all over the house!

Better go, it's getting very late. Write in and let me know about your Christmas plans and such. I love hearing about your comings and goings--this blog doesn't always have to be only about me and cancer, you know:).

Praising God for no vomiting!
Stacey