Updates

Yesterdays Herceptin treatment went well!  Nurse Maria put the IV in perfectly with some consultation from Keith :)  They have such a great time joking with me and keeping me calm.... They are even talking about letting Keith try the next IV--- at which time I said "NO!!!! He may be gifted with fixing cars but not on my veins!"  The meds went in but the vein was not giving a good blood return so the nurses persuaded Dr. Chung to forget my blood work this time.  Then when I was all done they tried to get the viles of blood and were successful.  

It was rather quiet in the chemo room yesterday and I was able to catch up with all the nurses and techs.  I was again greeted with the welcoming phrase "Oh Good the Party has arrived!"  I am really not rowdy or crazy but I guess my positive attitude and smile have allowed me to have such a great connection with all in the office there.  I really do find myself feeling like these people are all part of my family so I truly love to go see them even when I dread what I have to do there.  I must have said something about "I cannot be the only one who does this?"  and was given the answer by more than one that it really is only me.  If anyone from my doctor to the nurse practitioner to the tech assistant Lauren know that I am in the office they will come back and see me.  They have also been so gracious to break a new rule they have that there is no visitors allowed in the chemo room for us.  Keith is such a huge help to me and I can honestly say he is my rock who holds me up when I want to crumble!  We are aware of the surroundings and he will go out if the room is crazy busy or more than half full.  Otherwise we love to talk with all the nurses-- Kate is our fellow Blackhawks fan and is younger than us with so much spirit, Lisa is from Wauconda and has a child in the same grade at WGS as Katelynn and is the reason I was able to really get comfortable in the chemo room, Maria is the miracle worker who has always made the treatments possible whenever anything was not cooperating, and Jane is an upbeat patient lady with such a great way to lessen my anxiety through just our conversations!  There will never be a day I do not thank God for all of these wonderful women in my life!  I am also blessed to have a doctor and a nurse practitioner who are amazing in knowledge and in spirit!  The one angel who has become such an important person in my life is Lauren who is the assistant who takes vitals and puts patients in their room.  Her spirit is so strong and loving and we have had such a great bond!  God is so amazing!

I am still struggling with a new cold.  My cough is horrible again and I am so stuffed up!  I saw Dr. Jason this morning and we changed many of my meds to get all things under control and hopefully find the cause of this on-going cough.  It was so great to go in and meet with him.  Keith was there and we all talked about all that is going on with me.  I walked away with new meds and a feeling that we will get this under control now.  I just have to endure through this cold.  SO I am on the couch for the weekend to try and get the body to kick this out of my body.