Up and Down

I am trying to get back into the habit of posting more frequently, so here we go.  I just finished with yet another round of chemo this past Thursday and it was not close to being the easiest round ever.  For some reason I just didn't have any energy on Wednesday and felt kind of groggy.  This was a complete opposite from the treatment before.  I don't know what I did differently from the round before to this one but it was definitely tougher.  While I was getting treatment on Tuesday we got the results back from my blood work the day before.  My CEA (or tumor marker) one month prior had risen slightly and not high enough for any concerns, and this time it rose again a little bit more than expected.  Dr. E came into the infusion room to see me and calm down any concerns that I might have.  He didn't seem to worried about the new number and said that I would get my treatment this past time and I would do my next round and then we will do a CT Scan the following Monday to see if there have been any significant changes from the last.  Knock on wood the number increase doesn't relate to the results of the scan.  We also talked about the chance of me switching treatments after the next round just in case the cancer cells are starting to figure out how to combat the chemo.  The next drugs that I would go on would possibly be some sort of pill based regime, just not sure which drug it would be. Jenny & I really wanted to at least make it through the end of the year on this same regimen so we didn't have to go through the uncertainty and craziness that comes with these kinds of changes but I guess life didn't agree with our plans. The uncertainty and nervousness that goes along with this kind of thing really takes a toll on you without you even realizing how much sometimes, we'll make it through though.

On the non cancer side of my life it was a pretty good weekend for me.  On Friday I got to go to my parents house for dinner and hang out with Haley and my niece and nephew for a bit.  It always seems to brighten the week when I get to hang around them or my other niece Brynn.  They are so carefree and absolutely hilarious to sit and listen to.  Some of the things that they say and do are just so funny you have to just sit back and laugh.

On Saturday Jenny and I ran a couple of errands and then got ready for our Halloween party at some friend's house.  We dressed up as Jack and Jill after they fell down the hill.

We had a great time and the costumes Jenny picked out were pretty funny even though some of our friends and I kept calling her a "rough looking french maid" all night.  I missed all but the last 2 plays of the USC game but did get to see the win.  As my father-in-law who saw my reaction to the win described me as a "giddy school girl".  Yes I do tend to get a bit excited when we win.

Life is also pretty crazy for us because we've decided to put our house up for sale as well. We love our neighbors and our house has been great but we've decided to make a change so we're keeping even busier with getting the house ready to be listed. If anyone wants to move to a great house in a great and growing neighborhood over by Furman just let us know!

The last thing before I end this post I want to mention one of my cousins.  He just turned 22 yesterday (Happy Late Birthday) and about 3 weeks ago went under the knife to remove a tumor on his brain (which we found out was not cancerous).  I got the chance to talk to him on Facebook while I was a chemo on Tuesday and the way that he has handled this situation is remarkable.  He has faced the adversity straight in the face and come out the other side just fine.  So I ask that everyone prays he continues to recover and gets back to the life that he was intended to live.

I hope that everyone has a great week.

Tim