Where did the time go?

Well, where did the time go?  I just looked and my last post was in JANUARY!  What the actual hell?!  Anyway, here's a month by month update.


January sucked.  I started a new med and had horrible side effects.  This drug is called Nerlynx.  It's new and is for people who have HER2+ cancer.  It's number one side effect is severe diarrhea.  To the extent of fluids and being hospitalized.  

I started it and had the opposite reaction.  My oncologist suggested that maybe I not take this medicine.  His exact words were, "I don't think you can take this medicine "  My thought, "Ha!  I'll show you!"  And I did.  After some adjustments to the medication and LOTS of IV fluids things got better.  However, I had to go in once a week for 6 weeks for blood work to make sure the medicine wasn't killing my liver.  So that's nice!

February was better on the medicine side.  Still some side effects, but better.  I had my required mammogram and let me tell you I have some PTSD that is for sure.  I was a freaking mess sitting there waiting and it's not like the give you results right away!  So there's that.

March. I had an MRI that my insurance FINALLY approved, after denying it for more than 6 months.  It's not like my oncologist was just ordering random tests.  I mean come on!  In the middle of march I finally got a letter about my mammogram that stated, "As of now there is NO evidence of any abnormalities"  That's right!  Can't say cancer free, because I might sue them, but for now things are looking good.  I finally started physical therapy for my shoulder, which is actually my neck and chest wall muscle that was damaged by radiation.  Just trying to work through that still.

April was pretty good.  Still dealing with side effects.  Thank goodness for anti-nause meds and Immodium. But I am getting through.  The shoulder finally has some mobility back, but isn't all the way.  The one thing I haven't talked about is menopause!  HOLY HOT FLASH!  I am a sweating mess all of the time!  The kids bought me fans from the Dollar Store and I have them stashed everywhere.  The lack of sleep is making me super bitchy and the hot flashes aren't helping.  

I know I am not the only woman in the world going through menopause, but surgical menopause is supposedly a little harder since your body doesn't have time to adjust.  I am surviving but at the expense of everyone else.  

Moving on to some news that is pretty awesome....

Camp Kesem....  A camp for kids who have a parent who has cancer.  We have been involved with the chapter here at NMSU.  They host a gala and I decided I was going to help fundraise for them and I was so excited!  

Our family got to attend the dinner and I was asked to speak and I was so excited because now I feel like I am actually doing something!  It was an amazing night and they raised so much money for kids to attend camp.  

My other project was to contact a local yoga studio and get a Yoga for Cancer class started. Well it turns out I wasn't the only person with this idea and once I contacted the owner she was so excited and we got a group together and got a yoga class started.  My ultimate goal was for people to realize there are different types of support groups out there and that may be, just may be, we could reach one person who needed this.  And guess what, we did!  Not just one, but many!  

My other little project has been outreach.  I have been trying to support whomever I might be able to.  I have been in contact with a few women who have just been recently diagnosed.  I love being able to help them any way I can.

And last but not least I was asked to speak at the cancer center's National Cancer Survivor's Day event.  When I was asked I didn't even hesitate.  I was so honored to be able to share my story and to promote Camp Kesem and yoga at Dwell.  This was a great event and I loved that I got to be a part of it.

On the family side of things..... Kids are done with school.  My first year of working from home was awesome.  My first year of homeschooling Atleigh was okay.  Josh has started an online tech program.  Tristan is funny and can be a pain in the ass at the same time.  Atleigh is rocking taekwondo and loving that it is summer.  We took a trip to Friona and that was amazing.

All in all I can't complain.  I mean, I do, but I really shouldn't.  Things are pretty good.  Sometimes I am still pissed.  Sometimes I am still scared.  Sometimes I feel good.  Sometimes I feel like shit.  But I am here and each day I am trying to be better than the day before.