Cycle 1; Week 3 "Up's and Down's"

This is Stuart again. The 3rd week has had its ups and downs. First off, the best part about this week is how I have been feeling. Because I haven't had chemo in a while I have had my strength, my appetite has been up, and I have felt like myself for the most part.  I've been very cautious whenever going out (which I don't do very often) due to a low white blood cell count, by wearing a protective mask so I don't get sick.

My hair loss is something we are still getting used to. It all started around Saturday 2/6 when my beard started coming out in clumps. I would pinch my beard, pull, and a clump of whiskers came out, it was the strangest thing. Then a couple days later my hair started doing the same thing. I decided to shave my head in stages so I didn't terrify my daughters. First I buzzed my hair short and I shaved my beard. When I came out of the bathroom both my daughters looked at me wide eyed, and were very surprised (Little Chloe was a little frightened, Avi just sort of giggled) but they warmed up to it fast. My hair was still coming out in clumps, so two days later I completely shaved my head. The girls are OK with it, Avi asks everyday "Daddy, can I touch your bald head?". When Chloe touched my head she got frightened, and jerked her hand back, a lot like if she had just touched a snake or a slimy stingray at the zoo...

Me my bald head and my girls...

In a way I feel like Charlie Brown. If it was Halloween time I would make a perfect model for pumpkin carving..."If we draw the eyes like this, and the nose like this, and the mouth like this..."

"Thank you Charlie Brown, you were a perfect model"

It was great seeing my old man. He's been coming to Utah lately to see me as well as my grandma Donna. Grandma isn't doing to well, her lungs are starting to shut down. She's in the ICU right now, she could get better (we're hoping!) or she could get worse. Really glad I got to see her a couple times before I got started with chemo, we continue praying for her.

Dad and A-bird

Dad and Chloe-Bee

The week was great, but I won't lie Friday, Saturday and Sunday were kind of rough. Friday Chels and I went to the HCI to have my minor surgery to have the port put in my chest. The port is extremely nice because I won't have to get poked anymore. I won't have to get poked for IV's or for drawing blood. And blood clots won't be an issue anymore because the port is accessed in a large main vein, instead of small superficial veins in my forearms. Plus I'm still on blood thinners, Chels gives me a shot in the stomach every morning and evening and she's getting really good at it, it's not too bad. Back to the surgery on Friday, the worst part was getting an IV in. For some reason my forearm veins were being stubborn and the nurse had to poke me 4 times to finally get my vein to work! Sheesh. And before this I had to get my blood drawn, so getting poked a total of 5 times within an hour wasn't fun. After the IV was in, we went to the operating room where I lay on a table and they set up a curtain to block my view from where they would be putting the port in my chest. They gave me sedation drugs in my IV so I was very drowsy and out of it the entire time, although I did feel the two numbing shot's they gave me in my neck, that sort of hurt but after that I didn't feel a thing. I was in such bliss with that sedation. The surgery was fast, only about 30 minutes.

Me and Chels right before going in for surgery

 
Because my white blood cell count was so low from chemo, following my surgery we went to get a neupogen shot in my stomach. This stimulates white blood cells to help fight infections, sicknesses, fevers, etc. and the side effects of this shot are sore bones and joints. We also had to go in to the HCI Saturday and Sunday to have this same neupogen shot in order to prepare me for chemo the following week. The sore bones and joints weren't too bad Friday, Tylenol did a great job taking off the edge. After the shot on Saturday however, I felt like I got run over by a cement truck. My lower back, hips, and shoulders were very achy. Good thing we got prescribed a strong pain killer (Oxycodon) to help with Saturday and Sunday. After taking that I felt pretty good.

Starting today, I will have chemo Monday-Friday from about 7:30a-1:00p. Then 2 full weeks off, then we'll repeat that cycle 2 more times. The good news is no more bleomycin, which made me sick before. And no more getting poked in the arms. A huge blessing is my Mom is coming to town for 10 days, she got here today and it will be so nice to spend time with her... and to dump our beautiful girls onto her a little haha. Chels really needs to catch up on some sleep cause she's been carrying extra weight with me being tired. 

Thoughts: In John chapter 16, Jesus is speaking with his disciples about his death and resurrection, and how he has Heavenly Father by his side, and that the Holy Ghost or comforter will be sent to his disciples after his resurrection. John 16:33 stood out to me, the Savior says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." In this world and life, we are meant to be tested. We are meant to go through tough times, they will make us stronger. And if we rely on the Savior, being of good cheer is possible because He will help us through it.