Cycle #2 starts and...a health concern for Rachel

The only good news to come out of this post is that Brandon started his Second Cycle today and that the blood draws say that the chemo is working. Numbers are GREAT!
Unfortunately now the incredible...are you KIDDING me news.....Today I woke up with a painful swollen breast. Sounds familiar as this is the way Brandon's started. Of course when I got that feeling I did a self exam and found a lump. Later in the afternoon, once Brandon got done with his treatment, I went in and got checked over and got questioned with questions. He said it definately wasn't an infection and that I needed a breast ultrasound and a possible biopsy. So tomorrow I go in for that. Luckily they can do both together since they have a dr in that can when you are in for the ultrasound. We hope the outcome is different than Brandon's. We seriously can't handle another serious health problem and emotions are really flying high. Weve made tons of lemonade and even hard alcoholic lemonade from lemons that life has thrown us. We've ran dry. So if God does make miracles, we need one N-O-W.
PRAYERS PRAYERS PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Potty Training in full swing...at 18 months?!

So Kianna has decided on her own that it was time to potty train. WHAT?! Potty Train already...YES indeed. Were not used to this early stuff. Carson was just trained this past summer. She tells/shows us and brings us to the bathroom, instead of us doing that like we did with the boys. She will lift up the toilet lid, put the seat down on it. We only help her on and off, thats about it. She will wipe, take off the seat, shut the lid, and flush. She is really enjoying her pink Dora Pull-Ups. No more diapers as she HATES them now. Just a couple wet pullups a day and better yet, no poopy ones....haven't had one of those in 4 days.

The way were going, I see cute big girl underwear for (or even by) her 2nd birthday in late May. Sad but proud. How much we try to keep our baby girl a baby, she just doesn't want to.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

The wait is over....the hair is gone :( It started to fall out this evening so we shaved it completely off. We had to explain to the boys why his hair was falling out, so we had a shaving party. The boys declined to have their heads shaved tho, and Kianna...NO WAY. As for me....some part of me is wanting to, so we'll see.

We are 1/3 of the way through chemo. Cycle #1 is COMPLETELY done! And December 28th will be the start of Cycle #2.

FIGHT, CONQUOR, DEFEAT!

One month ago today....

Exactly one month ago today we learned of the high probability of Brandon having cancer. November 11th-the 13th were the longest, yet fastest, days of our lives...full of denial and emotion. No one should ever go through it. The world slowed, pulsated and stopped. Then turned upside down, and everything kept coming and going, rising and falling. Worlds worst rollercoaster...which does get better and eventually end, but you have a few hills to pass over first. TEST, CONQUOR, DEFEAT!

Cycle #1, week #1 and #2 are DONE! He is going great. Back to work and feeling good. I have to remind him that he isn't "normal" (can't think of the word Im trying to think of) and is in a special group now and that he just can't go full throttle into everything anymore, like he wants and fights about, even when you are feeling good...such a work-a-holic. Having a good constant energy level is the key to feeling good constantly. If you break it, you break too...and everyone around you feels the cracks and crumbles. He is lucky that Im not a real nurse, hahaha!

Only 1 treatment left (Tuesday) before the start of cycle #2 starts (New Years week). They gave him a week off for Christmas, mainly because no one would be around.

Cycle #1, Week #1...D-O-N-E!

The hardest week of daily doses of Chemo is done. We are now entering the once a week treatments for 2 weeks. Tuesday is the day, and the day we see how the chemo is doing for him (his numbers). Is it too much to ask for the numbers be perfect, no signs what-so-ever, and to have everything clear looking so we can stop....probably. But its our only wish we want...couldn't ask for more. After the once a week treatments for 2 weeks are done, he gets a break for Christmas. Then when that is over, he starts all over with the start of cycle #2.

He has been doing well with the treatments. The Chemo is catching up with him as he is VERY tired. Still has a very sensitive sense of smell which is not making him eat hardly anything. In fact, Im making him get some anti-nausea pills (if he remembers or else Ill call and ask the dr for him) so he can at least eat more than crackers and Fruit Loops. Its something, which IS good, but that itself doesn't help with the energy level and his regular health.

***Phone calls***
We are happy and do appreciate all of the DAILY phone calls, wondering how he is doing...being concerned, that we are getting from family....but its becoming too much. We need space and peace from what is going on. We'd like a few evenings together as family without interruptions, enjoying it without thinking what he is going though. Its still fresh and new on our minds. Everything went fast that we missed our normal family time. We want to go back to our normal routines and not being reminded of his illness and treatments DAILY by the answering the same questions over and over again, NOTHING HAS CHANGED! From now on, we've decided that we will let people know if anything changes or happens. AND don't worry if we don't answer the phone or don't call back if we missed any call(s)...NOTHING IS WRONG! And please don't keep calling, or call the cells, or call the next morning asking/wondering. That just irks us more, very uncalled for. We just need space and peace. Hope everyone understands. This doesn't mean not to call at all, do. Maybe every OTHER day. Just NOT DAILY please. But what you CAN DO DAILY is to keep those thoughts and prayers coming, but not through phone calls, through God. Thank you!

Chemo day 1

Brandon had his first session today. He had a little reaction to a drug at first but after awhile of rest, things went smoothly. Later in the day he became nauseated and sick, but thats normal. He is kinda learning what its like to be in the first trimester...smell sensitivity, snacking throughout the day instead of meals, up the fluid intake, trying to keep something in your stomach, and the neasea/vomitting. He learned pizza and english muffins are a NO-GO! So its looking pretty good for getting an anti-nausea med for him on top of the anti-nausea med that they administer there with the chemo.
Now its Tuesday-Friday....peronally not looking forward to it since he is already feeling the effects of it. Need to keep eyes what is at the end.

We also had 'the talk' with the boys since Isaac seemed a bit scared the first time he got sick. Reminded the boys that its the medicine that is causing him to be sick and the medicine will help daddy too to fight of the 'illness'. And not to be scared and you won't get sick. Also to be good and listen to mommy. Isaac gets it (still seems a bit scared and emotional) but Carson and Kianna don't. Its going to be a VERY rough and tough time. Hope I can make it though....Im barely hanging on the first day.

When we were there, in came an old man telling the nurses that he won't be coming anymore because there is nothing more the drs can do. I just about broke down hearing that and seeing the hugs. Such a support system they have there. When they were taking out his IV thing, he told Brandon that he is way too young to be there....agreed. He seemed to be a sweet humorous man by the conversations heard. I wish him well.
We also talked with a lady that works with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law who was a great talkative bubbly lady and also an old lady who is really nice and talkative too. I wish those ladies well too. Sad to say that there is many people having Chemo done (was quite full today).

Oncologist Appt

Monday, November 30th, at 9am, we start the hardest journey in life, chemo (by IV which will take 2 hours). 3 cycles, each cycle is 3 weeks. The first week will consist of chemo Monday through Friday. Then the next week (week 2) and the week after that (week 3), is only once per week. Then once that (cycle #1) is done, we start all over for the next cycle (#2) and so on (#3). 9 weeks of mostly constant chemo treatments. With the holidays coming, there will be a delay, or resting period...which is fine with us since we picked the sooner date to start than the later, which would have been early December. Sooner the better!

With the chemicals they have now and getting anti-nausea drugs in the IV, there are minimal side effects, which is good. Effects vary much... from nausea to nerve damage and to a rare 1 in a million chance of having a stroke. So we will see when time comes. I hope it isn't too bad for him, hate seeing people sick and in pain. Oh yea, hair loss won't be an issue since he is almost already there with his buzz cuts, LOL.

Just keeping our eyes on the 80-90% CURE rate. BE GONE!!!!!