Day 3

Well I have to tell you the treatments themselves are easy and the first two days were good but I started on a week when Andrew had internships and couldn't drive the kids home from school and 3 days now I've had kids sick. So I'm finding that my normal getting up between 5 & 6 am, keeping up the house, running to Sam's, staying up till 11:30 with my Care Group, taking Samuel to the doctors, and picking-up car pool take a different taxing on my body then it use to. But I'm glad this all happened on the first week and not the last. I need to pace myself and get to bed earlier! I started getting a swollen spot that is sore. They gave me a cream to use that I have started. Please pray that it works. Today my good friend Kim brought home Timothy so I could get a nap. I don't know why my body gets so tired! But I need to listen to it. Whenever any of you want to keep me company just let Kim know she is going to start a master driving schedule. I don't know how people do this and go to work! (Donna I have much respect for you!) While in care group last night we had an extended time of prayer and I - in my heart -(in an almost arrogant way) wanted everyone to pray for everyone else because I have felt good for so long and didn't think I needed prayer! But God is so good to remind me that I am never feeling too good to need Him! I am weak! and I do need Him! May I never ever forget this! I love it when he brings me to my knees!

I've finally began

Today I started the 1st of 33 treatments. It's not bad at all! I can leave my house at 12:40 for a 1:00 appt and I am out of there and home by 1:40. My appointments are at 1:00 for now. I can change them later to 10:45 but I think I will like it at 1:00. I like to get my house stuff done in the morning because in the afternoon I am spent! The only problem is that I am already the most tired at that part of my day and driving there and back every day really makes me either want to pull over and take a nap or find a nice hot cup of coffee. I don't even want to start getting a cup of Starbucks a day! Could you imagine how much that would end up costing me!? Let's see... 33 x $4 for my favorite drink = $132.00 just to keep me awake! I don't think I should start. I have a wonderful group of friends that want to drive me as I get into some. If 1:00 doesn't work for any of you please let me know.

Please pray for me to stay healthy. Samuel and Timothy are not well right now and I do not want to get sick and delay any of the treatments. Pray for my kids to get better quickly too.

Thank you!!!

My Radiation Consultation

Well Once again we wait. I thought great I finally get to go for my radiation consultation and get started with my treatment right? Wrong! It is not like you just go in for an x-ray and you are done these doctors have it down to a science! I went Thursday for Step 1-  a talk and and examination to see if I was healed enough to move forward. Then lucky for me they had an opening the next day for me to come in for  Step II CT Simulation- this is where they make a mold of the position I need to be in every time I come back and to get a CT scan to gather information for Dr Amphey will use to plan the actual delivery of the radiation therapy.  The radiation therapist put on my tattoos and take digital photos for identification and positioning .  Step III - the information is sent to a treatment- planning computer. Then he works with the dosimetrist to select single or multiple beams (so I don't get hot spots) this planning process takes about 5-7 days. (Are you still with me?)  Step IV Treatment Verification or "dress rehearsal" This is next Thursday Jan. 24 this is where they verify treatment fields and check positioning. then they take actual films to make sure the radiation is being delivered according to treatment plan. Step V treatment plan- So now I start January 28Th and I have to go 33 visits so it will be a little longer that 6 weeks. everyday with weekends off. Once it starts, after all this preparation the actual radiation appointments will only be 15 min long. I hope to schedule them everyday around 11:00 or 12:00 so I can get my housework done before I go.

Now isn't this whole process crazy! Praise God for Medicine! It almost makes me want to go into the medical field. I feel so cared for. They do this for each individual case. They are very kind people. I'm going to enjoy getting to know them over the next few weeks. 

Prayer request~ they want me to go off of my Multi-vitamin which serve two purposes in my life they help with my headaches and my energy. So pray this has little of no effect on me for the short time I need to not take them.

That I can be a light for Jesus in these daily appointments. That his joy would be evident in my life.

Thank you all for caring !!!