5 years later...
A part of me wishes I had kept this up. I log in once in a while and re read the few entries I made during my journey as well as the comments from friends and family. Usually it just scares me. I still worry about the cancer coming back. Today marks 5 years since I was diagnosed. I have had clear scans and great blood work since chemo and radiation ended. I have considered August 10th my remission date since that was my first "all clear" date but at my last appt with my oncologist he said they actually use my diagnoses date for statistical reasons. Then I read that since this is a blood cancer, I am never considered cured.
Since treatment ended overall I have felt pretty good. I still have numbness but it will probably never go away. I also have a lot of pain which also will probably never go away. I try not to let it get to me or bother others with my complaining. I'm sure Frank would disagree with that ;). My lungs have done pretty good up until the last month or so. I just finished a Z pack for a sinus infection and I am wondering if I could have bronchitis also.
Our family is wonderful. A little more than 3 years ago we moved to the valley. We wanted a better school system for the kids. Boy did we get it. We have met some amazing new friends. Mostly through Zander. He has grown into a very social, talented, athletic, kind EIGHT year old boy. He is doing great in the 2nd grade and loves his school. He is currently playing indoor soccer and basketball.
Irelynn is doing awesome in all day kindergarten. She doesn't get to go to school with Zander which is a challenge at times, but we are thankful that she is also in a really great school with a really great support system. She is such a smart and loving little girl. And so so silly.
Oakley boy oh Oakley boy. What to say about Oakley. He is 2. He can be a handful. We sure are blessed to call him our son. He is so opposite from Zander. Zander is and always has been all about sports. Oakley is all about cars and he rarely stops moving.
Next week we (hopefully) will be completing our forever family. Little miss Enslie. Such a sweet heart. I don't have much to say about her yet as far as hobbies and interests. She is 17 months and we have loved her since we brought her home from the hospital when she was a week old.
And then there is my Frankie Doodle Bug. He is still the most amazing husband I ever could have hoped for. In April we will celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. He has his faults but it's such a strong and supportive husband and so involved with the kids. After 8 years of being a dad and more babies than I can count in and out of our home he still covers his nose when changing a yucky diaper. But at least he changes them (with minimal complaints).
We look forward to being a forever family of 6 and we decided not to renew our license to be foster parents.
Thank you to everyone who continues to be here for us. We really do appreciate it.
I typed this on my phone. I tried really hard to catch all my errors, but I'm sure I missed some
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This is my first attempt at blogging. Wish me luck!
HHHHMMMMM Where to begin... Well back in June (June 4th), my 31st birthday to be exact. My husband Frank and I went out to Northern Quest casino. I was sitting there playing the slots and just happened to notice a lump on my neck. Didn't think much of it at the time. When we got home I got on the internet and did some research. From what I found I figured I maybe had a virus or recently gotten over something which made my lymph nodes swell. I went on with life still not thinking much of it and trying to leave it alone to see if it would go away. By the end of August it still had not gone away so I made an appointment at the CHAS clinic near my house. The doctor did some blood work and sent me for a chest x-ray to rule out lung cancer. I was so very relieved to get the results that my blood work came back fine and I did NOT have lung cancer. Seeing as I have never smoked in my life, this is good.
I went on with my life working, playing and taking care of my kids not having any symptoms just assumed it was my Mono acting up from years ago. I had been extremely "burnt out" for a few weeks but figured it was just from the holidays and getting our house ready to sell.
In January (January 7th) I made an appointment with a different doctor's office to see about getting some relief for my back pain that has come and gone for years. This time it moved down to my hip and backside. She gave me some meds and a referal to a physical therapist and said I had Sciatica. I just happened to ask her about my swollen lymph node that had swelled a little bit more over the past few days. She did some more bloodwork and sent me for a CT scan (January 8th).
I figured that I had some Thyroid issue and she would be able to get me back in shape by getting me on some meds. On January 12th I got the results of the bloodwork and it came back that I had a Vitamin D deficiency. I got some Vitamin D and she said she wanted to see me again in 12 weeks. The CT scan showed I had swollen lymph nodes.
So my next step was being sent to a surgeon on January 13th to see about doing a needle biopsy. Rather than do a needle biopsy, the surgeon told me I had to have the lymph node removed.
So on January 21st my wonderful husband took me to the hospital to have my first major surgery. It really was only minor, but to me it was MAJOR! I recovered nicely from the surgery with very little pain. The surgeon told me to call him on Tuesday (January 26th) to get the results of the biopsy. At this point I figured I had an infection and they would get me on some antibiotics and in a few weeks I would be good to go.
January 26th my life changed horribly... I played phone tag with the surgeon ALL DAY! Finally at about 4:30 he finally got in touch with me and told my that I have Hodgkins Lymphoma. Yep, I have cancer. I was home alone with my kids, Frank was at work and my mom is hundreds of miles away in Montana.
I went on with my life working, playing and taking care of my kids not having any symptoms just assumed it was my Mono acting up from years ago. I had been extremely "burnt out" for a few weeks but figured it was just from the holidays and getting our house ready to sell.
In January (January 7th) I made an appointment with a different doctor's office to see about getting some relief for my back pain that has come and gone for years. This time it moved down to my hip and backside. She gave me some meds and a referal to a physical therapist and said I had Sciatica. I just happened to ask her about my swollen lymph node that had swelled a little bit more over the past few days. She did some more bloodwork and sent me for a CT scan (January 8th).
I figured that I had some Thyroid issue and she would be able to get me back in shape by getting me on some meds. On January 12th I got the results of the bloodwork and it came back that I had a Vitamin D deficiency. I got some Vitamin D and she said she wanted to see me again in 12 weeks. The CT scan showed I had swollen lymph nodes.
So my next step was being sent to a surgeon on January 13th to see about doing a needle biopsy. Rather than do a needle biopsy, the surgeon told me I had to have the lymph node removed.
So on January 21st my wonderful husband took me to the hospital to have my first major surgery. It really was only minor, but to me it was MAJOR! I recovered nicely from the surgery with very little pain. The surgeon told me to call him on Tuesday (January 26th) to get the results of the biopsy. At this point I figured I had an infection and they would get me on some antibiotics and in a few weeks I would be good to go.
January 26th my life changed horribly... I played phone tag with the surgeon ALL DAY! Finally at about 4:30 he finally got in touch with me and told my that I have Hodgkins Lymphoma. Yep, I have cancer. I was home alone with my kids, Frank was at work and my mom is hundreds of miles away in Montana.
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