December 27th's treatment

Hey there. Just wanted you to know that my treatment Thursday went fine. I wasn't able to get 1/2 of my treatment (the Taxol) because my white counts were too low, but they did go ahead and give me my dose of Herceptin. I am feeling fine, and anxious for my immune system to build back up so I can get on with my treatments. I had an MRI today (the 28th), and that went fine, too. That was just to keep an eye on the spot on my spine. Big fun!

I hope you are having a good week. Happy New Year...a little early!

We love you all.

Jeff, Leslie, and the boys

Just the facts, Ma'am

Hello again. Just wanted you to know that I finished my first round of Herceptin and Taxol, and I think I did very well! No nausea whatsoever (praise the Lord!). Just a little fatigue...but I'll take that over nausea any day! I am scheduled to have treatments every week now, for at least the next 11 weeks...if the medicine doesn't make me too sick. Anyway, I go in tomorrow morning for my second of 12 treatments. I appreciate all of your calls and prayers. Please continue to pray that I am able to take the recommended 12 treatments. I don't know what's so magical about the 12 rounds of Taxol...but that's what they're aiming for.

We hope you and your families had a wonderful Christmas. You can see our family pictures on our family blog (link at top left).

Thank you so much for your prayers. I am really feeling very well, and I know that's because you are praying for me daily. Thank you so much!

Love,

Leslie

I Made It

Hey there! Just wanted you to know that I made it through my treatment Friday, and I'm feeling much better already (and it's only Monday!). It's nice to be through with the "wicked" medicine, and now I can move on to the new stuff.

Thank you so much for all your prayers. I'm ready to get on with the Christmas celebrations...the boys are so excited...it's contagious!

Love to you all!

Leslie

Good News!

Hello again. I thought you might like an update after our trip to Houston. We were there all of last week, and "suffered" through 60-70 degree sunny weather! We are so tough!

Monday, the 26th, we met with a neurosurgeon, who was so positive and enthusiastic that we left the appointment smiling. He said he was completely fine with the lesion on my spine. He showed us our MRI, and said that even if the currently diseased area were completely destroyed (which doesn't appear to be the case), that it was such a small area it still wouldn't "require" surgery. He continued by saying that when dealing with breast cancer on the bone, his experience has been that often times the very medication I am already on will stop, shrink, or even eradicate the disease on the bone.

He said since I am so early in my fight, and we really have no comparison with before/after treatment, he suggested that we come back in February and see how the area on my bone is reacting to the chemotherapy. He said if we could control/treat that area with medication, he would much rather do that than surgery. However, if for any reason it is not responding well (which would be unusual), then we could pursue radiation of that area, and surgery as a last resort. He was pleased that my back was not hurting, and that I was not experiencing any neuropathy. His comment was that if we could even just keep the diseased bone the way it is now for fifty years by using medication, he was "completely fine" with that. Praise the Lord!

Wednesday we met with the Bone Marrow Transplant team...the physician, the physician's assistant, the assistant's assistant :0), the coordinator, the business office....a whole crew of people. We found out that I am a potential candidate for two types of bone marrow transplant...one using chemotherapy and one using radiation (IV). They will continue to monitor my response to my chemotherapy to determine which type will be best suited for my situation. Either type would be a "final blow" to the cancer in my body. I would receive a transplant of my own blood cells...after all my chemotherapy, radiation, and any necessary surgeries. The transplant would be to completely kill any remaining cancer in my bones...anywhere!

Further praise...we found out today by phone that our insurance WILL cover the transplant, and the case manager went on to say that she believes that our policy even offers travel benefits whereby they would offer some reimbursement for lodging/meals while we are in Houston for the transplant. How about that! Just out of the blue...YOU'RE COVERED! Isn't it fun to sit back and watch God work? We are really enjoying it!

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers. Their effectiveness is evident each and every day. I am scheduled for another treatment this Friday...so it may be awhile before my next update. Please feel free to leave a comment, though. I enjoy hearing from all of you.

Love to you all,
Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

In addition...

In addition to the medical visits, we enjoyed a day full of fun at NASA, where my cousin's husband, Jim, works. He gave us a 'behind the scenes' tour of NASA, and sent us home with posters and patches and all sorts of goodies. We all had a great time.

On Thursday we went to see Brenda (my cousin...Jim's wife) and spent part of the day playing with their little girls, and trying to catch fish and frogs. We all enjoyed getting to visit with them. What beautiful little girls! It is increasingly obvious that there are no ugly children in my family...anywhere!

When we left their house, Jeff read a sign that said 'Galveston-22 miles', so we hung a right and went to the beach. Evidently, to Texans, 67 degrees is cold, b/c we were virtually the only ones on the beach. We all went wading, and, well...you know little boys can't just wade...they were completely soaked. So before we headed back to Houston, we stopped for some $3 sweat pants to make the ride home more comfy! They were in heaven...with their baggies of seashells and sand residue between their toes. What more could a person want?

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...our downtime was spent at Jenny's home again, where our children played and played and played. As you can see in one of the pictures, the big boys built a fort/hideout in the woods behind Jenny and Richard's house. They had such adventures back there. Our boys are already wanting to visit again.

At bedtime, all 5 boys bedded down in Alex and Miguel's room...our three on the floor in sleeping bags. They were so happy to be in sleeping bags! And we were happy that they were happy! I was very surprised that our little one, Isaac, didn't end up sneaking in to snuggle with Gabrielle. He loved her...and her room!

I hope you enjoy the pictures. I'll try to get around to posting more on our family blog. I have great intentions...

Love to you all,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

Think and think and think...

Well, I finally made it back to the computer! What a crazy past few weeks we've had. My last round of chemo really knocked me for a loop. They gave me a new (to me) drug to strengthen my bones, then a flu shot, and the next day a shot of Neulasta (white cell booster), all three of which have the side effect of achiness! I was hurtin' for certain! I couldn't even sit up without help. It was a mess. That lasted about a week, then I started chilling, only to be admitted to the hospital Wednesday night (a week ago) with low white cells, low hemoglobin, and a fever. Lovely! After antibiotics and lots of fluids, I was sent home on Saturday, and I have felt much better since. So now at least you know what I've been up to. My dr. decided to postpone my chemo for this week (it was supposed to be Monday). He said he thought my body could use a break. I'd have to agree. We'll start up again when I return from Houston.

I am scheduled to be back in Houston the week of the 26th. I have appointments with a neurosurgeon (for the spot on my spine) and a bone marrow transplant team, just to see if I'd be a candidate for that program. This trip we are taking all the boys, and fortunately my parents are coming along to help. We are all looking forward to the trip, for various reasons. My parents will get to visit with Aunt Teresa (mom's sister) and Uncle Howard. The boys just want to see some fancy sports cars on the highways in TX...Jeff told them he saw a something-or-other (I can't spell whatever it was), and now Levi, especially, is just jumping with excitement...and those of you who know him know that that's a literal statement! The boys will love playing with their cousins that they've only seen in pictures. Once they get together, there will be 5 little boys under the age of 9...all in Texans football uniforms! Doesn't that sound like a party!?

Let's see...what else. Oh, since my last entry, I have discovered that I look hilarious in bucket hats. Remember that Andy Griffith episode where Gomer Pyle tries to join the Marines, and he ticks off the Sergeant, who makes him sit on his cot with a bucket on his head "to think"? Well, that's all I could think of when I saw my reflection wearing a bucket hat. "Boy, Andy...this really works. You can just think and think and think! Here...try it on and have yourself a think!" I looked just like Gomer! No joke! I'm sticking with bandannas!

I guess that's all the news I have for now. My last entry was so lengthy, I think I'll cut this one a bit short (relatively speaking).

Quickly, congrats to my niece Jamie and her husband Nick, who are celebrating the birth of their first child, a boy! He is incredibly handsome, a well known family trait! What a precious little Thanksgiving package!

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Aren't we all so tremendously blessed? God is good.

Thanks for everything. I appreciate all your prayers. I'll write more when I get a chance.

Love,

Leslie

Home Again

Hi again. It's Sunday night, and we made it home today about 5 or so. What a blessing to travel by air...a 13 hour trip completed in 1.5 hours! Amazing. Thanks Nanette and Lisa for arranging that!

I have so many funny stories I could share. I wish each of you could experience the kind of professional treatment I received at MD Anderson. They called me by name in nearly every department. "Good mornin' Miz Davis. You back again?", "Good morning Ms. Davis...can I get you a warm blanket?", "Don't worry, Meez Davees...we gonna take veddy good care of you." (That's as good as I can do at typing foreign accents!)

I got so tickled at the lady trying to explain how I should drink their barium mixture before my CT scan. If you've never had to do that, it's like drinking 3 bottles of something a little thicker than Mylanta...but WAY worse in taste. I told her, "I haven't eaten that much of anything I LIKE...I don't know how I'm gonna down that! Then, this sweet little lady with an Oriental accent goes on to explain, "Eeef you feel like you going to vomit, just don't drink eeeny more." "Well don't worry!" I assured her! Good heavens! I just looked at the first two 12 oz cups they gave me and all I could say was, "OH BOY!" That little Oriental lady and her Middle Eastern assistant just laughed and laughed! "'OH BOY' she say! 'OH BOY she say!'" That stuff was putrid, but I managed to drink 1 and 1/2 cups (not the recommended 3). As I timidly sipped the mixture, I tried to remind myself to be thankful that God enabled someone to develop this test that allows them to see inside me so non-invasively. It helped a little, but it still tasted horrid!

Oh...I almost forgot...my little Oriental friend also explained the potential hazards of the Iodine injection they were going to give me. "Dees Iodine make you feel veddy veddy hot. Eeef you feel lips tingling, eyes eeetching, throat swelling shut...you let us know. You having veddy bad reaction. You allergic!" Once again, I assured her, "Don't worry! You'll be the first to know!" Oh yeah! No worries! Just a little shot of Iodine! Good grief!

At this point, I would like to thank Jeff, my cousin Nanette, and Uncle Howard and Aunt Teresa for making me laugh so hard while waiting for this test that I nearly choked on my Barium! They kept saying, "Eeef you feel teengly, eeef you gonna vomit, eeef you throat swell shut....!" Thanks guys!

Anyhoo...I am done with testing! Praise the Lord! Some were pleasant, some were definitely not, but throughout all of them I reminded myself that people were praying for me. Thank you all so much.

I did have many enjoyable moments in Houston. One of which was getting to go to church with Jenny and her family. They attend Lakewood church, where Joel Osteen is pastor. Anyway, Jenny's friend got word to Joel Osteen's mother, Dodie Osteen, that I was in need of prayer, and we were seated on the second row in that huge church. When it was time to ask for prayer, a security guard took me, Jeff, Jenny and her daughter, Gabrielle, right up front to the alter, and Dodie Osteen prayed over me. She is a 20+ year cancer survivor, and was healed after the doctors told her she had only 6 weeks to live, so she is a firm believer in prayer and the authority God has over disease. Anyway, in the name of Jesus, she commanded my cancer to wither and die, and then she thanked God for the testimony Jeff and I would have through this, and she thanked him that, should the Lord tarry, someday we would celebrate our 50th anniversary. It was rather overwhelming to have a stranger pray over me, much less a well known person, but it was really peaceful, too.

After the service, I went around to where Joel Osteen has a "meet and greet" time with all the visitors. I was just trying to get a picture of him, when one of the security personnel noticed me, and asked, "Would you like to meet him?" I told them, "That's okay, the line is already closed for the night." She said, "No, no...you come to the front." Then she had me walk around, and she led me under the security rope, and she placed me right at the front of the line, and Joel Osteen himself shook my hand and prayed with me. It was really something...I've only watched him on TV, and now he was holding my hand and praying for Jeff and I. Not that I believe his or Dodie's prayers are any more effective than any of our prayers, but it was just exciting to be in their presence. It sounds a little hokie when I type it out...but it was really very...neat (for lack of a better word.)

Let's see, what else? I was treated like a queen, showered with gifts, and totally doted over by my cousins and their families as well as by my aunt and uncle. Thank you Jenny, Nanette, Brenda, Teresa and all your wonderful families! What a treat. Meanwhile, back here on the home front, my entire family pitched in to help with my boys. Thanks Mom and Daddy, Suzan, Anita, Jim and Kevin and all their families! For some reason, you all look a little tired! :o) I wonder why?

I go in tomorrow for another round of chemotherapy. This one and one more, and I'll be done with the stuff that makes me nauseous...then just on to more chemo that has fewer side effects. That will be a blessing.

Our prayer needs are: 1)healing 2)wisdom for the doctors who are treating me 3)effectiveness of the drugs used (sometimes they work, sometimes they don't) 4)peace and comfort for my husband and my children. This is definitely not our "normal" schedule 5)peace for my mind and the absence of fear and worry. Neither of those last two come from God, but the devil likes to bother me with them, and I'm tired of him, frankly. He's much less effective when I'm well rested, so I think I will close this entry for now and get some rest.

We love you all, and thank you for your prayers.

Love,
Leslie, Jeff, Owen, Levi, and Isaac

p.s. I would like to publicly apologize for using the "SH**" word in my last post. :o) Even though it was only a quote, I was reminded upon my arrival home that I was not raised to speak that way! So, from now on, no foul language quotes of any kind...I think! I mean, really, that one was funny!

Also, in the photos above, the first two are obviously Joel Osteen, then there is a picture of me and Jenny(my cousin), and next a photo of MD Anderson's main bldg, and the last photo is just a pretty fountain that was near the medical center. I have tons more photos, and I'll share some of them later.

Hello again!

Hello everyone! I apologize for taking so long to give you an update, but we have been on the run for this whole week. I met with my doctor on Monday, and he went over my records. Basically, we got the same diagnosis. The breast cancer has spread to my lymph nodes under my arms as well as the T7 vertebrae. He said that I'm "technically incurable", but that could just mean that I have to receive medication for the next 50 years. When those words came out of his mouth, all I could think was "Thankfully, God doesn't function in the "technical" realm!"

The physician went on to say that the medication he recommends has shown great results, and he has patients who just take it on a weekly basis and have had no sign of their cancer for 13+ years. So that was encouraging.

On the "flesh" side, I am weary of being poked, stuck, prodded, and shoved! Those of you who know me well are fully aware of my aversion to needles. I can take a shot anyday, but you go drawin' stuff out of me, or leaving an IV in me, and I start to see stars!

Tuesday night, I had to go in for lab work. The lady who was to draw my blood was just sitting there waiting on me. I felt obligated to inform her of my inablility to sit upright while being siphoned. "Listen," I said, " I don't do well with this. I need to recline, and I have to turn my head away." (Pardon my French henceforth) She replied, "Well, shit...you know you bizness...look away if you gots to...but I gots to look. Ummmhmmm." Then she started humming. As I looked to the left, she had a little card on her bulletin board that read: PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES AND DEAL WITH IT! I started laughing so hard, that I didn't even realize she was done. "Ummmhmmm," she continued, "What kind of work do you do?" I told her I was raising 3 very active boys. "Ummmmhmmmm...What you do before that?" she asked. I told her that I taught preschool. "Ummmhmmm...well, ain't no reason to get used to needles and blood in that line of bizness, is there?" "Well," she continued, "Dat's it! Last call for alcohol! You done!" I laughed all the way out to the waiting room! That was the best bloodwork I've ever had done!

After that, I had an MRI...at 9:30pm! I didn't even know they did MRI's that late at night! We didn't leave the hospital until 10:45! And I hadn't eaten! Thankfully, my cousin Nanette (sister to Jenny with whom we are staying) had fixed us a roast, potatoes, and carrots as well as hot rolls! I didn't stay hungry long.

Yesterday, I had a mammogram, chest xray, and a CT scan. We left the hospital around 8 I think.

Tomorrow I have more tests, and then we are trying to time my next chemo treatment. Here or home...it'll just depend.

That's about all I know. I'm enjoying Houston. There are so many pretty things to see, not to mention fantastic food. Best of all, we are enjoying a long overdue family reunion with cousins I haven't seen in probably 20 years. What a wonderful family God has blessed me with!

Blessings to you all. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us. That's more important than anything else!

We love you all,

Leslie and Jeff

Finally, an Update

Hello everyone. Just thought you'd like to know that I'm in Houston, TX. We flew in on Thursday night, and we are having a wonderful time. Before we left, Jeff and the boys shaved their heads without me knowing it. They didn't want me to be the only one without hair in the family. I've added a picture of all of us before Jeff and I left for the airport.

We are staying with my cousin. Her daughter, Gabrielle, is helping me write this post. She has waited on me hand and foot since we arrived. She fixed us dinner when we got here, she had our room all ready for us, she bought me TX ball caps to keep my head warm, she's made me ginger snaps, she ties my scarves for me, and this morning she warmed my doughnut for me. It's nice being queen!

Gabrielle has two brothers, Alex and Miguel. They have LOTS of energy, so Jeff and I feel right at home.

I have my first doctor's appt. on Monday. We are looking forward to getting another perspective on my diagnosis. I will let you know what we find out.

For those of you leaving voice mail messages on my phone, I am unable to retrieve them right now. Don't know what the problem is. Just keep calling...you'll surely get me one of these days.

Love you all. Hope you're staying warm. We are suffering through sunny days and mid 70's temps. Like I said, It's nice being queen!

Love,

Leslie and Jeff

Anybody seen my hair?????

Well, as predicted, my hair is falling out! No clumps, yet, just oodles and gobs of individual strands! And they just go everywhere! A couple of days ago I was playing football in the yard with the boys, and it was so windy that my hair was just flying away in the wind.

I told Owen, "You've heard of people's hair getting blown right off their heads, haven't you? Well, we may just get to see that today."

It has been so gusty around her for days...the kind of wind that blows your hair just all over the place, and for me that is a literal statement. On the upside, the neighbors shouldn't have to mulch this fall!!! :o)

Owen advised me, "Mom, you should start wearin' one of those little hospital hats or somethin' before we start eatin' that stuff!" Thank you, Owen! I'll get right on that!

Anyhoo...my mom cut my hair last night, and it looks much better. But the shedding goes on and on and on. It's like trying to rinse the clippings out of your hair after a haircut, but there is no end to the clippings. WEIRD!

I'm prepared, though. I've cut the boys hair for years, and I have clippers with different lenghth guards, so when I get tired enough of sweeping it off the floor, it's outta here. I have scarves and hats and enough ballcaps to outfit a team, so I'm good to go.

I tried on a scarf yesterday, and said, "Look boys. This is what I'll look like when my hair is all gone."

Surprisingly, I heard, "Cool mom! You look like a...", to which I interrupted with thoughts of Halloween and interjected, "A pirate?"

"No, " said Owen, "You look like a really cool gardner!"

Well, that's more suitable anyway! I've always wanted to be a cool gardner!

Oh, I almost forgot. I had another treatment yesterday! Thank you, thank you for your prayers. I needed a platelet count of at least 100, and it was well above that, and I had to have a white count of 1.5 (granulacites only), and they were over 15 I think, and get this... My overall white blood cell count, which was down to 1.7 or so was so high the nurses were laughing. Before I began treatment, my count was 5.6 (4 is normal) and yesterday my count was 26! Can you believe that? My nurse said, "Good ole Neupogen shots!" And I added, "And a lot of prayer!" I do believe I have the "prayin' est" friends a person ever had! Thank you, thank you, and praise the Lord!

I have to go grab a bite of lunch. We have to go back into the hospital for another shot. This one is Neulasta, which also boosts my white cell count, but unlike the Neupogen shots, which had to be given daily, Neulasta is time released and will last for something like 7-10 days. That suits me fine. I've been stuck enough for one month!

We love you all! Thanks for all the prayers. I just love to hear health professionals laugh in disbelief!

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

Finally, Some Good News!

Hi there! I spoke with my cousin, Jenny, in TX today (the one who's a doctor, in case you're new to my blog), and she said her friends at MD Anderson have looked at my test results. They asked her to ask me what type of drugs I was being given. I gave her the name of the two drugs I was given. She said that at MD Anderson, they are seeing very good results from a third drug that is being used specifically for my type of hormone-receptive cancer cells. So, woo-hoo! She said that they thought it was a good thing that I have the type that I have (HER-2 Neu Positive), because they have a brand new drug just for that! I know it's not huge...but it's good news for me, and I'm clinging to it, because it's the first good news I've heard in awhile.

Couple that with offers for private airline transportation to TX, as well as aching joints and bones (which means my white cells are increasing with the help of the shots I've been receiving), and I have had a good day. Through all of this, we continue to be amazed at God's provision. We have been blessed so much through all of you, and we thank you all for everything!

Oh, and I had my MRI today, and Jenny told me I could request a copy of the results on a CD. Who knew you could do that? I asked the MRI technician if he could do that, and he said, "Oh, sure. It'll be ready in 5 minutes." Well, I'll be! That is exciting b/c I can overnight my MRI results to MD Anderson instead of waiting for a Dr. to read the results, and then faxing the readings. They can actually see the test for themselves, and draw their own conclusions! Wow! We are so blessed to have Jenny on our team!

Keep us in your prayers. I still need my white blood cells to increase (to at least 1.5) so I can receive treatment. I need protection from viruses/infections. And...I need sleep, so I think I'll go rest awhile.

We love you all. Thanks for everything.

Love
Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

I'm Tired of This!

My PET scan results showed cancer cells in my spine and in the lymph nodes under my right arm. Yah...lovely! Anyway, the PET scan isn't conclusive, evidently, so tomorrow I go in for an MRI. I am tired of all this lurching..."this is the diagnosis...now this is the diagnosis...let's do this and wait for another diagnosis..."

My white cell count is still down, too, so that means more shots. If it doesn't come up by Friday, I won't be able to get my next chemo treatment. The nurse assured me that the low count is a good thing...it means that the chemo is working. It's just getting old (or I'm just getting impatient!).

We are planning on taking this show on the road! We're heading to TX to MD Anderson as soon as we can get our ducks in a row. We have a place to stay (family) and my cousin who is a head/neck surgeon with connections to MD Anderson can get me in quickly. They already have every test result that I've had done here...they just need me. And I'm ready to be a priority to someone! My cousin is coordinating everything, and I trust that when I get down there they'll get right to work.

We are all weary and concerned and overwhelmed and quite resolved about what we want to do. I'm tired of waiting on my oncologist to return from vacation...which is probably the whole crux of the matter. I'm just being bounced around from one on-call doctor to the next, and no one really has a vested interest in me at this point. The staff is encouraging me to wait until he returns, which won't be until the 24th...I just don't feel like I have the luxury of waiting...I'm ready to have someone say, "This is what you have. This is where it is. And this is what we're going to do to kick it!" Now, that would make me feel better!

Love you all...and thanks for tolerating my ranting!

Leslie

Hello Again!

People keep saying they'd feel better if they could see me...know that I'm not wastin' away. Well, here are some photos taken Saturday that will hopefully make you all feel better! And you should know, thanks to all of you providing delicious meals for me and my family, I'm feeling really very well.

Thanks also for all of the cards, emails, and phone calls you've sent our way. I cannot possibly respond to all of them, but I want you to know that I really appreciate all of them. Our boys LOVE going to the mailbox now! What fun!

I hope you all had a good weekend. I made it through 3 of the 5 scheduled shots, and I'm feeling fine. No side effects, yet, but the nurse keeps saying, "Just wait! It'll hit you!" I'm really hoping she's wrong! Maybe the other patients have just never had such a good pharmacist, right, Tim? Thanks for putting in a good word for me. They treated me very well. (Although they would like some "dirt" on Tim in the pharmacy. I told them they were out of luck!)

I hope to hear back this week on my PET scan that I had last Tuesday. That will tell if I have cancer cells anywhere else. I want the results...and yet I don't. I am really tired of "bad" news! I am hoping these results are good. Regardless, I'll let you know what we find out.

Thank you all for checking in on my blog. It is so much easier for me to type one giant update than to send one to each of you. I hope you don't mind!

We love you all. Thanks for all the prayers. I know that they are the REAL reason I am feeling so well.

Love,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

Friday, October 12, 2007

Hey everyone. I had my lab work done today, and surprise (not really), my white cell count was down. So, now I have to go in every day for 5 days to get a shot to boost my immune system so I can still receive my chemo treatment as scheduled. No worries...the nurse just said the shots may make me have flu like symptoms...muscle/joint aches, extreme fatigue...or...I may feel fine. Just depends on how my system reacts.

I hope I don't have any flu-like reactions, because I'm just now feeling good again, and it'd be nice to have a week of "feeling good". I was advised to avoid crowded places, and to let someone else wipe runny noses for awhile. Sounds do-able...just a little inconvenient...then again, that seems to be the theme for this whole cancer treatment.

Also, I am having a time trying to post to this log. I think I set it up with a fictitious email, completely accidentally (we'll blame it on the chemo drugs), but I don't know how to fix it. So...I may have to re-do the whole thing and start from scratch. If that is the case, check in on my blogspot that I DO know how to access: http://porchswingnews.blogspot.com/ and I'll post a new link there. Sorry for the wild goose chase. Cari---if you have any suggestions, let me know.

Have a great weekend! It's "Apple Butter Makin' Days" in Mt. Vernon...sounds yummy!

Love to you all.
Leslie

Week One

Hey everyone. Just wanted to give you an update on how things are going so far. I had my first chemo treatment last Friday. I was scared to death, mainly just because I don't do IV's well. I've always said I'd rather give birth twice than to get the IV that comes with labor and delivery! But, everything went well. My nurses were so sweet (probably felt sorry for the 35 yr. old lady trembling like a leaf in the wind). My oncologist brought out a patient he was seeing for a follow up visit. She was 34, and had the same diagnosis as me in March of 2006, and is now cancer free and back teaching her 3rd grade class in Willard. It was nice to visit with someone who has been through it all and is okay. Oh, and blessings of all blessings, I didn't get sick from my chemo all weekend! Praise the Lord!

Monday (yesterday) I had a port placed in my upper left chest area (right under my collar bone). This will allow them to give me chemo without sticking me with an IV every time. I know this is supposed to be a good thing, but I had the dry heaves right up until the procedure (didn't help that I had to wait 4 hours until they actually got me in...with an empty stomach). I'm very sore today, but glad to be done with that leg of the journey. Again, I was blessed with wonderful nurses, and a certain Dr. Boswell who put me right at ease. I'm all about capable physicians...if they come across even the least bit unsure, or "just here to please you" kind of attitude, you can count me out. Dr. Boswell came right up, shook Jeff's hand, began to explain the procedure, which I quickly interrupted..."Listen, this is what I understand that you are getting ready to do," I said. "Is that it in a nutshell?" He answered that I had it down. Then I gave him my brief, but very clear explanation about my inability to handle the bloody details, and asked him to skip to the consent form. He gave a brief, but very un-bloody description of the procedure, explained his understanding of my concern that the port would permanently be in the way of my necessary hugs from my boys, and explained that he would give me the very lowest profile port he had available. Good enough! When we entered the operating room, I heard my nurse tell the techs, "Listen...we don't need a play by play...just get the procedure done, and let her know when you're through." Atta girl, Amy! God knew I needed her in my corner!

Last night, I was again trembling nearly uncontrollably. My nerves were obviously shot. We called the oncologist on call, and he gave me the okay to down a valium. I opted for half a valium (let's not get carried away), and I slept well.

Today I had a full day of tests. I am getting the idea that they really want you there a full 2 hours before they even plan on doing anything to/with you. This is very annoying to me. I just wanted to yell, "You KNOW I took a valium for this last night!!!" Anyway, back to the story, I had a PET scan (no worries, they just injected me with a type of nuclear sugar that shows itself in cancer cells when scanned...NUCLEAR SUGAR?! Never in all my days....) Then, I had a chest X-ray. Then break for lunch (at 3:15) and back at 3:30 for an ECHO(cardiogram) and an EKG. We were done by 4:30. What a day.

We then went to look at wigs. Girlfriends, I am telling you now, this is not for me. I looked like I'd gotten my head tangled in a mess of fishin' line! Whose idea was this anyway? You may just have to get used to me in a bandana. Better that than the options I saw today! Lord, have mercy! (And I mean that very sincerely!)

And finally, after visiting Jeff's Granny Fannon in the hospital (St. Johns), we capped off the day with the "Neverending Pasta Bowl" at Olive Garden. Mine should have been named the "Never Beginning" b/c by the time I made it through the salad and breadsticks, I was ready for home. And now, here I am writing this.

Friday, I have lab work, where they will check my white cell count and schedule my next chemo. I am looking forward to two "normal" days until then.

Thank you all for your outpouring of love...the phone calls, from sweet people I have never even met, to the funny calls from close friends; the emails sharing concern and laughs; the numerous meals being sent our way, the offers of childcare, transportation, and financial help; the open invitations to stay with your families if we come to TX; and the countless prayers being lifted on our behalf. Thank you, thank you, thank you. May God return the blessings on you and yours one hundredfold! Love to you all,Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

Let the Story Unfold

Hello everyone. Just wanted to let you know that this is where you can check up on me and all my "happenings" as I begin my cancer treatments. I'm including photos that I've taken of things I find especially beautiful. I hope you enjoy the notes and the photos.

Love to all,

Leslie