Almost There!

I thought I'd update this blog and just to let you know that I'm almost finished with my radiation treatments! I will finish next Wednesday! Yeah, almost there! It's been about 6 weeks of treatment and it wasn't too bad at all. The main problem is fatigue! That's it. It's been dragging on a little since it's everyday and it seems to be cumulative with the treatments therefore the tiredness has been harder. After this, on to the surgeon for implant inflation! I'm not sure how long that will take. They have to stretch the skin and then put in the implant as well as reconstruct the other breast to match and all!!! It will, I hope all turn out well. I'm suppose to get a tummy tuck at the same time with the surgery being about 4 hours or so. That's a bonus I hope!! As soon as the Radiation is over, I will have a PET Scan to see if there is any spreading of the cancer anywhere else. I believe it hasn't spread but in the back of my mind I can't help but be kind of scared.....especially since x-rays don't seem to be accurate for me!! I will remain positive and hopeful! God Bless all of you my friends and family! Love, Karla

It's been almost a month since I've posted anything. I don't get many comments so maybe that's one reason. How do I get this out to you? Well, non the less I will still update even though I'm not too good at this! I'm healing on the chest but it's taken way longer than I thought it would. I've been seeing a Lymphoma Physical Therapist twice a week and it's been helpful with the pain and swelling that occurs when you have Lymph Nodes removed. As you may remember I had 18 and 12 were cancerous. I therefore will be starting Radiation in two days everyday for six weeks. My body has not responded also as I'd like as far as energy or even being able to walk is a challenge. I have Neuropothy in the hands and feet which is a side effect of the Chemo. Chemo stays in your body for some even as long as a year!!! I hope not! I can't hardly do anything....even cooking, watering the garden, etc...wears me out! My feet hurt and burn. I'm so wobbly also....but it is getting better really. I went to my MD and he started me on Lyraca which is suppose to help the numbness in the feet. I also stopped taking Ambien for sleep, since I'm on other sleep medicine this was suppose to help me get off the Ambien! I don't like it even though it does help. I rested last night but didn't really sleep. My poor body the things it's been thru. It's still amazing how God has made us and how well it responds to healing as we try and take care of it. Matt always says in his prayers help us to take care of ourselves and treat our bodies as temples! Isn't that sweet. Matt is a "gym rat" and I sometimes wished he were home but I'm really actually proud of him how he does work out and trys to take care of his body. We have our problems with our bodies and it's never too late to take care of ourselves. I need to stop with all my sweets at least just control it better~my goal~hey I'm eating a banana right now! OK, I've already had some cookies too. Well, at least we have our garden put in and when it starts producing I will look forward to all the good stuff especially home grown tomatoes! Yumm It's all thanks to Iwan and Lyndel Black!!! They are so awesome! I'm the very happiest when I get to see my grandchildren and children. It totally makes my day!! Also, when friends call and come to visit.....I love that too. We actually got a visit from the Stake Presidency last week. That was so sweet! I got a hug from all three of them! I'm just rambling now and most of you are tired of reading this.....but I'd love to hear from you.
Love,Hugs to all of you. Karla

It's been about nine days since the Mastectomy. I have a huge incision from the center of the breast bone onto the other end under my arm. I will be getting the stiches out this next Tues. I'm on Percocet 7.5 x2 every 4 hours. It's hard to move my arm or body for that matter. Getting up or getting down is difficult. I should be healing in the next few weeks and then I will have Radiation for 6 weeks everyday. Then onto more surgery. Just alot to do yet. But no more Chemo says my Oncologist. Thanks for all of your encouragement!! I love you all. This all still seems like it's a big dream and that it's not really happening to me....but it is.
Carolyn, my cousin from San Diego is here and helping me alot with meals,dressing me,cleaning and what ever I need it's so great to have her!
Love,Karla

I'm finally getting back to updating this blog!!! The last time was in the winter,now it's spring! I just wish the weather would act more like spring. I'm trying to grow starts from seeds and I need the sun to help me out! I'm really excited because we are going to do four square foot gardens with Iwan and Lyndel's help,woodworking and general good knowledge that they are giving us. They are just the best people! Matt and I are so looking forward to the tomatoes especially! I haven't had a garden for over five years. I tryed to grow one in Dallas, TX for four years I even had dirt shipped in.....even prayed on the garden, but to no avail. I have high hopes here in Utah!! My son Daniel and his wife Shannon grew a square foot garden last year and they said that Blakely my granddaughter would go out and pick the tomatoes off and just eat them right then. I'm excited!
Well, I completed my last Chemo three weeks ago. I'm so happy to have that part done! It was the last one and the worst! At least it felt that way. I've been basically in bed for the past three weeks, but then I also had surgery on Tues. I had lymph nodes removed and a lumpectomy all in hopes of not having to have a Mastectomy. I also had the portacath removed since I won't be having Chemo any longer! Yeah!! All the x-rays and MRI showed there was NO CANCER evident. The Surgeon went in and found that there was cancer still and that I WILL need the Mastectomy! A disappointment for sure. I go in on Tues April 7 to discuss everything with a Plastic Surgeon and my regular Surgeon. I'll know more after that visit. I'd imagine surgery in a few weeks since I have another granddaughter coming any day! Baby Gracie. I'm so excited to see her! So therefore I want to postpone the surgery as long as possible. The sisters from church have been so wonderful and so helpful especially Ilona Adams,Mitzi Bigilow,Lyndel Black,Donnell Miller and all the calls and concerns and meals. Thanks You so very much. I welcome visitors and calls for sure. Love, Karla

Storm settled!

Yes, Norma that was a storm I went thru and the calm at the moment feels better! I've been getting things done and just trying to plan for next Wednesday my fourth Chemo. I keep thinking I really need to vacumn the floor before next week. I just don't feel like I still have the energy to do it. I'm going to see what Matt says and if he will do it. He works so hard at his job I just hate to ask him for help. He has a very physical job working on landing gear for the Air Force Base. He only works on Air Force planes. It will get done one way or the other. I'm trying to now figure out dinners while I'm not feeling well. I'm trying to get organized and make some dinners up in advance. I just keep thinking that's what I'm going to do....I haven't done it yet but I'm thinking about it!!! Maybe just TV dinners? Oh, will be fine. I know the Relief Society will and have brought in meals but I hate to depend on them so much. It really was nice to have their help.
I went to lunch with Ryan (my son) girlfriend Tiffany yesterday. We had a really nice visit. She is having the baby in about 2 months and her name is going to be Gracie. I'm so excited to get to finally see that baby when she arrives. She is due the first of April. It will be so fun to have a new little baby in the family.
Well, I hope everyone of you know that I appreciate so much your prayers and again those sweet little voices that go up to heaven, I think they have some kind of pull.....don't you think so? So sweet. I sure had fun with Daniel,Shannon and my little Blakely last week when they came to visit. Blakely is getting so tall! She is so funny and everything she says and does is the cutest ever! I hope they come again soon. Love, Karla

Still hanging in!

My Chemo was last Wednesday. I've been very weak and no energy at all. I passed out on the kitchen floor a few days ago! That was really weird. I yelled for Matt and luckily he was home to help me make it up the stairs to the bed to rest. I again had to go in for fluids since I'm so dehydrated. It's just one of the side effects. It's been so hard to eat and drink. Today, Tues. I feel pretty weak, but I feel like I'm stronger than yesterday! Hey, one day at a time!! I'm not looking forward to the day when I have surgery! I've been kind of anxious about all that. It's hard to imagine that "my girls"will be coming off! I have my next round of Chemo on the 28th of Jan. and then they will re-evaluate for what's next. My sweet granddaughter Blakely and her Mom and Dad have been in Calif. for a Lobster Fest. I sure wish I could have gone. It would have been nice to go to sunny Calif. I missed them and talking to Blakely. She is talking where I can understand her now a little better on the phone. I'm having withdrawls from seeing them. So ok guys come and see your Mom and Grandma! Family is so very important at this time of trials. I appreciate them very much and their prayers. Especially when the little children say their prayers everyday and ask to bless Aunt Karla it's the sweetest thing! I've been feeling kind of blue lately but I guess that's to be expected also. I'm trying to pull my apron strings up and not feel sorry for myself. Somehow that just doesn't help matters. But when the sun shines and warms the heart it feels better. Each day is a gift for sure! There's always another day to come or a brighter moment in our life. God Bless us All, Karla

Chemo this morning!

I'm not looking forward to this next round of Chemo. I go in today at 9:00am. They are very good there at the Oncology office. It's so nice and close just right in a building by Davis Hospital. You go into the building on the East side before the hospital. It's the one that's Wasach Physical therapy place. There's a pharmacy there and Optomotry also. It's right next door to the Optomotry office. So if anyone wants to send over a Marie Calendar Raspberry Pie with vanilla ice cream...Yumm!!! I should be there about 2-4 hours. Ha Ha, wishful thinking...Most of you won't even get this message in time I'm sure. I was able to get all my Christmas decoration taken down with a little help from Matt. I organized them to take back down to the basement and basically just put them in the room. Now, I just need to put them in the corner instead of just piled in the room. Shannon Hossfield offered to help. What a sweetheart. I still have till next year so there's no rush. When the weather is warmer! That would be better. Our basement is very cold. Someday, we will need to get it restored so that we can stay warmer upstairs!!! It would make a big difference I know!! I like to keep the temp. upstairs at least at 72 for now since I've been sick and struggling with slight fevers and Matt likes it at 68. I just freeze!! I've explained this winter is going to be different for us!!! I'm still working on getting that across to him! Old habits die hard!!!
I've been so sick this past three weeks and haven't really recuperated fully since my last Chemo. I was put on more antibiotic yesterday for sinus and watery eyes. I've been on about 7 different antibiotics over the past 5 months. Mostly before I knew I had Breast Cancer. I just finished Leviguin which is a very strong antibiotic for this past respiratory,sinus problems also. Having the zero white blood count just didn't help with it all. I guess every one's got something these days. It does scare me to go to church for fear of catching something. I'm becoming germ phobic....I wash my hands allot. I hadn't been to church in a month so I really wanted to go since I was feeling a little better. Well, I again appreciate so much that everyone is doing for us. Diane Stockton and her boyfriend shovel our sidewalks last week.. that was so sweet of them. Mike Schmucker shovel our driveway and steps. Cory Anderson was over doing the same thing with all this snow that's been blanketing. Also Bill Winn shovelled and layed salt down. Also all the meals that have been brought in have been wonderful!!! You may not believe it, but many of your kind gestures, meals and Laura Smith getting my medicine,sewing a blanket that for cancer patients, Joyce Winn going to the store and buy extra groceries and the best dinner ever. Taco's from Garcia's. It was so good! Shannon Hossfield shampooing our carpet, making chicken and rice that I gobbled down even when my appetite wasn't at it's best, somehow she made it just fabulous!! Heleena helping wrap presents, and bringing in homemade Clam Chowder, and for those of you that I have forgotten about I'm so sorry. There were so many wonderful meals...~all the family and friends prayers.....have saved my life!!!! I appreciate it more than you'll know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! And if the good Lord wants me here on this earth for several more years, I'll take it. He is ultimately in charge for sure!!!
I love you all, God Bless you as well in all your struggles and endeavors. We all have our different challenges we face but he loves us and wants us to come back home to him when he is ready for us. Until then, which we never know when, may we continue to improve our hearts,minds and as for forgiveness when we are not ready to go back to our Savior. I have a ways to go! Love, Karla