Chemo, Cycle 3 - Completed

Just a short and sweet update on Rob... Honest!!!

He finished the ninth and final chemo treatment scheduled for this third cycle of treatments!  His numbers in the red blood count areas are still rather low, but all-in-all, the WBC and platelet counts have held up when they should have continued to fall.  

I was not there with Rob and Holly again for this last treatment, but according to Rob, it went really well, and for that I am thankful.  So grateful also that Holly is here.  I am still nursing bronchitis, and wishing my meds would work.  Day 15 now and I don't feel much better.  But I know sometimes these things take time to clear up.  No energy to rattle on too long, lucky for you!!! LOL! ;)

Rob is scheduled to re-do the CTs of his chest, abdomen, and pelvis area next week to see what the cancer is doing, and then on April 7th, we will meet with Dr. B (Rob's oncologist) to go over the results and see what the future holds.

Until then, we are free, carried on a wing and your prayers.  (Thank you!)

2010

Rob is going to be enjoying the time away from the hospital... he's been there all but one week so far this year.  That's a lot.  You'll find him in his cyber world of music and trivia.  You, his friends, have touched his life deeply, and continue to do so daily.  He's complete in his world there with all of you. (Thank you)

Me?  

In my mind, I will be here:

No television, no computer, just books and fabric and scissors and a dog, and the music of wind in the trees. :)

  *********

I'll update on the CT results sometime after April 7th.  
Please continue to lift us both in your prayers...  

We are ever so thankful.  

Yes, God is enough.  Our strength is in Jesus.  Always and forever. ♥


In Love and Peace,

Cheri ♥  

One More to Go...

Well, Rob had his 8th chemo treatment in the third cycle this past Monday, and something happened that I never thought would happen...

I wasn't there with him.

Holly pic :) ♥

But thankfully, Rob's sister Holly, my "Sister Bear", was by his side.  Holly took this photo of Rob during the treatment... very cool shadow play there, Hol!!!  They told me the treatment went well, and Rob slept through the last part, after partaking of a little Starbucks food and drink with his Sis.

I am on day 10 of being, well, pretty sick!  I just can't seem to shake this bug, and I don't know how I caught it...  I am taking so many vitamins and sanitizing and washing... to keep Rob well.  Go figure.  Probably stress, though I feel like I'm handling things okay.  On the outside.  Maybe.

So we have been living on different sides of the apartment... Well, I have been hangin' in my quilt room from sunup until sundown.  Rob lets me sleep in the bed while he takes the couch, then we switch places when Riley and Gypsy get me up around 5:30a-6am.  It's been crazy.  And I'm tired.

And yes, before I get all those emails, I am going to the clinic tomorrow after I get off work to get some drugs, since I can't seem to shake this on my own, and it's not getting any better, just moving down.  Hummphf.  New word.  My spelling.

Rob's numbers are a little up, a little down... probably because he's trying to fend off the germs from me.  *sigh*

I did a little reading on "chemo brain" and read that it is actually a cognitive impairment... a manifestation of central nervous system toxicity that occurs in many cancer patients on active therapy, and that it may persist for 45% of patients after treatment is discontinued.  Rob has really been bombarded with these chemicals during this cycle, more so than what is normally prescribed.  So the issues he experiences are certainly understandable.  With the first cycle back in 2013, he experienced mental fogginess and fatigue, which never completely went away.  These last two cycles, right in a row since November 2014, are leaving an impression.  One we hope goes away.

Next Monday will be treatment number 9.  Yeah!!!  Then we know he will FOR SURE have two weeks free from chemo, as he undergoes a repeat of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT's on March 30, and we return to see his oncologist for the results on April 7th.  

Patience... patience.  Only from Grace.

Some of my views in my quilt room that surround me, keeping me who I am:

 

I am halfway done with a special project I've been working on (in my heart and mind) for over 7 months now.  Details hopefully soon. ;)

♥

  
Thank you so much, our dear friends and family, for standing so strong for so long with us on this bumpy journey so far, for keeping Rob (and me) lifted in prayer, for your words of encouragement, for the help we've received in so very many ways....  I will never be able to tell you how you have blessed our lives, especially these last 26 or so months.  We could not possibly have kept the pace, kept the smiles on our faces or in our hearts, let alone be feeling so good and so strong, without your willingness to let God move through you.  We are so humbled and so grateful beyond words.

I am cooking a pot roast today, something I don't do too often (not a red-meat eater), but it's just like my Mom used to make.  Comfort.  It smells wonderful.  I won't think so tomorrow when that's all we smell in the apartment, but right now, it smells like home. :)

Have a blessed weekend, be safe out there, enjoy the bit of Spring that has sprung across the country.  The birds singing all day long each day in the trees outside my quilt room offer such hope for the future in my soul.

No matter what, it's going to be okay.  

God is enough. 

In Love and In Peace,

Cheri ♥

 

Two More to Go in Cycle 3!

Greetings again... late again.  

Sheesh.  :)

On Monday Rob completed chemo treatment 7 of 9 in this third cycle.  No problems, no issues...  numbers continue to drop, but the nurse gave me the parameters on where the four main blood counts need to be, and somehow, he is still within range (thank you for continuing prayers) to receive the chemo treatments.  Holly and I chatted a bit and worked on our bags of things to do while Rob slept through most of the afternoon.  

That's always a good thing.

We saw his oncologist yesterday, and for the very first time, it was a relaxing visit, and she explained much to us in detail.  That's what we have been wanting.  I will not be sharing all the details here, but will let you know when anything changes that Rob wants to open up to all of our friends.  His doc is going to be keeping an eye on the couple of numbers that are continuing to climb, but will not be doing anything for the moment about those.

She said her goal right now is prolonging his life, and giving him quality of life.  

We'll gratefully take it, whatever it is.

Two more treatments, and Rob will be getting at least two weeks off as he undergoes the CT scans again at the end of this month, and as we meet back with the oncologist for the results the first week in April.  That visit and those results will give us direction on where we go from here...  either more time off, or more treatments of some sort. 

We will wait patiently.

The head pains continue, although his new way of taking his meds are actually helping him a bit.  The doc is not able to give him more or different meds because they are very hard on the liver, and Rob's liver is already compromised.  But as long as it's bringing even a little relief, Rob welcomes it.  He is still sleeping a lot, and frustratingly dealing with the effects of "chemo brain" again, but all in all, it's not too bad.

I was able to escape for some time on Saturday to go to Ikea with Nicole and her family... always a fun day!  And last night Nicole and I bummed around Meijer for a bit waiting for some scripts... it was very relaxing.  I love being with her. :)

Then, after dinner last night, my throat became very sore and very swollen, and I am still today feeling pretty yucky.  Majorly yucky.  I banished myself to my quilt room all day (and will be here most of the night) to keep away from Rob so he doesn't catch whatever I caught.  I don't know how I got sick, as I am pumping myself with so many vitamins, and sanitizing and washing everything constantly.  But my manager told me when I called him this morning that I've been under a lot of stress (yes sirree) and that is likely what caused it. He said, "Stay home!"  I like the way that man thinks! :)

So I will be fighting to be better, and trying to stay away from Rob while doing these days of ours.  I just want to go to bed.

We continue to be so thankful for all of your prayers!  They have helped Rob to get so much further in this cancer journey than his doctors even thought possible, and we are all so grateful for all of you.  God is our strength, and that strength is coming through you.

We are grateful beyond words. ♥

Rob wants to stay happy, and to be surrounded by normalcy and happy voices and words.  He, like all of us, wants to enjoy each day, not wallow in the "what if's" of the world.  I will try to make sure he does!

And today, he is happy and he is feeling good!  He even gave me a smiling face for the camera!

So in the meantime, Rob will be found on his facebook page, sharing his musical wisdom and witty conversations, finding joy in the little things of life, and keeping plugged in to your worlds, too.  He cares deeply for you, as you do for him.  (*thank you*)

And I am off to bed... after a very late dinner tonight.  Very late.  :/

In Love and Wrapped in Peace,

Cheri ♥

 

Not Many Changes... Finished 6 of 9

Greetings Family and Friends :)

This won't be too long today... Not many changes going on with Rob this week to date.  We went for his 6th chemo infusion on Monday, with 3 more to go in this 3rd cycle.  We are all shocked he is tolerating it so well, but as my daughter Nicole said, "There are a lot of people praying for him."

Thank you. ♥

Rob's blood counts continue to fall, by small amounts, below normal but still good enough for the chemo.  When he is finished with the treatments lately though, it takes every ounce of energy he has left to slowly shuffle out of the hospital and to the car.  He won't let me get him at the door.  He wants to walk.  So we do.  And the anger is a bit better.  I like that.

Holly joined us again, and we spent time visiting, sharing Starbucks, and working on our individual projects.  She is a comfort, and she makes my heart smile.

Our appointment with Rob's oncologist yesterday (Tuesday) was rescheduled by her office until next week, due to the weather.  The morning started off with light snow, then heavy snow, then sleet, then rain.  Our parking lot was quite the mess, so we were glad we didn't have to head out anywhere.  

I worked on my piles and projects, and Rob slept in between his usual postings and perusing of the cyber world.  Riley zooms and sleeps and plays and chases the cat  --  who is usually sleeping, or on counters she doesn't belong on.  And when Rob is sleeping, the cat is sleeping on him.  Yes, life as we know it.  Our new normal.  I have so much quiet and alone time, even when Rob is awake.  But my mind is in constant gear, so I must need the silence, even with background noises.  Funny how I can hear things and tune them out at the same time.  It's a woman power.  ;)

Rob still has constant head pain, but has shuffled around his meds on his own and has come up with a mixture of quantities that seems to help the best.  The pain never stops, but he's a master at subduing it now.  For the most part.

He did well today, and I'm hoping the morning will bring the same.  If so, I will head in to work, and maybe get 3 days in this week.  Last week it was one day.  I just never know what he's going to be going through.  And if he wants me home, I'll be home.  Just the way it is.

So next Monday he'll undergo treatment #7, and on Tuesday we'll check in with his doc.  In 3 weeks he'll have the CT's all re-done, so we can see what the C monster is up to.  Hopefully he'll sleep for a while.  

The monster, not Rob.

I am patiently (mostly) waiting for Spring, and have already started to put some of my Spring and Easter decos out and about.  Just a few.  I can't find the rest, but I know they're hiding in a tote somewhere in my quilt room closet.  I have time.  I hope.  :)

I ran to the store with my Colie tonight for a little while... so fun to be with her.  Her whole family has been sick going on two weeks now, and we've gone through withdrawal being away from each other!  They are all almost completely better now, just lingering stuffy noses, but no temps.  Yeah!  I was talking to her in the car about crazy and dumb things that run through my head all day... had her in stitches!  I told her I'm alone a lot, and I only have me and my weird thought processes.  Could be worse.  I love to see her smile, and she has the most infectious and beautiful laugh!  Love that girl of mine! ♥

Okay, so from my readings this week, here are a couple of the notes I'm keeping before me (both from Dr. Charles Stanley):

"Your reservoir of emotional and physical energy may feel nearly drained, but God's supply of spiritual stamina never runs out.  Come to Him and His Word for the strength to carry on, and He will supply the power you need to traverse the rough terrain ahead.  That's His promise, and God always keeps His promises."

"Too many of us are addicted to hurry... leaving little room, if any, for stillness.  Spend a few minutes each day in silent reflection  --  Commune with God simply by listening to the sound of your own breathing.  Hear it as a reminder that the Lord is intimately close  --  as close as the air you breathe."

Quiet me, with longer hair :)

I am woman, I am strong.  These words are helping me  --  immensely.  I pray they can help your hurt, and your searching heart, too.

Thank you for your continuing prayers for Rob, and for me.  Thank you for the support, the love, the kind words, the conversations, and the stillness.  
We love you for all of it.  

Big time.

In Love and in Peace,

Cheri ♥