October 8, 2024

Now Milton! I'm really sick of you already.

This journey is a constant reminder to surrender. The planner (and worrier) in me wants to get everything figured out. If you think I don't have binders, spirals, and spreadsheets- you don't know me at all! But it seems there is another speed bump as soon as one plan is made. It's okay, I can go with the flow.

Sunday, I really took it easy. I spent time with Brandon's family and even took a nap!!! I love a nap. Then, yesterday since Milton wants to be annoying and turn into a category 5 (like, your name is Milton- stop!), the kids and I braved Wal-Mart to get a few things. Brandon was very, very against me going and was confident he could find anything we needed after he got off of work. But I felt up to it so we headed out.

Don't tell Brandon, because he will never let me live it down- but he was right. I paid later for all the pushing and lifting. My port area hurt from my neck, to my chest, and all the way down my arm to my wrist. I am technically not supposed to lift more than ten pounds, and I knew I was going to still lift Braydon if I had to, but... I guess I did too much. Also, I haven't been taking the pain medicine consistently since I was feeling okay. Lesson learned. 

And speaking of lessons, when I was hurting last night, I thought I would try to really understand this port thing. And now I will share this visual with you in case you also don't know what it is.  

Mine was inserted on the right side as well, so this is basically a picture of me. Cute, right?

Okay, I learned this weekend that chemotherapy takes a while. I was thinking it may take an hour or two, but I learned it can take eight hours!!! That sounds like a job! So, I spoke with my doctor's office, and I am scheduled for four-hour sessions. What will I do for four hours? Teacher friends, do you have any papers for me to grade? Do you think I can nap in there? They want me to get started ASAP but, Milton... Also, the day I choose to go for the first time will be my permanent day, so the pressure is on to pick well for the sake of everyone's schedules.  Brandon is trying to get a work-from-home day from his job. I think that is the best-case scenario to cover childcare while I am in treatment. I am hopeful they will allow that.

I have yet to hear back from genetics to find out if my family carries the BRCA gene mutation. I tried calling them yesterday and didn't hear back so I will call them again today. I have lab work and an echo scheduled for Thursday. I don't know if they will be canceled because of Milton. My cousin, Charlene, is no longer coming because her flight was on Wednesday night- thanks, Milton. But Brandon is now off on Thursday, so if the offices are open, I can still get those tests completed. 

We are "prepared" for the storm and hopeful that he will relax a bit before he touches land. Everyone be safe out there. 

Talk soon 💛