Joel beat me to this post!
Today was round two of treatment and our 17th wedding anniversary. Quite the date, huh! I agree with him but he failed to add:
I love you even when we plan not to do anything for each other this year and he still gives a gift & I don't. I'm such a looser. He deserved the gift of all gifts this year and as always I didn't even give him a card. (we really play opposite roles when it comes to gift and card giving...I'm the dude in the relationship and he gets the shaft)
So because I failed to give him a gift or a card this will need to be my gift. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling 100 percent and may have a bit of chemo fog so hopefully the words will make sense.
Joel has been an amazing husband and dad and he is not told often enough. Sometimes (like our first year of marriage) I had these feelings of AAGGGGHHH why did I marry this man. Why did I move to AK? Is this really the man I was suppose to marry? Well, those AAGGGGHHH moments have calmed over the years and are basically nonexistent anymore and these past few months have only proven why I don't even ask the questions anymore, except the one about why do we live in AK! This man loves me even though I'm a bald, one boobed, overweight, slightly depressed, negative, complaining individual who doesn't even buy him a card for our anniversary. He washes dishes, does the laundry, carts the kids here, there and everywhere, pays the bills, takes care of broken cars and trailers, runs Parachutes, leads the church, and much, much more.
Yes, he has some flaws as well but overall I think he's a keeper. I praise my Sovereign God who always knows what I need the most and thank Him for blessing me with my husband.
I love you Joel! Here's to another 17..... in sickness and in health!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
In Sickness & Health...
17 years ago Stacey and I were married. In that ceremony we vowed to love each other in sickness and health. As I sat next to Stacey today during her second chemo treatment it occurred to me that when I said those words I had no idea what it meant. What does any 22 year old now about anything your committing to in your wedding vows? Looking back I think the vows should have been more specific.
Something like:
Do you promise to love your wife when she looses her hair?
Will you go to a wig fitting?
Can you adapt to the changes brought by surgery and chemo?
If you need to will you empty fluid drains and shave your wife's head?
I would have still said yes (she was so cute I would have done anything she wanted me to), but I think more specific vows would have made the 22 year old me think a little harder about what he/I was getting into.
If, in some weird twist of time a space, I could sit down and talk to that young me, ready to walk down the isle, I'd tell him it will all be worth it - the sickness and the health. We often take the health part for granted, I know I do. However, it is the sickness part that has taught me so much and made me love Stacey more than ever before.
Happy Anniversary / Happy Chemo Day - in sickness and health - in the good and the bad.
Joel K
Something like:
Do you promise to love your wife when she looses her hair?
Will you go to a wig fitting?
Can you adapt to the changes brought by surgery and chemo?
If you need to will you empty fluid drains and shave your wife's head?
I would have still said yes (she was so cute I would have done anything she wanted me to), but I think more specific vows would have made the 22 year old me think a little harder about what he/I was getting into.
If, in some weird twist of time a space, I could sit down and talk to that young me, ready to walk down the isle, I'd tell him it will all be worth it - the sickness and the health. We often take the health part for granted, I know I do. However, it is the sickness part that has taught me so much and made me love Stacey more than ever before.
Happy Anniversary / Happy Chemo Day - in sickness and health - in the good and the bad.
Joel K
Friday, September 14, 2012
and the Answer Is....
Day 13!
I had just cut my bangs because quite frankly they were just getting too long and for obvious reasons I wasn't going to pay for another haircut. I took a shower and after as I started combing my hair I realized more was coming out than what is normal. It is just crazy that at one moment the hair was not falling out and the next it was...just crazy.
A friend from church who just happens to be a hairdresser was willing to shave my head at her home. So after a baby shower taking place at her house that same night and some encouragement of my friends we gathered in her basement and had an impromptu hair shaving party. Thank you Sharon for the best ever G.I Jane haircut, Laura (& Claire) for sharing your shower with a shaving, and to everyone else for your much needed encouragement! I have a beautiful community of people supporting me through every part of this journey.
ps...I hated the stubble so Joel had the honor of shaving the rest with the razor the next day.
I had just cut my bangs because quite frankly they were just getting too long and for obvious reasons I wasn't going to pay for another haircut. I took a shower and after as I started combing my hair I realized more was coming out than what is normal. It is just crazy that at one moment the hair was not falling out and the next it was...just crazy.
A friend from church who just happens to be a hairdresser was willing to shave my head at her home. So after a baby shower taking place at her house that same night and some encouragement of my friends we gathered in her basement and had an impromptu hair shaving party. Thank you Sharon for the best ever G.I Jane haircut, Laura (& Claire) for sharing your shower with a shaving, and to everyone else for your much needed encouragement! I have a beautiful community of people supporting me through every part of this journey.
 |
| Before |
 |
| After |
ps...I hated the stubble so Joel had the honor of shaving the rest with the razor the next day.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Day 10 & 11
Well, I have officially made it through the period of time my oncologist stated most people loose their hair so I no longer feel the need to keep you posted!
How
long
can
I
hold
on!
How
long
can
I
hold
on!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Day 9
I heard from Joel's grandma Kiekintveld, who recently fought colon cancer, that her hair loss was gradual.
IF it comes out I would much rather it happen all at once....the anticipation is a killer.
IF it comes out I would much rather it happen all at once....the anticipation is a killer.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
A Chemo Survival Tip
August 30, 2012- Chemo Round #1
Don't take a laxative!!!!
Chemo can either constipate you or give you diarrhea...I had both, which of course, was my own fault. Of course, if I drank the recommended 3 liters of water I might feel better but who can do that???
I have had a few other issues. One is I can be kind of, shall we say, obstinate when it comes to taking medications. I'm not really a fan. I have two different types of anti-nausea meds and just have not figured out which ones to take when. For two days I didn't want to take either because I thought they make me tired but then I feel a little queasy and have raging heartburn (I was not told this was a side effect so I'm going to ask because maybe it's in my head???) So, either be so tired you're almost comatose or feel kind of like you're in your first trimester....what would you prefer???
Another issue is that Chemo can kick start menopause. Guess what, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. Some may remember my body works like a clock!
In all reality though I did survive and it has now been seven days since the first treatment. Joel had us prepared with 2 movies loaded on the iPad for the infusion. We didn't even make it through one. I swear they told us it would take 4-5 hours. It lasted about 1 1/2 for the actual infusion! After that, we went home and I felt just fine. I even was able to take care of our favorite little neighbor Ava!.
On Friday after school we left for a weekend at our friends Patti and Loren Skinner's beautiful log cabin on Long Lake in Willow. Let's just say it was very restful. I slept...a lot! To be honest there wasn't much else to do because it also rained....a lot! Fall is here in AK, and though I'm trying to appreciate it, I'm not sure I'm ready for it.
I even managed to work almost two entire shifts leaving a tad early on Tuesday. Now have a three day weekend!
So today, Day 7, I'm feeling better and I still have hair (my dad does not & he's posted great pictures on his website http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Riversdream).
And guess what....at this moment, THE SUN IS SHINING! God is Gracious!
Don't take a laxative!!!!
Chemo can either constipate you or give you diarrhea...I had both, which of course, was my own fault. Of course, if I drank the recommended 3 liters of water I might feel better but who can do that???
I have had a few other issues. One is I can be kind of, shall we say, obstinate when it comes to taking medications. I'm not really a fan. I have two different types of anti-nausea meds and just have not figured out which ones to take when. For two days I didn't want to take either because I thought they make me tired but then I feel a little queasy and have raging heartburn (I was not told this was a side effect so I'm going to ask because maybe it's in my head???) So, either be so tired you're almost comatose or feel kind of like you're in your first trimester....what would you prefer???
Another issue is that Chemo can kick start menopause. Guess what, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. Some may remember my body works like a clock!
In all reality though I did survive and it has now been seven days since the first treatment. Joel had us prepared with 2 movies loaded on the iPad for the infusion. We didn't even make it through one. I swear they told us it would take 4-5 hours. It lasted about 1 1/2 for the actual infusion! After that, we went home and I felt just fine. I even was able to take care of our favorite little neighbor Ava!. On Friday after school we left for a weekend at our friends Patti and Loren Skinner's beautiful log cabin on Long Lake in Willow. Let's just say it was very restful. I slept...a lot! To be honest there wasn't much else to do because it also rained....a lot! Fall is here in AK, and though I'm trying to appreciate it, I'm not sure I'm ready for it.
I even managed to work almost two entire shifts leaving a tad early on Tuesday. Now have a three day weekend!
So today, Day 7, I'm feeling better and I still have hair (my dad does not & he's posted great pictures on his website http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Riversdream).
And guess what....at this moment, THE SUN IS SHINING! God is Gracious!
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