How’s She Doing? Round 1

Chemo, round 1 complete.
25% done.
3 more to go.

Details about how I have felt directly follow. If you’re more of a casual reader (or really don’t need this many details about my life *insert winky face emoji* ), follow this link to skip to closing (*insert thumbs-up emoji*).

Infusion day – anticlimactic (as expected). The drugs take about 2 hours give or take to infuse. I get asked often about a port, but I don’t have one and won’t get one unless something unforeseen happens. I have strong, healthy veins and am prayerful they stay that way. I felt great post-infusion (thanks to a big ole bag of decadron). Ate well. Didn’t sleep well at all.

Days 2-4 – a little reflux. Very mild fatigue at times. Swishing with baking soda/salt water like a fiend to hopefully prevent mouth sores. Headaches, but OTC meds took care of them.

Days 5-7 – More moderate fatigue, but nothing crazy. Though I’ve been able to eat very well (no changes in taste, no nausea), my usual hunger signals aren’t working as well. I’m having to train myself to snack more often so that my energy is better-maintained. The times that I’ve felt the most fatigue seem to have been more food-related than anything else. Otherwise, Ashley just says that I’m “more chill” than usual – ha!

Hair Status – all here. My scalp often feels tingly. I’m not sure if that’s psychosomatic or real, but there’s a definite tingly sensation.

General – No mouth sores <praise> and really just the reflux as far as any GI issues (though, as I think about it, I’m pretty transparent on this blog, but I’m not sure GI issues in detail will ever make the posts!). I’ve been able to work and do some extra things. I really wanted to keep this week low-key so that I could pay attention to symptoms and know what to expect. My interpretation of round 1 side effects is “mild.” Side effects are typically cumulative, so I’m thankful to be starting on the mild end of the spectrum!

A beautiful gift in this season is watching sacrificial love play out. Seeking out help hasn’t historically been a strength of mine. I am a doer. A fixer. Your go-to solutions girl. When I help people, I do it out of love, and it makes me feel good. All those things. Connecting the dots to allow others the joy of helping has taken me some years to understand. I get it now. I’m learning to be gracious in accepting.

I thought that accepting help from outside our home would be the most difficult, but I was wrong. My heart doesn’t want anything to change inside our cocoon…the least ripples possible. I don’t want my husband to do more laundry and carpooling and take away time from his clients. I don’t want my children to have to do things for me instead of living out childhood (though, this is a little different…they need to be doing more chores around the house!). BUT, when I pull back a little and watch from a different perspective, I see LOVE being poured out in my home. I see children who definitely are being affected by this season of our lives, but who are learning more about life and grace and love than my words could have taught them. I see details not being wasted.

THANK YOU to everyone for texts and notes and food, flowers and love. You know you mean the world to us right now!
Devin