Back on November 4th, Tim and I headed to the clinic for Round 9. We met with the NP Amy and things looked good but were on the lower end for being able to still receive treatment. We proceeded like normal and things went good this round!!  On Saturday, I was able to go with a friend to a winter craft show which was so fun!! My feet hurt by the end of it but I pushed through it! I have been having some neuropathy in my hands and feet but if you know me I hate taking meds so I have pushed through it for now. 

Then November 18th, we headed back for Round 10. Crazy we are already here for #10!! This felt like so far out in May when I was diagnosed. We met with Dr. B this time and he feels like things are going good! He offered some oral meds for the neuropathy but I still hated the idea of it and it isn’t so terrible I can’t handle it. It is worse at the end of the day after I have been on my feet a lot. He decided to lower the dosing of the chemo I received in hopes of reducing the neuropathy pain. Overall, Things went good this weekend and I started our Christmas shopping a little. Saturday morning, I finally got the opportunity to watch one of my sweet students compete in Special Olympics bowling. It was wonderful to see him in his element and so proud of himself!! I am going to cry when he leaves for middle school in the spring. I have taught him since Kindergarten. Saturday night, we enjoyed celebrating sweet Jemma’s 6th birthday at Adventureland Inn. Kolby was like a super star to all the littles. 

Next, we had a short week at school and I was able to enjoy a little time with Tim and Kolby this weekend for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed both our families for the Thanksgiving holiday. It was nice to slow down and just enjoy the time with everyone!!!  I went Black Friday shopping for a bit with Kolby and then relaxed!!  It was great!! 

Finally, December 2nd we headed back again to the clinic. This appointment was a little disappointing bc my counts were off again so I couldn’t do treatment again which meant that I was “off” my own schedule that I had set for myself and the end goal of when I was going to be done. Dang, mind and body like to play games but clearly don’t tell me!! My platelets were too low this time but my white count and neutrophils were also low but hardly high enough to receive treatment. I was mad that my body wasn’t following MY plans!! I finally told NP Amy that the neuropathy was getting worse so she started me on an oral medication to hopefully help with the pain and numbness but also reduce the chance of long term nerve damage.  I had to give me body time to recharge and bring my counts up so it was a waiting game for the next week. We headed home for the day and just relaxed!! I needed time to process it all so I took the afternoon as a mental health break and it was nice!!! After a nap, I went to the mall for some candle shopping to pick up the spirits. I mean who doesn’t like Bath and Body candles and they were even on sale!! Tim clearly doesn’t but it isn’t bc of the smell. But his checkbook!! Lol!! Friday night, I spent with Ang and the kids instead of sitting at home bummed out!! Sweet Cash crawled up in my lap and just snuggled with me while we watched a movie! His snuggles were great for my heart! 

December 4th I got to enjoy celebrating my nephew and his beautiful girlfriend’s baby to be!! It was amazing to see how many people are going to be loving on that sweet baby in a few short weeks!!! February 12th can’t come soon enough!! 

December 9th we headed back to the clinic and met with NP Amy again. My numbers were back in check (still low but good enough) so I was able to receive treatment. She asked about the neuropathy and shared with her that it wasn’t really getting any better and I had taken a small tumble one day bc I couldn’t feel where my foot was at and misstepped. She asked about dropping things and I finally told her that it was happening more than I like to admit. I have dropped my coffee all over our garage a few times lately bc I can’t get a good grip of my cup. Kolby is wonderful to help me clean it up but dang is it frustrating!!! She wanted to take time to talk with Dr. B about it before she sent me upstairs for treatment. 

She came back and they decided that I was done with immunotherapy and one of the drugs in tue chemo mix. These two are known to cause the neuropathy pain/ nerve damage and they feel like I am too young to continue to chance causing more damage than has already happened due to the chemo treatment. So we headed upstairs to receive treatment. It was so weird bc typically we are up there for 4-5 hours but it only took an hour and a half with not receiving the one med. I still took my pump home with me for the weekend but I was done by 9 am on Sunday and off and going for the day!!! The weekend was a lazy one!! With being off a week with no treatment for 3 weeks I was feeling putting tired this weekend so it was low key!!! Also Tim and Kolby got to enjoy their 3rd Boys Hunting Weekend at the cabin. They were gone from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. Sunday, Kolby asked if he could stay with Tim until Monday morning and the teacher in me said NO but the mom in me said YEs absolutely! So I went with the mom side of me and let him have a mental health morning with his dad!! He has been such a trooper through all this treatment stuff. I understand when he just needs to relax and spend time with us and I felt like this was one of those times!! 

So the celebration…… with the stopping of immunotherapy, I will hopefully receive my Round 12 on December 23rd and get deaccessed on Christmas Day!!

I will scan again to ensure no other areas of concern at the end of January and as long as everything looks good, we have kicked some

Cancer A##!!!!! I will need to ensure that I keep up on all my preventative care stuff such as scans, colonoscopies, and endoscopies to make sure it doesn’t return but dang does end of treatment sound great!!!!