The past two weeks have been some of the most challenging of my treatment so far. I've dealt with nausea, a lack of appetite, and feeling lethargic. It's been tough to find the motivation to eat, even with plenty of food available, because my sense of taste has nearly disappeared, making even water taste like metal.

Today, I started a new chemotherapy regimen with PACitaxel (Taxol), which is supposed to have fewer side effects than my previous treatments. This involves taking a steroid pill every morning for the next three days, and they even gave me an intravenous dose of Benadryl at my treatment, which made me instantly tired. Despite some immediate risks like shortness of breath and back pain during the infusion, I’m hopeful for a smoother experience with this treatment.  I do have a chance of developing neuropathy, but that said to happen later on during the treatment. If there is a possibility that it won't happen at all, which is what I'm hoping for. 

Additionally, my schedule for infusions has shifted from every two weeks to weekly, which means I’ll be visiting the Cancer Treatment Center until mid-July. My recent tests showed slight anemia, and I’m now focusing on an iron-rich diet.  I had a steak sandwich for lunch and plan to have spaghetti and meatballs tonight for dinner.  Being a midwest girl - you won't see me complaining about eating more beef!

Amidst these health challenges, I'm also gearing up for a very special event—JD’s high school graduation on May 18th. I’m currently finishing up a T-shirt quilt for him and need to start to create some photo boards to celebrate. Plus, there's still the cake and balloons to order, not to mention organizing all the paper products and fixings for the punch.

Despite the ups and downs, I find strength in staying busy and focusing on these joyful preparations. I’ve lost about 20 pounds, though it’s hard to tell with the comfy, baggy clothes I prefer these days. I've been mostly staying in, but JD and Troy have been incredibly supportive, running errands so I don’t have to. I did manage to go to church last week and even ran a few errands on a warmer Friday, which felt great.

Running my online business keeps me occupied during the day, providing flexibility for rest, which I find myself needing more often. Thank you all for your continued support and friendship during this time.