What a Week!

Tuesday, I went back to school! Taught the rest of the week. Each day got easier as far as energy levels, swelling and pain in my legs, and overall feeling. It has been good to be back with my kids! At this time I plan to teach every day in September except for the couple days following the trip to Eastern to take my baby to college! Yes, COLLEGE! Hopefully all these days I have cried already will make next weekend easier.

Today I was able to visit with my friend, Janice, who's courageous fight against lung cancer is so inspiring to all. We spent time comparing our journeys and sharing bald head stories. Love it! Janice is having surgery Monday. Please keep your prayers going that everything will go smoothly and without complications, but mostly for Janice's strength and recovery.

In addition, a colleague of mine has a niece, Erin who at only 29 has breast cancer that is quickly invading her. Pray, Pray, Pray! God's grace is so powerful!

Starting chemo again October 1st.

DON'T FORGET!
October 21st is the breast cancer volleyball match at South Kitsap High School. 5.00 buys your Dig Pink T-shirt and entrance to the match and the proceeds benefit the Sideout foundation.

Thank you to all of you who continue to support me through your emails, comments, text messages, cards and especially the meals! You all ROCK!

Celebrate Good Times, Celebrate!

Yesterday was the last Adriamycin/Cytoxin treatment and the end to my first phase of chemo therapy!!!!!! Yahoo! It went well and I feel pretty good today. Can't believe I have completed the toughest part! And the other cause for celebration, I am done for four weeks! No poking, no dripping, no shot, nothing until October 1st! yahoo!

Side effects today are minimal! Once again, divine intervention has graced me with energy, no nausea, limited anxiety, and I am still awake after no nap!!!!! Thank you for all you prayers! They are answered every day! Now that I am off for a while, it's back to exercising in the pool, physical therapy, and back to work! I will be working the first two weeks, starting on the 8th and working through the 18th. Then we will take BT and cousin Brandon to college at Eastern! WOW! Can't believe it! From there, it is VACATION and rest for me for the next 8 school days. My very good friend, Angela will be available to provide my students with what the need and be able to continue teaching my curriculum. She is a veteran by now with my students! I will be back to work full time starting October 1st as my second round of chemo is suppose to be less on my body and less on the side effects. My treatments will be after school. Blessed again!

Another reason to celebrate!~

Live the Fed Way, Family Everyday! This is our new moto at my High School this year. We are big into the diversity that makes up our family! Within that family, we have clubs and activities along with sports. One of the clubs, made up of all male staff members, is the "Bald Eagle club" Well, I was inducted today as the first ever female bald Eagle! It was overwhelming and it moved me to tears to witness the support of my fellow staff as well as the show of support from the students. WOW! It was quite an honor! I work at the best High School on the planet. Thank you, Andy Cameron!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!! Your support is amazing, your prayers answered, and your love and friendship incredibly supportive! Thank you!

Happy Birthday Cindy!

Somewhat difficult today!

WOW! I received so much help yesterday to set up my classroom for the 2009/2010 year! Sister, Israel, Brittany, and my assistant, Nasreen all worked so hard we were finished in less than four hours! Thank you all of you! The bonus was the dinner we were able to enjoy at Nareen's burger place! Thank you Nasreen and family, especially Matthew!

The help was so needed as it was day 8 after my Neulasta shot (Builds white blood cells) and I usually run a fever, am exhausted and don't feel very well. Fever ended up being low and I am not in the hospital as of today. Blessed again!

"The strength of the heart comes from the soundness of Faith!" Brittany made a card for me with this saying and I am finding myself reading it over and over today especially! Some recent family events as well as how crappy I feel today, have dampened my spirits a little. Fever is still low enough (Thank goodness), but I am battling a sore throat, a little bit of nausea, and I have zip for energy! Frustrated because I have lots to do on the computer for school and don't want to do a thing! Here's the beauty of the whole situation, I, me, myself and I, get to decide how I am going to react or feel about my crappiness! So, I will do my best today and will update you in the next few days! You are all amazing and I appreciate you all every minute of my days! Thank you!

Thank you Brother Josh for coming to visit me today. It has been awhile and it was good to see you and share some good conversation.
Reminder:

For especially those new to my bloggin.... October is upon us and I want to remind you of the "Dig Pink" volleyball match on October 21st (Wednesday night) at 7:00pm over at South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard. Cost is only $5.00 for a cool T-shirt and entrance to the high school match. There will also be a silent auction with autographed pink stuff. Proceeds support the Sideout Foundation, a breast cancer foundation connected to volleyball.

I continue to be blessed and amazed!

It's been six days since treatment number three! Because I apparently have less healthy cells than when I started this process, I get apprehensive and brace myself for the worst of the side effects! Much to my amazment and surprise, my side effects are less than the previous treatment! I am able to eat normally, sleep well, and am just slightly tired, especially at the end of a busy day! "Thank you, Jesus, for my continued strength!"

In addition, to feeling okay, I continue to experience the benefits of my chemo baldness! I don't have to worry about getting my hair wet when I brush my teeth or wash my face! Getting ready to walk out the door, now takes me 1/2 the time it used to take! My naturally curly hair, on a good hair day does not freak out and become a Simba look alike when it rains! And, I have saved so much money because I am not buying mousse, shampoo, conditioner and leave-in! Can you imagine?! My head, by the way is the only place where I am bald! Let me tell you how excited I am to still have my eyelashes and eyebrows! "Thank you again, Jesus, for blessing me!"

What's next?????
I will have the last of my first phase of treatments on Thursday, September 3rd. Then, I will have four weeks off (The month of September) and will start phase two which is every week for twelve weeks! My famous last words, "BRING IT!" Thank you, all of you, friends, co-workers, family, all of you, for your continued support! Please continue to pray for me and my family!

Prayers answered again!

Following treatment yesterday, I was not feeling too well. Very nauseous, NO appetite and exhausted. TODAY, I have felt great.... No upset tummy and ate well! Ate three meals! YEAH!!!!! Spent a couple hours out and about and don't feel any more tired than usual. Had an awesome lunch with friend, Angela at Panera. Have enjoyed spending the day with friends! Please continue to pray for strength, focus of my chemo brain, and of course healing! GOD DOES ANSWER PRAYERS!

Over the past two months, I have enjoyed meeting fellow breast cancer survivors that have been a tremendous support and source of information as well as resources.

"We know that suffering produces perserverance..."

...perserverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us!" Romans 5:4 I chose this verse to convey my response to my physcial, emotional, and mental condition. I completed my third round of chemo therapy today. One more treatment (Sept. 3) completes the first phase. The side effects I am experiencing are increasing in severity with each treatment. In addition, the war within my body continues to terorize my spirit! There are required medications (a lot of them) that are given to minimize side effects from the chemo alone. Then there are medications that are prescribed infection or every day ailments like headaches, body aches and other common issues I experience simply because I don't have normal blood while undergoing Chemotherapy. They too, bring their own side effects! This battle attacks me physically which in turn temporaily taints my character and leaves me with my hands in the air wondering how I am suppose to have hope...

BUT, as usual, I preservere because that alone lifts my character, makes me better, and leads me closer to hope! I CAN ONLY PRESERVERE WITH Divine intervention and prayer, Friends, and family that continue to support me through cards in the mail, text messages, emails, gifts, visits to the hospital, and offers to bring meals. Friend, Colleen brought lavendar spray, a heat and cold pack, beautiful lucky plants, and yummy brownies! Grandma Bev bought me a beautiful lady statue with pink ribbons all over her dress. Angela visited me during Chemo with little Ellie, who was way more interested in building a relationship with my mom rather than taking time to say Hi to me! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

My mom, my rock, is always with me despite making sure her own health is taken care of. She is so unselfishly by my side 24/7! I love you mom! Dad, Brittany, nurse Taylor and sister, have continually supported me with love, meals, transportation, finances, wiping of tears, and attending appointments. I Love you all so much!

Remember: in all you do today, you cannot personally change any person or any circumstance, BUT I(YOU) can change how you feel, think, and act towards that person or circumstances! What a blessing that we have that opportuntiy!

New Day

Well here I am again, 12:30AM and just getting around to blogging. It has been a fairly long day, but a pretty good day for Teri. Although the fever has been somewhat inconsistent...up and down throughout the day...her spirits have been good. She was moved downstairs this morning to ironically enough the same room that she was in after surgery. She was excited to see that many of the same nurses who cared for her and joked with her were still around.

She wanted me to give special thanks to visitors she had today...Jean T. who brought her some wonderful chocolates and good conversation, Sandy W. with her bright smile and flowers (complete with M&M adornments), Robyn with a "breast cancer" box of goodies, and Carol with a lovely willow tree girl labeled "courage" and last but not least Jenny W. who brought balloons and some good reading material.

Dad, Mom and I have been with Teri throughout her day; friends Cindy and TJ had to take on the Yankees and Safeco field. We passed the time with a couple games of cribbage and of course discussion to solve all of the world's problems. lol!

Dr. K will be in to see Teri in the morning and of course make a decision regarding her discharge. It sounds like the deciding factor will be managing that fever. We have heard Saturday as a possiblity, but we have also heard looks more like Sunday...poor thing just wants to go home and take her bath!

Thanks for continued love and support and please remember the rules! No visitors who are sick or even feeling a little under the weather! Love to all!