Yippee for #3!

Yup, the third cycle is done just in time for my feet and hands to recover for our NY trip (more to come on that)! Got to admit that the feet got a little worse this time and on Monday I felt like if they got any worse I wouldn't be able to work. Low and behold they took a turn for the better on Tuesday and felt even better today! My hands are still giving me some trouble but nothing this girl can't handle! Not much more to report other than I saw Dr Parker last week and she didn't like the looks of my feet and said that they would reduce my meds if it continued. No way, I want to make sure this stuff is doing what it has to do! She did at least talk me into taking the smaller dose leading up to Kendall and Christian's wedding though so my feet wouldn't hurt so much. Let's face it, this mother of the bride intends to dance the night away!! Plus I bought some rather pricey shoes that I insist on wearing. I don't think the rubber flip flops I have been wearing will look too good with my lovely dress! I will have them standing by though for when the dancing starts...who cares at that point!?!

NYC Here We Come!

A view of the set for Finding Neverland

Back to NYC for the Sczempka's! We leave tomorrow night on a red eye to see Cam's little footsies step onto the Broadway stage for his first show Friday night. We ended up with 11 people all flying in for this glorious event! We have Joe and me (of course) Kendall, Christian, Danielle, Casey, Uncle James, Uncle John, Aunt Kathleen (from Arizona), and cousin Jennifer and her boyfriend John (from Colorado). We are just so darn proud that we could just pop!! I think I need a better word that excited about all of this. I think I actually need to invent another word to describe this feeling. Any suggestions? ;o)

Blessings

It seems like every other commercial on TV is for some sort of medicine for some sort of horrible medical problem. At first these really got under my skin because even if they weren't for cancer they were all reminders of what was going on for me. Lately though I have decided to look at them a different way. Now every time one is on I say, "Wow, its a good thing I don't have that problem or need that medicine!" It reminds me that I am not the only one that has S@#T going on and that I am blessed to not have those things too! Boy it sure is hard to be Miss Sunshine but it is worth the effort!

I would like to ask you all to pray for Jessica. She is a mom at our church that was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer back in 2012. She was only stage 1 with no lymph nodes so she had a good out look that things would be okay. Unfortunately it is back in her lungs and brain. It has been so heartbreaking to witness her progression fighting this disease. She comes to church every week (and even serves at the alter many times) and sits with her 2 adorable kids and very sweet husband. She is now using a cane to help stabilize her. Please pray for remission for this mom that needs to stick around longer for her family.

I also ask for your continued prayers that my Xeloda is hunting down and destroying any possible unwanted cells in my body. 

Thank you all for sticking with me on this journey, it means so much to have you by my side.

Time Flies...

Cycle 2 done!

I guess with my blog, no news is good news! Lol  I get so busy with work and trying to go out and enjoy life that I am terrible about sitting down and posting. I am sorry. Well to get you updated on my Xeloda cycles I finished up cycle 2 and made the most of my week off. I did find out what the heck this "hand and foot syndrome" is unfortunately. It was mostly my own dumb fault because Joe and I went to Disneyland and although they said not to walk a lot I figured that was for everyone else except me...I mean I am superwoman aren't I? I now know the answer to that is actually no. It started with my feet that day. The skin on the bottom of my feet get thick like a callous and it feels like I am walking on glass. I can get a months worth in one day, it is so weird! No more walking long distances for awhile. My hands are getting it a little where my scissors rub but nothing out of control. 

For those of you who don't like foot talk I apologize and you can skip this part. ;o) To fight this callous battle I have to lightly file my feet every other night to stay on top of it. It is amazing the amount of stuff that comes off! Really disgusting! I have to be careful to not get over zealous with it though, I learned that the hard way. 

Last Monday I started cycle 3. It seems like they are going by fast and that is a very good thing. If I just keep looking at them as cycles it really does help. When I count out that I won't finish until the first week of October, that doesn't help. Supposedly the symptoms get worse each time but that didn't really happen with the other chemos so I am just going to plan on it not happening with this one! I do notice that during my weeks on Xeloda I cannot get enough sleep and I do not have as much interest in food. No nausea, just not much of an appetite. Can't really complain, I am so thankful that is all it is.

Exciting Things

Kendall and Christian's wedding is coming up so fast! We had Kendall's shower and it is was so lovely. My dear friend Diane Munoz, her daughter Brittney (a bridesmaid) and Danielle (maid of honor and world's best sister) put it on and it was so incredible! They truly outdid themselves and made Kendall feel like a princess! The other bridesmaids all pitched in to help and everything went so well. Such a blessing to have so much love surrounding us all. Kendall finished up the school year so now it's wedding time for sure. Our living room looks like wedding central, so does our garage for that matter. Such a joyous time, I am loving every minute of it.

As for Cameron, I am sure many of you saw his great news on Facebook. He will be stepping out on stage to perform in his first Broadway show on July 1! He will be in the ensemble of Finding Neverland and is the understudy to the lead! It looks like the whole family will be traveling out there to be in the audience for his very first show. I feel like I need to pinch myself every day, I am so proud I could just burst!   

Blessings

I read from Jesus Calling every day, I have done this for almost 4 years now. It is a great way to start or end a day and it always amazes me how a reading that didn't sink in the year before on that day can talk to your heart on another one. One sentence I really loved from the other day said, "I infused meaning into your mind and harmony into your heart." I just loved that and it truly describes what our Lord has done for me through this. I feel like my senses are so more aware of everything and in so many ways, I have much more peace than ever before. I'd love to say that I don't have any dark days or moments of fear for those certainly come. I will say though that the gifts and blessings along this road have been many and they have been truly life changing. A deepened faith is at the top of the list for sure.

UNFINISHED

Our church sent 8 teachers from our youth programs over to Scottsdale to attend a conference. It was beyond wonderful and I learned so much. I deepened many friendships with my fellow teachers and had a blast. The theme was UNFINISHED and at a small breakout group we had to say what in our lives felt "unfinished." When it was my turn I said that it was my life itself. I do not feel finished here and look forward to continuing the work He leads me to do. I love helping others and it makes my heart sing!

                                    What is "unfinished" in your life?            What makes your heart sing?

Peace out! ;o)