Last lap!!!

We are in the final stretch of the chemo 8 World Cup race to a cure!  7 laps down and one to go.  The final lap should be completed on 12/16/13 and Heather WILL be the winner!

Stay tuned for the final analysis and then it's on to the next race which is a 7 week radiation race commencing sometime in early 2014....date to be determined soon.

Thank you for watching and cheering Heather on.  You are our pit crew.  Not that you are the pits.  Yeah....you know what I mean. 😃

I Love chemo!?!

Let me start by saying that the Mountel/McBryan clan has had lots of things going on in the last month...

My sister started a new job - yeah Katie! My dad scheduled hip replacement surgeryfor the week before Christmas. My mom started radiation. Griffin had his tonsils and adenoids removed and is no longer snoring - yippee!  My sister-in-law lost her dear sweet grandmother. And I have finished 7 of 8 chemo cycles. 

I love chemo!

I love chemo because it is helping me fight the good fight. A fight which I cannot do alone. 

I love chemo because it is going to give me a much better chance at seeing all my kiddos grow up. 

I love chemo because it will give me a much better chance of learning more about my husband and loving him more.

I love chemo because it will give me a better chance of raising my children with my husband so that he doesn't go completely insane ;)

I love chemo because it has taught me some important lessons.  Like how much I can endure and how impatient I am when I don't feel well. It has also taught me the importance of a "Village" - and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful support system. 

I love chemo - but I DO NOT like chemo!! Or at least the side effects of chemo...

Actually, I have to say that losing my hair hasn't bothered me at all. I know it is very upsetting to most people but I have actually found it kind of interesting. 

The first 4 rounds of chemo  - the AC rounds weren't much fun. Honestly, I hate feeling like I'm hungover all the time and I HATE feeling nauseous. I have to admit feeling like that makes me wimpy and whiney. 

This second 4 rounds are a drug called Taxol (Paclitaxil). I just completed round 3 and I'm starting to get really frustrated with this nonsense. In the first two rounds I experienced a lot of joint and muscle pain. No fun but I can deal with pain better then sick. So far with the 3rd round I am itching to the point of feeling a bit crazy and I can't find anything that helps ;( I think I prefer the pain which should start in another day or two. 

Then there are the two super annoying side effects - the first is the insomnia. I don't understand how you can be totally and completely exhausted and not be able to sleep (although, right now, I'm pretty sure it has a lot to do with the crazy itching.) Of course being a narcoleptic who can fall asleep at the drop of a hat anywhere, any time - I'm sure makes it harder to comprehend. 

The second is something I did not know - the treatments for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer tend to cause weight gain instead of loss. It has to do with the effects on your hormones or something (and the decrease in activity certainly isn't helping).  I am a bit overweight to begin with so this is just adding insult to injury. 

So I am a little cranky this morning. Considering that it is 4:30 a.m. And I have been awake since midnight - and itching like crazy - I suppose I'm entitled. 

The good news is only one more chemo to go. Yippee! Yeah! Woo Hoo! And that is where I will try to focus my energy. Right?!

No News Is Good News?

Hi everybody!  Yeah we have been flying under the radar.  I guess maybe that's a good thing though. As of Friday Heather has completed 6 of her 8 chemo treatments so we are definitely headed in the right direction.

Round 5 and 6 of chemo switched from the Red Devil to Taxol.  Less nausea but increased fatigue and generalized pain.  The Neulasta shot Heather receives the day after chemo to boost her white cell counts also tends to bring on headaches approximately a week after administration.

We continue to receive so much support through cards, care packages, emails, calls, and visits from friends and family alike.  The meals and assistance with watching the kids on chemo Sundays so that Heather and I can rest and rejuvinate have been appreciated beyond measure.  Thank you all.

We love having visitors and appreciate the time you can spend with us.  Heather's Dad came and stayed with her over two weekends ago while I had Dad's weekend with Micaela at Ohio University.  Griffin was 5 days post tonsilectomy/adenoidectomy so Tom's assistance was greatly appreciated.

It has been so great to go out in public with Heather because she is not self conscious about her good ol' bald head.  I think she looks absolutely beautiful and she has been told by several random strangers that she has a glorious bald head.  She gets some looks but she owns it and I adore that about her.  

So a couple more rounds of chemo to go then raditation will likely begin just after the first of the year.  Heather expects to return after the end of chemo and is really looking forward to it.  Children's Hospital and Heather's management team have been absolutely wonderful during this time as have her co-workers at the hospital.  We are lucky to have this kind of support.  Life Enriching Communities has been very good to me as well with a flexible work schedule and support in many different ways.  I am fortunate to have a job that I can manage pretty well "on the go" with my iPad and/or phone.

Well...that's it for now.  Like I said maybe no news from us is good news.  The really good news is that we are loved and supported by so many and for that we thank you so very much.  XXXXOOOO

Feeling Loved

If any one ever wonders how I can fight this battle and be so positive - here are just a few examples of where I get my strength...

My sister cut off 11 inches of hair today to donate in my honor. 

A show of solidarity from some of my awesome friends. From northern VA to San Diego, CA....

This was just today. Today was also "Pink Out" day at the kids school - to support me and the many others who are affected by breast cancer. 

My co-workers also had a "Pink Out" day earlier this month...

Then there are all the friends who's kids wore pink during cheerleading, soccer, and football. Not to mention the 60+ card I've received. 

This is all in addition to meals and child care and company and phone calls and texts and special Facebook posts and profile pictures and care packages.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. So I just say what ev's to this cancer nuisance. And thank you to my amazing and wonderful family and friends - you make this battle worth fighting. You make me strong and you make me smile Every day!  XXXXXxOOOOOOOO

Hi! It's been awhile

Sorry it has been a little quiet on the blog front.  Heather's chemo treatments 2 & 3 have knocked her for a loop.  Nausea, extreme fatigue, heartburn, no....she is not pregnant....it's the chemo.

We have pretty much on autopilot the last several weeks and keeping our heads above water thanks to the love and support of many, many friends who have helped in so many ways.  Visiting, dinners, watching the kids, calling, texting, praying, etc.

Heather will have one final Red Devil treatment next Friday and will start a different regimin for 4 additional treatments that will take us through the end of the year.  The Oncologist has been very pleased with Heather's lab work which is so very important to watch during this time.  Without going into all of the details her bloodwork has been impressive!  This means that the treatments continue on schedule and her immune system is functioning well though we are not taking a lot of extra chances to reduce Heather's exposure to a virus etc.

Heather and I have had some very difficult, important and much needed discussions over the last few weeks and one thing remains clear; we are going to continue to forge ahead optimistically and continue to live our lives so that we look back at this time as a great time with the kids, family, and friends.  Oh and Heather had cancer then too.

Heather never ceases to amaze me.  Her strength and resilience have been amazing and I love her with all my heart.  Thanks for listening.  :)

Back in the saddle

As you probably know Heather had to have her left implant surgically removed last Wednesday.  This unfortunately pushed back the chemo that was planned for last Friday.  

We weren't sure how Heather would be feeling after the surgery and we almost cancelled the shearing party we had planned for Saturday. Fortunately the good news was plentiful; she felt pretty darn good, only had one drain, and she started shedding on her own!  So just in the nick of time we had the shearing party on Saturday and it was a blast!

Heather started off by taking the first cut with scissors.  We then let each of our little ones take a whack and then several other kids at the party did the same. Next came the clippers.  We shaved one side of her head and she looked very, well, European punk maybe?   Next the other side came off so she was sporting a mowhawk.  It was awesome!  Then the rest was taken off and by Jove she looked absolutely beautiful.  I mean fantastically gorgeous!  (Still does)

The plastic surgeon who removed the implant and the oncologist came to an agreement of sorts and today we had a chemo appointment established.  Since Heather's blood work was stellar the oncologist proceeded with the chemo!  I know it sounds weird to be excited about it but we want the chemo to get in there and do what it is supposed to do as soon as possible and any delays are frustrating.

2 down and 6 to go.  Thanks for all of the love and support.  Really...it means an awful lot to us.   XXXXOOOO

Heather rockin a mowhawk on the way to a complete shave