Some Improvement

This week has gone by pretty well for Britteny.  This week was probably better for me since I was in Arizona for several days getting back last night.  From talking with Britteny over the phone when I was gone this last chemo treatment seemed to go well for her in the days following.  I was able to go with her to get the treatment Thursday.  Shortly after her treatment she was fatigued as usual.  While I was out she stayed with her parents which worked out pretty good.  Saturday Britteny and her sister threw their parents a surprise birthday party.  (Happy Birthday, Kenny and Meleney!)  She said that the party gave her a good task to keep her busy not letting herself dwell on the fatigue.  Everything went well. 

Wednesday Britteny had a visit with the surgeon to check on the port and have a check up on progress.  The doctor, agreeing with Britteny, can tell that there are signs of improvement which will lead to an easier surgery.

This morning she said that there was still some slight nausea hanging around but not enough to stop her from doing anything.  Through the day today the nausea has gone away leaving Britteny feeling normal.  Now its just the waiting game until her next treatment.  This was her 3rd treatment so this next chemo treatment will be the last of this cocktail.  Then its on to 12 treatments once a week of a different formula.

The support that Britteny and our family has been receiving is phenomenal.  I don't know how to express my gratitude for everyone's continued thoughts and prayers.  Our family's spirits are high and Britteny is doing great by not letting her cancer bring her down.  Thank you all and praise God!!

Andy

Duck!

This last week has been good for us.  For the first time Franklin was introduced to feeding ducks.  With the ducks being shy and his short throwing range, it was fun to watch.  He had a blast!

 

Yesterday Britteny had her 3^rd round of chemo.  Everything went well for her.  Although we did have to wait quite a while to see the doctor before her chemo was started, which is always a bummer no matter where you are.  We were the last ones to leave chemo yesterday afternoon.  Yesterday evening was fairly well for her except for a minor headache and a bit of a stomach ache.  We are so fortunate and thankful to God that our families and friends are close and that they are willing to help us out as much as they do.  Please continue the prayers since Britteny has in the past been very tired a couple days after her treatment.  Also during this time she is to drink 3 quarts of fluid a day to keep her kidneys flushed out preventing the chemo from building up.  Build up could cause an infection.  (So Britteny, when you read this you better have a drink next to you!  Haha!)

 

This morning Britteny had 2 appointments. First she saw her heart doctor and he verified that everything is going good and that there has been no negative effects.  Apparently it too was a long wait for her.  I guess, unfortunately, that’s something we will have to get used to.  Then after that she went to received a shot to boost her blood count which doesn’t take but a few minutes.

 

Lately Britteny and I have been discussing where all the time goes.  After Abigail was born time seemed to speed up.  Now that we’ve added in the mix chemo treatments every other week, the weeks have absolutely flown by for us.  I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when we have chemo every week!

 

Andy

Lazy Saturday

Hello all!  The last part of the week has been pretty good for Britteny.  Everything seems to be back to normal.  Thursday we met some of my family at a park here in Pampa for a picnic supper.  We had a pretty good time.  It was good to get out with the family.  I think Britteny and Franklin really enjoyed getting away from the house for a while.  Franklin just couldn't stay off the playground equipment.  He had a blast.  We are definitely going to have to get out more.

Britteny is slowly getting used to her new hair do.  She has a few hats she likes to wear.  I have a camouflage hat that I told her she could wear but she doesn't seem to like it that much compared to her other hats. Hummm.  Oh well...

Thank you all again for your continued thoughts and prayers!

Andy

Tired

If you asked Britteny how she felt this weekend 'tired' would be the word she'd use.  Thursday night she couldn't sleep because of the chemo.  It seemed every hour or so we'd wake up, discuss how neither of us could sleep then try to get back to sleep.  So far it seems that the night after her chemo treatment she can't sleep.  Then after that it seems like she can't get enough sleep.  Saturday and Sunday Britteny napped on and off.  Sunday Britteny's parents took Franklin for the day which helped us out a lot.  I was able to get a couple things done around the house actually.  I'm glad that her chemo treatments have been scheduled when they have been.  Since I don't work on the weekends I am able to stay and take care of the kiddos while she rests.  I came home for lunch today and she said she still felt a little worn out.  Fortunately the kids slept for a long time this afternoon allowing her to get some rest.  However if fatigue is the only thing holding us back, I don't think we have much to complain about.  Thanks to everyone's prayers the effects of chemo is very minimal, spirits are good and we all are doing well.

Andy

One small step against cancer, one giant leap for Britteny

Yesterday was Britteny’s 2^nd treatment of chemo.  I was able to go with her and sit while she received her chemo.  Everything went pretty well.  It ended up taking about 2 hours.  During her treatment she began to get a headache then when we got home she began to feel nauseous.  After some meds and some rest she felt pretty good except for being a little fatigued.  During this time her sister, Amanda, stayed with us to help out.  She took Abigail to her check-up for us yesterday, which really helped us out.  Abigail is doing well; she weighs 10 lbs. 3 oz. and is 23 ¼” long.  Today Britteny went back to get her shot to help her blood count stay up in preparation for her next treatment in a couple weeks.  Took all of 5 minutes.

Over the last few days Britteny’s hair has been slowly coming out when she washes and brushes her hair.  Her last brushing left a big bird nest of hair in the trash can which leads us to Britteny’s giant leap.  Yesterday evening we went to Britteny’s parent’s house to visit, eat, and cut hair.  Britteny wanted it short, so she got it short.  Britteny’s dad, Kenny, decided if his daughter was shaving her head he was going to shave his as well.  While the kitchen barber shop was open we gave Franklin a trim as well, not quite as short though.  I think Britteny enjoyed getting her head shaved.  All evening she had a big grin on her face.  Below are some pictures from last night.  I couldn‘t help but have a little fun with it.

Here is Britteny before with her hair in ponytails ready to donate to Locks of Love.

Half way there.

Ah, the perfect cancer fighting haircut!  At this point I said, "All done!"  Britteny asked her mom and sister what they thought and they just grinned.  Britteny still not knowing what her hair looked like, her dad yelled in from the other room, "You have a mohawk!"  Darn, I was hoping I could get away with it.

The finished product.

The two skin head victims.

All three victims of the Kitchen Barber Shop last night.