Really 11 days....

I can't believe its been 11 days since I have updated the blog.  Sorry.  

Let me back track... 

on 1/17 Jason had a quick trip to the Raab Clinic.  He was tired but slept it off.  He was scheduled to go back on 24th.  He starts the visit with lab work to make sure his counts are not too low. 

Low counts can indicate serious side effects, including fatigue, bruising, and vulnerability to infection -- and can also mean that treatment must be postponed while his body heals.  Complete blood counts, or CBCs, are routinely performed during chemotherapy and other cancer treatments to check the number of each type of blood cell circulating in the body.

White blood cells, or neutrophils, fight infection; red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, pick up oxygen in the lungs and carry it to the tissues. CBCs note any shortage of red blood cells, which is the definition of anemia and leads to low oxygen levels in the blood. In addition, CBCs count platelets, which are components of red blood cells that enable blood to clot.

• Low red blood count = fatigue, low energy
• Low platelets = bruising and bleeding
• Low white blood count = susceptibility to infection

Well with that said, his counts were low.  He was borderline neutropenic.  I freaked as normal.  I had a wicked cold and was afraid it was my fault.  He had to postpone treatment a week, which brings us to today. 

We arrived for the labs and sat there for an hour!  We knew something was not right.  The charge nurse came out and told us that Jay was still low and they were waiting for the doctor to make his decision but she thought it meant he would have to postpone again.  

Bummed. 

She called us back, finally.  She told us that the doctor said he could have the chemo today but he had to follow it by a shot of Neupogen.  This is used to decrease the chance of infection and it works by helping the body make more neutrophils.  He will receive this everyday till the 6th.  I hope it helps.  He is home, fed and now crashed out on the couch next to me.

We did have to shave Jason's head this weekend.  He started out with just bald patches so we shaved it down a little but then it just started having really bad bald spots so we bic'd it.

I know some of you asked what kind of chemo he was on, well he is one 3 different types.

*Cisplatin, etoposide & bleomycin (yup say those 3x each)

His schedule goes like this 

Days 1,2,3,4,5 Cisplatin & Etoposide

Day 2, 9 & 16 Bleomycin 

I just wanted to thank everyone for the cards, gift cards, dinner, offers to come help.  I have thank you cards for everyone... I promise to send out this year! 

XOXOX ~Elizabeth 

    

Getting ready for the weekend....

1/20/12  Life is okay right now.  We are all doing well.  Jason has felt pretty good.  Taking it easy, of course.  He is stir crazy.  Not one to sit on the couch all day.  So I can see him heading back to work soon. He had a chemo treatment on Tuesday and it wore him out but he slept it off.  The nurses gave him a cute band-aid   

We celebrated Peanuts 6th birthday on Wednesday!  I can't believe she is 6!  We will be celebrating this weekend with a few of her friends.  It will be a "Smurfy" good time.  Jason made her a pinata`

We have received so many cards from our friends and family!  It makes us smile!  This is just some of them.  We got a special little box from our best friends the Acevedo's!  Everyone attacked it so fast this is all the pics I could get. 

& a special shout out thank you to Leah.  Thank you for all the inspirational text messages you send me. Its like you are in my head.  Right when I need one... BOOM a message from you.  <3

Day 6 ...

1/14/12  I was told that when he feels good, get him out of the house.  Go do something with him, so that he doesn't get depressed sitting in the house all the time.  

So I did.

  We went to the book store to see if they had any Testicular Cancer books.  We came home with Lance Armstrong's Its not about the bike.  I am also thinking about ordering.  One Lump or Two by Darren Couchman.  We are both going to read the book.  

We then tackled Walmart...(ugh)  

Poor Jason has been battling a massive migraine and can't take anything but Tylenol.  I think I will be calling the doctor on Monday and asking for something... I hate seeing him like this and I have a feeling this is only the beginning.  

We came home and took up residence on the couch for the rest of the day. 

 This is how I could spend everyday.  

We got a sweet card with a gift card to dunkin donuts from our distant friend Melissa

& Jason & Samantha sent a iTunes gift card.... They totally rock!!

DAY 5... FREE AT LAST..THANK GOD ALMIGHTY HIS ARM IS FREE AT LAST!!!!

LOL!   1/13/12

Word of the day: Emotional.

He is, I am, the kids are.  Its a group effort.

He is because he doesn't want to be there.  

He doesn't want to go through this anymore.  

He is worried about his career, his future, & his health.

I am, because my day started off with someone telling me that "life is life" ... I would like to really tell that person off but because I respect her husband too much I wont.  I will shut my mouth (I know, some of you are totally shocked) and I will walk away.

The kids are emotional because they can feed off us.  

They are doing well though. 

He is free.  His poor arm is free of IV's for a whole 3 days!  YAHOO!  

8am appointment, started with a CBC count (which looked awesome)  Weighted in at 173.1 (down more), blood pressure was at 131/63 (not to shabby) and his temp 97.4.  All around a great start to an emotional day.

I know a bunch of you are following this blog to keep watch on how things are, and we totally appricate it.  The support we have is, well I am speechless.
It makes me keep on going, which helps me keep Jason going.

Day 4... seems okay today.

1/12/12  We had an 8:15am appointment.  Jason weighted in at 175.9 (less then yesterday) his blood pressure 140/68, you want to know why... he had to get a new IV... he gets so nervous.  His temp was perfect 98.3.  Jason did really well today.  The meds he gets 1st make him really sick to his stomach, but after that he tolerates to them all the rest.  The nurse (Luis) and Jason joke all day.  I texted him that he had 1hr left and he sent me this:

Apparently it is called a "cheese sandwich" Jason called it a cold Mac & Cheese sandwich aka NASTY! 

We are home, rested, now fed and working on getting kids done with chores, bathed, and in bed.  

Sorry for the short and sweet....but momma is tired today.  

Off to tend to the kids and of course the patient. 

Day #3

1/11/12  I think we are both are realizing that this is real, we are both emotionally & physically over done and sadly it just began.  Good night sleeping last night.  He slept later then I thought.

We arrived for our 8:15 appointment. He seemed better with his blood pressure (130/63)  today then yesterday.  I thought he was going to have a temp but he didn't (98.4) Weighted in at 176.5 (he secretly had a nervous breakdown) I waited till he was all set up and had his IV running before heading to work for a few hours.

Today was a little more emotional.  Really for no reason but the fact that, he is getting Chemo, it spread, he hates having someone wait on him, he hates sitting still ...  this sucks.  But we will get through it.

Chemo lasted from 8:15-1:30.  We are home,  he took a nap and I got the kids situated from school and we all played a game of UNO and Go Fish (no I did not let him win!)  We ate dinner, thanks to our friends The Martin's,  we ate a delicious Spanish chicken, rice & veggie casserole!  Thanks Erin, you rock!!

Everyone at work has now offered to make us dinner a couple times... seriously can I work with a better group of people?  I don't think so.  The love and support we have from them (and all of you) keep us going and help us look forward, instead of giving up.  THANK YOU!

I had a fellow Coastie wife ask me for our address to send a card.
The Bitler's
206 Oak Ridge Drive
Havelock, NC 28532

Day 2... I can see this is going to get harder and harder.

1/10/12  He woke up in good spirits.  Had a good night.  Came home took his Zofran (nausea medication) he ate dinner, and we relaxed on the couch till bed.  He slept well expect for he woke up at 2am and had a hard time falling back to sleep.

We arrived at the Raab Clinic for our 9am appointment.  He was called back, weight was taken (174 3+lbs from yesterday) blood pressure when we arrived was elevated (156/64) but once in the chair and comfortable it lowered (123/54) He had a hard time with a medication that was pushed threw the IV, he said it hurt, we later found out this was Benadryl.  He quickly became tired, so I left for work.  He kicked me out today.  Told me I would be better off busy at work, then sitting there staring at him.  (I think he knew Dr.V was in the office and I stress over not being there when he is.)   I checked on him at 1pm and he was super tired and antsy.  He doesn't do well sitting still for so long.  Luis hung the last bag of flush and I went back to work to finish up.  Right now as I type... he is fast asleep on the couch.  I hate seeing him like this.

I am not sure what I would do without my work gang.  They definitely help me get through the day.

** I want to say thank you for all of you who are sending us letters and messages and quick posts on FB and here.  They have made both of us smile!  Keep them coming.  I will try to get back to everyone.  I will also be printing them out for our Cancer Journey Scrapbook.

Day 1

1/9/12 Today was day 1 of chemo treatment for Jason.
We arrived on time and got called back.
Weighted in (171.6),  blood pressure was good and we sat and waited for the dr.
When he came in, he had that "not happy look" on his face.
 He told us that Jason's scans that he had done the last weekend in December came back with spots in his lungs.  They looked at the scans done in October and compared them to Decembers and they are certain that the cancer has now spread.  What that means for Jason is a longer treatment rounds.
 We originally were set up to have 2 cycles of 28 days and now we are having 4 cycles.
 UGH!  Not the news we wanted.

                       Jason completed day one with a smile on his face.

  We played Uno and Gin Rummy. Watched TV & played on the iPad.

       Tomorrow we go back for his long day.