I was expecting worse...

On Thursday of this last week I had to go to the city to receive my first treatment of radiation and Radioactive Iodine. The last couple of weeks leading up to the treatments were rough. I had to be off all my medications and live on a iodine-free diet. Just in case you are thinking that this sounds easy...let me tell you it wasn't. It is hard to figure out what to heat when you can't have any thing with salt, dairy products, or soy products. I had to mainly stick with the basics of fresh fruit and vegitables. And lots, and lots of oatmeal.

Between the diet and no Estrogen or Thyroid medicine I was exhausted, weak, and ready to fight with anyone willing to say something or do something that was gonna make me flip out. It happened more than once, and at work it ended a couple of times with me walking away from customers and my boss, John. It was easier than yelling and screaming. I think that I really need to give everybody that came to my defense something. At least most people understood!

The treatment was all that could be expected, except for a few things. The radiation didn't even last ten minutes and I didn't feel any part of it. I have to continue getting the beams of light into my neck once every 4 to 6 weeks. I CAN HANDLE THAT!! The Radioactive Iodine was different. They brought me back into a secluded part of the hospital where these two ladies were dressed to walk on the moon. White suits and black rubber gloves that went past the elbows. They told me to take off my shirt cause they needed to inject my arms with a solution along with me drinking some of it through a straw. So they stood on either side of me, thinking they were hiding the needles behind their back, but I saw them. I reached into this metal cabinet and grabbed a test tube with a straw sticking out of it. They said drink this while we inject you...does anyone have any idea how hard it is to drink something through a straw while you have not just one but two needles attacking you from each side in your upper arms??

Not very fun. Then they said that was it. Get dressed and go home. Oh yeah...you are in confinement for the following 3 days. Can't be around your daughter at all. No visitors. Husband can be around, but don't sleep in the same room and don't cook for him or others. So much for using days off to make cookies for the family!! At least he could be around me a little! The treatment has left my neck sore, me even more tired and a little sick, but not as bad as I expected. It is done and I am glad that I can finally breathe for a while that the worst is over! I can't wait to be able to hug Janelle tonight. I haven't seen her since Thursday morning when we dropped her off with my grandparents at 6 am. We have had lots of phone conversations, but she keeps thinking that I am mad at her cause I won't come get her. It is rough explaining to a three year old that the doctors say I have to do this but I will be better when it is all done.

Feel free to post a comment, I would like to hear what you think about my experience...

Bragging rights

I never get tired of the new discoveries that Janelle accomplishes every day. I think that one of these days she will have learned so much that her head will be twice the size of her body because of her ever expanding knowledge.

The little things that she does amaze me. The other day we were grocery shopping and she would grab everything I put in the cart and try to read what it was. She can recognize all the letters of the alphabet. You ask her to spell her name and she doesn't even hesitate.

She is three now and going to pre-school. She really likes trying to write the letters she learns there. We have been practicing her name a lot lately. She came upstairs today and said "look, I wrote my name good, huh?" I decided it was the best one she has done yet. Sometimes I wonder if I have a child genious on my hands. I just thought I would share with you cause I think that it is amazing!

She is completely potty trained now. I can't believe how easy it was when she finally figured out that she wanted to be a "big girl". I guess that the grandparents are right when they say that she will go when she is good and ready. You have to do things on their terms.

I am so excited for February to come! Rob and I get to go to Las Vegas for a shoe show. We will spend 3 days there just the two of us. Not to mention it is right before Valentine's Day! We have saved up some money so we can go and watch the Blue Man Group while we are there. So bring on the vacation!

Have a great weekend everyone.

We are on a roll!

A WEEK now of only one accident...What should we do with this cute little sweet heart? She needs a reward! She doesn't really need any toys on account of christmas. Any Ideas are welcome!

Tell her how proud you are of her...I read and do this blog with her most every day.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and keep on truckin'!!

Lightbulb isn't burned out!

I don't know what make the switch turn on in my daughter, but I am SOOOO glad that it came on. We have been trying to potty train her for some time now and I kind of gave up. I was hoping when she went to pre-school that she would see what the "big kids" do and try to follow, but nothing happened. She has been dry for 2 nights and 2 days now! She hasn't even been wearing pull-ups, she is wearing big girl underpants. We haven't had a single accident yet. I am so excited! Let's just hope that the light stays on and we are clear of the dirty diapers!