April 10, 2018 · from Lesley’s original CaringBridge journal
So this past Friday I started “phase 2” of my chemo – the Taxol rounds. I had the first of 12 weekly treatments and it has gone really well so far. A little funny….they give a mega dose of Benadryl before the Taxol to preempt any allergic reactions (I had none – yay!) and it knocked me for a loop. Who knows what all I said that afternoon – I swear I was drooling in the car. I fell asleep every time we were in it. It was Masters week so we didn’t stay in Augusta to eat and decided to try out a crepe restaurant we have been passing in Thomson (whoda thunkit?!) but it was closed so we opted for the Mexican place next door. Apparently we went to Costco and Walmart too – I forgot all about it until I was reminded a couple days later. I crashed as soon as I got home and slept until the next morning. Marsh said he came in after I’d been asleep for about an hour and I was asking what day it was. Oh dear! Dr. Wells said if I didn’t have a reaction they could possibly back off the Benadryl the next time. Gosh I hope so because this could get me in trouble – and give my family quite a lot of entertainment! Anywho, I was told this drug wouldn’t be as harsh and they were right. I have had virtually no symptoms, just a few mild annoyances. I was also told that most people have one “crash day.” I have yet to experience that. Marsh keeps asking how I feel and I say “fine.” He said yesterday “you sound disappointed that you feel good.” I told him no, that I am just surprised and hesitant bc I feel like I keep waiting for it to hit and it just hasn’t. Of course then I say “well is it even working since I feel so good?!” 😉
The past couple of days I’ve been up and doing around the house – I kind of got into a Spring cleaning mode. I have been throwing stuff away like crazy. Today was a big day of sorts and anticlimactic at the same time. It was the first time I have taken all the boys out in months (I think I’ve only driven maybe once or twice since December!). [you are being forewarned the rest of this story is just plain ‘ol boring – read at your own risk of falling asleep] I got up and started packing up the big red bus (our Expedition) for the day: cooler for groceries, diaper bag, food for Gus, bottle for Gus, bags of things I need to give to people when I meet them, make sure the boys have their baseball practice gear, make sure Murphy remembers his retainer for the orthodontist, water for me to drink, grocery list, etc. etc. I pulled on my cowgirl boots and loaded everyone up – well, really I just loaded Gus up and got the big three to load up everything else. Off we went. First we stopped by a friend’s house to see their newly renovated basement and visit for a while. Next we went to Chick Fil A and met another friend for lunch and to drop off a bag of baby clothes. We enjoyed our waffle fries and lemonade and watched the kids stare at us through the big glass wall of the playground. After that we zipped into Hibbett to look for something then to Aldi to grab a few groceries – and we were really living on the edge there – no bags, no buggy – just what the kids could carry – five minutes in and out – I was rocking grocery shopping like a boss today! (okay, I only had four things on my list, but still…) Then we went to the orthodontist and met a new friend (of a friend) who was ever so gracious to donate some milk for Gus to get us through the rest of the week until my next stash arrives – ya’ll, there are some good people in this world that will do great acts of service for strangers – it isn’t as bad of a place as it seems some days. We got caught up with all our favorite teeth straightening staff (our ortho is the best for real) and rotated the big three through their visits. Every time I go now I am reminded that all three are going to be in braces at the same time in the near future – yikes! But our sweet orthodontist says to me (after we had been discussing cancer and how you just handle today for today) “one day at a time Lesley” So yes, I’ll forget about that little fact for today then 🙂 We left there and headed back to Sparta. I dropped the boys off at baseball practice, took Gus to get his shots that were long overdue, came home and unloaded the car by myself (yeah, I did NOT plan that out well – I missed all my pack mules), gave him a bottle and got dinner heating up. See, I told you it was boring. Nothing had to do with cancer. I hauled kids around today – shuttled them to appointments and sports, bought food for them, visited friends, delivered and picked up stuff and came home. Today I was a normal mom… and it was wonderful.
Comments from CaringBridge
Susan Leonhard — 4/14/18
I’m glad to read your update and thankful you are feeling well enough to do the routine things. Praying continually for you and your family. We love ya’ll !
Jackie Jordan — 4/13/18
Happy to hear all the normal, fun things you were doing. What a blessing, God is so good to us. You enjoy every minute of those days.
Movene Futch — 4/11/18
So thankful that it has been a good week for you and the family. Prayers continue with love for you and Marsh.
Debbie C. Thomas — 4/11/18
Great to see you & the boys today! We love you all! So glad you had a good day! 😀🙏
Vicki Hall — 4/11/18
So good to see all of you!!!! I pray you will keep on feeling good🙂
Delores Brooks — 4/11/18
Normal and boring are often welcome friends, days of ordinary life.
Kellie Webster — 4/11/18
Sounds like a good day to me!!!!!
Christine Brown — 4/11/18
One day at a time girl. Smell the roses!
molly house — 4/11/18
That sounds like a pretty wonderful day to me!
Cancermamma 