The Falls And An Update

Happy Easter Weekend! Can you believe it? Easter? Already? The kids got out of school early for Good Friday and because I was feeling pretty good, we headed to 'The Falls' on the outskirts of Joplin. We typically like going here during the fall time because the trees that are now green turn fantastic fall colors and I love the contrast of of the blue/green water and orange/brown colors.....but these complimentary colors are fine by me too :) Everything is completely leafed out and growing here in MO, we are completely submerged in spring.

I've had some doctor appointments and blood work done this past week...white blood cells are 1.7 (normal: 4.4-11.3), hemoglobin is 10.9 (normal is 12.0-15.6) and some other important 'number' that I can't remember what it's for is 815 but needs to be around 1,000. But they told me that all of that is normal after the chemo. So no crowds, stay away from sick people and become a hand sanitizer junkie....which I am anyway. I've been slowly come around, recouping from the chemo...I'm sleeping normally now (instead of all the time) and the headaches and nausea have past. Fatigue is really what is getting me down right now, but that's probably because of the low numbers above.

*Is Logan too cute or what!! I could hardly keep up with him!*

Also, during spring break two weeks ago, I had an appointment with an endocrinologist. After an ultrasound, we discovered I have an enlarged thyroid and a cyst...so they extracted cells from the thyroid, called 'aspiration'...not the most pleasant procedure...which included a huge bruise on my neck and sickness because of over stimulating the thyroid. Anyway, the results are finally back and they think that it is the cancer too. SO we asked what to do next....surgery to remove the cyst is typical, but because of the chemotherapy (and low white blood cells) surgery will have to wait.

In happier news: My sister and niece are coming to visit all next week and I am super excited to have both of them here!
I was recovering from surgery the last time they were here, so this time I'm glad to be able to truly visit and do things together.

Check out this moss, the kids think I'm crazy for photographing moss and the precarious place I had to perch in which to get this close...but totally worth it. You know what this says to me? God is awesome!

I'm an ocean girl, but when I see stone, water, sky, trees together...it's like a bonus. I know, I'm a geek.
I've started thinking about planning some kind of getaway after chemo is over...I'm not sure if that's healthy or not (mentally). But I feel like I need some incentive to get me through the next six months. I've only had one round of treatment and I can already feel myself thinking (picture someone pulling stubborn donkey) "I don't want to do that again" and "it's going to take a lot to actually go back knowing what is going to happen afterwards" so it seems like an incentive is a good idea....to me anyway :) Like if you make it through ALL your treatments you get to go whale watching in ALASKA! Ha, total dream of mine.
It might work.

I hope all of you have a wonderful, wonderful Easter and a great weekend!