Chemotherapy---FINISHED!! TERMINADO!!

What began on Feb 28, finished today July 13, 2011!!! Chemotherapy. 16 total treatments. 4 that were beyond words and oh so hard.... and then there were 12 that were not as harsh but still difficult, even today.

Join me now, happy dance, happy dance "yipeeeeee!!!" as Blayr said.  She saw me pick up Lincoln and twirl him around and asked "is the cancer gone?" I said, "no not yet, but it will be soon and then mommy will be OK"  "yipeeeeeee" she said again!!!!!

One constant that has remained is my husband going with me to every treatment he could except for three in the beginning when he was away for baseball and I had very good "pinch runners" Martha Smart and Diana Paredez!  Brian sat beside me and would read his books, would walk with me, go get me lunch or drinks, blankets, whatever was asked.  The nurse commented today, "you came with your wife every time, that's rare."  Thank you Love!

He sat beside me and will continue to do so.

chemo meds, saving my life!

When this journey started on January 18, 2011 we thought it might be stage 0, as we progressed from the initial appt, to surgery, to our second opinion we found out that it was stage IIB, hence the aggressive treatments and now the radiation therapy that I will have to go through.  We did meet with the radiation oncologist here in Midland today and he has given us his recommendation of 33 treatments.  We will go to Baylor next week for a second opinion which had previously been scheduled.  The good news is I will get a three week break prior to starting radiation. Thank goodness!!

A picture on the last day! As usual the last patient also!

Watch out I might go crazy if I get my energy back for a week or two! Shopping, did I hear anyone say shopping? :) Hopefully we will get to squeeze in a weekend vacation for the kids' somewhere close.

My Infusion Nurses!! Took the best care of me and will for the next year to come!

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Lincoln made me a Flower at school for my last chemo!

I leave you with mixed emotions, happy that Chemotherapy has ended, the side effects will no longer be there as they were.  My hair product purchases will once again commence!  Shampoo, Conditioner, Hairspray, Gel - Hello!!! :)  Although my morning time management routine will have to be tweaked a bit, but as you can see I have a few months before my hair gets to that point. Frustrated that the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting further from my sight every time I feel it is close.  I did know this fight wouldn't be easy. But that is OK, because I still have my little army of soldiers right behind me and I feel each and every one of you supporting my family and myself as we battle through this together.

Summer Fun, this weekend and 4 of my reasons for fighting!

My family had a very special blessing today, my cousins Lupita and David Moya welcomed their new baby girl into our world and crazy family!  Weighing in at 6lbs and 8 ozs! I believe her name is ........... :) Precious and adorable. Children are a blessing to us all! I can't wait to meet her.

Again, I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU for all that you continue to do for every one of us, yesterday, today and tomorrow!

Love as always,
Leticia

3...2....1!!!!!!! Chemo Treatment left!!!

As I sit here and reflect on where I am today and where we were a year ago, about to embark on a really fun lifetime of memories with the family, celebrating the 4th of July with my parent's for a fun weekend.  Then later in the month getting to see Justin Bieber in Las Vegas then off to San Diego - that was last year. 

This year, well we all know where we are. Grateful and Thankful that we have this summer together.  Yet, with 100% disclosure, frustrated that I am confined to work and home.  I had promised my niece Sydney at Thanksgiving a trip to Las Vegas this weekend for her 21st birthday, she and I have been MORE that crazy to see Celine Dion and I said "that will be your present"... we will see her Syd... I promise, it may just have to be for my birthday instead of yours :)!  I still tear up when I think I didn't get to fulfill my promise to her. My sister so calmly told us both via skype the other day "you are right where you are supposed to be" ("for I know the plans I have for you" comes into my mind).  So many times we want to choose our paths but then they are chosen for us.

While I know that I only have two ONE chemo treatment left, the last three weeks have been so physically and emotionally difficult that even one is something that I don't quite look forward to at this point.  This may be the end of chemotherapy, but radiation therapy treatments begin right after and the count will start all over - again. 

At this time we only have been given an estimate of those treatments, 5 weeks- daily can you hear me say ughhhh - ok you can say it too, uggggg.......  After we meet with the doctors to establish everything, I will keep you updated - trust me, no one wants to know more than Brian and I how much more we have to face.  We meet with the Radiation Oncologist here in Midland next week and then go to Baylor the following week for appointmets with several Doctors there.

Physically, I have had some battles to face with this lovely 100+ degree daily weather that we are so fortunate to have in West Texas!  I wasn't aware of the fact that pushing myself at work and not drinking enough meant total dehydration when I got to chemo.  My blood pressure for two weeks of treatments was 70/40 when I got there, that was baseline....and on my ankle.  After you get a mastectomy as I did, you are recommended to not have your blood pressure taken in your arms in order to prevent lymphedema from occurring, as well as getting blood drawn or shots, nothing that would allow pressure or puncture wounds.  My weekly blood draws are so much fun in my left hand, we have one vein that we use.  I won't complain because I have seen many more patients that struggle much more than I do.

After that little dehydration hiccup, the kids' were great, we went to the store and picked out a little cooler to carry in my car, it was a joint decision - the hot pink one with the ribbon of course!  Brooke was the first one in line to pack it for me the first couple of days I went to work, my water bottles, FRS drinks (pure natural energy drinks Brian had researched for chemotherapy patients but are also promoted on ESPN :), my Detour Energy bars, Gatorade, and recently we added Coconut Water drinks.  So as I am "on the road again" I have everything I need.

We celebrated the 4th of July here in Midland, just at home, went to the Children's parade and then swimming, I was so tired after that I slept right through the fireworks.  The kids' understood and still had fun throughout the day. 

I owe a world of thanks to my Sister Sylvia for always being on stand bye this summer to help out with the kids' and take them when we need her to and have I mentioned her cooking???? Delicious beyond She has cooked many meals for us when we need them most, always asking what we want and when the kids' are with her she teaches 24/7 and let's them help.  Bianca baked a cake from scratch all by herself, the other day!  All for the love of TIA!

My apologies for the lack of posts this past month, it has been rough!  I can not tell you how much your love, support, continued messages, thoughts, prayers, phone calls, texts and everything else you all do for each one of us genuinely mean.

Fun at the Ranch!

His smile, oh his smile!

Brooke!

Blayr

Lincoln showing his pride!

Decorating the yard

Bianca