I wouldn't wish this on anyone!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Pictures...
Here are the pictures as promised. My head is ugly and mole-covered, but I can deal with it. I do already have a wig picked out and as soon as I leave we're going to get some pix with it on. But here's what we have for now.
This is the one we decided to keep - it was one of the less eccentric!
Thought you'd enjoy these two! We kept the orange bow one for laughs.
GO BEARS!
This picture was taken Monday - the day I LEFT the hospital.
This is what has occurred since then - most specifically the past 48 hours:
It is the strangest sensation to put my hand to my head and feel little wisps. My head is kind of cold, but it's kind of nice to have the hair off of my neck. There are a couple of parts that are hanging in there, but I'm sure they'll be gone before long, too.
My nurse, Lindsie, brought in some hats to try on for fun.
This is the one we decided to keep - it was one of the less eccentric!
Thought you'd enjoy these two! We kept the orange bow one for laughs.
GO BEARS!
My adorable cousin Lincoln came to visit!! Along with my aunt Jen, of course. He is so big and talkative!
He was very helpful in opening up a present for me.
Isn't he CUTE!!!!
So that's what's been happening today in room 403!
Hopefully more excitement will come tomorrow!!
The Days Go On
So I'm still here at the hospital, but at least it's me telling the story again and not one of my wonderful parents or siblings.
Sunday was a great day. Amber (my friend) and her Mom came to visit which brought much needed cheer! My hair began pulling away from my head in clumps that day which were extremely itchy and painful to sleep on. Sunday night we moved up to room 403 away from the noise and lights of the wonderful PICU. I slept SO much better with the help of some pain killers and ativan.
Monday was another wonderful day. I was finally able to sleep, so I slept most of the day. Mom and Dad swtiched each other out for the night. When I did wake up, we finished tearing out my hair which was an absolutely awful experience. I'm going to put on some pictures later. Dad and I watched National Treasure 2 (amazing movie!!) and then went to sleep. My head didn't itch for the night.
Tuesday has been another wonderful day. It was really hard to actually look in the mirror and see my two-and-a-half years of post-chemo hair was gone. So there's been a lot of crying today. My aunt Jen and her two-year-old Lincoln came to visit (they flew in to Chicago to go see my grandparents who are out in Nauvoo). He is so BIG and CUTE!!! It was rather ironic that I was supposed to be visiting them in their house today - not them visiting me. Oh well. I'll take a big vacation next summer. We pulled out the rest of what there really is to pull out and cut off the bigger chunks that looked awkward. We also tried on a bunch of hats which was kind of fun. I'll put on some pictures in the next post.
Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for helping out my family during this trial. You are all amazing and I love you all! Tomorrow brings visitors and an echo - perhaps another step toward home!
Sunday was a great day. Amber (my friend) and her Mom came to visit which brought much needed cheer! My hair began pulling away from my head in clumps that day which were extremely itchy and painful to sleep on. Sunday night we moved up to room 403 away from the noise and lights of the wonderful PICU. I slept SO much better with the help of some pain killers and ativan.
Monday was another wonderful day. I was finally able to sleep, so I slept most of the day. Mom and Dad swtiched each other out for the night. When I did wake up, we finished tearing out my hair which was an absolutely awful experience. I'm going to put on some pictures later. Dad and I watched National Treasure 2 (amazing movie!!) and then went to sleep. My head didn't itch for the night.
Tuesday has been another wonderful day. It was really hard to actually look in the mirror and see my two-and-a-half years of post-chemo hair was gone. So there's been a lot of crying today. My aunt Jen and her two-year-old Lincoln came to visit (they flew in to Chicago to go see my grandparents who are out in Nauvoo). He is so BIG and CUTE!!! It was rather ironic that I was supposed to be visiting them in their house today - not them visiting me. Oh well. I'll take a big vacation next summer. We pulled out the rest of what there really is to pull out and cut off the bigger chunks that looked awkward. We also tried on a bunch of hats which was kind of fun. I'll put on some pictures in the next post.
Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for helping out my family during this trial. You are all amazing and I love you all! Tomorrow brings visitors and an echo - perhaps another step toward home!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Some Improvement
Sunday afternoon - Aug 2
Lauren is showing great improvement today. She is moving out of ICU and is off all the heart support meds. Her body is responding to the antibiotics, although we are still unsure of the actual bug. This all could be just an inflammatory response to the chemo. You can always tell when Lauren feels better becuase she begins to talk and give directions. She can feel the effects of fasting and prayers on her behalf today. The saddest part of my day has been combing her hair and having tufts come out on the brush. We read 2 Nephi 4:20-35 and inserted phrases that applied to her life. It was a sweet experience. Renee
Lauren is showing great improvement today. She is moving out of ICU and is off all the heart support meds. Her body is responding to the antibiotics, although we are still unsure of the actual bug. This all could be just an inflammatory response to the chemo. You can always tell when Lauren feels better becuase she begins to talk and give directions. She can feel the effects of fasting and prayers on her behalf today. The saddest part of my day has been combing her hair and having tufts come out on the brush. We read 2 Nephi 4:20-35 and inserted phrases that applied to her life. It was a sweet experience. Renee
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 31
This is Rachel posting again. Yesterday, Thursday, was a great day. Lauren went to try on wig options and found one that was really cute. She even played a game with me and Megan. However, then she was up half the night barfing. She had a really low blood pressure and her heart was beating extremely fast. In fact, her blood pressure was so low that our machine couldn't even get a reading. So, Dad took her to the hospital this morning. Mom thinks she was just dehydrated because she was throwing up gallons of loveliness. She is now in ICU where they are treating her for an infection that they aren't sure even exists. Her chemo lowers her white blood count so it makes it hard to fight infection. They are also giving her meds to help her heart pump better. They're also giving her fluids and she was feeling a bit better last time Mom checked. A closing remark from me: I get my mom for 16 more hours til she switches out my dad.
the end.
(we wish)
the end.
(we wish)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
I'm HOME!!!
Finally - after two weeks in the hospital, I'm back home and it feels so good! Over the weekend it was pretty much just getting chemo drugs and managing nausea and pain and dealing with residents and fellows (never a pleasant experience). I was supposed to get home Sunday night, but one of the doctors who told us we would be going home overlooked the fact that I was supposed to get 12 hours of hydration after the drug. So I went home 24 hours later instead.
A nurse from home health came to give me a shot which is supposed to help boost my blood counts until the next cycle of drugs. I have to go back for some heart tests this and next week, but I don't have to have a scan for a while. So I've been hanging out at home for the past day and my mouth is still killing me - any ideas for helping mouthsores? I coated my braces with wax and that helped, but you have to take the wax out to eat which is such a pain. I've been forcing down as much as I can, but very few things sound tasty. All in all, I'm just zapped. I went to bed soon after we came home last night and then I took a shower this morning - it felt SO GOOD!! Be grateful for your own bathrooms and showers - they're amazing! I've been sleeping and watching movies most of the day and now I am updating this blog. And that's pretty much all that has happened.
Rachel is hilarious - I forgot how loud she can be! She was telling me all sorts of stories about yearbook camp (yes, there is such a thing) and wondering what would be preppy for her to wear for her marching band camp. The trumpet section is supposed to dress preppy so any ideas would be welcomed. Megan is also becoming a little louder and crazier - she must have found her voice once Rachel left. And Nathan is just as cute as ever! They've all been great about helping me out at home.
Thank you to everyone else who has been helping my family. We all appreciate the food, the transport, the care, etc. everything. I'm so grateful for all of your prayers in my behalf. I'll keep you updated as the days progress!
A nurse from home health came to give me a shot which is supposed to help boost my blood counts until the next cycle of drugs. I have to go back for some heart tests this and next week, but I don't have to have a scan for a while. So I've been hanging out at home for the past day and my mouth is still killing me - any ideas for helping mouthsores? I coated my braces with wax and that helped, but you have to take the wax out to eat which is such a pain. I've been forcing down as much as I can, but very few things sound tasty. All in all, I'm just zapped. I went to bed soon after we came home last night and then I took a shower this morning - it felt SO GOOD!! Be grateful for your own bathrooms and showers - they're amazing! I've been sleeping and watching movies most of the day and now I am updating this blog. And that's pretty much all that has happened.
Rachel is hilarious - I forgot how loud she can be! She was telling me all sorts of stories about yearbook camp (yes, there is such a thing) and wondering what would be preppy for her to wear for her marching band camp. The trumpet section is supposed to dress preppy so any ideas would be welcomed. Megan is also becoming a little louder and crazier - she must have found her voice once Rachel left. And Nathan is just as cute as ever! They've all been great about helping me out at home.
Thank you to everyone else who has been helping my family. We all appreciate the food, the transport, the care, etc. everything. I'm so grateful for all of your prayers in my behalf. I'll keep you updated as the days progress!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 26
This is Rachel posting becasue Lauren is feeling gross. Apparently, she threw up all night long and does not feel so great today. She keeps spacing out and is dizzy. Her blood pressure is really high and she feels achy all over. Hopefully she gets over all of it so she can come home tomorrow.
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