Hair loss and chemo

I don't even know where to start when it comes to starting my experience with Ovarian Cancer. I will start with the hardest part for me...my hair loss. I started to loose my hair by the handfuls 11 days after my first round of chemo. I had been dreading this day but still cannot believe how much hair was falling out...it was devastating to touch my hair and I avoided washing my hair because as soon as I would comb it, I would loose a lot more. I was having a difficult time watching long pieces just fall to the ground and decided to have Amber cut it shorter for me. I had it cut into an a line bob 13 days after I started chemo.
 Right before getting my hair cut. (I had already lost about 2/3 of it)

New hair cut....too bad it only lasted 3 days before I lost it almost completely. I would have never dared to cut it this short and figured it would be fun to have it this short.

At Huntsman getting chemo round 2.

I had Jeff take a picture of one time of washing my hair to see how much came out at one time. I had hair EVERYWHERE! The floors and my clothes and car were covered in it. I always asked Jeff to clean up my hair because if I saw it I would just cry.

This is what my hair looks on Oct 8th, halfway through chemo. I am still shocked that I have as much as I do as I expected to shave it after the 2nd round. If I can avoid shaving my head I would like to because I really dread having the pixie hair cut style. My bald head hurts quite a bit and burns when I lightly touch my strands of hair and sometimes hurts and itches so much that I can't even wear a hat.

I had bought a few wigs because I knew the day would come when I get tired of wearing hats all the time and I couldn't wear a hat to church or work. Before I lost my hair, I bought a long wig that is pretty close to my length, style and thickness. This wig cost me $500 because it is one you can use styling tools on. After I cut my hair short I realized how fun it was to have short hair and decided to get a short wig. In order to get the color and cut I wanted I had to order a longer wig and get it cut. I have enjoyed wearing the short wig and get many compliments on it. I am still nervous to wash the wigs for fear of ruining them.

I am so sad that all my pretty hair is gone and frequently get jealous at people at the store with beautiful long hair. This has been such a trial for me as I have been known for my pretty hair my entire life. I have learned that even if your hair is falling out and you can see your bald head that life goes on and hair is just hair and will grow back. 



Halfway done with Chemotherapy

After my surgery on July 15th, I was to follow up with Dr. Anna Beck at Huntsman to set up my plan for chemotherapy. I had no idea what this process would consist of and was nervous to find out the protocol, especially since my cancer staging was a lot worse than originally thought. Dr. Karen Zempolich my Cancer surgeon encouraged me to do the Intraperitoneal chemo through an abdominal port I had place on my right below my ribcage. She had found along with research that those who do this type of chemo have a 10-15% increase in life expectancy. What nobody told me is that most woman can't complete all 6 rounds of chemo with this type due to the aggressiveness and how sick it makes you. Since I was young for this type of cancer I was encouraged to push through the IP chemotherapy.

I met with Dr. Beck and was given the protocol for my IP chemo. I went into the appointment thinking I would only get chemo one time a week, but was very surprised to find out the protocol is 12 straight days being at the hospital! My chemo schedule was as follows:
Day 1: Taxol in my chest port
Day 2:  Cisplatin in my abdominal port
Day 3 and 4: IV fluids to keep me hydrated
Day 8: Taxol in my abdominal port
Day 9: Nulasta shot and hydration
Day 10-12: a day for hydration
Get a week off and then start on the next round

I had to have my upper port placed and had another surgery with Dr. Jane Poretta a few days before starting chemo. This placement hurt so bad, I had trouble sleeping on the right side and still do from the discomfort.

Chemo started on August 3rd for round one. The first day wasn't so bad but the IP chemo I had the second day is awful!  I have to go to Huntsman because I lay on a bed and have to rotate every 15 minutes to wash the entire abdomen. This took about 7 hours for this process because they start with accessing both ports, then I get blood work done (takes an hour to get results back) in order to see if I can tolerate receiving chemo, then get pre-meds which are medications to avoid having a reaction to the chemo, and then fluids and finally get the chemo medication. I leave looking and feeling pregnant due to 1 large bag of fluid and 1 large bag of chemo they place in my abdomen. I didn't feel great that day but didn't know that the chemo hits me a few days later and I ended up in the Acute Care at Huntsman (Emergency room for cancer patients) the next day. I was so nauseated and out of it I couldn't even lift my head and had to be pushed in a wheelchair by my Mom. After this appointment we were prescribed 3 different nausea medications and was instructed to rotate these meds every 4 hours. The following days I received IV fluids as I wasn't eating and was very sick. We also keep me pretty drugged up with nausea meds that all I remember is laying on the couch but couldn't do anything. On Day 8 I received another IP chemo and was very sick afterwards and only eating slurpees. Day 9 I had my Nulasta shot which grandma had warned me about. I was ok right after the shot but towards the evening and for the rest of the week my back, knees, and ankles hurt so bad it felt like sharp aches almost like the worst growing pains you've ever had. There were even a few nights my legs would collapse and Jeff had to help me up. I also had to use the shower chair frequently because I didn't even have the energy or strength to stand up in the shower.

We repeated this protocol again for the second round and had more hair loss again. The second round was still very tough but a little better as we had medication to help with pain and nausea.

After the 2nd round I had a 10-15 pound weight gain and went to the ER and found excess fluid in my abdomen. Dr. Beck said that my body isn't working well anymore and is having a difficult time getting the fluid out of my body. I was given a diuretic that seemed to help after a few days. Dr. Beck encouraged me to take a break from the IP chemo and just do IV chemo for 3 weeks.

Round 3 went much much better and gave me a well needed break from the nausea. I still had a few days that I have been sick but not near as bad.

I have made it halfway through my 6 rounds of chemo but not with the help of my family, husband, kids, and church as well as all the kind and encouraging words from friends on facebook and gofundme.

Happy 3rd birthday Aubrie!

This little munchkin celebrated her 3rd birthday and chose to have a princess party and grandma even brought her her very own cake.

At 3 years old Aubrie:
- loves cartoons, especially Paw Patrol, Sofia the First and Doc Mcstuffins
- loves to watch movies like Shrek, Incredibles and princess movies
- loves to play games on her tablet
- has lots of spunk and attitude
- still is attached to her binkie
- is slowly working on potty training
- loves to play in the water and her turtle sandbox
- favorite foods are noodles, rice, and pizza, and corn just like her parents
- is a good eater with fruits and veggies
- learned to ride her bike she got for Easter and can ride it around the block
- likes playing barbies, dolls, kitchen, princess figurines, dress up and going to the park
-loves drinking milk

Getting her cast off at Primary Childrens on September 23rd.

3 months old and Blessing Day

Brynnley is growing quickly and is very loved by her big sister Aubrie.

On Sunday September 13th, Brynnley was given a name and blessing by her Dad at our home. We had lots of family who attended and supported our family this day. She looked almost identical to Aubrie when she wore this dress.

The girls together on Brynnley's blessing day.

We headed up to Snowbird for Oktoberfest to see the leaves.

At three months Brynnley:
- is cooing and talking to us
- is still a wonderful sleeper and calm baby
- is starting to watch tv
- loves to play with her mobile
- will roll from stomach to back (she hates tummy time)
-loves when her big sister plays with her
-was entered into the Gerber Baby contest because she is soooo cute.

Brynnley is 2 months old

Brynnley had her 2 month old appointment with Dr. Bean and is doing great! She is petite still but I think she will always be.
At 2 months Brynnley:
   - is starting to grow out of newborn cloths and diapers
   - smiles at us and will stick her tongue out
   - is very loved by her big sister who even shares her blanket and toys with her
   - was breastfeed until mom had surgery in July

She weighs 10.4 lbs and is 22.25 inches tall

Sterling Sealing

Amanda and Sterling were sealed together at the Jordan River Temple on August 1st. I am so proud of the changes they have made in their lives in order to be an eternal family with their cute little girl.

While at the temple, my parents had arranged for the temple president to give me a special blessing. The spirit was so strong and all of us were crying. The one thing I remember in the blessing is that the Savior knows what I am going through and is bringing to pass his purposes at this time. I have definitely felt the spirit and peace at this time in my life and I know that there are many prayers in my behalf.

Broken Leg and Summer fun

Just to add to our busy lives, on August 24th ? Aubrie was jumping on the trampoline at the neighbors and fell while trying to get off and ended up with a spiral fracture of her left tibia. This of course all happened while I was at Chemo up at Huntsman during my second round.

She of course chose pink for her cast color.

It was quite difficult for a few weeks when she initially got casted because I was only allowed to lift 10 pounds and she was Non weight bearing for a few weeks. We bought an umbrella stroller that was for inside only so I could push her to get her from one room to the other until she learned to crawl.

This cutie had to miss the last few weeks and recital for her dance class due to her broken leg.

Watching monster trucks at Bluffdale Days and watching Grandpa drive in his wildfire truck in the parade.

Even though Aubrie had a broken leg, it didn't stop us from having fun at Lagoon.

Aubrie got to go on a Daddy-Daughter date to see the new Minion movie and get ice cream.

Having fun at Bluffdale days with Shannie and Stevie

We even went to the zoo for Jeff's work party. I wasn't able to walk all the hills and distance at the zoo and had to rent a power wheelchair....it was embarrassing to drive but soooo worth not killing my body.