Okay, I was wrong. I don't have chemo today. We'll probably continue with that next week. We're going to get a 2nd and 3rd opinion about treatment options...probably heading down to the Mayo Clinic one day next week.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Corinthians 4:8-18
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal

We're doing the right thing

My husband and I spent another day at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. From our entire trip, we basically learned that we don't have to travel over an hour to get the best medical care. Not only did the Mayo doctors praise our neurosurgeon and the amazing job he did, but they also confirmed the treatment regiment prescribed by my radiation oncologist. They also agreed with radiation and chemo treatment I had already been given. Furthermore, they agreed that unless my new tests revealed new cancer or new information suggesting otherwise, I would not need chemotherapy (YEAH!)

Except for adding a tumor marker test, and the test for a brain fungus, the doctors at Mayo did not give us any new information. However, we don't feel the trip was useless, as it was reassuring to know that we're doing the right thing, and that's what's most important. It was good to be able to run our plan of action by the experts, and to have them answer our...well my husband's...questions.

Like the second neurologist I saw here in the the Twin Cities, the neurologist in Mayo suggested I have a Lumbar Puncture. I am SO grateful to all the people who commented on my blog or sent me private e-mails letting me know that the spinal tap would not be that bad, similar to an epidural. Just knowing that, erased all my fears, and I went into the test with zero anxiety. And everyone was right; the test actually was not bad at all. I've had blood draws that were more painful. The most pain actually came afterwards. My back is quite sore at the puncture site. But that should go away. And hopefully, the headache that can occur about a day later, will not surface. Because I don't think I could handle a severe headache on top of the ones I already have.

Speaking of headaches....no new information about mine. Aside from the possibility that the headaches could be caused by a fungus, which the spinal tap could reveal, my visit to Mayo did not lead me any closer to a solution to my pain and numbness. I'm just going to keep taking the meds prescribed to me and pray that something starts working soon.

A special thank you to my wonderful mother who without complaint continues to care for my kids, and doesn't even hesitate to tell me to go away and enjoy myself. Although it would have been better hanging out under different circumstances, it was still fun spending time alone with my husband. So thanks mom!

I guess size matters

The other day our nanny Sara was changing her baby's diaper. Max was watching her do this, and he became quite interested in what he saw.

"Why is that so big?" he asked referring to little Leo's scrotum.

Sara just told him that that's what little babies looked like (or something similar).

However, Max, who seems to be in competition with everyone lately, couldn't let anyone think he wasn't better or at least equal to this little baby. He had to find something on him that was bigger.

So his next response was "Well, I have a big penis. His is little."

Oh my....and so it starts.

--------------------------------------------------

Last night, even without Ativan, I was able to sleep through the night. Melvin even said that I was snoring! It was the best sleep I'd had since before my surgery.

Now I don't know if it was my new medications, or my full night of rest, but I had a lot less pain in my head today (probably a combination of both). My head was hardly hurting during the day (although I am experiencing some pain now), and I didn't need to take any Vicodin until tonight. The other issues on the right side of my face continued to bother me, including an earache. I'm hoping that the Neurontin that I just started will work this problem out soon.

I forgot to mention yesterday that when I was at Dr. Madavi's (the neurologist), she said that she wanted to order a spinal tap to be done on me. I can't remember if she wanted this to be done because of the spot they found on my MRI, or because of the pain and/or numbness I had been experiencing. To me, it doesn't matter why she said this...all I know is that when she said the words "spinal tap," I immediately shuddered. I actually know nothing about spinal taps, but I heard they stick a needle in your back, and that they're very painful. Dr. Madavi must have sensed my fear because she told me that I certainly can discuss it with my husband, and that I might want to go to my appointment at the Mayo Clinic and see what they say before I have the spinal tap done. Now it's not that I don't trust my doctor, I just don't like pain...any pain! Our Mayo appointment is Tuesday and Wednesday....I think I'll definitely see what they say first.

For now, I'm just incredibly thankful for the rest and since I feel so tired right now, I'm hoping tonight will be the same. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for better sleep for me. God is good.