just keep swimming!

Whenever things get tough, I just think of what I learned from Finding Nemo: Just keep swimming. My mom came home Thursday, but she is so exhausted. We only see her for about 20 minutes a day, at most. This is really difficult because we were seeing her more and more, and now we don't really see her at all. But, we've been through worse, we can handle this. We have to just keep swimming!

Never a Dull Moment

Back to school has been crazy! If keeping up with all of our crazy schedules isn't enough, my mom broke her leg and just left today for the hospital in New York. So she will either have to be on bedrest for 6 weeks or she will have to get a rod put into her knee. Hopefully she can get the rod in, that way she will be able to walk in a few days. But we won't know until tomorrow, so all we can do is wait and see.

Happy Birthday!

Today is Ross's 9th birthday, so wer'e all pretty excited about that. We are having a small family barbecue, so hopefully my mom will be able to be there for the whole party. Since this is the end of the second treatments, she isn't able to so much. She has been sick to the stomach and sleeping all the time, which made getting ready for Ross's birthday a little more difficult. But, she'll be done on Thursday so we are alled thrilled about that. Also, we are pushing the first family fun day back to October so keep posted for that!

Electrons

So my mom found out hat she has to go back for more treatment, this time for electrons. But, this time the daily treatment only takes about 30 seconds and their aren't bad side effects like last time. The only annoying part is that she has to have someone to drive her every day to UPenn and back, which is about an hour from our house. They say she has to get more electrons, which isn't as bad as the other radiation. today it wasn't so bad because a friend's mom drove us down and both of our families went to the Franklin Institute. Life is almost back to normal, and as soon as this last treatment is over she will be done!

I'm back

Hey everybody-
I'm back from my two weeks in Providence. It was amazing, and the best part was that I could truly have fun for the first time in months. In the beginning, I was nervous about leaving home. My mom had recently been in the hospital again for more fluids. She was having stomach problems so she wasn't sure if she'd be able to come with me for the first day at Brown. But, it all worked out, because even though she wasn't feeling 100%, she was able to drive up with me.  After she left, I was a little scared that she would go back into the hospital and I wouldn't be there. But, after  a few days she was much better and didn't even feel sick anymore. It was so nice to be stress free finally!

Cancer Free

As of Thursday, my mom is cancer free. She went to a checkup, and when she came back, we found out that all the cancer is gone. I went to a friend's party last night, and it really felt like the first time I had fun without my mom's cancer in the back of my mind. Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning my mom was back in Abington Hospital getting more fluids. At least, she is recovering and not getting sicker. I leave for a two week program at Brown University this weekend. It will be nice not to have to worry while I'm gone. I won't be able to post the next two weeks, but look for an update when I get back. Also look on the event page for more on our September 16th event: First Family Fun Day.

Almost Forgot

It's almost midnight, and I completely forgot it's Sunday. Well, I guess that's what happens on summer vacation. Anyway,  my mom is going in for a biopsy tomorrow. I don't know much about it, but basically it's when doctors remove a small piece of tissue to examine. All we are doing right now is just waiting. We know she is going to live a long time, but with or without treatment, and if so how much treatment is still up in the air. At this point it looks like she is going to need Chemotherapy when Ross and I go back to school in the fall. So that means, probably no more hair. Maybe this time it will grow back with pink and purple polka dots. I am a little afraid of her losing her hair because that will make the cancer feel real. But, we can't know what the future will bring, we just have to hang on. We are planning our first event for September 16 at the Cock and Bull restaurant and Giggleberry Fair in Peddlers Village. Check back for more details soon!

5 minutes at a time

Last week, I didn't post because we were on a cruise, and I didn't have internet accesses outside of the country. I apologize for that, and have much to say today. Our cruise was supposed to be 8 days long, but on the  sixth day, when we stopped in Florida, my mom checked into the hospital to receive IV  fluid because she was dehydrated. She hasn't been able to eat or drink much because of the radiation, so this isn't the first time she's been in the hospital for fluids. So my grandmom, mom, and I flew home on Friday, while my stepdad, my brother, and his friend, as well as the other families that were with us, stayed on board the ship. We are all home now and my mom most likely only as a sinus infection and some side effects from the radiation, nothing too serious. We are taking whatever life throws at us. My mom has taught us that life can't be completely planned out, some times you have to take it five minutes at a time.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I promise to post every Sunday with updates about my life, my mom, and upcoming details about friends of Carrie and Ross. My mom is currently battling cancer for the second time. She finished radiation a few weeks ago and received good news from her doctor. We know that she is going to live a long time, but if this is with or without treatment we still aren't sure. She's been doing better, and we are planning to go on a cruise in a week.  She may have to start chemotherapy or more radiation when we go back to school in September. But for now, we know that she's happy and is starting to feel better.  On another note, we are planning our first event for September 16, 2012. There will be lunch and presentation at the Cock and Bull restaurant as well as a kids event at Giggleberry Fair. Check back in next week for more details. Also, check out my Facebook page titled "Friends of Carrie and Ross" for weekly tips!