Due Date Update and More!

Hello dear friends and family,

Just wanted to update y'all on our latest developments. Most importantly, we have an official induction date - Monday, October 19. I will be 37 weeks pregnant and the baby should be ready to be born. I could go in the week before; however since I would be 36 weeks pregnant, Maternal - Fetal Medicine would require me to have an amniocentisis (sp) to check the development of the baby's lungs to see if they are mature enough for him to be born without complications. Not wanting to do that, I negotiated an additional week with my oncologist and obstetricians to be assured that our baby will be as healthy as possible.

I'm also pleased that while I'm in the hospital, my reconstructive surgeon will perform a procedure to swap out my tissue expanders with breast implants. This will happen a day or two after I give birth and will give me the chance to recover in the hospital vs. going straight home following this surgery (since it is normally offered as an out-patient procedure). Since I'm not able to breast feed my son anyway, I am delighted that I can have this done now, which helps me get closer to completing all my care. My breasts have to be reconstructed before I begin radiation (because the radiated skin is different) and I have to be off chemo for about 3 weeks before doing this and then recover for at least two weeks before beginning radiation and I so desparately want to wrap all this up by spring break next year.

My sixth and last round of chemo (FAC) before delivery is next week - Tuesday - Friday. I will spend the following weeks recovering and getting my white blood count back up to normal range in order to be strong for the birth. Probably 2-3 weeks after birth, I will begin my next stage of chemo called Taxol, which will be administered by IV ekly for 12 weeks. Am told that whatever hair has grown during my approximately 8 weeks off treatment while then fall out (an maybe the hair I have stubbornly held onto). Am also told Taxol shouldn't be has rough on my system as FAC (which really hasn't been that bad). Shortly after completing Taxol early next year, I will have radiation for probably 30 rounds (Monday - Friday lasting for 6 weeks). Have yet to meet with the radiation oncologist to set that up, but am told to expect a schedule like that.

So here I am, just a day shy of being 31 weeks pregnant. When asked how I feel, I say that I feel more pregnant than "cancer girl" (can I still call myself a girl at age 40?). Sometimes it's difficult to separate the symptoms of one from the other. For the most part, I am tired to the core. This is my "off week" before my next round of chemo, so that is to be expected. Meanwhile, my hips ache all the time from the pregnancy making it really tough to get a good night's sleep in addition to having to get up to go to the bathroom 3-4 times each night, plus the occasional heartburn and leg cramps. I've wanted another child for so long that I don't mind the discomfort.

My swollen belly becomes distorted when the baby stretches and moves around. He constantly reminds me that he is in there and is very much alive, healthy and is growing stronger day by day. He is such a miracle and has made this cancer journey much more tolerable.

Just when we thought we had our hands full enough, something else happens. Last week, I was driving home from Grayslake and was stopped at a red light when I was rear-ended. Fortunately, I was ok and declined to take an ambulance ride to the hospital. I felt really bad for the kid who hit me who was born the year I graduated from high school (1987). After being concerned for me, he shared his concern about soon-to-be rising premium for car insurance. I reminded him it could have been worse.

Today I picked up Duke's paw print at the vet. This time I didn't cry in their office. Honestly, the whole staff came out to see what I thought of the print as they were very proud of the final product. Fortunately, I had written them a thank you note and had a pound of my friend's amazing toffee (Kristen Weisberg's Toffee Traditions - you must try it if your haven't yet) to give them in appreciation for all their care and concern. This also gave me the chance to tell them how freaky it was to receive a Ziplock bag of my dog's fur during my previous visit. We all laughed as we remembered Duke and his gas. Glad all that is over now.

Georgia finally started 3rd grade today. To say that she is happy to be back is an understatement. She woke us up at 5:30 this morning - all chipper and ready for the big day. P.J. and I are also happy that she is back in her nurturing environment at Lake Forest Country Day School.

Didn't mean for this entry to be so long. As you know by now, when I finally make the time to write, I want to get it all out there. So now you have our latest and greatest. Continue to keep us in your prayers.

Much love,
Jana