Chapter 21 – Christmas
It’s Christmas Eve today, I am feeling very tired after my 4th chemo, but ok to travel to family thankfully! We are all packed ready to go and we decide we will travel after a snack lunch at home. Our son has recovered well and will be able to enjoy a nice bath for the first time since his operation when we are at Granny and Grandpa’s house.
We arrive and I particularly am so happy to be there. Mum has cooked a meal for us as always on our arrival.
Today is Christmas Day and the little man sleeps in until 8 o’clock after waking up at 5 o’clock rather excited. He came to our room saying is it Christmas yet? We said no and he went back to bed. But come 8 o’clock we could hold off his excitement no more as Father Christmas had been and we have to wake quickly to see him open his presents. Lots of chocolates, bath toys etc and then suddenly the excitement of the magic set he had asked Father Christmas for. What a lucky little boy and we have already learnt how to do two tricks ready to show Granny and Grandpa at breakfast time. I can see this is going to be painful!!
To save time at my sister’s house before lunch we, that is me, husband and son, open our presents to each other. My husband has been really thoughtful; he has bought me some lip balm as my lips get very dry with my treatment and also some dark nail varnish to hide my horrid yellow nails. He always buys me some nice Wilkinson bath and showers gels/creams. My son helped choose a lot of presents. I have a brilliant pair of boys.
We go to my sister’s house and to my bro-in-law’s wonderful cooking. As the kids (our son, my niece and nephew) are excited we don‘t waste too much time and we get opening some wonderful presents. I also have a great family.
We enjoy a pre lunch drink; even I have a gin and tonic as I am feeling amazingly good today. I am probably running on the adrenaline and excitement.
Soon it is time for Christmas lunch. Mmm, Turkey, roast pots, lots of vegetables and cauliflower cheese which my husband hates! I fill my plate and amazingly I eat the lot and I also polish off some Christmas pudding AND Black Forest Gateau. I hear you say Gateau for Christmas, but it is essential for my brother in law as it is my mum’s speciality and his favourite. Luckily we are allowed some too.
I have a couple of glasses of red wine, but my taste buds don’t really enjoy them, so I enjoy a couple of gin and tonics during the latter part of the day. We enjoy some games and we all collapse to bed by 11pm. A wonderful Christmas Day, the only down side I could not enjoy all the soft cheeses.
Chapter 22 – Boxing Day and Catching up
Halfway through my course of 7 injections this time for my blood cells pick up. I awake today and my legs ache so badly that by the time I get down for breakfast I am in tears. I take some paracetamol which helps a bit as I left my co-codamol at home.
Mid morning we say goodbye to my sister and family before going back to my parents for a few days.
I do start to feel a bit better throughout the day. The rest of the day is nice and restful.
Well that was Christmas and it is time to go home tomorrow. Today we are catching up with my mum’s friend and her husband. We have not seen them at Christmas for a while. I give them their gifts as a thank you for being there for my parents during all our treatments and illnesses especially me as we do not live locally. We have some lovely chats and our son shows them some magic tricks.
It seems ages ago that this friend was the lollipop lady for my sister and I when we were at infant and junior schools. Which means we have known them as a family for about 40 or so years. How time flies.
Chapter 23 – New Year
This feels very difficult; I do not want to celebrate. Our son has been hard work again since we got home from family and tensions are high. I want to share champagne during the evening, but I find my husband has gone to bed! With my menopausal side effects I flip and arguments start and he gets his coat to go out. I apologise in floods of tears and drag him back in the house. We talk and eventually things are better. We enjoy a drink and decide to save the rest of the champers for when I am feeling better and more like celebrating something. Just after midnight we go to bed and have a big hug. In a way it was good as we got rid of a lot of tension. We love each other so much and have a wonderful friendship which has kept us going through lots of tough times since meeting nearly 15 years ago.
Chapter 24 – January
So I have had 5 treatments of 6 now, nearly there! I received some flowers today from mum and dad to say nearly there.
The hot flushes are become more frequent now with the menopause. The aching legs are worse too and I am totally exhausted, but apart from that I continue to do really well. I am resting a lot more now. In fact today as I watched the Australian Open Tennis I fell asleep which is something I often struggle to do during the day.
I cannot believe we are almost halfway through January already but I am so glad as my final chemotherapy will be in a week and a half’s time. Back soon with the next update.
Chapter 25 – Final Chemo Cycle
Home from the last chemotherapy and I am so tired. Just so glad now they are all done. Hopefully I will have a bit of time to recover before surgery date.
Day 3 of the cycle and last lot of injections commence today and I really start to feel the fatigue and the stress of the injections. I will be glad when they are all over.
Day 7 of the cycle, my bones ache so much and the emotions are so high. What a hurdle this chemo was, but I have wonderful family and friends who have helped me through, plus my support group at the local cancer centre. My counsellor is brilliant and she helps me keep positive.
Everyone said all the way through how well I look and I have to say I have been very lucky with illnesses. Having said that I am today coming down with my son’s cold. I woke up this morning feeling so full of it. I have never felt so rough. My friend has texted me after school today and offered to take my son to school tomorrow. Bless her she is wonderful, it means I can have a PJ day as it is Friday and my husband does the after school run.
Feel a bit better now I am resting, knowing it is the weekend. I have a pre op date already, which is good I guess, so this is not too much of a gap after the end of chemo.
