11.21.22

Today had my third round of PT with Lori. I got my compression sleeve. She suggested wearing it whenever I was doing a new exercise or something more strenuous. It basically just helps keep things flowing through my arm. I also had labs this morning. I’ll have those every week to watch my counts and make sure everything is functioning correctly. All that fun stuff you don’t think about. He said everything was good except my white blood count. That was pretty low. Low enough I got prescribed an antibiotic. 😬 I get to take that for three days and hopefully by then my counts will go up! We talked about my side effects. Great news! He said whatever I felt at this point through this first round would be how I’d feel while doing this particular chemo regimen!

Huge answer to prayer!

While I was waiting for my labs to be drawn I was chatting with a couple of ladies who were there waiting for their husbands. They said the first chemo round was easy. It was the others that were harder on you. 😳🤣 Pretty much the opposite of the oncologist said. haha. So we’ll see. It’s very possible the chemo that their husbands are doing is completely different than what I am doing. That’s another thing we learned along this cancer journey. It’s not just ‘chemo’. There are different kinds with different side effects. And no two people react the same. But for now I’m doing great! Side effects are still minimal and maybe if I wasn’t constantly analyzing my body I may not even notice them! My biggest ‘complaint’ is probably fatigue. I’m pretty much ready for a nap every afternoon/evening. I now have a little more sympathy for my dad… or any other adult that sits on the couch and promptly falls asleep! Haha! That and my mouth feels like it’s on the verge of getting sores. Thankfully I don’t have any yet, but that’s kind of a constant weird feeling.. it’s hard to get used to.

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

Isaiah 49:16

It shouldn’t, but it does, amaze me how God works. I feel so humbly blessed to have so many people that care about and support me. Nobody wants to hear they have cancer. The funny thing is, instead of dwelling on that, the only thing I can think is how blessed I am. Crazy right!?! I’m sure I sound like a lunatic to some! I was reading Friday’s devotion in Our Daily Bread. The title was ‘Thoughts and Prayers’. When I read the title my first thought was: my army of prayer warriors. Every time I think of you all I start tearing up. This particular devotion was about Peter heavily guarded in prison. The christians were fervently praying for him and God sent His angel to rescue Peter. I know it’s not the same, but I couldn’t help comparing Peter’s situation with mine. He had christians fervently praying for him and God answered their prayers. I do too! ❤️ (and prayers are being answered!) I really struggled at the beginning of my diagnosis. It was so hard for me to wrap my head around everything and how I was going to deal with it. Now I just shake my head at what I was concerned about. God has a miraculous way of working things out!

To be prayed for and to pray for others is no small thing when we serve the great and powerful God.
-Our Daily Bread

One could argue I’m a lot younger than most women who go through breast cancer or that my genetics played a part- you know, that Larson blood is strong! OR that Norwegian blood runs deep! 😉🤣🙂 But the truth is, I know it’s my prayer warriors covering me in prayers on why things are going as well as they are. And I truly appreciate it!! I feel sick to my stomach when I think of them injecting me with chemo and what I’m putting in my body. When I had my first surgery I thought, how bad can it be? They are just removing some tissue. It hurt more than I thought! Then when I got the port put in, I thought, how bad can that be? They are just inserting it under the skin. Yeah, that hurt more than I thought too! And being just far enough away from my first surgery I found myself contemplating what was worse, the surgery or the port! haha! Now I’m at the chemo part. How bad can it really be?? I’m 0 for 2 when it comes to reality! So we’ll see. I’m holding my breath, how hard will the rug get pulled out from under me with chemo treatments. I’m hoping my oncologist is right and what I’m feeling is what I’ll feel. So please keep those prayers coming! God is answering them! On a different note. Thursday night I was able to sleep on my side, no pain. It was like before I had my first surgery! I know it’s a small thing, but I like focusing on the positives. 🙂

As far as prayer requests go: 1) That my white blood count comes up. (He was certain it would.) and 2) That the side effects I’m experiencing stay the same (or I’ll take go away completely I’d just prefer them not to get worse haha).

Some fun pictures from the last couple of days. Our church is a drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child. We were there one night helping collect shoe boxes. We got to visit auntie Jenna at the Mabel Tainter for her art show. And it’s gun hunting in WI this week. So while Aaron and Kaden were down on the farm hunting, the rest of the kiddos and I went to Heather’s. The kids got to hang out, have some cousin time, and do some crafts. It was a busy, but nice weekend. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7