Well, it appears that unlike Breast cancer chemo, this lung chemo gives you the fun experience of a “different” reaction or waking up time each cycle.  You don’t have the, “on this day I’ll feel like this”.  That is hard.  Last cancer experience, I could at least still schedule my life because the recovery was always the same.  Could God need me to be even more “go with the flow”?

I had a fun chemo week.  My birth daughter Meredith came to be with me and to play mom for my family.  She was a HUGE GIFT!  I really don’t think we would have made it if she wasn’t here helping.  Our church had the long awaited Grand Opening for our new building.  Lon went to the church Tuesday to work on setting up sound and I don’t think he was home more than 10 hours from Tuesday to Sunday.  So, to have Meredith here to help with the kids was great.  She became the “bus driver”, the “homework supervisor”, the chef, the nurse for me, the social coordinator (she taught us a new card game HANDS AND FOOT and we love it), and the cleaning lady (literally).  No words can thank her enough for keeping my house running - which allowed me to only worry about me (felt selfish but made life easier).

As far as my recovery time - it was different.  I tried to walk and eat so the “rough time” hit later - Sunday and Sunday night were the worse time with the “bathroom floor experiences” etc.  The rest of this week, my legs are like noodles and the taste in my mouth makes ALL food sounds terrible.  It’s hard when you know you need to eat, but the thought of the taste mixed with the taste already in your mouth makes you think you’ll loose all of your cookies (and yes, even if this time I did NOT want chocolate or sweets so you know the taste was bad).  I didn’t get a “fuzzy mind” so that was refreshing.

I did have a new attitude though even during the roughest time - I AM REMARKABLY REDUCED - so just knowing the chemo is working makes you mind it a little less.  I only have 2 more cycles and it feels like it is doable.  I’m thinking of it as only ONE MORE MONTH - my last chemo is Oct 31st.  I’ll be a bald toxic skeleton for Halloween - lol.

I’m actually going to try to go shower and go teach one parenting class this morning.  Bills keep coming in and working less makes me try to push anytime I can teach. Plus, I’m teaching the men and they treat me like I’m fragile - it’s really endearing.  So, God is good!  Life moves forward! The future is bright!

My lesson this week: I was going to try to get Meredith to reschedule her flight.  She had just gone through hurricane IKE, I would not be fun, it would be work for her.  GOD’S plan and timing again was perfect!  We needed her - she enjoyed (she says) being there for us - and chemo could not have been more fun or fast playing cards with her.  ALLOW GOD TO BE IN CONTROL … He’ll never let you down!!!!

Yes, I should be in bed sound asleep - giving my body rest before the side effects hit - but after hearing REMARKABLY REDUCED I’m not sleeping to well.  I’m floating wide awake on cloud nine.

All night I thought about my New Relaionship with my Chemo and the Side Effects!  Up until now, I have had a very positive attitude about this chemo working.  At the same time, I have gone to memorial services for over 10 people in the past 5 years that also have had positive attitudes but they never heard the words “remarkably reduced”.  Their chemos did not work.  So you go through the nausea, the over heating, the leg pains, the coma stage, the extra shots for your blood counts, the metal taste that makes even chocolate unbearable to eat, the going potty every hour, and everything else wondering if it’s worth it.  What if it’s not working?  What if after all of this the doc says we need to restart and try something different.  Being a human being, you can’t help but wonder if this pain is worth it when you have no clue if it’s working.

Now you could say that I just need more faith.  Faith for me has never wavered.  I KNOW that my heavenly Daddy is incontrol and HIS WILL will be done through all of this.  I also know that sometimes God’s will isn’t something  I can understand.  For instance, Kyle, only 21 years old, died because his chemo didn’t work.  I don’t understand why God needed Kyle at this young age - but I do have total faith that God knows and it’s for God’s glory and it’s best.

So now that I’m “Remarkably Reduced” (I love those words), I have a new relationship for my chemo and all the side effects - BRING THEM ON!  When I’m going through all of those wonderful side effects that I listed above - I will be saying, it’s reducing more until it’s gone!  It will be worth it! That chemo and side effects are going to allow me to grow old with my hubby, be around to mold my children and help them through Jr. High, High School and beginning their own families, it’s going to keep me around so I can be the best OMA to the Barton babies when God brings them into the world, it’s going to allow me to continue to encourage the men and women at the rehab homes an help them find hope in this world, it’s going to allow me to continue to do Mary Kay and help women feel good about themselves, it’s going to allow me to continue to be active in our church and watch God work and do miracles in our city, it’s going to allow me to continue daily to praise God and work on becoming the woman He created me to be, it’s going to allow me to be here for all of my friends and to walk through life together.  I LOVE THIS CHEMO AND ALL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS!!!

It’s amazing how the 2 words “REMARKABLY REDUCED” (I could say/write that a million times) has changed my entire feeling towards today (my 3rd day cycle 4) and the next 2 cycles to come.  Bring it on - you are my friend!!!!

So, I’m be going into hiberation tonight and I should come out in 5 days or so.  I’m miss you all during that time - but just know this - my chemo is working and I’m REMARKABLY REDUCED and will be even more after this round!!!!!!  Thank you ALL for your prayers and support - God has chosen to answer with a “YES” to my healing! He must have plans for me!!! I’m ready to serve!

A doctor that never shows facial expression walked into my room with a smile ear to ear and a bubbly body language.  His words were few, he said, “THE REPORTS SAID YOUR CANCER IS REMARKABLY REDUCED - MORE THAN EXPECTED AT THIS TIME”.  Yyyiiiiiipppppppeeee!

At this time we are going to just finish tomorrow and the next 2 cycles of chemo and then call it a day - no more chemo added - no radiation!  We will do scans again after chemo just to make sure - but obviouly since the chemo has worked MORE than expected - there is NO chance that will won’t finish the job.

I tell you - with that news - I am feeling GREAT!!!!!!!! I may be nauseous but I’m celebrating tonight with an incredible brownie that Meredith made for us - lol

Thank you for your prayers - God heard them and answered with a “yes” - I am BLESSED!